NATIONAL NEWS

MoHUAM Launches Swachh Toycathon

• Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry launched Swachh Toycathon.
• It is a unique competition that involves making toys from waste.
• The competition will be hosted on MyGov’s Innovative India portal. The knowledge partner for the initiative is the Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar.
• The Swachh Toycathon was introduced and launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban initiative.
• The competition focuses to bring forth innovation in toy designs using dry waste.
• It will focus on effective and potential designs that can be replicated at a larger scale, and toys that comply with minimum safety standards.

President to Inaugurate Engines Manufacturing Facility

• President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Integrated Cryogenic Engines Manufacturing Facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru on 27 September 2022.
• The Cryogenic engines are used by ISRO for its satellite launch operations.
• At HAL, the President will also lay the foundation stone of the South Zonal Institute of Virology virtually.
• President inaugurated the new campus of Indian Institute of Information Technology in Dharwad, Karnataka.

Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and UP Signed Pact

• Haryana, National Capital Territory (NCT)-Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (UP) signed the Status of Combined Reciprocal Common Transport Agreement, Contract Carriage and Stage Carriage (CRCTA).
• There will be single-point taxation for all motor cabs, taxis, auto rickshaws, all Stage carriage buses and all State Transport Undertakings (STUs) of NCR, including city bus services.
• It will encourage shifts of traffic from private vehicles to mass public transport vehicles and will help to ease traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.
• This agreement will ensure the seamless movement of passenger vehicles in the NCR.

MOD Signs a Deal with BAPL

• The Ministry of Defence (MOD) signed a contract with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL) for the acquisition of additional dual-role capable Surface to Surface BrahMos missiles at an overall approximate cost of Rs 1700 Crore under the “Buy-Indian” Category.

• The induction of these dual-role capable Missiles is going to significantly enhance the operational capability of Indian Navy fleet assets.

• BAPL increased the new generation of Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs) with enhanced range and dual role capability for land as well as anti-ship attacks.

• This contract is going to give a further boost to indigenous production of critical weapon systems and ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industry.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

INS Sunayna to Participate in an exercise in Seychelles

• The INS Sunayna entered Port Victoria Seychelles to participate in the annual training exercise Operation Southern Readiness of Combined Maritime Forces.

• This marks the maiden participation of an Indian Navy ship in Combined Maritime Forces exercise.

• The joint training exercise was attended by representative delegations from India, the US, Italy, Australia, Canada and New Zealand and ship participation from the UK and Spain.

BANKING

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Launches ABSLI Akshaya Plan

• Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL) has launched a new-age savings solution ABSLI Akshaya Plan a non-linked participating individual savings life insurance plan offering immediate liquidity option through cash bonus facility.
• This plan provides the benefit of a comprehensive life insurance cover and a regular source of income to ensure the fulfillment of your family’s growing needs.
• ABSLI Akshaya plan provides competitive returns with high flexibility.
• Policyholders can avail the benefits of this plan on a long-term basis (25, 30, 35, 40 years) or whole life basis (till the age of 85 or 100).
• The maximum entry age to avail ABSLI Akshaya Plan is 55 years, while the minimum age is 30 days.
• The minimum annualized premium is Rs. 24,000 Policyholders can choose from multiple premium payment term options ranging from 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 years.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Indian Ambassador to Madagascar

• IFS officer Bandaru Wilsonbabu, has been appointed as the next ambassador of India to the Republic of Madagascar.

• He is presently serving as a joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs.

• Wilsonbabu, who has served as the joint Secretary in the Eurasia division, will be replacing ambassador Abhay Kumar.

Hockey India (HI) President

• Dilip Tirkey, a former India hockey captain and member of the gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Asian Games was unanimously elected as Hockey India (HI) president.

• He represented India at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens in 2004.

• First time in history, a former sportsperson and an Olympian has gone on to head the national body.

• The Hockey India elections were supposed to be completed by 09 October 2022, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Committee of Administrators (CoA).

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Contraception Day

• World Contraception Day is celebrated every year on 26 September.

• It is to raise awareness about various contraceptive techniques and to empower young people to make educated decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

• It was established on 26 September 2007, by ten international family planning organizations to raise awareness about contraception and to assist couples in making educated decisions about starting a family, so that every pregnancy is desired.

World Environmental Health Day

• World Environmental Health Day is celebrated every year on 26 September.

• The International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) recognized September 26 as World Environmental Health Day in 2011.

• It is to raise awareness regarding the health of our environment.

• The theme for the year 2022 is ‘Strengthening Environmental Health Systems for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals’.

World Tourism Day

• World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on 27 September.

• This day is celebrated every year to enhance awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

• The theme for this year is ‘Rethinking Tourism’. It will be highlighting the tourism sector being recognized as an important pillar for development.
• Tourism helps provide employment to millions of people to an extent that few countries are completely dependent on the tourism sector for financial stability.

OBITUTARY

Oscar Winner Louise Fletcher

• Oscar-winner Louise Fletcher passed away at the age of 88.
• US actress Louise Fletcher who had won as Oscar in 1976 for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest passed away.
• She became the third woman to receive an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for the same performance after winning her Academy Awards.
• Her Career spanned six decades including TV and film.