current affairs 29 September 2021 (In English)

DRDO Conducts Successful Maiden Flight Test of Akash Prime Missile off Odisha Coast.

• DRDO on 27 September 2021 successfully conducted the first test flight of a new variant of Akash missile named Akash Prime from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
• The success of the test flight demonstrates the capability of DRDO in the design and development of world class missile systems.
• Aakash Prime is equipped with an indigenous Active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for better accuracy than the existing Aakash system.
• The improved version of the missile will ensure more reliable performance in low temperature environments at high altitudes.

PM Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

• PM Shri Narendra Modi launched the nationwide rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission on September 27, 2021, through a video conference. The nationwide rollout of the mission coincides with 3rd anniversary of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
• Ayushman Bharat - Digital Mission aims to integrate the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country. This digitization will make healthcare easier.
• Under the mission, every citizen will get a digital health ID, which will contain their health records. The Digital Health ID will be a 14 digit unique health identification to keep the health records digitally secure.
• Other components of the mission include a healthcare professional registry and health facilities registries, which will act as a repository of healthcare providers.
• This will not only simplify the procedures of hospitals but will also make living easier.

The "Sweet Cucumber" of Nagaland has got Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

• Naga Cucumber from Nagaland has been officially certified as an agricultural product for the state by the Registrar of Geographical Indications (GI) of India on September 14, 2021.
• It is the 3rd agricultural product from Nagaland and the fourth overall to receive the GI tag.
• GI tag is given under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• Naga cucumber is cultivated mostly in Mon, Mokokchung, Peren and Wokha districts of the state.

Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh took over as the Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC).

• Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh has taken over as the 34th Director General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) on September 27, 2021.
• He succeeds Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich.

Mastercard has appointed world chess champion Magnus Carlsen as its global brand ambassador.

• Financial services company, Mastercard Inc. has named Magnus Carlsen, the highest-rated chess player of all time, as its global brand ambassador.
• The move is part of Mastercard's move to add chess to its prestigious list of sports sponsorships.
• It has joined the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour as an official partner, in its first sponsorship move into chess.
• Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen joins the Ambassador's lineup of other competing players such as Lionel Messi, Naomi Osaka, Crystal Dunn and Dan Carter.