- Konkani author honoured with literary award Saraswati Samman
Eminent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail has been honoured with the Saraswati Samman 2016 for his novel Hawthan.
The 74-year-old writers novel, published in 2009, was shortlisted from 22 books written in as many languages.
The selection for the award, given every year for an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen and published during the last 10 years, is made by a jury presided by former chief justice A S Anand.
- Samurai Tete first woman from Jharkhand to win Dhyan Chand Award
Former India Women’s Hockey captain Samurai Tete was awarded Dhyan Chand Award 2017 by the President Ramnath Kovind at a function held at Rasthrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on the occasion of National Sports Day on August 29.
Resident of Simdega also known as Jharkhand’s hockey nursery, Samurai has become the first woman from Jharkhand to bag the prestigious national award.
- Sunil Arora Appointed as New Election Commissioner
The President has appointed Sunil Arora IAS (RJ 80) as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office.
After Nasim Zaidi retired as chief election commissioner (CEC) in July, there was a vacancy in the Election Commission. While Achal Kumar Joti is the joint CEC, Om Prakash Rawat is the other election commissioner.
Arora (61) had been the information and broadcasting secretary, and secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- K. Raghavan is New High Commissioner of India to Cyprus
Dr. R.K. Raghavan appointed as the next High Commissioner of Indiato the Republic of Cyprus announced.
He served as a former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director from January 4, 1999, to April 30, 2001.
He served as the director of Tamil Nadu Fire Service and as the director-general of the Tamil Nadu State Vigilance Directorate.
- Rajiv Gauba Takes Over as Union Home Secretary
Rajiv Gauba, IAS hastook over as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Shri Gauba joined the Ministry of Home Affairs as Officer on Special Duty on June 27, 2017 and took charge as the Union Home Secretary upon the superannuation of Shri Rajiv Mehrishi.
Prior to this, Shri Gauba was Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development. He has wide-ranging experience in senior positions in the Central and State Governments and in international organisations.
- PV Sindhu, First Brand Ambassador for Bridgestone India
Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of the world’s largest tyre and Rubber Company and a Worldwide Olympic Partner, has announced a partnership with ace badminton player and Olympic silver medallist, P.V. Sindhu to be the company’s first brand ambassador.
As part of the three-year agreement, Sindhu will be included in Bridgestone’s activations around its Worldwide Olympic Partnership.
- Harsimrat Kaur Badal launches Common Food Processing Incubation Center for Shallots
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries launched Common Food Processing Incubation Center for Shallots (Small Onions) in Chettikulam village in Perambalur District of Tamil Nadu through video conferencing.
Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), Thanjavur for their initiatives to help double farmers’ income by 2022.
This Central Processing Center for Shallots in Perambalur will ensure that no shallots are getting wasted, increase farmers’ income and also ensure availability of shallots to consumers. This Onion processing technology should be taken to all parts of India.
- Friday declared ‘Day of Helping Hand’ in Andhra Pradesh by CM Naidu
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has declared Friday as the day of the week when he will meet with the poor and underprivileged sections of Andhra Pradesh society to hear their grievances and try to resolve them.
The day has been declared as the “Day of Helping Hand”. Recently, an amount of nearly Rs.9 lakhs was disbursed from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the poor.
- ‘Yalla Kerala’ launched to attract Arab travellers
The Kerala Tourism department has launched a campaign called ‘Yalla Kerala’ (Yalla means lets go) targeting tourists from Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
This comes on the back of a promotional campaign launched in Dubai recently aimed at Arab travellers by showcasing the state’s backwaters and waterfalls on their city taxis.
- 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue
The 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue was held at New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, while the European Union’s delegation was led by Mr. Pawel Herczynski, Director for Security Policy, European External Action Service.
During the Dialogue, both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and underscored the need for deepening cooperation to combat terrorism in a long term, sustained and comprehensive manner.
- NTPC Signs Rs 3,000-cr Term Loan Agreement With ICICI Bank
State-owned NTPC has signed a term loan agreement for Rs 3,000 crore with ICICI Bank for partially funding its capital expenditure.
A term loan agreement for Rs 3,000 crore was signed with ICICI Bank Ltd on August 29,” NTPC said in a statement. The loan which has a door-to-door tenure of 15 years will be utilised to part finance the capital expenditure of NTPC,
- Ujjivan SFB Received Scheduled Bank Status from RBI
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ujjivan Financial Services Limited included in the second scheduled to the RBI Act 1934 on 30th Aug 2017.
This grants the ‘Scheduled Bank’ status to Ujjivan Small Finance Bank’ from the date of notification.
Currently, Ujjivan SFB has 65 full-fledged brick and mortar branches in eight states and two Union Territories.
- Canara HSBC Oriental Life Launched ‘PoS’ product
Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance Company (CHOICE) has come up with a ‘Point-of-Sale’ product targeted at the mass-market segment.
The product — ‘PoS – Easy Bima Plan’— is the first PoS product for the company and is a pure term insurance plan that not only gives life cover but also returns all premiums paid during the payment term on survival till maturity
- Unicity Launched World’s First ever Genomeceuticals Range of Products in India
Unicity International, headquartered in Orem, Utah, United States has launched world’s first ever Genomeceutical (gene controlling) range of products to India.
Unicity India said human DNA makes every individual unique. It contains the biological code that defines every single protein in the body.
DNA undergoes a process called transcription or gene expression that creates a “messenger” molecule, telling the body to make a specific protein. Each protein that is made in the body carries out a crucial function that keeps us healthy.
- ISRO to launch IRNSS-1H navigation satellite from Sriharikota
India is set to launch its eight navigation satellite IRNSS-1H from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The satellite, which will be launched, will replace the IRNSS-1A satellite as its rubidium atomic clocks have failed. It may be noted, the clocks are important to provide the accurate positional data.
Launch mission has not succeeded. Heat shield has not separated as a result of which satellite is inside the 4th stage.
- Lebanon gets first animal protection law
Lebanese President Michel Aoun has signed the country’s first animal welfare bill into law, guaranteeing that domestic and wild animals will be legally protected from abuse.
The bill is the culmination of years of lobbying for the protection of animals in the Mediterranean country.
The law, passed by parliament on August 16, outlines requirements for keeping domestic pets, regulations for zoos and pet shops, and penalties for violations — including jail time and fines.
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