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By admin: Sept. 19, 2023

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha

Tags: National News

The Women's Reservation Bill, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

An Overview of the News

• Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the 128th Amendment Bill, 2023 to achieve 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

• Arjun Ram Meghwal, while introducing the bill, said that if it is passed, the number of seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha will increase from 82 to 181.

• Additionally, the old Parliament House in the Lok Sabha was renamed the Samvidhan Sadan.

About Article 243(D)

• Article 243(D) of Part IX of the Constitution mandates the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in all three levels of Panchayats.

• State legislatures are responsible for establishing provisions that reserve the posts of chairpersons in Panchayats for persons belonging to SC and ST communities.

• Article 243(D) also provides that at least one-third of the seats in Panchayats should be reserved for women.

• Additionally, State Legislatures have the power to provide for reservation in favor of backward classes in terms of seats or the post of Speakers.

Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur railway station officially named 'Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station'

Tags: place in news State News

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir formally renamed Udhampur railway station after local hero martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan.

An Overview of the News

• The naming ceremony took place at Udhampur railway station, in which Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh participated.

• This station is now officially known as "Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station".

• Parents of martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan, local dignitaries, army officers, and BJP members were present at the event.

• Captain Tushar Mahajan, a native of Udhampur, served in 9 PARA, a special forces unit of the Indian Army. He sacrificed his life while protecting the country during the terrorist attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute building in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir in February 2016.

About Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir was a state of India until August 2019, which was divided into two union territories named Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 October 2019.

• Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)

• Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha

• Legislative Council - 36 seats

• Legislative Assembly - 89 seats

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister announces 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana'

Tags: Government Schemes

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana' during an event in Itanagar.

An Overview of the News

• The objective of 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana' is to benefit the labor force within the state.

• Under this scheme, benefits for workers registered with the Arunachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board have been restructured.

Enhanced benefits under the scheme

• Maternity benefit for families of workers has been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000.

• Compensation for natural death has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh.

• Compensation for accidental death has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.

• The scheme also promotes sports among children of workers, offering cash incentives for achievements in state-level and national-level tournaments and competitions.

Cash incentives are provided for achievements in state-level tournaments or competitions:

• Gold - Rs 15,000

• Silver - Rs 10,000

• Bronze - Rs 8,000

The following incentives are given for exceptional performance at the national level:

• Gold - Rs 30,000

• Silver - Rs 20,000

• Bronze - Rs 15,000

About Arunachal Pradesh

• It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It shares its borders with the countries of Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.

• Losar, Solang, Dree Utsav, and Chalo-Loku Utsav are the major festivals of Arunachal Pradesh.

• Established - 20 February 1987

• Capital - Itanagar (Executive Branch)

• Chief Minister - Pema Khandu

• Official flower - Rhynchostylis retusa

• Official Animal - Gayal

International Red Panda Day - 16 September (third Saturday of September)

Tags: Important Days

International Red Panda Day (IRPD) is celebrated across the world on the third Saturday of September each year.

An Overview of the News

• International Red Panda Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of red panda conservation and encourage people to take action to protect them.

• IRPD 2022 took place on September 17, 2022, while IRPD 2024 will be celebrated on September 21, 2024.

• Red pandas are found mainly in the mountainous forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.

• Red Panda Network (RPN) was founded in 2007 and was founded by Brian Williams.

• RPN is headquartered in Oregon, United States of America (USA).

Andhra Pradesh's 'Atreyapuram Putharekula' receives coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag for traditional sweet

Tags: place in news State News

Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) has awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to 'Atreyapuram Putharekula', a sweet made from rice and jaggery originating from Atreyapuram village in Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.

An Overview of the News

• 'Atreyapuram Putharekula' sweets GI registration comes under the 'Food Ingredients' category.

• The official GI certificate handover ceremony took place at Damodaram Sanjeevayya National Law University (DSNLU) in Visakhapatnam.

• The event coincides with the National Workshop on “Geographical Indications and GI Certificate Handover Ceremony for Atreyapuram Putharekula”.

• The event was organized by the Center for Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Group and brought together experts and dignitaries from the field.

• The GI tag was awarded to Sir Arthur Cotton Atreyapuram Putharekula Manufacturers Welfare Association, and it is valid from June 14, 2023, to December 12, 2031.

• GIR, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).

About Putharekula:

• Putharekula is a sweet dish made of a paper-thin layer of paper-like rice starch and filled with a mixture of sugar, dried fruits, and nuts.

• The name "Putharekula" is derived from Telugu, where "putha" means "coating" and "reku" (plural "rekulu") means "sheet".

• Local sweet makers usually use the MTU-3626 paddy variety, locally known as "Bondalu", which is extensively cultivated in the Konaseema region, to prepare this sweet.

About GI Tag:

• The Geographical Indication (GI) mark is a certification that ensures the quality and uniqueness of products primarily linked to their place of origin.

• As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act in 1999, which came into effect on September 15, 2003.

ICAR-CIBA launches Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme with Chief Guest Parshottam Rupala

Tags: Government Schemes

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) organized the 2nd edition of Shrimp Farmers Conclave-2023 at Navsari Agricultural University campus in Navsari, Gujarat.

An Overview of the News

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: This initiative has a budget of Rs 20,050 crore and aims to promote sustainable development in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

• EHP-Cura-I: Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, appreciated CIBA scientists for developing EHP-Cura-I, a therapeutic solution to control EHP disease in shrimp. He urged to ensure its early availability to the farmers.

• Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme: Union Minister Rupala officially launched the Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme, which has been developed through collaboration between the Agricultural Insurance Company of India (AIC) and ICAR-CIBA. This scheme provides insurance coverage for shrimp farming, thereby increasing the security of shrimp farmers.

Support for SC and ST communities:

• The Minister had the honor of providing a total income of Rs 40.05 lakh to the beneficiaries of SC (Scheduled Caste) and ST (Scheduled Tribe) communities in Navsari area.

• This income was earned through the adoption of CIBA technologies supported by NGRC-CIBA scientists for livelihood development.

• This reflects the Institute's commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth in the aquaculture sector.

Nihar Malviya appointed as permanent CEO of Penguin Random House

Tags: Person in news

Nihar Malviya named permanent CEO of Penguin Random House after nine-month interim tenure

An Overview of the News

• Nihar Malviya replaces former CEO Marcus Dohle, who stepped down following a federal judge's decision to reject Penguin Random House's merger with Simon & Schuster.

• Malviya started his journey at Bertelsmann in 2001 and has held various roles in the company.

• Prior to his appointment as CEO, Malviya served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of Penguin Random House in the United States.

Penguin Random House:-

• It is the largest publisher of consumer books in the world, with a wide presence in more than 20 countries and over 300 exclusive imprints and publishing houses.

• German media conglomerate Bertelsmann has owned Random House since 1998. It was created in 2013 through the merger of two major publishing houses, Penguin Group and Random House.

• Penguin Random House publishes a wide range of literary genres, including fiction, non-fiction, children's books, and audiobooks.

• In India, Penguin Random House India is a leading consumer book publisher, offering books in multiple languages, including English and Hindi.

• It includes eminent Indian writers like Arundhati Roy, Khushwant Singh, and Sudha Murthy.

Hoysala Empire temples in Karnataka added to UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites

Tags: place in news

On September 18, the temples of the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka, India were officially added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, marking India's 42nd addition to the prestigious heritage list.

An Overview of the News

• This decision was taken during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• Several countries, including Japan, Nigeria, Oman, Greece, Italy, Russia, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa, Qatar, Mali, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belgium, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, supported India's bid for UNESCO recognition. 

• These temples received UNESCO World Heritage status on September 18, a day after Shantiniketan in West Bengal received the same recognition on September 17.

Hoysala Empire:

• This empire, which existed from the 10th to the 14th century, left an important cultural and historical legacy in southern India.

• King Nripa Kama founded the Hoysala dynasty in the 10th century, coinciding with a period of cultural revival in southern India.

• The Hoysalas were known for their contributions to art, architecture, and culture with a focus on temple building.

• His architectural achievements, especially in temple construction, reflect a harmonious blend of various South Indian architectural influences.

About UNESCO

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).

• It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UN SDGs), a coalition of United Nations agencies and organizations that aims to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Headquarters:- Paris, France

• Director General:- Audrey Azoulay

• Founded:- 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom

• The organization has 193 members and 11 associate members.

Key Points: Karnataka already boasts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Hampi ruins, Pattadakal monuments, and the Western Ghats.

Dhananjay Joshi appointed Chairman of DIPA

Tags: Person in news

Dhananjay Joshi was appointed as the Chairman of the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA). 

An Overview of the News

• Dhananjay Joshi currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Summit Digital, a leading Indian telecommunications company.

• He succeeds Akhil Gupta, who has served as Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Chairman of DIPA since 2011.

• Sandeep Girotra, CEO of American Tower India, was appointed as the new Vice President of DIPA.

• These leadership changes will be effective from October 1, 2023.

• The new leadership for the term 2023-24 was announced at the DIPA Annual General Meeting 2022-23.

• Akhil Gupta has become the Patron Member of DIPA following the unanimous decision of the Executive Committee members.

About DIPA:

• Founded in 2010 as the Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TIPA).

• It was renamed the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) in 2020 to include a broader membership base.

Membership Diversity:

• Represents a wide range of digital infrastructure companies in India.

• This includes tower and telecom infrastructure providers, fiber optic cable deployers, data center operators, EV charging infrastructure providers, and equipment manufacturers.

Objective:

• Dedicated to promoting growth and development in India's digital infrastructure industry.

• Advocating industry-friendly policies by collaborating with government and regulators.