TODAY’S TOP NEWS: 21st SEPTEMBER, 2022 (GPN):

TODAY’S TOP PHOTO NEWS:

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NATIONAL and STATE NEWS:

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1. BIHAR: The Bihar government is set to introduce a “no-bag day” rule in schools and a mandatory games period at least once a week to reduce the burden on students. The weekly ”no-bag day” will have task-based practical classes.

At least once a week, students will come to school only with their lunch boxes. They do not need to carry books. The day will be devoted to practical and experiential learning. The objective of such a policy is to engage students in various activities which can positively impact their learning.

2. MAHARASHTRA:  The state’s deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, revealed in a meeting that the Maharashtra government intends to create an organisation along the lines of Niti Aayog.(Niti Aayog Chairman: Narendra Modi) The organisation would be in charge of doing thorough data analysis and coming to informed choices about various state sectors.The topics covered were asset monetisation, blockchain in agriculture, alternative fuels, electric automobiles, drone healthcare, and agribusiness among others.

3. GANDHINAGAR:  India and Egypt have signed an MoU to bolster defense cooperation and decided to enhance joint military exercises, training, co-production, and maintenance of equipment. The MoU was signed by Defence Ministry of India Rajnath Singh and General Mohamed Zaki from Egypt at a meeting in Cairo.The MoU will enhance defense cooperation across all the sectors of mutual interest.The ministers of both countries exchanged views on regional security and acknowledged the contribution of their countries to peace and stability.The Egyptian counterparts were also invited to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and Indian Ocean Region Defence Ministers’ conclave to be held as part of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar.

4. Comedian Raju Srivastava has passed away in Delhi at the age of 58. He had suffered a heart attack while exercising on August 10. As per a report Raju was still conscious and with normal body movements. The comedian was earlier registering Spo2 levels of 80 per cent to 90 per cent without oxygen support.Srivastava appeared in Hindi films such as “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Baazigar”, “Bombay to Goa” (remake) and “Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya”. He was one of the contestants on “Bigg Boss” season three.He was the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council.

5. Senior most pracharak of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, Keshav Rao Dattatreya Dikshit has passed away. He was 98. Born in 1925 at Pulgaon village of Wardha district in Maharashtra, Keshav Rao came to Bengal in 1950 to act as a pracharak.

6. MUMBAI – The first suspected case of lumpy skin disease in an animal has been detected in Mumbai suburb of Khar, a BMC official said on Thursday.

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💰FINANCE💰

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1.The Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) in a statement said that the net direct tax collections so far this financial year are at ₹700,669 crore, an increase of 23% as compared to ₹568,147 crore till the same period of the corresponding financial year. The total includes corporation tax of ₹368,484 crore and personal income tax (including securities transaction tax) worth ₹330,490 crore.

2. The CBDT statement noted that the direct tax collections continue to grow at a robust pace, a clear indicator of the revival of economic activity post-pandemic, notably as also the result of the stable policies focusing on simplification and streamlining of processes and plugging of tax leakage through effective use of technology.

3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removed Central Bank of India from its Prompt Corrective Action Framework (PCAF) after the lender showed improvement in various financial ratios, including minimum regulatory capital and net non-performing assets (NNPAs).The RBI had imposed the PCA norms on the bank in June 2017 due to its high net NPA and negative return of assets (RoA). After reviewing the performance of the Central Bank of India, RBI decided to remove the restrictions on the bank.The PCA norm is a supervisory tool and is imposed when a bank breaches certain regulatory thresholds on capital to risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR), net NPAs and return on assets (RoA).

4. Elets BFSI and Union Bank of India announce digitalization of Kisan credit card – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) oversees the Union Bank of India’s (UBI) Fintech initiative, Digitalization of Kisan Credit Card, which aims to address the challenges farmers face, such as the need to visit a bank branch in person, provide proof of land ownership and other documents, and wait a long time to receive the KCC. (Chief Product Manager, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH): Mr. Rakesh Ranjan;MD & CEO, Union Bank of India: A. Manimekhalai)

5. Jio Cinema’s OTT merger with Viacom18 Media approved by CCI –The merger of Jio Cinema OTT and Viacom18 Media received approval from fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI).The CCI announced, following investments from BTS Investment and Reliance Projects & Property Management Services, it has approved the merger of the Jio Cinema OTT platform with Viacom18 Media.Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) and Viacom18 announced a strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree Systems in April.Bodhi Tree to invest Rs 13,500 crore in Viacom18, and Reliance Projects & Property Management Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RIL, will invest Rs 1,645 crore in the broadcaster as part of the tripartite partnership, creating one of the largest TV and digital streaming firms in India.Reliance’s well-liked Jio Cinema OTT app will be moved to Viacom18 as part of the cooperation.(Reliance CEO: Anand Jain; Reliance Chairman: Mukesh Ambani; Jio CEO: Atul Kabsal; JIO Chairman: Akash Ambani)

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⚔️⚓🛰️DEFENCE

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1. Patrol vessel Samarth commissioned:  The new ship for the Indian Coast Guard in Kochi will unquestionably improve the operational capability of the Indian Coast Guard at sea.The ship was operating under the operational control of Coast Guard District Headquarters-4 while it was headquartered in Kochi from Goa.To improve the coastal security system, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) added Patrol Vessel Samarth to its fleet. The 105-meter-long ICGS Samarth can travel at a top speed of 23 knots (approx 43 Kmph).

2. The Indian Army has achieved a remarkable achievement, activating satellite-based Internet service in collaboration with Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL),  on the Siachen Glacier, which is the world’s highest battlefield.

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💃🕺ENTERTAINMENT

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1. Gujarati film “Chhello Show”, a coming-of-age drama about a young boy’s love affair with cinema in a village in Saurashtra, is India’s official entry for the 95th Academy Awards or Oscar awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced. Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur’s  banner Roy Kapur Films, Jugaad Motion Pictures, Monsoon Films, Chhello Show LLP and Marc Duale.Titled  “Last Film Show” in English, the Pan Nalin directorial will release in theatres countrywide on October 14. The 95th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 12, 2023 in Los Angeles.

2. Alia Bhatt (29) receives the Prestigious “Priyadarshni Academy’s Smita Patil Memorial Award” 38th-anniversary celebrations

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🚴🤼🏋️🏊SPORTS

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1. Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia won the bronze medal after defeating Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan in the men’s freestyle 65kg category at the World Wrestling Championships 2022. It was Bajrang’s fourth medal at the world championships. Earlier at World Championship he won silver in 2018 and bronze medals in 2013 and 2019.

2. International Cricket Council announced changes to the Playing Condition which will come into effect on  October 1 2022. The Men’s Cricket Committee led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly  recommended changes to the Playing Conditions in MCC’s updated 3rd Edition of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket. The conclusions were also shared with the Women’s Cricket Committee, who endorsed the recommendations.

The main changes are as follows:

• Batters returning when caught
• Use of saliva to polish the ball
• Incoming batter ready to face the ball
• Striker’s right to play the ball
• Unfair movement by the fielding side
• Running out of the non-striker
• Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery

3. World Para Athletics Grand Prix: Indian javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia has clinched a silver medal in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, in Morocco. Paralympics gold medalist Devendra threw the javelin to a distance of 60.97 meters to capture the silver. Devendra is a three-time Paralympics medalist. While 2020 Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Nishad Kumar won the gold medal in the men’s T47 high jump, javelin throwers Ajeet Singh and Devendra Jhajharia bagged gold and silver respectively in F46 category.

4. SAFF Women’s Championship 2022: Bangladesh Beat Nepal to Clinch Maiden Title at Dashrath Rangshala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal –The Bangladesh team defeated hosts Nepal by 3-1 in the finals before a full stadium to watch some brilliant football on display.

Bangladesh skipper Sabina Khatun, who was the top scorer of the tournament netting eight goals in five games, dedicated the trophy to the people of Bangladesh. Goalkeeper Rupna Chakma from Bangladesh was named the best goalkeeper She conceded just one goal in the tournament.

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TODAY 21st SEPTEMBER IMPORTANCE AND CELEBRATED / OBSERVED AS: 

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1. The International Day of Peace is observed globally on September 21. The United National General Assembly marks the day by promoting ideals of peace among nations and people by observing non-violence and ceasefire for 24 hours.This year’s theme is “End racism. Build peace.” The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.This year’s UN page on International Day of Peace highlights the ace-based discrimination at borders.(United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.United Nations was founded on 24 October 1945.Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.)

2. World Alzheimer’s Day is observed annually on September 21 to raise awareness about neurological disorders. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and affects the person’s memory, mental ability, and ability to carry out simple Tasks. On World Alzheimer’s Day, healthcare organisations support Alzheimer’s walks while seminars and public activities are held in communities around the globe to raise awareness on Alzheimer’s.This year’s theme for World Alzheimer’s Month is ‘Know Dementia, know Alzheimer’s’.

IMPROVE VOCABULARY

1. Hoary (adjective)

Meaning; Old or old-fashioned.

Synonyms: old, ancient

Antonyms: new, modern

2. Dormant (adjective)

Meaning; Inactive, sleeping, asleep, suspended.

Synonyms: sleeping, slumbering

Antonyms: awake, active

3. Pillage (verb)

Meaning; To loot or plunder by force

Synonyms: ransack, ravage

Antonyms: protect, defend

4. Tizzy (noun)

Meaning; A state of nervous excitement, confusion, or distress; a dither.

Synonyms: annoyance, acrimony

Antonyms: calmness, ease

5. Agitate (verb)

Meaning; To cause to move with a violent, irregular action

Synonyms: disturb, churn

Antonyms: calm, relax

6. Reckon (verb)

Meaning;  To count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate.

Synonyms: estimate, consider

Antonyms: avoid, evade

7. Contour (noun)

Meaning;  An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.

Synonyms: outline

Antonyms: dullness