1 Taiwan to set up office in Mumbai to boost ties
In a significant move aimed at boosting economic ties , Taiwan on Wednesday announced that it will open its third representative office in India in Mumbai , more than a decade after expanding its presence in India. After the opening of TECC in Chennai in 2012 , talks have been on for a long time to open TECC in Mumbai, which has emerged as a hub for Taiwanese companies. In 1995 the two sides decided to open a TECC (Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre) in New Delhi and an India Taipei Association in Taipei which was a turning point in promoting bilateral relations.
2 The Syrian government has de-accredited the BBC, calling it a biased and misleading media.
The government in Syria has revoked the accreditation of BBC media . The government has described the BBC broadcast as biased and misleading . A statement from Syria’s information ministry said the BBC had failed to comply with professional standards and therefore decided to suspend the BBC correspondent and cameraman’s accreditation. The BBC Radio correspondent’s accreditation has also been revoked. The BBC aired a report last month that linked the trade of the performance-enhancing drug Captagon between President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian army. It is believed that the credentials of BBC correspondents have been canceled regarding this broadcast.
3 Rosneft inducts former Indian Oil director to its board of directors
Russia ‘s leading energy company Rosneft has indicated to strengthen business ties with India by inducting former Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) director GK Satish on its board of directors. In a statement, Rosneft informed about the inclusion of Satish in its 11-member board of directors. Two other directors have also been appointed along with him. Satish is the first Indian to join the board of directors of this Russian company. He retired in the year 2021 as Director (Business Development) of public sector petroleum company IOC.
4 Telangana: Sarpanch of Mukhra village in Adilabad district buys insurance for each family
Mukhra village in Telangana ‘s Adilabad district has become the first village in the state to have every family insured . Sarpanch of the village Meenakshi handed over the insurance documents of all the 220 families of this village. Ms. Meenakshi has bought life insurance policies from National Pension System , State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India for all the families in her village with her own money. Mukhra village has received several awards up to the national level for well implemented government schemes related to solar energy and cleanliness .
5 Ministry of Education released Joint Report on Performance Ranking Index (PGI-D) of Districts for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DOSE&L), Ministry of Education has released the Performance Ranking Index (PGI-D) of the districts for 2020-21 and 2021-22. released a joint report, which assesses the performance of the school education system at the district level by creating an index for the purpose of comprehensive analysis. The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education has prepared the Performance Ranking Index (PGI-D) for States and released the report for the reference years 2017-18 to 2020-21. Encouraged by the success of the State PGIs, an 83-indicator based Performance Ranking Index of Districts (PGI-D) has been developed to rank the performance of all districts in school education. The PGI-D framework consists of 83 indicators with a total weightage of 600 points, divided into 6 categories, such as outcomes, effective classroom performance, infrastructure facilities and rights of students, school safety and child protection, Digital learning and administrative process. The PGI-D classifies districts into ten categories. Accordingly, the highest grade obtained is proficient, which is for districts scoring more than 90 per cent marks in that grade or in aggregate. The lowest grade in PGI-D is called Akanshi-3, which accounts for a score of up to 10 percent of the total marks.
6 Philippine Coast Guard accuses China Coast Guard of harassment and dangerous maneuvers near Second Thomas Shoal
Second Thomas Shoal, located in the north-eastern part of the Spratly Islands , South China Sea has emerged as a controversial area. The recent incident near the Second Thomas Shoal has increased tensions between China and the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard accused the China Coast Guard of harassment and dangerous maneuvers. China, on the other hand, claims that the Philippine Coast Guard intruded into its territorial waters without permission. This ongoing diplomatic standoff underscores the complex nature of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Second Thomas Shoal is a teardrop-shaped atoll characterized by coral reefs and a surrounding lagoon with a depth of up to 27 meters (89 ft). The shoal is located in an area where China, Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam make territorial claims to parts of the Spratly Islands.
7 Assam promotes entrepreneurship, allows MSMEs to start projects without approval or permit
The Assam State Cabinet has recently taken important decisions aimed at promoting the development and welfare of its residents. The Assam State Cabinet approved the Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Rules, 2023. Under these rules, MSMEs in the state will be exempted from specific approvals and inspections for a period of three years. The move is aimed at simplifying the setup and operation procedures for MSMEs and encourage their growth. To facilitate smooth commencement of operations for MSMEs, a ‘Certificate of Acknowledgment’ from the State Nodal Agency, obtained by submitting a declaration of intent, would suffice. Streamlining the processes will help MSMEs in Assam to start their operations more efficiently.
8 RBI launched Centralized Information Management System (CIMS) for advanced data management
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced Centralized Information Management System (CIMS) to revolutionize its data management, analysis and administration . The system leverages advanced technology to manage big data, enabling powerful data mining, text mining, visual analytics and statistical analysis. Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the launch during the 17th Statistics Day conference in Mumbai, highlighting the system’s potential to transform economic analysis, supervision, monitoring and enforcement across various domains.
9 Bihar overtakes Tamil Nadu as the state with the highest number of microlenders
According to a report, Bihar is set to overtake Tamil Nadu to become the state with the highest number of microlending in India by March 2023 . The report published by Crif High Mark, a credit information company, highlights Bihar’s impressive growth with a 13.5 per cent increase in gross loan portfolio during the March quarter as compared to the previous quarter. As of March 2023, Bihar’s microfinance (MFI) lending stood at Rs 48,900 crore, which was 14.5 per cent of the total portfolio. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s MFI lending stood at Rs 46,300 crore, which is 13.7 per cent of the total outstanding. This significant change in ranking reflects the growing prominence of Bihar in the microfinance sector.
10 Sirisha Voruganti appointed MD & CEO of Lloyds Banking Group’s Technology Center in India
Lloyds Banking Group , one of the leading UK based financial services groups, appointed Sirisha Voruganti as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of its new Lloyds Technology Centre, Hyderabad . Voruganti is a globally renowned technology and innovation leader. She previously served as the Managing Director and Board Member of JCPenney in India. Voruganti has held senior technology positions at leading global firms, including serving as JPMorgan Chase’s first female managing director in technology in India and as executive vice president of architecture, data and shared services for Mastercard.
11 Piramal Finance opens first all-women branch in Kochi
Piramal Finance , a leading housing finance company has taken a significant step towards empowering women by opening its first all women branch named “ Maitreyi ” in Thripunithura, a suburban area of Kochi . This strategic expansion initiative is aimed at meeting the unique needs of women customers and tapping the growing market potential. With plans to open branches in Jaipur, Mumbai, Mohali and New Delhi, Piramal Finance is strengthening its commitment to provide financial services to women across India.
12 Indore first urban body in the country to get Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) credit
Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) in Madhya Pradesh has created history by becoming the first urban body in the country to receive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) credit for recycling banned single-use plastic items . Indore has implemented a complete ban on single use plastic items within the city. In the recent past, the IMC seized about eight tonnes of such plastic, thereby stopping its spread. Indore has been recognized as India’s cleanest city for the sixth consecutive year in the Central Government’s annual cleanliness survey.
13 FPSB India appoints Krishna Mishra as CEO
The Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) of India has appointed Krishna Mishra as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with effect from 1 August 2023. FPSB India is the Indian subsidiary of FPSB, the global standard-setting body for the financial planning profession and owner of the International Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification program. The Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) is a global non-profit organization that sets and maintains standards for the financial planning profession. It serves as an international authority on professional standards, ethics and qualifications for financial planners worldwide.
14 Gutti Koya tribe built stone monuments
The people of the Gutti Koya tribe erect stone memorials inside the forest on the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border to mark the death of their three most important service providers, namely the doctor, the priest and the village leader . The people of the Gutti Koya tribe built stone monuments in Ramachandrapuram village inside the forest on the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border. These stone monuments were built to pay tribute to the three most important dignitaries – the doctor, the priest and the village leader. By building stone monuments, the people of the Gutti Koya tribe express their gratitude for their services.
15 PNB launches virtual branch in Metverse with immersive 3D experience
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has announced the launch of PNB Metverse , a virtual branch that offers a unique banking experience. Customers can explore various products and services like bank deposits, loans, digital products and government schemes through their mobile phones and laptops. PNB Metaverse provides customers with exclusive access to a virtual environment. Customers can engage with the Bank’s offerings from the comfort of their homes or offices. Traditional banking activities can be performed using digital avatars, providing an immersive 3D experience.
16 Elena introduces India’s first NavIC-based PNT device
Elena Geo Systems , a space technology company and Optimus Logix , two companies based in Bengaluru in Karnataka have successfully developed handheld devices called PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing) which are operated by satellite communication. The project was funded by the Department of Telecom under the Digital Communication Innovation Square (DCIS) scheme . India’s first hand-held NavIC-based navigation device Will become. The first batch of PNT devices will be manufactured by Elena Geo Systems. The PNT device includes the 5G mobile phone and the NavIC chip as well as its adapter and receiver that is capable of communicating with the NavIC satellite. Elena’s NavIC chip enables “very precise” positioning, navigation and timing applications and could potentially replace the widely used US Global Positioning System (GPS).
17 Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar wrote the book ‘Maya, Modi, Azad: Dalit Politics in the Time of Hindutva’
Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar have written a book titled ‘ Maya, Modi, Azad: Dalit Politics in the Time of Hindutva ‘. In this book, he provides an insightful and thought-provoking examination of the interplay between Maya, Modi and Azad in the realm of Dalit politics. His analysis is of great importance in understanding not only the dynamics of Dalit politics but also the wider democratic landscape of India, especially as we head towards the highly contentious general elections of 2024.
18 Shraddha Kapoor became the brand ambassador of Asics
Japanese sports brand, ASICS has appointed Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor as the new brand ambassador of ASICS India Pvt Ltd. With this association, ASICS India aims to continue to reinforce its philosophy of Healthy Mind, Healthy Body and position the brand prominently among Indian women fitness enthusiasts. Shraddha Kapoor will be seen endorsing the footwear and women’s sportswear segment of the brand.
19 Lakshya Sen won the men’s singles title at the Canada Open Badminton Tournament 2023
Indian player Lakshya Sen has won the men’s singles title in Canada Open Badminton Tournament 2023 . He won the title by defeating Li Shi Feng of China 21-18, 22-20 in Calgary , Canada . Lakshya Sen was trailing by four points in the second set, but eventually won the title by defeating his opponent in straight sets. World No. 19 Lakshya Sen got off to a good start and maintained the lead. However, in the second game, Shi Feng seemed to dominate him. But Sen managed to take the lead in it. Commonwealth Games winner Lakshya Sen has won this first title of World Badminton Association’s World Tour after almost a year.
20 Netherlands men won second FIH Hockey Pro League title
The Netherlands men’s team ended their season four campaign with 35 points, making them the champions of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 season . With the win, the Netherlands became the first team to win a second title in the men’s competition, successfully defending their first title won in the competition the previous year. The Indian men’s hockey team finished fourth in the FIH Pro League 2022-23 with 30 points from 16 matches. This was India’s second-fourth position in the FIH Pro League, having achieved the same position in its debut season in 2020-21. The Indian hockey team was ranked third in the 2021-22 season. India captain Harmanpreet Singh finished as the top scorer in the FIH Pro League 2022-23 with 18 goals.