NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Giriraj Singh launches India’s first fashion forecasting initiative ‘VisioNxt’: Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh has launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), a bilingual web portal, and the India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24×25’. VisioNxt initiative will foster healthy global competition and elevate Indian culture and design to new heights on the global stage. The fashion industry will benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) based trend insights offered by VisioNxt.NIFT VisioNxt is India’s first-ever initiative that combines AI and EI to generate fashion trend insights and forecasts. Its mission is to identify, map, and analyse geo-specific trends, reflecting the positive plurality, cultural diversity, and socio-economic nuances of India while collating comprehensive trends and insights.
2. Odisha Unveils India’s First Silicon Carbide Facility: RIR’s products already serve critical industries like defense, transportation, and energy. These products are sold worldwide, including in North America, Europe, and Asia. The new facility strengthens India’s aim to become more self-reliant in semiconductor production, which is a key priority for the country’s future technological development.This project is part of a broader trend, as Odisha is attracting more investments in the semiconductor sector. These new developments are expected to significantly boost the region’s industrial infrastructure and support sustainable energy initiatives, making Odisha a key player in India’s tech-driven future.
3. India’s First Bio-Hydrogen Project: The Indian government awarded a contract to develop the country’s first bio-hydrogen project, led by Gensol Engineering in collaboration with Matrix Gas & Renewables. Valued at Rs 164 crore, the project aims to align with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and is set to process 25 tonnes of bio-waste daily, producing 1 tonne of green hydrogen using advanced gasification technology over 18 months.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. President Emmanuel Macron appoints Michel Barnier as new French PM: French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, as his new prime minister.Michel Barnier led the EU’s talks with Britain over its exit from the bloc from 2016-2021. Prior to that, the conservative politician held roles in various French governments and was also EU Commissioner.At 73, Barnier is the oldest prime minister in France’s modern political history, taking over from Gabriel Attal, who was the youngest.
2. India Reviews Trade Agreement With Malaysia: India is reviewing its trade agreement with Malaysia because the trade deficit has significantly increased over time. A trade deficit means India is buying more goods from Malaysia than it is selling to them. In 2011, this deficit was $2.6 billion, but by the fiscal year 2024 (FY24), it has grown to an estimated $5.5 billion. This has raised concerns about the balance of trade between the two countries.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Navy and South African Navy sign agreement to enhance submarine rescue support cooperation: The navies of India and South Africa have signed an implementation agreement to enhance submarine rescue support cooperation that ensures the “safety of the South African Navy’s submarine crew in times of distress or accident.”Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will provide assistance by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) when required, further strengthening the collaborative ties between the two navies.The agreement was signed by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy.The DSRV is designed for ease of transportation in case of any exigency. For this purpose, the entire system has been divided into 24 components which can be easily transported by road, sea or air. The system is attached to a mother ship INS Sabarmati of the Ship Building Corporation, or it can also be transported by heavy transport aircraft like IL-76 and C-17.
2. India, EU Strengthen Defence Ties in Indo-Pacific Initiative: In September 2024, a group of high-level Indian officials visited Europe for three days to strengthen defence cooperation between India and the European Union (EU). Their main focus was on building better military partnerships and improving how they work together to handle security challenges. These challenges are across different areas like the sea (maritime), land, and cyberspace.
3. India Successfully Launches Agni-4 Ballistic Missile in Odisha: Agni-4 is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) developed by India. It is a key part of India’s strategy to strengthen its defense capabilities. The missile is designed to enhance India’s ability to respond to threats with precision and effectiveness. The successful launch of Agni-4 proves that the missile performs as expected. This success highlights India’s progress in missile technology and its capacity to carry out accurate and reliable strikes.
4. India Commissioned Advanced Nuclear Submarine INS Arighaat: India has recently commissioned its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), named INS Arighaat. This is a major boost to India’s naval capabilities, coming after the first SSBN, INS Arihant, which was commissioned in 2016.India’s journey into building nuclear-powered submarines began with the INS Arihant, which was the first of its kind for the country. The introduction of INS Arighaat represents significant progress, demonstrating improvements in technology and local production skills.
SPORTS
1. Praveen Kumar wins gold medal in Men’s High Jump T64 final: At the Paris Paralympic Games, star athlete Praveen Kumar bagged a gold medal in the Men’s High Jump T64 final.Praveen secured the top spot on the podium with a brilliant effort of 2.08m, setting a new Area record. In a tightly contested final, Praveen made seven successful jumps in a row to claim the number one position.Loccident Derek of the USA won the silver medal, while Giyazov Temurbek of Uzbekistan took home the bronze.
2. Hokato Hotozhe Sema on winning bronze medal in Men’s F57 shot put: Hokato Hotozhe Sema has won the bronze medal in the men’s F57 shot put event in Paris Paralympic 2024.The 40-year-old from Dimapur made himself the first-ever medallist from Nagaland to win a bronze at the Paralympic Games for shotput, with a career-best throw of 14.65 meters.Hokato, a Havildar with 9 Assam Regiment, reportedly lost his leg due to a landmine explosion during an operation at the Line of Control in 2002. Currently, he is ranked 7th in the world.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Saturn’s Rings to Disappear Temporarily in March 2025: In March 2025, Saturn’s rings will seem to “disappear” when viewed from Earth. This is an optical illusion caused by the way Saturn tilts and moves around the Sun. The planet’s tilt and orbit make its rings visible at different angles over time, and for a brief period, only the thin edge of the rings will be visible, making them look like they have vanished.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. IRDAI asks insurance companies to integrate IT systems with Digilocker: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has asked insurance companies to enable their IT systems to interact with Digilocker, allowing policyholders to use the service effectively.Both life and general insurers are mandated to provide an essential summary of important information at different stages of the insurance contract.In its Master Circular on Protection of Policyholders’ Interests under the Irdai (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests, Operations, and Allied Matters of Insurers) Regulations, 2024, replacing 30 circulars, the regulator consolidated policyholder entitlements into a single reference document and emphasised measures towards providing a seamless, faster, and hassle-free claims settlement experience to a policyholder and enhance service standards to foster a climate of trust and transparency within the insurance sector. This includes guidance for prospects, policyholders, and customers prior to sale, at the proposal stage, upon receiving policy documents, during the policy’s term.
2. Kotak General Insurance rebrands as Zurich Kotak General Insurance: Kotak General Insurance has re-branded itself as Zurich Kotak General Insurance, following the Zurich Insurance Group’s acquisition of a majority stake in the insurer, which was completed on 18 June 2024.Reflecting the shared vision of the Zurich Kotakentity, the new brand symbolizes the collective commitment to trust, innovation, integrity, and customer excellence.The legal name of the entity changes from Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Limited to Zurich Kotak General Insurance Company (India) Limited.Zurich Kotak General Insurance is fully committed to fostering the development and expansion of India’s insurance sector in keeping with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India’s (IRDAI) goal of achieving “Insurance for All” by 2047.MD and CEO of Zurich Kotak General Insurance – Suresh Agarwal
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. President Murmu confers National Teachers Award 2024 to 82 teachers: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the ‘National Teachers’ Award to 82 educators from across institutions, during a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.50 of the total 82 awardees are attached with schools, 16 (higher education), and 16 (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship).Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of 50 thousand rupees and a silver medal.Among the recipients is Urfana Amin from Jammu & Kashmir, who teaches at BHSS Soura, Hawal, Srinagar. Amin, an expert in English, Entrepreneurship, and teacher training, provided radio classes during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed educational materials such as FLN modules and e-content for DIKSHA.
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