India Participates in BRICS Literature Forum 2024 in Russia
India took part in the BRICS Literature Forum 2024 in Kazan, Russia. The event, inaugurated by Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin, focused on the theme 'World Literature in the New Reality: Dialogue of Traditions, National Values, and Cultures'.
This forum brought together writers, poets, philosophers, artists, and scholars from BRICS countries. India was represented by Madhav Kaushik, President of Sahitya Akademi, and Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary of Sahitya Akademi. In the plenary session, Madhav Kaushik emphasised the significance of literature in fostering unity and cooperation globally.
In a session titled "Meet the Authors from India," with the theme "Volga to Ganga: Celebration of Tradition and Multiculturalism," Dr. K. Sreenivasarao discussed the influence of river-based cultures in promoting multiculturalism and social progress. Madhav Kaushik further elaborated on how traditional literature in both India and Russia embodies rich cultural values.
India sends US$ 1 Million Humanitarian Relief to Vietnam as Operation Sadbhav
The Government of India has launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian relief/assistance to countries affected by Typhoon Yagi. This will Express Solidarity with Storm-Hit Nations- Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
India has extended assistance to the Government of Vietnam to provide relief to the affected communities in northern Vietnam impacted by the natural disaster.
A consignment of 35 tons of humanitarian assistance, including water purification items, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, and solar lanterns, among others, was airlifted to Vietnam today by a special aircraft.
To Resolve Exporters Issue Piyush Goyal Launches Portal
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, launched the 'Jan Sunwai portal', which is an online platform of the Department of commerce, designed to streamline communication between stakeholders and authorities.
The portal has been designed to streamline the communication between stakeholders and authorities.
This portal will provide a significant boost to the existing commerce and business sector since people will not have to visit our offices with their grievances
This portal's accessibility extends to solve the problem related to many commerce department for exports such as, Department of commerce, DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade), Tea Board, Coffee Board, Spices Board, Rubber Board, APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority).
UPI Users Can Now Send 5 Lakh for Some Transactions
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) increased the transaction limits for tax payments using UPI (Unified Payment Interface), by allowing people to send 5 lakh in a single transaction.
Acquiring entities must ensure that the classification of their merchants within MCC-9311 strictly adheres to the tax payments only. Merchants shall ensure UPI as a payment mode is enabled for the increased limit for the tax payments category.
Earlier, the transaction limit for UPI was Rs. 1 lakh except for certain categories of payments which have higher transaction limits.
It has now been decided to enhance the limit for tax payments through UPI from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per transaction.
This will further ease tax payments by consumers through UPI.
Categories of Payment are: (1) Tax payments, (2) Hospital and educational services and, (3) IPOs and government securities.
India's Foreign Kitty Jumps to Fresh Time High at 689.24bn
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that India's forex reserves jumped USD 5.248 billion to a new all-time high of USD 689.235 billion till 6th September, 2024.
Forex reserves or foreign exchange reserves are assets that are held by a nation's central bank or monetary authority. It is generally held in reserve currencies, usually the US Dollar and to a lesser degree the Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling. It is used to back its liabilities.
India Jumps to Tier 1 in Global CyberSecurity Index 2024
India jumped to Tier 1 in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), when it comes to role-modeling as part of the country's cybersecurity commitments and resulting impacts.
The Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) is a trusted reference that measures the commitment of countries to cybersecurity at a global level to raise awareness of the importance and different dimensions of the issue. As cybersecurity has a broad field of application, cutting across many industries and various sectors.
Tier 1 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, United States, Iceland, Greece, Sweden, Portugal, Qatar, Norway, Turkiye, United Kingdom and a total of 47 countries make it to the list of Tier 1 countries.
IIT-Delhi, Honda Joint to Advance Technologies in Cooperative Intelligence
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance Honda CI (Cooperative Intelligence), which is an AI that enables mutual understanding between machines and people through cooperative action and communication using environment, scene and intention understanding.
The agreement was signed by Professor Preeti Ranjan Panda, dean, corporate relations and Professor Naresh Bhatnagar, dean (R&D), IIT Delhi and Udit Kumar, senior vice president and director, HCIL in the presence of Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi and Takuya Tsumura, president and CEO of HCIL.
Under the agreement, engineers from both HCIL and Honda R&D Co. Ltd. an R&D subsidiary of Honda, will participate in the joint research with IIT Delhi researchers to advance the underlying technologies of CI, with an eye toward the future applications for technologies that reduce traffic collisions and enable automated driving, an IIT Delhi statement said.
Saleema Imtiaz Becomes First Pakistan's Woman Umpire on ICC's International Development Panel
Pakistan's Saleema Imtiaz became the first woman to be nominated for the ICC International Panel of development umpires said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Saleema's nomination on the panel means she is now eligible to officiate in women's bilateral international matches and ICC women's events.
Saleema joined the PCB's women's umpires panel in 2008 and has officiated in several Asian Cricket Council tournaments over the last three years.
Neeraj Chopra Finishes Second in Diamond League Final, Misses Crown by 1 cm
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra missed the Diamond League crown by just one centimetre as he finished second for the second consecutive year with a throw of 87.86m in the season finale in Brussels.
Chopra, who had won the DL trophy in 2022 before finishing second last year, achieved his best throw of the day in his third attempt but that was 1cm short of eventual winner Anderson Peters' 87.87m effort.
Grenada's Peters, a two-time world champion, produced his best throw of the day in his opening attempt. Julian Weber of Germany was third with 85.97m.
Peters collected a Diamond League trophy and USD 30,000 for emerging as the DL champion this season.
Chopra pocketed USD 12,000 for his second-place finish in the grand finale which marked the end of the prestigious Diamond League series after 14 legs, as well as the end of international athletics season.
Amit Shah Inaugurates National Security Strategies Conference
Union Home Minister of India Amit Shah inaugurated a 2 days National Security Strategies Conference 2024 in the national capital. This conference held talks on various aspects of security and its challenges.
This conference discussed different solutions to emerging national security challenges that will be chalked out with the top police leadership of states, UTs (Union Territories), CAPFs (Central Armed Protection Forces), and CPOs (Central Police Organisation).
The Objective of the National Security Strategy Conference was to find Solutions to major national security challenges through discussion amongst a unique mix of senior police leadership managing national security challenges, young police officers working at the cutting-edge level, and domain experts of personalised fields.
The Conference was chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of State for Home Shri Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Heads of CAPFs(Central Armed Protection Forces) and CPOs(Central Police Organisation), Home Secretary General Govind Mohan, and Additional and Deputy National Security Advisor's (NSAs).
Over 750 officers participated in the conference from all over India and also this conference was held in hybrid format combining physical and virtual mode.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Launches 'Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav' Website
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), 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 is set to take place from December 6th to 8th, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The festival celebrates the eight Northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—collectively known as the "Ashtalakshmi," symbolising eight forms of prosperity. The official website, www.ashtalakshmimahotsav.com, will provide updates, event schedules, and participation details.
Scindia emphasised the festival's role in bridging cultural and economic gaps between Northeast India and the rest of the country. He noted that the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav will showcase the region's rich culture and stimulate economic development by creating opportunities for artisans, weavers, and entrepreneurs.
Celebrating 65 Years of Doordarshan: India's Public Service Broadcaster
Doordarshan, India's esteemed public service broadcaster, marks its 65th anniversary on September 15, 2024. Established on this date in 1959, Doordarshan has been a pillar of Indian media, fostering unity, culture, and education. From its modest start with experimental broadcasts in Delhi, it has grown into one of the world's largest broadcasting organisations, adapting to technological advancements while upholding its public service mandate.
Starting from black-and-white transmissions, Doordarshan now operates 35 channels including 6 national channels, 28 regional channels, and 1 international channel. This expansion reflects its commitment to regional diversity and accessibility, ensuring that every part of India is represented in its own language.
DRDO Successfully Completes First Phase Trials of Light Tank 'Zorawar'
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the preliminary automotive trials of the Indian Light Tank, Zorawar. The versatile platform, developed for high-altitude deployment, demonstrated exceptional performance in desert terrain, meeting all objectives. The firing performance in this phase achieved the required accuracy on designated targets, showcasing its combat readiness.
Zorawar developed by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Ltd. Contributions from numerous Indian industries, including MSMEs, highlight India's growing indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh praised DRDO, the Indian Army, and industry partners, calling the trials a key step towards India's goal of self-reliance in defence systems.
World Ozone Day, celebrated on September 16 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of the ozone layer in protecting life on Earth. It has significantly depleted in recent years, and annually this day is commemorated to educate people more about how this is a concern. It also spreads awareness about the steps that have been taken to preserve the ozone layer.
The 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).
The theme for this year (2024) is "Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action". The aim is to not only celebrate the accomplishments but also look forward to deeper and faster action under the Montreal Protocol in the future.
RINL Wins CII-GBC National Energy Leader Award for Sixth Consecutive Year
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, once again achieved excellence in energy efficiency and conservation by winning the prestigious National Energy Leader Award from the Confederation of Indian Industry – Green Business Centre (CII-GBC). This marks the sixth consecutive year that RINL has received this accolade, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to sustainable energy practices.
At a ceremony in Hyderabad, the award was presented to K Sudhakar, GM of the Energy Management Department (EMD-I/c), and his team by Milind Deora, Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India.
In addition to the National Energy Leader Award, RINL also secured the "Excellent Energy Efficient Unit Award" for the eighth consecutive year. These acknowledgments reflect RINL's ongoing efforts in energy conservation through various initiatives.
Receiving the National Energy Leader Award for six consecutive years underscores RINL's pioneering approach to energy management. The company's continuous focus on enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and embracing innovative technologies for sustainable growth sets a high standard within the industry.
Blue Revolution: 4 Years of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in September 2020, is a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming India's fisheries sector and enhancing the welfare of fishermen. This scheme, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, addresses critical issues in fish production, productivity, quality, technology, and infrastructure while strengthening the fisheries value chain.
With an investment of Rs. 20,050 crore over five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), PMMSY targets inland fisheries and aquaculture, ensuring robust food security and supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises through its Central Sector Sub-scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), which has a budget of over Rs. 6,000 crore.
On its 4th anniversary in September 2024, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajeev Ranjan Singh, introduced several initiatives:
NFDP Portal and PM-MKSSY Guidelines: Launched the National Fisheries Development Program (NFDP) Portal and operational guidelines for PM-MKSSY, offering benefits like institutional credit and aquaculture insurance.
Fisheries Cluster Development: Announced SOPs for Production and Processing Clusters, focusing on Pearl cultivation, Ornamental fisheries, and Seaweed cultivation, and established three specialised clusters.
Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages: Introduced guidelines to develop 100 coastal villages into Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages with an allocation of Rs. 200 crore.
Drone Technology Pilot: Initiated a pilot project for using drone technology in fish transportation, conducted by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), and other initiatives.
People of Zanskar Celebrate 9th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2024
The 9th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2024 was held with remarkable grandeur in the picturesque village of Sani, signifying a landmark event for the region. This year's (2024) Zanskar Festival was especially significant as it marked the first celebration since Zanskar was officially declared a district.
The festival served as a stage for traditional ethnic cultural troupes from various Zanskar regions to showcase their unique costumes, tailored to withstand the region's biting winter.
Not confined to the region alone, the festival also featured troupes from Purgi tribes from Kargil, Sheena from Drass, Dard-Aryan from Aryan Valley, Changpa Tribe from Changthang and even Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul, Spiti & Kinnaur Cultural Troupes also participated in this Two Days Mega Festival.
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