Jaipur Literature Festival Begins In Houston
The festival is the world’s largest free literary gathering, started with a soulful music performance by Indian Sufi singer Zila Khan. The inaugural session also saw Congress leader and writer Shashi Tharoor discuss his book “Why i am a Hindu” with writer Namita Gokhale.
New Website for 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 Inaugurated
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the website for the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019, www.pbdindia.gov.in. The online registration for participation has started for this biennial event.
Eliud Kipchoge set a new marathon world record
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge set a new marathon world record in Berlin with a time of 2hr 1min 39sec. He covered 42.2km in the Marathon. The 33-year-old Olympic champion smashed the previous record by Kenyan runner Dennis Kimetto who clocked 2:02:57. Kipchoge’s run was the largest single improvement on the marathon world record since Australian Derek Clayton took almost 2:23 minutes off the record in 1967. The previous world record list in Marathon in Berlin is given below:
Reserve Bank to purchase govt securities worth Rs 10,000 crore on September 19
The purchase of the government securities (G-secs) will be done through Open Market Operations (OMO). The central bank will conduct the OMO through a multi-security auction – of five G-Secs (maturing in 2020, 2022, 2027, 2030, and 2042) using the multiple price method.
Punjab National Bank bagged Hindi implementation award Rajbhasha Kirti
Punjab National Bank got an award for outstanding performance in implementing the Official Language Policy during 2017-18. About Punjab National Bank: ♦ Headquarters: New Delhi. ♦ MD& CEO: Shri Sunil Mehta. ♦ Tagline: The Name you can BANK upon!
Six aerodromes of the Airports Authority of India bagged 7 International Awards
The winning airports are Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune airports. The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards 2017 were presented by the Airports Council International (ACI) at the Customer Excellence Global Summit at Halifax, Canada, on September 12. According to a separate release, Delhi and Mumbai aerodromes shared the top slot in the best airport category in Asia-Pacific region with regard to handling of over two million passengers per year.
Satya Prakash Malaviya, the former Union Petroleum Minister, passed away
Satya Prakash Malaviya, the former Union Petroleum Minister, 84, passed away on 16th September at a private hospital in New Delhi. He was suffering from prostate cancer. Mr.Malaviya was the Petroleum Minister in the Chandra Shekhar government at the Centre. He also served as Environment Minister in Uttar Pradesh. Initially, he was with the Praja Socialist Party. Later he joined the Congress. He was jailed during the Emergency.
Super Over introduced for the 1st time ever in Asia Cup
The 2018 edition of the Asia Cup will have a Super Over to decide tied matches, for the first time ever in the history of the tournament. A Super Over consists of six deliveries and two wickets for each side. The 14th edition of the Asia Cup is currently being held in the United Arab Emirates in September 2018. 6 Teams participating in this tournament are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.
Mary Kom won gold in Silesian Open boxing tournament
M.C.Mary Kom, Five-time World champion, won her third gold medal of the year in the 48kg youth category of the Silesian Open boxing tournament for women in Gliwice, Poland. Mary Kom won against Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Kassanayeva and secured 5-0 in a fine tactical performance. India’s junior boxers claimed 13 medals, six gold, six silver and a bronze, and the Senior boxer, Former World champion Sarita, ended with a bronze.
UBI Bank quit its Antwerp diamond hub in Belgium
Union Bank of India, a State-owned bank, said that it has decided to quit the Antwerp diamond hub in Belgium as the branch did not generate expected business. UBI bank has already filed for the closure of the branch and the process related to shutting the office is being followed. Upon such event, the Finance Ministry advised all the public sector banks to review their overseas business and close branches that are not profitable as part of a strategy to conserve capital.
NABARD approves Rs 65,634.93 crore loan for 93 irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
Around 18 projects have been completed. About Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) It is a national mission to improve farm productivity and ensure better utilization of the resources in the country. The budget of ₹53 billion (US$740 million) in a time span of one year 2015-2016 has been allocated to this scheme.
India ranks 130 in United Nation’s Human Development Index
India climbed one spot to 130 among 189 countries in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). India’s HDI value for 2017 moved to 0.640, up from 0.624 in 2016. HDI measures the progress in key dimensions of human development such as education, health and living standards. The top five countries in the global HDI ranking were:- ♦ Norway (0.953), ♦ Switzerland (0.944), ♦ Australia (0.939), ♦ Ireland (0.938) and ♦ Germany (0.936).
India ranked third in family-owned businesses
India has a total of 111 companies and $839 billion total market capitalization. India follows China (159 companies) and the US (121 companies). Korea came in fourth place, with 43 companies followed by Indonesia in the 5th place. About Credit Suisse Research Institute (CSRI) Founded:1856; 162 years ago Founder: Alfred Escher and Allgemeine Deutsche.
Jammu-Kashmir panchayat polls to be held in 9 phases from November 17 to December 11
The polls will elect 4,130 sarpanch, 29,719 panch and 1,145 ward commissioners. The municipal elections will be held in four phases between October 8-16. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) would boycott the panchayat and municipal polls over Article 35-A, which is pending with the Supreme Court. ♦ Jammu-Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer – Shaleen Kabra
Swachh Dhara programme for clean water flagged off in Amaravati
The main objective is to provide clean drinking water across the state. The Tankers providing water across the state will be cleaned periodically. About Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister: N Chandrababu Naidu. Governor: E.S.L Narasimha. Capital: Amaravati. National Parks: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Papikonda National Park.
Philippines hit by world’s strongest storm this year
Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the world’s strongest storm this year, hit the northern coast of the Philippines, brought winds of up to 200 kmph and heavy rains. The name ‘Mangkhut’ means mangosteen fruit in Thai language. The deadliest storm on record in the Philippines was Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
DRDO successfully test fired an indigenous anti tank missile
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested a low-weight indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) from Ahmednagar test range for the second time. The two flight-tests were tested for different ranges, including maximum range capability. The MPATGM will complement the Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile to be procured from Israel. Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) : ♦ MPATGM is a man-portable anti-tank guided missile. ♦ They are primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armoured military vehicles. ♦ MPATGMs range in size from shoulder-launched weapons which can be transported by a single soldier, to larger tripod-mounted weapons which require a squad or team to transport and fire, to a vehicle and aircraft-mounted missile systems.
First ever dedicated dog park was constructed in Hyderabad
The park is spread across an area of 1.3 acres. It was developed by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) at a cost of Rs 1.1 crore. It is certified by the Kennel Club of India. It has the following amenities: Dog training equipment, Play equipment, splash pool, fountain, areas for exercise, Amphitheater, lawns, separate kennels for small and big dogs, Provisions for a person with disabilities and their dog.
World Ozone Day observed on September 16
On December 19, 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 to be the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987. The theme for World Ozone Day 2018 – Keep Cool and Carry On. Ozone layer is found particularly in the stratosphere layer of atmosphere ranging between 20 to 40 km.
Union HRD Minister inaugurated 3,404 Test Practice Centres
Prakash Javadekar, Union HRD Minister, inaugurated 3,404 Test Practice Centres (TPCs), spread across India, over Google Hangouts. The TCPs are to help students to get familiar with the pattern of competitive exams to be conducted by the newly established National Testing Agency (NTA). This is to benefit the students who can’t afford computer and smartphones for the preparation of the competitive exams. From this year, the government has changed the pattern of JEE (Mains) and UGC NET examination. Also, the exams will be of Computer Based Test (CBT) instead of pen and paper mode. NTA has also launched an application for students to take practice tests on their computers or on smartphones.
Maldives defeated India To Lift SAFF Cup
They defeated India with a goal 2-1. The win for Maldives comes 10 years after their first SAFF Cup title in 2008. About Maldives Capital: Male Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa.
ISRO launched two U.K. satellites
ISRO launched two U.K. satellites from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR Sriharikota. The PSLV-C42 lifted off NovaSAR and S1-4, the two satellites from the United Kingdom. The two satellites were successfully launched in the desired orbit by ISRO. This was the 12th such launch of a core-alone version of the PSLV by ISRO. The satellites were made by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, UK. NovaSAR is equipped to track ships in high seas and S1-4 satellite is meant for environment monitoring and urban management. The 2 satellites together weigh 889 kilograms. This launch was totally a commercial launch and the commercial arm of ISRO, Antrix Corporation earned more than Rs.220 crore on this launch.
