Today's Current Affairs 17th September 2023

NATIONAL

Dharmendra Pradhan , Om Birla launch skills on wheels

• To promote digital literacy and digital skills in which India is developing global competency this scheme with the help of NSDC has been launched. 'Skills on Wheels is a unique experiment. Today, PM Vishwakarma's Yojana was launched, which shows that the Indian govt is committed to providing skills to traditional craftsmen, along with providing 21st-century digitisation skills," Dharmendra Pradhan said while speaking to reporters.
• This bus and experimental laboratory will go to the villages of Rajasthan. Later it will go to other parts of the country. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is present here. He will send this bus to Rajasthan. Later it will go to other parts of the country," he added.

Santiniketan finds a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list

• Santiniketan, the cultural and educational hub founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has earned a coveted spot on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This recognition marks a significant milestone for India and celebrates the enduring legacy of this unique institution located in Bengal’s Birbhum district.
• India has long been striving to secure a UNESCO designation for Santiniketan, acknowledging its cultural and historical significance. The decision to include Santiniketan in the prestigious list was made during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its importance on the global stage.
• Santiniketan’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List is a testament to its cultural and educational significance. This recognition reaffirms the importance of preserving and promoting the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore and the institution he built.

Professor Ramesh Chand launches Unified Portal www.upag.gov.in for Agricultural Statistics  

• In a significant development for India’s agricultural sector, the government has unveiled the UPAg (Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics). This groundbreaking initiative is aimed at tackling the complex governance challenges that currently beset the country’s farming industry.
• The Ministry of Agriculture hails UPAg as an innovative platform meticulously crafted to streamline and enhance data management within the agricultural domain. It represents a crucial stride towards establishing a more efficient and responsive agricultural policy framework.
• Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog, expressed his enthusiasm after inaugurating the portal. He emphasized that such an initiative was long overdue and envisioned that it could grow into a substantial resource for the agricultural sector. Chand urged the Agriculture Ministry, which will oversee the portal, to prioritize data credibility, as objective data minimizes the need for subjective judgment in policymaking. This, in turn, fosters stability, transparency, and informed decision-making.

 SPORTS

India won Asia Cup 2023 Title, beat Sri Lanka in Final

• On September 17, 2023, at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, India secured their eighth Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final match. This victory marked India’s first Asia Cup win since 2018. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, but they were dismissed for a meager 50 runs, marking the lowest total ever in an Asia Cup final. Mohammed Siraj was the standout performer among the Indian bowlers, claiming 6 wickets for just 21 runs. In response, India effortlessly reached the target in a mere 6.1 overs without losing a wicket. Ishan Kishan contributed 23 runs off 18 balls, while Shubhman Gill scored 27 runs off 19 balls.

Asia Cup 2023 Award Winners

Winner: India (8th title)

Runner-up: Sri Lanka

Man of the Tournament: Kuldeep Yadav

Most runs in Asia Cup 2023: S Gill (302 runs)

Man of the Match in the Final: Mohammed Siraj

Most wickets in Asia Cup 2023: M Pathirana (SL) with 11 wickets

 

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

IRS Officer Rahul Navin Appointed In-Charge Chief Of Enforcement Directorate

• IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officer Rahul Navin assumed the role of In-Charge Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), succeeding the outgoing Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra. This transition marks an important development in the leadership of the ED, a crucial agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and regulations in India. Mr. Navin is currently serving as the Special Director of the Enforcement Directorate.
• The official order further stated that the tenure of Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the Director of Enforcement in the Enforcement Directorate concluded on the 15th of September, 2023. This event follows a series of legal developments and extensions that ultimately led to the conclusion of Mr. Mishra’s tenure. Sanjay Kumar Mishra was initially appointed as the Director of the Enforcement Directorate for a two-year term on November 19, 2018. Later, in a significant development, the Central government modified the appointment letter retrospectively through an order dated November 13, 2020. This modification extended his term from two years to three years.

Srinivasan K Swamy elected ABC chairman for 2023-24

• In a unanimous decision, Srinivasan K. Swamy, the Executive Chairman of R.K. Swamy Hansa Group, has been elected as the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the term 2023-2024. This significant appointment reflects Mr. Swamy’s extensive experience and leadership in the advertising and media industry. Alongside Mr. Swamy, other prominent figures were also elected to key positions within the Bureau for the upcoming year.
• Srinivasan K. Swamy is a highly regarded figure in the advertising and media world. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations and has held pivotal leadership roles in numerous prominent organizations. These include the International Advertising Association (IAA), IAA India Chapter, Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency Associations, Advertising Agencies Association of India, Advertising Standards Council of India, All India Management Association, Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Madras Management Association. Mr. Swamy’s contributions to the industry have been recognized with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).

 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

84 artistes, above 75 years, conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, in a momentous ceremony, presented the one-time Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards to 84 distinguished artistes from various realms of the performing arts. The significance of these awards lies in their aim to honor Indian artists aged above 75 years, who, despite their remarkable contributions, have not received any national recognition in their illustrious careers thus far.
• The list includes three artists from Andhra Pradesh, two from Arunachal Pradesh, and six from Maharashtra. Furthermore, three recipients each hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Additionally, two artists each from Punjab and Delhi also received recognition.

Awardee	Artistic Genre	Contributions / Achievements
Mahabir Nayak (Jharkhand)	Music (Folk)	Celebrated for remarkable contributions to music
Harishchandra Prabhakar Borkar (Maharashtra)	Theatre	Acknowledged for significant contributions to theatre
Dharmeswar Nath (Assam)	Dance	Lauded for outstanding achievements in dance
Raghubir Malik	Hindustani Vocal	Notable in the world of Hindustani vocal
Dina Nath Mishra	Hindustani Vocal	Notable in the world of Hindustani vocal
Gowri Kuppuswamy	Carnatic Vocal	Lauded for mastery of Carnatic vocal
Anasuya Kulkarni	Carnatic Vocal	Lauded for mastery of Carnatic vocal
Lalitha Srinivasan	Bharatnatyam	Spotlight shone for expertise in Bharatnatyam
Vilasini Devi Krishnapillai	Bharatnatyam	Spotlight shone for expertise in Bharatnatyam
Smita Shastri	Kuchipudi	Celebrated for exceptional contributions to Kuchipudi
Kumkum Lal	Odishi	Celebrated for exceptional contributions to Odishi
Krishen Langoo (Jammu and Kashmir)	Theatre, Music (Folk)	Recognized for achievements in theatre and folk music
John Claro Fernandes (Goa)	Playwriting	Notable for contributions to playwriting in Goa
Tsering Stanzin (Ladakh)	Folk Music	Recognized for contributions to folk music in Ladakh

 

Karachi's Erica Robin Wins Miss Universe Pakistan 2023

• Erica Robin, a model from Karachi has been crowned “Miss Universe Pakistan 2023”, becoming the first-ever woman from the country to win the title. Four other models from different parts of the country participated in the beauty pageant, including Hira Inam from Lahore, Jessical Wilson from Rawalpindi, Pakistani-American Malika Alvi from Pennsylvania, and Sabrina Wasim. Jessica Wilson, a 28-year-old cyber security engineer was named first runner-up while Hira Inam (24), Malyka Alvi (19), and Sabrina Wasim (26) were the rest of the finalists.
• Award-winning actress, mental health advocate, and former Miss International Kylie Verzosa from the Philippines was one of the distinguished panel of judges who picked the winner.
• Robin will be the official representative of Pakistan at the Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in El Salvador later this year. Pakistan will be sending five models to compete in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant. This landmark moment marks the first time Pakistan has ever been represented in the world’s most esteemed beauty competition.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI Slaps Rs14 Lakh Penalty on 4 Cooperative Banks

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently took action against four cooperative banks, imposing monetary penalties due to various rule violations. Below, we provide a breakdown of the penalties and the reasons behind them.

1. Baramati Sahakari Bank – Rs 2 Lakh Penalty

Violation: Failure to Credit Interest to Inoperative Savings Accounts

2. Becharaji Nagarik Sahakari Bank – Rs 2 Lakh Penalty

Violation: Breach of Prudential Inter-Bank Counter-Party Exposure Limits

3. Waghodia Urban Co-operative Bank – Rs 5 Lakh Penalty

Violations: Breach of Prudential Inter-Bank Counter-Party Exposure Limits and Non-Payment of Interest on Recurring Deposits and Term Deposits

4. Viramgam Mercantile Co-operative Bank – Rs 5 Lakh Penalty

Violation: Not Specified in the Release