1. Banmali Agarwal appointed Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems
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Banmali Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
An Overview of the News
He will replace Vijay Singh, who has retired.
This leadership change is part of the Tata Group's commitment to strengthen its presence in the aerospace and defense sector.
Background of Banmali Agarwal:
Banamali Agarwal is a key figure within the Tata Group.
He also serves as a senior advisor to Tata Sons and holds the position of Chairman at Tata Electronics.
Contribution of Vijay Singh:
Vijay Singh, the outgoing Chairman of TASL, has also been the Vice Chairman of Tata Trust.
During his tenure, TASL witnessed significant developments and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the Tata Group's presence in the aerospace and defense sector.
Role of TASL within the Tata Group:
TASL serves as the strategic aerospace and defense arm of Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group.
It plays a vital role in both operational and operational tasks related to defense efforts within the group.
Integration of Defense Institutions:
In 2018, Tata Sons took the initiative to integrate various group entities into a single defense sector.
The move brings together companies like Tata Power SED, TAL Manufacturing, Tata Advanced Materials and the defense division of Tata Motors under TASL.
Government approves Airbus deal:
Government of India approves ₹21,000 crore deal between TASL and Airbus.
Under this agreement, Airbus will deliver 16 aircraft in fly-away condition within four years, while TASL will manufacture and assemble the remaining 40 aircraft at its newly established facility in Vadodara.
2. M S Swaminathan, father of India's Green Revolution, passes away at the age of 98
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On 28 September 2023, famous farmer and 'Father of India's Green Revolution' M.S. Swaminathan died at the age of 98.
An Overview of the News
M. S. Swaminathan's agricultural journey began in 1949 when he began researching crop genetics, which included important crops like potato, wheat, rice, and jute.
Green Revolution:
During a critical period in India's history, Swaminathan collaborated with scientist Norman Borlaug and others to develop high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice.
This collaboration marked the beginning of the 'Green Revolution', a transformative initiative aimed at significantly increasing crop productivity through the use of chemical-biological technology.
Honors and Awards for Outstanding Contribution:
Swaminathan received several prestigious awards, including the first World Food Prize in 1987 for introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties into India.
He established the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai.
He was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986.
National Recognition:
In India, Swaminathan received several high civilian awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
He was also a recipient of the HK Firodia Award, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award and the Indira Gandhi Award.
Typical Careers in Administration:
Swaminathan served as the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
He also headed the International Rice Research Institute.
In 1979, he became Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Global Environmental Leadership:
In 1988, Swaminathan became President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, highlighting his dedication to environmental protection.
His influence extended globally, contributing to various international agricultural and environmental initiatives.
Time magazine recognized him as one of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century.
3. Indian tennis player Leander Paes nominated for 2024 Tennis Hall of Fame
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On September 26, 2023, legendary Indian tennis player and multiple Grand Slam champion Leander Paes received a historic nomination for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.
An Overview of the News
Leander Paes (India) - Leander Paes is the first male player from Asia to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Potentially the first Indian tennis player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Leander Paes, 50, is one of the six players who have received nominations for the year 2024.
There are a total of six tennis players who have been nominated. Apart from Leander Paes, five other contenders are vying for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
These nominees include former world number-one Spanish tennis player Carlos Moyá, Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, Italy's Flavia Pennetta, South Africa's Cara Black, and Canada's Daniel Nestor.
Path to Hall of Fame induction
Nominations: Players are nominated in various categories, such as "Most Awarded Player" for Leander Paes.
Fan Voting: Tennis fans around the world have the opportunity to vote for their favorite nominees.
Announcement: The results of fan voting will be revealed in January 2024.
Formal Induction: Selected players will be officially inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in July 2024.
Li Na's leading achievement
Chinese tennis player Li Na set an example by becoming the first player from Asia to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2019.
Her victories at the Australian Open and French Open in the women's category propelled her to this prestigious recognition.
Leander Paes: A Tennis Icon
Early Life: Born on 17 June 1973 in Kolkata, India into a sports family.
Olympic glory: Won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indian tennis player since KD Jadhav to win an individual Olympic medal.
National Recognition: Awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for his extraordinary achievements.
Double success: Partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi, significant contribution to Indian tennis history.
Three decades of legacy: Actively involved in tennis from 1990 to 2020.
About the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Founded: 1880 by James J. Founded by Van Allen.
Location: Located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
Recognition: Honors both players and contributors who have had a lasting impact on the game of tennis around the world.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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
9. 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.
10. 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.
