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Smart Cities Mission launched on 25 June 2015, is aimed at providing core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.It is a transformational mission aimed to bring about a paradigm shift in the practice of urban development in the country. Of the total proposed projects under SCM, 6,041(76%) projects worth ?1,10,635 crore have been completed and the remaining 1,894 projects worth ?60,095 crore will be completed by 30 June 2024. Most notable milestone achieved in the Mission has been, the Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC) which is operational in all 100 Smart Cities. These ICCCs work as the brain and nervous system for city operations, using technology for urban management. The urban services have significantly improved in diverse fields like crime tracking, safety & security of citizens, transport management, solid waste management, water supply, disaster management etc. 100 Smart Cities have taken up projects across diverse sectors related to mobility, energy, water, sanitation, solid waste management, vibrant public spaces, social infrastructure, smart governance, etc. For instance, in smart mobility, 1,174 projects have been completed worth ? 24,047 crore and another 434projects are ongoing worth ? 15,940 crore. In smart energy, 573 projects have been completed and 94 are ongoing. In Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), more than 1,162 projects have been completed worth ? 34,751 crore and another 333projects worth ? 18,716 crore are ongoing.
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Lesson as a lender: Shriram Group focusses on stakeholder advantage during merger
Discussions surrounding the merger of Shriram City Union Finance and Shriram Transport Finance have spanned several stages over the past five to six years. Our primary objective was to ensure that the synergy resulting from the merger serves a clear purpose for the company and holds meaningful benefits for all stakeholders involved. To achieve this, we have carefully considered various events that have unfolded over the years.One significant event was the failure of a large non-banking finance company (NBFC) a year before the Covid pandemic, which subsequently cast a shadow over the entire NBFC industry. The combination of these events made the idea of a merger seemingly out of question at the time. However, as the Covid situation improved and the economy began to show signs of recovery, it presented an opportune moment for our stakeholders to embrace changes. We recognised the potential of creating a unified company with branches offering a comprehensive range of products, thereby addressing the cyclicality concerns frequently raised by investors and fostering accelerated growth for the smaller entity. This approach also provided customers with a single, convenient location for their financing needs.
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F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2023 results as Max Verstappen equals Formula One history
Max Verstappen made Formula One history as he won an action-packed 2023 Dutch Grand Prix that delivered plenty of drama throughout.The Red Bull driver eventually eased home to claim a ninth successive victory in the sport — the most in a row since Sebastian Vettel set the modern day record at nine back in 2013 — despite the race witnessing some heavy rain downpours and a late red flag. From lap one, this race in Zandvoort brought the intrigue as the rain began to fall shortly after the lights went out. That led to a number of drivers pitting straight away as others stayed out which ultimately saw the grid order severely shaken up. The safety car then entered the action as Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant hit the barrier for the second time over the weekend which again saw drivers dive into the pit lane. A large chunk of the race then subsided with a number of drivers making fantastic overtakes as they attempted to make up lost places on the grid before the heavy rain returned on lap 65. In the poor conditions, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu collided with the barriers at corner one which saw the FIA wave the red flag to halt proceedings until the weather improved.
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Statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2023; August 29th.
Since nuclear weapons testing began on 16 July 1945, over 2,000 have taken place. In the early days of nuclear testing little consideration was given to its devastating effects on human life, let alone the dangers of nuclear fallout from atmospheric tests. Hindsight and history have shown us the terrifying and tragic effects of nuclear weapons testing, especially when controlled conditions go awry, and in light of the far more powerful and destructive nuclear weapons that exist today. On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35. The resolution calls for increasing awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
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Axis Bank launches paid saving a/c with no charges for services, balance requirements t
Axis Bank Infinity Savings Account Fees and Details: Axis Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind new savings account – ‘Infinity Savings Account’ – with an aim to cater to digitally savvy customers, who are frequent adopters of subscription-based models.In a statement, Axis Bank said this innovative savings account offers customers with exclusive privileges, such as waived Average Monthly Balance (AMB) requirement, complimentary debit cards and waiver of all domestic charges. However, to avail these benefits, there is a catch. The bank will charge a fixed monthly or annual fee.The monthly fee for ‘Infinity Savings Account’ is Rs 150 and the annual fee is Rs 1650, as per the statement.Axis Bank further said that the new savings account variant has been introduced with the aim of revolutionizing the banking experience.
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ADB, Fourth Partner Energy to Build Solar Power Plant in India, Supplying Commercial and Industrial Sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited (Fourth Partner) signed a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion Indian rupees (about $14.7 million) to construct and operate a 25-megawatt solar photovoltaic-based power plant to increase clean and low-cost energy supply to commercial and industrial customers. The power plant, located in Tirunelveli district in the state of Tamil Nadu in India, is expected to generate about 50.7 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and will directly sell power to commercial and industrial users. India’s progressive open access renewable energy policy allows a group of consumers to purchase electricity directly from an Independent Power Producer (IPP). “Open access energy procurement can play an important role in businesses achieving their net zero emissions targets,” said ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury. “Solutions like this are being spearheaded by ADB to promote renewable energy across the region. This is ADB’s first direct financing to a renewable energy plant of this nature and is expected to crowd in international commercial financing to further decarbonize the commercial and industrial sector”.
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Toyota Innova Hycross: Nitin Gadkari launches world's first 100% ethanol-powered car
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday launched the world's first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor.The innovative vehicle is based on the Innova Hycross and is engineered to adhere to India's stricter emission standards, marking it as the first-ever BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle prototype.Speaking on the occasion Gadkari said, ethanol being an indigenous, eco-friendly, and renewable fuel holds promising prospects for India.He said the emphasis of the Modi government on ethanol aligns with objectives of attaining energy self-sufficiency, doubling farmers' income, transitioning them to ‘urjadata’ while continuing to support them as ‘annadata’, and positively impacting the environment.The minister said the day ethanol economy becomes 2 lakh crores, agricultural growth rate will reach 20% from the current 12%.Talking about innovations in biofuels, Gadkari spoke of a refinery in Numaligarh in Assam of Indian Oil Corporation where bamboo is being used for manufacturing bioethanol.
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Jio Financial Services to enter insurance sector, says Mukesh Ambani; Isha, Akash, and Anant join RIL board
Reliance AGM 2023 updates: Addressing the company's shareholders, RIL has cumulatively invested $150 billion in the last 10 years, the biggest by any Indian corporate, its chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said on Monday. JFS will enter the insurance segment to offer simple, yet smart, life, general, and health insurance products, Ambani said. Jio Platforms is keen to lead efforts in developing India-specific AI models and AI-powered solutions across domains, delivering the benefit of this new-age technology to Indian citizens, businesses and government, RIL Chairman added. Jio AirFiber will be launched on Sep 19 on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. RIL Board has recommended the appointment of Isha, Akash, and Anant to the board, while Nita Ambani stepped down from the board. Notably, Mukesh Ambani has not divulged any details related to IPOs of RIL's telecom and retail arms.
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BHEL produces first set of indigenous SCR catalysts to limit NOx emissions
The first batch of indigenous SCR Catalysts for reducing NOx emissions from thermal power plants has been successfully produced, according to state-owned engineering company Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which announced this on Wednesday.According to a BHEL release, the government's 'Make in India' strategy has reached a critical milestone with the production of these selective catalytic reactors (SCR), which were previously imported.Renuka Gera, Director (Industrial Systems & Products), BHEL, from the company's Solar Business Division (SBD) plant in Bengaluru, reportedly flagged off the first batch of locally produced SCR catalysts for the 5x800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana.To address NOx abatement in thermal power plants, BHEL established a facility within its SBD unit to manufacture SCR catalysts.
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The theme for this year's National Sports Day celebration is "Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society".
The roots of India’s National Sports Day can be traced back to the birth of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, one of its most revered sporting legends of India, who went on to become one of the most popular names in the game of hockey. He ruled the world of hockey with his delightful stick work and understanding of the game that earned him the moniker of 'Hockey Wizard' and 'The Magician'.Born on 29 August 1905 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, he started off his career with the British Indian Army. His career spanned from 1926 to 1948 and ended as one of the greatest hockey players of all time after having represented India 185 matches and scoIn recognition of his unparalleled contributions to the realm of sports, the Indian Government declared his birthday as National Sports Day in 2012, with the aim to inspire generations to come. This decision was also focused on promoting sports and physical fitness among the people in the country.
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GRSE, Dempo sign MoU for collaboration to build commercial vessels on west coast
Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited and Dempo Group of Goa have signed a memorandum of understanding for a collaboration to build commercial vessels on the west coast of the country, officials said on Friday. The MoU has been signed between the two companies to collaborate to make vessels at three shipyards of Dempo at Goa and Bhavnagar in Gujarat, they said. Warship builder GRSE is attempting to diversify into commercial shipbuilding to capture a large market share in the construction of commercial vessels, both domestic as well as international, he said. "GRSE Ltd and the Dempo Group of Goa have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a collaboration model to build commercial vessels in three premier shipyards of Dempo at Goa and Bhavnagar," the official said in a press statement.Kolkata-headquartered GRSE took the maiden initiative in the country to make the public-private collaboration model a success story in warship building, he said.
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Neeraj Chopra becomes first Indian to win gold at World Athletics Championships
Neeraj Chopra, in a historic moment for Indian athletics, clinched the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event at the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary. The 'golden boy of Indian athletics' etched his name in history by becoming the first-ever Indian athlete to secure a gold medal at this prestigious championship.Neeraj's remarkable achievement unfolded in the early hours of August 28 as he went head-to-head with competitors from around the world. Displaying exceptional prowess, he recorded a stellar throw of 88.17 meters during his second attempt, solidifying his dominance throughout the event.This outstanding performance not only secured the gold medal for Neeraj but also established him as a trailblazer for Indian sports on the global stage.
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Kunlavut Vitidsarn Wins Men's Singles Title at the BWF World Championships 2023.
Kunlavut "View" Vitidsarn became Thailand's first world badminton champion in men's singles when he beat Japan's Kodai Naraoka at the BWF World Championship 2013 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Sunday.The 22-year-old Thai player, rankd world No 3, came from behind to beat Kodai Naraoka, ranked No 4, by 2-1 with the scores of 19-21, 21-18 and 21-7.The two were neck and neck after two lengthy games which lasted 81 minutes, but Kunlavut stormed ahead in a dominant final game to secure victory and become the first Thai player to win a men's singles gold.Kunlavut is the fourth badminton player from Thailand to win a gold in the world badminton championship after Ratchanok Intanon who was the world champion in women's singles in 2013 and Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai who won won the world championship in mixed doubles in 2021.In addition to the winner's prize money, Kunlavut is entitled to a 1.5 million baht reward from the National Sports Development Fund.
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Acclaimed poet Jayanta Mahapatra, known for ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Hunger’, dies at 95
Mahapatra had been undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College Hospital for pneumonia and other old age-related ailments. His wife and son had predeceased him. Jayanta Mahapatra was the first Indian poet to win the Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry. He was also conferred with the Padma Shri (India’s fourth highest civilian honour) in 2009. However, he returned it in 2015 to protest against “rising intolerance in India”.He is best known for authoring poems such as “Indian Summer” and “Hunger”, regarded as classics in modern Indian English literature. His other prominent works also include “Relationship”, “Bare Face”, and “Shadow Space”. In all, Mahapatra penned 27 books of poems, of which seven are in Odia and the rest in English.He is best known for authoring poems such as “Indian Summer” and “Hunger”, regarded as classics in modern Indian English literature. His other prominent works also include “Relationship”, “Bare Face”, and “Shadow Space”. In all, Mahapatra penned 27 books of poems, of which seven are in Odia and the rest in English.
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T.N. CM Stalin launches expansion of breakfast scheme across State, to benefit 17 lakh school students
The flagship scheme will provide a nutritious breakfast to students of classes 1 to 5 at 31,008 government schools in T.N.; the CM said the aim was to eradicate hunger, reduce malnutrition and ease the burden on working mothers. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday, August 25, 2023 launched the expansion of the State government’s flagship Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme to benefit 17 lakh students of classes 1 to 5, studying in 31,008 government schools across the State, at a cost of ?404.41 crore.Stalin also had food with the nursery students of Thirukkuvalai Middle School where his father and former CM M Karunanidhi had studied. The CM expressed happiness about the expanded scheme being rolled out from his ancestral village.
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Big boost to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence: MoD inks Rs 19,000 crore contract with HSL for five Fleet Support Ships for Indian Navy
Ministry of Defence, on August 25, 2023, signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam for acquisition of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy at an overall cost of approx. Rs 19,000 crore. It would be a major boost towards achieving the goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing as these ships will be indigenously designed and constructed by HSL, Visakhapatnam. The Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the acquisition of these ships during its meeting on August 16, 2023.The FSS will be employed for replenishing ships at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores, enabling the Indian Naval Fleet to operate for prolonged periods without returning to harbour. These ships would enhance the strategic reach and mobility of the Fleet. The induction of these ships will significantly enhance the blue water capability of the Indian Navy. The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people and human assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
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Ministry of Jal Shakti Releases the 6th Census Report On Minor Irrigation (MI) Schemes
The Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation today released the report on the 6th census on minor irrigation schemes. As per the report, 23.14 million minor irrigation (MI) schemes have been reported in the country, out of which 21.93 million (94.8%) are Ground Water (GW) and 1.21 million (5.2%) are Surface Water (SW) schemes. Uttar Pradesh possesses the largest number of MI schemes in the country followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Leading States in GW schemes are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. In SW schemes Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand have the highest share. GW schemes comprise dugwells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells and deep tube wells. The SW schemes comprise surface flow and surface lift schemes.
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PM Modi to attend BRICS summit in South Africa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS Summit from August 22-24, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday. Following the BRICS summit, Mr. Modi will proceed to Greece on August 25 for a visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.“This will be the first in-person BRICS Summit since 2019. The Summit will provide an opportunity to review progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping, and identify future areas of activity,” stated the official release. The in-person nature of the summit is expected to yield several important meetings including one between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In Johannesburg, Prime Minister Modi will also attend two events focused on BRICS’ cooperation with Africa and expansion of the organization: BRICS Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue .
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PM conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by the President of Greece
The President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou conferred PM Narendra Modi with The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour.The Order of Honour was established in 1975. The head of goddess Athena is depicted on the front side of the Star with the inscription “ONLY THE?RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE HONOURED”.The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour is conferred by the President of Greece to Prime Ministers and eminent personalities who by reason of their distinguished position, have contributed to enhancing the stature of Greece.The citation says- “In the person of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an honour is bestowed upon the friendly people of India.It also says, “On the occasion of this visit, the Greek State Honours the Prime Minister of India, a statesman who has tirelessly promoted the global reach of his country and who works systematically for India’s economic progress and prosperity, bringing about bold reforms. A statesman who has brought environmental protection and climate change among the top priorities of international activity.”
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Participation of Indian Air Force in Exercise Bright Star-23 at Cairo Air Base, Egypt
An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent departed today, for participating in ExerciseBRIGHT STAR-23 a biennial multilateral tri-service exercise scheduled to be held at Cairo (West) Air Base, Egypt from 27 August to 16 September 2023. This is for the first time that IAF is participating in Ex BRIGHT STAR-23 which will also see participation of contingents from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar. The Indian Air Force contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft. Personnel from the IAF's Garud Special Forces, as well as those from the Numbers 28, 77, 78 and 81 Squadrons will be participating in the exercise. The IAF transport aircraft will also provide airlift to approximately 150 personnel from the Indian Army. The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provide a means to further strategic relations between participating nations. IAF contingents to flying exercises abroad are thus no less than Diplomats in Flight Suits.
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Canada welcomes international leaders to Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility
As the world experiences the triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, Canada is once again bringing leaders together to take action and build a healthy future for people everywhere. This week, from August 22 to 26, 2023, Canada is hosting the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Vancouver, British Columbia. The GEF Assembly, which meets every 4 years, is a global body that coordinates financing for international efforts to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, as chair and co-host of the GEF Assembly, will welcome up to 1,500 participants from Canada and 185 other countries, including environmental leaders, government ministers and representatives of international organizations, Indigenous communities, young people, businesses, academia and civil society. The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada and Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, will open the GEF Assembly tomorrow evening. They will be joined by members of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, who will welcome delegates on their traditional, unceded lands.
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Yes Bank, a full-service commercial bank based in Mumbai, India, is launching a corporate credit card with spend management features in partnership with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fintech Zaggle.
Yes Bank, a full-service commercial bank based in Mumbai, India, is launching a corporate credit card with spend management features in partnership with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fintech Zaggle.The offering is linked with the fintech’s real-time spend analytics platform, Zaggle ZatiX, which enables businesses to complete transactions and manage expenditure with the ability to set spending limits and apply merchant category restrictions.Providing insights into commercial overheads, the integration seeks to enable account holders to “uncover potential cost-saving opportunities, improve budgeting accuracy and optimally manage working capital”.Rajan Pental, the bank’s executive director, describes the offering as “a compelling proposition that offers upfront savings on business spends”.
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Emmerson Mnangagwa wins second term as president of Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa has a secured second term as Zimbabwe’s president in a poll marred by electoral malpractice.The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Mnangagwa the winner, with 52.6% of the vote, beating Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), who trailed at 44%.The election comes six years after longtime ruler Robert Mugabe was removed from power in a military coup. CCC immediately rejected the results, saying the presidential vote was “rushed”.“We reject any result hastily assembled without proper verification … we will advise citizens on the next steps as the situation develops. We will not relent on the people’s victory,” CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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Redefining education, India's maiden AI school unveiled in southern state of Kerala
India's inaugural artificial intelligence school has been opened in Kerala. The groundbreaking inauguration of the Santhigiri Vidyabhavan took place in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. The school was officially inaugurated by former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday (August 22). This initiative is aimed at revolutionising the education sector through innovative technology-driven learning methods.The AI School, a collaboration between Vedhik eSchool and iLearning Engines (ILE) USA, is set to reshape the way students learn and engage with their studies. The school's design and framework have been meticulously managed by a committee of experienced professionals, including former Chief Secretaries, DGPs, and Vice Chancellors, ensuring a holistic approach to education.Vedhik eSchool officials reportedly stressed the AI School's significance as a forward-looking educational paradigm. Integrating artificial intelligence technology. The AI School guarantees students access to a high-quality learning experience equivalent to traditional classroom settings.
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Airtel Payments Bank, Mastercard and Frontier Markets partner to support 1 lakh women-owned small businesses
Airtel Payments Bank, Frontier Markets and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth have announced the launch of ‘She Leads Bharat: Udyam’, an initiative to elevate 1,00,000 women-owned small businesses with resources, tools and opportunities to grow and diversify their incomes. She Leads Bharat: Udyam is a first-of-its-kind initiative that brings together the private sector, social enterprise, and philanthropy in the banking, financial services, and insurance sector to demonstrate a digital-first model designed to unlock ways for women-owned small businesses to increase their incomes.This initiative will be funded by the Mastercard Impact Fund, while Mastercard will bring the catalytic capital and global expertise of its Center for Inclusive Growth to unlock tools, resources, and networks for the women-owned small businesses.In this first phase, the initiative will enable 1,00,000 women-owned small businesses in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to learn and earn via Frontier Markets’ proprietary, flexible Meri-Saheli platform. 10,000 of these women small business owners will be further enabled to grow their business by becoming Airtel Payments Bank Business Correspondents (BCs) and unlock additional revenue streams.
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Antler Launches Venture Platform For Founders Building On ONDC
The platform aims to provide resources, an expert network, a community, and capital to Indian founders building on ONDC The platform will offer pre-seed capital of $300K, along with an additional investment upto $200K from key partners in the Antler network. The Antler ONDC platform has been created in collaboration with FIDE and ONDC. Venture capital firm Antler India launched an Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)-focussed venture platform, Antler ONDC, on Wednesday (August 9). The platform aims to provide resources, an expert network, community and capital to founders building on ONDC.As shared by the Singapore-based VC firm, the platform will offer pre-seed capital of $300K, along with an additional investment of up to $200K, to the teams that have workable ideas.Meanwhile, it will also assist pre-team and pre-idea founders to build on ONDC.The Antler India Residency, which helps aspiring entrepreneurs find cofounders and raise funding in a span of three months, will also help select founders building on ONDC to scale up.
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Chandrayaan-3: August 23 to be celebrated as National Space Day, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that to mark the success of Chandrayaan 3's Moon landing, August 23 will be celebrated as National Space Day. Modi's announcement came as he was addressing the Indian Space Research Organisation scientists at the ISRO command centre in Bengaluru.Modi visited the space agency's Telemetry Tracking and Command Network Mission Control Complex to congratulate the Chandrayaan 3 team on the mission's success. During his visit, the PM also announced that the touchdown point of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon's surface will be called ‘Shiv Shakti', adding that the point where Chandrayaan 2 crash-landed on the Moon in 2019 will be called ‘Tiranga’. (PM Modi's ISRO visit LIVE)“Women scientists have played a key role in Chandrayaan 3 mission..the 'Shiv Shakti' point will inspire the upcoming generations to use science for the welfare of people…” he said.He also lauded the ISRO scientists for taking the ‘Make in India’ initiative to the moon. With the mission's success, the Centre hopes for an influx of investments in private space launches and related satellite-based businesses, as per experts.
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 Launches to International Space Station
An international crew of four representing four countries is in orbit following a successful launch to the International Space Station at 3:27 a.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 26, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The agency’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh commercial crew rotation mission for NASA.A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, for a science expedition aboard the orbital laboratory.“Crew-7 is a shining example of the power of both American ingenuity and what we can accomplish when we work together,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Aboard station, the crew will conduct more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations to prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, all while benefitting humanity on Earth. By partnering with countries around the world, NASA is engaging the best scientific minds to enable our bold missions, and it’s clear that we can do more – and we can learn more – when we work together.”
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C-DOT celebrated its 40th Foundation Day. The Function was Inaugurated by Shri Devusinh Chauhan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, Government of India
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier Telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, observed its 40th Foundation Day celebration on 25 August 2023 that was inaugurated by Shri Devusinh Chauhan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, Government of India.Shri Devusinh Chauhan in his inaugural address underscored the critical need of modernizing the communication networks by adopting the latest technologies like AI/ML in an efficacious and expeditious manner. He further exhorted the young engineers and entrepreneurs to innovate relentlessly for realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and develop cutting-edge technological applications for larger benefit of citizens across the length and breadth of the country. He appreciated various technology use-cases and home-grown solutions that were demonstrated in the exhibition that was staged as part of the annual day function.Shri Devusinh Chauhan also inaugurated C-DOT’s Enterprise Security Operation Centre (ESOC) at C-DOT campus, New Delhi and launched TRINETRA. TRINETRA is a combination of multiple Security systems like Security information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Orchestration and Automated Response (SOAR), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), User Entity and Behaviour Analytics (UEBA), Multi-Source Threat Intelligence and others. The solution provides 24x7 near real-time actionable cyber-security status and detection and resolution of cyber-threats (Virus, Malware, Ransomware, Spyware etc.).
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G20 Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting (TIMM) concluded with adoption of the G20 Trade and Investment Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary.
The G20 Trade and Investment Ministers’ meeting concluded today at Jaipur, fondly called the Pink City of India. The meeting was led by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles. He welcomed, thanked, and appreciated the Ministerial delegations and delegates of G20 members, invited countries and International Organisations, including World Trade Organization, UNCTAD, International Trade Center and OECD for their commitment and contribution to deliberations that led to the finalisation and adoption of Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary. In his address to the G20 Ministers, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi emphasized that as G20, it is our responsibility to rebuild confidence in international trade and investment order. He stressed the need to build resilient and inclusive global value chains that can withstand future shocks and ensure higher participation of MSMEs in global trade. He also spoke about India’s firm belief in a rules-based, open, inclusive, multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core.
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Ministry Of Education Announces Launch Of Smart India Hackathon 2023
The Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell at All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) on Wednesday announced the launch of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2023, now in its sixth edition.Gracing the occasion were Secretary of Higher Education, K Sanjay Murthy (IAS), Chairman of AICTE, Prof. T.G. Sitharam and Vice Chairman, Dr. Abhay Jere, who shared their insights.Secretary of Higher Education, Shri K Sanjay Murthy (IAS), expressed his enthusiasm for this year's hackathon, " The innovation cell under Dr. Abhay Jere is doing excellent work in organising the hackathons. During this year's G20 Presidency, we were honoured to host the UNESCO India Africa hackathon, wherein 22 African countries participated and our students got the opportunity to work with the teams of African countries on the problem statement that were pertaining to that continent. Two weeks back, we did a KAVACH Hackathon with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the cyber security theme. Therefore, there are many challenges that are anchored by AICTE through such hackathons”.Chairman of AICTE, Prof. T.G. Sitharam, emphasised the importance of innovation in shaping the future and said, "The future is built on innovation! With a network of more than 7500 Innovation Institutes spanning the country, the Smart India Hackathon presents participants with an extraordinary chance to address problem statements emanating from diverse government bodies and ministries.
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Droupadi Murmu released a postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu released a postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (August 25, 2023). This stamp was released under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications to mark the 16th death anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Dadi Prakashmani spread the Indian values and culture in India and abroad through spirituality. Under her leadership, the Brahma Kumaris became the largest women-led spiritual organization in the world. Like a true leader, she stood by Brahma Kumaris family with faith and courage even in challenging circumstances and always guided them. The President said that it is the biggest truth of the world that life is temporary and a person is remembered only because of his/her deeds. She added that one should do noble deeds with the sense of public welfare. She shared that Dadi ji may not be not physically among us, but the memories of her spiritual and genial personality and her message of human welfare would always be alive among us and will continue to inspire generations to come.
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NPCI launches UPI Chalega campaign to promote safe and easy digital payments
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced the third edition of its UPI Safety Awareness campaign, titled "UPI Chalega." Collaborating with key players in the payments ecosystem, NPCI aims to foster the adoption of UPI as a secure, convenient, and instantaneous mode of payment. The campaign also seeks to educate users about UPI's various features, including UPI LITE for swift low-value transactions, UPI AUTOPAY for secure recurring payments, and UPI Interoperability for seamless money transfers across all UPI-enabled applications.Over time, UPI has transformed the landscape of digital payments, witnessing a remarkable surge in both transaction volume and value. The UPI Chalega campaign was first introduced in 2020 under the guidance of the Financial Literacy Advisory Committee (FLAC). The initial two iterations played a pivotal role in expanding UPI's reach, educating users about its safety measures, and enhancing its usability for diverse transactions, solidifying its status as the preferred payment choice.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced to enhance transaction limits for small value digital payments in offline mode to ₹500 from the earlier cap of ₹200.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday raised the upper limit of an offline payment transaction to Rs 500 from the existing Rs 200 to promote the use of UPI-Lite wallet in areas where internet connectivity is weak or not available.The total limit for offline transactions on a payment instrument, however, remains Rs 2,000.In a circular titled "Enhancing transaction limits for Small Value Digital Payments in Offline Mode", the central bank said, "The upper limit of an offline payment transaction is increased to Rs 500.""Replenishment of used limit shall be allowed only in online mode with AFA," it added. AFA stands for Additional Factor of Authentication.It also said that offline payments should only be made face-to-face. Moreover, these transactions may be offered without AFA.The RBI also launched a device wallet called UPI Lite in September last year to increase the speed of small-value transactions on UPI, optimise processing resources for banks and reduce transaction failures.
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IRDAI approves amendments to reinsurance regulations
A clutch of amendments to reinsurance regulations, including one halving minimum capital requirement for Foreign Reinsurance Branches (FRBs) from ?100 crore to ?50 crore with the provision to repatriate any excess assigned capital, has been approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).The format for reinsurance programmes has been simplified and regulatory reporting requirements have been rationalised for increased clarity and effectiveness. The order of preference for insurers has been streamlined from the previous six levels to four, the insurance regulator said on Thursday on amendments approved at its 123rd Authority Meeting recently.
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Assam BJP leader Prodyut Bora quits party, brings Modi in line of fire
In a first such move, Assam Friday launched a clean district ranking drive called MODI (Most Outstanding District Initiative), to boost solid waste management and sanitation.Shortly after the cabinet approved the new scheme, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the most outstanding district will be awarded Rs 100 crore towards infrastructure development and the results will be tentatively declared by the first week of April 2024."There will be a whole lot of criteria, 108 to be precise, including cleanliness, legacy waste disposal, Bora questioned if Modi has "damaged" the democratic tradition of the country. "Today, the Foreign Minister barely knows that the Foreign Secretary is about to get fired; cabinet ministers cannot even appoint their own OSDs (Officers on Special Duty); and power is increasingly being centralised in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
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IIT Bombay Partners with HSBC to Support Innovation-Led Green Hydrogen Initiatives
IIT Bombay has partnered with HSBC to pursue technological advancements towards making green hydrogen production more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. The focus will be on innovative projects that will help position green hydrogen as a strategic alternate fuel; help in building a robust, green hydrogen economy and achieve the government’s vision of an energy-independent nation. This partnership will help boost the government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission focused on providing policy support towards achieving global leadership in green hydrogen transition.The National Hydrogen Energy Mission, announced during the Union Budget of India, 2021-22, is a significant step that will provide a roadmap for leveraging alternate sources of energy in India towards enabling a greener future. This partnership was unveiled by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman at Delhi on August 24, 2023, in attendance of the leadership teams from IIT Bombay and HSBC including Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Bombay, Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi; Group Chairman, HSBC, Mr. Mark Tucker; CEO, HSBC India, Mr. Hitendra Dave; and Global Head of Philanthropy & Head of Sustainability, HSBC India, Ms. Aloka Majumdar.
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Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank & Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank merger approved by RBI
On August 25, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it had approved the merger of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank and Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank. The central bank announced in a release that the program will go into action on August 28. With effect from August 28, the Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank branches would operate as branches of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank, the notification noted. The merger of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd and Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd was also given the go-ahead by the central bank earlier this week. The central bank issued a master directive for the consolidation of urban cooperative banks on March 23, 2021.The RBI may take into account applications for merger and amalgamation under three conditions, per the instructions. First, when the combined bank (the UCB that proposes to sell its business to another UCB) has a positive net worth and the acquiring bank (the UCB that will take over the combined bank’s operations) guarantees to protect the full deposits of all combined bank depositors.
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Inland Waterways Authority Of India (IWAI) Signs MoU With Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) For Export Of Petroleum Cargo Via NW 2 & IBPR
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal attended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to use National Waterways-2 (Brahmaputra) and Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) for export of petroleum products to Bangladesh and other south east Asian countries in Guwahati, Assam today.The MoU is aimed at powering PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to boost India’s Act East Policy. NRL will export around 10,000 MT of Petroleum & Petrochemical products per month from IWAI Jogighopa Multi Modal terminal. NRL to set up POL Oil Terminal at Jogighopa Logistics Park with rail connectivity. This MoU is aimed at fulfilling the ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast’ by enabling inland waterways transportation via NW2 and IBPR, unveiling a new chapter of EXIM trade for the Northeast region. Speaking on the occasion Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “It is watershed moment for inland waterways for promotion of trade in the Northeast India region. The MoU is aimed at powering the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to bring in transformative change in the cargo movement for the region. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the visionary Act East policy is empowering the Northeast India towards unlocking the full potential of Hydrocarbon vision 2030.
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Coast Guards of India, Philippines to enhance professional bonds
Commanders of the Coast Guards of India and Philippines on August 22 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation. The MoU was signed by Director General Indian Coast Guard Rakesh Pal and Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard, Admiral Artemio M. Abu who is on a visit to India from August 20 to 24 which will be followed by the first bilateral meeting between the two agencies.“The MoU aims to enhance the professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR),” the Coast Guard said in a statement. This is part of efforts by both governments to enhance collaborative and cooperative engagements in the field of maritime safety and security, it stated.The 1st ever bilateral meeting between the maritime agencies signifies dedication in strengthening professional bonds by sharing best practices, conducting joint exercises and enhancing training collaborations, the Coast Guard said. “Implementation of this MoU will go a long way in enhancing bilateral maritime cooperation between the two nations to ensure safe, secure and clean seas.”
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The 27th edition of 11-day long Malabar naval exercise concluded off Sydney on Australia's East Coast
The Indian Navy’s indigenous and frontline war vessels INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata along with vessels and aircraft from the US Navy (popular as the USN), Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (abbreviated the JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (known as RAN) will be taking part in the exercise.The Malabar series of exclusive maritime exercise had commenced back in 1992 as an exclusive bilateral exercise between Indian and the US Navy and has grown in its stature over the years to include four navies in the Indo-Pacific zone. The 2020 edition experienced maiden participation of the RAN. 2023 marks the 27th edition of MALABAR that is being hosted by the RAN.Per the ministry, Malabar 2023 is reportedly scheduled to be conducted across two phases. The Harbour Phase now involves wide-ranging activities like cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, professional exchanges, and multiple interactions for the planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.The sea phase is going to include several complex and high-intensity exercises across three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine exercises that encompass live weapon firing drills as well. The exercise gives an opportunity to the Indian Navy to demonstrate and enhance interoperability and gain from the leading practices in maritime security operations from partner nations.
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Sebi issues disclosure norms for FPIs holding high Indian equity AUM
Sebi on Thursday laid down timelines for providing additional disclosures by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) that meet certain criteria.FPIs holding more than 50 per cent of their Indian equity AUM in a single Indian corporate group have 10 trading days within which they can bring down their holdings. After this, they need to make additional disclosures regarding persons having any ownership, economic interest, or control.Such FPIs will not make fresh equity purchases of any company belonging to the corporate group during the next 30 calendar days from the date of exceeding the threshold.FPIs holding more than ?25,000-crore of equity AUM in the Indian markets have 90 calendar days to bring down their holding, post which they will have to make the additional disclosures. Accounts of all such FPIs will be blocked for further equity purchases until the holding is brought below ?25,000 crore.FPIs whose investments continue to exceed the prescribed threshold after the expiry of above timelines will be given 30 trading days to make disclosures, post which the FPI registration will become invalid. The FPI will then liquidate its securities and exit the Indian securities market by surrendering its registration within 180 calendar days from the day the certificate becomes invalid.
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Muthoot Fincorp Ltd launches all-in-one app for financial services
Muthoot Fincorp Ltd launched a digital platform on Wednesday, offering various financial services to its customers through a single application. Named 'Muthoot FinCorp ONE', the All-In-One financial platform provides an extensive range of services.These services include MSME and gold loans, along with investments in products such as Digital Gold and NCDs. The platform also facilitates utility and loan payments for various purposes. Its Forex services encompass multi-currency cards, cash transactions, and 24x7 international transfers. Furthermore, the company has announced plans to launch insurance products on its platform very soon.Muthoot FinCorp ONE introduced its gold loans in the first week of May and aims to add insurance, personal loans, two-wheeler loans, housing loans, and money transfer services within the next six months.Chandan Khaitan, CEO of Muthoot FinCorp ONE, elaborated on the timeline: “Insurance services will be launched in the next few weeks, while two-wheeler loans and money transfer will be available from the next quarter of FY24. Meanwhile, the housing loan business will commence in the third or fourth quarter of the same financial year.The company, having already facilitated over 20,000 transactions, aims to expand this to over 80,000 daily transactions. It intends to cater to over 1 million customers by the end of the financial year (FY24).
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Highlight of 69th of National Film Awards 2023
69th National Film Awards 2023 winners list: The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on Thursday. The ceremony will be held at a future date, when the best Indian films produced across languages in the calendar year 2021 will be honoured by the President. Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, were eligible for contention.The award ceremonies have been delayed by two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 68th National Film Awards, held in 2022, honoured the best Indian films released in the calendar year 2020. The Tamil film Soorarai Pottru won the top prize, Best Feature Film, while late filmmaker Sachy won the Best Director honour for Ayyappanum Koshiyum. Ajay Devgn and Suriya shared the Best Actor award, while Aparna Balamurali won the Best Actress award. The 67th National Film Awards celebrated the best Indian films of 2019, but were held in the year 2021. Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea won the top honour that year.
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Tennis icon Rafael Nadal is Infosys’ brand ambassador
IT services company Infosys on Thursday announced a three-year partnership with Rafael Nadal, onboarding the global tennis star as ambassador for the brand and Infosys' Digital Innovation. To mark Nadal's first-ever collaboration with a digital services company, Infosys and Nadal's coaching team are developing an AI-powered match analysis tool, the Bengaluru-headquartered company said in a release.This personalised tool will be available in real time to Nadal's coaching team to simultaneously track insights from his live matches, when he is back on tour, along with historical data from his earlier matches.The company release announced the partnership, saying "Infosys onboards tennis icon Rafael Nadal as ambassador for the brand and Infosys' Digital Innovation."According to Infosys, Nadal is a perfect embodiment of what it takes individuals or business leaders to evolve and continually navigate their next.
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Indian Navy performs maiden test drop of Made-in-India Search and Rescue Kit
The SAR Kit gives the Indian Navy the capability to undertake lifesaving missions at extended ranges from the coast and strengthens India’s position as a ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).Developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra, the SAR Kit has a capacity of eight people, containing food for up to 15 days and can be deployed in up to sea state 3.The airdrop was undertaken by a P-8I aircraft from the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 316 based at INS Hansa in Goa.“The drop was undertaken off Goa in the presence of ADRDE scientists. A fitting tribute on the auspicious occasion of nation’s 77th Independence Day,” revealed the Western Naval Command.
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Over 60% of India's bird species saw a decline over the long term and only a small fraction increased
Of the 338 bird species studied in India for changes in numbers over the last 30 years, 60 per cent have experienced a decline, says a new report based on data from about 30,000 birdwatchers across the country.Also, 40 per cent (142) of the 359 species evaluated for change over the last seven years have declined, according to the report titled "State of India's Birds".The assessments rely on three indices: two are related to the change in abundance -- long-term trend (change over 30 years) and current annual trend (change over the past seven years) -- and the third is a measure of distribution range size within India. Of the total of 942 species evaluated, long-term trends could be determined for 338 species. Of these, 204 species have declined, 98 are stable and 36 have increased, says the report published by a group of 13 government and non-government institutions, including the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
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Chess World Cup 2023 Final Highlights: India’s Praggnanandhaa finishes 2nd after valiant fight with World No 1 Magnus Carlsen
R Praggnanandhaa vs Magnus Carlsen, Chess World Cup 2023 Final Highlights: Praggnanandhaa sealed a spot at the prestigious Candidates Tournament, which is held to find a challenger to the world champion.Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa vs Magnus Carlsen, Chess World Cup 2023 Final As It Happened: After three days and four games of intensely nervy chess across two formats, Magnus Carlsen finally managed to win the FIDE World Cup for the first time in his career on Thursday. He defeated India’s Praggnanandhaa in the final, but not before the 18-year-old teenage prodigy had dragged him through the tie-breaker. Carlsen’s win was confirmed after the second game of the tiebreaker. The two players had played out one draw each on Tuesday and Wednesday. Regardless of the final loss, the FIDE World Cup has been an event to savour for the teenager from Chennai since he also sealed a spot at the prestigious Candidates Tournament, which is held to find a challenger for world champion Ding Liren at the next world chess championship battle.Pragg, who turned 18 during the World Cup, was the youngest World Cup finalist ever, and is the youngest World Cup winner. Seeded 31, Pragg is also the lowest seed to make the final of the World Cup.
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The WFI's membership was suspended because of the lack of elections in the organisation.
United World Wrestling (UWW), the world governing body for wrestling, on Thursday suspended the membership of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for its “failure to hold its elections on time”.The decision acts as a massive setback for sports in the country. Following its suspension, the India wrestlers will have to compete as ‘neutral athletes’ at the Olympic-qualifying World Championships starting September 16.The WFI has been embroiled in controversy for the last few months over allegations of sexual harassment against its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the lengthy protests by India’s top wrestlers leading to delays in elections.The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had in April appointed an ad-hoc committee to run the affairs of the wrestling federation, with a directive to hold fresh elections in 45 days, which has since been delayed several times.Taking note of the situation in India “with great concern”, the UWW had in a statement in May warned about the possibility of suspension if the 45-day deadline for elections was not respected.
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Uttar Pradesh govt launches Manav Sampada Portal to bring transparency to employee activities.
In order to bring transparency in the work of the administration, the Yogi government has launched the ‘Manav Sampada Portal’. The portal puts the activities of the officers and employees of different departments in public domain through the portal. Details related to their appointment, leave management, transfer and retirement have been made available on the portal.Besides, the Government has instructed the officers and employees to declare their movable and immovable possessions on the website before December 2023. Officers and employees not complying with the Government’s directive within the given timeframe will face consequences, including denial of promotion.The Yogi government aims to bring transparency in the working of the officers and employees across all 74 departments of the state by providing all the facilities while fixing their accountability towards the government and the public.The state government has recently issued an order emphasizing that failure to provide information about the property within the specified deadline will be viewed unfavourably. Consequently, this aspect will be taken into account during the departmental selection committee meetings scheduled for January 1, 2024, and onwards.
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RBI approves voluntary amalgamation of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank, Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank
In a recent update, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its go-ahead for the voluntary merger of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd with Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd. This pivotal decision, outlined in an official release from the central bank, signifies a significant advancement in the consolidation process within the cooperative urban banking sector. The amalgamation scheme is slated to be effective from August 23, 2023.The RBI’s approval also includes a provision for the seamless transition of the Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank branch, which will begin operating as an integral part of Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank starting August 23, 2023. This strategic move has been meticulously designed to guarantee the uninterrupted continuation of operations and services, promising customers uninterrupted access to their banking facilities.
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The DAC has granted AoN for procurement and installation of Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite on Mi-17 V5 Helicopters.
A Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 7,800 crore on August 24, 2023. To enhance the efficiency of the Indian Air Force, the DAC has granted AoN for procurement and installation of Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite on Mi-17 V5 Helicopters under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category which will enhance better survivability of Helicopters. The EW Suite will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The DAC has also accorded AoN for procurement of Ground-Based Autonomous System for mechanised infantry and armoured regiments which will enable various operations like unmanned surveillance, logistic delivery of ammunition, fuel & spares and casualty evacuation in the battle field. Proposals for procurement of 7.62x51 mm Light Machine Gun (LMG) and Bridge Laying Tank (BLT) have also been given go ahead by the DAC. While induction of LMG will enhance fighting capabilities of infantry forces, the induction of BLT will result in faster movement of Mechanised Forces. The AoN for procurement of Ruggedised Laptops and Tablets for the Indian Army under Project Shakti has also been accorded. All these procurements will be sourced from Indigenous vendors only. To enhance the operational capability of the MH-60R Helicopters of the Indian Navy, the DAC has accorded AoN for procurement of weapons for the same.
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India's first Biodiversity Village Atlas has recently been unveiled. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant released Biodiversity Atlas of Mayem in North Goa
First Biodiversity Village: Nature is very unique. Very diverse. Various plants, many kinds of animals, many more kinds of living things, millions of species, all this diversity is a part of nature. The higher the biodiversity of such different elements, the better it is for the environment. This nature is peaceful because of the biodiversity. Too little or too much of any one can seriously affect the whole life. Biodiversity is threatened by the impact of modernization. It is in this background that the countries of the world are now putting a lot of emphasis on biodiversity. Governments of all countries are taking steps to develop biodiversity in many ways, giving priority to nature and biological diversity.Goa State Government is very much ahead in conservation of Biodiversity. The state government has initiated various programs to conserve biodiversity. India’s first Biodiversity Village Atlas has recently been unveiled. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant released Biodiversity Atlas of Mayem in North Goa on Wednesday. It is the first village atlas of the country. Mayem Vaigunim Gram Panchayat, Biodiversity Management Committee, Mayem Vaigunim, Mayem Panlot Sangh jointly organized this event.
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Mizoram becomes the first state in India to operationalize an ABDM Microsite in its capital city Aizawl.
The National Health Authority (NHA) had announced 100 Microsites project for accelerated adoption of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across the country. Mizoram becomes the first state in India to operationalize an ABDM Microsite in its capital city Aizawl. Under this, all healthcare facilities including the private clinics, small hospitals and labs in the region shall be made ABDM-enabled and will offer digital health services to the patients.Speaking on the significance of the project, CEO, NHA said – “The 100 Microsite project under ABDM is a very important initiative for reaching out to the bulk of small and medium scale healthcare providers from the private sector. The concept of Microsites was envisaged to provide a strong impetus to healthcare digitization efforts across the country. The efforts by Mizoram team have resulted in Aizawl becoming the first ABDM Microsite in India. NHA looks forward to similar enthusiastic response from other state teams.In Aizawl, at the Microsite launch event on 23rd August 2023, Ms. Betsy Zothanpari Sailo, Additional Secretary, H&FW Mizoram said “We firmly believe that digitization of health services can help us achieve our goal of universal health coverage. With digital services at our health facilities and secure access to digital health records, the patients shall benefit the most. Our teams made conscious efforts in closely studying the process of ABDM enablement and have selected an implementation partner to operationalize our first Microsite in Aizawl. We are all geared up to take the implementation in mission mode and ensure that the Aizawl Microsite lives up to its role as the first ABDM Microsite in the country.
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Panel formed for ‘restructuring and redefining’ role of DRDO
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) appears to be a committee-happy colossus. Over several decades, it has instituted a mind-boggling number of panels, committees, working groups and task forces – often on matters previously examined by other, similar groups – only to later dump their reports and recommendations.At best, it has cherry picked some recommendations for implementation, outrightly rejecting or remaining silent over the rest. Consequently, most of these committees, barring a handful of exceptions, have had little or no impact, whether on indigenising defence requirements, hastening material procurement or improving the MoD’s functioning.On August 26, for instance, the MoD announced the institution of a five-member committee, headed by V. Ramagopal Rao, director of the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, to overhaul the 52 laboratories of the government-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for ‘current and future defence and battlefield needs’. This is a reiteration of a similar committee established in 2007 under Dr P. Rama Rao, former secretary, Department of Science and Technology, also to review the DRDO’s functioning.The Rao committee’s recommendations, submitted in 2008, resulted in clubbing several DRDO laboratories and related institutions into smaller and more manageable clusters, but only after an internal MoD committee under the defence secretary had further scrutinised the recommendations and concurred in the regrouping of the DRDO’s laboratories in seven technology clusters headed by distinguished scientists as their directors general. The need to review this arrangement yet again, which began functioning 2011-12 onwards, remains inexplicable.
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made a significant announcement, revealing a thrilling collaboration with Mastercard, which is set to become a Global Partner for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
Mastercard has become Global Partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to be held in India between 5 October and 19 November 2023.Mastercard is known for sponsoring sporting events and providing ‘Priceless’ experiences to its cardholders and customers through exclusive benefits.Last year in India, Mastercard acquired title sponsorship rights for all BCCI international matches (featuring both women and men) held on home grounds, domestic cricket tournaments like Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy, and all junior cricket (Under 19 and Under 23) matches held in India.Earlier in March this year, the brand became the presenting sponsor of the Delhi Golf Club Open for the second time.In addition to the exclusive 24-hour pre-sale window, Mastercard cardholders will be able to avail a number of benefits. These opportunities include the chance to meet cricket legends, get up close to the Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy and experience access on match days.Children of cardholders aged between 12-18 years will also have the chance to be a part of the flagbearer programme and there will be a wide range of offers for Mastercard cardholders on official ICC merchandise.
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HDFC Bank, India's leading private sector bank, has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy, the acclaimed travel program by Marriott International, to unveil the 'Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card
Cashing on the upswing in travel and enhanced spending on the quality of experiences by the Indian traveller, HDFC Bank has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy to launch the first ever co-brand hotel credit card for the Indian market.This is also the first such offering for the Indian market at a time when Marriott is one of the largest hotel chains in India with 145 hotels across 41 cities offering 16 brands and on the cusp of unveiling it’s 17th brand in India. This product is launched in collaboration with global payment solutions provider, Diner’s Club.Primarily this credit card, is targetted at leisure travellers in India, looking for exceptional luxury experiences, and according to Parag Rao, Country Head – Payments Business, Consumer Finance, Technology and Digital Banking, HDFC Bank, this card is a premium hospitality offering for exceptional stays, and a large portion of this is for personal stay and spend. He said, “The recent merger of HDFC with HDFC Bank has brought together in excess of 100 million customers under our belt, with only 18 million credit card users in India. This clearly shows the scope of growth that we have together, and these are exciting times.” He went on to stay that this card offering is being extended to all the existing Bonvoy members.
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According to the latest study published by SBI Research Economists, India's per capita income will increase by 7.5 times from 2 lakh in FY2023 to 14.9 lakh per annum by FY2047.
India's per capita income is projected to increase significantly over the next few decades.According to a study conducted by SBI Research economists, India's per capita income is estimated to grow 7.5 times from Rs 2 lakh ($2,500) in FY23 to Rs 14.9 lakh ($12,400) per annum by FY47.The Indian government has set an ambitious target to become a developed economy by FY47.Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised this goal in his Independence Day address ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, stating that the next five years are crucial for India to achieve its 2047 objective.PM Modi said that the vision of a developed India in 2047 is not merely a dream but a resolution shared by the 140 crore Indians.The SBI study highlights the potential for significant income growth in the coming years.It predicts that the weighted mean income of tax filers will rise to Rs 49.9 lakh in FY47, compared to Rs 13 lakh in FY22.This increase is attributed to the country's transition from a lower-income group to an upper-income group economy, as well as tax buoyancy.The study also notes that the formalisation of the economy through initiatives such as the Goods and Services Tax and the UDYAM portal for MSMEs has contributed to a rise in income tax returns.
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Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan-2023: Madhya Pradesh’s IT hub in Indore secures first position
Indore has secured the first position in Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan-2023 conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board. Bhopal ranked fifth, Jabalpur 13th and Gwalior 41st in the same category of cities with a population of over 10 lakhs. Madhya Pradesh has secured two of the first five positions for cities with a population of more than 10 lakhs.Madhya Pradesh is the best performing state in the country, followed by Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, in the latest government cleanliness survey - the Swachh Survekshan. The survey is conducted by the ministry of housing and urban affairs every year. This year President Droupadi Murmu attended the event where union minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also present.. While Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are among the top three performing states in the category of those with greater than 100 ULBs (Urban Local Bodies), Tripura, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand have got the top three spots in the list of states with less than 100 ULBs.
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Justice Prakash Shrivastava, former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday took charge as chairperson of the National Green Tribunal.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava has been appointed as the chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, NGT.Justice Sheo Kumar Singh was appointed as the Acting Chairperson, after the former chairperson Justice A.K Goel retired in the month of July.Justice Srivastav was being enrolled as an Advocate on February 02, 1987. Justice Srivastav practised Tax, Civil and Constitutional sides in the Supreme Court of India at New Delhi. Later, he was being appointed as the judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 18.01.1888 and became the permanent Judge. Justice Prakash Shrivastava was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta in the year 2021 and he was retired in March of this year.In his address, Justice Shrivastava underlined that the right to a healthy environment has been construed to be a part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
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Sachin Tendulkar recognised as 'national icon' of Election Commission to encourage voter participation. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar recognised as 'national icon' of the Election Commission (EC) to encourage greater voter participation in the elec
As the Election Commission battles urban and youth apathy towards voting, cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar was on Wednesday appointed as a "national icon" of the poll panel to encourage greater voter participation in elections.Tendulkar was made the national icon as the EC gears up to hold assembly polls in five states sometime in October-November and Lok Sabha elections in 2024.A memorandum of understanding was signed between Tendulkar and the poll panel. As part of the three-year agreement, the cricketer will spread voter awareness.Addressing the gathering, Tendulkar said India is the biggest democracy in the world and it is our prime responsibility to exercise our voting rights.He reminded the gathering that he had said that in his second innings, he will continue to bat for India.Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said the "pitch" on which EC plays to encourage voters to come out and exercise their franchise is "tough". But he expressed confidence that Tendulkar will come out with flying colours.
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Iran unveils latest ‘Mohajer-10’ attack drone with enhanced range, features
Iran unveiled its latest domestically built drone named “Mohajer-10” with enhanced capabilities like flying at a higher altitude, for a longer duration and the ability to carry a greater payload, reported the Iranian state media on Tuesday (August 22). The new drone was launched during a ceremony in Tehran attended by the Iranian president, on the country’s military industry day. According to the official IRNA news agency, the new drone “can fly up to a maximum duration of 24 hours at an altitude of 7,000 metres with an operational range of 2,000 kilometres.The payload capacity can reach 300 kilogrammes, double the capacity of the “Mohajer-6” drone allowing it to carry “all kinds of bombs and ammunitions,” IRNA reported.The unmanned aerial vehicle can also travel at a speed of up to 210 km per hour and is reportedly equipped with enhanced electronic and intelligence systems. Meanwhile, the “Mohajer-6” drone can hold a 150-kg payload and fly for 12 hours. The previous model also had a lower flight altitude of 5,400 metres and could travel at a speed of 200 km per hour.
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Indian Chandrayaan-3 moon mission makes history after landing near lunar south polar region
Four days after Russia's ill-fated Luna-25 moon probe crash landed, India's heavily instrumented Chandrayaan-3 robotic lander dropped out of orbit for a rocket-powered descent to the lunar surface, successfully touching down near the moon's south pole.The automated landing boosted India's increasingly sophisticated space program to the level of "space superpower," making it only the fourth nation, after the United States, China and the former Soviet Union, to land an operational spacecraft on the moon and the first to reach the south polar region.Circling the moon in an elliptical orbit with a high point of 83 miles and a low point of just 15.5 miles, Chandrayaan-3's braking engines fired up around 8:15 a.m. EDT, at an altitude of about 18 miles, to begin the powered descent to the surface.After dropping to an altitude of about 4.5 miles, and slowing from 3,758 mph to about 800 mph, the spacecraft paused the descent for about 10 seconds to precisely align itself with the targeted landing site.
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LCA Tejas successfully test-fires indigenous ASTRA Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile off Goa coast
Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa on August 23, 2023. The missile release was successfully carried out from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 ft. All the objectives of the test were met and it was a perfect text book launch.The test launch was monitored by the Test Director and scientists of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) along with officials from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA). The aircraft was also monitored by a Chase Tejas twin seater aircraft.ASTRA, a state-of-the-art BVR air-to-air missile to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets, is designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO. The indigenous Astra BVR firing from home grown Tejas fighter is a major step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented ADA, DRDO, CEMILAC, DG-AQA and the industry for the successful firing of the missile from Tejas-LCA. He said the launch would significantly enhance the combat prowess of Tejas and reduce the dependency on imported weapons.Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman DRDO has also congratulated the teams involved in the successful launch.
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Renowned Indian-American mathematician and statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (102), popularly known as CR Rao, passed away
Calyampudi Radhakrishnan Rao, 102, among the world’s most eminent statisticians, and who spent nearly all of his professional career in India, died on Wednesday in the United States.Having taught and researched at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, Dr. Rao pioneered several fundamental statistical concepts such as the Cramer–Rao inequality and Rao–Blackwellization, concepts that appear in undergraduate textbooks on statistics and econometrics.C.R. Rao was born on September 10, 1920, in Hadagali, Bellary district in a Telugu family. He joined the ISI as a student when it was set up by Dr. P.C. Mahanobilis when statistics as a subject was still in its early years and yet to be taught as a distinct subject at the post-graduate level.While conveying his condolences to the bereaved family members of the centenarian, the Chief Minister recalled Dr Rao's significant contributions to the field of statistics, including the Cramer-Rao bound and the Rao-Blackwell theorem.
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Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai released three books, including a collection of poems titled 'Heritage Trees of Goa', 'When Parallel Lines Meet' and 'My Dear Poems'.
Emphasizing people’s supremacy, Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai said Friday that extensive village tours and public grievance interactions inspired him to offer assistance through schemes and write books.“Under the system of law…under the Constitution, if we put a question to ourselves, the people are supreme. Whatever may be the position of a Governor or Chief Minister…the people are supreme. We are prepared to serve the people, that is why we are in this post and that is why I travelled across villages,” said Pillai.Pillai, a prolific writer, who has written over 200 books, was speaking at a book release event at Raj Bhavan, where three books — ‘Heritage Trees of Goa’, ‘When Parallel Lines Meet’ and ‘Ente Priya Kavithakal’ (a collection of poems) — recently authored by him were released.Pillai said the inspiration for the endeavour struck him as he toured across over 421 villages in Goa, as part of an initiative to extend aid to dialysis and cancer patients through the Governor’s discretionary fund.During his address, West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose heaped heavy praise on the Goa Governor, saying that the latter had been a successful lawyer, politician, writer, and Governor and that he would like to learn some lessons from him.
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A historical moment unfolds as UNESCO and Telangana Government formalize their commitment through a Letter of Intent established on 20 August 2023.
The Telangana government has joined hands with the UNESCO to implement the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI by signing a Letter of Intent to drive efforts and action. The collaboration focuses on promoting the ethical development and use of AI awareness raising, capacity building, and contributions to UNESCO‘s Global Observatory on AI Ethics.This collaboration between the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) Department of Telangana government and UNESCO is set to shape the landscape of the ethical development of and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to a press release.The pact was signed on Sunday in the presence of Vakati Karuna, Secretary of Education, Telangana, Dr. Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Director A.I. and Chief of Executive Office, Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, and Rama Devi Lanka, Director of Emerging Technologies, Telangana.
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IREDA signs MoU with Government, Revenue Target for 2023-24 set at ₹ 4,350 crores
Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has signed a performance-based Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. The MoU, in alignment with guidelines issued by Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, outlines strategic targets that IREDA aims to achieve during the fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25. As per the MoU, the Government of India has set a Revenue from Operations target for IREDA, of ? 4,350 crores for the financial year 2023-24 and ? 5,220 crores for 2024-25. Notably, the company had achieved a Revenue from Operations figure of ? 3,482 crores in the preceding fiscal year, against a target of ? 3,361 crores. The government has also specified other key performance parameters in the MoU, including Return on Net Worth, Return on Capital Employed, NPA to Total Loans Ratio, Asset Turnover Ratio, and Earnings per Share. The MoU was signed by Secretary, MNRE, Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla and Chairperson & Managing Director (CMD), IREDA, Shri Pradip Kumar Das at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, New Delhi on August 21, 2023. Other senior officials of MNRE and IREDA were also present on the occasion.
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The G20 Pandemic Fund has approved the $25 million proposal submitted by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India on “Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pa
The pandemic has underscored the critical need for integrated One Health systems to combat emerging infectious diseases that often originate in animals. A staggering five out of the six WHO-declared public health emergencies of international concern in recent decades were of animal origin, underscoring the importance of addressing animal health as a key aspect of pandemic preparedness and response."The G20 Pandemic Fund has approved the $25 million proposal submitted by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India on “Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response"," the ministry said.Established under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, the Pandemic Fund finances critical investments to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities at national, regional, and global levels, focusing on low- and middle-income countries, it added.
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On 22nd August, 2023, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and UNDP, in the presence of Minister of State for Ministry of DoNER and Ministry of Cooperation, Shri B.L.Verma and UN Assistant Secretary-General & Director of the United Nat
On 22nd August, 2023, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and UNDP, in the presence of Minister of State for Ministry of DoNER and Ministry of Cooperation, Shri B.L.Verma and UN Assistant Secretary-General & Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), Ms Ulrika Modéer, entered into an MoU wherein UNDP would provide MDoNER with technical support on fast-tracking progress on the SDGs; monitoring, evaluation and capacity building; support Aspirational districts and blocks; support in the deployment of emerging technologies in governance and in scaling up good practices.Minister of State, MDoNER, Shri B.L. Verma addressed the delegates and said, Prime Ministers’ main focus is development of Social and Infrastructure connectivity in NER and hope UNDP will help the Ministry in achieving this goal. He also said, “The Ministry of DoNER has taken remarkable strides across critical sectors such as infrastructure, connectivity, health, education, climate change and economic growth to transform the lives of the people in the region. In this journey, UNDP has been our key partner in promoting data-driven decision-making, especially through the North East Region District SDG Index.
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India got its 54th tiger reserve in Rajasthan's Karauli and Dholpur districts on Tuesday with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approving a proposal in this regard.
India got its 54th tiger reserve in Rajasthan’s Karauli and Dholpur districts with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approving a proposal in this regard. This is Rajasthan’s fifth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari. The NTCA approved the proposal on August 4 and in-principle approval was cleared by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change on August 22. Meanwhile, in-principle approval has been granted to declare Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan as a tiger reserve. The proposed Kumbhalgarh reserve will be spread over around 2,800 sqkm. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body of the ministry, with an overarching supervisory / coordination role, performing functions as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.In 1973, the Project Tiger was established with the objective of utilising the tiger’s functional role and charisma to garner public support and resources for preserving representative ecosystems.
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Namaste Vietnam Festival 2023 Culminates Amidst Overwhelming Response
The second edition of the coveted 'Namaste Vietnam Festival’ culminated in Hanoi on Sunday amidst celebrity fervour and an unprecedented positive response from the people of Vietnam. The mega festival of India was organised jointly by the Indian Embassy, Consulate General of India, IFFW and Innovations India to celebrate and strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Vietnam conforming to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reiteration that Vietnam is a key partner of India's Act East Policy. The second edition of the coveted 'Namaste Vietnam Festival' culminated in Hanoi on Sunday amidst celebrity fervour and an unprecedented positive response from the people of Vietnam. The mega festival of India was organised jointly by the Indian Embassy, Consulate General of India, IFFW and Innovations India to celebrate and strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Vietnam conforming to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reiteration that Vietnam is a key partner of India's Act East Policy.Curated by Internationally Acclaimed Festival Curator Captain Rahul Bali, the 09-day festival aimed at spreading the fragrance of India in Vietnam was graced by the presence of Dignitaries, Luminaries, Diplomats, Notable Actors & Filmmakers, Captains of the Industry, Corporate Conglomerates, Business Chambers, Senior Government Officials, Business Delegations and Media from both the countries.
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India participates in 20th ASEAN-INDIA economic minister's meeting held on 21st August 2023 in Semarang, Indonesia.
Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented India in the 20th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ meeting held on 21st August 2023 in Semarang, Indonesia and co-chaired the meeting with Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Trade, Indonesia. The Economic Ministers or their representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the meeting. Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste also joined the Meeting as an observer.The Ministers reviewed the bilateral trade and investment relations between India and ASEAN and underscored their commitment to strengthen and enhance the economic partnership between India and ASEAN to ensure that the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership delivers meaningful benefits for both sides, particularly in the post-pandemic era. India and ASEAN registered a bilateral trade of USD 131.5 billion in 2022-23. The trade with ASEAN accounted for 11.3% of India’s global trade in 2022-23.The Ministers also interacted with the ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) and took note of the activities undertaken by AIBC in 2023, including the 5th ASEAN-India Business Summit held on 6th March 2023 in Kuala Lumpur. The Ministers noted the Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) flagged by the businesses and appreciated the growing exchanges between the stakeholders from both sides.
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International Finance Corporation has invested $100 million in IIFL Home Finance.
IIFL Home Finance Limited has secured a debt-funding of up to USD 100 million from International Finance Corporation, a joint statement said on Monday.The debt-funding will help IIFL HFL increase home finance to the economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income groups(LIG), including women borrowers.The need for affordable housing is estimated at 38 million units by 2030, of which EWS and LIG represent over 96 per cent.Under the loan agreement, 50 per cent of funding is earmarked to promote housing finance for women borrowers, and the remaining is dedicated to financing green housing for buyers in this underserved segment, the statement said.It however did not disclose the loan details such as tenor and the interest rate.According to IFC estimates, the country's green buildings market accounts for only 6 per cent of the residential buildings, despite representing a USD 1.25 trillion opportunity between now and 2030.As part of the partnership, IFC will provide a performance-based incentive from the UK-IFC Market Accelerator for Green Construction Programme to accelerate the implementation of IIFL HFL's green building strategy and catalyze the uptake of green-certified affordable housing units.
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Max Life Insurance Introduces 'Max Life NIFTY Smallcap Quality Index Fund'
Max Life Insurance Company Ltd. (Max Life) has launched the ‘NIFTY Smallcap Quality Index Fund’ in the ULIP segment. This first Smallcap Index Fund of the Life Insurance industry is based on the NIFTY Smallcap 250 Quality 50 Index that has delivered a 22% 10-year"We are launching our first-ever Smallcap Index Fund to offer investors a low-cost value proposition. The Fund provides an excellent opportunity to participate in the India growth story by investing in quality companies in diverse sectors with a high growth potential. Over the past years, the small-cap and mid-cap indices have given stellar returns. This Fund is suited for investors with high-risk tolerance looking to generate good returns over the long term. We are launching the Fund at a time when the Indian economy expects to do well over the coming years, and investors can take part in the growth of manufacturing, infrastructure, consumption, financials, and new-tech space." Mihir Vora, Senior Director, and Chief Investment Officer, at Max Life said. It is designed to provide investors with an opportunity to capitalize on the growth potential of Smallcap companies, aiming for long-term index-linked returns.
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ICRA estimates GDP growth at 8.5% in first quarter; maintains FY24 forecast at 6%
The April-June quarter GDP data will officially be released by the National Statistical Office on August 31. The Reserve Bank of India currently projects FY24 GDP growth at 6.5%, and Q1FY24 growth at 6.6%.India’s economic growth is likely to accelerate to around 8.5% in April-June 2023 period as compared to 6.1% recorded in the previous quarter, led by robust expansion in the services sector, research reports showed.According to a research paper by SBI, the robust growth in the first quarter would push the whole fiscal economic expansion to above the budgetary projection of 6.5%. SBI Research has pegged the first quarter growth for the current financial year is slated to be announced at the end of this month. “Economic activity in Q1 FY2024 was boosted by a continued catch-up in services demand and improved investment activity, particularly a welcome front-loading in Government capital expenditure said Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, ICRA.
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Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin secures votes to become Thailand's 30th Prime Minister
Srettha Thavisin of the populist Pheu Thai party has won the backing of parliament to become Thailand’s next prime minister, paving the way to a new coalition government and an end to weeks of uncertainty and political impasse.Property tycoon Srettha’s victory, with 482 votes from the 727 politicians present on Tuesday, ends months of suspense, legal wrangling and horse-trading that followed the May elections.The progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the national election, was blocked from taking power by conservative senators.The vote came hours after the Pheu Thai party’s billionaire figurehead Thaksin Shinawatra made an historic homecoming after years as a fugitive in self-imposed exile.Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, said Srettha had won a strong mandate.It is out with the old and in with the new. Srettha got over the 376 benchmark votes that he needed in both the lower and upper house. Interestingly he did that with more than 150 votes in the Senate, the Upper House, which is all appointed by the military, Cheng said.Political neophyte Srettha will be tasked with forming and holding together a potentially fragile coalition that will include parties backed by the military, which overthrew Pheu Thai governments in coups in 2006 and 2014.
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LIC acquires 6.660% shareholding in Jio Financial Services through demerger action
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Tuesday said that it has acquired 6.660 per cent shareholding in Jio Financial Services Ltd, the demerged non-banking financial services arm of the Reliance Industries. “This is to inform that the Corporation has acquired 6.660 per cent shareholding in Jio Financial Services Ltd through demerger action by Reliance Industries Ltd as per the notice by company dated 19th July 2023,” it said in a regulatory filing. Jio Financial Services listed on the stock exchanges on August 21, listing at Rs 265 – close to the discovered price of Rs 261.85. The market capitalisation of the financial services company stood at close to Rs 1.60 lakh crore.Earlier in July, Reliance Industries had transferred Rs 15,500 crore of cash and liquid investments to Jio Financial Services which was formed following the demerger of Reliance Industries’ financial services businesses. Following the transfer, JFSL has a liquid asset base of Rs 20,700 crore.
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LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Naval trainer prototype NP5 successfully completed its maiden flight on Friday, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement.The aircraft was piloted by Captain Amit Kawade (Indian Navy) and Wing Commander Siddarth Singh (RETD).The aircraft took off from Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) Airport at 1420 hours.“LCA Navy is Designed and Developed jointly by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL. The first trainer prototype NP1 was flown on 27 April 2012 and the fighter prototype NP2 was flown on February 7, 2015. Both Naval Prototypes (NP1 and NP2) have achieved major landmark milestones like ski jump take off and arrested landing demonstrations on Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Dabolim Airport, Goa and operations from indigenous aircraft carriers. The aircraft demonstrated 18 arrested landings and Ski Jump take offs from INS Vikramaditya in Jan 2020, including hot refuelling capability,” a release from DRDO said.
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International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
On the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Saint Domingue, today the Republic of Haiti, saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.It is against this background that the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is commemorated on 23 August each year. It was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Gorée Island in Senegal (23 August 1999).This International Day is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples. In accordance with the goals of the intercultural project "The Routes of Enslaved Peoples", it should offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.
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An increasing number of new Startups venturing into the Agriculture sector, focussing on niche technologies, says Dr Jitendra Singh
Launching the CSIR Prima ET11, the first indigenous e-Tractor developed by the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today underlined the role of Agri StartUps in India’s economy and called for the adoption of new and AI driven technologies in Agriculture.The Minister said, an increasing number of new Startups are venturing into the Agriculture sector, focussing on niche technologies including e-Tractor, recycling garbage, drip irrigation, Genome sequenced farming such as Mango and Lotus, he said.“This is one sector in which India has rather not taken up the pace that was required,” said Dr Jitendra Singh, adding, “This is a huge unexplored resource, which is only exclusive to India. Those countries which had been promoting IT, have been promoting from their point of view because they have their assets; they don’t have the agri asset that we have. So we don’t have to ape them. If I have plenty of agriculture resource, why not I make use of it… Therefore, this route would be a very important component in India’s future economy in the next 25 years.Dr Jitendra Singh gave the mantra of 5 S’s, - Showcasing, Stakeholders, Startups, Synergizing and Strategizing Industry linkage, for the success of R&D conducted at Government run scientific laboratories.
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The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) was launched by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari on August 22, 2023
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) today in New Delhi aiming to enhance road safety by elevating vehicle safety standards for up to 3.5-tonne vehicles in India.Addressing the gathering he said this is a landmark step towards empowering our consumers for being able to make a better choice for buying safer cars.Shri Gadkari said BHARAT NCAP will also greatly push the safety and quality of the vehicles in India, while simultaneously promoting a healthy competition among OEMs to manufacture safer vehicles. He said the new safety regime under BHARAT NCAP and AIS-197 is a mutual win-win for manufacturers and consumers and an instrumental step towards safeguarding lives of our citizens and making our Automobile Industry the number one auto manufacturing hub in the world.The Program is applicable to type approved motor vehicles of M1 category less than 3.5T GVW. This is a voluntary program in which the base variants of a given model shall be tested.This program will commence from 1st Oct 2023 and will be based on Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. Program aims to create ecosystem of competitive safety enhancements leading to increased awareness among consumers. Consumers can take an informed decision by making a comparative assessment on vehicle performance under crash test conditions.NCAP brings the opportunity to the OEMs to manufacture vehicles of global safety standards. Program will be anchored by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) .This program has been evolved based on stakeholder consultations .
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World Water Week is annually observed across the globe during the last week of August with an aim to examine the pivotal role of water in addressing several pressing global challenges such as water crisis, global warming, biodiversity loss, and so on.
World Water Week 2023 will focus on innovation at a time of unprecedented challenges. The theme, ‘Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World,’ invites a rethink of how water is managed, and urges consideration of the ideas, innovations, and governance systems that are needed in an increasingly unstable and water scarce world.Organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), World Water Week 2023 aims to explore how water can be a powerful tool to address the water crisis, global warming, biodiversity loss, poverty, and many other water-related challenges. It will draw on the latest scientific knowledge and experiences from around the world. It aims to be an inclusive, hands-on conference for people who want to use water as a tool to change the world.Water also plays an important role in the world economy. Approximately 70% of the freshwater used by humans goes to agriculture. Fishing is a major source of food for many parts of the world. Much of the long-distance trade of commodities is transported by boats through various bodies of water.
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MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar to inaugurate G20-Digital Innovation Alliance (DIA) Summit in Bengaluru tomorrow
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar will inaugurate the G20-Digital Innovation Alliance Summit, being held in Bengaluru from tomorrow. The two-day Summit, being held on sidelines of the Fourth meeting of DEWG under G20, will be attended by global experts and digital leaders including representatives from other G20 countries. The Summit will have focused discussions on ‘Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)’, ‘Security in the Digital Economy’, ‘Digital Skilling ‘ etc. The Minister will also inaugurate an innovation exhibition, that has been put up by corporates and startups, on the sidelines of the Summit. As part of India’s G20 Presidency, G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA) initiative was launched under MeitY Startup Hub. It recognizes and accelerates the growth of startups from all G20 countries and nine invited guest countries in six sectors – Ed-tech, Health-tech, Agri-tech, Fin-tech, Secured Digital Infrastructure, and Circular Economy that are using digital technologies to solve humanity’s most pressing needs. A total of 174 startups from 29 countries are part of the program. These startups will pitch to a jury of global leaders at the G20-DIA Summit. The Summit will culminate on August 18 with an awards ceremony in which 30 startups will be honoured in various categories.
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Dr Jitendra Singh unveils new variety "Lotus" flower developed by Lucknow Institute CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute): Named ‘Namoh 108’, the new Lotus has 108 petals
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today unveiled the new variety "Lotus" flower developed by Lucknow Institute CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute) that has 108 petals. The lotus named ‘NBRI Namoh 108’ is developed by the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), a premier plant-based, multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art National R&D center based in Lucknow.Dedicating to the nation the Namoh108 lotus variety and its products at NBRI, Lucknow, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “Considering the religious importance of the 'lotus flower' and 'the digit 108', this combination gives an important identity to this variety. The Namoh 108 lotus variety flowers from March to December and is rich in nutrients. This is the first lotus variety whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics.Dr Jitendra Singh also released apparel made from lotus fibre and perfume ‘Frotus’, extracted from lotus flowers and developed by the NBRI under the Lotus Research Programme in collaboration with FFDC, Kannauj.
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BRICS nations agree to launch new university ranking system
The BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, and China, are planning to launch a new university ranking system.BRICS Education Ministers, gathered in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, have come to an agreement to establish an autonomous university rating system. The decision follows concerns raised about the current rankings, which have faced criticism for their failure to encompass impartial data.The central theme of the meeting revolved around the need for accountable and pertinent education and training in the modern global landscape. This initiative was prompted by a joint consensus among departmental leaders who acknowledged the limitations of current rating methodologies.Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education in Russia, emphasized that the global education community is in need of a new evaluation framework. Mogilevsky highlighted the importance of this framework being rooted in objective data and universally accepted.
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World Senior Citizen Day 2023: Steps we can take to support senior citizens
Observed every year on August 21, World Senior Citizen Day is celebrated in recognition of the contributions made by the elderly to society. In India, any person above the age of 60 years is recognised as a senior citizen.The origins of the day can be traced back to the efforts of the former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. On August 19, 1988, President Reagan issued a presidential statement appointing August 21 as National Seniors Day in an attempt to honour the senior citizens in the country, while also emphasising the significance of programs and policies that benefit them. Over time, the celebration extended globally with the emergence of World Senior Citizen Day.On this special occasion, we turned to an expert to share with us the possible challenges faced by this demographic and the ways in which we can support the ageing demographic.According to MP Deepu, Co-Founder, SeniorWorld, as the world observes World Senior Citizen Day, the spotlight falls on a demographic trend that is reshaping societies — the rapid growth of the senior population.
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SBI Life Insurance becomes the first Indian private life insurer to launch a 24X7 inbound contact centre to offer before and after sales services to consumers
SBI Life Insurance Company has launched its dedicated 24X7 inbound contact centre to address before and after purchase queries related to comprehensive insurance solutions provided by the company. SBI Life, thus, becomes the first private life insurance company in the country to have such an extensive customer care support, which aligns with the company's commitment in enriching customer experience and addressing their insurance needs/queries at their convenience.SBI Life's 24X7 inbound contact centre is made available to both existing and prospective consumers, 365 days a year. Through the 24X7 customer care support, the insurance company aims to redefine seamless accessibility and interaction with trained professionals. The contact center will provide technical assistance with products or answer customers' questions about their purchases or experiences. Having a readily available support team around the clock offers an avenue for customers to get their queries addressed as per their individual convenience, enhancing customer satisfaction.
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Industrialist Ratan Tata was conferred Maharashtra's first Udyog Ratna award at his residence
Ratan Tata is one the most celebrated Indian industrialists across the globe. With a long family legacy, Ratan Tata has been a key pillar in establishing Indian industries across the globe. The former Tata Sons chairman is also known for wisdom and philanthropic activities. For his knowledge of business, charitable acts and wisdom, Ratan Tata has received many international accolades and high ranking civilian awards in India. Now, the billionaire is set to receive a first of its kind award from the Maharashtra government. Ratan Tata will be the first recipient of the Udyog Ratna Award that the Maharashtra government decided to initiate this year onward. The state-level award will be given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industrial sector of Maharashtra and Ratan Tata will be the first to receive this award.Ratan Tata has been at the helm of the Tata Group for more than two decades. He helped Tata Group to become a leader in a number of industries, including automobiles, steel, and telecommunications.
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BPCL Announces Legendary Cricketer Rahul Dravid as their Brand Ambassador
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), the second-largest Indian oil marketing company (OMC), on August 19 announced Rahul Dravid, cricket legend and the current Head Coach of the Indian cricket team, as its latest brand ambassador."Rahul Dravid's remarkable sportsmanship, role model status, integrity, dependability and trustworthiness perfectly reflect the values we stand for and make him the perfect fit for brand BPCL," said a company statement.Rahul Dravid will represent BPCL's Pure for Sure initiative and its range of MAK lubricants.G. Krishnakumar, C&MD, BPCL said, "We are delighted to welcome Rahul Dravid to BPCL family. As one of the greatest cricketers of our time, he stood out not only for his exemplary batting skills but also his strong integrity and dependability."
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Bernardo Arevalo: Anti-corruption leader wins Guatemala election
Bernardo Arevalo's victory is seen as a repudiation of the political elite in the Central American nation, long the target of corruption allegations. The 64-year old former diplomat led his rival, former first lady Sandra Torres, 58% to 37% with all votes counted. The people of Guatemala have spoken forcefully," Mr Arevalo told reporters. "Enough with so much corruption. Guatemala ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index in 2022, tied with Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. Mr Arevalo's supporters celebrated his victory on the streets of the capital Guatemala City on Sunday night, waving flags and lighting fireworks.This triumph represents the defeat of a corrupt system," said one of his supporters, sociologist Jorge Mendoza. The son of former president Juan José Arévalo, his campaign pulled off a massive upset, defying opinion polls, legal challenges and attempts to disqualify his Movimiento Semilla, or Seed Movement, party. In the first round of voting last 25 June, Mr Arevalo placed a surprise second to Ms Torres, who has the support of the political elite.
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Neelkanth Mishra appointed as part-time chairperson of UIDAI
Neelkanth Mishra, the chief economist of Axis Bank, has been appointed as the part-time chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), said a notification issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Monday. The UIDAI is the nodal body in charge of issuing Aadhaar numbers. The composition of the UIDAI board encompasses a chairperson, two members serving on a part-time basis, and the CEO, who concurrently holds the position of member-secretary.Neelkanth Mishra was previously associated with Credit Suisse, and is currently, the chief economist at Axis Bank. His extensive experience in economics, particularly in fields such as metals and mining, Indian pharmaceuticals, and technology strategy research, is expected to bolster the agency's operations, said a MoneyControl report. Mishra's influence extends to economic policy discussions, having advised government committees and served on the economic advisory council to the 15th finance commission, said the report. Adding that his analyses were among the earliest to identify the K-shaped post-Covid economic recovery, highlighting how consumption slumps primarily affected the highest income percentiles. He hailed the government's production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes and emphasised the importance of tax policy certainty and targeted subsidies.
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China successfully launches new satellite for Earth observation
China launched a new Earth observation satellite, Gaofen-6, which will be mainly used in agricultural resources research and disaster monitoring. The Gaofen-6 was launched on a Long March-2D rocket. Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. A scientific experiment satellite named Luojia-1 was sent into space at the same time. It was the 276th mission of the Long March rocket series.Weighing 1,064 kg and with a designed life of eight years, Gaofen-6 has a similar function to that of Gaofen-1 satellite, but with better cameras and its high-resolution images can cover a large area of the Earth, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. Gaofen-6 can observe chlorophyll and other nutritional content of crops, and help to estimate yields of crops such as corn, rice, soybeans, cotton and peanuts, said Tong Xudong, chief engineer of the Gaofen series satellites. Its data will also be applied in monitoring agricultural disasters such as droughts and floods, evaluation of agricultural projects and surveying of forest and wetland resources, said Tong.
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India wrestlers won a total of 14 medals(4 golds, 3 silver and 7 bronze) in the World Under-20 Wrestling Championships 2023 held in Amman, Jordan from 14th to 20th August 2023 .
Indian wrestlers finished their campaign at the World Under-20 Wrestling Championships 2023 with with 14 medals - four gold, three silver and seven bronze. The event was held in Amman, Jordan, from August 14 to 20. The week-long event at the Amman International Stadium saw bouts in men’s and women’s freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman categories. A total of 30 Indian wrestlers - one in each medal event - competed in the 46th edition of the junior wrestling championships. The 19-year-old Antim Panghal, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to become an U20 wrestling world champion in Sofia, Bulgaria, last year, successfuly defended her women’s 53kg crown in Amman and spearheaded the Indian medal rush. With the win, Antim Panghal became the first Indian woman wrestler to win two U20 world titles. Mohit Kumar, meanwhile, became the U-20 world champion in the 61kg freestyle category after he bounced back from 0-6 score in the final against the Russian Federation's Eldar Akhmaduninov to win the match 9-8. Priya Malik became only the second Indian woman to be crowned the U-20 world champion. She defeated Laura Celine Kuehn of Germany 5-0 in the final of the women's 76kg. Savita (women's 62kg) accounted for India's fourth gold at the Amman meet.
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Emmy winning ‘This is Us’ actor Ron Cephas Jones passes away at the age of 66
Ron Cephas Jones attends the LA Premiere of "Truth Be Told," at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California Emmy-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones, known for his role in ‘This Is Us,’ died aged 66 on Saturday, August 19. For his role as William Hill, Ron won a guest acting Emmy in 2018 and another in 2020. His daughter Jasmine won her first Emmy that same year.A representative for Ron said in a statement to the news outlet PEOPLE, “Beloved and award-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.“Throughout the course of his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by anyone who had the good fortune of knowing him. He began his career at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and his love for the stage was present throughout his entire career, including his recent Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award winning performance for his role in Clyde’s on Broadway,” the statement continued.“Ron’s inner-beauty and soul was evident to the huge audience from his multi-Emmy award winning performance on This is Us. He is survived by his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones,” it added.
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On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we express our concern at the alarming number of violent incidents and hate-motivated attacks based on religion or belief that occur throughout the OSCE
Freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing. They are enshrined in articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Upholding these rights plays an important role in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.The open, constructive and respectful debate of ideas, as well as interreligious, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, at the local, national, regional and international levels, can play a positive role in combating religious hatred, incitement and violence.Furthermore, the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and combating religious intolerance.There are continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and religious minorities around the world, and the number and intensity of such incidents, which are often of a criminal nature and may have international characteristics, are increasing.
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CBDT prescribes rules to calculate income from life insurance where premium exceeds Rs 5 lakh
The Income Tax department has prescribed a mechanism for calculating income proceeds from life insurance policies where aggregate annual premium exceeds Rs 5 lakh.The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the Income Tax Amendment (Sixteenth Amendment), Rules, 2023, prescribing rule 11UACA for calculating income with respect to sum received upon maturity of life insurance policies wherein the amount of premiums exceed Rs 5 lakh and such policy/policies are issued on or after April 1, 2023.According to the change, for policies issued on or after April 1, 2023, the tax exemption on maturity benefits under Section 10(10D) will only be applicable if the aggregate premium paid by an individual is up to Rs 5 lakh a year.For premiums beyond this limit, the proceeds will be added to the income and taxed at applicable rates.The change in tax provision with regard to life insurance policies, except ULIP, was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
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NTPC is setting up a hydrogen fuelling station, solar plant and providing five fuel cell buses for operation on intracity routes in Leh
In a first, state-run power generator NTPC has started a three-month long trial run for hydrogen-fired buses in Leh as part of its efforts towards achieving a carbon-neutral Ladakh.In a first, state-run power generator NTPC has started a three-month long trial run for hydrogen-fired buses in Leh as part of its efforts towards achieving a carbon-neutral Ladakh.“The first hydrogen bus reached Leh on August 17 as part of a 3-month-long process of field-trials, road worthiness tests, and other statutory procedures. This will be India’s first-ever deployment of hydrogen buses on public roads, the Maharatna said.The first of its kind green hydrogen mobility project at 11,562 feet (above sea level) is co-located with a dedicated solar plant of 1.7 megawatt (MW) for providing renewable power.
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International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism (21 August 2023)
on the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, France pays tribute to the memory of those whose lives have been snatched away by acts of barbarism. France lends its support to the victims and their families. In the past, our country has faced several waves of terrorist actions. It has therefore been quick to take on board the security challenges posed by the threat of terrorism and violent radicalization. France’s goal is to neutralize terrorist activities, directly on our territory but also beyond our borders, to protect our fellow citizens wherever they are, in close cooperation with our allies facing the same challenges. As the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mme Catherine Colonna, reiterated at the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh on 8 June, France is totally determined to continue the fight against terrorism, be it in the Levant, Africa, Afghanistan or Central Asia. She recalled that since 2017 France has continuously been engaged in stabilization and humanitarian aid in Iraq and Syria.
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Dharmendra Pradhan launches the first State of Elementary Education in Rural India report in Delhi
From rural India, here comes a promising indicator of progress towards an inclusive environment. According to a report conducted by the Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), a collaboration between Transform Rural India and Sambodhi Research and Communications Pvt. Ltd., parents from rural communities firmly believe that a child’s gender, whether a boy or a girl, should not hinder their educational aspirations. In this study, it was revealed that a total of 78 percent of parents of girls and 82 percent of parents of boys wanted to educate their children to graduation and above. The study was focused on 6 to 16-year-old children in rural communities across 20 states in India. The report, titled ‘State of Elementary Education in Rural India– 2023’, was officially unveiled by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India, during TRI’s India Rural Colloquy 2023 (IRC) on August 8 at India Habitat Centre, Delhi.
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SBI partners with IIT-B to strengthen data analytics, AI capabilities
The State Bank of India (SBI), through its CSR arm SBI Foundation, has pledged a grant of ?22.5 crore to establish a Banking Data and Analytics Hub at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B). The focus of the Hub will be to address the unique challenges faced by the Indian banking and financial services sector. The collaboration aims to leverage SBI's extensive experience in banking and IIT Bombay's research expertise. Announced on the occasion of the 68th “Bank Day", the Hub includes a 10,000 Sq. Ft. lab space and shall fund research and skill development in data analytics and AI (Artificial Intelligence). “The tie-up shall help enhance SBI’s AI capabilities and will lead to the generation and dissemination of new ideas through industry-academia collaboration and training of the Bank’s staff. The partnership shall benefit the entire BFSI sector and help in the adoption of emerging technologies like ChatGPT," Dinesh Khara, Chairman, SBI said.
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The First World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Global Summit held between August 17 and 18 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
The Global Summit for Traditional Medicine serves as a beacon of hope, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being. By embracing ancient wisdom and modern science, we can collectively work towards achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals while fostering a 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' ethos. This was stated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the presence of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization, as he inaugurated the WHO’s first ever Global Summit for Traditional Medicine. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush, the summit is a Co-branded event as part of the ongoing G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 17th to 19th August. The inauguration event was also attended by Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Minister of State for Ayush, Shri Rushikesh Patel, Gujarat Health Minister, Ms Lonpo Dasho Dechen Wangmo, Minister of Health, Bhutan, and Ms. Vivian T. Camacho Hinojosa, National Director of Ancestral Traditional Medicine, Bolivia.
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RBI has issued comprehensive guidelines to the Regulated Entities (REs) regarding penal charges in loan accounts to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the lending practices of financial institutions.
Bank credit growth to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has decelerated on a year-on-year basis in the first three months of the current fiscal, according to Reserve Bank data. Players in the MSME sector, the backbone of domestic industry and largest employer, said risk averseness makes banks reluctant to provide loans to small units, leading to a deceleration in bank credit growth. As per the latest Reserve Bank data, the credit to medium industries in June grew by 13.2 per cent (47.8 per cent last year) and micro and small industries by 13 per cent (29.2 per cent a year ago).In absolute terms, the gross bank credit outstanding to medium industries at June-end was Rs 2,63,440 crore compared to Rs 2,32,776 crore in June last year. In the case of micro and small industries, the credit outstanding in June was Rs 6,25,625 crore against Rs 5,53,675 crore in the corresponding month of 2022. In May, the credit to medium industries grew by 18.9 per cent (42.9 per cent last year) and micro and small industries by 9.5 per cent (32.7 per cent a year ago).
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RBI advised banks and finance companies to reset Floating Interest Rate on Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) for select personal loans in response to rising interest rates through the new rules.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued detailed guidelines on August 18 to reset the interest rates for equated monthly installments (EMI) in floating interest loans. “Any increase in the EMI/tenor or both on account of this shall be communicated to the borrower immediately through appropriate channels," RBI said in a release. The RBI had said in its latest monetary policy decision that it will shortly issue the guidelines for the same. The central bank said that several consumer grievances have been received in relation to elongation of loan tenor or increase in EMI amount with regard to EMI-based floating rate personal loans, without proper communication or consent of the borrowers. Interest rates have risen since May last year as the central bank hiked the repo rate to tame high inflation. As a result of 250 basis points increase in the repo rate from May 2022 till February this year, a large number of borrowers have been facing negative amortisation, wherein the Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) works out to be less than the interest obligation, resulting in persistent increase of the principal amount, according to news agency PTI.
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Canara Bank launches UPI Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application
Canara Bank on Monday launched UPI Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application as a part of the Reserve Bank of India's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project.Canara Bank is the first Bank among public and private sector banks to introduce this feature in Bank’s CBDC mobile app called 'Canara Digital Rupee app'."With the introduction of this feature, customers will be able to scan merchant UPI QR codes using the app and make the payment through digital currency. Further, this feature empowers the merchants to accept digital currency payments using their existing UPI QR codes in addition to the UPI based payments without the requirements of a separate on boarding process for CBDC," the company said in a release."The launch of Canara Bank Digital Rupee mobile application enabled with UPI Interoperability is a revolutionary step towards digitalizing the Indian economy. He expressed pride in the launch of the app, which will enable customers to enjoy the benefits of fast and secure transactions with digital currency devised by RBI," said K Satyanarayana Raju, the Managing Director and CEO of Canara Bank.
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SBI Appoints New Directors On The Central Board Of The Bank
SBI on Friday announced the appointment of Ketan Shivji Vikamsey, Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape, Rajesh Kumar Dubey, and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat as the new Director on the Central Board of the Bank under section 19(c) of the SBI Act, 1955 for a period of three years from June 26, 2023 to June 25, 2026, the company announced through an exchange filing.CA Ketan S Vikamsey is a senior partner at KKC & Associates LLP (formerly Khimji Kunverji & Co LLP), Chartered Accountants, a firm established in 1936. He holds a Certification on IFRS by ICAI; Diploma in Information System Audit (DISA) of ICAI; and Certification in IT and Cyber Security for Board Members by IDRBT, Hyderabad. He is registered as an Independent Director with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and comes with over thirty years’ experience in the areas of audit of large banks, manufacturing concerns, Investment Banks, Insurance Companies and Mutual Funds. He is a regular Speaker/ Chairman, at various seminars, meetings, lectures held by ICAI, Regional Councils of ICAI, Branches & Study Circles of ICAI, RBI, C&AG and several other organisations and is a Trustee at Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri and Shri V L Vidyarthigriha – a NGO operating a modern Hostel facility in the heart of Mumbai with a capacity of over 150 students.
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Indian Army inducts indigenous Swathi WLR (Mountains) to locate hostile artillery and enhance combat potentia
To fortify the nation's battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the Indian Army inducted the lighter and more compact version of the indigenously developed Weapon Locating Radar (WLR-M) called "Swathi Mountains." The induction ceremony took place on August 5, 2023, at Agra, where Lieutenant General JB Chaudhari, the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCOAS) for Capability Development and Sustenance (CD&S), flagged off the radar system.The Swathi Mountains WLR is an advanced electronically scanned phased array radar, specifically designed for operations in mountainous and high-altitude areas and was developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru.The Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) stands as a critical asset for modern militaries, employing advanced signal processing techniques to autonomously detect and track hostile artillery, mortars, and rocket launchers. Notably, it even tracks friendly fire trajectories, enabling precise calculations for more accurate artillery strikes. The radar's sophistication lies in its ability to detect and track small projectiles across the battlefield while factoring in environmental conditions for precise launch and impact point estimations.
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Russia's first moon mission in 47 years failed when its Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the moon after a problem preparing for pre-landing orbit
MOSCOW, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Russia's first moon mission in 47 years failed when its Luna-25 space craft spun out of control and crashed into the moon after a problem preparing for pre-landing orbit, underscoring the post-Soviet decline of a once mighty space programme.Russia's state space corporation, Roskosmos, said it had lost contact with the craft at 11:57 GMT on Saturday after a problem as the craft was shunted into pre-landing orbit. A soft landing had been planned for Monday."The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the Moon," Roskosmos said in a statement.It said a special inter-departmental commission had been formed to investigate the reasons behind the loss of the Luna-25 craft, whose mission had raised hopes in Moscow that Russia was returning to the big power moon race.The failure underscored the decline of Russia's space power since the glory days of Cold War competition when Moscow was the first to launch a satellite to orbit the Earth - Sputnik 1, in 1957 - and Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to travel into space in 1961.
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Spain beat England 1-0 to win first FIFA Women's World Cup
SYDNEY, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Spain defeated England 1-0 in the Women's World Cup final on Sunday, capping off a tournament that has broken attendance and TV records and raised hopes of a surge in interest for the women's game.Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the ninth edition of the global showpiece event was the first to be held in the southern hemisphere.While local interest ebbed when Australia exited in the semi-finals, just shy of two million fans will have passed through the gates in nine host cities after Sunday's final crowd of 75,784 is added to the tally.An Olga Carmona goal was the difference between the two sides in a pulsating game that saw Spain create the majority of the clear-cut chances."We suffered, it was a difficult match (but) we always thought we were going to make it," Carmona, who was also named player of the match, told Spanish state broadcaster TVE.La Roja were rocked by a locker room dispute between the squad and coach Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation, with some of their best players absent from the tournament as a result.
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World Mosquito Day, observed annually on 20 August.
On August 20, 1897, a British doctor made a groundbreaking discovery. Sir Ronald Ross found that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans. The parasite was located in the mosquito’s stomach. To commemorate this moment in history, World Mosquito Day (WMD) was founded. Each year, WMD presents us with an opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers posed by mosquito-borne diseases and the ongoing efforts to combat the world’s deadliest creature.Today, more than 125 years later, mosquito-borne diseases kill more than one million people and infect up to 700 million each year – almost one in ten people.Already in 2023, there have been more than three million dengue cases and over 1,500 dengue-related deaths globally. Argentina, Peru and Bangladesh have experienced the largest dengue outbreaks in their histories, while Paraguay has witnessed a sharp rise in chikungunya cases.
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Sadbhavana Diwas, also known as Harmony Day, is an annual celebration observed on 20th August in India.
The birth anniversary of the sixth Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, is celebrated as Sadbhavana Diwas on August 20. "Sadbhavana" in English means goodwill. Also known as Harmony Day, this day aims to foster peace, national integration, and community harmony among all religions. To celebrate the occasion, various cultural events and tournaments are held across the country. People also work together and are committed to establishing peace and harmony around them. I take this solemn pledge that I will work for the emotional oneness and harmony of all the people of India regardless of caste, region, religion, or language. I further pledge that I shall resolve all differences among us through dialogue and constitutional means without resorting to violence.Sadbhavana Diwas were first marked in 1992, almost a year after Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb attack in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur. Rajiv Gandhi's modern point of view was reflected in his contributions to the progress of the nation. He proposed a National Education Policy in 1986 to modernize and expand higher education in India. Rajiv Gandhi also established a central government based institution, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in the same year to develop the rural part of the society by providing free residential education from class 6 to class 12.
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Australian Olympic swimming gold medal winner John Devitt dies at the age of 86
Devitt won his only individual Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at Rome. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning 4-x-200 Australian freestyle relay at the Melbourne Games four years earlier.He also won a silver medal in the 100 freestyle at Melbourne and a bronze with the Australian 4-x-200 relay team in Rome.Devitt also won three gold medals at the 1958 Cardiff British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Wales.He later served as an executive on the Australian Olympic Committee and helped Sydney win the bid for the 2000 Olympics. Devitt was also the Australian chef de mission for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.“John was a great sportsman, a great Australian, and a great friend to many in the swimming and wider sporting communities,” Sport Australia Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand said. “He always put the athletes first.
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Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Smt Nirmala Sitharaman launch Kuwi and Desia books at Bhubaneswar
Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched Kuwi and Desia books at Bhubaneswar. The event also witnessed the special cover release on behalf of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India. This marks a collaborative effort with Central University of Odisha, Koraput, Department of Posts, and NCERT.While addressing the gathering at the launch ceremony, Shri Pradhan mentioned that there are over 62 tribes covering 23% of total population of Odisha, so, it becomes necessary to teach students with help of pictures, stories and songs based on their local nature and culture to improve their speaking skill, learning outcome and cognitive development, he added. In this regard, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), for the first time, in collaboration with Central University of Odisha, has prepared two invaluable books: the "Kuwi Primer" and "Desia Primer", for those children, who are speaking Kuwi and Desia tribal languages in the undivided Koraput district of Odisha, he informed. He said that these two primers will not only shape a strong educational foundation of those children but also preserve and foster the cultural, linguistic heritage and identity of tribal community of Odisha.
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This year’s World Humanitarian Day marks the 20th anniversary of the deadly attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad.
On 19 August 2003, we lost 22 colleagues in an attack on the United Nations in Baghdad, Iraq. The tragedy profoundly changed the way in which humanitarians operate – from being respected, to being targeted – and led to the creation of World Humanitarian Day (WHD).Today, 20 years on, our work has grown in scale and complexity. We aim to help almost 250 million people – 10 times more people than in 2003.As our efforts have grown, so to have the challenges we face. From rising geopolitical tensions and the blatant disregard of international humanitarian law, to deliberate attacks and disinformation campaigns, our work is more difficult and dangerous than ever.Amid these trials we have grown stronger, and we are closer to the women, men and children we serve. We venture deep into disaster-stricken regions and closer to the front lines of conflict with no other purpose than saving and protecting lives and delivering the basics of life: food, water, shelter, education, health, nutrition and protection.
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WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY | August 19
Your memory might fade away, but pictures stay intact forever. Photographs not only remind you of the past, but they also have the ability to embody a range of emotions and feelings. World Photography Day is observed every year on August 19. The day is dedicated to celebrating the art of clicking pictures. People also pay homage to the pioneers of photography who inspired the world to take up this skill as well as acknowledge the contributions of great photographers. Photography has played a significant role in capturing events of the past for future generations to acknowledge. The art or skill of photography has become only better with time. In 1837, two Frenchmen named Joseph Nicephore Niepce and Louis Daguerre invented the first-ever photographic process, also called Daguerreotype.
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Indian cricket team in the West Indies and the United States in 2023
That is the plan. Unless there is an unavoidable situation, the two extra games will be played in Florida, like last year. No to USAC. The CWI is the event host with special commercial relations and arrangements for local operations at the Broward Stadium. This is very similar to how the 2024 World Cup will operate for the US matches, a Cricket West Indies official said.Cricket West Indies and USA Cricket have signed a strategic partnership to host the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. ICC has been a little aggressive in promoting cricket in the USA lately. There have been talks on the table to award the USA the hosting rights for a potential India-Pakistan World Cup game next year if the cricketing board meets ICC's financial compliances.India played two T20Is at Florida's Broward Stadium as a part of their West Indies tour last year. After playing the first three games in West Indies, the Indian team faced visa issues to travel to the USA for the last two matches. The Cricket West Indies official has assured that the last-minute visa issues will not be repeated this time.
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HDFC Group launches life insurance, asset management services from GIFT IFSC
HDFC Group on Thursday announced the launch of its life insurance and asset management services at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat's GIFT City. HDFC International Life and Re has been set up by HDFC Life, while HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Ltd has been established by HDFC Asset Management Company to offer services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and the global Indian diaspora. While the new unit under brand name HDFC Life International will offer US dollar-denominated life as well as health insurance solutions, HDFC AMC International would provide fund management and advisory solutions as part of its offshore hub, the group said in a statement. "We look forward to further contributing to the India growth story and to make world-class foreign currency denominated insurance solutions available for NRIs and global Indians through HDFC Life International and; Indian investment solutions available to global investors and global investment solutions available to resident investors through HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Ltd," Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC Life and HDFC AMC, said.
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Indian Bank extends online locker agreement execution through DDE platform of NeSL
Bank on Thursday became the First Public Sector Bank to extend facility of execution of on-line locker agreement through Digital Document Execution (DDE) Platform of National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL). On-line locker agreement, which is available round the clock will enhance customer convenience and will reduce the turn-around time of the agreement execution.DDE is a fully automated contract execution platform with paperless e-stamp and electronic signature (e-Sign) facility. The facility of e-Sign includes Aadhar based (OTP/Biometric) and dongle-based digital signature. The platform offers individual and multiple signatories to execute document in sequence, which will facilitate joint account holders also to execute on-locker agreement at their ease. Customers can track transaction status and download the Electronic Evidence (65B) certificate in real-time.The end to end digital process eliminates the need for physical stamp papers and signatures, making it faster and more efficient.
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RBI approves appointment of P R Seshadri as MD & CEO of South Indian Bank
The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday approved for the appointment of P R Seshadri as Managing Director & CEO of South Indian Bank for a period of three years with effect from October 1, 2023.He has significant experiences in enterprise level management and in the management of all key commercial banking business lines and he has substantial experience in successfully managing investors, boards and regulatory relationships in multiple geographies, said the company's notification to Bombay Stock Exchange.Seshadri has served as, amongst other positions as, MD & CEO of The Karur Vysya Bank Limited (KVB), MD & Regional Sales and Distribution Head, Citibank N.A., Asia Pacific, Singapore, MD & Regional Head of Lending, Businesses, Citibank N.A., Asia Pacific, Singapore, MD CitiFinancial Consumer Finance India Limited (CCFIL), India, Marketing Director, Citibank N.A, India Branches, Head of Structured Finance & MD, CFRSIL & Integration Manager - Associates India Limited, ead of Banking Collections, Citibank N.A, India, Head of Automobile Finance -Northern India, Head of Community Banking, Northern India, and Mortgage Business, Head – Southern India, Citi India.
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India's 1st long-range side swing revolver launched, can hit targets up to 50 m
The country's first long-range side swing revolver, 'Prabal' with "twice the range of other revolvers" was launched on Friday for civilians and arms dealers.Manufactured by the state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL) based in Kanpur, the Prabal revolver boasts of a firing range of up to 50 metres, officiating director Rajiv Sharma said.Sharma said the .32 bore revolver is capable of accurately hitting targets up to 50 metres away.Made with metal injection mould technology, ‘Prabal’ weighs 700 grams (without cartridges) and its barrel length is 76 mm, while its overall length is 177.6 mm. Side swing cylinder is available only in foreign-make revolvers such the Webley Scott, which is being manufactured in India in UP’s Hardoi district.According to the AWEIL, people having arms licence can start booking the revolver from August 21.
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The technology's integration with DFSL's e-forensic app was launched by lieutenant governor VK Saxena on Thursday at Raj Niwas.
The Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory systems is being integrated with a blockchain to ensure that samples submitted from the scene of a crime for analysis and reporting remain free of human or any other interface, officials said on Thursday.With the introduction of the technology, the Delhi FSL has become the ''first institution of its kind in the country'' to use blockchain technology for transparent and tamper-proof digital recording of evidence.The integration was inaugurated by Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Thursday, Raj Niwas officials said.Saxena, on the occasion, asked probationary IAS officers to use technology for a speedy redressal to help common people.''The blockchain technology integrated with the e-forensic app of the Delhi FSL will ensure that evidence (material samples) submitted from the scene of crime to the FSL for analysis and reporting, remain free of human interface or interference.
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LAUNCH OF SECOND MCA BARGE, YARD 76 (LSAM 8) AT M/S SECON ENGINEERING PROJECTS PVT LTD, VISAKHAPATNAM
Second Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 76 (LSAM 8) was launched by Cmde G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam) on 18 Aug 23 at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh (launch site of M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd). With all major and auxiliary equipment/systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, this Barge is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiative of Ministry of Defence.Contract for construction of 08 x MCA Barge was concluded with M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam, a MSME, in consonance with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government of India. This Barge is being built with a service life of 30 years. The availability of MCA Barges will provide impetus to Operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles / ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
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Bank of Maharashtra tops Bank of Maharashtra tops PSU lenders chart in loan, deposit growth in Q1 of PSU lenders in credit growth in Q2
State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in loan and deposit growth in percentage terms during Q1 FY24. The deposit and advances of the Pune-based lender recorded almost 25 per cent rise, the highest by any public sector bank during the April-June quarter.With a growth rate of 24.98 per cent, the gross domestic advances of the bank rose to ?1,75,676 crore at the end of June 2023, according to published quarterly numbers of the public sector banks (PSBs).It was followed by UCO Bank with 20.70 per cent growth, while Bank of Baroda with 16.80 per cent and Indian Overseas Bank with 16.21 per cent growth were at third and fourth spot, respectively.Country's largest lender State Bank of India stood at fifth spot with 15.08 per cent rise in domestic advances growth.However, SBI's total loans were about 16 times higher at ?28,20,433 crore, as compared to ?1,75,676 crore of BoM in absolute terms.
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Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos begins integration of its first satellite rocket with launchpad at SDSC SHAR in Sriharikota
Agnikul Cosmos, a space-tech startup incubated at IIT-Madras, has taken a significant step towards its maiden controlled sub-orbital flight.The company began integrating its launch vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator) on August 15, with its private launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota.The integration process was marked by an official unveiling of the Agnibaan SOrTeD launch vehicle at Agnikul's Mission Control Center (AMCC) with officials from SDSC, Sriharikota, and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by the company's homegrown Agnilet engine, a fully 3D-printed, single-piece, 6 kN semi-cryogenic engine. traditional rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will lift off vertically and follow a predetermined trajectory while performing a set of maneuvers during flight.
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Axis Bank partners with RBI Innovation Hub to launch Kisan Credit cards
Axis Bank on Thursday announced the launch of two lending products powered by the Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit (PTPFC), introduced by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI. The RBI had earlier in the week announced the launch of the PTPFC.Axis Bank will offer Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and unsecured MSME loans to small business customers, powered by the platform. Both products will be offered in a completely digital manner and require no submission of documents by customers.As part of the pilot, Axis Bank will leverage the PTPFC for accessing data for customers in a fully consented and secure manner. These include PAN validation, Aadhaar eKYC, Account Aggregator data, verification of land records and penny drop service to validate bank accounts. Given that the data will come directly from authenticated sources, the Bank expects to be able to offer faster and better credit services to customers.
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Indian Bank opens specialised startup cells in 10 cities across the country
Public sector Indian Bank on Wednesday said it has set up 10 startup cells across different centres in the country to serve its specialised banking requirements. Accordingly, the startup cells have been set up in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Mumbai. Under the initiative, the Chennai-based public sector bank said a bouquet of tailor-made banking products and services were designed for the startups keeping in mind their unique and specialised banking requirements. It includes offering payment gateways, corporate credit cards and credit facilities apart from the existing products of the bank, a press release said. The launch of the startup cells is a major milestone in Indian Bank's journey to support the growth of the startup ecosystem in India," Indian Bank MD and CEO S L Jain said after inauguration of the centre in Chennai. After the opening, Jain also virtually inaugurated nine startup cells in the different cities commemorating the bank's 117th Foundation Day.
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Crisil projects India's GDP growth at 6% in FY24, lower than NSO's FY23 estimate.
India's real GDP is expected to grow 6% in the next financial year, according to rating agency Crisil.Consumer inflation in India is expected to moderate to 5% on average in FY24 from 6.8% in FY23, the credit rating agency said. But there are still high risks to inflation because of the ongoing heat wave and the chance of an El Nino warming event."What is also good to see is the increasing sustainability footprint of capex. At present, nearly 9% of the infrastructure and industrial capex is green. We see this number rising to 15% by fiscal 2027," said Amish Mehta, managing director and chief executive officer of Crisil Ltd, in the statement.In the medium term, he said, growth is also likely to be driven by increased government spending on capital investments and fresh private spending on capital investments.
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Parminder Chopra becomes first woman to lead Power Finance Corporation.
Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) appointed Parminder Chopra as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), with effect from August 14, 2023 becoming the first woman to lead the company, the NBFC announced on Thursday.Previously, she was holding the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) since June 1, 2023 and was Director (Finance), PFC since July 1, 2020.With over 35 years of experience in power and finance, Chopra led India's largest NBFC to highest net profit, highest net worth and lowest NPA levels during her time as Director. She headed key finance functions like resource mobilization (domestic & international markets), banking, treasury, asset liability management and stressed asset resolution.It was PFC's robust financial performance, under Chopra's leadership that also facilitated the company to get the highest status of “Maharatna”.She played a key role in the successful implementation of Rs 1.12 trillion Liquidity Infusion Scheme (LIS) for the power distribution sector, which was rolled out as part of Indian government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
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President Droupadi Murmu visit WB; Inaugurated INS Vindhyagiri & 'My Bengal, Addiction-Free Bengal' campaign. On 17th August 2023, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, visited West Bengal(WB). This mark's her 2nd visit to West Bengal as President of India.
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday launched 'Vindhyagiri', an advanced stealth frigate, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd's (GRSE) facility on the banks of Hooghly river here.West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were also present on the occasion.This is the sixth of seven ships built under 'Project 17 Alpha' for the Navy. The first five ships of the project were launched between 2019 and 2022. This is the third and last stealth frigate that the Kolkata-based warship maker was contracted to build for the Navy under the project.She added the situation can be improved through spiritual awakening, medication, social solidarity and political will. She appreciated organisations like Brahma Kumaris for discussing such issues and working to solve them. "Any kind of addiction develops due to mental stress and peer pressure. Addiction is harmful to health. Many other disorders also arise from addiction. Family and friends of drug addicts also suffer a lot of trouble," she added.Murmu urged people who consume drugs to not ruin their life. She said anti-social elements take advantage of drug usage and addiction. "The money spent on buying drugs is also used in criminal activities," she added.
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India hands over Indian Navy Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka Air Force
In a significant development highlighting strong bilateral ties and collaboration, the Indian Navy Dornier aircraft was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) during a ceremony held at SLAF Base Katunayake on Wednesday. The event witnessed the ceremonial transfer of the aircraft by the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay to Sagala Ratnayaka, the Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the President on National Security of Sri Lanka. The gathering included senior officials from the Sri Lanka Air Force, and the Indian Defense Adviser, highlighting the importance of this occasion.The aircraft, an India-made Dornier, represents a pivotal milestone in the collaboration between the two nations. This marks the second Dornier aircraft to be leased to the SLAF through a grant from the Government of India. It replaces the initial Indian Navy Dornier, which had served for a year and was returned to India for scheduled maintenance after its ceremonial handover to President Ranil Wickremesinghe exactly one year ago, on August 15, 2022.The introduction of the advanced Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft represents a considerable augmentation in Sri Lanka's surveillance capabilities. This addition to the SLAF's existing fleet is anticipated to act as a force multiplier, substantially contributing to the nation's security efforts. At the ceremony, Indian High Commissioner Baglay emphasized India's ongoing dedication to enhancing the capabilities of the Sri Lanka Defense forces, in line with New Delhi's policy of "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR) initiative.
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IndusInd Bank Launches Multi-Branded Credit Card in Partnership with Qatar Airways and British Airways
IndusInd Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind multi-branded credit card - ‘IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card’ for all customers, in partnership with British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. This credit card aims to offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to customers, across travel, wellness and lifestyle experiences. Adding an extra touch of luxury, the card is available in a sleek 'metal card' variant, tailored to meet the needs of our valued customers. Stacked with multiple attractive benefits suiting the requirements of frequent travellers, customers can opt for their preferred airline loyalty programme at the time of the application as well as select their preferred international destination to maximise the opportunity to collect Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and enjoy a host of other benefits. Some of the key features of the ‘IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card’ include tier fast-track with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, accelerated opportunity to collect Avios and discounted foreign currency mark-up at selected preferred international destination, complimentary meet-and-greet service at leading international airports, emergency international health insurance, airport lounge benefits and much more.
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India signs MoU with Trinidad and Tobago for sharing India Stack solutions
With an agreement to collaborate in the area of digital transformation and share India Stack, India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU was signed in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Electronics and IT, National E-Governance Division, MeitY and also from the Ministry of External Affairs.Both the sides reached an agreement to collaborate through initiatives such as capacity building, training programmes, exchange of best practices, exchange of public officials and experts, development of pilot or demo solutions, etc.This partnership follows a recent meeting between Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, and Senator Hassel Bacchus, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Digital Transformation. In their discussions, they explored opportunities for collaborative efforts in areas like IT, emerging technologies, and the India stack.
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RBI to launch pilot on Public Tech Platform for frictionless credit
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will launch a pilot project in the form of a Public Tech Platform on August 17, 2023, to ease access to credit. This move is aimed at providing digital information to lenders to facilitate credit or loans in just a few minutes.The Public Tech Platform for frictionless credit is an end-to-end digital platform that has been developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the central bank. The platform will also have an open architecture, open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and standards, to which all financial sector players can connect in a ‘plug and play’ model.This initiative simplifies the integration of vital financial data through open APIs, boosting operational efficiency. Centralizing potential borrowers' information on a unified platform streamlines processes. With active participation from banks, NBFCs, Fintech firms, and start-ups, this collaborative strategy aligns with our dedication to seamless credit and payment solutions.
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gearing up to host a colossal multilateral military exercise, 'Tarang Shakti', which was originally slated for October but has been rescheduled to the middle of 2024.
Tarang Shakti, India’s largest air exercise, has been postponed until mid-2024 after a number of participating air forces informed the IAF that they would be unable to participate in the wargame if it was performed this year. Twelve air forces are anticipated to participate in the drill. The Indian Air Force has taken part in a number of significant international exercises in recent months.Next year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will host a huge multinational military exercise Ex Tarang Shakti that was initially scheduled for October. The exercise, dubbed ‘Tarang Shakti,’ is expected to take place in the middle of 2024 after a number of participating air forces informed the IAF that they would be unable to participate if it took place this year, according to sources in the defence and military establishment on Wednesday.The exercise is anticipated to include roughly 12 air units, with the goal of improving military collaboration and interoperability, according to the organisers. It will be the largest air exercise ever held in India. The Air Force of France, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Japan are expected to take part in the exercise.
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RBI selects McKinsey and Company, Accenture Solutions to use AI, ML to improve regulatory supervision
The Reserve Bank has selected global consultancy firms McKinsey and Company India LLP and Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd India to develop systems using artificial intelligence and machine learning for its supervisory functions. The RBI is looking to extensively use advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse its huge database and improve regulatory supervision over banks and NBFCs. For this purpose, the central bank plans to hire external experts.In September last year, the RBI invited expressions of interest (EoI) for engaging consultants for the use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning for generating supervisory inputs. Based on the scrutiny/evaluation set out in the EOI document, the central bank had shortlisted seven applicants to participate in the request for proposal process (RFP) for the selection of consultant(s).
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Chairman, Central Water Commission Launches Mobile App ‘Floodwatch’ To Provide Real-Time Flood Forecasts To Public Using Interactive Maps
The Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC), Shri Kushvinder Vohra today launched the mobile application, "FloodWatch” with the aim of using mobile phones to disseminate information related to the flood situation and forecasts up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public. The in-house developed user-friendly app has readable and audio broadcast and all the information is available in 2 languages, viz. English and Hindi. Key feature of the app includes real-time flood monitoring where users can check up-to-date flood situation throughout the country. The app utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources. The app also provides flood forecast at nearest location where users can check the flood advisory at the station nearest to them on the Home Page itself. Other key features include forecast using an Interactive Map where users can check the CWC Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) either by directly selecting the station from map or the user can also search for the name of the station in the search box. The location will be zoomed in on the map when the name of the station will be selected from the dropdown. The app will also provide State-wise/Basin-wise Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) which can be accessed by selecting specific stations, state wise or basin wise from the dropdown menu.
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Former DRDO director general V S Arunachalam passed away in the US
Dr V S Arunachalam, founder chairman of Bengaluru based think tank Center for Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), passed away in California on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Meena, children Raghu, Malavika, and Ramu, and six grandchildren.He was 87 and was undergoing treatment for pneumonia and Parkinson’s.His distinguished career spanned across Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, National Aeronautical Laboratory and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory. Arunachalam worked as Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (Ministry of Defence, Government of India). He was also the Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and served as the Scientific Adviser to defence minister, Government of India, from 1982 to 1992.His career spanned across Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, National Aeronautical Laboratory and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory. He even served as the scientific advisor to the union defence minister from 1982 to 1992.
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The famous Nehru Memorial Museum and Library at Delhi's Teen Murti Bhavan complex has been renamed as the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society.
In a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, PMML vice-chairman A Surya Prakash wrote, “Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) is now Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Society w.e.f August 14, 2023 – in tune with the democratisation and diversification of the remit of the society. Happy Independence Day! @narendramodi, @rajnathsingh @MinOfCultureGoI.The renaming has prompted sharp criticism from Congress. The Teen Murti Bhavan had served as the official residence of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "From today, an iconic institution gets a new name. The world-renowned Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) becomes PMML - Prime Ministers' Memorial Museum and Library."The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has officially been renamed as the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) Society."Mr Modi possesses a huge bundle of fears, complexes and insecurities, especially when it comes to our first and longest-serving Prime Minister. He has had a single-point agenda of denying, distorting, defaming and destroying Nehru and the Nehruvian legacy," Ramesh said.
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'A-HELP' Programme and Infertility Camp for Livestock under Inclusive Development at Narmada, Gujarat launched by Shri Parshottam Rupala
Under the auspices of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala has unveiled the 'A-HELP' (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme along with an Infertility Camp, today in the State of Gujarat. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, is spearheading these initiatives as part of the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan under Inclusive Development. Ms Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary (CDD), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India and Dr. N. H. Kelawala, Vice Chancellor, Kamdhenu University were also present. Union Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala highlighted the pivotal role played by livestock and women in the comprehensive development of the livestock sector, particularly in Gujarat. 'A-HELP' programme and the Infertility Camp can mark a significant stride towards empowering women, enhancing livestock productivity, and advancing the socio-economic landscape of the region. The 'A-HELP' programme aims to empower women by engaging them as trained agents who contribute significantly to disease control, artificial insemination under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), animal tagging, and livestock insurance. Shri Rupala emphasized that this endeavour serves as an exemplary integration of women’s power, fostering socio-economic progress in line with the vision of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
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ADB Supports Early Childhood Development and Maternal Mental Health in Meghalaya, India
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (16 August 2023) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $40.5 million loan for integrated early childhood development (ECD) and maternal mental health in Meghalaya, India. The state government is contributing $15.27 million to the project. The project will strengthen home-based childcare (children 0–1.5 years) and center-based childcare (1.5–6 years) through daycare (Anganwadi) centers in Meghalaya. The project aims to improve access to nurturing care, including a component of maternal mental health care and group-based parenting programs to enable the inclusion of fathers in caregiving. ADB’s assistance will also improve nutrient adequacy by adding eggs to the diet of pregnant and lactating women and children 0.5–6 years of age. As one of several climate-resilient features, the project will also help establish nutrition gardens at Anganwadi centers (AWC) for improved diet diversity and nutrition security.“The first early years—including especially the first 1,000 days—are critical to a child’s growth and development. Providing ample nutrition and nurturing care early on and enabling both parents are essential to building a strong growth foundation for a child.
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Canara Bank has introduced Canara Jeevan Dhara, a special savings bank account for pensioners, and prospective pensioners.
Canara Bank has introduced , a special savings bank account for pensioners, and prospective pensioners. All the employees who retired on a voluntary basis or normal retirements are also eligible.According to the Canara Bank tweet on X( previously known as Twitter), “Introducing Canara Jeevan Dhara, a special savings bank account for pensioners, and prospective pensioners including all the employees who retired on a voluntary basis or normal retirements. Now unlock benefits such as loans against deposits, concessions on medical expenses and much more! Visit your nearest CanaraCanara Jeevan Dhara Bank branch today. *T&C apply.”The bank offers two variants depending on the pension credit. Diamonds account is for up to Rs 50,000 and Platinum account is for above Rs 50,000.Interest rate on Jeevan Dhara savings account will be same as regular savings account which ranges from 2.90% to 4% depending on the balance in the account, according to the Canara Bank website.The bank is offering an interest rate of 2.90% for savings accounts with an outstanding balance of less than Rs. 50 lakh and between Rs. 50 lakh and less than Rs. 5 crore. The bank offers the interest rate of 2.95% on savings account balances between Rs 5 crore to less than Rs 10 crore and the interest rate on savings account balances between Rs 10 crore to less than Rs 100 crore is 3.05%.
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Vegetable price spike pushes July retail inflation up to 7.44%
India’s retail inflation rate surged to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent in July 2023, primarily driven by a rise in prices of vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices and milk and products, data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Monday showed.The inflation print had last breached the 7 per cent mark in September 2022 and the previous high for the headline retail inflation rate was recorded at 7.79 per cent in April 2022.This is the third instance of retail inflation rate crossing the upper limit of the 4+/- 2 per cent band of Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term inflation target in this calendar year and seventh instance since July 2022. The RBI mainly factors in the retail inflation while deciding the benchmark interest rate (repo rate). “We expect an upward revision in RBI’s 6.2% inflation expectation in Q2FY24 after the hotter than expected CPI print in July. We believe that the RBI’s policy decision last week had factored-in current Inflation print, moreover comfortable core inflation in July would act as a buffer for RBI to not tinker with the policy rates. Hence we continue to expect an extended pause unless inflationary pressures broaden across categories till MPCs next meet in Sep’23," said Hitesh Suvarna of JM Financial.
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CCI approves acquisition of certain stake of IBS Software Pte Limited by Pelipper HoldCo SARL
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition of certain stake of IBS Software Pte Limited by Pelipper HoldCo SARL.The proposed combination relates the acquisition of approximately 30% of the issued share capital on a fully diluted basis of IBS Software Pte Limited (Target) from Techware Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., a portfolio company of Blackstone Inc. (Seller) by Pelipper HoldCo SARL (Acquirer).The Acquirer is a special-purpose-vehicle indirectly wholly-owned by investment funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (AP). AP is a limited liability partnership incorporated under the laws of United Kingdom and the parent of a number of entities which provide investment advisory services to private equity funds investing in a range of industry sectors. The Acquirer is neither active in India nor does it have any planned business activities in India.The Target is the parent company of IBS group of companies (Target Group), that is mainly active as a software vendor, predominantly for the aviation industry and the travel industry. The Target also provide IT services to its own existing customers, mainly aviation, tour & cruise, hospitality and energy resources industries.The Target Group is primarily active as a provider of software solutions to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise, hospitality and energy resources industries. Target Group's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet and crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel & air-cargo management
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Bengaluru: Discovery of a new star challenges existing ideas of star formation
Scientists in Bengaluru have stumbled upon an astronomical revelation that has sent ripples of excitement through the world of astrophysics. This discovery has upended established notions about star formation processes, casting new light on how stars come into being. This groundbreaking finding emerged from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, and promises to reshape our understanding of the universe.At the heart of this scientific intrigue lies a celestial entity known as "HE 1005-1439," a star that defies conventional classification. This star stands out in the cosmos as a carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) star, a rare and intriguing type. It's more than just its classification that has scientists buzzing; it's the discovery that this star might have formed through an unexpected combination of two distinct neutron-capture processes: the slow (s-) and intermediate (i-) processes.But what are these processes, and why are they causing such a stir among astronomers? The journey to comprehend these phenomena takes us into the realm of nuclear astrophysics. Beyond the element iron, the universe's elements are formed through reactions called neutron capture processes. The "slow" (s-) process is believed to occur within low-mass stars during a phase known as asymptotic giant branch (AGB), while the "rapid" (r-) process is thought to transpire during explosive events like Super ..
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Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz announces retirement from international cricket
Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, August 16. The left-arm pacer will continue to play franchise-based cricket across the globe after deciding to bid adieu to the game at the highest level at the age of 38. Wahab Riaz, who played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, picked 237 international wickets. He last played for Pakistan in December 2020. The senior pacer, however, played the Pakistan Super League as recently as March this year. Wahab Riaz, who played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, picked 237 international wickets. He last played for Pakistan in December 2020. The senior pacer, however, played the Pakistan Super League as recently as March this year. Wahab's decision comes on unexpected lines as he had expressed his desire to carry on till 2023 World Cup and then retire, provided he remained fit and his passion towards the game remained strong – he was part of Pakistan's 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cup squads – but having last played an international game in December 2020, it was evident that that Pakistan have moved on from Wahab, whose spell against Shane Watson at the 2015 World Cup remains one of the fiercest ever. In recent times, he has delved into the realm of politics, assuming the role of caretaker sports minister for the Punjab province in January of this year.
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Kerala Govt Launches ‘Athidhi’ For Migrant Workers' Registration
Kerala government has launched a user-friendly web portal ‘Athidhi’, for the registration of migrant workers in Kerala. The portal will introduce a unique identification system to streamline the registration process.The portal will allow the government to address the grievances against sexual crimes committed by migrant workers against children. It will fast-track the registration of guest workers, contractors, employers and individual workers. The details will then by carefully examined by the enrolling officer.The government also plans on establishing help desks at railway stations to facilitate the registration for guest workers arriving in the state. The details will allow the officials to safeguard the residents in order to create a safe and more inclusive work environment.Athidhi is a centralised platform to collect and manage worker details to ensure safety and to provide social security benefits to the migrant workers.
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Goa has become the first Indian state to offer free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
The Goa government has recently announced that it will become the first state in India to provide free In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment from September 1. This news has been welcomed by couples struggling with infertility, who will now have access to a full range of fertility treatments without having to worry about the cost. The announcement was made by Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who said that the government has decided to offer free IVF treatment in order to help couples who are unable to conceive naturally. On Monday, they inaugurated the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)/In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Centre.According to the Chief Minister, the decision was taken after considering the fact that infertility affects nearly 12-15% of couples in India and can be a major social and psychological burden. He also added that the decision was made in order to reduce the financial burden on such couples and give them a better chance at being able to have a family.
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India’s first Unmanned Aerial Systems Common Testing Centre to be established in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu will be home to India’s first integrated test centre for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) with the facility set to be established at a state-owned industrial park near Sriperumbudur at a cost of Rs 45 crores.The test centre under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) of the Union Government will come up at an area of about 2.3 acres at the SIPCOT industrial park in Vallam Vadagal in Kanchipuram district. Tamil Nadu government officials said the new facility will help the state to emerge as a significant contributor to the country’s self-reliance in the aerospace and defence sector. A consortium of companies consisting of Keltron, Sense Image Technologies, Standards Testing & Compliance and Avishka Retailers had been chosen for establishing the facility by partnering with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).Since UAS (drone) testing is currently done component wise at different test centres reduces the efficiencies of the organisations and increasing the cost, TIDCO, which is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Industrial Corridor (TNDIC), came up with an idea to set up an integrated testing facility in the state.Such an integrated facility is available only with DRDO at Chitradurga, Karnataka, for testing of its own vehicles.
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Centre assigns additional charge: Faiz Kidwai named NRAA CEO, Anuradha Thakur to be director SFIO
1996 batch IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai of Madhya Pradesh cadre, who is the Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has been retrospectively appointed to the additional role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA). An official directive from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), confirms the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet’s endorsement of Mr. Kidwai’s extended responsibility for a duration of nine months starting from 05.06.2023, or until the appointment of a new CEO, or until further notice, whichever occurs earlier.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved ex-post facto assignment of additional charge of the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) to Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, IAS (MP:1996), Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for a period of nine .
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Cabinet approves 7 projects for Indian railways with an outlay of Rs 32,500 cr
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved seven multi-tracking projects targeted at Indian railways with an outlay of Rs 32, 500 crore, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at a briefing.The said projects, which will be built completely on Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode, will add 2,339 kilometres to the existing network of Indian Railways, Vaishnaw said.The projects will receive 100 per cent funding from the central government. They will cover 35 districts across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.Sought to ease operations and reduce congestion, the projects will also add freight traffic of around 200 million tonnes per annum. "Every project depends on the other projects and must not be looked at independently," said Vaishnaw."The projects will provide employment of 7.06 crore person-days to the people of the selected states," the government said in its presentation.
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Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma launched the 'Graphene-Aurora program' at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala today.
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma launched the ‘Graphene-Aurora program’ at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala today.The program shall be implemented by Digital University Kerala with joint funding from Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India and Government of Kerala and Industry partners, with the total budget outlay of Rs 94.85 Crore, wherein, Carborundum Pvt Limited joined as one of the main industry partners. Along with the startup products developed, the technologies and products also developed at research and development centers like India Innovation Centre Graphene (IICG), setup at Makers village, Kochi shall be considered for commercialization.Addressing the gathering, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma said that a section 8 company (not for profit) called ‘India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC)’ shall be set up and the initial operations will start from the recently opened facility of Government of Kerala at Digital Science Park in Trivandrum. It shall fill the gap between R&D and commercialization by providing a complete facility to startup and industry.The Secretary, MeitY mentioned that it shall nurture the deep/emerging Graphene technology & innovation ecosystem that can guide, develop, implement, and support SMEs and startups to commercialize developed graphene technologies for scale adoption. He also mentioned that creation of a commercialization eco-system for graphene as an emerging technology would help India take a pole position in the world’s new material market.
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Aviation sector’s latest move: DGCA forms panel to suggest norms to ensure gender equality
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has set up a committee to provide suggestions for achieving gender equality in India’s aviation sector. The civil aviation regulator in an order dated August 10, 2023, stated that the objective of this four-member committee will be to suggest steps that DGCA should take to bring gender equality in the aviation sector.The committee comprises four senior officers namely – R P Kashyap, Director (Training); Survita Saxena, Director (Operations); Pavan Malviya, Deputy Director (Administration); and Kavita Singh, Deputy Director (Aircraft Engineering Directorate).These appointed officers are expected to formulate norms and submit them to DGCA. Once the norms are approved by the civil aviation regulator, they will be further circulated among aviation stakeholders to adopt and bring in practice for gender equality.
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India celebrates 77th Independence Day; CJI announces plan to expand Supreme Court with 27 additional courts and 51 judges’ chambers
As India is gearing up to celebrate its Independence on August 15, but before the feeling of patriotism and celebrations comes a math-related confusion: Which Independence Day is it? This year the confusion has compounded as India will cross a milestone of 76 years of freedom from British Rule. Every year, we are confronting a math-related conundrum ahead of the 15 August celebration. So here's the solution: On August 15, 1947, India earned its long-fought independence from British domination after more than 200 years.This implies that India celebrated its first year of independence on August 15, 1948, 10 years later on August 15, 1957, twenty years later in 1967, and seventy years later in 2017.However, counting the number of Independence Days celebrated in India since August 15, 1947, which would be deemed the first, the total will be 77. On that account, India will celebrate its 77th year of Independence in 2023 and both arguments are valid.
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PFRDA has integrated the NPS Statement of Transaction (SoT) with CAS
Pension regulator PFRDA in coordination with capital market regulator SEBI has enabled the NPS subscribers to view their pension fund corpus along with their demat securities and MF holdings under a single consolidated account statement (CAS). This functionality that will benefit over 1.35 crore NPS subscribers, is expected to provide a simplified and secured way to stay informed on NPS investments through CAS. Currently, CAS, which is provided by National Securities Depository Ltd and Central Depository Services Ltd, offers a consolidated view of personal investments in the securities market with updated mark-to-market values. Till date, nearly 50,000 NPS subscribers have already evinced interest and provided their consent to avail the facility of viewing their NPS corpus under CAS, sources said.This latest move of PFRDA to integrate the NPS Statement of Transaction (SoT) with CAS is in sync with the Centre’s vision to create a comprehensive record of every individual’s financial assets.Currently, the NPS SoT is shared on an annual basis either physically or through email and it can also be viewed online in the Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) login.
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Goa govt launches 'Gramin Mitra' scheme to promote digital empowerment in rural areas.
The government of Goa on Monday launched its flagship scheme "Gramin Mitra" to provide doorstep delivery of government services across the state and promote digital empowerment in rural areas. Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the scheme will bridge the digital divide and promote digital empowerment in the rural parts of the state.State Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communication Rohan Khaunte, Union Minister Shripad Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade were present on the occasion.The launch of the "Gramin Mitra" initiative marks a significant step towards bridging the divide between rural and urban Goa, Sawant said."The programme aims to empower rural communities with access to information and opportunities that can transform their lives and drive socio-economic growth," he said.By bringing selected government services to people's doorsteps, the initiative saves their time and resources and ensures that no one is left behind in the digital age, the chief minister said."The Gramin Mitra scheme is poised to revolutionise the way public services are delivered in Goa, enabling rural communities to reap the benefits of technology and innovation, he said.
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Indian football legend Mohammed Habib passes away at 74
Mohammed Habib, the playmaker par excellence of the 1970s who scored against Pele's New York Cosmos in Mohun Bagan colours and made the football icon take note of his game, died on Tuesday. The former India player was 74. Habib, who was suffering from dementia and Parkinson's syndrome for the past couple of years, breathed his last in Hyderabad, his birthplace. Habib was survived by his wife and three daughters. A bronze medallist in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok under the captaincy of fellow Hyderabadi Syed Nayeemuddin and manager PK Banerjee, Habib has represented the big three of Kolkata Maidan -- Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting in his heydays, dominating the Mecca of Indian football for a prolonged period in the late 1960s through to the 70s. Following a successful career that saw him gain legendary status and earn the tag of the country's first "true professional" footballer for his refusal to accept numerous job offers that came his way owing to his on-field heroics, Habib took to coaching at the Tata Football Academy (TFA). At a time when the clubs would pay meagre sum to their best players, he was unruffled and remained a professional in true sense throughout his career, for he considered playing football as his real and only profession.
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Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is an annual national memorial day observed on 14 August in India
The day remembers the sufferings of many Indians during the partition. Numerous families were displaced and many lost their lives in the partition. It aims to remind Indians the need to remove social divisions, disharmony and to further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment.The partition had left 10 to 20 million people displaced and left 2 hundred thousand to 2 million dead.The Partition was the division of British India[c] into two independent Dominions: India and Pakistan. The two states have since gone through further reorganization: the Dominion of India is today the Republic of India (since 1950); while the Dominion of Pakistan was composed of what is known today as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (since 1956) and the People's Republic of Bangladesh (since 1971). The partition involved the division of two provinces, Bengal and Punjab, based on district-wide non-Muslim or Muslim majorities. The partition also saw the division of the British Indian Army, the Royal Indian Navy, the Indian Civil Service, the railways, and the central treasury. The partition was outlined in the Indian Independence Act 1947 and resulted in the dissolution of the British Raj, i.e. Crown rule in India. The two self-governing independent Dominions of India and Pakistan legally came into existence at midnight on 15 August 1947.he partition displaced between 10 and 20 million people along religious lines, creating overwhelming refugee crises in the newly constituted dominions. There was large-scale violence, with estimates of the loss of life accompanying or preceding the partition disputed and varying between several hundred thousand and two million.
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Public toilets pioneer and Sulabh founder, Bindeshwar Pathak, passes away in Delhi
Pathak spent a lifetime promoting sanitation and hygiene. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 1991Social worker Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International and a pioneer in building public toilets, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Delhi on Tuesday. He was 80. Pathak was at the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Sulabh International campus on Palam-Dabri Road at around 11am, when he complained of uneasiness. His condition deteriorated after 12.30pm and he was rushed to AIIMS.“The hospital declared him dead at 1.42pm, citing cardiac arrest,” said social scientist Ramchandra Jha, a close aide of Pathak. Sulabh International will keep his remains at its main campus on Wednesday for people to pay their respects, Jha added. Pathak spent a lifetime promoting sanitation and hygiene. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 1991. In 2009, he received the Stockholm Water Prize. A graduate in sociology in 1964 from Banaras Hindu University, Pathak earned his PhD from the University of Patna in 1985.
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ISRO Conducts Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests for Gaganyaan Mission.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)/ISRO, successfully conducted a series of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, during August 8-10, 2023. The tests were conducted in collaboration with Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE)/DRDO. The Gaganyaan mission entails the safe transportation of astronauts to space and back. A crucial component of this mission is the deployment of drogue parachutes, which play a pivotal role in stabilizing the crew module and reducing its velocity to a safe level during re-entry. Drogue parachutes, packed within pyro-based devices known as mortars, are ingeniously designed to eject the parachutes into the air upon command. These conical ribbon-type parachutes, boasting a diameter of 5.8 meters, employ a single-stage reefing mechanism, ingeniously minimizing canopy area and mitigating opening shock, ensuring a smooth and controlled descent. During the three comprehensive tests conducted at the RTRS facility, a range of real-world scenarios were simulated to rigorously evaluate the performance and reliability of the drogue parachutes. The first test simulated the maximum reefed load, marking a groundbreaking introduction of reefing in a mortar-deployed parachute within India. The second test emulated the maximum disreefed load, while the third test showcased the deployment of the drogue parachute under conditions mirroring the maximum angle of attack experienced by the Crew Module during its mission. These successful RTRS tests serve as a critical qualification milestone for the drogue parachutes, confirming their readiness for integration into the upcoming Test Vehicle-D1 mission. Notably, earlier this year, the RTRS tests of Pilot and Apex cover separation parachutes were also conducted, further accentuating the progress of the Gaganyaan mission's parachute system development.
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Anwar Ul Haq Kakar became the 8th interim prime minister of Pakistan. Anwarul Haq Kakar has been sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister with an aim of establishing a neutral political set-up till the next general elections in the cash-strapped na
As the youngest interim PM in Pakistan's history, Kakar, an ethnic Pashtun from the Kakar tribe, hails from Balochistan, the country's largest and economically disadvantaged province grappling with a long-standing insurgency. Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar was born in 1971 in Muslim Bagh, Quetta, Balochistan. He pursued his education at St. Francis School in Quetta and later attended Cadet College Kohat. He holds a Master's degree in political science and sociology from the University of Balochistan. Notably, he is the second individual from Balochistan to hold the role of Pakistan's interim prime minister, according to reports from BBC Urdu and Dawn. Kakar's political journey began with the PML-N, but his association ended after the Nawaz government was ousted by a military coup led by the late General Pervez Musharraf in 1999. In 2018, Kakar was elected as an independent senator from Balochistan. He co-founded the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) after assuming office and has served as a spokesperson for the Balochistan government. His amicable approach toward nationalist parties has been evident through his statement where he said, "We have no stubbornness or rigidity with nationalist parties.
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Centre appoints R Doraiswamy as LIC Managing Director
Centre has appointed R Doraiswamy, Executive Director, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) as Managing Director of the insurance behemoth. Doraiswamy will replace Ipe Mini, who is currently an MD of LIC and is due to superannuate at the end of this month.Doraiswamy has been appointed from the date of assumption of charge of office on or after September 1, 2023 and upto the date of his superannuation (August 31, 2026) or until further orders, whichever is earlier, according to the government order.Currently, LIC has four Managing Directors — Mini Ipe, M Jagannath, Tablesh Pandey, and Sat Pal Bhanoo. The Centre had appointed Bhanoo as MD of LIC last month.It may be recalled that the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, had in June this year recommended the name of Doraiswamy as Managing Director of LIC. The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, in June had recommended the name of Doraiswamy as MD.
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Union Minister Amit Shah on his 2-day visit to Gujarat, laid the foundation stone of the Regional Hub of National Security Guard (NSG) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative's (IFFCO) new Nano fertilizer plant during his 2-day visit to Gujarat's Bhuj. He arrived at the Bhuj airport for the visit on Friday night for a two-day visit to the state. During the visit, the Union Minister will attend the inauguration of several new projects. Shah said he will also attend the foundation laying ceremony of the Border Security Force's (BSF) Mooring Place. After that, he will attend the virtual inauguration of a number of projects at Koteshwar, news agency ANI reported.The Union Minister in a tweet said, "Will attend the foundation laying ceremony of the IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) Plant at Gandhidham. Also will attend the foundation laying of the BSF's Mooring Place and the virtual inauguration of various projects at Koteshwar."He continued with his tweet and further wrote, "In the later part of the day will visit the Border Out Post (BOP) near Harami Nala before attending the 'Freedom@75', an event celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav with inmates of the Bhuj Jail.
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President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 today. The two Bills were recently passed by Parliament. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act 2017 while, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is to amend the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act 2017. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 defines the expressions online gaming, online money gaming, and virtual digital assets. According to the provisions of the Bill, online gaming means the offering of a game on the internet or an electronic network and includes money gaming. The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act 2017 to exclude online money gaming from the definition of online information and data access or retrieval services.
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Zerodha gets in-principle approval from Sebi to start mutual fund business
Zerodha AMC, which is being built in partnership with fintech platform smallcase, has received final approval from the regulator to launch the fund.Nithin Kamath, CEO and co-founder of India's leading broker Zerodha, took to Twitter to confirm the development. In 2021, Zerodha received Sebi's in-principle approval to start an AMC business. The company is likely to come up with a mutual fund product within 2-3 months of getting the final nod. "Keep an eye for our first NFO," Kamath said.He said the motivation to launch the mutual fund business was two-fold -- the shallow participation in Indian markets wherein lies the challenge and an opportunity and creating simple products for investors."Even after all the growth over the last 3 years, we only have maybe 6-8 crore unique mutual fund and equity investors put together," Kamath said."If we had to bring in the next ten million investors, they needed simple products they could understand, and mutual funds were a perfect instrument," he added.The fund house aims to be index-only and create simple funds and ETFs that all investors can understand and put their money towards all their goals.Bengaluru-based smallcase hosts baskets of stocks or ETFs on its platform and Zerodha is one of the investors in the startup.
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Air India unveils new logo, plane colour scheme after rebranding
Air India unveiled its new logo on Thursday which signifies limitless possibilities. The Tata-owned airline has been working on the new logo for as many as 15 months. It will replace the old logo of a red swan and orange spokes inside the swan, inspired by the Ashoka Chakra.Air India’s new logo symbol - ‘The Vista’ - includes a modern design with golden, red and purple colours. "It is inspired by the peak of the gold window frame, signifying limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and the airline’s bold, confident outlook for the future," the company said in a press release.The new logo is inspired by the classic and iconic Indian window shape, historically used by Air India, which the airline believes is symbolic to 'Window of Opportunities'. “Our transformative new brand reflects an ambition to make Air India a world class airline serving guests from around the globe, and that represents a new India proudly on the global stage," said Campbell Wilson, Air India CEO & MD.Colours, patterns, shapes and how they come together and what they represent matter, but actions speak so much louder. It is in the midst of a total transformation to reimagine the role of India’s flagship airline, he added.Designed in partnership with FutureBrand, travellers will see this logo on Air India's aircrafts from December 2023, when Air India’s first Airbus A350 enters the fleet in the new livery.London-based brand and design consultancy firm FutureBrand has worked on branding American Airlines and British luxury automobile brand Bentley as well as the 2012 London Olympics. It now worked to refurbish Air India’s identity as the carrier aims to take on elite carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.
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140 police officers selected for Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation
The “Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation” for the year 2023 have been awarded to 140 Police personnel (List attached).This medal was constituted in 2018, with the objective to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime and recognize such Excellence in Investigation. It is announced on 12th of August every year. Among the personnel receiving these awards, 15 are from CBI, 12 from NIA, 10 from Uttar Pradesh, 09 each from Kerala & Rajasthan, 08 from Tamil Nadu, 07 from Madhya Pradesh and 06 from Gujarat and the remaining from the other States/UTs/Organizations. These include 22 Women Police Officers.Among the awardees, there are 10 cops from Uttar Pradesh, nine each from Kerala and Rajasthan, eight from Tamil Nadu, seven from Madhya Pradesh and six from Gujarat. The remaining officers are from other states and Union Territories and organisations.The Union Home Ministry on Saturday announced that 140 police officers, including 15 from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and 12 from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been selected for this year’s Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation.Among the 140, four personnel, including one DCP rank officer of Delhi Police, have been selected for their investigation in a case related to the North-East Delhi riots in 2020.“The awardees include 22 women officers. The medal was constituted in 2018 with the objective to promote high professional standards of investigation and recognise excellence in investigations. It is announced on August 12 every year,” according to an official statement.
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Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah congratulates the team of (NAFIS) for winning the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government Process Reengineering for Digital Transformation Category-1, of (DARPG).
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah congratulated the team of National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) of NCRB for winning the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government Process Reengineering for Digital Transformation Category-1 of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). In his tweet, Shri Amit Shah said that this award for excellence in delivering e-governance is a recognition of the dedication the entire NAFIS team has put into creating a fool-proof fingerprint identification system, in pursuit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of a secure India Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs has provided NAFIS devices to all Districts, Police Commissionerates, Central and State Fingerprint Bureaus and Central agencies like NIA, CBI and NCB. NAFIS has revolutionized the fingerprint recognition system in crime control. With this system, the work of tracing the involvement of interstate criminals in crimes is being done with greater ease, accuracy and efficiency across the country. NAFIS has created a central database of fingerprints of criminals, which can be accessed by users from all States, Union Territories and Central Agencies. This has resulted in a qualitative improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal detection and investigation process.
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Gadkari pushes for use of skybuses in Pune, opens Chandni Chowk flyover
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Saturday inaugurated the Chandni Chowk flyover which has been constructed at an expense of Rs 1,000 crore, aimed to decongest the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway at this entry point to the city.On the occasion, Gadkari pushed for the use of skybuses in the city as public transport saying that the city’s roads have no potential for further expansion. Union Minister Gadkari also suggested the exploration of skybus services for Pune, considering limited road expansion options. Proposing the concept to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Minister Chandrakant Patil, he highlighted the capacity of skybuses to carry 250 passengers, operating above ground level.Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar attended the ceremony in the absence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. “The main issue of traffic congestion in Pune will be resolved as the bridge constructed here at Chandni Chowk has a total length of 16.98 km. An amount of Rs 865 crore has been spent on this project and now the work on the 2.2-km-long Chandni Chowk interchange has also been completed,” Gadkari said.
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PM lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation development projects in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
Laying the foundation stone for a temple dedicated to Sant Ravidas, a 14th century poet and social reformer revered by Scheduled Castes (SC) in north and central India, to be built at an estimated cost of ?100 crore in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said marginalised sections of society were the biggest beneficiaries of his government’s policies. “Today, the Dalits, Backward Classes, and tribal communities are the biggest beneficiaries of all the major schemes the country is running for the welfare of the poor. You all know very well that the schemes that used to come during the previous governments were according to the election season. But we think that the country should stand with Dalits, deprived sections, Backward Classes, tribal people, women — at every stage of life, we should support their hopes and aspirations,” Mr. Modi said, addressing a large gathering after the foundation laying event.The Prime Minister said Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial will have grandeur as well as divinity which will flow from the teaching of Sant Ravidas ji. He informed that the memorial is steeped in the spirit of ‘Samrasta’ as the soil of more than 20000 villages and 300 rivers have been used in it. Families from Madhya Pradesh have sent grain for ‘Samrast Bhoj’ and five Yatras also concluded today at Sagar. “These yatras mark a new era of social harmony”, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister said when inspiration and progress (Prerna aur Pragati) come together a new era is heralded. He mentioned the projects i.e. two road projects and the doubling of Kota-Bina rail route and said that these development projects will provide better facilities to the people of Sagar and nearby areas.
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DPIIT and Ministry of Rural Development jointly launch ‘One District One Product’ Wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store
In a significant step towards promoting the indigenous crafts and artisans of India, One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, launched its collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi. This strategic collaboration was unveiled with the inauguration of the ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Charanjit Singh and Director, DPIIT, Smt. Supriya Devasthali yesterday. The ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store stands as a symbol of the harmonious partnership between these two vital ministries.SARAS Aajeevika is an initiative by Deendayal Antyodaya (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. SARAS Aajeevika is a strong supporter of women's empowerment, with a special focus on uplifting women artisans and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). By creating a special marketplace for their well-crafted products, SARAS Aajeevika boosts the skills and talents of these women, helping them become independent entrepreneurs.In a significant collaboration, the ODOP program has joined hands with the Ministry of Rural Development to implement innovative features such as product tagging and story cards. These additions aim to guide consumers and enthusiasts towards emporiums, thereby boosting sales and magnifying the visibility of India's exceptional products.
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Former president of JNCASR M.R. Satyanarayana Rao passes away
Padma Shri awardee and former President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Prof. M.R. Satyanarayana Rao passed away at his residence in Tata Nagar in Bengaluru on August 13 night. He was 75. Prof. Rao, who is survived by his mother, wife and two sons, suffered a cardiac arrest. Born in Mysuru, Prof Rao obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Bangalore University. He got his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science and did his Postdoctoral Research at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.The Padma Shri recipient is survived by his mother, wife and two sons. Born in January 1948 in Mysuru, Prof Rao graduated and completed his PG from Bangalore University before getting his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), where he later served as chairman, the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Department of Biochemistry.He served as JNCASR president for a decade between 2003 and 2013. He was also associated with the Chromatin Biology Lab at the institute. He was a member on several panels of the ICMR and CSIR.
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Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Navars Edutech successfully launched the National Space Innovation Challenge 2023
NSIC 2023 is a National-level campaign designed to ignite next generation space enthusiast to understand and contribute towards growing Indian space economy and future space workforce. It’s a National platform to get inspired by industry leaders, seek opportunities for exploration and showcase ones innovation to the world. With the goal of fostering innovation and curiosity among school students across the nation, the Atal Innovation Mission is proud to announce National Space Innovation Challenge (NSIC) open for all the school students across the country. Students of Classes 5 to 12 are given an open platform where they can innovate and enable themselves to solve modern-day space technology problems from August 11 to September 20, 2023. Students (from ATL and Non-ATL schools) can submit their entries on the automated technology platform implemented by Navars Edutech through the Each student based on their interest and understanding, must select one problem which falls under any one of the Challenge themes. NSIC offers integrated content from Industry mentor videos, resources and challenges for Junior Scientists (Grade 5-8) & Senior Scientists (Grade 9 -12) which the students can use to ideate and submit a short research report on a solution across diverse topics like Space Junk Collection Robot, Reusable Rocket Design, Satellite Design, Indian Spaceship Design for Mars, and more. Speaking during the official launch, Mission Director, AIM, Dr Chintan Vaishnav said, “The aim of this challenge is to enable innovation among young school students to create awareness of and opportunities to participate in the space sector early, and in a way that will not only help them learn about the space sector but also create interesting projects and innovations that truly matter to the sector.” Director, Capacity Building and Public Outreach (CBPO), N Sudheer Kumar expressed extreme joy on the launch such a challenge for students. He said, “We take pride in collaborating with AIM to launch this challenge where students can explore Space with creative freedom. We are hoping to make this an annual challenge,” he asserted. He further mentioned that the NSIC 2023 is a unique challenge for school students across India that aligns with the nationwide excitement around the successful launch of Chandrayaan III by ISRO.
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Dharmendra Pradhan launches DBT in NAPS to strengthen apprenticeship ecosystem in India
To bolster the participation of both industries and young individuals in apprenticeship training on a nationwide scale, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). An amount of approx. 15 crores was disbursed to one lakh apprentice by the Minister marking the launch of DBT in NAPS. A total of 25 lakh youth have been engaged as apprentices since the inception of inception National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme in 2016, till 31st July 2023. Around 2.6 lakh Apprentices have completed training in FY 23-24.Lauding the initiative, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that it is a momentous day towards invigorating the apprenticeship ecosystem in our country. Launch of DBT in National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is a big step towards fulfilling our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of making skilling an apprenticeship aspirational as well as encouraging earning while learning as envisioned in NEP. He congratulated all the 1 lakh apprentices who have received stipend through DBT.Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship said that empowering our nation’s youth with skills is at the heart of our vision, and the introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through NAPS marks a stride towards transparency and efficiency. A skilled workforce is paramount, and our multifaceted strategy, encompassing policy evolution, industry synergies, and heightened recognition. In harmony with India’s core values of inclusivity and diversity, the Chintan Shivir on Apprenticeship underscores a crucial mission. Together, we forge ahead to craft a future where every individual’s potential finds its truest expression, he added. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan interacted with some of the vibrant industry clusters and enthusiastic apprentices across Maharashtra, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.
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NHPC signs MoU with Universal Health Foundation for setting up Gramin Gyan Jyoti Kendras
NHPC Limited, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Universal Health Foundation. A statement said that the signing took place at the NHPC Corporate Office, with the Group Deputy General Manager (HR), CSR & SD, NHPC, and Dr Sheetal Gupta, Director of the Universal Health Foundation, putting pen to paper. The Executive Director (CSR & SD), NHPC, and all officers from the CSR&SD Division and the Universal Health Foundation, were also present on the occasion. The statement further said that the MoU aims to facilitate NHPC’s support in providing essential infrastructure facilities to the Universal Health Foundation to establish Gramin Gyan Jyoti Kendras in nine villages of Jodhpur district and one village in Nagore district, in Rajasthan. The Gramin Gyan Jyoti Kendras are designed as reading room cum online coaching centers, offering an exemplary model for learning centers in rural areas. These centers primarily cater to underprivileged students from educationally disadvantaged villages.The centers will grant them access to modern learning tools while providing a safe and serene environment. Additionally, the centers will offer coaching for higher education and competitive examinations.
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MeitY Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma inaugurates Renewable Energy Microgrid Power Plant for electrical energy requirements of rural communities
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma launched the indigenous Technology of Hybrid Green Energy Microgrid for Electrical energy requirements of the Rural communities developed by C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, as part of National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET) Program, here today at Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC), Kottoor, Thiruvananthapuram. Addressing the gathering, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma said that “MeitY is prioritising and putting enormous efforts to realise unique technology development and deployments through C-DAC. The reliable green energy based microgrid seems to be providing the power solution for critical systems in the Veterinary hospital systems in ERC. We need to concentrate and focus our efforts to the high performance and efficient technology and system developments. The technology shall be extended to the remote communities through wider deployments. Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma said, “The initiative and support being provided by forest department for technology evaluation is appreciable. Green technology is effectively being used in the rehabilitation of wild animals also here. The system shall be used for dissemination of such advanced technologies to the society especially the younger generation and school children.A renewable energy microgrid is an autonomous, localised and self-contained energy system that incorporates renewable energy sources as its primary generation inputs. The major building blocks of a renewable energy microgrid include various components and systems that work together to generate, store, manage, and distribute energy in a localized and sustainable manner.
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Indian Navy to conduct bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ with UAE
The ships have entered in Dubai with the aim of cooperative engagement and maritime cooperation with regional countries.Two ships of the Indian Navy, INS Visakhapatnam, and INS Trikand under the command of Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) arrived at Port Rashid in Dubai to conduct bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies.The two ships are visiting Port Rashid from August 8 to August 11 and will be commanded by Captain Ashok Rao and Captain Pramod G Thomas respectively, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement on Wednesday.“During the visit, the ships will undertake professional interactions with UAE Naval Force on multiple elements of maritime operations,” according to the statement. They will further share best practices to enhance cooperation and strengthen ties between the two navies. Moreover, according to the statement, this visit will boost the maritime partnership between the two navies and foster a common understanding of the security challenges in the region. The ships have entered in Dubai with the aim of cooperative engagement and maritime cooperation with regional countries.
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Chakr Innovation Receives Rs 18 Crore Funding Boost from EXIM Bank's Ubharte Sitare Programme
In a significant development for India's environmental sustainability and technology sector, Chakr Innovation, a pioneering startup specializing in pollution reduction solutions, has secured substantial funding of INR 18 crores from the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank). The funds were sanctioned under EXIM Bank's Ubharte Sitare Programme (USP), reflecting the institution's commitment to fostering domestic growth and addressing international demands.Chakr Innovation is an Indian technology startup that places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and the reduction of pollution. The company specializes in the production of certified emission control devices for stationary diesel generators, with the goal of mitigating air pollution and its adverse effects on the environment and public health. Chakr Innovation's initiatives are in line with India's increasing concerns regarding air quality and challenges related to pollution. By offering practical and sustainable solutions, the company aims to create a positive impact on the environment and for the entire country.Under the visionary leadership of EXIM Bank, the premier export finance institution established in 1982 and operating under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Chakr Innovation's aspirations for growth have received a significant boost. The bank's expertise in facilitating international trade and its unwavering commitment to the nation's economic development make it an ideal partner for startups like Chakr Innovation, which are at the forefront of innovative solutions.
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PNB partners with Amul to support dealership network under MUDRA scheme
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has partnered with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMFL), better known as “AMUL” to offer financial services to Federation’s supply network pan India under the MUDRA scheme.An MoU to this effect was signed between PNB and GCMMFL (Amul) at , New Delhi in the august presence of SriJayen Mehta, MD,GCMMFL, Sri M.Paramasivam, Executive Director, PNB, Sri Sunil Kumar Chugh, CGM(PNB), Sri Sunil Goyal, CGM (PNB), Sri Atul Agarwal, SGM & CFO, GCMMFL and other senior officials of PNB and Amul. Via small ticket financing under MUDRA, the Bank will be financing Amul’s Retailers, Whole sale Dealers/Area Milk Distributors and exclusive AMULPreferred Outlets-Milk Parlours.Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Sri M. Paramasivam, ED, PNB said, “We are happy to be partnering with one of India’s largest food product marketing organizations. This association will not only accelerate Amul’ssupply chain but also,open unique opportunities for the Bank by expanding its customer base.
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Champaran Mutton becomes first Indian film to secure place in three categories
This year's Oscars nominations have brought much excitement, especially for Indian cinema, as an Indian film titled Champaran Mutton made it to the prestigious list. The film is directed by Ranjan Kumar. The film has been generating significant buzz as it secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Student Academy Awards 2023, a segment of the Oscars renowned for recognizing emerging talents.Champaran Mutton earned a place in three categories out of four including an esteemed Narrative category, making it the first Indian film to do so in Student Academy Awards. With a staggering 1700 films on nominations by various film training institutes, Ranjan Kumar's directorial stands tall among the 16 films that made it to the semifinal round of the Oscars.Actress Falak Khan, who played the lead role in Champaran Mutton hails from Bihar. In an interview with ANI, she shared her perspective on the profound impact of the film. She believes the film beautifully embodies the indomitable spirit of Bihar's people. "I am thankful to the entire team and this achievement. This is the result of the hard work that we all put in," she said.The storyline revolves around Hero and his family, who embark on a heartfelt journey to fulfill his wife's wish despite facing adversity. Their determination to return to their village after job losses during the lockdown strikes a chord with audiences, earning the film a deserving place among the prestigious Oscars nominees.
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Indian men's hockey team to open Asian Champions Trophy campaign against China on Aug 3
The Indian men's hockey team will open its Asian Champions Trophy campaign against China on day one of the tournament, to be played in Chennai from August 3 to 12.Hosts India and China will face each other in the last match of the opening day of the tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium.After China, India will play Japan on August 4. The hosts will then cross swords with Malaysia on August 6 followed by the game against Korea a day later, as per the schedule released by the Asian Hockey Federation on Tuesday.India will then take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the final league stage match on August 9.The six-team tournament will see South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, China, and India battle it out for top honours. All the teams are part of one pool and the positions on the points table will be decided by a league system.Defending champions South Korea will clash against Japan in the tournament opener.The semifinals are scheduled for August 11 while the summit clash will take place on August 12.The Indian men's hockey team (2011, 2016 & 2018) and Pakistan (2012, 2013 & 2018) have both won three titles each, and are the most decorated nations in the history of the tournament."We are absolutely delighted to be hosting the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 and announcing the schedule is a landmark day, as it sets the ball rolling for the tournament," Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said.
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Union Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur Inspires Youth at "ImPact with Youth Conclave" on International Youth Day
The Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, delivered a compelling keynote address at the "ImPact with Youth Conclave" organised by United Nations India, Yuwaah at UNICEF, and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India. The conclave took place today in Chennai on the eve of International Youth Day, under the theme Igniting Passions & Sparking Change - Amplifying voices and driving change with young people from South Asia.Highlighting the pivotal role of youth, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur stated, "Youth are the custodians and the largest stakeholders. With India being one of the youngest countries globally, our responsibility is unparalleled. International Youth Day underscores the tremendous power of the youth - they shape our nation's future and share the future of peace." He called upon the youth to share their vision and create awareness, emphasising the importance of green skills for sustainable development.Speaking on the evolving job market, Shri Thakur stressed the rise of Artificial Intelligence and the collective responsibility of youth to influence global narratives and sustainable development goals. He urged proactive participation in today's dynamic world, citing the recent drone policy and the importance of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. Shri Thakur called upon the youth to adopt a cause and set achievable goals, contributing to India's nation-building efforts.
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World Elephant Day 2023: Know How Many Species and Different Types of Elephants
World Elephant Day is celebrated every year on August 12th to raise awareness about the plight of elephants and to advocate for their protection. This year's theme is Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade.World Elephant Day is celebrated every year on August 12th to raise awareness about the plight of elephants and to advocate for their protection. The day was founded in 2012 by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand. World Elephant Day Org states: “World Elephant Day was co-founded on August 12, 2012, by Canadian Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand, an initiative of HM Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Since that time, Patricia Sims has continued to lead World Elephant Day. “Since its inception of global awareness building, it has partnerships with 100 elephant conservation organizations worldwide and reaches countless individuals across the globe. Millions of participants worldwide have shown their concern about the plight of elephants through acknowledgement of World Elephant Day, proving that people love elephants and want to do whatever they can to help.
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Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya delivers keynote address at the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony
“There cannot be a greater service to humanity than giving life to another person”. This was stated by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during his address at the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) ceremony, here today. Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar and Prof S P Singh Baghel, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare and Shri Ma Subramanian, Minister of Health, Tamil Nadu were also present. The 13th IODD ceremony was held to felicitate deceased donor families for their brave decision of donating organs of their loved ones, to spread awareness on deceased organ donation and to recognize the contribution of medical professionals working in the field of organ donation and transplantation by awarding them.Addressing the gathering, Dr Mandaviya stated that it is important to recognize and appreciate the contribution of all the people who have been a part of this endeavour. The Union Minister highlighted that “in 2013, around 5000 people came forward to donate their organs. Now there are over 15,000 organ donors annually”. The Union Minister informed that the Union Govt has taken several steps towards increasing organ donations in the country. He said that leave duration for organ donors have been increased from 30 days to 60 days, age limitations of 65 years have been removed and the process of organ donation has been further streamlined. He further stated that the Govt is committed to bring in more policies and reforms to popularise organ donation in the country.
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Telangana launches India's first Agricultural Data Exchange platform
Telangana Minister for IT and Industry KT Rama Rao on Friday launched India's first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF). An official release said developed as a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector, the ADeX is collaboration between Telangana Government, World Economic Forum, and the Indian Institute of Science."Both ADeX and ADMF provide the right platform to ensure fair and efficient usage of agricultural data by the industry and startups and provide a big boost to the data economy specifically in the argi sector. These initiatives help Telangana lead the country from the front in using innovation and technology to drive food systems transformation and improve the livelihoods of farmers," the minister said.In Phase-I of the project, the ADeX Platform is currently deployed in Khammam district and will be expanded to the entire State over a period.The software platform facilitates secure, standards-based exchange of data between agricultural data users such as agri application developers and agricultural data providers (Government Agencies, Private Companies, NGO's, Universities, etc), it said.ADMF has been developed after extensive public and industry consultations on the crucial aspects of data protection, management, and innovation.
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After Russia launched its mission to the moon called Luna 25 on August 11, 2023 (Indian Standard Time), there has been a lot of discussion that it may mark the beginning of a new space race. This is the country's first lunar lander mission in 47 years.
As the Chandrayaan-3 mission tightens its orbit around the Moon, Russia is set to launch its first moon-landing spacecraft in 47 years on Friday, August 11, 2023. The Luna-25 mission is scheduled to land on the Moon on August 23, the same day as Chandrayaan-3’s planned landing. Luna-25 will launch from the Vosthochny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East less than a month after Chandrayaan-3 launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, reports Reuters. The Russian mission will try to land on the lunar south pole just like the Indian mission, aiming for a prized destination that may hold significant quantities of ice that could be used to extract oxygen and fuel in the future. If either of the mission succeeds before the other, it will be the first one to land on the lunar south pole in human history.The lander was boosted out of Earth's orbit toward the moon over an hour later, at which point mission control took command of the craft, Russia's space agency Roscosmos said. The lander is expected to touch down on the moon on Aug. 21, Russia's space chief Yuri Borisov told state television, though the space agency previously pegged Aug. 23 as the landing date.
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In order to protect computers that are connected to the Internet, the OS will feature a system called Chakravyuh that is capable of detecting malware and protecting the device.
In the face of increasing cyber and malware attacks on defence as well as critical infrastructure across the country, the Defence Ministry has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all computers connected to the Internet with a new OS, Maya, based on open-source Ubuntu developed locally. “Maya has the interface and all functionality like Windows and users will not feel much difference as they transition to it. To begin with, the direction is to install Maya on all computers connected to the Internet in South Block before August 15,” one official involved in the process said. In addition, an ‘end point detection and protection system’, Chakravyuh, is also being installed in these systems.Currently, Maya is being installed only in Defence Ministry systems and not on computers connected to the networks of the three Services. On this, the official said the three Services had also vetted it and would adopt it on service networks as well soon. The Navy had already cleared it and the Army and the Air Force were currently evaluating it, the official added.There have been a series of malware and ransom attacks in the country, including on critical infrastructure in the recent past. There have been several efforts in the past as well in the Defence Ministry to replace Windows OS with an Indian one.
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Renowned nuclear physicist Bikash Sinha has passed away at the age of 78, was suffering from old age-related ailments.
Physicist Bikash Chandra Sinha, the face of India's scientific endeavours and a force behind the country's participation in the high-profile global research for 'God particle' at CERN near Geneva, passed away at a south Kolkata nursing home on Friday morning. The veteran nuclear physicist who specialized in high energy physics was 78. He is survived by his wife, sonand daughter.Describing him as a talented nuclear physicist and illustrious son of Bengal, she wrote, “An illustrious son of Bengal, this talented nuclear physicist made us proud by his contributions to not only the world of knowledge but also the ongoing public life. We could confer on him our highest state award ‘Bangabibhushan’ in 2022, and his personal presence on the dais inspired us. We could give him ‘Rabindra Smriti Purashkar’ too in 2022. I convey my sincerest condolences to his family, friends, students, and admirers.Sinha specialized in nuclear physics, high energy physics, Quark Gluon Plasma and early universe cosmology. He led the Indian team for the first time to participate in the experiments at the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva. Sinha had lived in England for around 12 years and after coming back to India he joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1976.
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The United Nations (UN)'s first-ever World Steelpan Day was observed on 11th August 2023, to recognise the cultural and historical significance of the Steelpan, the National Musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, and its correlation to cultural, socia
The steelpan (also known as a pan, steel drum, and sometimes, collectively with other musicians, as a steelband or steel orchestra) is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. It is played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber; the size and type of rubber tip varies according to the class of pan being played. Some musicians use four pansticks, holding two in each hand. This grew out of Trinidad and Tobago's early 20th-century Carnival percussion groups.Cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind. The importance of promoting and preserving cultural diversity is set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.The steelpan possesses cultural and historical significance and correlates to cultural, social and economic development. It also has the potential in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, through its use in sectors such as tourism, culture, education, as well as science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
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Rajasthan CM Gehlot to launch Indira Gandhi smart phone scheme today
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday launched the free smartphone scheme for women in the state. Under the Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana, the state government will transfer ?6,800 to the e-wallet of a beneficiary through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) , officials familiar with the matter said. The beneficiary, after the completion of their KYC (know your customer) process, can then purchase a mobile phone of their choice in the camps set up by the government. During the event to launch the scheme the CM also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah over the Manipur issue.Earlier, Gehlot said that 50% of the promises made by the state government have been fulfilled. “Through Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana, the state is fulfilling its another promise,” he said. The CM said the scheme was delayed due to the shortage of chips in the international market because of the Covid pandemic. “Now, women will be provided with smartphones in the camps without any hassle. The beneficiaries will be given free internet data for three years,” he said. The CM said that under the second phase of the scheme, smartphones will be provided to eight million women.
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“TDB-DST approves support to M/s Noccarc Robotics Private Limited, Maharashtra; Company to Commercialize Digitally-Enabled Advanced Universal ICU Ventilator
In a nation where more than 85% of medical devices are imported, the push towards indigenously developed products has never been more critical. The Government of India, under its "Make in India" initiative and a renewed focus on digitization across all sectors, including healthcare, is driving a robust ecosystem for homegrown innovations. Reflecting these national priorities, the Technology Development Board (TDB) has entered into an agreement with M/s Noccarc Robotics Private Limited, Maharashtra, a company dedicated to the commercialization of Digitally Enabled Advanced Universal ICU Ventilators. The board has pledged support of ?3.94 Crores out of the total project cost of ?7.89 Crores. M/s Noccarc, incubated at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, epitomizes the spirit of innovation with its indigenously developed technology.The entire technology has been developed by Noccarc indigenously, with several patents filed for each component of the ventilator. The company's entry-level ventilator, V310, played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, being deployed in diverse hospitals across India, where it became instrumental in saving lives. Building on this success, Noccarc is now launching the Noccarc V730i, which is a smart ventilator. V730i allows seamless connectivity to the cloud via GSM, Wi-Fi, and LAN, allowing doctors and intensive care specialists to remotely monitor the patient data on Noccarc’s digital platform, and will also enable hospitals to digitize their ICU data and workflows. This initiative is aligned with the Government's push towards creating a self-reliant India in the medical devices sector.
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Indian Railways’ Historic Milestone! New Amravati station becomes Central Railway’s third ‘Pink Station’
In a first, Central Railway’s New Amravati station becomes the first station in Bhusaval Division and third station of Central Railway CR to be a Pink Station to be fully managed by women staff. Central Railway has inaugurated the New Amravati station under the capable management of an all-women team. This remarkable accomplishment of establishing an all-women managed station at New Amravati follows in the footsteps of the trailblazing examples set by Matunga station in the Mumbai division and Ajni station in the Nagpur division.The New Amravati station has a staff strength of 12 women employees – 4 Deputy Station Superintendents, 4 Pointswomen, 3 Railway Protection Personnel and 1 Station Ticket Booking Agent. These women work in unison to ensure the smooth functioning of the station. According to the press release issued by the Central Railway, the New Amravati station, which joins the ranks of “Pink Stations,” caters to the needs of approximately 380 passengers who frequent the station daily. As the third station within Central Railway’s purview to be exclusively managed by women, the New Amravati station stands as a testament to the remarkable strides being taken towards fostering inclusivity and representation in the railway industry.Handling the operations of ten trains, the station holds a pivotal role within the Bhusaval Division, underscoring its significance and importance in the broader railway network.
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The CM launched the 'Sinh Suchna' web app which will provide exact information regarding the location and movement of the lions in real-time. He also released two books, 'The King of the Jungle – Asiatic Lion of Gir' by Dr. Sakkira Begum and 'Hu Gir no Sa
Gandhinagar, August 10: Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel while addressing during World Lion Day-2023 in Gandhinagar stated, “The state government has taken effective measures by prioritizing the conservation and protection of lions through various schemes and projects.” CM Shri Bhupendra Patel gave detailed information about the steps taken by the state government for lion conservation which saw participation from more than 7000 schools from 74 talukas through BISAG (Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Applications and Geo-informatics) in addition to wildlife enthusiasts and voluntary organizations. As part of this celebration, the CM launched the Lion Anthem film in the presence of Forest Minister Shri Mulu Bera and Minister of State for Forest and Environment Shri Mukesh Patel. This film has been produced by Ekta Janmay Chokshi and directed by Rohan Trivedi. The music has been composed by Nishit Mehta, sung by Brijraj Gadhvi while Parth Tarpara is the lyricist. The CM launched the ‘Sinh Suchna’ web app which will provide exact information regarding the location and movement of the lions in real-time. He also released two books, ‘The King of the Jungle – Asiatic Lion of Gir’ by Dr. Sakkira Begum and ‘Hu Gir no Savaj’ by Shri Arvind Goswami. While mentioning that the Hon’ble Prime Minister has a special affection for the Gir lion, CM Shri Bhupendra Patel said that Project Lion has been launched with the vision of Lion at 2047- Vision for Amrit Kaal. He added that the Hon’ble PM has allocated a budget of ?2,900 crore for this project.
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IIM Bangalore Study Assesses 2.82 Crore Person-Year Employment Generation Potential Of Jal Jeevan Mission
As envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Jal Jeevan Mission is benefitting people in numerous ways including improvement in health and employment opportunities. In a study undertaken by IIM-Bangalore with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), a detailed analysis of direct and indirect employment creation potential under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has been carried out. The report of the study, which was released here today, has estimated an immense employment generation potential of JJM to the tune of 2.82 crore person-year employment. The estimated generation of 2.82 crore person-year employment includes 59.93 lakh person-year of direct employment during the construction phase of JJM and an additional 2.22 crore person-year of indirect employment in the country through manpower engaged in production of the materials such as pipes, valves, pumps etc. Almost 40% of the direct employment created is i.e., 23.8 lakh person-year, is estimated to be on account of engagement of engineers, managers, plumbers, electricians, motor mechanics and chemists etc. Additionally, 11.84 lakh person-years of direct employment has been estimated during the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) phase every year.
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RBI Monetary Policy Highlights: MPC keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%; inflation for FY24 pegged at 5.4%
RBI MPC Meeting Live, Repo Rate News: The RBI Monetary Policy Committee has kept the key policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5%. This is the third meeting on the trot that the MPC decided to maintain the status quo on the repo rate. The MPC last raised this rate from 6.25 per cent to 6.50 per cent at its meeting in February. India’s GDP likely to grow at 6.5% in FY24, said RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. RBI pegged inflation for FY24 at 5.4%. RBI Governor has said that Indian economy is the bright spot in the global economy. RBI to allow offline payment of UPI by using near-field communication. The central bank raised payment limit via UPI lite to Rs 500 from Rs 200. Home loan, other borrowers can switch to fixed-rate regime, says RBI. RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%. Besides the repo rate, RBI Governor has made a slew of announcements related to the central bank’s GDP projection, inflation outlook, liquitidy, macro economy, UPI payments, etc.
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SEBI halves IPO listing time to 3 days; tightens disclosure norms for FPIs
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Wednesday slashed the time period for listing of shares in public issue from existing six (T+6) days to three (T+3) days, from the date of closure of the issue.The regulator also tightened the disclosure norms for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs). The decisions were taken in a board meeting held on Wednesday. It said the revised IPO listing timeline of T+3 days will be made applicable in two phases – voluntary for all public issues opening on or after September 1, 2023 and mandatory on or after December 1, 2023.According to the regulator, the reduction in the listing timeline is expected to benefit stakeholders as issuers would receive their funds and allottees would receive their securities in a shorter time period.Further, the move ensures that subscribers who were not allotted shares would receive their money back quickly. Resources of all stakeholders like stock exchanges, banks, depositories, and brokers in the public issue process will be deployed for a shorter time period.Under the new guidelines, companies will have to finalise allotment before 6 pm on T+1 day. The transfer of funds will be made to unsuccessful applicants on T+2 day.
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Protean eGov Technologies and fintech platform PayNearby have collaborated for providing credit services on the ONDC network for last-mile borrowers and MSMEs.
Protean eGov Technologies and fintech platform PayNearby have collaborated for providing credit services on the ONDC network for last-mile borrowers and MSMEs. Once launched, the marketplace will also allow for easy discovery of various lending products at affordable pricing, according to a statement. "In this partnership, Protean will serve as an ONDC technology service provider that facilitates availability of credit for last-mile borrowers across the country through PayNearby's well entrenched Distribution as a Service (DaaS) network," it said. Speaking to PTI, Protean eGov Managing Director and CEO Suresh Sethi said there are several people who are not digitally enabled to even get into the account aggregator framework and get credit against their data, or consent for it to be used. "We are looking at this as a sort of intervention which can leverage the physical network provided by PayNearby and the last mile agent can then provide an assisted service and onboarding people to be part of the account aggregator framework, and get credit against their data information," Sethi said. Protean will be an ONDC technology service provider in the partnership through PayNearby's Distribution as a Service (DaaS) network through over 12 lakh active PayNearby outlets. PayNearby Managing Director and CEO Anand Kumar Bajaj said that up until now, banks have abstained from lending to small enterprises for small amounts. With the account aggregator framework, small shopkeepers will be able to link their bank account or financial information on the platform. This small bank will, in turn, be able to submit the data to the lender. And the lender will be able to apply rule engines to give loans as low as Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000," Bajaj said.
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The all-women committee comprises three experienced former High Court judges: Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Manipur violence Supreme Court hearing highlights: The Supreme Court on Monday resumed hearing related to the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur.The Supreme Court resumed hearing on Monday on a batch of petitions in connection with the ongoing ethnic-violence in Manipur. Labelling the investigation into the loss of human lives in the conflict as “lethargic” and “tardy" in the previous hearing, the Supreme Court summoned the director general of police to furnish an explanation in this regard in on Monday's hearing. Activists hold placards during a candlelight vigil while protesting against the central government condemning the recent atrocities on women and violence in Manipur and other issues, in Bengaluru.The top court also demanded the director general of police to furnish records of incident records, FIRs, arrests, and victim statements. It questioned solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing the N Biren Singh government, about the two-month delay in FIR registrations in the shocking sexual assault case of two women on May 4, lamenting that the state has seen an “absolute breakdown of constitutional machinery for two months”. On May 3, violent clashes erupted between the dominant Meitei community and the tribal Kukis in a region. The unrest occurred amidst a protest organised in opposition to a high court order proposing to grant scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis.
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SBI Life gets IRDAI approval for appointment of Amit Jhingran as MD & CEO
Shares of SBI Life Insurance Co. hit a fresh record high on Wednesday after the insurance regulator approved the appointment of its chief executive officer. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India approved the appointment of Amit Jhingran as managing director and chief executive officer, according to an exchange filing.Jhingran joined the State Bank of India as a probationary officer in August 1991. In a career spanning over 30 years With SBI, he has held various assignments across international banking, retail banking, and branch management. Shares of SBI Life Insurance Co. rose 1.30% to 1,366.95 apiece as of 9:42 a.m., compared to a 0.31% decline in the NSE Nifty 50. The stock rose 1.83% to hit a record high at Rs 1,374 apiece. It has risen 11.14% year-to-date. Total traded volume stood at 5.7 times its 30-day average. The relative strength index at 70, implying that the stock may be overbought. Out of the 32 analysts tracking the company, 30 maintain a 'buy' rating, and two recommend a 'hold' on the stock, according to Bloomberg data. The average 12-month price target given by analysts implies a potential upside of 15.7%.
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CJI Chandrachud announces launch of 'Suswagatam' portal for e-passes to enter Supreme Court
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud on Thursday announced the launch of ‘SuSwagatam’, the Supreme Court’s new initiative for generating entry passes online, to help those who need to visit the court premises for official or case-related purposes.The CJI, who is presiding over a five-judge bench that has been hearing petitions challenging the changes made to Article 370 of the Constitution, made the announcement before the bench started proceedings for the day.“All passes are generated online. So you will not have to stand in a queue in the mornings,” thereby eliminating the need for physical entry passes, he said. “This is a facility being made available from this morning,” CJI Chandrachud added.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said this was a major concern given that every day there is a long line before the counter in the Supreme Court premises issuing physical entry passes.
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Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates the second phase of the annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis
“India is committed to eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, three years ahead of the global target through mission mode, multi partner, multi sector targeted drive.” This was stated by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya as he inaugurated the second phase of the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative, here today, in the presence of Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar, Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prof. S.P. Singh Bhagel, Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Union Minister further stressed that “Through Jan Bhagidaari and ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Society’ approach, we shall be able to eliminate this disease from the country”. The second phase, commencing on August 10, 2023, will cover 81 districts in 9 endemic States (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh). Deputy Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh, Shri. T.S. Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh, Shri Brijesh Pathak, Shri Niranjan Pujari, Health Minister, Odisha, Shri Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister, Assam and Shri Banna Gupta, Health Minister, Jharkhand joined the inauguration event in a virtual mode.
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Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC) on 9th August 2023 in Launch Programme organized at India Habitat Centre.
Smt. Sunita Verma, Scientist G & Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics & Information Technology), Shri Arvind Kumar, Controller of Certifying Authorities, MeitY and Dr. S. D. Sudarshan, Executive Director C-DAC, Bangalore jointly launched the browser development challenge. The challenge brochure was also unfolded by the dignitaries on the dais. The Indian Web Browser Development Challenge is spearheaded by MeitY, CCA and C-DAC Bangalore. The IWBDC is an Open Challenge Competition that seeks to inspire and empower technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers from all corners of the country to create an indigenous web browser with its own trust store with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate, cutting edge functionalities and enhanced security & data privacy protection features. Proposed browser would also focus on accessibility and user friendliness, ensuring built-in support for individuals with diverse abilities. Moreover, the browser envisions the ability to digitally sign documents using a crypto token, bolstering secure transactions and digital interactions. Speaking during the event Smt Sunita Verma, Scientist G & GC (R&D in Electronics & IT) conveyed the message of Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY that this challenge marks a significant stride towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, designed to strengthen India’s digital sovereignty through the development of the Indian Web Browser. Expressing the views of Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, MeitY, Smt. Verma added that MeitY has been at the forefront of several initiatives that are reshaping the future of our nation. This challenge addresses one of the critical components – Web browser – through which the end users accessing the Internet. Smt Sunita Verma said that Digital India has revolutionized how our nation functions, empowering citizens, boosting the economy and enhancing overall governance. As we move forward, embracing technology and promoting indigenous innovation will be pivotal in realizing the vision of a self-reliant, digitally empowered India. She invited all the innovative minds of the country, be it academia, industry, start-up or individual to participate in this challenge and come out with an innovative web browser made in India for the world.
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Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd (TLMAL) on Wednesday said it achieved a significant milestone with the recent delivery of the 200th C-130J Super Hercules empennage, the tail structure located at the rear of an aircraft for stabilisation.
Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) achieved a milestone with the recent delivery of the 200th C-130J Super Hercules empennage. An empennage is the tail structure located at the rear of an aircraft. Empennage assemblies produced by TLMAL include the aircraft’s horizontal and vertical stabilisers along with leading edges and tip assemblies.The TLMAL team also previously manufactured center wing box components for the legacy C-130 model aircraft, and introduced a new cutting-edge 4,700 square-meter metal-to-metal bonding facility in April 2018. TLMAL currently employs 650 people. The C-130J is known as the world’s workhorse not just for its large global presence, but also for its international supply chain partners including TLMAL,” Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility and Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin said in a release on Wednesday. “Each TLMAL-produced empennage literally helps the mighty Super Hercules take flight to support critical missions that impact lives and make history. While it takes many parts and pieces to build an empennage, it also requires a group of highly dedicated and skilled individuals — traits that are continually exemplified by our TLMAL teammates,’‘ he added. TLMAL empennages are included in C-130Js operated by seven nations, including India. These C-130Js support critical worldwide search and rescue, peacekeeping, combat delivery, maritime patrol, special operations, aerial refueling, commercial cargo transport, medevac and humanitarian response missions.
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The Indian Army has been granted a patent for an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven accident prevention system. Developed within the Army's research and development division, this system aims to enhance road safety and reduce accidents.
The Indian Army has secured a patent for an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven accident prevention system. Developed within the Army's research and development (R&D) division, this system is poised to enhance road safety and mitigate accidents.The Indian Army has secured a patent for an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven accident prevention system. Developed within the Army's research and development (R&D) division, this system is poised to enhance road safety and mitigate accidents.The system's core function is to proactively prevent accidents by employing artificial intelligence. It primarily targets instances where drivers may be at risk of falling asleep while operating a vehicle. By promptly alerting drowsy drivers and addressing the hazard of accidents triggered by fatigue, the Accident Prevention System holds the potential to save lives and significantly enhance road safety, Outlook reported.Before securing the patent, the AI-based accident prevention device was subjected to rigorous testing in the buses of two state transport corporations – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The device proved suitable for use in trucks as well, signifying its potential to contribute significantly to road safety beyond military applications.
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ZSI Celebrates 108th ZSI Day with Special Focus on ‘Mission Life’
The Union Minister for Environment & Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav today inaugurated the three-day celebration programme of the 108th ZSI day in Kolkota in presence of Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Shri Chandra Prakash Goyal, Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Dr Dhriti Banerjee and Director, Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Dr Ashiho Asosii Mao.Addressing the gathering Shri Yadav congratulated ZSI for completing 108 glorious years dedicated to the service of our faunal diversity. He shared the significance of the number 108, which denotes a cycle of 108 repetitions counted in a japamala, focusing on the sounds, vibration and meaning of what is said. He also described the number as 54 letters in Sanskrit alphabet, each having a masculine and feminine features.The Minister categorically pointed out that we must protect the Indian faunal diversity to protect ourselves as climate change has busted the myth that humans are superior to nature. He gave an instance put forward by renowned Anthropologist Eduardo Kohn, who said forests can think as the trees interact with their environment because they have specialised characteristics of pest resistance. The forest characteristics, he said, remind us of what Gandhiji once said-‘In nature, there is enough for everyone’s need’. The Union Minister gave the instance of discovery of DDT, the pesticide, during World War II and how the eminent biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson made people aware of the harm it causes to the environment in her book named ‘Silent Spring’ in 1958, a testimony to human arrogance towards nature.
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Former MD and CEO of Karnataka Bank P. Jayaram Bhat passes away
P Jayarama Bhat (72), former Chairman of Karnataka Bank Ltd, passed away in Mangaluru on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.Born on November 14, 1951, Polali Jayarama Bhat did his MSc in Chemistry (with first rank) from the University of Mysore in 1972. He joined the services of Karnataka Bank as a Probationary Officer in January 1973 after briefly serving as a lecturer for three months.Since 1976, Bhat headed leading branches of the bank till his promotion to Chief Accountant at the head office in 1993. He became the Assistant General Manager in 1994, Deputy General Manager in 1996, and General Manager in 1998. In 2005, Jayarama Bhat was promoted as Chief General Manager of the bank. He was appointed as the first Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karnataka Bank on July 14 2009.Initially appointed for a period of three years, Bhat got two extensions up to July 13, 2018. However, he voluntarily opted to relinquish his post of MD and CEO in April 2017. Following this, Mahabaleshwara MS was appointed MD and CEO. During Bhat’s tenure of around eight years as MD and CEO of the bank, the business turnover of the bank almost tripled to ?93,843 crore from ?32,034 crore as on July 13, 2009, with a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 14.40 per cent.More than 300 new branches were added to the bank’s network during Bhat’s tenure as the MD and CEO. He was instrumental in introducing several digital banking products and services.
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Indian poet diplomat Abhay Kumar (Abhay K), Deputy Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) launched his new book "Monsoon: A Poem of Love and Longing" in Kathika, a book running into 150 four lines.
Abhay K, a renowned poet-diplomat, has recently unveiled his latest literary masterpiece titled “Monsoon.” This book encapsulates a vivid poetic journey that intertwines human emotions with the enchanting beauty of the monsoon season. Aspiring candidates preparing for various government exams, ranging from civil services to police officers, will find this news significant as it not only highlights the literary prowess of Abhay K but also provides an opportunity to understand and appreciate the cultural nuances associated with his work.: The release of “Monsoon” by Abhay K holds paramount importance for government exam aspirants. Literature often reflects the socio-cultural fabric of a nation, and this news provides an avenue to delve into the world of poetry that might hold relevance in essay-type questions in exams like civil services, where candidates are expected to comprehend and analyze cultural and artistic expressions.Abhay K, an accomplished poet-diplomat, has a history of weaving cultural diplomacy through his verses. Having served as a diplomat, his poems reflect the diverse experiences he gathered during his postings. “Monsoon” is an extension of his literary journey, capturing the essence of the rainy season that holds significance across cultures and geographies.
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World Biofuel Day is observed every year on August 10 to spread awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative for humanity. The day also attempts to highlight the government's efforts to encourage the biofuel sector.
World Biofuel Day is observed every year on August 10 to spread awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative for humanity. The day also attempts to highlight the government’s efforts to encourage the biofuel sector.Biofuels are environment-friendly fuels that can be produced using biological materials like agricultural waste, trees, crops or even grass. Biofuels can be produced in a very short time and stored in either liquid or gaseous form. In contrast to fossil fuels, biofuels are renewable, sustainable and biodegradable in nature. Biofuels, classified as fuels derived from organic sources like plants, crops, and animal waste, present a convincing and environmentally friendly ecosystem substitute for conventional fossil fuels. Named "biofuels," these energy sources are created from biomass, including plants, agricultural residues, green growth and crops. As the global environmental consciousness strengthens, these renewable biofuels arise as a vital catalyst in shortening carbon emissions by as much as 90%, in this manner establishing their imperative job in the change toward a more sustainable and ecologically conscious planet. World Biofuel Day is marked every year on August 10. The day honours Rudolf Diesel, the individual who invented the diesel engine. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been celebrating the day since 2015 with a theme. However, because of no official declaration of the theme yet, World Biofuel Day will be commended on the 2022 theme, 'Biofuels for Sustainability and Rural Income.
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World Lion Day 2023: Lion Day is an opportunity to call out the challenges faced by wild cats. According to National Geographic, “Habitat loss, poaching, and human conflict are threatening the very existence of lions, tigers and other big cats in the wild
The first World Lion Day came into being in 2013. It was headed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a couple who are passionate about preservation and wild cats. After realizing that lion populations have drastically decreased worldwide, the Jouberts approached “National Geographic” for the brand’s help. Forming a partnership with them, the couple came up with the Big Cat Initiative (B.C.I.) in 2009. The B.C.I.’s main goal would be to protect and preserve the remaining lion species in the world. While aspects like deforestation, climate change, and human intervention may have impacted lion populations, studies have shown that their extremely low numbers may also have to do with ice ages and natural environmental disasters that have led them to becoming secluded in only a few countries of the world, namely India and South Africa. To date, the B.C.I. has made substantial leaps, from getting 150+ grant awards to reducing almost 3,000 threats to 3,000 wild cats to removing 13,000 life-threatening snares.
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Justice Subhasis Talapatra, former judge of the High Court of Tripura, was sworn in as 33rd Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa on 08-08-2023 upon superannuation of his predecessor Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar.
Justice Subhasis Talapatra was on Tuesday sworn in as the 33rd Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. The oath was administered to him by Governor Ganeshi Lal. He succeeds Justice S Muralidhar, who retired on Monday. The new Chief Justice was functioning as judge of Orissa High Court on transfer from Tripura High Court since June 10, 2022.Born on October 4, 1961 at Udaipur in Tripura, Justice Talapatra had enrolled as an advocate on September 12, 1990 and started practice in the Agartala bench of Gauhati High Court. He was designated as senior advocate on December 21, 2004.Justice Talapatra was appointed judge of Tripura High Court on September 13, 2013. Prior to it, he had served as additional judge of the same high court from November 15, 2011. He had also officiated as acting Chief Justice of Tripura High Court for some days, twice in 2018 and 2019.While recommending his name for the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in its resolution on July 5 had observed that Justice Talapatra had considerable experience of dispensing justice in two high courts.
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The contract is awarded after a competitive bidding process, in which RGICL emerged as the successful bidder to implement a revised MHIS 6 scheme in convergence with PMJAY, providing an insurance cover of Rs 5,30,000 for all eligible beneficiaries on a fa
Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd on Tuesday said they have been awarded the contract for the implementation of Meghalaya's health insurance for citizens. The RGICL will be implementing the Megha Health Insurance Scheme and the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana phase 6."The contract is awarded after a competitive bidding process, in which RGICL emerged as the successful bidder to implement a revised MHIS 6 scheme in convergence with PMJAY, providing an insurance cover of Rs 5,30,000 for all eligible beneficiaries on a family floater basis," RGICL said in a statement here.It stated that the state government has decided to review the Health Benefits Package and other terms in the Insurance Contract of MHIS 6 and will cover over 7 lakh families in Meghalaya, providing them with comprehensive health insurance coverage that will meet their secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, outpatient care, diagnostic tests, and follow-up care.RGICL CEO Rakesh Jain said, "We are honoured to partner with the Government of Meghalaya in this noble initiative of providing universal health coverage to the citizens of Meghalaya under the Megha Health Insurance Scheme and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)-Phase 6.He said "the company firmly believes that with the help of this contract, we will be supporting the state in bridging the much-needed gap of quality healthcare within the region, while increasing health insurance awareness and strengthening our foothold in the Northeast region.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy of India took a significant step towards enhancing international cooperation and bolstering law enforcement efforts by officially joining the INTERPOL Global Academy Network on 8 August as its 10th member.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy on Tuesday joined the Interpol Global Academy Network becoming its 10th member which will pave the way for development and delivery of joint training programmes and research projects.The CBI Academy, based in Ghaziabad, is a premier training institution in the fields of crime investigation, prosecution and vigilance functioning.A letter of acceptance was signed by DIG (Training) Mohit Gupta of the CBI Academy with his counterpart at Interpol Glenn Martindale, Director, Capacity Building and Training Directorate based at Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, through a virtual signing ceremony. The letter of acceptance was signed after detailed deliberations with the international police cooperation body Interpol in consultation with the Union Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and the Department of Personnel and Training.“The three-year-old Interpol Global Academy Network aims to support Interpol in leading a global approach to law enforcement training… The CBI Academy has become the 10th member of INTERPOL Global Academy Network. It is a step towards CBI Academy’s growing engagement with International Law Enforcement Institutions enabling effective capacity building and innovation activities,” an CBI spokesperson said.
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Indian Banks' Association Forms Sectoral Committee In GIFT City
The Indian Banks' Association (IBA) has constituted a sectoral committee for member banks operating within the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), the association said on Tuesday. The inaugural meeting of the committee took place in GIFT City on Tuesday. IBA has constituted the Sectoral Committee to address the unique regulatory landscape and challenges faced by banks operating within GIFT City. The committee will act as a bridge between the banking industry and regulators, ensuring that concerns and perspectives are effectively communicated and addressed, a release said. GIFT City currently accommodates 26 banks. Earlier, banks individually took up issues faced by them with the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA). The establishment of the Sectoral Committee is a pivotal step towards streamlining concerns common to all banks within GIFT City.Sunil Mehta, Chief Executive of IBA, said, the regulatory framework for banks within GIFT City differs from that for banks outside, necessitating a dedicated committee to address the specific issues facing banks within the IFSC GIFT City ecosystem.
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NABARD support gets GI certification for 5 traditional products in Rajasthan .
NABARD in Rajasthan is undertaking various initiatives for the promotion of farm and off farm producer organisations, exposure visits of farmers, development of watersheds and wadis for tribal people of the State.Geographical Indications (GI) tag approved for five traditional artworks of Rajasthan: Jodhpur Bandhej work, Koftagiri Metal Craft of Udaipur, Nathdwara Pichhwai craft of Rajsamand, Bikaner Usta Kala, Hand embroidery art of Bikaner. Dr.Rajiv Siwach, Chief General Manager shared that the project for GI registration of five products is supported by NABARD to preserve the intactness of disappearing artworks. This project will empower local communities by enhancing their income levels. He said that the project will safeguard the traditional knowledge and cultural expressions of the State through end to end support.It is further indicated that these GIs will play an important role in rural off farm development, act as product differentiators, support brand building, create a regional brand, generate spin-off effects in tourism and gastronomy and conserving biodiversity. This will enhance product quality, improve market access, create awareness, and strengthen producer’s capacity to enforce their rights.
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Axis Bank will raise its stake in Max Life to 16.22% from 9.99%by infusing ₹1,612 crore through a preferential allotment of shares. Axis Bank, along with its entities (Axis Securities and Axis Capital), acquired a 12.99% stake in Max Life in 2021, and thr
Axis Bank board on August 9 gave its nod to Rs 1,612-crore infusion in Max Life Insurance Company Limited, a material subsidiary of Max Financial Services Limited. The bank said the Acquisitions, Divestments and Merger Committee has approved the proposal for the infusion through preferential allotment."... Axis Bank Limited (“Axis Bank”) and its subsidiaries, i.e., Axis Securities Limited and Axis Capital Limited (together referred to as “Axis Entities”) have entered into agreements (including amendments thereto) with Max Financial Services Limited (“Max Financial”), with regard to acquisition of equity stake of Max Life Insurance Company Limited (“Max Life”) and matters incidental thereto," Axis Bank's exchange filing said."...we would now like to inform you that the Acquisitions, Divestments and Merger Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank at their meeting held on August 9, 2023 has approved the proposal for the Axis Bank to infuse Rs. 1,612 crores in Max Life through preferential allotment, resulting in Axis Bank’s direct stake in Max Life increasing to 16.22% and the collective stake of Axis Entities increasing to 19.02%," Axis Bank also said in the exchange filing.The Bank will now enter into a Share Subscription Agreement with Max Life for proposed acquisition through subscription to the Preferential Issue of 14,25,79,161 fully paid-up equity shares of face value of Rs. 10 each, at a fair market value of Rs. 113.06 per share (arrived at as per extant regulations and including a share premium of Rs. 103.06 per equity share
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Kotak Life partners with ESAF Small Finance Bank to offer Life Insurance to customers
Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd (“Kotak Life”) today announced its corporate agency tie-up with ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF Bank). The tie-up plans to benefit 68 lakh customers of ESAF Bank that will offer a wide range of tailor-made life insurance products and solutions provided by Kotak Life, including protection, savings, investment and retirement through ESAF Bank’s 700 banking outlets spread across 21 States and 2 Union Territories. Kadambelil Paul Thomas, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ESAF Small Finance Bank said, “We at ESAF Small Finance Bank are committed to offering banking experiences for our customers. The strategic collaboration with Kotak Life signifies our commitment to drive the best interests of our customers and enhance our capabilities in delivering comprehensive financial solutions to our people.” Mahesh Balasubramanian, Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited said, “The collaboration aligns with the shared vision of both Kotak Life and ESAF Bank to cater to the underbanked and unbanked segments of the population. By leveraging ESAF Bank’s customer reach and our expertise in life insurance, we can now offer life insurance solutions and provide financial security to ESAF’s customers.”
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Named 'Neerakshi', the AUV is expected to undergo user trials by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Army before a commercial launch.
The AUV named 'Neerakshi' is a collaboration of Kolkata-based warshipmaker Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and MSME entity AEPL, officials said.The commercial launch of the AUV is likely to be within six months to a year after completion of user trials by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and possibly the Army too, he said GRSE chairman and managing director Commodore (Retd) P R Hari said at the launch of the AUV."This can be used for a variety of functions ranging from mine detection to mine disposal to underwater survey," he said.The GRSE CMD said that the initial response has been overwhelming and expressed confidence that this venture will result in multiple projects which will augur well not only for the shipbuilder but also for the country."Neerakshi is petite and demure, but don't be mistaken. She is potent and versatile with multirole capabilities," he said.Launching the 2.1-metre long cylindrical unmanned vehicle about a foot in diameter and weighing around 45 kg, secretary of defence R and D department and DRDO chairman, Samir V Kamat expressed confidence that in the coming years the country's defence industry will not only meet the aspirations of the nation, but also become a developer of cutting edge systems, innovative solutions and generate a lot of exports.
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Centre launches special skill initiative for the northeastern region
The initiative, ‘Transforming lives, building futures: Skill development and entrepreneurship in North-East’, was launched by union education and skill development minister Dharmendra Pradhan, culture and tourism minister G Kishan Reddy and minister of state for skill development and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar.According to a government statement, 250,000 youth of the northeastern region will be provided with industry relevant skill training programmes through a wide array of schemes and initiatives, under the initiative.“The government has earmarked a substantial fund of ?360 crore to facilitate inclusive development, nurture entrepreneurial talent, and propel socio-economic growth of the region. To fuel further growth, concerted efforts are being made to provide vocational education and skill development programs to cater to the demand for skilled professionals across sectors, including agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and information technology,” the statement said.Pradhan said the initiative will create unprecedented skilling opportunities for the youth in line with their interest areas and lead to unlocking the potential of north-eastern youth. “The north-eastern region of our country is abundant with natural resources and demographic dividend and with a whole-of-government approach, our government has worked to drive unprecedented development of the region.
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Dhaksha Unmanned Systems gets order for 200 drones from Indian Army. Hyderabad: Drone manufacturer Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, a subsidiary of Coromandel International, bagged an order to supply 200 medium-altitude logistics drones and accessories to the In
Agri solutions provider Coromandel International's subsidiary and drone manufacturer Dhaksha Unmanned Systems on Monday announced it has secured a supply order for 200 medium-altitude logistics drones and accessories from the Indian Army. This order comes on the back of a recent contract for the supply of 400 agri-spraying drones from IFFCO, Dhaksha Unmanned Systems (DUS) said in a statement. These two orders are planned to be delivered over the next 12 months, the company said, adding it also has a strong order pipeline which will further increase the potential revenues for the current year. The company has been selected by the Indian Army to supply its logistics drones. This is a major milestone, said Ramanathan Narayanan, CEO of Dhaksha Unmanned Systems."We are committed to build the latest technologies for drone manufacturing and cater to requirements of the defence sector as well as the farming community of the country, " he said.DUS said it has a technology collaboration with Anna University and claims to be the only player in the country to receive type certificates from DGCA for three drone models in medium and small categories for agriculture and surveillance applications.
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India's eGov Foundation, UNDP Indonesia sign MoU to improve medical waste management in Indonesia.
UNDP Indonesia and India’s eGov Foundation have signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to tackle the critical challenge of infectious medical waste management in Indonesia. The collaboration aims to leverage eGov Foundation’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – DIGIT, to implement a cohesive solution at speed and scale. This momentous partnership between UNDP Indonesia and eGov Foundation stems from close collaboration and engagement with diverse stakeholders with a shared commitment to drive sustainable and efficient waste management practices in the country. The joint effort aims to bring visibility and accountability to the end-to-end management of infectious medical waste across nearly 13,000 health facilities nationwide in Indonesia. As part of the partnership, Indonesia will adopt eGov Foundation’s open-source foundational system DIGIT Sanitation platform, specifically designed to accommodate contextualisation and the reuse of components across various waste streams and geographies. This platform approach empowers Indonesia to extend its digitalisation efforts at speed and scale beyond infectious medical waste and encompass other waste streams like faecal sludge, solid waste, and chemical waste. By leveraging the existing digital building blocks of the technology stack, the collaboration seeks to expedite the development of efficient and cost-effective applications. Commenting on the partnership, Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation, said, “We are pleased to join forces with UNDP Indonesia in addressing the pressing issue of infectious medical waste management. The sanitation sector requires coordination at a national scale, while making space for regional variations in service delivery. Given the nature and scale of the problem, Digital Public Infrastructure(DPIs) like DIGIT is best suited to cater to the needs of various stakeholders and enable a step-change in outcomes.
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AU Small Finance Bank has etched its name in history as the first financial services provider in India to present a 24×7 live video banking solution.
AU Small Finance Bank has achieved an unprecedented feat with the launch of its groundbreaking customer service 24×7 via Video Banking. This service provides a virtual platform where customers can communicate with a video banker in real time via video calls, like video conferencing. “AU Small Finance Bank’s foray into round-the-clock Video Banking represents a paradigm shift in modern banking. Even on holidays and weekends, AU’s dedicated team would ensure face-to-face, human-centric interactions, underscoring the bank’s commitment to enhancing nationwide banking experiences. We empower our customers in this digital epoch by elevating accessibility and convenience to unparalleled heights,” said Uttam Tibrewal, Executive Director, of AU Small Finance Bank. Security stands paramount in the realm of Video Banking, with AU Small Finance Bank raising the bar with advanced encryption, AI-powered facial recognition, OTP and signature verification, and video validation. Every transaction and confidential piece of information is meticulously safeguarded, ensuring customers can engage with the platform with the utmost confidence. Now, AU SFB’s customers could revel in the convenience of services such as real-time account support, demographic updates, hassle-free financial transactions, effortless loans and Credit Card inquiries, efficient issue resolution related to all banking relationships, and beyond.
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The debit cards will be crafted from recycle- Poly Vinyl Chloride (r-PVC) material, a certified eco-friendly material, against normal PVC cards. The introduction coincides with the Bank's dedication to sustainability and its drive to advocate for environm
Airtel Payments Bank has become the first Indian bank to launch an eco-friendly debit card for its new and existing customers with a savings bank account. The debit cards will come in r-PVC material, a certified eco-friendly material. Every batch of 50,000 cards produced, will lead to a substantial reduction of 350 kgs of carbon emissions compared to the conventional PVC cards commonly used in the market. Moreover, the r-PVC cards' production will result in a 43% decrease of hydrocarbon usage, effectively reducing petroleum consumption during manufacturing. Different card types Airtel Payments Bank is launching two cards in the Classic variant – the Personalised Classic Card and the Insta Classic Card. Customers can request the Personalised Card through the Airtel Thanks app, while the Insta Card will be accessible at specific neighborhood banking points by the end of the current quarter. Both cards offer rewards, including e-commerce benefits of up to Rs 10,000, and complimentary One Dines experiences in major cities across India.
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India Exim Bank launches subsidiary for trade financing in GIFT City
Export financier Exim Bank Launched its subsidiary- India Exim Finserve IFSC Private Limited - at the Gujarat International Financial Tec City (GIFT City). The subsidiary, inaugurated by Dr. Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), will extend a range of trade finance products to Indian exporters, with a primary focus on export factoring.Exim Finserve will provide a combination of three services to exporters: receivables financing, coverage of the risk of non-payment and management of accounts receivable. This would lead to improved cash flow and reduced payment risk for exporters, enabling them to explore new markets.The factoring services by the first finance company in GIFT City in the area of export factoring would be particularly beneficial for MSME exporters as it is primarily based on the quality of accounts receivable, rather than collateral, according to a release by the company, according to a release by the company.Speaking at the occasion, Exim Bank Managing Director Harsha Bangari highlighted that the launch of Exim Finserve aligns with the bank’s growing focus on meeting the financing gaps faced by MSME exporters. She noted that Exim Finserve, through its factoring services, will enhance the export competitiveness of MSMEs as they can offer competitive credit terms to their buyers, without associated risks and cash flow difficulties. With the launch of Exim Finserve, the export financier is now covering ..
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PayU and CSC Academy to offer financial education to underprivileged people
In a significant effort to uplift underprivileged sections of society, including SC-ST, BPL, and women, PayU India, a prominent online payment service provider, has joined forces with CSC Academy, an SPV of the Ministry of Electronics & IT, to kickstart a collaborative campaign focused on enhancing digital and financial literacy. The campaign's core mission is to extend essential knowledge and civic services to individuals aged 15 to 60, primarily in Delhi/Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, through strategically positioned mobile vans. This initiative is set to run from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.Aiming to elevate living standards and integrate more citizens into the Digital India plan, this joint endeavour seeks to empower the masses by promoting financial savviness and secure digital transactions. By addressing the gaps in financial and digital literacy, the program aspires to mitigate the challenges faced by the less informed populace. Underpinning the Digital India initiative, digital and financial literacy emerges as the cornerstone of individual empowerment. This campaign is poised to integrate the benefits of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) into rural residents' daily lives, encompassing essential aspects such as healthcare, income generation, and education. Furthermore, the curriculum will emphasize leveraging digital financial tools for electronic payment systems, in alignment with the government's drive towards cashless transactions through mobile devices. The mobile vans will facilitate enhanced access to citizen-centric services, extending a valuable lifeline to underserved communities.
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Bandhan Bank will be providing Point of Sale (PoS) machines to Odisha Tourism Development Corporation to facilitate card payments by tourists. The financial terms were not revealed. Bandhan Bank today announced a partnership with the Odisha government to
Bandhan Bank, Core Banking, OTDC, Orissa Government, Payments Solutions, Orissa Tourist Development Corporation, Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI Payments, PoS MachinesBandhan Bank has announced its association with Odisha Government to help them strengthen payment solutions for Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) Ltd.The bank has provided Point of Sale (PoS) machines to facilitate card payments by tourists. Prime locations, including Puri, Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Chilka and Gopalpur, will be covered under this tie-up.The PoS machines will hasten tourist payment collections, bringing convenience to both the tourists and OTDC officials. The machine will help tourists pay through debit or credit cards. The bank is planning to launch UPI services soon.The EDC machines will also help prevent revenue loss for OTDC, which may be caused by the lack of cash carried by the tourists. This initiative aligns with the nation’s vision of becoming a cashless economy.Commenting on the occasion, Shantanu Sengupta, Head – Retail Banking, Bandhan Bank said, “Odisha has been an important market for Bandhan Bank over the years. We’re happy to partner with the Odisha Government in bringing convenient payment solutions to the tourists of the state. At Bandhan Bank, we are committed to being a bank for all, and this endeavour is another step in that direction.
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Apraava Energy has signed a MoU with REC Limited and Power Finance Corporation Limited to raise Rs 91.2 billion for its transmission, wind and advanced metering infrastructure projects in India. The MoUs were signed at the Green Finance Summit which was h
Apraava Energy has signed preliminary agreements with state-owned firms REC Ltd and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to obtain Rs 9,120 crore in financing for wind, transmission and advanced metering projects in the country. The MoUs were signed as part of the Green Finance Summit, which was held on the sidelines of the Green Business Summit Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) Ministerial on July 21, 2023 in Goa, against the backdrop of India's G20 Presidency, according to a company statement. Apraava Energy announced the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with REC Ltd and PFC for financial assistance totaling Rs 9,120 crore (USD 1.1 billion). Apraava Energy's Managing Director, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, stated in a statement, "This partnership strengthens our roadmap to deliver sustainable and integrated growth in the future." We thank REC and PFC for believing in our aspirations for a better world." Apraava has recently expanded into newer areas of the energy value chain, such as transmission and advanced metering, which will aid in the acceleration of India's transition to a greener economy. In the future, the company will focus on strengthening its existing low-carbon portfolio and expanding into new business areas such as non-generation and customer-focused energy businesses, in line with our shareholders' vision.