Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has once again clinched the prestigious title of Best Airport at the India Travel Awards, marking its third consecutive win. Last year, RGIA was also honored with Skytrax’s ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ award in Frankfurt, Germany.
The airport received recognition at the Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany for emerging on top among all other airports across South Asia and India.
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan, widely regarded as one of India’s finest military leaders, passed away in Chennai after a prolonged illness. He was 83. Padmanabhan, or Paddy as he was fondly called, served as the army chief during 2000-02.
The general, who stayed away from the limelight after retirement and refused a gubernatorial assignment, was the army chief when India launched Operation Parakram following the December 2001 terror attack on Parliament. It was the army’s largest mobilisation after the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Padmanabhan held a variety of key appointments in his illustrious military career. Apart from heading the Udhampur-based Northern Command and the Pune-based Southern, he also served as the Director General Military Intelligence. The general headed the Srinagar-based HQs 15 Corps during 1993-95 when Kashmir valley was in the throes of terrorism.
Airtel Payments Bank has announced the launch of Face Match, a new security feature designed to protect customer accounts from fraudulent activities. This feature utilises advanced machine learning algorithms to assess potential threats and activate facial recognition verification when necessary.
Face Match works by analysing various factors, including user behaviour, transaction patterns, location data, historical information, and device signals. If a user's activity triggers a predetermined threat score, Face Match is activated, requiring the user to verify their identity through a selfie.
This feature addresses the growing concerns around digital banking security, particularly in relation to conduit account fraud, account takeovers, and money laundering. Airtel Payments Bank's proactive approach aims to provide a secure and trustworthy banking environment for its customers.
Upon activation, users receive a notification prompting them to complete a quick verification through the Airtel Thanks app. The selfie is then compared to the photo taken during the account onboarding process using facial recognition technology and liveliness checks. A successful match allows the transaction to proceed.
In a major push towards indigenisation of critical Marine Engineering equipment of the Indian Navy. BEML Ltd., a ‘Schedule A’ company under the Ministry of Defence and one of India’s leading Defence and Heavy Engineering manufacturers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy.
The MoU was concluded at the Naval Headquarters at New Delhi between Rear Admiral K Srinivas, ACOM(D&R), Indian Navy and Shri Ajit Kumar Srivastav, Director of Defence, BEML. This initiative is a pivotal step in enhancing bilateral cooperation for indigenous design, development, manufacture, testing and product support of critical Marine Engineering equipment and systems.
Aligned with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the partnership aims to strengthen self-reliance in defence production and reduce dependence on foreign OEMs.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das rated "A+" globally for the second year in a row.
The rating was awarded by Global Finance's Central Banker Report Cards 2024 which has been publishing the Central Banker Report Cards since 1994. The list ranks central bank governors of almost 100 important nations, regions, and districts
which includes the European Union, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Bank of Central African States, and the Central Bank of West African States. The scale of "A+" to "F" scale is used to grade performance in areas like managing interest rates, controlling inflation, economic growth objectives as well as maintaining currency stability.
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) in partnership with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Ministry of Defence, inaugurated the first of its kind certification program for defence officers here at the IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram. This two-week certification program has 30 senior officers, serving as well as recently superannuated,
representing all three services. The programme witnessed the participation of Air Vice Marshals, Major Generals, and Rear Admirals, amongst other officers. The two-week long programme will conclude on 31st August 2024 with the certification ceremony.
The two-week programme is designed to orient the participants with the conceptual and regulatory understanding,
On corporate governance and aims to orient the participants about the roles and responsibilities of the Independent Director and also to help them contribute effectively. The participants expressed their willingness and enthusiasm to understand corporate governance and its nuances, broaden their horizons to contribute to the development of Indian corporations, and in turn,
lead to the development of the nation. IICA continues to champion initiatives that promote good governance and responsible business practices.
To realize the resolution of developed India of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) signed an important MoU with the Department of Posts working under the Ministry of Communications at KVIC, Rajghat New Delhi office.
Under this, the employees of the Postal Department working across the country will do physical verification of new units being set up across the Country under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). KVIC will also train the employees of the Postal Department for physical verification.
KVIC Chairman said that PMEGP has promoted entrepreneurship throughout the country and created new employment opportunities. Since the inception of the scheme, PMEGP has supported the setting up of more than 9.69 lakh new projects and generated employment for more than 84.64 lakh entrepreneurs.
So far, a margin money subsidy of Rs 25563.44 crore has been distributed through this scheme against a loan of Rs 69021.29 crore. In the last financial year 2023-24 itself, PMEGP has generated employment for more than 9.80 lakh entrepreneurs and distributed margin money subsidy of more than Rs 3093 crore.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Ministry of MSME, for the first time in the history of independent India, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries has crossed the figure of 1 lakh 55 thousand crore.
Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS has assumed the charge of Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry vice Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, lAS consequent upon his appointment as Officer on Special Duty, Department of Defence.
Prior to this, he was serving as Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia is an Indian Administrative Service Officer of the 1993 Batch from the Nagaland cadre. In Central Government, he has held many important positions in the Ministries of Corporate Affairs and Health & Family Welfare.
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) received more than 150 applications this year from 21 states out of which 6 projects of various genres have been selected for the 17th edition of NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab, an ongoing initiative to develop, nurture, and promote original voices from all over India.
The six screenwriters, who also happen to be filmmakers of ad films, short films, novelist, documentaries, and feature films, have written the selected scripts in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Pahadi, Punjabi, Assamese, Malayalam, Konyak, English & Maithili.
The three-part intensive Screenwriters’ Lab is part of NFDC Labs’ ongoing initiative to develop original voices and stories from India. Selected participants work closely with noted mentors in an intensive 5-month program to fine-tune existing screenplays through personalized interactions and group sessions under the guidance of acclaimed script experts,
from India and around the world. Aimed at domestic as well as international markets, the projects will be pitched to producers and investors in a specially designed session during Film Bazaar 2024.
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious National Geoscience Awards (NGA) for the year 2023 at a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
This year, a total of 12 awards to 21 Geoscientists, including academicians and professionals from across the country, were honoured under three categories:
National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement (01 award), National Geoscience Award (10 awards), and National Young Geoscientist Award (01 award) in various specialized fields of geosciences.
The National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement was bestowed upon Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee, Emeritus Scientist at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA),
recognized for his distinguished and pioneering work on phosphorites, isotope geology, and organic geochemistry of Precambrian sedimentary rocks of India. Under the National Geoscience Award category, a total of 10 awards including 3 teams were conferred in various fields of geosciences.
Dr. Ashutosh Pandey, Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, received the National Young Geoscientist Award. Dr. Pandey was honored for his groundbreaking research and significant insights into the geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Dharwar Craton and suggesting an alternative model.
Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, elaborated on the evolution of the National Geoscience Awards since their inception in 1966, Further, he highlighted the newly launched National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal of the Ministry of Mines. Secretary, Mines underscored the role of geosciences and,
The importance of the National Geoscience Awards in recognizing excellence and innovation in the geoscience field.
The National Geoscience Awards continue to symbolize recognition and appreciation for outstanding achievements in geosciences, mineral exploration, and natural hazard investigations driving forward the pursuit of excellence and sustainable development.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of shareholding in each of Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Limited and Invesco Trustee Private Limited by IndusInd International Holdings Limited.
The proposed combination pertains to the acquisition of 60% shareholding in each of Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Limited (Invesco AMC) and Invesco Trustee Private Limited (Invesco Trustee) by IndusInd International Holdings Limited (IIHL) (Proposed Combination).
IIHL will be holding the investment through its wholly owned and controlled subsidiary, IIHL AMC Holdings Limited (IIHL AMC), which has been incorporated specifically for the Proposed Combination.
IIHL is a Global Business License (Category 1) licensee company incorporated in the Republic of Mauritius.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of shareholding in Shriram Housing Finance Limited by Mango Crest Investment Ltd.
Mango Crest Investment Ltd. is a company incorporated in the Republic of Mauritius. The principal business activity of the Acquirer is undertaking investment holding activities.
Shriram Housing Finance Limited is a housing finance company registered with the National Housing Bank.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that it has approved the proposed combination involving the acquisition by Advent (through Rasmeli) in Apollo Healthco, acquisition by Apollo Healthco in Keimed, and the Merger of Keimed into Apollo Healthco. After the acquisition, Rasmeli will make a minority investment in AHL over two tranches, gaining certain rights in AHL.
In addition, AHL intends to acquire shares in Keimed through phased primary and secondary transactions. Following the Rasmeli Investment, Keimed and AHL will work towards merging Keimed into AHL.
Before the Rasmeli Investment, AHEL plans to subscribe to equity shares of AHL through a preferential allotment and a bonus issuance of new shares by AHL, as per the CCI statement.
Rasmeli Limited (Rasmeli) is an entity incorporated in Cyprus with the principal activity of holding investments and has no activities or presence in India. Rasmeli is indirectly held by certain entities which in turn will be held by certain funds/ limited partnerships, which are ultimately managed by Advent International, L.P. (Advent).
Apollo Healthco Limited (AHL/ Apollo Healthco) operates the “Apollo 24|7” platform which helps users/customers to inter alia book doctor appointments and diagnostic tests.
AHL also operates in the pharmacy distribution segment where it sources and acts as a wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), OTC products and private label products.
Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan on Thursday will take charge as the new Union Home Secretary from Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who completes his five-year tenure at the sensitive post.
B.Tech from Banaras Hindu University and PG Diploma from IIM, Ahmedabad, was serving as union culture secretary before his appointment to the top bureaucratic post, next only to the Cabinet Secretary.
A 1989 batch IAS officer of Sikkim cadre, Mohan has already joined the Union Home Ministry as an Officer on Special Duty. He has a wide experience of serving both the Sikkim and the central governments in various capacities.
He had earlier served the home ministry as additional secretary handling several key divisions, including Union territories.
Reliance Foundation and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have signed a landmark MoU that will provide improved weather information and support to climate-affected communities. Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, IMD, and Shri Jagannath Kumar, CEO, of Reliance Foundation, signed the MoU in New Delhi.
The main objective of this partnership is to prepare communities to face climate change and weather-related challenges. Under this, research will be done to strengthen weather forecasting and early warning services and discussions will be held with various experts. This effort will increase people's tolerance towards weather changes.
In its resolution 72/165 (2017), the General Assembly, established the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism to be commemorated annually on 21 August, to honour and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
