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By admin: Sept. 28, 2024

Antyodaya Diwas - 25 September 2024

Tags: Important Days

Antyodaya Diwas is celebrated every year on 25 September to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, one of the prominent personalities in the history of Indian politics.

An Overview of the News

• Antyodaya means "uplifting the poorest of the poor" or "rise of the last person".

• The day was declared by the Government of India on September 25, 2014, and has been officially celebrated since the year 2015.

• 2024 Significance: Marks the 108th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Background:

• 2014 Declaration: On 25 September 2014, during the 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government declared the day as Antyodaya Diwas.

• First Observance: The first Antyodaya Diwas was observed on 25 September 2014.

About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

• He was born on September 25, 1916, in Chandrabhan village near Farah town in Mathura district, now known as Deendayal Dham.

• His father's name was Bhagwati Prasad and he was an astrologer, mother's name was Rampyari.

• The philosophy presented by him is called 'Integral Humanism'.

• Its objective was to present an 'indigenous socio-economic model' in which human beings are at the centre of development.

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay opposed Western 'capitalist individualism' and 'Marxist socialism' and welcomed modern technology and Western science.

World Pharmacists Day - 25 September 2024

Tags: Important Days

World Pharmacists Day is observed globally every year on 25 September.

An Overview of the News

• It recognizes and celebrates the vital role of pharmacists as drug information specialists.

• Pharmacists are acknowledged as accessible healthcare providers in their communities.

• World Pharmacists Day highlights their contribution to building healthier societies around the world.

• Marks the anniversary of the establishment of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global organization for pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and education, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

• The theme for 2024: "Pharmacists: Meeting global health needs".

Background of World Pharmacists Day

• Proposal: World Pharmacists Day was proposed in 2009 by the Turkish Pharmacists Association (TPA) during the FIP Congress in Istanbul (now Türkiye).

• Approval: The FIP Council unanimously approved the annual observance of WPD on 25 September.

• First Observance: The inaugural World Pharmacists Day took place on 25 September 2010.

About the International Pharmaceutical Federation 

• Established: 1912

• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands

• CEO: Dr. Catherine Duggan

Harini Amarasuriya Becomes 16th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Tags: Person in news International News

Harini Amarasuriya, leader of the National People's Power (NPP), was sworn in as the 16th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

An Overview of the News

• She replaced Dinesh Gunawardene, who resigned following the recent Presidential election results.

• The oath of office was administered by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

• Harini Amarasuriya is the third woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in Sri Lanka, after Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Background of Harini Amarasuriya

• She is an academic and human rights activist, previously serving as a university lecturer in the Department of Social Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka.

• Her activism began in 2011 during the Rajapaksa government, where she participated in protests advocating for free education.

• She campaigned for Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in the 2019 Presidential election.

• In 2020, she became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the first time, representing the NPP, an alliance led by the JVP.

New Cabinet Appointments

• President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has formed a new caretaker cabinet with four members, including himself.

• The other three cabinet members are NPP parliamentarians: Harini Amarasuriya, Vijitha Herath, and Laxman Nipunarachchi.

• This cabinet will be a caretaker government until the next parliamentary election on 14th November 2024.

Facts About Sri Lanka

• Legislative Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

• Executive and Judicial Capital: Colombo

• Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR)

• President: Anura Kumara Dissanayake

• Prime Minister: Harini Amarasuriya

Karichal Chundan Clinches Thrilling Nehru Trophy Victory

Tags: Sports

Karichal Chundan triumphed in one of the closest finals in Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) history, winning by a mere 0.005 seconds.

An Overview of the News

• Final Times: Karichal, representing Pallathuruthy Boat Club, completed the race in 4 minutes, 29.785 seconds, while Veeyapuram from Kainakary Village Boat Club finished in 4 minutes, 29.790 seconds.

• Team Leadership: The winning team was led by Alen Moonnuthaickal, Aiden Moonnuthaickal, and Manoj P P.

Championship Record

• 16th Title: This victory marks the 16th NTBR title for Karichal, with their last win occurring in 2016.

• Previous Victories: They previously won the championship in the years 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, and 2011.

Remarkable Achievement of Pallathuruthy

• Five Consecutive Wins: Pallathuruthy Boat Club made history by winning the NTBR title five consecutive times.

• Diverse Boat Success: Their victories included different snake boats: Payippadan (2018), Nadubhagom (2019), Mahadevikad Kaattil Thekkethil (2022), and Veeyapuram (2023).

• Tight Competition: All four snake boats in the race finished with a time difference of less than one second, with Nadubhagom (Kumarakom Town Boat Club) finishing third (4:30.13 seconds) and Niranom (Niranom Boat Club) finishing fourth (4:30.56 seconds).

Indian Army Celebrates 198th Gunners Day

Tags: Important Days

The Indian Army celebrates the 198th Gunners Day on 28 September.

An Overview of the News

• This day marks the raising of the first Indian Artillery Unit, the 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery, on September 28, 1827.

Modernisation Efforts

• The drive aligns with the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat and aims to create a technologically advanced and combat-ready force.

• Key modernisation initiatives include:

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  • Standardisation of the 155mm artillery gun

  • Integration of advanced systems such as Ultra-Light Howitzers, K9 Vajra, and Sharang guns

Historical Significance of Artillery

• Artillery was first used in India in the 14th century by the Bahmani Kings during the Deccan War against the Vijaynagar Kingdom.

• Throughout history, artillery has been a crucial force multiplier during the Mughal Period and under various leaders, including the Marathas, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

• The Regiment of Artillery has demonstrated its strength during major operations in 1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1999.

• Following the Kargil conflict, artillery gained further prominence and is recognized as a significant 'Arm of Decision' in modern warfare.

Director General of Artillery - Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar

Brijendra Pratap Singh Appointed as Next CMD of NALCO

Tags: Person in news

The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) has appointed Brijendra Pratap Singh as the next Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO).

An Overview of the News

• He is expected to assume office on November 1, 2024, succeeding the incumbent CMD, Sridhar Patra, who will retire on October 31, 2024.

• The appointment is subject to necessary clearances and final approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Background of Brijendra Pratap Singh

• Brijendra Pratap Singh currently serves as the Director in charge of the IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) and Durgapur Steel Plants (DSP) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

• He began his career with SAIL at the Iron Ore Mine of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) in Chhattisgarh in 1989.

• Singh was promoted to Executive Director (ED) (Operation) at BSP in 2019 and later re-designated as ED (Works). He took charge as ED (Works) at DSP in 2020.

About NALCO

• NALCO is incorporated under the Companies Act of 1956 and is recognized as one of the largest integrated Bauxite-Alumina-Aluminium complexes in Asia.

• It operates as a Navratna Schedule 'A' Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Mines (MoM).

• Established: 1981

• Headquarters: Bhubaneswar, Odisha

• Current CMD: Sridhar Patra