1. Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik Appointed as New Chief of Pakistan's ISI
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Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the new Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
An Overview of the News
Malik will assume his new role on September 30, replacing the outgoing DG, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum.
Appointment Process
Authority: The ISI chief is appointed by the prime minister of Pakistan.
Tradition: The appointment is made in consultation with the army chief, following established tradition.
Significance of the Role
Strategic Importance: The ISI chief's position is considered one of the most significant within the Pakistan Army.
Military Influence: The army has ruled Pakistan for over 77 years and holds substantial power in security and foreign policy matters.
Background of Lt Gen Malik
Previous Command: Lt Gen Malik has commanded the Infantry Division in Balochistan and the Infantry Brigade in Waziristan.
Education and Honors: He received a Sword of Honour during his training and has served as the chief instructor at the National Defence University (NDU) and an instructor at the Command and Staff College in Quetta.
Qualifications: He is a graduate of Fort Leavenworth and the Royal College of Defence Studies, bringing extensive experience to his new position.
2. Harini Amarasuriya Becomes 16th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
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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
3. Brijendra Pratap Singh Appointed as Next CMD of NALCO
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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
4. ACC Approves Alok Ranjan as NCRB Director and Amit Garg as SVPNPA Director
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The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the immediate appointments of Senior IPS officers Alok Ranjan as Director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) and Amit Garg as Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, Telangana.
An Overview of the News
Alok Ranjan has been appointed as Director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) until his superannuation on 30 June 2026.
He replaces Vivek Gogia, who has been repatriated to the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
Amit Garg has been appointed as Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad, with a tenure up to his retirement on 31 October 2027.
The ACC also approved the appointments of several IPS officers in CISF, CRPF, and BSF.
About SVPNPA:
Originally established as Central Police Training College in Mount Abu, Rajasthan in 1948.
Renamed as National Police Academy (NPA) in 1967.
Renamed as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in 1974.
Current Director: Amit Garg.
Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana.
5. Air Marshal SP Dharkar Appointed Next Vice Chief of Air Staff
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Air Marshal SP Dharkar has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff.
An Overview of the News
Air Marshal SP Dharkar will succeed Air Marshal AP Singh, who is set to become the Chief of Air Staff.
Career and Experience
Commissioned in June 1985.
Over 3,600 flying hours as a distinguished fighter pilot.
Alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and Air War College (USA).
Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader, Instrument Rating Instructor, Examiner, and Air Force Examiner.
Key Command and Teaching Roles
Commanded a frontline fighter squadron and Fighter Flying Training Establishment.
Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College and College of Air Warfare.
Held positions like Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) and Air Defence Commander at Eastern Air Command.
Notable Leadership Roles
First Director General of the Defence Space Agency.
Headed the Eastern Air Command for the past two years.
6. Justice Tashi Rabstan Named Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court
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Justice Tashi Rabstan appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
An Overview of the News
Union Government approved the recommendation from the Supreme Court Collegium.
Tenure: Currently a senior judge, he was appointed on March 8, 2013, and is set to retire on April 9, 2025.
Background and Career
Birth: Born on April 10, 1963, in Varsudopa, District Leh, Ladakh, in an agriculturist family.
Education: Graduated and obtained LL.B from the University of Jammu.
Advocacy: Enrolled as an Advocate on March 6, 1990, practicing in various High Courts, focusing on arbitration, constitutional, service, election, civil, and criminal matters.
Positions Held:
Served as Standing Counsel for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh (1997-2005).
Additional Central Government Standing Counsel for Jammu and Kashmir High Court (since September 1998).
Panel Counsel for Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi (April 2008 - December 2011).
Judicial Progression:
Appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on March 8, 2013.
Became a permanent Judge on May 16, 2014.
Served as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court since December 6, 2022.
7. Anurag Garg Appointed New Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau
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Anurag Garg, an IPS officer of the 1993 batch, has been appointed as the new Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
An Overview of the News
Before this appointment, Garg served as the Additional Director General in the Border Security Force (BSF) at its headquarters in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order stating that Garg's appointment is on a deputation basis, effective until May 23, 2026, or until further orders.
Background of NCB
The Narcotics Control Bureau, established in 1986, operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, focusing on combating drug trafficking and illegal substance use in accordance with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Related Appointments
Brijendra Pratap Singh has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO).
Manoj Kumar has been given additional responsibilities as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) at the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.
Satyendra Kumar’s tenure as Director in the Ministry of Environment has been extended until December 24, 2024.
Kim has been appointed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for a five-year term.
Birendra Kumar Mishra is now Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Minister of Panchayati Raj and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying until March 31, 2028.
8. Dhruvi Patel Crowned Miss India Worldwide 2024
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Dhruvi Patel from Gujarat, India, a computer information systems student in the US, won the Miss India Worldwide 2024 title.
An Overview of the News
The pageant ceremony was held in Edison, New Jersey.
First runner-up: Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname.
Second runner-up: Malvika Sharma from the Netherlands.
Mrs India Worldwide Winners
Suann Mouttet from Trinidad and Tobago won the Mrs India Worldwide title.
First runner-up: Sneha Nambiar from Britain.
Second runner-up: Pawandip Kaur.
Miss Teen India Worldwide Winners
Sierra Suret from Guadeloupe won the Miss Teen India Worldwide title.
First runner-up: Shreya Singh from the Netherlands.
Second runner-up: Shradha Tedjoe from Suriname.
About the Pageant
The beauty pageant is organized by the India Festival Committee, based in New York.
It has been running for 31 years and is the longest-running beauty pageant outside India.
The pageant is led by Indian Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran.
Dhruvi Patel previously won the Miss India New England title and was a contestant in the Miss World America pageant.
9. Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh Appointed Chief of Air Staff
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Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, currently Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the next Chief of Air Staff.
An Overview of the News
He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on the afternoon of September 30.
Singh was commissioned into the fighter pilot stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1984 and has nearly 40 years of distinguished service.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College.
Singh is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, with over 5,000 hours of flying experience on various fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
Other Key Appointments
Nehal Vora: MD & CEO of Central Depository Services (India).
Swati Vijay Kulkarni: India’s Next Ambassador to Algeria.
RS Sharma: Non-Executive Chairperson of ONDC.
R. Ravindra: India’s Next Ambassador to Iceland.
Rajesh Verma: Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR.
Dr. Vinay Goyal: State Mission Director for National Health Mission.
Manish Kumar Gupta: New Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh: Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
Subhasri Sriram: MD & CEO of Shriram Capital.
Dr. T.V. Somanathan: New Cabinet Secretary of India.
10. Nehal Vora Appointed MD & CEO of Central Depository Services (India)
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Nehal Vora has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Depository Services (India) (CDSL) for a five-year term starting from September 18, 2024.
An Overview of the News
Nehal Vora brings over 25 years of experience in the Indian Capital Markets, with previous roles at BSE, DSP Merrill Lynch, and SEBI before joining CDSL in September 2019.
About CDSL:
CDSL is India's leading and only listed depository, aiming to provide convenient, reliable, and secure depository services at an affordable cost to all market participants.
It manages over 11.56 crore demat accounts across India.
Financial Performance:
In Q4 FY24, CDSL reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 129.25 crore, significantly up from Rs 63.12 crore in the previous year.
Revenue from operations increased by 92.99% to Rs 240.78 crore in Q4 FY24.
Stock Performance:
CDSL's stock price increased by 0.25%, closing at Rs 1,381.75 on September 13, 2024.
