PM Modi visits Mahoba and Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the Nation various developmental projects in Mahoba and the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh. At Mahoba, Prime Minister inaugurated multiple projects with a cumulative cost of more than Rs. 3250 Crore, related to alleviating the issue of water shortage in the region. These projects include Arjun Sahayak Project, Ratauli Weir Project, Bhaoni Dam Project and Majhgaon–Chilli Sprinkler Project.
The key point of the visit:
- In Jhansi, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 600 MW Ultramega Solar Power Park at Garautha, constructed at a cost of over Rs 3000 crore.
- He also inaugurated Atal Ekta Park in Jhansi, named after former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- The park has been built at a cost of over Rs 11 crore across an area of about 40,000 square metres.
- It also has the statue of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, built by the renowned sculptor Shri Ram Sutar, the architect of the Statue of Unity.
- PM also attended ‘Rashtra Raksha Samparpan Parv’ organised by the Ministry of Defence at Jhansi Fort.
BWF gives Prakash Padukone lifetime achievement award
Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone has been selected for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021 by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council. The former world no 1 has already been honoured with the Badminton Association of India’s (BAI) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Padukone is the first-ever Indian to win a medal at World Championships in the 1983 Copenhagen tournament.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Badminton World Federation President: Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen;
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Badminton World Federation Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
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Badminton World Federation Founded: 5 July 1934.
PM Modi hands over Light Combat Helicopters to IAF chief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has handed over the indigenously built light combat helicopters (LCH), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to the Indian Air Force chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. The Light Combat Helicopters which incorporate advanced technologies and stealth features for effective combat roles are expected to boost India’s ability to remain self-reliant. The LCH is the only attack helicopter that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 m with a considerable load of weapons and fuel.
The Prime Minister will also hand over ‘Made in India’ drones to the Indian Army which would be using them for different requirements all across the country. For the Navy, PM Modi would hand over the DRDO designed Advanced Electronic Warfare suite for naval ships including that for Indian Aircraft Carrier Vikrant.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Headquarters: Bengaluru;
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Founder: Walchand Hirachand;
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Founded: 23 December 1940, Bengaluru.
Smriti Irani authored her first Novel ‘Lal Salaam: A Novel’
Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani is set to release her first novel titled “Lal Salaam: A Novel” in November 2021. The novel is inspired by the killings of 76 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel during the Maoist attack in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh in April 2010. This book is a tribute to the people who have given their lifetime service to the nation.
SIDBI and Google tied-up to Support MSMEs
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has entered into a collaboration with Google India Pvt Ltd (GIPL) for piloting a social impact lending programme with financial assistance up to Rs 1 crore at subsidized interest rates. The one-of-a-kind programme by SIDBI is launched as a crisis response related to Covid-19 to reinvigorate the MSME sector in India.
Under the partnership
- The collaboration brings a corpus of $15 million (about Rs. 110 crores) to micro-enterprises as a crisis response related to Covid-19 for reinvigoration.
- MSMEs having turnover up to 5 crores will get the loan ranging between 25 lakh to 1 crore which is being implemented by SIDBI.
- Loans will be disbursed by SIDBI. The programme is completely paperless from onboarding to the disbursal stage.
- A business owned by Women and businesses engaged in the production of Covid-19 combating equipment will be prioritised, with suitable interest rate concession.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- SIDBI Founded: 2 April 1990;
- SIDBI Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh;
- SIDBI CMD: Sivasubramanian Ramann.
WB Report: India became World’s Largest Recipient of Remittances
According to the latest report by the World Bank titled ‘World Bank’s Remittance Prices Worldwide Database’, India became the world’s largest recipient of remittances by receiving USD 87 billion in 2021. The United States (US) was its biggest source, accounting for over 20% of these funds. India is followed by China, Mexico, the Philippines, and Egypt. In India, remittances are projected to grow 3% in 2022 to USD 89.6 billion.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- World Bank Founded: July 1944;
- World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, USA;
- World Bank President: David Robert Malpass.
Hema Malini, Prasoon Joshi to be awarded Film Personalities of the Year at IFFI
Actor and BJP leader Hema Malini, and lyricist and former CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi will be facilitated with the Indian Film Personality of the Year award at the International Film Festival of India 2021. Their contributions to the field of Indian cinema spread over decades and their body of work has enthralled audiences across generations.
Malini is a two-time Member of Parliament from Mathura, and Joshi was appointed by the government as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2017. Joshi has previously written a campaign song for Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the BJP leader was announced the party’s PM candidate ahead of the 2014 general elections.
Beryl Thanga receives Manipur State Award for his novel
Novelist Beryl Thanga has received the 12th Manipur State Award for Literature 2020 for his book – Ei Amadi Adungeigi Ithat’ (I and the then island). Manipur Governor La. Ganesan conferred the award on the 65-year-old writer for his novel published in 2015. The award carries a plaque, citation, Rs. 3 lakh (in cheque) and a shawl.
The awardee (Beryl Thanga) was selected for the year 2020 by a Board of Eminent persons set up by the Government. The Governor said that the Manipuri language is one of the 22 scheduled languages under the Constitution of India. It is regarded as the most advanced of the Tibeto-Burmese languages spoken in India.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu released the book ‘Srimadramayanam’
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has released the book ‘Srimadramayanam’ in Hyderabad. It has been written by Sasikiranacharya. It is about the leadership, good governance, and rule of law of Lord Rama. He also underlined the need to popularize literary works and poetic works of various Indian languages among the youth.
