NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan chairs ‘Aarogya Manthan’ 2.0: Dr Harsh Vardhan,
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare chaired ‘Aarogya Manthan’ 2.0
celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya
Yojana (AB-PMJAY). During the event, he also presented awards to the winners of
the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Start-up Grand Challenge to support the
implementation of PM-JAY. The Union Health Minister launched the AB PMJAY Joint
Certification Programme. This programme will develop the skills and knowledge
of relevant stakeholders in medical audit and health insurance for accurate and
efficient processing of claims and prevention and detection of fraud and abuse.
The “AB PMJAY Anti-Fraud Framework: Practitioners’ Guidebook” was also released
and will serve as a useful tool for the States as it is a repository of the
anti-fraud guidelines, techniques, advisories along with legal remedies/course
of action presently available under applicable Indian laws.
Note: CEO of National Health Authority
(NHA): Dr. Indu Bhushan.
2.
Gujarat Chief Minister announces subsidy schemes for e-scooters, rickshaws: Gujarat Chief
Minister Vijay Rupani has announced an assistance scheme to encourage use of
battery-operated two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the state. Gujarat
Government will provide subsidy of 12,000 rupees to school students studying in
Standard-9th to colleges for battery-operated two-wheelers. Government is
targeting to provide such subsidies for 10,000 such vehicles. Similarly, a
subsidy of 48,000 rupees will be given for three-wheeler e-rickshaw for
individual and institutional beneficiaries. This subsidy will be given for
5,000 e-rickshaw.
3.
ITBP ties up with Uttarakhand govt to promote adventure tourism: The Uttarakhand
Tourism Development Board (UTDB) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote adventure sports activities at
Tehri Lake in the state. According to the MoU:
(1) ITBP along with the department will now
work on the building of adventure sports activities like land base adventure
centre, water base adventure centre, aero base adventure centre at Rajiv Gandhi
Adventure Sports Academy situated at Tehri Lake.
(2) It will train over 200 candidates
selected by the state government or tourism department every year free of cost.
All arrangements and expenses for the operation of and training in the academy
will be borne by the ITBP.
(3) The ITBP has prepared the road map for
development and taking over of the water adventure facility near Tehri Lake and
submitted to the state government for finalising a tie-up for the project to
bolster tourism in Uttarakhand.
(4) It would use the training
infrastructure built by the state government for training and sporting purpose
for all types in areas surrounding Tehri Lake, following security and other
norms stipulated by the state.
Note: Chief Minister of Uttarakhand:
Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.
Director-General of ITBP: Surjeet Singh
Deswal.
4.
MCA extends the tenure of Company Law Committee by 1 year; Head- Rajesh Verma: The Ministry of
Corporate Affairs has extended the tenure of the Company Law Committee by one
year until September 2021. Corporate affairs secretary Rajesh Verma is the
present chairperson of the committee. The committee has a total of 11 members.
It was set up to: (1) suggest measures to improve functioning of the National
Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), and
(2) make recommendations on issues pertaining to implementation of the
Companies Act and Limited Liability Partnership Act.
5. A
book titled “Kitchens of Gratitude” authored by Chef Vikas Khanna: Star chef Vikas
Khanna has authored a book titled “Kitchens of Gratitude” in which he has
written about his Feed India initiative. Feed India initiative is one of the
largest food drives in the world, serving meals to the underprivileged. The
book will be released in 2021. He will also be honoured with the 2020 Asia Game
Changer Award in October.
6. A
book titled “Voices of Dissent” authored by Romila Thapar: A new book titled
“Voices of Dissent” authored by Historian Romila Thapar will be jointly
published by Penguin Random House India and Seagull Books. The book is set to
publish in October 2020. The book is a historical essay that explores dissent,
including its articulation and public response to its forms, with a focus on
the recent protest in India against the citizenship law and the National
Register of Citizens. Romila Thapar hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Her
works include A History of India (1966), Interpreting Early India (1992), Early
India: From the Origin to AD 1300(2003). She received the Kluge Prize in
December 2008. She was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2005 which she declined
stating that she made a resolve not to accept any “State Award”.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
India extends USD 250 million support to the Maldives to overcome the economic
impact of Covid-19: India
has extended financial assistance of USD 250 million to the Maldives to help it
mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The budgetary support of
USD 250 million has been extended without conditions. This financial assistance
is being routed through the State Bank of India (SBI), Male so that it does not
reflect in the external borrowings of the Maldives. Indian government has
provided a sovereign guarantee to SBI for this financial assistance.
2.
Bah Ndaw named Mali’s interim president: Mali’s former defence minister, Bah
Ndaw has been named as Interim President of the country’s new transition
government. He will take the charge of the office with effect from 25 September
2020. On 19th August 2020, Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his
resignation with immediate effect following a military mutiny in the Republic
of Mali. Colonel Assimi Goita, the leader of the National Committee for the
Salvation of the People (CNSP) which overthrew Mali’s President Ibrahim
Boubacar Keita, was appointed vice president.
Note: Republic of Mali Capital: Bamako;
Currency: West African CFA franc.
3.
Simanchala Dash appointed as advisor to IMF Executive Director: The Appointments
Committee of Cabinet has approved the proposal to appoint Simanchala Dash as an
advisor to Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington.
He has been appointed for a period of three years.
Note: Headquarters of IMF: Washington,
D.C., United States; Managing Director of IMF: Kristalina Georgieva.
4.
International Day of Sign Languages: 23rd September: The International
Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23
September to raise awareness on sign languages and strengthen the status about
sign languages. The theme for the 2020 International Day of Sign Languages is
“Sign Languages are for Everyone!”. Also, the last full week of September is
observed as International Week of the Deaf. 23 September has been chosen to
mark IDSL as it commemorates the establishment of the World Federation of the
Deaf on 23 September 1951. The International Day of Sign Languages was first
celebrated in 2018.
Note: World Federation of the Deaf President:
Joseph J. Murray; World Federation of the Deaf Founded: 23 September 1951,
Rome, Italy; World Federation of the Deaf Headquarters location: Helsinki,
Finland.
5. UN
marked its 75 anniversary on 22nd September: United Nation marks its 75th anniversary
on September 22, 2020 at a time of great disruption due to unprecedented global
health crisis with severe economic and social impacts. For the first time,
pre-recorded video statements will be delivered at UN General Assembly event.
UN appealed to preserve 2020 as the longest period without a military
confrontation. United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.
Note: General Secretary: Antonio Guterres
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Colonel Dr Girija Mungali named in AFC task-force: Retired Colonel Dr
Girija Shanker Mungali has been appointed as one of the seven members of the
Asian Football Confederation’s task force. The taskforce will regulate the
football clubs in Asia and Australia. He is currently serving as the Chairman
of the Club Licensing Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The appointment of Dr Girija Shanker Mungali to AFC was made by Dato’ Windsor
John, the General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation. The retired
Colonel will be on the panel till 2023.
Note: Asian Football Confederation is the
nodal governing body of football in Asia and Australia.
Headquarters of Asian Football
Confederation: Malaysia.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
HDFC Life & YES Bank enters into partnership to sell insurance policies: HDFC (Housing
Development Finance Corporation) Life and Yes Bank entered into a Corporate
Agency Arrangement (CA). As part of the arrangement, HDFC Life will provide a
diverse range of insurance products to customers of Yes Bank. HDFC Life’s wide
range of life insurance products includes solutions for protection, saving and
investment, retirement and critical illness. It will be available to customers
of Yes Bank through the Bank’s branches which are spread throughout the
country.
Note: HDFC Life MD & CEO: Vibha
Padalkar; HDFC Life Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
YES Bank MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar; YES
Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
2.
Google Pay, Visa partner for card-based payments with tokenization: Google Pay has
partnered with VISA for the rollout of tokenization across its platform that
will enable users to safely transact with their debit or credit cards. Through
tokenization, Google Pay users can make payment by using the debit or credit
card without physically sharing their credit or debit card details through a
secure digital token attached to their phone. About Tokenization feature:
(1) The feature will also facilitate the
use of the tap-to-pay feature on near-field communications (NFC)-enabled point
of sale (PoS) terminals and online merchants.
(2) The feature also works with online
merchants, delivering more native and seamless OTP experiences without any
redirects to 3D secure sites.
(3) This feature is now available to all
users of Axis, SBI Card and Kotak.
Note: CEO of Google: Sundar Pichai;
Headquarters: California, United States.
India & South Asia Group Country
Manager of Visa: TR Ramachandran.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
CCI approves acquisition of 100% equity shares of Medlife by API Holdings: The Competition
Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 100% equity shares of
Medlife International Private Limited (“Medlife”) by API Holdings Private
Limited (“API Holdings”). It also approved the acquisition of up to 19.59%
equity share capital of API Holdings by Medlife’s shareholders under Section
31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
API is a private company, incorporated in
2019. API directly or through its subsidiaries carries out various business
activities including wholesale sale and distribution of drugs; transportation
and delivery services primarily focused on pharmaceutical sector; owning
technology and intellectual property for developing e- commerce platforms.
Medlife is primarily a healthcare company engaged in the wholesale sale and
distribution of drugs.
Note: Chairperson of Competition Commission
of India: Ashok Kumar Gupta.
DEFENSE
1.
Indian Navy conducts Passage Exercise with Royal Australian Navy: The Indian Navy
(IN) has commenced a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
in the East Indian Ocean Region. The exercise would involve participation of
HMAS Hobart from the Australian side and Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and
Karmuk. The Passage Exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving
understanding and imbibing best practices from each other. The exercise will
also involve advanced surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firings,
seamanship exercises, naval manoeuvres and Cross Deck Flying Operations. PASSEXs
are regularly conducted by IN with units of friendly foreign navies, whilst
visiting each other’s ports or during a rendezvous at sea.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral
Karambir Singh.
Australia Prime Minister: Scott Morrison;
Australia Capital: Canberra
OBITUARIES
1.
Veteran Marathi actress Ashalata Wabgaonkar passes away: Renowned Marathi,
Hindi films, and stage actress Ashalata Wabgaonkar (79 years) passed away due
to COVID-19 in Satara in Maharashtra. She played the role of Revathi in play Sangeet
Senshaikolol and Marathi drama Matsyagandha. The actress had worked in many
Bollywood hits including 'Apne Paraye', 'Zanjeer, 'Namak Halal', 'Sharaabi',
'Shaukeen' and Marathi movies like 'Maherchi Sadi', 'Vahinichi Maya',
'Umbartha', 'Sutradhar', 'Navari Mile Navryala' etc.
2. Veteran Congress minister Zakiya Inam passes away: Former Congress Minister of Rajasthan Zakia Inam (71 years) passed away due to coronavirus at Rajasthan University of Health Sciences Hospital in Jaipur. She was three times MLA from Tonk constituency and was the only woman candidate who became MLA three-times in Rajasthan. She contested election as a Congress candidate in the year 1985, 1990, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Her portfolio with Rajasthan govt includes health, women and child welfare.
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