NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India’s Presidency of AIBD extended for one more
year: India’s Presidency of the Asia-Pacific Institute
of Broadcasting Development (AIBD), has been extended for one more year. The
Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati and Director General of Doordarshan
Mayank Kumar Agrawal is the President of AIBD. The decision to extend AIBD was
taken at the two-day General Conference of the AIBD held in New Delhi. The
conference was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Anurag Thakur. The conference was also facilitated by Dr. L.
Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, and Apurva Chandra
secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
About
AIBD: AIBD stands for Asia Pacific Institute for
Broadcasting Development. The AIBD was formed in the year 1977. It is an inter-governmental
organization of the Union Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific. AIBD works in the field of electronic media development and
currently has 26 countries as complete members represented by 43 organizations
and 52 affiliate members. The AIBD is hosted by the Government of Malaysia and
the secretariat is located in Kuala Lumpur.
2. Bihar govt is set to introduce ‘no-bag day’ in
schools: The Bihar government is set to introduce a “no-bag
day” rule in schools and a mandatory games period at least once a week to
reduce the burden on students. The weekly ”no-bag day” will have task-based
practical classes. At least once a week, students will come to school only with
their lunch boxes. They do not need to carry books. The day will be devoted to
practical and experiential learning. The objective of such a policy is to
engage students in various activities which can positively impact their learning.
About the schemes:
a) School authorities must prepare a curriculum for such activities. This
step will certainly bring positive changes among students, which will also
improve their learning ability. Encouraged by the impressive performance of our
students in regional, national and international sporting events, we will
introduce a mandatory games period in schools.
b) The initiative is in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and
will be implemented in both state-run and private schools. The government will
accordingly prepare them for the state, national and international sporting
events.
3. Indian Navy signed an MoU with Amity University
for Academic Cooperation: Amity University Uttar
Pradesh signed an MoU with the Indian Navy to form a long-term relationship for
Academic cooperation. The MoU between Amity University and Indian Navy will
enhance the educational qualifications improving the prospect for ‘in-service’
appropriate nautical assignment and better placements in superannuation from
the Indian Navy. Key Points:
a) The MoU between Amity University and Indian Navy will conduct customized
courses for the Indian Navy in niche domains.
b) The various domains include 5G Technology and IoT, Control System
Integration, AI, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Cryptology, Data Science, Big
Data Analysis, Digital Marketing, Computer Networks, Anti Drone Warfare,
Cyberwarfare, Security, Automation, Surveillance, and Tracking.
c) This will also contribute to enhancing the ‘Scholar Warriors’, who can
think better and adapt to the future challenges of conflict.
4. Saffron from Kashmir GI-tagged on sites both
domestic and abroad: Farmers in the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir are now able to sell their products on domestic and international marketplaces
thanks to the GI labelling of Kashmiri saffron. This was said by Chowdhury
Mohammad Iqbal, director of agriculture in Kashmir, who visited the India
International Saffron from Kashmir Trade Centre in Dussu in the Pampore
neighbourhood of the Pulwama district of south Kashmir to see how it was
operating there. Key Points:
a) The Director of Agriculture spoke at the event and expressed his
satisfaction with IIKSTC’s performance during the previous two years.
b) According to him, more than 3000 kg of fresh saffron flowers from which
more than 300 kg of saffron was collected could be processed in the IIKSTC lab,
which the Department has been using on a trial basis for the past two years.
c) He claimed that the GI tagging and e-auctioning facilities have
facilitated the export of our goods to places like Dubai and other nations.
d) They anticipate much better outcomes in the future. He noted that
agreements had been established with several international marketing platforms,
and that it was reasonable to anticipate that Kashmiri Saffron will expand its
global marketing coverage in the future.
Note: Capital of
Jammu and Kashmir: Srinagar; LG of Jammu and Kashmir: Shri Manoj Sinha
5. USAID and UNICEF launch series titled ‘Door Se
Namaste’: The US Agency for International Development and
UNICEF launched the Doordarshan and YouTube series titled “Door Se Namaste” at
a function held in New Delhi. A theatrical film on Duur Se Namaste was screened
at the event, taking the audience through the main story, and showing how the
messages of vaccine promotion and COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) have
been interwoven in the entertainment education series. About the Door Se
Namaste series:
a) Door Se Namaste is a new television series which promotes healthy
behaviours in a post-pandemic world. It is a fictional Hindi series developed
in an entertainment education format highlighting the challenges of a
post-pandemic world and promoting the adoption of healthy behaviour and
practices.
b) The programme will be telecast on every Sunday from 11 AM to 12 noon.
c) The series is produced by National Film Award winner and Padmashee, Nil
Madhav Panda’s production house, Elleeanora Images Pvt. Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India emerges as Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral
lender overtaking China: India becomes the largest
bilateral lender for Sri Lanka and overtakes China. In four months of 2022,
India has provided a total of 968 million US Dollars in loans to Sri Lanka.
China has been the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka for the past five
years from 2017-2021. Key Points:
a) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been the largest bilateral lender in
the past five years.
b) In 2021, a total of 610 million dollars were provided to Sri Lanka by
the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
c) India has provided 4 billion dollars in food and financial assistance to
Sri Lanka.
d) India handed 21,000 tonnes of fertilizers to Sri Lanka on August 2022.
e) Since the beginning of 2022, Sri Lanka is suffering from an economic
crisis and the default of the government has made the situation worse. The
Country is indebted to foreign loans and is battling severe food and fuel
scarcity.
2. NHRC head elected as member of Asia Pacific
Forum’s Governance Committee: National Human
Rights Commission of India chairperson justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra has
been elected as a member of the Governance Committee of the Asia Pacific Forum
(APF). He has also been elected as a member of the Global Alliance of National
Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) Bureau at the 27th Annual General Meeting of
the APF.
The APF’s
Governance Committee is elected by APF councilors, representing ‘A status’
National Human Rights Institutions in the Asia Pacific region. The role of the
five-member APF Governance Committee is to consider and make recommendations to
the APF General Assembly on a range of issues for the promotion and protection
of human rights.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. New cricket rules: ICC changes to the playing
conditions: A host of changes have been announced by the
International Cricket Council to the Playing Conditions, which will come into
effect on October 1 2022. The Men’s Cricket Committee led by former India
captain Sourav Ganguly recommended changes to the Playing Conditions in MCC’s
updated 3rd Edition of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket. The conclusions
were also shared with the Women’s Cricket Committee, who endorsed the
recommendations.
The main
changes are as follows:
a) Batters returning when caught: When a batter is out Caught, the new
batter will come in at the end the striker was, regardless of whether the
batters crossed prior to the catch being taken.
b) Use of saliva to polish the ball: This prohibition has been in place for
over two years in international cricket as a Covid-related temporary measure
and it is considered appropriate for the ban to be made permanent.
c) Incoming batter ready to face the ball: An incoming batter will now be
required to be ready to take strike within two minutes in Tests and ODIs, while
the current threshold of 90 seconds in T20Is remains unchanged.
d) Striker’s right to play the ball: This is restricted so as to require
some part of their bat or person to remain within the pitch. Should they
venture beyond that, the umpire will call and signal Dead ball. Any ball which
would force the batter to leave the pitch will also be called No ball.
e) Unfair movement by the fielding side: Any unfair and deliberate movement
while the bowler is running in to bowl could now result in the umpire awarding
five penalty runs to the batting side, in addition to a call of Dead ball.
f)
Running out of the non-striker: The Playing
Conditions follow the Laws in moving this method of effecting a Run out from
the ‘Unfair Play’ section to the ‘Run out’ section.
g) Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery: Previously, a
bowler who saw the batter advancing down the wicket before entering their
delivery stride, could throw the ball to attempt to Run out the striker. This
practice will now be called a Dead ball.
2. SAFF Women’s Championship 2022: Bangladesh Beat
Nepal to Clinch Maiden Title: Bangladesh won a
historic victory at the SAFF Women’s Championship to lift the maiden title at
the Dashrath Rangshala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Bangladesh team defeated
hosts Nepal by 3-1 in the finals before a full stadium to watch some brilliant
football on display. Bangladesh skipper Sabina Khatun, who was the top scorer
of the tournament netting eight goals in five games, dedicated the trophy to
the people of Bangladesh. Goalkeeper Rupna Chakma from Bangladesh was named the
best goalkeeper. She conceded just one goal in the tournament.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Union Bank of India announce digitalization of
Kisan credit card: As part of the flagship Digital Transformation
initiative “Sambhav,” Union Bank of India announced an industry-first,
end-to-end digitalization of the Kisan Credit Card product with a
farmer-focused focus, according to Elets BFSI. By digitalizing the KCC
financing process, the company hopes to increase its effectiveness and farmer
friendliness. Key Points:
a) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) oversees the Union Bank of India’s (UBI)
Fintech initiative, Digitalization of Kisan Credit Card, which aims to address
the challenges farmers face, such as the need to visit a bank branch in person,
provide proof of land ownership and other documents, and wait a long time to
receive the KCC.
b) Over 400 farmers from the Harda District of Madhya Pradesh joined Mr.
Rakesh Ranjan, Chief Product Manager, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), and
Senior Management Team of Union Bank at the event, which was launched by A.
Manimekhalai, MD & CEO, Union Bank of India as a pilot project.
c) Based on the lessons learned from the trial, it is intended to
progressively extend the digitalization of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) lending to
additional areas in Madhya Pradesh.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. Gross Direct Tax Collection Registered Growth of
30% in 2022-23: The Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) in a
statement said that the net direct tax collections so far this financial year
are at ₹700,669 crore, an increase of 23% as compared to ₹568,147 crore till
the same period of the corresponding financial year. The total includes
corporation tax of ₹368,484 crore and personal income tax (including securities
transaction tax) worth ₹330,490 crore.
As per the CBDT
statement, the gross collection of direct taxes (before adjusting for refunds)
so far stands at ₹836,225 crore, as compared to ₹642,287 crore in the
corresponding period of the preceding financial year, registering a growth of
30%, it said while adding that the the gross collection includes corporation
tax at ₹436,020 crore and personal income tax (PIT) including securities
transaction tax(STT) at ₹398,440 crore.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Swati Piramal conferred with top French civilian
honour: Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson, Piramal Group has
been conferred the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of
Honour). The highest French civilian award comes in recognition of Piramal’s
outstanding achievements and contribution in the fields of business and
industry, science, medicine, art and culture, both nationally and internationally.
The award was presented to her by H.E. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe
and Foreign Affairs of France on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron.
In 2006, she was
also awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the Order
of Merit), France’s second highest civilian honour. Swati Piramal is also a
recipient of the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honours of India, as a
champion of developing frameworks and policies to support women in leadership
roles.
Dr Swati
Piramal: She is an Indian scientist and industrialist and
is involved in healthcare, focusing on public health and innovation. She is the
vice chairperson of Piramal Group, a business conglomerate with interests in
pharmaceuticals, financial services, real estate and glass packaging. She also
served as a Member of the Prime Minister of India’s Trade Advisory Council and
the Scientific Advisory Council. Currently, she is working on the Harvard
Global Advisory Council.
2. Alia Bhatt receives the Prestigious
“Priyadarshni Academy’s Smita Patil Memorial Award”: The 29-year-old actress, Alia Bhatt has been awarded the Best Actor at
the prestigious Priyadarshni Academy Smita Patil Memorial Award. This award is
given for her commendable contribution to Indian cinema at the 38th-anniversary
celebrations of the premier non-profit, socio-cultural and educational
organisation, Priyadarshini Academy.
This honour is
bestowed upon outstanding national and international recipients annually and
awards global recognition for their unparalleled excellence and immense
contribution to their respective fields. Notably:
a) Ms Kiara Advani, Actress, India, received Priyadarshni Academy’s Smita
Patil Memorial Award 2021 for Best Actress.
b) Ms Taapsee Pannu, Actress, India, received Priyadarshni Academy’s Smita
Patil Memorial Award 2020 for best actress.
3. Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ becomes India’s
official entry for Oscars 2023: Gujarati film
“Chhello Show”, a coming-of-age drama about a young boy’s love affair with
cinema in a village in Saurashtra, is India’s official entry for the 95th
Academy Awards or Oscar awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced.
Titled “Last Film Show” in English, the Pan Nalin directorial will release in
theatres countrywide on October 14. The 95th Academy Awards are scheduled to
take place on March 12, 2023 in Los Angeles.
According to FFI president TP Aggarwal, “Chhello Show” was unanimously chosen over films such as SS Rajamouli’s “RRR”, Ranbir Kapoor-led “Brahmastra: Part One Shiva”, Vivek Agnihotri’s “The Kashmir Files” and R Madhavan’s directorial debut “Rocketry”. The 17-member jury unanimously chose ‘Chhello Show’. There were a total of 13 films of different languages including six in Hindi — ‘Brahmastra’, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘Anek’, ‘Jhund”, “Badhaai Do’ and ‘Rocketry’ — and one each in Tamil (‘Iravin Nizhal’), Telugu (‘RRR’), Bengali (‘Aparajito’) and Gujarati (‘Chhello Show’) as well as few others.
No comments:
Post a Comment