Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, on October 01, 2024, became the first woman officer to take over as the Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). The DGAFMS is directly responsible to the Ministry of Defence for overall medical policy matters which relate to the Armed Forces.
Prior to assuming the appointment of 46th DGAFMS, the Flag Officer held the coveted appointments of DG Medical Services (Navy), DG Medical Services (Air) and Director & Commandant of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. She is an alumna of AFMC, Pune and was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985.
The Flag Officer has the rare distinction of serving in all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces, having served as Lieutenant to Captain in the Indian Army, from Surgeon Lieutenant to Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy, and as an Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force.
CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) celebrated the 83rd Foundation Day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at the National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.
On the occasion, a special issue of ‘Science Reporter’, a monthly publication of CSIR-NIScPR was also released during the event.
The title of the issue is "Science Reporter: A Six Decade Journey in Science Communication (1964-2024)". Awards were distributed by distinguished guests to retirees, employees completing 25 years of service, and meritorious 10th and 12th-class students.
The National Quantum Mission is more than just a quantum initiative. It is a strategic investment in India's future, laying the groundwork for economic growth, job creation, and technological leadership in the quantum-driven world,” said Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at the Announcement Ceremony of Thematic Hubs and Technical Groups National Quantum Mission (NQM).
These hubs bring together a total of 152 researchers from 43 institutions, including 31 Institutes of National Importance, 8 research laboratories, one university and 3 private institutes. This initiative reflects the nation's collective ambition to lead in the rapidly evolving field of quantum technologies.
NQM is one of the nine missions under the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC), created to leverage scientific research and make India a global leader in quantum technology. By advancing secure quantum communication, quantum computing, and precision sensing technologies, the mission is set to revolutionize fields like telecommunications,
defence, finance, and healthcare, driving lasting societal impact.
“BharatGen is a proud example of India's commitment to advancing homegrown technologies, by positioning India as a global leader in the field of Generative AI, much like our achievements with UPI and other innovations that have transformed various sectors,” said the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh,
at the launch of BharatGen National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.
This initiative marks the world's first government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model project focused on creating efficient and inclusive AI in Indian languages. A key element of BharatGen is its open-source foundational models, which will help democratize AI across India.
Shri AK Saxena, CMD, MOIL assumed additional charge of the post of CMD at RINL, the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam steel plant.
Soon after assuming charge, Sri AK Saxena interacted with the Directors of RINL. Later he visited Blast Furnace 2 (Krishna) and interacted with the officials of Blast Furnace of Visakhapatnam steel plant.
The central government launched the five-year Cruise Bharat Mission, aiming to boost cruise tourism in India to 1 million passengers and create 400,000 jobs by 2029.
The mission includes setting up a dedicated fund, easing cabotage regulations, and financial incentives.
The mission has been divided into three phases, which will be implemented by 2029.
The Centre aims to increase sea cruise calls from 125 to 500 by Phase-3.
Till October 2025, the Centre will conduct market studies and identification of projects to support in financial and regulatory ways going forward. Between 2025-27, the ministry will concentrate on developing new cruise terminals, marinas, and destinations to activate high-potential cruise locations
and circuits. In Phase-3, the Centre will look to integrate all cruise circuits across the Indian Subcontinent. The ministry, according to its mission document, will establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for cruise development under the Indian Ports Association (IPA), which represents major ports in India.
The Centre will also look to levy a ‘cruise development cess’ at major ports, the proceeds of which will be sent to a special cruise fund under the IPA, which will also get proceeds from other industry sources.
India's core sector output, which accounts for about two-fifths of industrial production, fell during August, with six of the eight core sectors reporting negative growth during the month.
The index of eight core industries fell by 1.8% annually in August compared with a 6.1% increase in July, according to provisional data released by the commerce ministry.
A year ago, the output of the eight core industries—coal, crude oil, steel, cement, electricity, fertilisers, refinery products, and natural gas—had expanded by 13.4% year-on-year. The provisional data for August could be revised in October. The slowdown in manufacturing could significantly affect industrial production in August, data for which will be released in October.
Only two of the eight sectors — fertilisers and steel — reported a sequential rise in production in August. The output of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, cement and electricity all contracted, according to the latest data.
Marking the completion of 10 years of the launch of one of the most significant mass movements for cleanliness – the Swachh Bharat Mission – Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 program on the occasion of 155th Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October at around 10 AM in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
During the programme, the Prime Minister will launch and lay the foundation stone for several projects related to sanitation and cleanliness, worth over Rs 9600 crore. It will include projects worth over Rs 6,800 crore, aimed at enhancing urban water and sewage systems under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, 10 projects worth over Rs 1550 crore focused on improving water quality,
and waste management in Ganga basin areas under National Mission for Clean Ganga and 15 Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant projects worth over Rs 1332 crore under GOBARdhan Scheme.
The theme for Swachhata Hi Seva 2024, ‘Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata’, has once again united the nation in its commitment to cleanliness, public health, and environmental sustainability.
Under Swachhata Hi Seva 2024, over 19.70 lakhs programmes have been completed with public participation of more than 17 crore people. Transformation of around 6.5 lakh Cleanliness Target Units has been achieved. Nearly 1 lakh SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivirs have also been organised, benefitting over 30 lakh Safai Mitras.
India's star batter Virat Kohli became only the fourth player in cricketing history to reach 27,000 international runs across all formats of the game.
Virat scored a 35-ball 47 on day 4 of the 2nd Test against Bangladesh to achieve the feat, which took him to the fourth spot in the list of most international runs scored.
Kohli became only the second Indian to achieve the feat after the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who amassed a massive 34,357 runs across the length of his career. He is also the fastest batter to reach 27000 runs, reaching the impressive landmark in just 594 innings.
Sachin is followed by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (28,016 runs) and,
Australia's Ricky Ponting at third (27,483 runs).
Kohli has more than 8,800 runs in Tests, 13,906 runs in 295 ODIs, and another 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is. He has only retired from the T20 format after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 earlier this year. India’s talisman is still a long way from matching Sachin's record, as the former cricketer scored 15,921 runs in 200 Tests.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) is celebrating its Eighth Annual Day on 1st October 2024. The main event to mark the occasion is being organised in New Delhi. Chief Justice (Retd.) Mr Ramalingam Sudhakar, the President of the National Company Law Tribunal, will be the Chief Guest and will deliver a keynote address.
To mark the occasion, an annual publication, “IBC के आठवर्ष: शोध एवं विश्लेषण” will be released. Over the past eight years, the IBC has significantly accelerated the resolution of insolvency cases, bolstering investor and stakeholder confidence and fostering a more favourable environment for business growth.
The Code's deterrent effect, enabling the transfer of control of a Corporate Debtor, has significantly influenced debtor behaviour. The risk of ownership transfer is a strong incentive, encouraging disciplined management and discouraging insolvency-triggering actions.
Mr. Ravi Mittal, Chairperson of IBBI will address the occasion.
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approved a new asset class, allowing high-net-worth investors to invest in riskier regulated products.
The new asset class is to have a minimum investment amount of Rs 10 lakh. The offerings under the new product will be referred to as ‘Investment Strategies’,
to maintain a clear distinction from the schemes offered under the traditional mutual funds. The new product is intended to add depth and variety to the investment landscape of the country through a new asset class.
Sebi floated a consultation paper on introducing a 'New Asset Class' in July, inviting public comments by August 6, 2024.
The move is aimed at creating a new product that lies between mutual funds and portfolio management services (PMS), catering to investors with higher risk-taking capabilities and larger ticket sizes. Among other important decisions, the regulator also approved rules for a new investment product under mutual funds.
It introduced the liberalized Mutual Funds Lite (MF Lite) framework for passively managed schemes of mutual funds.
Bollywood legend Mithun Chakraborty, 74 will receive this year's Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest film honour given by the government. The veteran actor, a former Trinamool Rajya Sabha member who joined the BJP in 2021, was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian honour earlier this year.
Mithun Chakraborty, born in Kolkata, made his acting debut in the 1976 film Mrigayaa and won the National Film Award for Best Actor. Over the years, Mithun received two more National Film Awards for his roles in Tahader Katha (1992) and Swami Vivekananda (1998). Recently, he appeared in The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri.
Previous winners of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award include Amitabh Bachchan, Waheeda Rehman, Rekha, Asha Parekh, and Rajinikanth.
On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.
Population ageing is a major global trend reshaping societies worldwide. Life expectancy at birth now exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries, 25 years longer than in 1950. By 2030, older persons are projected to outnumber youth globally, with this increase most rapid in developing countries.
In recognition of challenges and opportunities, the 34th commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons will focus on the theme of "Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide".
The international observance of International Coffee Day is marked by almost every country around the world on October 1. It is a tribute to what has become one of humanity's most loved beverages-cup-after-cup, and one that gives us much more than just a caffeine boost. This year's campaign is "Coffee, Your Daily Ritual, Our Shared Journey".
which honours collaboration within the sector, promoting sustainable practices while supporting livelihoods among coffee farmers worldwide.
Although International Coffee Day's history can be traced to early celebrations during the 2000s, officially it was established during a meeting of the International Coffee Organization in 2015 in Milan, Italy.
