1. Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak passes away at the age of 49
Tags: Person in news Sports News
Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49 due to colon and liver cancer on 3rd September 2023.
An Overview of the News
Heath Streak is known for his skills as a fast bowler.
Zimbabwe's all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 216 wickets at an average of 28.14.
Scored 1,990 runs in Test matches at an average of 22.35.
In ODIs, Streak took 239 wickets at 29.82 and scored 2,943 runs at 28.29.
Represented Zimbabwe in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs from 1993 to 2005.
Streak established the Heath Streak Academy in 2014 to support cricket development in Zimbabwe.
About Zimbabwe
It is officially known as the Republic of Zimbabwe, located in Southern Africa.
It is a landlocked country, situated between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.
Zimbabwe is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the north, and Mozambique to the east.
Capital and largest city - Harare
President - Emmerson Mnangagwa
Vice-President - Constantino Chiwenga
2. Dr. Vasudha Gupta takes charge as Principal Director General of Akashvani and News Services Division
Tags: Person in news
Dr. Vasudha Gupta, a senior officer of the Indian Information Service, assumed the post of Principal Director General in the Akashvani and News Services Division.
An Overview of the News
Vasudha Gupta previously worked as Director General in All India Radio.
With over 33 years of service in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including as Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), she brings wide-ranging experience to her new role.
Dr. Vasudha Gupta holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Dr. Gupta's notable achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic was the creation of a feedback dashboard for the Government of India, facilitating citizen engagement and transparency.
About Akashvani (AIR)
Akashvani, also known as All India Radio, is India's national public radio broadcaster, established in 1936.
It is part of Prasar Bharati along with Indian television broadcaster Doordarshan.
It is headquartered at Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi, which houses various sections such as Drama, FM and National Service as well as Doordarshan Kendra (Delhi).
AIR is the world's largest radio network and one of the largest broadcasting organizations globally, serving a wide variety of languages and cultures.
It operates 420 stations across India, covering approximately 92% of the country's area and reaching 99.19% of the total population.
AIR produces programming in 23 languages and 179 dialects.
3. Uday Kotak resigns as CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank
Tags: Person in news
Uday Kotak resigned as Managing Director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank with effect from September 1, 2023.
An Overview of the News
Deepak Gupta, Joint Managing Director of the bank, will temporarily assume the role of Managing Director and CEO.
The change is subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the bank's members.
Leadership legacy of Uday Kotak:
Uday Kotak has been leading Kotak Mahindra Bank since its inception in 1985 and guiding it to become a leading commercial lender.
His departure marks the end of an era in Indian banking, and he will remain as non-executive director till December 31, 2023.
About Kotak Mahindra Bank:
Kotak Mahindra Bank is a major Indian financial institution headquartered in Mumbai.
It offers a wide range of financial services to corporate and retail clients, including personal finance, investment banking, life insurance, and wealth management.
In terms of market capitalization, this bank is the third largest private sector bank in India after HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank.
Has contributed significantly to the Indian economy and provided more than one lakh direct jobs.
4. Appointment of R Madhavan as Chairman of FTII Pune
Tags: Person in news
R Madhavan has been named as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
An Overview of the News
In addition to the post of Chairman, Madhavan will also serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council of FTII.
Madhavan's nomination follows the national recognition his film 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' received.
'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' won the prestigious Best Feature Film award at the 69th National Film Awards.
'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' throws light on the life of former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan and his remarkable contribution to India's space agency.
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII):-
It is a film school affiliated with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and is supported by the Central Government.
FTII is located in Pune and was established in 1960 with the objective of training individuals for careers in the film and television industry.
The institute has a distinguished alumni base consisting of technicians, actors, and directors who have made significant contributions to the film and television sector.
FTII is a member of the International Liaison Center of Schools of Cinema and Television (CILECT), a global organization linking leading film and television schools.
Director - Bhupendra Kainthola
5. Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam wins a decisive victory in Singapore presidential election
Tags: Person in news
Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam won Singapore's presidential election, the first competitive election since 2011.
An Overview of the News
Tharman Shanmugaratnam won 70.4% of the vote, defeating two Chinese-origin contenders, Ng Kok Song (15.7%) and Tan Kin Lian (13.88%).
Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been in politics since 2001, served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019, and promised to develop Singapore's culture.
Madam Halimah Yacob's tenure will end on 13 September 2023.
More than 2.7 million voters participated in the election.
About Singapore
Southeast Asian city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.
Capital - Singapore
Official languages - English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil
Currency - Singapore Dollar
Prime Minister - Lee Hsien Loong
6. Manish Desai appointed as Principal Director General of PIB
Tags: Person in news
Manish Desai assumes charge as Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) with effect from September 1, 2023.
An Overview of the News
Manish Desai has taken over the post after the retirement of Rajesh Malhotra, who retired a day earlier. Manish Desai is a 1989-batch Indian Information Service officer.
Prior to his current role, Desai held the position of Principal Director General in the Central Bureau of Communications, where he was responsible for government advertising and outreach activities.
During his career spanning three decades, Shri Manish Desai has held various key assignments, including Director General (DG) in the Films Division, Additional Director General charge of Administration and training at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Central Film Certification CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in the Board (CBFC).
During his tenure in the Film Division, he was instrumental in establishing the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai.
Desai also worked at PIB Mumbai for over ten years, where he managed media-related activities for several national and international events including the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa.
Press Information Bureau (PIB):
It was established in June 1919 at Shimla as a small unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the British Government.
Its initial objective was to compile a report on India for presentation to the British Parliament.
Dr. LF Rushbrook Williams of Allahabad University was the first head of the Publicity Cell and served as Officer on Special Duty.
In 1941, J Natarajanbecame the first Indianto lead theBureau as Principal Information Officer.
In 1946the name of the organization was officially changed to thePress Information Bureau.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
