Sports
Vinesh Phogat wins bronze in World Wrestling Championships in Serbia
Vinesh Phogat has clinched a bronze in 53 kilogram category at the World Championships, in Belgrade, Serbia.
She becomes the first Indian woman wrestler to win two medals at the World Championships.
She has defeated reigning European champion, Emma Malmgren of Sweden.
This is her second bronze medal at the Championships.
She had previously won the bronze in the 2019 edition of the tournament at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
Indore becomes India’s first ‘Smart City’ with ‘Smart Addresses’
Indore (MP) has implemented a fully digital addressing system that makes Indore the first city in India to do so.
For this smart city initiative, an MoU was signed with the firm Pataa Navigations.
Pataa: This organisation has developed patented technology and is working with ISRO to develop a digital addressing system for the nation.
Agreements / MoU
NSDF signs MoUs with NTPC and REC for development of sports in India
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) has signed an MoU with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
Reason: For the development of sports in India.
NTPC and REC have been provided financial support of 215 crore rupees for the development of sports.
NTPC: Contributed an amount of Rs115 crore for Archery (5 years).
REC: Committed an amount of Rs 100 crore to support Women’s Hockey, Athletics and Boxing (3 years).
Conferences / Summit
India invites Bangladesh as guest country during its G-20 presidency
The government of India has decided to invite Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE as Guest Countries to take part in the G 20 meeting during its Presidency.
International Organisations: UN, IMF, World Bank, WHO, WTO, ILO, FSB and OECD and AU, AUDA-NEPAD and ASEAN, ISA, CDRI and ADB.
This is a part of the G20 tradition of inviting some Guest Countries and International Organisations (IO) to its meetings and summit.
Sports
India beat Nepal to clinch SAFF U-17 Championship Title in Colombo
India has secured the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-17 Championship title after defeating Nepal by 4-0 in the final in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
India has played well to lift the title for the fourth time (2013, 2017, 2019, 2022).
India captain, Vanlalpeka Guite has named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper, Sahil won the Best Goalkeeper awards
SAFF members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Business / Economics
Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches iSelect Guaranteed Future Plan
Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched a new life insurance policy named iSelect Guaranteed Future, an individual, non-linked, non-participating, savings and protection plan.
The policy comes in multiple options:
Easy iAchieve: Single premium payment term
iAssure and Flexi iAssure plan: Pay for a limited period, and get the guaranteed lump sum on maturity.
iAchieve and Flexi iAchieve option: Pay for a limited period and get a guaranteed sum assured at maturity.
Banking & Finance
HDFC Life launches Click2Protect Super term insurance policy
HDFC Life has launched a term insurance plan named Click2Protect Super.
Offers: It enables customisation as per protection needs and only pay for the benefits/plan options that you have chosen.
It is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, pure risk premium/ savings life insurance plan.
It provides with multiple flexibilities such as changing life cover, extending the policy term, getting coverage for accidental death and terminal illness, etc.
International News
Sixth edition of Japan India Maritime Exercise begins in Bay of Bengal
The navies of India and Japan are carrying out the sixth edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX 22) hosted by the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal.
Aim: To enhance operational understanding
The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) has deployed Izumo (helicopter carrier) and Takanami (guided missile destroyer) for this exercise.
The Indian Navy has represented by multi-purpose stealth frigate Sahyadri and anti-submarine warfare corvettes Kadmatt.
National News
Vedanta-Foxconn inks MoUs with Gujarat to set up semiconductor plant
Vedanta and Foxconn have signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to set up a semiconductor and display manufacturing unit in the state.
Benefits: To create a huge ecosystem for ancillary industries and help our MSMEs
Total Investment: Rs 1.54 lakh crore
Display Fab Unit: This unit will set up with an investment of Rs 94,500 crore.
The Integrated Semiconductor Fab Unit and OSAT (Outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) facility with an investment of Rs 60,000 crore.
Schemes
Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will launch a countrywide mega drive ‘Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav’ for voluntary blood donation from 17th September to 1st October 2022. The special drive is a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The registrations for the Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav have been started on the E-Raktkosh portal and Aarogya Setu app.
Nation will observe 1st October as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
Appointment / Resignation
President Biden appoints Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as Inaugural Director ARPA-H
The US President Joe Biden has appointed Dr Renee Wegrzyn as the inaugural director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) for five years.
Purpose of the ARPA-H: To seek innovative solutions to biomedical problems
She is a biologist and former government scientist.
Dr.Renee Wegrzyn is currently serving as the vice president of business development at Ginkgo Bioworks and Head of Innovation at Concentric by Ginkgo.
SEP 17 2022:
Appointment / Resignation
Joao Lourenco Re-elected as President of Angola
The National Electoral Commission announced Joao Lourenco as the President with 51% of the votes.
President Joao Lourenco is a member of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), and he was re-elected as the President of Angola.
The election results extended the hegemony of the MPLA, which is the only party that has governed Angola since its Independence from Portugal in 1975.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated H.E. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on being re-elected as the President of Angola and emphasized on working together to strengthen the bilateral relations between India and Angola.
Appointment / Resignation
25-year-old climate activist Vanessa Nakate appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) appointed Vanessa Nakate, a 25-year-old climate activist from Uganda as the Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Her collaboration with the organisation and recognising her outstanding global advocacy for climate justice for current and future generations.
Nakate began her activism in January 2019 with a protest with her siblings and cousins on the streets of Kampala, inspired by Greta Thunberg.
She continued to protest every week, becoming a well-known face in a movement of young people “striking” for the climate around the world.
In 2020 she came to further global prominence when she was cropped out of a news photo she appeared in alongside Thunberg and other white climate activists.
Nakate’s response to the incident, in which she said the news outlet “didn’t just erase a photo, you erased a continent”, made international headlines.
National News
Delhi Police First Force to Make Collection of Forensic Evidence Mandatory
Delhi Police has become the first police force in India to make a collection of forensic evidence mandatory in crimes punishable by more than six years.
Delhi is a union territory and is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued a ‘Standard Order’, to all the police units.
National News
Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched a 15-day blood donation drive on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
The blood donation drive is known as ‘Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav’ which will continue till 1st October 2022 which is National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urges people to take part in the blood donation drive and donate blood to save lives.
The citizens can register themselves on Aarogya Setu App or e-Raktkosh portal to donate blood as part of the ‘Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav’.
Banking & Finance
Federal Bank ranked 63rd in Best Workplaces in Asia 2022
Federal Bank was ranked 63rd on the Best Workplaces in Asia 2022 and becomes the only bank in India to be listed by Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture.
The list is based on over one million survey responses across Asia and West Asia, representing the experience of over 4.7 million employees in the region.
This recognition is based on confidential survey data assessing employee experiences of trust, innovation, company values and leadership.
Companies are also evaluated on how well they are creating All workplace experiences, inclusive of all employees no matter who they are or what they do.
According to Great Place to Work India, 88 per cent of employees at the best workplaces in Asia on average reported having a positive employee experience.
For the average global workforce, only 55 per cent of workers report a similarly positive experience.
National News
India To Be Home to Cheetahs After 70 Years
Eight African cheetahs are all set to move from Namibia into their new habitat at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, September 17, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
The PM is expected to release the five female and three male cheetahs into the Park’s quarantine enclosures on Friday as part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify the country’s wildlife and habitat, his office has said.
Sports
15-year-old Pranav Anand becomes India’s 76th Chess Grandmaster
15-year-old, Pranav Anand from Bengaluru, Karnataka became India’s 76th Chess GrandMaster (GM) after winning against International Master (IM) Emin Ohanyan of Armenia.
He received the title after he crossed the 2,500 Elo points in the ongoing World Youth Chess Championship in Mamaia, Romania.
A month before Pranav Anand became India’s 76th GM, Pranav Venkatesh became India’s 75th Grandmaster.
In order to qualify for the GM title, a player must secure 3 GM norms covering 27 games and cross the live rating of 2,500 Elo points.
Pranav Anand needs to cross the live rating of 2,500 which he did in the penultimate round of the World Youth Under16 Open 2022.
In July, he scored the 3rd and final GM norm at the 55th Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland. He has drawn his game against Spain’s No.5 GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli (2619) in the penultimate round.
National News
India Stands 4th in Global Crypto Adoption Index 2022
Blockchain analysis platform Chainalysis published its global crypto adoption index for 2022 of nations with the highest cryptocurrency adoption rate with India ranking fourth in the list, two spots down from last year.
Chainalysis report noted that the emerging markets dominate the Global Crypto Adoption Index this year.
National News
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling recognised as best zoo
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in West Bengal’s Darjeeling has been adjudged the best zoo in the country, while Kolkata’s Alipore Zoological Garden has secured the fourth position. There are around 150 zoos across the country. As per the list, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai has secured the second position, followed by the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysore, Karnataka.
The zoological park is internationally recognised for its breeding and conservation programmes of endangered animal species of the eastern Himalayas, including the Snow Leopard and the Red Panda. The Red Panda is one of the top attractions of PNHZP, besides others such as the Himalayan Black Bear, Snow Leopard, Goral and Himalayan Thar.
Important Days / Weeks
World Patient Safety Day observed on 17 September
World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on 17 September to create awareness about different safety measures that should be taken to ensure patient safety.
The day focuses on preventing and reducing risks, errors, and harm that patients face.
In modern society, it is important to understand the implications of negligent patient care and work toward modern standards regarding patient care.
The main objective of World Patient Safety Day is to increase public awareness, enhance global understanding and call for solidarity and united action by all countries and international partners to increase patient safety and reduce patient harm.
SEP 18 2022
Appointment / Resignation
Vinod Aggarwal elected as new President of SIAM
Auto industry body, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has elected Vinod Aggarwal as its new president for 2022-23.
Aggarwal, the MD and CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, succeeds Kenichi Ayukawa, the executive vice-chairman of Maruti Suzuki India.
The SIAM also elected Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles managing director Shailesh Chandra as the vice-president, Satyakam Arya; and CEO & MD of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles was elected as the treasurer.
Appointment / Resignation
Reserve Bank of India named Pralay Mondal as CEO of CSB Bank
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Pralay Mondal as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CSB Bank for three years.
He was the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since February 17, 2022, and was subsequently appointed as interim MD & CEO with effect from April 1, 2022.
Prior to joining CSB Bank, Mondal was Executive Director and Head, of Retail Banking at Axis Bank.
Important Days / Weeks
International Equal Pay Day celebrates on 18 September
International Equal Pay Day, celebrated on 18 September, represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value.
The symbolic day aims at highlighting issues related to the gender pay gap and raising worldwide awareness.
The main aim of the event is to end the history of gender discrimination that women are generally subjected to by getting paid less than their male counterparts.
Important Days / Weeks
World Bamboo Day 2022 observed on 18th September
World Bamboo Day 2022 is observed on September 18 in order to raise awareness about the conservation of this extremely useful plant.
Conceptualised by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO), this day also promotes the bamboo industry by highlighting its concerns.
Bamboo wood has long been used for various purposes in countries around the globe, especially in the east and southeast Asia.
Bamboo grows on its and doesn’t require to be replanted, making it easily available.
Awards
Union Minister Jitendra Singh presents ’INSPIRE’ awards to 60 Start-Ups
Union Science and Technology Minister, Jitendra Singh has presented ‘INSPIRE’ awards to 60 Start-Ups and financial support to over 53,000 students.
It is instituted by Department of Science and Technology and these innovators will be extended complete incubation support for entrepreneurship journey.
.Annual INSPIRE Awards-MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) competition attracted an unprecedented 6.53 Lakh ideas and innovations from all States.
Awards
CSIR’s Popular Science Magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati’ receives Rajbhasha Kirti
CSIR’s popular science magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati’ has received National Rajbhasha Kirti Award at the Second All India Rajbhasha Sammelan held during 14th-15th September 2022 in the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium, Surat.
It was organized by Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Vigyan Pragati is one of India’s best popular science magazines and was started by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1952.
Important Places
Varanasi declared as first SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2022-23
Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2022-2023 at the 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Regulations for the nomination of SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital were adopted at Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021.
SCO summit 2022 in Samarkand was the first in-person meeting of the grouping since the COVID-19.
Books
Former President Ram Nath Kovind releases book titled ‘Ambedkar and Modi’
Former President Ram Nath Kovind has released a book titled “Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas Performer’s Implementation” in New Delhi.
It illustrates life, works and achievements of Dr. B.R Ambedkar and presents a convergence between the ideals of Dr. Ambedkar and New India’s development journey.
It has been compiled in 12 chapters by Bluekraft Digital Foundation and has a foreword by music composer and Rajya Sabha member Ilaiyaraaja.
Appointment / Resignation
Sumant Kathpalia re-appointed as MD & CEO of IndusInd Bank
IndusInd Bank has approved the re-appointment of Sumant Kathpalia as managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) for three years with effect from March 24, 2023.
He was appointed as MD & CEO of IndusInd Bank in March 2020. Prior to joining IndusInd Bank, he had stints with Citibank, Bank of America and ABN Amro.
Appointment / Resignation
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli selected as CMD of NLC India Limited
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli is selected as the Chairman and Managing Director of NLC India Limited by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB).
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli is currently serving as the Executive Director of NTPC limited.
