Aman Sehrawat won the bronze in the men’s freestyle 57kg event at the Paris 2024 Olympics wrestling tournament to become India’s youngest medal winner at the Summer Games. At the age of 21 years and 24 days, Aman Sehrawat bettered PV Sindhu’s record of 21 years, one month, and 14 days when she bagged the silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
On his Olympic debut, Aman Sehrawat, an Asian champion, got the better of Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz, a Pan American Games bronze medallist, with a convincing 13-5 scoreline. This was India’s first medal in wrestling at Paris 2024, sixth overall, and the second successive one in the event at the Olympics. Ravi Kumar Dahiya had won silver in the event at Tokyo 2020.
In the semi-finals, Aman was defeated by Rio 2016 silver medallist Rei Higuchi of Japan. A total of six wrestlers are representing India at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In wrestling, this was India’s eighth medal at the Olympics. Sushil Kumar and Ravi Kumar Dahiya won silver medals at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, respectively. The remaining six medals are bronze.
To keep pace with the latest developments in the field of biofuels and to attract more investment, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the modified Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana. The modified scheme extends the timeline for implementation of the scheme by Five (5) years i.e. till 2028-29,
And includes advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks i.e. agricultural and forestry residues, industrial waste, synthesis (syn) gas, algae, etc. in its scope. “Bolt-on” plants & “Brownfield projects” would also now be eligible to leverage their experience and improve their viability.
To promote multiple technologies and feedstocks, preference would now be given to project proposals with new technologies and innovations in the sector.
The scheme aims to provide remunerative income to farmers for their agriculture residue, address environmental pollution, create local employment opportunities, and contribute to India's energy security,
and self-reliance. It also supports the development of advanced biofuel technologies and promotes the Make in India Mission. It also helps in achieving India’s ambitious target for net-zero GHG emissions by 2070. The Government of India's commitment to promoting advanced biofuels through the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana reflects its dedication to sustainable.
The Government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol. OMCs are on course to achieve the 20% blending target by the end of ESY 2025-26.
To facilitate Punjabi Diaspora across the globe, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann dedicated a state-of-the-art NRI Facilitation Centre- “Punjab Help Centre” at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Launching the centre, the Chief Minister said that today is a Red Letter Day in the history of the state,
As Punjab has become the first state to launch such an initiative which reflects the strong commitment of the state government to support and facilitate the NRI brethren. He said that this center will be manned 24x7 and will provide assistance to all the NRIs and other passengers arriving at the terminal.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Center has two Innova cars at its disposal for helping passengers with local movement to Punjab Bhawan and other nearby places.The Chief Minister said that the passengers/relatives will be free to take assistance regarding arrival flights, connecting flights, taxi services,lost luggage facilities and any other assistance required at airport
To lower India's dependence on oil imports and improve connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet approved eight railway projects with a focus on the development of Eastern states. The estimated outlay has been set at Rs. 24,657 crore.
The newly approved projects covering 14 districts in seven states will be in Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal. These are essential routes for the transportation of commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizer, etc.
The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 143 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).The Railways being environment-friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (32.20 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (0.87 MillionTon)
which is equivalent to the plantation of 3.5 crore trees. With these projects 64 new stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to six Aspirational Districts (East Singhbum, BhadadriKothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), 510 villages, and about 40 lakh population.
Additionally, Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site will be connected to Indian Railway Network facilitating a large number of tourists.
The Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme of the Ministry of Textiles is a pioneering effort in the traceability, certification, and branding of Indian cotton. The details of the Kasturi Cotton Bharat program and implementation of blockchain technology for traceability.
Kasturi Bharat initiative, a collaboration between the Government of India, trade bodies, and industry, was formalized with budgetary support of Rs. 30 crore including Rs.15 crores from Trade & Industry Bodies through a MoU signed on15.12.2022 between Cotton Corporation of India on behalf of Government of India, Ministry of Textiles and The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion
To provide complete traceability of Kasturi Cotton Bharat tagged bales across the supply chain,QR based certification technology are being used at each stage of the processing and a Block-chain based software platform will provide end to end traceability and transaction certificate. In this regard, Microsite with QR code verification and Block Chain technology has developed
The Kasturi Cotton Bharat program is operational at the national level and its promotion is being made at national and international platform. Hence, the allocation of funds is not at state level. The implementation of Block chain Technology under this program is designed for stakeholders across the entire Indian cotton value chain including Andhra Pradesh.
The Office of Chief Adviser Cost, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, celebrated the Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS) Day, on 9th August 2024 in New Delhi. This year’s theme of ‘ICoAS @ Viksit Bharat’ underscores the pivotal role of ICoAS officers in contributing to the vision of a developed India by 2047.
Dr. T. V. Somanathan, Finance Secretary & Secretary (Expenditure),was the Chief Guest of the event. Dr. Somanathan also released e-Book titled ‘Indian Cost Accounts Service: An Overview,’ which details the significant functions and achievements of ICoAS officers.Two technical sessions was also held to brainstorm the various aspects of cost accounting on the foundation day
World Lion Day was initiated by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats. Celebrated on August 10th, it is a day for people to come together from across the globe to pay tribute to the mighty lion! World Lion Day is an occasion to celebrate the majestic lions that captivate our hearts with their strength and magnificence.
The Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shri Manoj Kumar, along with Rajya Sabha MP Shri Arun Singh, launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign at Khadi Gramshilpa Lounge, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Cannaught Place, New Delhi.
On this occasion, a Special Sales Center for National Flags, Charkhas, and Khadi Fabric was also inaugurated. KVIC is constantly striving for the upliftment of rural India. As a result of this, for the first time in the history of Independent India, the sales of KVIC products in the financial year 2023-24 have crossed the figure of Rs. 1 lakh 55 thousand crore.
Under this campaign, 3X2 feet National Flags made of Khadi/Polyester are available at Khadi stores across the country at a special price of Rs. 198/- only. He further said that in the last 10 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the New Khadi of New India has become the 'Guarantee of Developed India'.
On the occasion of Independence Day, Khadi kurtas, small and big charkhas along with National flags are being sold from 9 to 15 August at Khadi Gramshilpa Lounge of KVIC at Connaught Place. Further, the Joint Secretary of the MSME Ministry, Shri Vipul Goyal, and officers and employees of various offices of KVIC, Delhi were present in the program.
Union Finance Secretary T V Somanathan has been appointed Cabinet Secretary for two years starting August 30, said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He will be taking over from Rajiv Gauba.
A 1987-batch Tamil Nadu cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Somanathan was designated Finance Secretary in April 2021,
The senior-most position among all secretaries in the ministry. He was appointed Secretary, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, back in December 2019. Somanathan, who served as a joint secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) from 2015 to 2017, was also involved in overseeing the implementation of economic policies in the Prime Minister’s Office
during that period. He also helped in shaping the Budget 2024 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The IAS officer holds a doctorate in Economics and is a qualified chartered accountant, cost accountant, and company secretary. He has published over 80 papers and articles on economics, finance, and public policy in journals and newspapers.
He is also the author of two books and has contributed chapters to several others. Additionally, he served as Director at the World Bank in Washington, DC, on deputation from the IAS.
