27th of September every year is commemorated as 'World Tourism Day' to further reflect on the critical role it plays globally. It celebrates the industry's ability to not just unite people but also support livelihoods & boost economies but also promote a vast cultural exchange. World Tourism Day was 1st celebrated in 1980 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
World Tourism Day 2024, under the theme "Tourism and Peace", wants to highlight the vital role of this sector in fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation processes.
As India gears for hosting World Telecom Standardisation Assembly (WTSA2024), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launching the WTSA2024 Outreach Sessions. Scheduled in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, the outreach sessions aim to provide a distinctive platform to students for learning and direct engagement with industry experts, fostering meaningful interactions.
This will be the first time such a pivotal ITU standards conference is held in Asia. Over 190 nations will gather to shape the future of global telecom standards, highlighting India’s growing influence in the global telecom industry. The WTSA is a quadrennial event and serves as the governing conference of the International Telecommunication Union Standardisation Sector.
India has moved up to 39th place among 133 global economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024. India also ranked 1st among lower-middle-income economies, and 4th in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Science & Technology (S&T) Cluster Ranking.
Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai are listed among the World’s Top 100 S&T clusters, and India is 7th globally in intangible asset intensity. India’s rise in the GII ranking is notable, as the country was ranked 81st in 2015.
The GII 2024 evaluates the innovation ecosystem performance of 133 economies and tracks the latest global innovation trends. It is considered a reliable tool for governments to assess innovation-led social and economic changes in their countries. The GII, which started in 2007 by INSEAD, a business school, and World Business, a British magazine.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) GII 2024, Switzerland, Sweden, the US, Singapore, and the UK are the world’s most innovative economies, while China, Turkey, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the fastest climbers over the past decade.
The central government has announced an increase in minimum wage rates by revising the Variable Dearness Allowance. The new wage rates will take effect from 1st October. The minimum wage rates are categorized based on skill levels-unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled, as well as by geographical areas A, B, and C.
After the revision, minimum wage rates for workers in area ‘A’ in construction, sweeping, cleaning, and loading & unloading for unskilled work will be 783 rupees a day. For semi-skilled workers, the minimum wage will be 868 rupees a day, and for skilled, clerical, and watch & ward (without arms), the minimum wage will be 954 rupees a day.
In snooker, Indian veteran Kamal Chawla has clinched his maiden IBSF World 6-Red title with a commanding 6-2 victory over Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal in the final at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This triumph marks a significant turnaround for Chawla, who was the runner-up in the 2017 edition of the tournament.
India also won three more bronze medals through Malkeet Singh, Vidya Pillai, and Keerthana Pandian. In the women’s category, India’s Vidya was unable to defend her title, finishing with a bronze medal after a hard-fought semifinal loss to Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee, with the scoreline at 2-4.
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank said the Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of Parveen Kumar Gupta as Non-Executive Chairman. Gupta retired as a Managing Director of State Bank of India, after working for 38 years in India and abroad, the bank said in a regulatory filing.
IDBI Bank has announced a special Scheme “Sugam Rinn Bhugtan Yojana (SUGAM)”, to boost its recovery efforts through one time settlement of Retail NPAs up to March 31, 2021. The scheme will be applicable to borrower’s principal outstanding above Rs.0.10 crore and up to Rs.10 crore (subject to eligibility criteria), at relaxed terms.
It will provide a renewed opportunity to the borrowers who are in distress and are willing to settle their dues to avoid legal entanglement, a release by the bank said. The scheme will end on March on 2025
The scheme will not be applicable where the sanction given under general One Time Settlement (OTS)/ Negotiated Settlement (NS), if it is in currency, where formal offer for settlement along with upfront amount has been received before launch of this scheme and the proposal is under consideration.
HDFC Bank has unveiled new updates to its SmartWealth app, introducing features aimed at making investments simpler.The Instant SIP will help users take immediate action and invest in mutual funds on the same day when they spot an opportunity. With Instant SIP,users can start investing without delays, allowing them to capitalise on the prevailing favourable market condition
In addition to Instant SIP, the Unified Dashboard has been revamped to provide a consolidated view of all investments across mutual funds, demat accounts and fixed deposits. The holistic approach simplifies money management, ensuring users stay informed and in control.
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India announced winners of the Best Tourism Villages Competition 2024, today, on 27th September, 2024, on the occasion of World Tourism Day. To promote tourism to the Soul of India (India’s villages), the Best Tourism Villages Competition was introduced in 2023.
The first edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 saw applications from 795 villages. In the second edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition, a total of 991 applications were received from 30 States and UTs, out of which 36 villages were recognized as winners across 8 categories of the Best Tourism Villages competition 2024.
The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Republic of Uzbekistan was signed by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and H.E. Mr. Khodjayev Jamshid Abdukhakimovich, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, today, at Tashkent.
The BIT between India and Uzbekistan assures appropriate protection to Uzbekistan investors in India and Indian investors in the Republic of Uzbekistan, in light of relevant international precedents and practices. It will increase the comfort level and boost the confidence of investors by assuring a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination.
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on the occasion of World Tourism Day, on 27th September, 2024 launched the Incredible India Content Hub on the revamped Incredible India digital portal (www.incredibleindia.gov.in).
The Incredible India Digital Portal is a tourist-centric, one-stop digital solution designed to enhance the travel experience for visitors to India. The revamped portal offers essential information and services to travellers at every stage of their journey, from discovery and research to planning, booking, travelling, and return.
The revamped portal offers a wealth of information on destinations, attractions, crafts, festivals, travel diaries, itineraries, and more, utilizing multimedia content such as videos, images, and digital maps. The platform's ‘Book Your Travel’ feature provides booking facility for flights, hotels, cabs, buses, and monuments, thereby enhancing accessibility for travellers.
Centre has declared 1.84 lakh hectares area surrounding the Gir Protected Area as an Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ). According to the official release issued by the state government today stated that this initiative will balance the conservation of the Asiatic lions’ at Gir-the only natural abode of Asiatic lions with sustainable development.
State Forest Minister Mulubhai Bera said currently, the area falling within 10 km of the outer boundary of the Gir Protected Area is considered ESZ where a total of 196 villages in three districts and 17 rivers are covered. The New zone will include more than 24 thousand hectares of forest area and 1.59 lakh hectares of non-forest area.
Axis Bank has launched a Corporate Credit Card Suite for startups under its New Economy Group. The cards aim to streamline travel, official expenses, and vendor payments. The suite includes an executive corporate credit card for founders and a purchase reward credit card for expense management.
Axis bank also announced a partnership with the Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai. The suite includes an Executive Corporate Credit Card that provides founders with enhanced credit limits and rewards such as four complimentary golf rounds, a reduced foreign exchange markup of 2 per cent on international transactions and exclusive insurance benefits.
Federal Bank, one of India’s leading banks unveiled NPS Vatsalya, a pioneering program inside the National Pension System (NPS) designed exclusively for minors. Government of India launched NPS Vatsalya on September 18, 2024, to provide a secure and flexible retirement planning solution for children while assuring long-term wealth building through the power of compounding.
With a minimal annual contribution of Rs. 1,000, this initiative is accessible to families from all socioeconomic backgrounds, encouraging financial inclusion and early financial planning. The scheme is managed by reputed fund managers that are registered with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), ensuring skilled investment management.
Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading public sector banks, has partnered with EaseMyTrip.com, a prominent online travel platform, to launch the Bank of Baroda EaseMyTrip Co-branded Travel Debit Card. This is the first co-branded travel debit card introduced by a public sector bank tailored specifically for frequent travelers, entertainment lovers, and shopping enthusiasts.
The card offers an array of exclusive benefits across travel bookings, hotel stays, OTT streaming platforms, and popular e-commerce sites, ensuring that users enjoy year-round savings with no minimum order value. From discounts on flights and hotel bookings to complimentary premium memberships, the card is designed to redefine customer experience.
