NATIONAL NEWS

Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and U-Win Portal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to officially launch the expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme and the vaccination tracking portal U-Win, as announced by Health Minister J.P. Nadda.

The scheme will benefit approximately 60 million eligible citizens aged 70 and above across 45 million families.

It has been expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, with no income cap.

It provides a cashless and paperless benefit of Rs 5 lakh per annum per family for hospitalization in empanelled hospitals across India.

Over 354 million citizens have been covered under the scheme, receiving PMJAY cards for health insurance.

The U-Win vaccination management portal is currently operational on a pilot basis, with 64.6 million beneficiaries registered.

The expanded AB-PMJAY will be implemented in October 2024.

A new treatment regimen for tuberculosis will be introduced under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), reducing treatment duration from 9-12 months to 6 months.

A detailed rollout plan for logistics and training of health professionals is being prepared, aimed at treating approximately 75,000 drug-resistant TB (DRTB)

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Iran Successfully Launches Chamran-1 Research Satellite

Iran launched the Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit using the Qaem-100 rocket, developed by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

The event marks a key advancement in Iran's aerospace program, despite scrutiny from Western nations due to concerns about ballistic missile development.

Chamran-1 weighs 60 kilograms and was placed into a 550-kilometer orbit.

The Qaem-100 rocket is a solid-fuel, three-stage vehicle and had been previously used for a satellite launch in January.

The primary mission of Chamran-1 is to test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation.

MoU Signed Between ARIES and BEL For Space Situational Awareness

The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navaratna Defence PSU, to collaborate on space technologies with a specific focus on Space Situational Awareness (SSA).

The collaboration aims to develop advanced technologies for tracking space objects, including near-Earth objects and artificial satellites, to enhance satellite safety and user protection.

SSA is critical for predicting and avoiding potential collisions between objects in space. It supports the safety and reliability of satellite operations, which is increasingly vital as the number of satellites in orbit grows.

This MoU aligns with the Indian government's ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make-in-India’ initiatives, aiming to bolster India's technological capabilities in space.

The collaboration will leverage observations from ARIES's state-of-the-art telescopes, including the 4m International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT), to enhance data collection and analysis for SSA.

 

BANKING

Punjab and Sind Bank to Raise Up to ₹3,000 Crore Through Infrastructure Bonds

Public sector lender, Punjab and Sind Bank plans to raise up to ₹3,000 crore through infrastructure bonds as a cost-effective option amid increasing competition for deposits.

Public sector banks, including Punjab & Sind Bank, are actively raising funds through infrastructure bonds in FY25.

State Bank of India (SBI) raised ₹20,000 crore in two tranches through 15-year infra bonds.

Canara Bank raised ₹10,000 crore via 10-year infra bonds at a 7.4% rate.

Bank of India raised ₹5,000 crore through 10-year bonds at 7.54%.

CRISIL has assigned a "AA/Stable" rating to the proposed infrastructure bonds of Punjab & Sind Bank.

Bond yields softened in August and September 2024, with the 10-year Indian government security (G-sec) yield ranging between 6.76% and 6.87%.

ADB Recommends Pakistan Implement Indian ULLAS Scheme

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) advised Pakistan to adopt India's ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) scheme to address its dysfunctional education system and provide quality training to its citizens.

Pakistan requested financial support from the ADB to improve its education system and address the issue of educating 26 million out-of-school children.

ULLAS was launched by the Government of India in July 2023 to assist non-literates and adults who missed formal schooling.

The scheme aims to provide foundational literacy and numeracy, along with critical life skills such as financial literacy, digital literacy, healthcare awareness, and family welfare.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved ULLAS as a centrally-sponsored scheme for a five-year period to promote the goal of "Education for All."

The recommendation came just before the scheduled visit of ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa to Pakistan.

Pakistan declared an education emergency on International Literacy Day to address the challenge of educating millions of out-of-school children.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Dhruvi Patel Wins Miss India Worldwide 2024

Dhruvi Patel, a Computer Information System student from the USA, has been crowned the winner ofMiss India Worldwide 2024, the longest-running Indian pageant outside India.

Miss India Worldwide is a prestigious beauty pageant that includes contestants from India and the Indian diaspora globally.

It is organized by the India Festival Committee (IFC), founded and led by Dharmatma Saran in New York City.

Winner: Dhruvi Patel (USA)

First Runner-Up: Lisa Abdoelhak (Suriname)

Second Runner-Up: Malvika Sharma (Netherlands)

Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar were Honoured at the FIDE 100 Awards

At the FIDE 100 Awards ceremony in Hungary, Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar were recognized as the best male and female players, respectively.

This event celebrated the centenary of the International Chess Federation, honouring exceptional contributions to the chess community over the past century.

The FIDE 100 event marked a significant milestone, celebrating the evolution and impact of chess while recognizing individuals, groups, and organizations that have made remarkable contributions to the game.

Best Team – Men: Armenia

Best Team – Women: Georgia

Best Book: My 60 Memorable Games by Bobby Fischer

Advocate for Women in Chess: Jean Michel Rapaire

Social Impact: Chess for Freedom, Cook County Sheriff’s Office

Best Educator: Abel Talamantez

Inclusivity: International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA), International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), and International Chess Committee of Deaf (ICCD)

Best Trainer – Man: Vladimir Tukmakov

Best Trainer – Woman: Susan Polgar

 

SPORTS

First Pakistani Woman Nominated to ICC International Panel of Development Umpires

Saleema Imtiaz has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires, as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Saleema began her career with the PCB women's panel in 2008.

She officiated in the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 ACC Emerging Women’s Cup in Hong Kong.

She has officiated in 22 T20Is, including 16 on-field and 6 as a TV umpire. Her most recent match as an on-field umpire was the Women’s Asia Cup Final in Dambulla.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, with 108 member nations (12 Full Members and 96 Associate Members).

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Sign Languages

The International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated annually on September 23 to promote awareness of sign languages and the rights of deaf individuals.

This year’s theme is “Sign up for Sign Language Rights.”

Sign language is a vital nonverbal communication method, primarily used by individuals who are hard of hearing.

It allows deaf people to communicate effectively with each other and their surroundings.

The UN General Assembly established this day as part of the International Week of the Deaf to highlight the importance of sign languages and the rights of deaf individuals.

The first celebration took place in 2018, marking a significant step towards recognizing the linguistic rights of deaf people.