NATIONAL NEWS

Hindi Language Museum to be set up in Kashi, Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government of Yogi Adityanath will set up the country’s first museum of Hindi literature in Kashi (Varanasi).

The museum will be the country’s first museum dedicated to a language.

There is a literary museum in Kolkata dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore, but the proposed museum in Kashi will be the first language-based museum in the country.

The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 25 crore for the project.

The museum will conserve and display the works of all the eminent Hindi scholars' old manuscripts and books.

Along with the work of famous Hindi litterateurs, their photographs, important documents, and related literature will also be available in the museum.

The museum will also have statues of the Hindi scholars, an amphitheatre and an auditorium.

DigiLocker has Integrated with the UMANG App

DigiLocker, a secure cloud platform for storing and verifying documents, has integrated with the UMANG app to provide streamlined access to various government services.

This partnership significantly advances India’s digital governance, allowing users to manage multiple services from a single platform.

The integration enables citizens to access multiple government services seamlessly through the DigiLocker app, making interactions with the government more efficient.

Documents stored and issued through DigiLocker are legally equivalent to physical originals, ensuring authenticity and reliability in compliance with regulatory standards.

Spices Board Partners With Uttarakhand Government

The Spices Board of India, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Uttarakhand, to promote sustainable agricultural practices in the state.

The agreement was signed by A B Remashree, Director of Spices Board, during the Industry Interaction Meet held in Dehradun, in the presence of Sunil Barthwal, Secretary, Department of Commerce.

The MoU aims to identify suitable areas for expanding large cardamom cultivation and other spices in Uttarakhand.

The pilot project will enhance the green economy by improving post-harvest practices, establishing market linkages, and building farmers' capacity through forming Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

This partnership aims to boost the House of Himalayas brand while contributing to sustainable development and community empowerment, creating economic opportunities for local farmers.

 

BANKING

IOB New Loan Centres across India, Introduces Heritage-Themed ATM in Chennai

Public-sector lender Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has inaugurated 8 new Retail Loan Processing Centres (RLPCs) across India.

One physical RLPC is located in Chennai, while seven others were launched virtually in major cities.

The new RLPCs are situated in: Bangalore, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai.

The initiative aims to enhance customer experience and improve service delivery for retail customers.

The RLPCs are equipped with advanced digital technology and automation tools.

These enhancements are intended to expedite loan approvals and disbursements.

IOB has also inaugurated a heritage-themed ATM at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Central Railway Station in Chennai.

The ATM is designed to replicate the historic Victorian-era redbrick station building, serving as a tribute to the heritage of the Central Railway Station.

LIC Reduces Maximum Age Limit for New Endowment Plan to 50 Years

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has reduced the maximum age limit for purchasing the new endowment plan from 55 years to 50 years, effective October 1, 2024.

The revised product is the 'LIC New Endowment Plan-914', a participating endowment plan that offers a dual benefit of protection and savings.

Minimum entry age for the plan is 8 years.

It provides both death benefits and maturity benefits.

LIC currently offers six endowment products, LIC’s Single Premium Endowment Plan, LIC’s New Endowment Plan, LIC’s New Jeevan Anand, LIC’s Jeevan Lakshya, LIC’s Jeevan Labh Plan and LIC’s Amritbaal

All endowment products have been modified to comply with new surrender value guidelines effective from October 1, 2024.

A total of 32 products and riders have been updated for compliance.

Average premium rates for most products have been revised by 8-10% (excluding LIC’s Amritbaal Plan).

The sum assured for the New Endowment Plan, New Jeevan Anand, and Jeevan Lakshya has increased to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1 lakh.

LIC has introduced a Single Premium Group Micro Term Insurance Plan.

It is a Non-Participating, Non-Linked, Group, Pure Risk life micro-insurance product designed for finance institutions, cooperatives, self-help groups (SHGs), and NGOs.

The plan aims to provide affordable life insurance coverage to members of unorganized groups and homogeneous affinity groups.

SBI Extends Amrit Kalash and Amrit Vrishti Fixed Deposit Schemes

The State Bank of India (SBI) has extended the Amrit Kalash and Amrit Vrishti fixed deposit schemes until March 31, 2025.

Originally set to conclude on September 30, 2024, the extension provides higher interest rates for depositors.

The Amrit Kalash scheme offers a fixed deposit with tenure of 400 days.

Interest Rate is 10% per annum for general customers and 60% per annum for senior citizens (higher than the standard rate of 6.80% for similar tenures).

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

5th National Water Award 2023

Odisha has bagged the best state award in the 5th National Water Awards 2023, which was announced by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti Chandrakant Raghunath Paatil on 14 October 2024 in New Delhi.

The winner of the awards in various categories will be conferred in a function to be held on 22 October 2024 in New Delhi. The award functions will be presided over by President Droupadi Murmu.

The National Water Awards was instituted by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The award was instituted to create awareness among the people about the importance of water and to adopt the best water usage practices.

The award is given in 9 categories, and 38 winners have been selected for the 2023 edition.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

26th DG of Indian Coast Guard

DG Paramesh Sivamani has taken over as the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard.

DG Paramesh Sivamani was given the additional charge of Director General of the Coast Guard in August 2024 after the death of the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Rakesh Pal, on 18 August 2024 in Chennai.

DG Paramesh Sivamani is an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu.

He is considered a specialist in Navigation and Direction and commanded all the major vessels of the Indian Coast Guard.

Sivamani, over the last three and half decades, has served in various capacities in onshore and offshore appointments with distinction.

During his illustrious career, DG Paramesh Sivamani was honoured with the Tatrakshak Medal in 2014 and the President’s Tatrakshak Medal in 2019.

He was also awarded the DG Coast Guard Commendation in 2012 and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (East) Commendation in 2009.

      

DEFENCE

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers hands over the second Survey Vessel, INS Nirdeshak

Nirdeshak, the second of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships, was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 8, 2024.

It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau.

The first ship of the SVL class, INS Sandhayak, was commissioned on February 3, 2024.

INS Nirdeshak is the second in a series of four such vessels being constructed by GRSE, with the first delivered to the Navy 10 months ago in December 2023.

These are the largest survey vessels for the Indian Navy to be built in the country.

The vessels are designed and built as per the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping by GRSE, Kolkata.

The ship will also gather oceanographic and geophysical data for defense and civil applications.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Rural Women

International Day of Rural Women 2024 is observed on the 15th of October 2024.

This year's theme, "Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building climate resilience, Conserving Biodiversity, and Caring for land towards gender equality and Empowerment,"

The United Nations (U.N.) has been working to keep the world's nations peaceful and friendly since its founding in 1945.

The United Nations has undertaken a number of humanitarian initiatives and adopted resolutions and laws aimed at protecting the environment.

The U.N.'s efforts to improve the status and wellbeing of women, particularly those in rural areas, rank among its most impressive accomplishments.