1. The Department of Personnel and Training appointed Amit Khare as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
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Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Amit Khare was appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a second service extension.
An Overview of the News
The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order saying that the Cabinet Appointments Committee approved the extension of Amit Khare's service beyond October 12, 2023.
Amit Khare, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, was initially appointed for a two-year tenure in October 2021.
During his career, Amit Khare has held key positions at the central government level such as Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Education as well as in the states of Jharkhand and Bihar.
Amit Khare, while serving as Education Secretary, played a key role in shaping India's National Education Policy 2020, bringing significant changes in the country's education system.
He also played a key role in exposing the fodder scam in 1996, which had far-reaching effects on the political landscape of Bihar. Due to this scam, former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted.
In a separate decision, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved a two-year extension of service for Rajesh Gokhale, who serves as Secretary, of the Department of Biotechnology, with effect from November 1, 2023.
2. Nihar Malviya appointed as permanent CEO of Penguin Random House
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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.
3. Dhananjay Joshi appointed Chairman of DIPA
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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.
4. Writer and filmmaker Geeta Mehta passes away at the age of 80
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Famous writer and filmmaker Geeta Mehta passed away at the age of 80.
An Overview of the News
Geeta Mehta wrote several acclaimed books, including"Karma Cola," "Snakes and Ladders," "A River Sutra," "Raj," and "Eternal Ganesha."
His literary works have been translated into 21 languages and achieved bestseller status in Europe, America and India.
Mehta made significant contributions to the world of television documentaries, producing and directing at least 14 documentaries for UK, European and American networks.
His notable documentary, "Dateline Bangladesh" featured the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and was screened internationally, including in India.
Family Relations:
Geeta Mehta was the elder sister of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and businessman Prem Patnaik.
Her husband, American publisher Sonny Mehta, died in December 2019.
Recognition and Awards:
In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Shri award, but decided not to accept it.
5. Srinivasan K Swamy elected as Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulation
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RK Swamy Hansa Group Executive Chairman Srinivasan K Swamy was elected as the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2023-2024.
An Overview of the News
Srinivasan K Swamy is currently the Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations.
He held leadership roles in various organizations including the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India.
He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).
HormuzdMasani held the position of Secretary General in the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC):-
Established in 1948
Headquartered in Mumbai
Major appointments of ABC:
Vice Chairman: Riyad Mathew
Secretary: Mohit Jain
Treasurer: Vikram Sakhuja
6. Rahul Navin appointed as Director-in-charge of the Enforcement Directorate of India
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Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Rahul Navin has taken over as director-in-charge of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He replaced outgoing director Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
An Overview of the News
This leadership change is a significant development for the Enforcement Directorate, which plays a key role in enforcing economic laws and regulations in India.
Rahul Navin currently holds the post of Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate.
As per the official order, Rahul Navin, a distinguished IRS officer of the 1993 batch, has been appointed as Director-in-charge.
He will continue in this post until the appointment of a regular director or until further orders are issued.
Sanjay Kumar Mishra:-
Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure as Director of Enforcement in ED ends on September 15, 2023.
Sanjay Kumar Mishra initially assumed the role of Director in the Enforcement Directorate for a two-year tenure from November 19, 2018.
The central government later issued an order on November 13, 2020, which extended Mishra's tenure from two years to three years with retrospective effect.
About Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Established: 1 May 1956
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Mandate: A special agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and regulations in India.
Focus Area: Investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, money laundering, foreign exchange violations, and economic crimes.
Administrative Control: Works under the administrative control of the Revenue Department.
Ministry Affiliation: Part of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Role: Critical role in maintaining the integrity of India's financial and economic systems by ensuring compliance with economic laws and regulations.
7. Actress Mita Vashishtha appointed Chair of Haryana Entertainment Policy Council
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Haryana Government appointed Mita Vashishtha as the Chair of Entertainment Policy Council.
An Overview of the News
Mita Vashishtha will lead the Governing Council for Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy.
Her appointment comes after the death of previous president Satish Kaushik.
Mita Vashishtha is a native of Pune and has had a long and illustrious career in the Indian entertainment industry.
Her career spans several decades and includes various entertainment mediums including cinema, television, theater and more.
She has an extensive portfolio, which includes 43 films, several television serials, web series and theater productions.
She has served as visiting faculty in prestigious institutes such as National School of Drama (NSD), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID), and Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). ,
Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy:-
Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy is overseen by a Governing Council, which consists of a wide variety of individuals.
The Council comprises key members such as the Administrative Secretary of the Department of Tourism and the Administrative Secretary of the Department of Art and Cultural Affairs.
It also includes the Vice Chancellor of Rohtak-based State University of Performing and Visual Arts.
The Council benefits from the insights of the Chief Minister's Media Advisor.
Apart from these official members, seven non-official nominees appointed by the State Government will also participate in the activities of the Council.
8. Sindhu Gangadharan appointed Vice-Chairperson of NASSCOM
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Sindhu Gangadharan, currently Senior Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director at SAP Labs India, was named Vice Chairperson of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).
An Overview of the News
As the first woman to lead SAP Labs India, which is SAP's largest R&D center globally, Gangadharan is responsible for overseeing product development and innovation across all five centers located in Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
Earlier this year, Gangadharan was appointed as the Chairman of the NASSCOM GCC Council for the period 2023-2025.
She also holds positions on the boards of organizations such as Siemens India and Titan Company Limited.
Gangadharan is a member of the steering committee of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, an industry association promoting bilateral trade and discussion between India and Germany.
NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies):
It is the apex body for India's technology industry.
Established as a non-profit organization in 1988.
Membership exceeds more than 3000 companies, including Indian and multinational companies.
Membership spans the entire industry spectrum.
NASSCOM's mission includes policy advocacy and strategic guidance for the development and progress of the technology sector.
Founder - Nandan Nilekani, Devang Mehta
Headquarters - Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and New Delhi
Cognizant India Chairman and Managing Director Rajesh Nambiar has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Indian IT and technology trade body NASSCOM.
9. Renowned political cartoonist Ajit Ninan passes away
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Renowned political cartoonist Ajit Ninan passed away at the age of 68.
An Overview of the News
Ajit Ninan was widely recognized for his contributions, including the famous "CentreStage" series in India Today magazine and "Ninan's World" in The Times of India.
In addition to his political cartoons, Ninan was known for his work in children's literature.
One of his favorite creations of the 1980s was Detective Moochwala and his dog Pooch, which appeared in the youth magazine Target.
Ajit Ninan's political cartoons are known for their bold and humorous stances on various subjects, including satire on both the ruling government and the opposition.
He also used his artistic talents to address environmental issues and create memorable caricatures.
About Ajit Ninan
Ajit Ninan is best known for his work on "Ajit Ninan's Funny World", which was published in Target magazine.
They were called "Just Like That!" Also known for. Which was published daily in the Times of India.
With Jug Suraiya, he sang "Like That's Only!" Co-wrote. Which was published bi-weekly in the Times of India.
During the 2009 Indian general elections, he produced a series of cartoons, "Poli Tricks", which was published in The Times of India.
Additionally, he collaborated with Sunil Agarwal on the single-panel cartoon strip "iToons" in The Times of India.
10. RBI approves the reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as MD & CEO of ICICI Bank
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of ICICI Bank.
An Overview of the News
The RBI approval, received through an exchange filing on September 11, has extended the tenure of Sandeep Bakshi as MD and CEO of ICICI Bank from October 4, 2023, to October 3, 2026.
Sandeep Bakshi has been leading ICICI Bank since October 15, 2018, and before that, he served as a full-time director and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Bakshi has a tenure of 36 years in ICICI Group and has held various important positions.
About ICICI Bank Limited:
ICICI Bank Limited is an Indian multinational bank and financial services company.
The Bank offers a wide range of banking products and financial services to both corporate and retail customers.
ICICI Bank has subsidiaries in the fields of investment banking, life and non-life insurance, venture capital, and asset management.
Additionally, it has a global presence,operating in 17 countries.
It also has branches in the United States, Singapore, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Qatar, Oman, Dubai International Finance Centre, China and South Africa.
In addition, the bank has representative offices in the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Established - 5January 1994
Headquarters - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, (Registered Office at Vadodara, Gujarat)
