South Eastern Railway launches 'Operation My Saheli' to enhance security of women passengers

NATIONAL NEWS

Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan launches CSIR technologies for rural development

• Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan has launched Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) technologies for rural development.
• This is a joint initiative of CSIR, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA).
• The event was organized through online platform on CSIR-NISTADS (National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies) 40th Foundation Day in the National Capital 0n 30^th September.
• The CSIR-NISTADS have been involved in exploring continuously the interface between Science, Technology and Society and have played an important role in science policy research in CSIR and at National Level.

Fact: Director General of CSIR-NISTADS - Prashant Goswami

         DG of CSIR - Shekhar C. Mande

India successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

• India successfully test-fired BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with several indigenous features.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO from Balasore in Odisha carried out the test firing of the missile.
• BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile features indigenous Booster and Airframe Section along with many other ‘Made in India’ sub-systems.
• The BrahMos Land-Attack Cruise Missile was cruising at a top speed of Mach 2.8. It is one major step in enhancing the indigenous content.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister launches Ambedkar Social Innovation & Incubation Mission for SCs

• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot has launched the Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission under Venture Capital Fund for SCs.
• The mission was launched in promoting innovation and enterprise among SC students studying in higher educational institutions.
• Earlier the Venture Capital Fund for SCs was launched in 2014-15 with a view to developing entrepreneurship amongst the SC and Divyang youth and to enable them to become job-givers.
• The objective of this fund is to provide concessional finance to the entities of the SC entrepreneurs.
• Under Ambedkar Social Innovation Incubation Mission initiative, one thousand SC youth will be identified in the next four years with start-up ideas through the Technology Business Incubators in various higher educational institutions.

POWERGRID signs MoU with Ministry of Power, Govt. of India detailing targets for year 2020-21

• Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (POWERGRID) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Power, Govt. of India.
• The MoU includes targets related to various parameters such as Financial, Physical, Project execution, etc. to be achieved by POWERGRID during the FY 2020-21.
• POWERGRID, a Maharatna Company and the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) of the country, has been consistently receiving highest rating under MoU since signing of the first MoU for FY 1993-94.
• Shri Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary (Power), Government of India and Shri K. Sreekant, Chairman & Managing Director, POWERGRID, have signed the MoU.

South Eastern Railway launches 'Operation My Saheli' to enhance security of women passengers

• The South Eastern Railway has launched a project named “Operation My Saheli” to enhance the security of women passengers in trains during their entire journey.
• Initiated as a pilot project, it has been introduced in three trains Howrah-Yeshvantpur Duronto Special, Howrah- Ahmedabad Special and Howrah-Mumbai Special since September 18.
• Operation My Saheli (friend) gives security to women passengers from the originating point to the destination.
• The sub-inspector teams collect the seat numbers and contacts of a specified number of women passengers and remain in touch with them throughout their journey.
• The project has been executed under the framework of the 'Nirbhaya Fund', and it does not involve any additional expenditure under the head of Railways.

ECONOMIC NEWS

SBI Card joins hands with Amex to offer premium benefits, services

• SBI Card has joined hands with American Express (Amex) to offer global benefits and exclusive privileges for consumers in India.
• Now SBI Card's top-end products SBI Card ELITE and SBI Card PRIME will be available on American Express’ global network.
• Apart from enjoying the services under SBI Card ELITE and SBI Card PRIME, the customers will also get the benefits of American Express’ valuable network through local and global network offers.
• SBI Card ELITE and SBI Card PRIME bring cardholders complimentary membership to loyalty programs of marquee brands like Vistara and Trident Hotels, complimentary international airport lounge access through the Priority Pass Program and welcome gift vouchers from leading retail brands.

Fact: CEO of SBI Cards -  Ashwini Kumar Tewari

         Chairperson of SBI - Rajnish Kumar

Tata Steel signs MoU with CSIR to collaborate in the area of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS)

• Tata Steel Limited and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) have joined hands to work in the field of CCUS.
• They collaborated with a view on considering the importance of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) in India’s fight against Climate Change and Global Warming, meeting the growing energy demands and building a strong ecosystem to meet commitments under Paris Agreement.
• As part of this strategic MoU, the teams from Tata Steel and CSIR will work towards accelerating development and deployment of CCUS technologies in the steel industry.
• These technologies would expedite transition to a decarbonised economy in other carbon intensive sectors like Power, Cement, and Fertilizer etc.

Fact: CSIR Director General - Shekhar C. Mande

          CEO & MD of TATA steel - T. V. Narendran

NITI Aayog and Embassy of the Netherlands sign Statement of Intent on ‘Decarbonization and Energy Transition Agenda’

• NITI Aayog and Embassy of the Netherlands, New Delhi, signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to support the decarbonisation and energy transition agenda for accommodating cleaner and more energy.
• The focus of the partnership is on co-creating innovative technological solutions by leveraging the expertise of the two entities
• With this partnership both sides seek a strategic partnership to create a platform that enables a comprehensive collaboration among stakeholders and influencers, including policymakers, industry bodies, OEMs, private enterprises, and sector experts.
• NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and the Netherlands Ambassador Marten van den Berg has signed the SoI.
• Netherlands is India’s sixth largest EU trading partner as much as 20% of India’s exports to the European continent goes through the country, making it India’s ‘gateway to Europe’ and one of the top five investors in the country.

Fact: CEO of NITI Aayog - Amitabh Kant

         Capital of Netherlands – Amsterdam

SPORTS NEWS

Kiren Rijiju launches new logo of Sports Authority of India

• Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju has launched the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) new logo at Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.
• SAI has been the pivot of the sports ecosystem in the country since the time it was established in the year 1982 and has been instrumental in identifying and developing grassroots talents across the country.
• The new logo signifies SAI's journey of transformation from identifying and nurturing grassroot level sporting talent to creating sporting excellence in the country.