Summit and Conference News

4th Edition of the Global Bio-India held in New Delhi; BIRAC Signed 9 LoIs

• On 12th September 2024, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 4th edition of Global Bio-India at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
• The event, themed ‘Biotech Innovation and Bio-manufacturing,’ was organized by the Department of Biotechnology in collaboration with BIRAC.
• BIRAC signed 9 Letters of Intent with international organizations, including the United States Pharmacopeial Convention and UK Research and Innovation, to foster global biotech collaboration.
• Indian biotech startups launched 11 unique bioscience products, and the Indian Bio Economy Report 2024 was unveiled.
• The event also saw the launch of the GBI Exhibitor Directory and calls for proposals under the PACE and i4 programs.

Summit and Conference News

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Chaired the 3rd Board of Trade Meeting in Mumbai: Launches Jan Sunwai portal & ERP Portal

• On 13th September 2024, Union Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the 3rd meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade in Mumbai.
• He launched two digital initiatives: the Jan Sunwai portal and the ERP portal of Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited.
• The meeting featured interactive presentations from state governments showcasing their achievements in export promotion and Ease of Doing Business.
• The initiatives aim to boost economic growth through robust partnerships with state governments.

National News

Fabindia Collaborates with MoMSME To Empower India’s Artisanal Heritage Under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme

• Fabindia Limited has partnered with the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises to empower traditional artisans under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
• The initiative aims to enhance the livelihoods of artisans by promoting their products and expanding their market reach.
• Fabindia will incorporate artisan-made products into its retail network and help artisans improve their craftsmanship using modern design trends.
• The collaboration focuses on branding, promotion, and sustainability of traditional crafts, reflecting Fabindia’s commitment to India’s cultural heritage.

Banking and Finance News

JBM ECOLIFE Secures Rs 7.2 billion from ADB & AIIB for Electric Bus Expansion in India

• JBM ECOLIFE Mobility Private Limited has secured Rs 7.2 billion in funding from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
• The funding will support the procurement of up to 650 electric buses and associated costs for operations, maintenance, depots, and charging infrastructure in Haryana and Odisha.
• The project includes a gender action plan to create safer workplaces and boost women’s participation in nontraditional roles like bus driving.
• The funding aligns with the PM E-drive scheme, which aims to subsidize 14,000 electric buses as part of a Rs 10,900 crore green energy initiative.

Banking and Finance News

BoB introduces GenAI-Powered Solutions for Enhanced Customer and Employee Experience

• Bank of Baroda has launched three Generative AI-powered solutions: a virtual relationship manager named Aditi, a knowledge management platform Gyan Sahay.AI, and a chatbot ADI.
• Aditi offers enhanced digital customer services through conversational banking across various services.
• Gyan Sahay.AI aids employees with instant and accurate responses, enhancing customer satisfaction and service delivery.
• ADI assists customers in resolving their queries digitally, improving the overall digital banking experience.

International News

PhonePe & Liquid Group Partners To Expand UPI Payments in Singapore

• PhonePe has partnered with Liquid Group to enable Indian travelers to make UPI payments at various merchants in Singapore.
• Liquid Group’s merchants can now accept UPI as a payment option, allowing Indian travelers to use their chosen UPI App for transactions.
• The transactions will be processed in Indian Rupees, ensuring transparency and ease of usage.
• PhonePe users can receive international remittances via UPI using the PayNow-UPI real-time remittance corridor.

Defence News

BEL Secured Order For Supply of Indigenous Radars Worth Rs 850 Cr From CSL

• Bharat Electronics Limited has secured an order worth Rs 850 crore from Cochin Shipyard Limited to supply indigenous Multi-Function Radar in the X Band.
• The radar, designed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL, is intended to detect, acquire, and track airborne targets for naval vessels.
• BEL also received a Rs 305 crore order to manufacture ship navigational systems, thermal imagers, communication equipment, and more.
• With these recent developments, BEL has accumulated orders totaling Rs 7,075 crore in the Financial Year 2024-25.

Awards and Recognitions News

TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2024: HCL Tech Tops the List among the Indian Firms

• HCLTech has been recognized as the No. 1 India-headquartered company in the World’s Best Companies 2024 list by TIME Magazine and Statista.
• HCLTech secured the 112th position globally and topped the list among Indian companies.
• The ranking is based on employee-satisfaction surveys, revenue growth, and environmental, social, and corporate governance data.
• US-based tech giant Apple topped the list globally, followed by Accenture, Microsoft, BMW Group, and Amazon.

Appointments and Resignations News

Olympic Medal Winner Manu Bhaker Appointed as Brand Ambassador of MoPSW & Golden Bullet

• Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medal winner, has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• The appointment was announced by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the 4th Harnessing of the Nari Shakti for the Development of the Nation event in Chennai.
• Manu Bhaker has also been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Golden Bullet, a tools company.
• She became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting and the first athlete from India to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.

National News

ECI Names Para Archers Sheetal Devi & Rakesh Kumar as National Icon for PwD

• Indian para-archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar have been named the Election Commission of India’s National Icons for Persons with Disabilities.
• They were felicitated by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar during an event at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi.
• Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar secured the bronze medal in Archery’s Mixed Team Compound Open event at the 2024 Paralympics.
• Sheetal Devi was previously announced as an ECI National Icon before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Science and Technology News

Iran Successfully Launches Chamran-1 Research Satellite into Orbit

• Iran has successfully launched the ‘Chamran-1’ research satellite into a 550-kilometer orbit using the Qaem-100 satellite carrier.
• The Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms, is designed to test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology.
• The satellite’s mission includes evaluating the cold gas propulsion subsystem and the performance of navigation and attitude control subsystems.
• The Qaem-100 rocket, built by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is a solid-fuel, three-stage vehicle.

Sports News

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri Won the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024

• McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 held at the Baku City Circuit.
• Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished 2nd, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell in 3rd place.
• This victory marks Piastri’s 2nd career F1 GP win in his second season in F1.
• The results placed McLaren above Red Bull in the constructors’ standings for the first time since 2014.

Obituary News

Dronacharya Award-Winning TT Coach Jayanta Pushilal Passed Away

• Jayanta Kumar Pushilal, a Dronacharya award-winning Table Tennis coach, passed away at 63 in Kolkata.
• Known as ‘Botonda,’ he coached for over 40 years, producing over 15 national champions.
• He was the former Maldives TT National Team Coach and served as visiting faculty at a training facility in California.
• He was honored with the Dronacharya Award (Lifetime) for 2023 for his outstanding achievements in coaching.

Important Days News

World Patient Safety Day 2024 – September 17

• World Patient Safety Day is observed annually on September 17 to raise awareness about patient safety and promote actions to enhance safety in healthcare.
• The theme for 2024 is “Improving diagnosis for patient safety” with the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!”
• The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers hosted the NABH Patient Safety Conference in New Delhi on this day.
• The event emphasizes the vital role of accurate and timely diagnosis in safeguarding patients and improving healthcare outcomes.

Important Days News

International Equal Pay Day 2024- 18 September

• International Equal Pay Day is observed annually on September 18 to raise awareness about the gender pay gap and promote efforts to achieve equal pay for work of equal value.
• 18 September 2024 marks the observance of the 5th International Equal Pay Day.
• The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution proclaiming 18 September as International Equal Pay Day in 2019.
• The first-ever International Equal Pay Day was observed on 18 September 2020.