National News

PM Modi Launches ‘Karmayogi Saptah’ in New Delhi.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially launched the ‘Karmayogi Saptah’ (National Learning Week) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
• This initiative aims to enhance human resources, positioning them as a key driver of national development.
• The week is designed to provide new insights and experiences that will strengthen working systems, helping to achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
• Mission Karmayogi, which was launched in September 2020, envisions a future-ready civil service grounded in Indian values while maintaining a global perspective.
• The National Learning Week will promote individual and organizational capacity development for civil servants, creating a unified message across government sectors and encouraging lifelong learning.

Karnataka Launches AI Tool ‘Shiksha Copilot’ for Teachers.

• The Karnataka government has unveiled an innovative AI-powered tool called ‘Shiksha Copilot’, aimed at transforming the education system in government schools.
• Launched by School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa, this digital tool is designed to enhance the academic performance of both teachers and students.
• Developed in collaboration with the Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India, Shiksha Copilot simplifies lesson planning and provides valuable resources, including activities and videos.
• By allowing educators to focus on individual student needs, the tool aims to create a more personalized and effective teaching experience.
• The AI tool facilitates quick lesson plan creation, integrating engaging activities, quizzes, and multimedia resources aligned with the school curriculum.
• Utilizing Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, it can process textbook content and generate rich learning materials in various formats, including text, images, and videos.
• This initiative seeks to improve classroom management and ultimately boost students' performance in board exams across Karnataka.

   About Karnataka

• Capital: Bengaluru
• Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
• Deputy Chief Minister: DK Shivakumar
• Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates International Workshop on Modern Technologies for Urban Land Records.

• Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has inaugurated an International Workshop on Modern Technologies in Survey-Resurvey for Urban Land Records in New Delhi.
• This important workshop aims to highlight global best practices in the modernization of urban land records and to present applicable technological solutions.
• The workshop focuses on facilitating pilot project planning for selected urban areas, addressing critical challenges such as lack of standardization, data security, and the need for capacity building among stakeholders.
• By bringing together experts and practitioners, the event aims to enhance urban land management and improve the efficiency of land record systems across the country.

                      International News

First G-7 Defence Ministers Meeting Hosted by Italy in Naples.

• In a historic first, the G-7 Defence Ministers convened in Naples, Italy, marking a significant milestone for the Group of Seven nations.
• Hosted by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, this meeting is part of Italy's role as the rotating G-7 presidency for 2024.
• The gathering brought together representatives from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the European Union, and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
• The G-7 consists of advanced industrialized nations including Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
• This meeting underscores the G-7's commitment to addressing global security challenges and enhancing international defense cooperation.

                    Banking and Finance

Indian Overseas Bank Launches Mahila Saksham Scheme to Empower Women Entrepreneurs.

• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has officially launched the Mahila Saksham scheme, aimed at financing individual members of Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission initiative.
• This initiative is designed to enhance financial self-reliance among women entrepreneurs and aligns with the Ministry of Rural Development’s Lakhpati Didi Yojana, which seeks to improve the financial status of women in self-help groups.

  Key features of the IOB Mahila Saksham Scheme include:

1. Financial support specifically for women self-help group members to foster entrepreneurship.
2. Credit assistance of up to ?10 lakh for individual members participating in the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.

  Recent Developments in the Banking and Insurance Sector

• Magma HDI General Insurance has introduced Double Suraksha, offering affordable insurance options for every income group.
• Bank of Baroda has launched a 400-day Utsav Deposit Scheme with an attractive interest rate of 7.3%.
• PhonePe has unveiled a new Firecracker Insurance plan for Diwali in collaboration with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.
• SBI Card has partnered with Singapore Airlines to launch the KrisFlyer SBI Card.
• Reliance Nippon Life Insurance has rolled out Nishchit Pension, designed to provide guaranteed long-term retirement income.
• Arka Fincap has launched Uday, a small ticket loan initiative aimed at boosting growth for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

                         Appointments

Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai Appointed as Director General of Medical Services (Navy).

• Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai has officially taken charge as the Director General of Medical Services (Navy).
• Commissioned into the Army Medical Corps on December 30, 1986, Vice Admiral Sahai boasts a distinguished career in military medicine, marked by exceptional achievements and leadership roles.

   Recent Appointments in the Defence Sector

• Director General of Indian Coast Guard: Paramesh Sivamani (26th)
• Vice Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal SP Dharkar (succeeding AP Singh)
• First Woman DG of Armed Forces Medical Services: Arti Sarin
• Chief of Indian Air Force: Amar Preet Singh (replacing V.R. Chaudhari)
• Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Amrit Mohan Prasad

Abhyuday Jindal Takes Over as President of Indian Chamber of Commerce.

• Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director of Jindal Stainless, has been appointed as the new President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), succeeding Ameya Prabhu.
• The ICC, founded in 1925, plays a crucial role in collaborating with the government to address challenges faced by various industries.

   Additional Recent Appointments

• Director of Cricket at JSW Sports: Saurav Ganguly
• Chief Minister of Haryana: Nayab Singh Saini (2nd term)
• Chief Minister of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah
• Deputy Chief of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir: Surinder Kumar Choudhary
• Managing Director and CEO of Indian Railways Financial Corporation (IRFC): Manoj Kumar Dubey
• Chairman of Tata Trusts: Noel Tata (succeeding Ratan Tata)

Vijaya Rahatkar Appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Women.

• The Government of India has appointed Vijaya Rahatkar as the 9th Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
• She succeeds Rekha Sharma, whose term ended on August 6, 2024.
• Rahatkar previously served as the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women from 2016 to 2021. Dr. Archana Majumdar has also been appointed as a member of the NCW, joining current members Ms. Delina Khongdup and Mrs. Mamta Kumari for a three-year term.

  About the National Commission for Women

• The National Commission for Women is a statutory body established by the Government of India in January 1992, under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• It operates under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, with its head office located in New Delhi.
• The first chairperson was Jayanti Patnaik.

Prabowo Subianto Sworn in as President of Indonesia.

• Prabowo Subianto has officially taken office as the eighth President of Indonesia, succeeding Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
• His newly appointed cabinet consists of 48 ministries and includes over 100 ministers and deputies, with notable re-appointments such as Sri Mulyani Indrawati as Finance Minister and Bahlil Lahadalia as Energy Minister.

   Newly Appointed Leaders Around the World

• President of Tunisia: Kais Saied (2nd term)
• President of Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum (first woman president)
• Prime Minister of Japan: Shigeru Ishiba (succeeding Fumio Kishida)
• President of Sri Lanka: Anura Kumara Dissanayake (9th president, replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe)
• Prime Minister of Jordan: Jafar Hassan
• President of Algeria: Abdelmadjid Tebboune

                             Awards

Mohanji Receives Humanitarian Award at 2024 Conscious Companies Awards.

• Mohanji, the esteemed humanitarian and spiritual leader, was honored with a prestigious award for his exceptional global humanitarian leadership at the 9th Conscious Companies Awards held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• This annual event recognizes ethical and visionary leaders who exemplify conscious leadership within their organizations, harmonizing people, profit, and purpose to foster a better world.
• The Conscious Companies Awards are dedicated to celebrating individuals and organizations that promote ethical behavior and sustainable practices.
• These awards highlight leaders who prioritize not just profit, but also the well-being of individuals and the planet.

  Recent Award Winners

• Femina Miss India 2024: Nikita Porwal (Madhya Pradesh)
• 54th Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2022): Mithun Chakraborty
• 32nd Ekalabya Puraskar (Odisha Government): Pratyasa Ray (Swimming)

      FIDE 100 Awards:

1. Men's: Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
2. Women's: Judit Polgar (Hungary

• Miss Universe India 2024: Rhea Singha (Gujarat);

  1. 1st Runner-up: Pranjal Priya
  2. 2nd Runner-up: Chhavi Verg

Chiratae Ventures Honors Narayana Murthy with the 2024 Patrick J. McGovern Award.

• Chiratae Ventures, a leading Indian venture capital fund, recently celebrated three outstanding leaders with the 2024 Patrick J. McGovern Awards.
• Notably, Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys, received the India Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering contributions to the technology sector.
• Other distinguished recipients included Shantanu Narayen, the Chair and CEO of Adobe, who was honored with the Global Lifetime Achievement Award, and Abhinav Asthana, the CEO and Founder of Postman, who received the Exceptional Entrepreneurial Achievement Award.
• These awards pay tribute to the legacy of Patrick J. McGovern, a trailblazer in technology media and an early supporter of Indian entrepreneurship.

   About Chiratae Ventures

• Established in 2016, Chiratae Ventures is one of India’s largest homegrown venture capital funds.
• The Patrick J. McGovern Awards commemorate the fund's anchor investor, who also founded the International Data Group (IDG).

President Droupadi Murmu Confers 5th National Water Awards 2023.

• In New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu awarded the 5th National Water Awards 2023.
• The Union Jal Shakti Ministry announced 38 winners across nine categories, including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Water User Association, and Best Civil Society.
• In the Best State category, Odisha was awarded the first prize, with Uttar Pradesh in second place, and Gujarat and Puducherry jointly receiving third.
• Each award winner was presented with a citation, trophy, and cash prizes in specific categories.
• The government continues to lead a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness about water management and conservation on a national scale, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in safeguarding water resources.

                            Sports

Neetu David, AB de Villiers, and Alastair Cook Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame.

• Neetu David, the former Indian cricketer, has made history by becoming only the second Indian woman inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
• The announcement was a significant moment for the 47-year-old as she joins cricket legends AB de Villiers and Alastair Cook as the latest honorees.
• Currently serving as the chief selector for the Indian women's cricket team, Neetu David is renowned for her outstanding performance on the field.
• She still holds the record for the best bowling figures by a woman in an individual Test innings, achieving 8 for 53 against England in 1995.

  About the International Cricket Council (ICC)

• Formation: June 15, 1909
• Headquarters: Dubai, UAE
• Chairman: Jay Shah (effective from December 1, 2024, succeeding Greg Barclay)
• Deputy Chairman: Imran Khwaja (Singapore)
• CEO: Geoff Allardice (Australia)
• General Manager: Wasim Khan
• Membership: 108 member nations