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Indian Affairs
Dr.Harshvardhan launches Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana
On 22nd September 2017, The Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences & Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr.Harshvardhan launched ‘Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana’ in Uttarakhand.
Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana:
i.This project has been inspired by teachings and ideals of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay.
ii.Department of Science and Technology (DST) has planned to adopt a few clusters of villages in Uttarakhand and make them self-sustainable using the tools of Science and Technology.
iii.The main idea of this project is to acquire local resources and skill sets and transform them using science and technology. So the value addition is imparted to the local products and services, which would develop the rural community.
iv.In this case, the local communities don’t have to migrate from their native places in search of jobs.Once this concept is implemented in selected villages, it can be followed by villages all over India.
v.Four clusters at Gaindikhata, Bazeera, Bhigun (in Garhwal) and Kausani (in Kumaon) have been selected in Uttarakhand…….Click here to read more detail
Government launches ‘Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat’ to boost PMUY
on 23rd September 2017, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr.Dharmendra Pradhan launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat’ in Mota Ishanpur village of Gujarat.
Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat:-
i.On this occasion, Mr.Dharmendra Pradhan handed over free LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connection to a beneficiary of PMUY (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) scheme.Gujarat Chief Minister Mr.Vijay Rupani was also present in the occasion.
ii.‘Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat’ will focus on spreading awareness among LPG users about the proper use and benefits of LPG.
iii.This Panchayat will act as an interactive forum for PMUY beneficiaries, officials, LPG distributors and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations).Under one Panchayat, around 100 LPG customers will be clubbed.
vi.The customers can share their experiences with others.The Panchayats will also discuss about safety practices, quality of service provided by distributors and availability of refill cylinders…….Click here read more detail
Odisha Government launched ‘Sampurna Yojana’
On 24th September 2017, Odisha Government launched ‘Sampurna (Sishu Abond Matru Mrityuhara Purna Nirakaran Abhijan) Yojna’ scheme for pregnant women, in Odisha.
Sampurna Yojana:
i. Under the ‘Sampurna Yojana’ scheme Odisha government will provide Rs.1,000 as transport cost for pregnant women to travel to the hospital from inaccessible areas arranging their own vehicles.
ii. This schemes covers villages where 102, 108 ambulances or four-wheeler vehicles cannot reach.
iii. The government has launched this scheme to increase institutional deliveries in order to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Mother Mortality Rate (MMR).
iv. The Odisha Government has planned to spend Rs.6 crore per year on this scheme.
v. Around 7,853 villages in 30 districts of Odisha would be covered under this scheme.
vi. Around 60,000 pregnant women would be benefited annually.
About Odisha:
i. Capital – Bhubaneswar
ii. Chief Minister – Mr.Naveen Patnaik
iii. Governor – Mr.S.C.Jamir
NITI Aayog and Government of Assam organises workshop on health sector reforms in Guwahati; launches SATH
On 22nd September 2017, The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam and NITI Aayog organised a health sector reforms workshop, in Guwahati.
Workshop on health sector reforms:
i. SATH- Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital Programme was launched in this occasion.
ii. This programme is a joint initiative of Government of Assam and NITI Aayog.
iii. It would identify the health priorities of people in Assam and implement required solutions.
iv. NITI Aayog selected has three states for this programme: Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
v. Experts from World Bank, World Health Organization, UNDP, UNICEF and officials, stakeholders and private partners from Assam’s public health system, and healthcare representatives from Assam participated in the workshop.
About NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog:
i. Headquarters – New Delhi
ii. Chairman – Mr.Narendra Modi
iii. CEO – Mr.Amitabh Kant
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi inaugurates “Hunar Haat” in Puducherry
On 24th September 2017, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mr.Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Puducherry Chief Minister Mr.V.Narayanasamy inaugurated “Hunar Haat” at Puducherry.
Inauguration of ‘Hunar Haat’:
i. The ‘Hunar Haat’ is organised by Ministry of Minority Affairs at Craft Bazaar, Gandhi Thidal Beach, Goubert Avenue in Puducherry, from 24th to 30th September, 2017.
ii. This provides an opportunity for artisans to display and sell their products.
iii. Master artisans from 16 states showcase their traditional talent in “Hunar Haat”.
iv. Artisans have put for display and sale, a wide variety of traditional and rare Handicraft and Handloom items like Hyderabad pearl, wrought iron & wood carving, wooden and sandalwood items, hand-made jewellery, hand embroidery, handmade painting, wooden-toys, printed dresses etc.
v. Traditional food stalls have also been formed in the “Hunar Haat”.
Final event of Multi-Agency Exercise ‘Pralay Sahayam’ Held in Hyderabad
On 23rd September 2017, final event of ‘Pralay Sahayam’, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise was held in Hyderabad.
Final event of ‘Pralay Sahayam’:
i. The final event of ‘Pralay Sahayam’ was a multi-agency exercise.
ii. It was conducted on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad.
iii. The event demonstrated the actions of all central and state agencies, National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), Armed Forces, Police, State Fire & Emergency Services and CISF (Central Industrial Security Force).
iv. They demonstrated rescue in an urban flooding scenario.
v. For the purpose of demonstration, the Hussain Sagar Lake was transformed into urban colonies partly submerged under water.
vi. A large number of dummy structures depicting multi-storied buildings and houses with stranded people, power stations, educational institutes etc., were placed in the lake.
About Telengana:
i. Capital – Hyderabad
ii. Chief Minister – Mr.K.Chandrashekar Rao
iii. Governor – Mr.E.S.L.Narasimhan
New interceptor boat V-409 launched
A new interceptor boat (V-409) which is built by Bharathi Defence and Infrastructure Limited (BDIL) waslaunched at a function held at the Mangaluru Coast Guard yard on 24th Sept. 2017.
Key Points:
i.Pavitran Alokkan, President and Head, BDIL, Mangaluru, said that by launching the new interceptor boat the company had a live order book of various defence vessels.
ii.It includes interceptor boats for Indian Coast Guard and auxiliary vessels for the Indian Navy.
iii.The 28-metre long, V-409 interceptor boat has aluminium hull and fitted with new generation of Arneson Surface Drive (ASD) which is drive by two powerful diesel engines of 1650 KW each.
iv.The vessel has the capability of attaining very high speed in a very short duration and can operate in shallow waters.
v.Coast Guard has released that Rs 18 crore vessel would be inducted into Coast Guard service by mid-October 2017 and join four other vessels delivered by the shipyard earlier.
vi.The shipyard was committed to delivering these assets to national security.
vii.Pavitran also said that every effort was being put in to arrange funds and expedite project completion.
viii.BDIL is constructing 20 vessels for Indian Coast Guard of which six had already been handed over while remaining vessels would be handed over on the projected time.
About BDIL
i.Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Limited (formerly Bharati Shipyard Limited) is one of the largest shipbuilding companies in India.
ii.Founded: 1973
iii.Founder and MD: Prakash C. Kapoor and Vijay Kumar
v.Headquarters: Mumbai, India
vi.Services: Ship design
Ship building
Ship repair
vii.It operates shipbuilding facilities in Ratnagiri, Dabhol, Mangalore and Kolkata. It has structural quality assurance facilities at Ghodbunder Road in Thane district.
Google honours Indian chemist Asima Chatterjee on 100th birthday
Google Doodle celebrates 100th birthday of a renowned Indian chemist, Asima Chatterjee, who was also thefirst female Doctorate of Science in India from an Indian University.
Key Points:
i.As per Google Asima Chatterjee’s research contributed to the development of drugs that treated epilepsy and malaria. Her most noted contribution to the field was her work on vinca alkaloids.
ii.Alkaloids are compounds made from plants, often to treat medical ailments and Vinca alkaloids, which come from the Madagascar periwinkle plant, are used in chemotherapy treatment because they help slow down or stall the multiplying of cancer cells.
iii.Her groundbreaking contributions to medicine were recognised by universities all over the world.
iv.She had received several awards from the Indian government, including some of the highest awards like the Padma Bhushan and an appointment to the upper house of Parliament.
About Asima Chatterjee:
i.She was born in 1917 and was an Indian chemist noted for her work in the realm of organic chemistry and phytochemistry, chemicals derived from plants.
ii.Asima joined the Lady Brabourne College in Calcutta Universtiy in 1940 and founded the department of chemistry in the college.
iii.In 1975 she became the first woman to be appointed general president of the Indian Science Congress.
International Affairs
7th ASEM Economic Minister’s Meeting held in Seoul, South Korea
On 21st and 22nd September 2017, the 7th ASEM (Asia–Europe Meeting) Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held in Seoul, South Korea.
7th ASEM Economic Minister’s Meeting:
i. Theme for this year’s meeting was ‘Innovative Partnership for Inclusive Prosperity’.
ii. The meeting was conducted under the Chairmanship of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea.
iii. Economic leaders from 30 European and 21 Asian countries participated in the meet.
iv. 51 member countries signed a Joint Statement on Supporting the Multilateral Trade System.
v. Commerce Minister Mr.Suresh Prabhu represented India.
vi. Mr.Suresh Prabhu said that Asia and Europe must try to improve services trade, which would have a great impact on job creation.
About ASEM:
i. Full form – Asia–Europe Meeting
ii. Purpose – Economic Co-Operation Council
iii. Established in – 1996
iv. Partners – 53
Banking & Finance
Masala bonds to be treated as ECB: RBI
On 22nd September 2017, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that Masala bonds will be treated as External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) from 3rd October 2017.
Masala bonds treated as ECB:
i. Masala bonds are rupee-denominated overseas bonds.
ii. Considering Masala bonds as ECBs will free up more investments by FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors).
iii. Currently, the limit for investment by FPIs in corporate bonds is Rs.2,44,323 crore.
iv. This includes masala bonds of Rs.44,001 crore.
v. RBI has said that from 3rd October 2017, Masala bonds will no longer be a part of the limit for FPI investments in corporate bonds. They will be a part of the ECBs.
vi. Rs.44,001 crore from shifting of masala bonds will be alloted for FPIs investment in corporate bonds.
vii. So, FPI investment limit for corporate bonds will increase to Rs.2,44,323 crore.
About Reserve Bank of India:
i. Headquarters – Mumbai
ii. Governor – Mr.Urjit Patel
SBI launches Management Institute in Kolkata
On 23rd September 2017, SBI (State Bank of India) launched its Management Institute in Kolkata.
SBI’s Management Institute in Kolkata:
i. SBI (State Bank of India) launched its 6th Management Training Institute in Kolkata.
ii. It is named as State Bank Institute of Management (SBIM).
iii. It was launched by SBI Chairman Ms.Arundhati Bhattacharya.
iv. Aim of the institute is to form an institution of global standards in banking and finance.
v. The main focus of the Institute is to provide training, education, intellectual resource materials, result-oriented research, knowledge management and talent spotting.
vi. Other areas of focus would be advanced levels of research in credit, investment banking, and treasury.
vii. SBIM will combine training and development such as banking, management strategy and soft skills.
About SBI (State Bank of India):
i. Type – Public Sector Bank
ii. Headquarters – Mumbai
iii. Chairman – Ms.Arundhati Bhattacharya
IRDAI panel headed by Dilip C Chakraborty helps to move risk-based capital norms in 3 years
Insurance regulator IRDAI has formed a ten-member committee to help in implementing the new risk-based capital (RBC) regime and it will also enhance protection to policyholders.
Key Points:
i.The RBC Committee headed by Dilip C Chakraborty. He suggested that the industry should move ahead with RBC to ensure that capital held by a company will take into account its overall risk profile.
ii.The ten-member committee work is to ensure smooth and timely implementation of RBC regime from existing solvency capital regime and ensure completion of the project as per target.
iii.It will also recommend the scope of work of the external consultants for the new regime.
iv.The committee will be headed by IRDAI Member (Actuary), Pournima Gupte. Other nine members of the committee include four IRDAI officials.
(a) Chairman of RBC Committee
(b) Chairman of Life-sub- committee of RBC Committee
(c) Chairman General-sub-committee of RBC Committee
(d) One senior external actuarial advisor and one representative from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
v.The new RBC Regime is expected to be implemented by March 2021 while the current Solvency Regime will continue till switch over to the RBC Regime.
vi.Before its recommendations to IRDAI the committee also had done a survey of life insurance companies in which majority of them favoured the RBC regime.
About IRDAI
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is an autonomous, statutory agency tasked with regulating and promoting the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.
Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
Chairman, IRDA: T.S. Vijayan
Business
Etihad Airways launches ‘Fly Now Pay Later’ scheme
On 23rd September 2017, Etihad Airways has launched a ‘Fly Now and Pay Later’ scheme, in Abu Dhabi.
Fly Now Pay Later:
i. This scheme provides an option for paying the ticket fare in monthly instalments.
ii. Etihad Airways is an Abu Dhabi-based airline.
iii. Etihad Airways is the first airlines in the Gulf region to offer fully automated online instalment plans.
iv. It has partnered with PayFort, online payment service provider, for payment arrangements.
v. Customers need to select the Pay by Instalment option, choose their bank and payment period on the airlines website.
vi. The instalments can be paid within 3 to 60 months, through 17 participating banks.
vii. Currently, the offer is available only to residents of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
About Etihad Airways:
i. Headquarters – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
ii. Chairman – Mr.H.E.Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei
iii. CEO – Mr.Peter Baumgartner
Dabur India, Amazon tie up to launch ayurveda e-marketplace
FMCG major Dabur India has tied up with e-commerce major Amazon for an online ayurveda marketplaceannounced on 24th Sept. 2017.
Key Points:
i.It will house all ayurvedic brands and products available in the country.
ii.The company will also offer consumers an insight into various ayurvedic medicines for treating a variety of ailments.
iii.The main objective is to service all health and personal care related needs of patients.
iv.The exclusive ayurveda e-marketplace has been hosted by Amazon India and the content is developed by Dabur India.
v.Consumers can search basis companies, brands and ailments and will gain access to all ayurveda solutions available in the country.
About Dabur
Dabur is India’s largest Ayurvedic medicine & natural consumer products manufacturer.
Dabur was founded in 1884 by SK Burman, a physician in West Bengal, to produce and dispense Ayurvedic medicines.
Awards & Recognition
Rajkummar Rao bags GQ Actor of the Year Award
On 22nd September 2017, Rajkummar Rao was awarded the GQ Actor of the Year Award, in Mumbai.
GQ Actor of the Year:
i. GQ (Gentlemen’s Quarterly) magazine conducted the GQ Men of the Year Awards for 2017, in Mumbai.
ii. Rajkummar Rao is a 33 year old actor. He is also a National Award winner.
iii. Woman of The Year award was won by Anushka Sharma.
iv. Entertainer of the Year award was won by Ranveer Singh.
v. Designer of the Year award was won by Manish Malhotra.
vi. Producer of the Year award was bagged by Karan Johar.
vii. Awards were given in few other categories also.
About Rajkummar Rao:
i. Occupation – Actor
ii. Age – 33
iii. Awards – National Film Award, Filmfare Award
Appointments & Resigns
West Bengal govt revives Gorkha Territorial Administration with Binay Tamang as chairman
The West Bengal government has appointed Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang as the chairman of a new board of administrators to run the Darjeeling hills.
Key Points:
i.The board chaired by Binay Tamang will govern the area that falls under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian gets one-year extension
The government has extended the term of Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian by one year till October 2018 announced on 23rd of Sept. 2017.
Key Points:
i.His term was for three years, which was to end on 16th October.
ii.Subramanian, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, was appointed India’s Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) in October 2014.
Chawngthu becomes Mizoram’s first woman minister in 30 yrs
Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu became the second woman in Mizoram to be inducted in the state’s council of ministers after a gap of 30 years.
Key Points:
i.Chawngthu was sworn in as a minister by Mizoram governor Lt. Gen. Nirbhay Sharma (Rtd) during a searing-in-ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.
ii.She is the second woman in Mizoram to hold ministerial post after Lalhlimpuii Hmar, who was made a minister in 1987.
iii.Chawngthu will hold the rank of Minister of State in Lal Thanhawla’s government. With Chawngthu, Mizoram now has 12 ministers.
About Mizoram
Capital: Aizawl
Governor: Lt. General Nirbhay Sharma
CM: Pu Lalthanhawla
Rajni Kant Mishra appointed new DG of SSB
Rajnikant Mishra will be the new Chief of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Key Points:
i.The decision was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
ii.Mishra, a 1984 batch Uttar Pradesh Cadre IPS officer, will succeed Archana Ramasundaram who is set to retire on 30th September.
Science & Technology
Scientists discovered first brainless creature that sleeps
Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have found that jellyfish go into a sleep-like state, making them thefirst animals without a brain or central nervous system to do so.
Key Points:
i.The study was published in the journal Current Biology.
ii.Researchers studied Cassiopea, a mostly stationary jellyfish native to mudflats, mangrove swamps, and other warm, shallow waters. The jellfish were kept in tanks with artificial seawater in labs.
iii.As per the researchers Cassiopea do not look like typical jellyfish – they are silver dollar-sized, splotched with black pigment, and rest upside-down on the sea floor.
iv.They pulse like other jellyfish, contracting and relaxing in a steady rhythm.
v.During the day, Cassiopea will quickly pulse their bells and swim down to rest on the mesh again. However, at night, it takes them about three times longer to start pulsing.
vi.Researchers created an image processing programme to count the pulses of 23 jellies over six consecutive days and nights.
vii.They observed, as earlier, that pulsing activity ebbed at night but a little food dropped in the tanks could quickly wake the jellies up again.
viii.Researchers noted a second sign of sleep after dropping the floor out from dozing jellies.
Sports
Mary Kom 1st Indian to represent world boxing at IOC Forum
Mary Kom has become the first Indian to be selected as the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) representative for the IOC Athletes’ Forum to be held in November, 2017.
Mary Kom first Indian to represent at IOC forum:
i. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) Athlete’s Forum is to be held from 11th November to 13th November 2017 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
ii. This forum is held once in every 2 years.
iii. Mary Kom is the first Indian to be chosen as a representative of AIBA in IOC Athletes’ Forum.
iv. The forum conducts discussions to make future plans and strategies for sports persons participating in the Olympic Games.
v. Athletes’ decisions are considered as most important in the IOC Forum.
About Mary Kom:
i. Occupation – boxer, MP of Rajya Sabha
ii. Awards – 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award etc.
ICC launches anti-corruption investigation into Sri Lanka cricket
The ICC has confirmed that it has opened an investigation in Sri Lanka into corruption allegationsannounced on 24th Sept. 2017.
Key Points:
i.According to Cricinfo, over 40 top cricketers had petitioned Sri Lanka Cricket to launch an inquiry into alleged corruption in the sport in the country.
ii.As per the ACU’s General Manager Alex Marshall there is currently an ICC (ACU) investigation underway in Sri Lanka.
iii.The players have drawn exception to Wickremasinghe’s serious allegations highlighting nine issues that unnatural and mysterious match patterns take place.
iv.The cricketers, in a petition signed by all including both captains Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga to Sri Lanka Cricket, have refuted the allegations as totally baseless.
About Srilanka Cricket Board:
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was first registered with the Ministry of Sports on 30 June 1975 as a national sports body.
Initially named Board of Cricket for Sri Lanka (BCCSL), it was renamed Sri Lanka Cricket in 2003.
The SLC is thus the apex national body for the administration and development of cricket in Sri Lanka, including management of the Sri Lanka national cricket team.
Headquarters: Sinhalese Sports
President: Thilanga Sumathipala
Sasi Kumar Mukund clinches his fifth Futures title
Sasi Kumar Mukund of India had won his second straight Futures title. He defeated Arjun Khade by 6-3, 6-4 in the singles final of the LMW ITF Men’s Futures tennis tournament on 24th Sept. 2017.
Key Points:
i.Mukund, ranked 501 in the ATP list currently. Khade had beaten Colin Van Beem of the Netherlands in the quarter-final.
ii.Mukund and Khade had teamed up for the doubles but lost in the final to Chandril and Lakshit Sood.
iii.Final Result :
Singles (final): Sasi Kumar Mukund (1) beat Arjun Khade 6-3, 6-4.
Books & Authors
The Shershah of Kargil- The biography of Captain Vikram Batra authored by Deepak Surana
The book titled “The Shershah of Kargil” is a biography of Kargil war hero Late Captain Vikram Batra, who was posthumously awarded Param veer Chakra (PVC) – the highest gallantry award of India.
Key Points:
i.The book written by Deepak Surana is an inspiring story of the young captain Vikram Batra, which defines the various dimensions of Captain Batra’s life.
ii.The Sher Shah of Kargil: Biography of Kargil War Hero Vikram Batra” is a motivational story of young Captain Vikram Batra who was killed in the Kargil war by Deepak Surana.
iii.This book highlights the various aspects of life of Captain Vikram Batra, the victor of Param Vir Chakra.
