National news
Union Cabinet Approves ₹70,125 Crore for PMGSY-IV Road Scheme
Union Cabinet has given its approval to the proposal of Department of Rural Development for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana -IV (PMGSY-IV) during Financial Year 2024-25 to 2028-29. The total outlay of the scheme will be 70 thousand 125 crore rupees. Addressing media in New Delhi, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that under this scheme, financial assistance will be given for the construction of 62 thousand 500 Kilometres road for providing new connectivity to eligible 25 thousand unconnected habitations. Mr Vaishnaw said that it will create 40 crore humandays employment.
Approval & Duration:
- Approved by the Union Cabinet
- Implementation period: Financial Year 2024-25 to 2028-29
- Total outlay: ₹70,125 crore
Objectives:
- Construction of Roads:
- 62,500 kilometers of new all-weather roads
- Connectivity for 25,000 previously unconnected habitations
- Employment Generation:
- Creation of 40 crore human-days of employment
Impact:
- Socio-Economic Development:
- Facilitate development and transformation of remote rural areas
- Improved access to government educational, health, and market centers
Planning & Execution:
- Road alignment planning to be managed through the PM Gati Shakti portal
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to inaugurate IDAX-24 in Jodhpur today
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will observe the ongoing Tarang Shakti exercise at Jodhpur Air Force Station. Mr Singh will also inaugurate the Defence Aviation Expo being organised at Jodhpur Air Force station. This edition of IDAX at Jodhpur, scheduled from 12-14 Sep 24, will have a grand participation from industry and host a wide range of products, technologies.
Events & Dates:
- Tarang Shakti Exercise:
- Location: Jodhpur Air Force Station
- Date: Ongoing, with air show on September 12, 2024
- Defence Aviation Expo (IDAX):
- Location: Jodhpur Air Force Station
- Dates: September 12-14, 2024
Key Highlights:
- Defence Minister’s Activities:
- Observing the Tarang Shakti exercise
- Inaugurating the Defence Aviation Expo
- Expo Details:
- Participation: Industry representatives, including DPSUs, DRDO, private industries, and startups
- Purpose: Showcase indigenous aviation technologies and skills to global decision-makers and end-users
- Air Show Features:
- Aircraft: Suryakiran, Sarang, Tejas, Sukhoi-30
- Attendees: Defence Minister, Indian Army Chiefs, foreign Air Force Chiefs, and observers from 16 countries
- Exercise Tarang Shakti:
- One of the largest multinational air exercises conducted by the Indian Air Force
- Participating countries: USA, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, UAE, Greece
- Observers: 16 additional countries
Objective:
- Highlight India’s aviation capabilities and foster international military cooperation through the exercise and expo.
Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates special railway coach dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today inaugurated a special railway coach dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, New Delhi. On the occasion, the Minister said, Mahatma Gandhi’s life is an inspiration to many and his principle of ahimsa is still relevant in the current geopolitical situation across the world.
Event:
- Inauguration: Special railway coach dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi
- Location: Rajghat, New Delhi
- Minister: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism
Highlights:
- Minister’s Remarks:
- Inspiration: Mahatma Gandhi’s life and principle of ahimsa (non-violence) remain relevant globally.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: The government aligns with Gandhi’s vision in sectors like defence and technology.
- Climate Change: Urged adherence to Gandhi’s teachings for environmental protection and combating climate change.
- Railway Coach Details:
- Donation: Provided by the Ministry of Railways
- Features: Sculptures depicting Gandhi’s travels and interactions, offering an immersive experience of his rail journeys.
Objective:
- Purpose of the Coach: To honor Gandhi’s legacy and provide educational insights into his travels and philosophies.
President presents National Florence Nightingale Awards to Nurses at Rashtrapati Bhavan
President Droupadi Murmu today conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 to Nurses at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the year 1973. This award is given as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to society.
International news
India send food grains as humanitarian aid to Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe
The government of India, in the spirit of South-South cooperation and the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, has decided to extend humanitarian assistance to the African countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. India has agreed to send food grains to these countries suffering from a food deficit due to the severe drought caused by adverse weather conditions caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
Humanitarian Assistance:
- Countries Assisted: Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Reason: Food deficit caused by drought due to the El Niño phenomenon
- Food Aid:
- Malawi: 1000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice
- Zimbabwe: 1000 MT of rice
- Zambia: 2500 MT of maize (first consignment of 1300 MT dispatched)
- Shipping: All aid sent from JNPT Nhava Sheva port, Mumbai
India’s Agricultural Role:
- Rice Production:
- Global Ranking: Second largest producer after China
- Export Status: World’s largest rice exporter; recent export restrictions on broken and white rice
- Special Export: 200,000 MT of white rice to Malaysia (approved recently)
- Maize Production:
- Global Ranking: Fourth largest producer (after US, China, Brazil)
- Export Status: Not a major exporter of maize
Zimbabwe’s Economic Context:
- New Currency: ZIG (Zimbabwe Gold) introduced in May 2024
- Backing: Supported by gold reserves
- Historical Context:
- Previous Currency Issues: Suspension of Zimbabwean Dollar in 2009 due to hyperinflation
- Current Usage: US Dollar, South African Rand, and Indian Rupee used as legal tender
- ZIG: Sixth currency introduced since the Zimbabwean dollar collapse
Philosophical and Diplomatic Note:
- Indian Philosophy: ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family) reflected in the assistance to African nations.
Malawi:
- Capital: Lilongwe
- Currency: Malawian Kwacha
- President: Lazarus Chakwera
Zimbabwe
- Capital: Harare
- Currency: United States Dollar
- President: Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
Banking news
SBI Launches New Offerings to Enhance Commuter Convenience and Digital Financial Inclusion
The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched three new offerings namely MTS RuPay NCMC prepaid card, the OneView mobile Application (App), and an advanced design for the SBI FASTag to enhance convenience, security, and efficiency for the daily commuters.
These offerings are designed to simplify payment processes and contribute to India’s overall goal of digital Financial Inclusion (FI).
New Offerings:
- MTS RuPay NCMC Prepaid Card:
- Description: India’s first offline payment solution for National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) systems, covering metro rails, buses, ferries, tolls, and parking.
- Feature: Enables payments in areas with limited internet access.
- OneView Mobile App:
- Description: Manages SBI’s NCMC Prepaid Cards, allowing customers to top-up, track, and manage their cards from a single platform.
- Benefit: Streamlines transit payments and enhances customer experience.
- Advanced SBI FASTag:
- Description: New design for the FASTag in Vehicle Class (VC-04) category (e.g., cars, jeeps, vans).
- Feature: Improves vehicle identification and toll collection efficiency, reducing travel time.
About the State Bank of India (SBI):
- Chairman: Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Established: 1955
- Tagline: The Banker to Every Indian
Defence News
20th and largest edition of Yudh Abhyas commences in Rajasthan
The 20th edition of the annual India-US Joint military exercise code-named Yudh Abhyas 2024 commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan on 9 September 2024. The 2024 Yudh Abhays will be conducted from 9-22 September 2024.
2024 Yudh Abhyas Participants
- The 20th edition of the Yudh Abhyas is the largest exercise ever in terms of participants. Both the Armies are deploying 600 personnel each in the exercise.
- The Indian contingent mainly comprises a battalion of the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army and personnel from other arms and services.
- The United States is represented by the personnel of its Indo-Pacific Command. The US contingent comprises the 1-24 Battalion personnel of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division.
Feature of Yudh Abhyas Military Exercise
- At the Yudh Abhyas 2024, military exercise will involve both command post exercise and field training exercise.
- The command post-exercise will focus on the United Nations peacekeeping operations in a military setting.
- The field training exercise will focus on fundamental warfighting skills in a semi-desert condition jointly and to enhance their combined operational capacity.
- Both the combined post-exercise and the field training exercise will run concurrently.
Brief history of India-US military exercise
- Joint military exercises are part of a country’s diplomacy to strengthen bilateral defence relations with other countries and promote good relations between military personnel.
- In 2002, India and the US started a joint military exercise involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force of both countries.
About the United States of America (USA):
- President- Joe Bidden
- Capital- Washington, D.C.
- Currency- United States Dollars(USD)
Exercises involving the Army of both India and the US
Yudh Abhyas
- First in 2002 at Agra (India).
- It is held at battalion level, alternatively in India and the United States.
- In 2023 it was held in Alaska (USA) in October 2023.
Vajra Prahar (Army Special Forces)
- First in 2010.
- It is held between the U.S. and Indian Special Forces soldiers, focussing on jungle warfare and counterinsurgency.
- The 14th edition was held in November 2023 at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School of the Indian Army in Vairengte, Mizoram.
Exercise involving Air Force
Cope India
- First, in 2004, as a fighter jet training exercise between the Indian Air Force and the U.S. Air Force.
- In 2018, it was relaunched after a gap of nine years.
- The 6th edition of Cope India-2023 was held at Indian Air Force Stations Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra in the month of April 2023.
Tri-Service exercise
Tiger TRIUMPH
- Tiger TRIUMPH or Tri-Services India U.S. Amphibious Exercises involve both countries’ Army, Navy and Air Force.
- First, in 2019, in the Bay of Bengal
- The 3rd edition was held at the Bay of Bengal in March 2024.
Special Exercise
Exercise Tarkash
- Involves the counter-terrorism forces of both countries.
- From India, the National Security Guard (NSG) takes part in the exercise with the U.S. Special Forces.
- The seventh edition of the Exercise Tarkash was held in Kolkata in May 2024.
Exercise Sangam
- First edition -1994.
- It is a joint Naval Special Forces exercise.
- Indian Navy Marine Commando Forces (MARCOs) and U.S. Navy SEALs participate.
- The 8th edition of the Exercise Sangam was held at Goa in October-December 2023.
Agreement news
MoU Between Indian Armed Forces and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)
The Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) to enhance the logistics capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.
Key People: The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD); General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), MoD and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MOR) in New Delhi, Delhi.
Note: Vadodara(Gujarat) based GSV, formerly known as the National Road Transport Institute (NRTI) is India’s first University in the Transportation and Logistics sectors, which was established through an Act of Parliament in 2022.
Signatories:
- Parties Involved: Indian Army (IA), Indian Air Force (IAF), Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)
- Signatories Present:
- Union Minister Rajnath Singh (Ministry of Defence)
- General Anil Chauhan (Chief of Defence Staff)
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Ministry of Railways)
Institution:
- GSV: Vadodara-based Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya
- Formerly known as the National Road Transport Institute (NRTI)
- India’s first university in the Transportation and Logistics sectors, established through an Act of Parliament in 2022
Objectives of the MoU:
- Enhance Logistics Capabilities:
- Improve in-house knowledge and skills in modern logistics operations for IA and IAF.
- Alignment with National Strategies:
- Supports National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2022 and Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) 2021.
- Dynamic Warfare Readiness:
- Develop expertise to address the evolving demands of modern warfare through creativity and collaboration.
- Experiential Learning:
- Include real-world case studies to train a new generation of logistics experts.
About the Indian Army (IA):
- Chief of the Army Staff: General Upendra Dwivedi
- Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
- Established: April 1, 1895
About the Indian Air Force (IAF):
- Chief of the Air Staff: Vivek Ram Chaudhari
- Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
- Established: October 8, 1932
MoD Signs ₹26,000 Crore Contract with HAL for AL-31FP Aero Engines, Boosting Self-Reliance in Aerospace
On 9th September 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth Rs 26,000 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procurement of 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines for Su-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). This contract marks a major step in India’s drive towards self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Parties Involved:
- Ministry of Defence (MoD): Contract signed in the presence of:
- Giridhar Aramane, Secretary, MoD
- Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production, MoD
- Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): Contracted for the supply of aero engines
Contract Details:
- Value: ₹26,000 crore
- Scope: Procurement of 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines for Su-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF)
- Manufacturing Location: Koraput division, HAL, Koraput district, Odisha
- Delivery Schedule:
- 30 aero-engines annually
- Total delivery over the next 8 years
Goals:
- Self-Reliance: Part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative
- Indigenization: Enhance indigenization content to 63% by the end of the delivery program, up from the current average of more than 54%
- Operational Capability: Ensure sustained operational readiness of the Su-30MKI fleet
Cabinet Approval:
- Date: September 2, 2024
- Chair: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Key Points:
- Strategic Importance: Supports India’s defense preparedness and self-reliance in aerospace technology
- Manufacturing & Supply: HAL’s role in domestic production and supply chain enhancement
Ministry of Defence (MoD) Leadership:
- Union Minister: Rajnath Singh (Constituency: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
- Minister of State (MOS): Sanjay Seth (Constituency: Ranchi, Jharkhand)
HAL:
- Headquarters: India
- Founder: Walchand Hirachand
- Founded: 23 December 1940, Bengaluru
Appointment news
Amit Shah Re-Elected as Chairperson of Committee of Parliament on Official Language
Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language.
- Union Minister Amit Shah has been holding the position of Chairperson of the Committee from 2019 to 2024.
- The committee was reconstituting during a meeting of held in New Delhi, Delhi.
Re-Election Details:
- Chairperson: Union Minister Amit Shah
- Position Tenure: Re-elected for the term 2024-2029
- Previous Term: Held the position from 2019 to 2024
- Meeting Location: New Delhi, Delhi
Committee Objectives and Activities:
- Software Development:
- Department of Official Language, MHA: Developing software for automatic translation of languages in the 8th Schedule.
- 75th Anniversary of Hindi:
- Significance: Marks 75 years since Hindi was accepted as the official language.
- Event: A large conference to be held at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi, celebrating the milestone.
About the Official Language:
- Adoption: Hindi, written in Devanagari script, adopted as the Official Language of the Union of India on September 14, 1949.
- Munshi-Ayyangar Formula: Proposed in 1950, recommended Hindi as the official language along with English for an interim period of 15 years.
Committee of Parliament on Official Language:
- Establishment: Formed in 1976 under Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963.
- Role: Reviews progress in the use of Hindi in official work.
- Composition: 30 Members of Parliament (MPs)
Objective of the Committee:
- Purpose: Enhance Hindi’s acceptance in official domains while respecting other Indian languages.
State news
Kerala to host Finance Ministers conclave of five States in Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala to host Finance Ministers conclave of five States in Thiruvananthapuram today. The conclave is aimed to gather the opinion of the states on Centre-State financial relations, grievances and the need for a united front to secure a fair share in the 16th Finance Commission.
- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conclave today morning. Meeting will have the participation of ministers from Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
- Opposition leader VD Satheesan, former economic advisor to the central government Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Former Minister TM Thomas Isaac, Kerala State Planning Board Vice Chairman Prof. VK Ramachandran and others will also attend the conclave.
Kerala:
- Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
- Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
Sports news
Asian Cricket Council Launches Women’s U-19 T20 Asia Cup
In a significant step towards promoting women’s cricket, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced the launch of the Women’s Under-19 T20 Asia Cup. This landmark decision was made during the ACC Executive Board Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- The ACC confirmed in an official release that the Women’s U19 Asia Cup will be held biennially, positioning it as a key preparatory tournament ahead of each ICC Women’s U19 World Cup.
- By providing emerging female cricketers in Asia the opportunity to compete on an international platform, the tournament aims to offer invaluable experience, ultimately enhancing the performance of Asian teams on the global stage.
Asian Cricket Council:
- President: Jay Shah
- Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Founded: 19 September 1983, New Delhi
45th FIDE Chess Olympiad to begin in Budapest, Hungary
The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad will begin today in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The 12-day biennial event will feature over 1,800 players, with 193 national teams registered in the open section and 181 teams competing in the women’s section.
- India will enter the open section as the second-seeded team, just behind the USA. It boasts a supremely talented lineup, including world championship challenger D. Gukesh, world no. 4 Arjun Erigaisi, and world no. 12 R. Praggnanandhaa. They are well supported by the experienced shoulders of Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna, making India one of the strongest contenders.
- In the women’s section, India has fielded an equally strong lineup led by Dronavalli Harika. Newly minted GM R. Vaishali will be joining the team with Divya Deshmukh, along with Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev. As the second-seed team behind Georgia, India is well-positioned to make a strong impact. India, which hosted the previous edition, bagged bronze medals in both open and women’s sections.
Summit news
Delhi hosts 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation
New Delhi hosted the 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation on 11 and 12 September 2024. The first Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation was held in Beijing, China, in 2018.
The economically dynamic Asia-Pacific region is a major contributor to global air traffic, with India being one of the world’s fastest-growing passenger aviation markets.
Who inaugurated the Conference?
- The 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu.
- Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Salvatore Sciacchitano, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation Shri Vumlunmang Vualnam, and other distinguished delegates were present.
2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation Organiser
- The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia Pacific Office(APAC), has organised the 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation.
- APAC is the regional office of the ICAO in the Asia Pacific region.
2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation Participants
- Around 250 representatives from 29 countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, are participating in the second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in New Delhi.
- However no representative from Pakistan is participating in the conference.
2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation
- The second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation will discuss issues related to the safety and growth of the civil aviation sector in the region.
- The civil aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region has huge potential and vast growth opportunities due to the growing middle class, growth in population and tourism, higher disposable incomes, favourable demographics, and rapid development of aviation infrastructure.
- India has also emerged as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world and has the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market.
- According to the ministerial conference website, the number of aircraft in India has increased from 400 to more than 800 in the last decade, and airports have exponentially grown from 74 to 157.
About ICAO and ICAO APAC
- The International International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was set up in 1944 as a United Nations agency.
- It works to develop a safe and sound global aviation system by setting the rules and standards,
- Currently, 193 countries are members of the ICAO.
- Headquarters: Montreal Canada
- President: Salvatore Sciacchitano
- The ICAO has set up seven regional offices around the world for better coordination among its member countries.
- For the Asia Pacific region, ICAO established the Asia Pacific Office(APAC) in 1948 in Melbourne, Australia.
- It was later shifted to Bangkok, Thailand, from Australia in 1955.
- At present, 39 countries are members of the APAC.
SEMICON India 2024, inaugurated by PM Modi in Greater Noida
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the SEMICON India 2024 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on 11 September 2024. The three-day SEMICON India exhibition and conference, which will run from 11 to 13 September, will project India as a rising investment destination in the world semiconductor market and provide a platform for the global semiconductor industry to interact with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasad, President and CEO of SEMI Ajit Manoch, and other distinguished industry leaders were present on the occasion.
Who has organised the SEMICON India 2024?
- SEMI, in collaboration with München India and with the support of the Union Ministry of Information Technology (MeitY), has organised the SEMICON India 2024 exhibition and conference.
- SEMI is a global association of the semiconductor industry and professionals representing the global electronics manufacturing and design supply chain.
- It is based in Milpitas, California, the United States of America
Theme of the SEMICON India 2024
The theme of SEMICON India 2024 is Shaping the Semiconductor Future.
Aim of the SEMICON India 2024
- The main aim of SEMICON India 2024 is to provide a platform for global leaders, semiconductor industry experts, academia, and government officials to interact and explore opportunities to invest in the Indian semiconductor sector.
- According to Prime Minister Modi, India’s electronics sector is valued at over $150 billion, and the government aims to achieve a valuation of $500 billion by the end of 2030.
- The government of India launched the Semiconductor Mission in 2022 to encourage investment by domestic and foreign investors in the Indian semiconductor sectors.
- According to the Prime Minister, the government’s goal is to make India self-reliant in semiconductor manufacturing, designing, and technology development.
Science And Tech News
Nibe Space Announces India’s 1st Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Satellite Constellation
On 8th September 2024, Nibe Space Private Limited (NSPL), a subsidiary of Nibe Limited, has announced plans to set-up India’s 1st multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth Observation Satellite Constellation (EOSC) at an event held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. • It aims to promote India’s defence and space capabilities while promoting self-reliance in the strategically important defence-space sector.
Announcement:
- Company: Nibe Space Private Limited (NSPL), a subsidiary of Nibe Limited
- Project: India’s first multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth Observation Satellite Constellation (EOSC)
- Objective: Enhance India’s defense and space capabilities, promote self-reliance in the strategic defense-space sector
Key Dignitaries Present:
- Dr. Samir V. Kamat: Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Jayant Patil: Executive Council Member, Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
- Ashish Chauhan: Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Stock Exchange (NSE) Limited
Virtual Attendance:
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari: Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
- Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil: Minister of Revenue, Government of Maharashtra
About Nibe Limited:
- Chairman & Managing Director (CMD): Ganesh Ramesh Nibe
- Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra
- Established: 2021
- Specialization: Manufacturing critical systems for the defense sector in India
Obituary news
Renowned Film Scholar Aruna Vasudev, ‘Mother of Asian Cinema,’ Passes Away
- Renowned Film scholar Aruna Vasudev, `Mother of Asian Cinema’ Passed Away Aruna Vasudev, a renowned Indian film scholar, critic, festival curator and painter, has passed away at the age of 88 in New Delhi(Delhi). She was born in 1936 in British India.
- She was called by the nickname ‘Mother of Asian Cinema’, renowned for raising interest and knowledge on Asian film cultures around the world.
Achievements:
- Cinemaya Magazine:
- Year Launched: 1988
- Purpose: Specialized film magazine focusing on Asian cinema
- Location: Published in Delhi
- Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC):
- Year Established: 1991
- Nature: Independent non-profit organization
- Goal: Promote and propagate films from across Asia
- Documentaries and Publications:
- Directorial Work: Directed approximately 20 documentaries
- Editing: Edited several books, including translating Jean-Claude Carriere’s work into English
- Awards:
- Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres: France’s highest cultural honor, awarded in 2019
- Satyajit Ray Memorial Award: First recipient from Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique (FIPRESCI) India