NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First Fashion Forecasting Initiative ‘VisionNxt’portal, Launched

The Union Ministry of Textiles has launched the VisioNxt web portal to establish India as a global fashion leader.

The web portal will use information technology to provide India-specific real-time trend insights for the Indian fashion industry.

This service is expected to benefit India's textile and apparel industry greatly.

It will help establish India as a leader in the global fashion sector and reduce its dependence on foreign fashion forecasting agencies.

The VisioNxt web portal was launched by the Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh.

Giriraj Singh also launched the India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24x25’.

The VisioNxt web portal has been developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) under the Union Ministry of Textiles.

The VisioNxt combines Artificial Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence to generate fashion trends using traditional Indian culture as a base.

It uses a unique prediction model known as "DeepVision" to decode patterns and interpret fashion trends in India.

World’s 1st Breeding centre for Asian King Vultures Inaugurated in UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in the Bharivaisi, Campierganj Range of the Gorakhpur Forest Division.

It is the world’s first conservation and breeding centre for the Asian King Vulture or the red-headed vulture.

The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society, has established the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Maharajganj.

The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre spread over 1.5 hectares of land in the Gorakhpur forest division, was built for Rs 2.8 crore.

The centre has multiple bird cages, a nursery for juveniles, a hospital and recovery facility for birds needing medical help, and a food processing centre.

The centre also includes an incubation centre to rear the vulture eggs artificially to ensure 100% results are other features.

PM Modi Virtually Launches Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative on 6 September 2024.

The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat.

The Jan Sinchay and Jan Bhagidari Initiative is a joint scheme of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Gujarat government.

The initiative aims to enhance the state's water conservation efforts by constructing rainwater harvesting structures across the state and recharging the underground aquifers.

The initiative aims to construct around 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the state.

These rainwater harvesting structures are being built with community participation.

The initiative seeks to build upon the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti's “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” scheme.

 

BANKING

Star Health Introduces Insurance Policy in Braille

Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited has introduced an insurance policy in Braille named ‘Special Care Gold’.

The policy is designed for individuals with 40% or more disability and offers comprehensive protection tailored to persons with disabilities (PWD), including those with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments.

The Braille version enables visually impaired individuals to independently access and review policy information and makes informed decisions regarding their health and finances.

The Braille version was produced in collaboration with the National Association of the Blind (NAB).

According to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, approximately 34 million people in India (2.5% of the population) are visually impaired.

Star Health also announced a diversity drive to train and employ visually impaired individuals as health insurance agents.

The launch aligns with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India’s (IRDAI) vision of 'Insurance for All'.

Visa Partners With Pine Labs To Expand Digital Payment Acceptance Nationwide

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has partnered with fintech company Pine Labs to expand digital payment acceptance across India.

The collaboration aims to improve the in-store payment experience for millions of merchants currently using printed QR codes or other low-tech solutions.

The two companies have jointly unveiled Pine Labs Mini, a soundbox-enabled device for QR, near-field communication (NFC) and card payments.

It aims to enable small and medium-sized merchants to capitalise on the growing adoption of tap-to-pay card (and smartphone) payments and UPI in India.

Earlier, Pine Labs’ subsidiary Setu had announced the launch of UPISetu, a platform for businesses and developers to tap the ongoing advances in the Unified Payments Interface space.

 

DEFENCE

6th India-Saudi Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation Meeting in Riyadh

The 6th meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to the Union Defence Ministry, the two countries discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as military, training, defence industry, research and development, etc.

The Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation was set up during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019.

Both countries agreed to establish a Strategic Partnership Council to guide the India-Saudi relationships.

The Joint Committee Defence Cooperation was one of the four Joint Working Groups established under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

French Navy Host 22nd Varuna Exercise in Mediterranean Sea

The 22nd edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between India and France, the Varuna exercise concluded.

The French Navy hosted the exercise from 2 to 4 September 2024 in the Mediterranean Sea.

India hosted the 21st Varuna exercise in the Arabian Sea in 2023.

The Indian Navy was represented by its stealth frigate INS Tabar and long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P81 Poseidon.

FS Provence, Submarine Suffren, Aircraft F20, Atlantique2, fighters MB339, and Helicopters NH90 Dauphin represented the French Navy.

It is an annual bilateral naval exercise between the Indians and the French Navy.

Both countries conduct Army Air Force and Naval exercises to strengthen military-to-military relations.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

14th Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2024

The Hindu and thehindu.com received accolades at the 14th Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2024.

Award Category: Print/Feature/English (Northern Region)

Recipient: Senior Assistant Editor Maitri Porecha

Article Title: “Talking Therapy: Asha Workers Offer Hope in Rural Madhya Pradesh”

The article details a community-driven approach in Madhya Pradesh involving the State government, a non-profit, and Accredited Social Health Activists (Asha) to provide doorstep counselling.

It discusses the difficulties faced by Asha workers, including inadequate compensation and the need to travel rural areas on two-wheelers.

The piece emphasizes the significant role of Asha workers in enhancing mental health services in rural communities, illustrating their dedication and the positive outcomes of the initiative

2024Millennium Technology Prize

Professor Bantval Jayant Baliga, a 76-year-old Indian-American electrical engineer born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu was awarded 2024 Millennium Technology Prize, given by Technology Academy Finland.

He was awarded for his invention of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT).

Baliga invented the IGBT in the 1980s, a technology that has significantly improved energy efficiency and reduced pollution.

Dr. Dasari Radhika Honored with Prestigious ‘Gender Diversity’ Award

Dasari Radhika, Deputy General Manager (HR) at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), was conferred with the ‘Gender Diversity’ award by the Indian Steel Association.

She was recognized for her exemplary leadership in the steel industry, a traditionally male-dominated sector, Dr. Radhika has been instrumental in promoting gender equity, fostering an inclusive workplace, and creating a culture of belongingness.

Radhika has spent 28 years at RINL, pioneering HR practices and becoming the first woman HR In-charge in several postings.

She managed industrial relations and employee welfare across challenging zones, especially at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

Her efforts in psychological counseling, rooted in her background in psychology, have significantly contributed to promoting work-life balance among employees.

 

SPORTS

Harvinder Wins Gold Medal For India in Archery at Paralympics

Harvinder Singh became the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in the para-archery event at the Paralympics Games.

He won a gold medal in the men's individual recurve open event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

In the Men’s Club throw, Dharambir and Pranav Soorma won gold and silver medals, respectively.

2020 Tokyo Paralympics bronze medalist Harvinder Singh won the gold in the Paris Paralympics. He defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in the final to clinch the gold medal in the men's individual recurve open event.

This was India's second medal in para archery after Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won the bronze medal in the mixed compound open archery event.