Parineeti Chopra Becomes 1st Indian Woman Ambassador For Tourism Australia
- According to Tourism Australia, Bollywood actress, ‘Parineeti Chopra’ has been appointed woman ambassador in 'Friends of Australia' (FOA) advocacy panel.
- She will be the first Indian woman ambassador to be a part of the FOA advocacy panel.
- The 'Friends of Australia' (FOA) program has been devised as a way of fostering mutually beneficial and long-term friendship with those that Tourism Australia regards as unique storytellers.
Note: Earlier, Sanjeev Kapoor (chef) and Harsha Bhogle (cricket commentator) have been great advocates for Australia, encouraging Indians to visit Australia.
Gujarat CM flags off ‘Narmada Mahotsav Yatra’
- The chief Minister of Gujarat ‘Vijay Rupani’ flagged off 10-day long ‘Narmada Mahotsav Yatra’ from Surendranagar district to create awareness about the importance of increased water supply from Narmada canal-based projects in different parts of the state.
- Decorated tableaus mounted on vehicle accompanying Ma Narmada’s chariot will depict the achievements of the Agriculture and Veterinary Departments in the state.
- Procession after meandering through villages across the state will culminate at Dabhoi (Vadodara) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday (17th September).
NITI Aayog constitutes expert task force on employment & exports
- NITI Aayog has constituted an ‘Expert Task Force’ (headed by Vice Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar) to provide a major thrust to job creation by enhancing India’s exports.
- The panel will give recommendations on sector-specific policy interventions in key employment sectors and measures to enhance trade in services with high employment potential.
- An urgent and sustained expansion of the organized sector is essential to address India’s unemployment and underemployment issue.
Govt. forms expert committee to identify key data protection issues in country
- The union govt. told Supreme Court that an expert committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of former apex court judge ‘Justice BN Srikrishna’ to identify key data protection issues in India and recommend methods to address them.
- The committee will study various issues and make specific suggestions for consideration of the government on the principles to be considered for data protection.
MHA enhances financial powers of chiefs of central armed police forces
- The Home Ministry in an order enhanced the financial powers to the chiefs of central armed police forces (like CRPF, BSF, and other central agencies) to spend up to 15 crores rupees (earlier 10 crores) for executing major projects and one crore rupees for minor works.
- The major projects include construction of buildings, purchase of vehicles besides others.
- The minor works like petty repairs and administrative expenditure
- This decision will bring greater flexibility in operations, reduce delays, and facilitate a quick decision on matters involving financial expenditure.
Gujarat Govt & Amul sign MoU to save children of Anganwadi from malnutrition
- Gujarat state Govt. & Amul (Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation) have signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to save the children of Anganwadi from malnutrition.
- Under the ‘Take Home Ration’, district dairies in cooperation with the Gujarat milk marketing federation will provide nutritive foods to more than 42-lakh children of more than 53 thousand Anganwadis , pregnant-mothers, lactating mothers and young girls.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri laid foundation stone for PPO
- Indian Ambassador to Nepal ‘Manjeev Singh Puri’ laid the foundation stone for the proposed Pension Paying Office (PPO) at Butwal Nepal (existing PPOs at Pokhara, Dharan, and Kathmandu).
- It will benefit approximate 45000 Indian Army Gorkha pensioners and family pensioners in the region.
- This bond with the Ex-Servicemen contributes immensely to warmth and strength of India-Nepal relationship.
UJALA scheme launched in Melaka, Malaysia
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under Ministry of Power, Government of India has launched UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All) Scheme in the State of Melaka, Malaysia.
- The Scheme was launched by Chief Minister of Melaka Datuk Seri Utama Ir. Hj. Idris Bin Hj. Haron.
- Now, each household in Melaka will get 10 high-quality 9-watt LED bulbs at a cost of only RM 10.
Note: Currently, over 25-crore LED bulbs have been distributed under the UJALA scheme in India, which are resulting in 33,828 mn kWh of energy savings per year.
India & Japan agree to collaborate in defence production including on dual use technologies
- India and Japan have agreed to collaborate closely in defence production.
- The two countries resolved to ramp up overall military engagement under the bilateral special strategic framework.
- The two sides also agreed to ramp up counter-terror cooperation, besides deepening engagement among navies, air forces and ground forces of the two countries.
RBI includes HDFC Bank in ‘too big to fail’ lenders list
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the list of the Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) and identifies HDFC Bank Ltd as a D-SIB.
- Now, there will be three ‘too big to fail’ financial entities in the country including State Bank of India (SBI) ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank.
- With such classification failure or collapse of these lenders can have a cascading impact on the entire financial system and the economy of the country.
N. Baijendra Kumar, assumes charge as CMD of NMDC
- Senior IAS officer N Baijendra Kumar (1985 batch- Chhattisgarh cadre) to take charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of one the country's largest state-owned mining company, NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation).
- Earlier, he was holding additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh as well as Commerce & Industries and Energy Departments in the State Government of Chhattisgarh.
Note:
- The NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation) Limited is a state-controlled mineral producer of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel.
- It also operates the only mechanized diamond mine in the country at Panna in Madhya Pradesh.
Duleep Trophy cricket tournament to begin today in Lucknow
- Today, Duleep Trophy cricket tournament has begun in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- The Duleep Trophy 2017 season will commence at the newly built Ekana International stadium which will host the opening and the final match (25th September) while Kanpur’s Green Park stadium will host the other two games.
- Total of four matches will be played with teams playing two matches each.
- Suresh Raina has been appointed as captain of India Blue while Abhinav Mukund and Parthiv Patel will captain ‘India Red’ and ‘India Green’ teams respectively.
- Earlier, Uttar Pradesh (UP) hosted the tournament last season when it was played at the Greater Noida Sports Complex ground.
| Match 1 | 07-10 Sept | Lucknow | India Red | India Green |
| Match 2 | 13-16 Sept | Kanpur | India Red | India Blue |
| Match 3 | 19-22 Sept | Kanpur | India Blue | India Green |
| Final | 25-29 Sept | Lucknow | TBD | TBD |
