NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launches ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav’ website: Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon’ble Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has officially launched the website for the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav.The launch, held at Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi, highlights the government’s dedication to showcasing Northeast India’s cultural and economic richness on both national and international platforms.The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, to be held from December 6th to 8th, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, is set to be a landmark celebration.The festival draws inspiration from the eight Northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—collectively known as the “Ashtalakshmi,” representing eight forms of prosperity.
2. PM releases 1st installment of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin to beneficiaries: Prime Minister Modi released the first installment of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin in Jharkhand to beneficiaries.Rupees 32 crore was digitally transferred to the bank account of the beneficiaries. Besides sanction letters of 32,000 houses were distributed.He also virtually handed over keys to 46,000 beneficiaries of PMAY-G across the country. The Centre has approved 1,13,400 houses for the poor in Jharkhand under the PMAY-G scheme.
3. Group of Ministers to review tax rates on health, life insurance: The GST Council constituted a 13-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to suggest GST rates on premiums of various health and life insurance products. It will submit its report by October 30.Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is the convenor of the GoM. Members of the panel include members from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.The 54th GST Council meeting on September 9 decided to establish a GoM to examine and review the present structure of GST on life and medical insurance.Currently, 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied on insurance premiums.
4. Piyush Goyal launched Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has launched the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) initiative which will serve as a central hub where startups, investors, service providers, and government bodies can come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and accelerate growth.It will also enhance collaboration among key stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and government bodies.The primary goal of BHASKAR is to build the world’s largest digital registry for stakeholders within the startup ecosystem.
5. IFFI 2024 to introduce new segment, ‘Best Debut Indian Film Section’: Information and Broadcasting Ministry has instituted a new section as part of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 for young filmmakers called the ‘Best Debut Indian Film Section 2024.’The 55th IFFI is slated to be held in Goa from November 20th to 28th.Through this section, IFFI will also focus on Indian debut films, showcasing a diverse range of narratives and cinematic styles from across the country.These selections will highlight the creative vision and unique storytelling approaches of young filmmakers, providing a platform for new talent and showcasing the work of emerging directors.A maximum of five debut feature films will be selected and shown in the Best Debut Indian Film Section. Entries for the ‘Best Debut Indian Film Section’ are open now, with September 23rd as the deadline for submission.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi inaugurated 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the fourth RE Invest Global Industrial Meet at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.Modi also flaged off the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro connecting Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar and GIFT City.Modi is scheduled inaugurated and lay the foundation stone for various projects worth over 8 thousand crore rupees, which include the country’s first Vande Bharat Metro train between Ahmedabad and Bhuj.The 4th RE-INVEST Global Renewable Energy Meet & Expo has been organized by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The meet will highlight India’s impressive progress in renewable energy manufacturing and deployment.
2. India launches Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to Typhoon Yagi affected countries: India has launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to typhoon Yagi-affected countries – Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.India sent urgent relief materials to Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam to assist them in dealing with the impact of the major typhoon. These countries are reeling under massive floods after Asia’s most powerful storm this year hit the three countries.10 tonnes of aid, including dry ration, clothing and medicines, were dispatched to Myanmar onboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura.A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force is carrying 35 tonnes of aid to Vietnam and 10 tonnes of relief materials to Laos. These include genset, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets, blankets and sleeping bags.India has been among the first responders in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to impacted countries. Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its ‘Act East Policy’.
3. Ravindra appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Iceland: Ravindra, currently the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York, has been appointed as the country’s next envoy to Iceland.Ravindran was an Indian foreign service officer of batch 1999 and is currently serving as India’s Deputy permanent representative at the United Nations.
4. 16 September – World Ozone Day: World Ozone Day is celebrated every year on September 16.Objective – To raise awareness about the importance of the ozone layer in protecting life on Earth. It also spreads awareness about the steps that have been taken to preserve the ozone layer.Theme 2024 – Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate ActionThe United Nations General Assembly established World Ozone Day in 1994 to celebrate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.The Montreal Protocol, agreed on September 16, 1987, is an international pact designed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Navy commissions Submarine Escape Training Facility Vinetra: The Indian Navy commissioned its indigenously designed and developed Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility at its premier submarine training base, INS Satavahana, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.The INS Satavahana is under the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. L&T Defence has constructed the Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility, Vinetra (meaning Trainer).The Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility will train the submarine crews of the Kalvari class of conventional submarines operated by the Indian Navy. It will train the crew to save their lives and escape from the submarine when it is in distress due to an accident or under attack.The facility is equipped with a five-meter escape tower integrated with an adjacent diving basin.
2. About Kalvari Class Submarine of the Indian Navy: The Kalvari class submarine is being constructed in India under Project 75 of the Indian Navy, under which six submarines were to be constructed.In 2005, India and France signed a $3.75 billion deal to construct six conventional Scorpene-class submarines in India with technology transfer from France.The French company Naval Group was to provide the technology, while the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) was to construct it.The 2000-tonne INS Kalvari class submarine is capable of performing all types of missions, such as surface vessel warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations, and intelligence gathering.
SPORTS
1. Anmol Kharb clinches Belgian International Title: India’s 17-year-old shuttler, Anmol Kharb secured her first senior international title by winning the women’s singles event at the Belgian International 2024 in Leuven.In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the 17-year-old, overcame Denmark’s Amalie Schulz 24-22, 12-21, 21-10 in the final.
2. Oscar Piastri won Azerbaijan F1 GP: Oscar Piastri won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a late crash impacted the race and required it to finish behind a virtual safety car.The win, combined with the fourth-place finish of McLaren teammate Lando Norris, gave the team a 20-point lead over Red Bull in the constructors standings. Red Bull had topped the standings for the past 55 races; McLaren last held the position in 2014.George Russell (Mercedes) was third and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) fifth in the race at Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
3. Neeraj Chopra finishes second at Diamond League Final in Brussels: Ace Indian javelin throw athlete Neeraj Chopra finished in second position in Brussels with a best throw of 87.86 m at the Diamond League Final.Neeraj missed out on the top spot by just a 1 cm margin.Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters hurled the spear to a distance of 87.87 m to claim the top position. Meanwhile, Julian Weber of Germany, with his best attempt of 85.97 m, finished third.
Neeraj finished as runner-up in the Diamond League for the second year in a row. Back in 2023, Neeraj had fallen short of defending his Diamond Trophy after losing to Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. BoB to launch 7 phygital branches as a pilot project: Bank of Baroda (BoB) is planning to launch seven phygital branches as a pilot project across the country. These branches integrate self-service and assisted service models.Debadatta Chand, Managing Director and CEO, recently inaugurated the bank’s second phygital branch in Mumbai at Vile Parle.BoB opened its first phygital branch at Horniman Circle in Mumbai in July. The second branch was opened last month at Chanda Nagar in Hyderabad last month.The phygital branch is equipped with video contact centre, where a customer can connect with the bank’s contact centre through a video call to receive assistance on non-financial services. It has a self service kiosk where tablets are installed and customers can avail services like PAN updation, receive account statements through email, TDS certificate etc.
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