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By admin: Sept. 1, 2023

NCERT gets Deemed University Status

Tags: National News

On September 1, 2023, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made this announcement during the 63rd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in Delhi.

An Overview of the News

• Bal Bhavan will be merged with NCERT.

• An Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory was inaugurated to integrate technology in education.

• NCERT will include a chapter on the success story and findings of Chandrayaan-3 in 22 recognized languages.

• A Vidhya Samiksha Kendra was also inaugurated as part of the celebrations.

About NCERT

• It is an autonomous organization of the Government of India.

• NCERT was established in 1961 and functions as a literary, scientific, and charitable society under the Societies Registration Act.

• The headquarters of the organization is located at Sri Aurobindo Marg in New Delhi.

• Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani has been the director of NCERT since 2022.

• In 2023, NCERT constituted a 19-member committee.

• The objective of the committee is to finalize the syllabus, textbooks, and learning material for the students of classes 3 to 12.

• Prominent personalities including author and Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy and singer Shankar Mahadevan are part of the committee.

Piyush Goyal unveils statue of RK Shanmugam Chetty in Coimbatore

Tags: Person in news

Union Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled the statue of RK Shanmugam Chetty, the first Finance Minister of independent India, in Coimbatore.

An Overview of the News

• The unveiling took place at the South Indian Mills Association Complex (SIMA) in Coimbatore.

• The event was attended by Union Minister of State for Railways and Textiles Darshana V. Jhardosh, Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, and senior officials of the South Indian Mills Association.

South Indian Mills Association:

• RK Shanmugam Chetty played an important role in the establishment of the South Indian Mills Association.

• This organization has been instrumental in shaping the textile industry in South India.

• The South Indian Mills Association is dedicated to advancing the interests of the textile industry in the southern region of India.

• RK Shanmugam Chetty founded this organization, which has been instrumental in promoting growth and innovation in the region.

MS Dhoni Appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Swaraj Tractors

Tags: Person in news

Industrialist Anand Mahindra appointed Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Brand Ambassador of Swaraj Tractors, a company of Mahindra & Mahindra.

An Overview of the News

• Swaraj Tractors is an Indian tractor manufacturing company headquartered in Mohali, Punjab, and a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra.

• Established in 1974, its mission was to be self-reliant and develop India's first indigenous tractor.

• Presently Swaraj Tractors is one of the leading tractor manufacturers in India with a market share of over 10%.

• The company manufactures a diverse range of tractors ranging from 15 HP to 65 HP, which are known for their fuel efficiency, durability, and performance.

• With a strong presence in rural India, the company operates a network of over 1,000 dealerships and service centers across the country and exports its products to over 30 countries.

About MS Dhoni:

• Dhoni, who hails from Ranchi, is best known for his role as the most successful captain in Indian cricket history, leading the team to two Cricket World Cup victories in both the ODI and T20I formats.

• His career evolved from being a ticket collector at a railway station to becoming India's most prolific trophy collector, winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, the ICC ODI World Cup 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 as captain.

MS Dhoni Recent Achievements:

• Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020 but remains an active player in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

• In IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings got their fifth title.

Vumlunmang Vualnam assumes the role of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India

Tags: Person in news

Vumlunmang Vualnam officially begins his tenure on September 1, 2023, in the role of Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India.

An Overview of the News

• Vualnam takes over the position after the superannuation of Rajeev Bansal, who retired on August 31, 2023.

• Vualnam is a distinguished Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1992 batch. He is part of Manipur cadre.

• Throughout his career, Wualnam has held various important roles in the Central Government. These include serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.

• He has also held important roles in the Government of Manipur. These posts include Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Department and Director of Transport.

• Vualnam has also contributed internationally as an advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank.

About the Ministry of Civil Aviation

• It acts as the central authority responsible for the development and regulation of civil aviation in the country.

• One of its primary roles is to formulate national policies and programs aimed at guiding the development and management of civil aviation.

• Beyond policy formulation, it also oversees various aspects of aviation, including airport facilities, air traffic services, and transportation of passengers and cargo by air.

• Additionally, the ministry is tasked with administering and enforcing the provisions set forth in the Aircraft Act of 1934 and the Aircraft Rules of 1937.

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation is also responsible for the administrative oversight of the Commission of Railway Safety.

Jaya Verma Sinha becomes first woman to lead Indian Railways as Chairman and CEO

Tags: Person in news

The appointment of Jaya Verma Sinha as the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, making her the first woman to hold the coveted position in the Indian Railways.

An Overview of the News

• Jaya Verma Sinha assumed the post of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Railway Board, Ministry of Railways on 1st September, 2023 at Rail Bhavan.

Background of Jaya Verma Sinha:

• Sinha's journey in the Indian Railways began in 1988 when she joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS).

• In a career spanning 35 years, he has held various important positions, demonstrating his expertise and dedication.

• Prior to becoming the Chairperson and CEO, Sinha served as Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway Board.

Pioneering Achievements:

• Jaya Verma Sinha became the first woman to be appointed as Principal Chief Operating Manager of South Eastern Railway.

• During his tenure as Railway Advisor at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the iconic Maitree Express from Kolkata to Dhaka was inaugurated.

Former CJI Raman appointed as a member of the Singapore International Mediator Panel

Tags: Person in news

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana was appointed as a member of the prestigious International Mediator Panel of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC).

An Overview of the News

• Justice Ramana participated in the 'Singapore Convention Week', an annual conference organized by Singapore's Ministry of Law, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and over 20 partner organizations.

• The letter of appointment was presented to him by SIMC President George Lim in Singapore on 29 August.

About the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIMC)

• It is an independent non-profit organization in Singapore.

• It specializes in providing arbitration services for cross-border commercial disputes.

• International Arbitrators: It maintains a panel of international arbitrators who facilitate the resolution of disputes.

• Location: SIMC is located at Maxwell Chambers in Singapore.

• Formation of a working group: In April 2013, a working group was formed, co-chaired by Edwin Glasgow CBE QC and George Lim SC.

• SIMC Established: November 2014

About UNCITRAL

• It is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

• It was established in 1966 by the UNGA.

• Its official mandate is to promote the harmonization and unification of international trade law.

• It achieves this through conventions, model laws, and other legal instruments.

• UNCITRAL addresses various aspects of commerce, including dispute resolution and trade rules.

• Its annual sessions are held in New York City and Vienna.

India's new warship Mahendragiri to be launched in Mumbai

Tags: Defence

The warship 'Mahendragiri', built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, will be launched on 1 September 2023 in Mumbai.

An Overview of the News

• Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, will launch the warship Mahendragiri, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the chief guest at the ceremony.

• Warship Mahendragiri is the seventh ship of the Project 17A frigates.

Warship Mahendragiri

• It is named after Mahendragiri, a mountain peak in the Eastern Ghats, located in the state of Odisha.

• It is a technologically advanced warship and is also a symbol of India's determination to embrace its rich naval heritage.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)

• It is a shipyard located in Mazgaon, Mumbai.

• It also manufactures warships and submarines for the Indian Navy and offshore platforms and associated support vessels for offshore oil drilling.

• It is a Public Sector Undertaking managed by the Ministry of Defence, The Government of India holds an 84.83% stake in MDL.

Established - 1934

Headquarters - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India