Shah Rukh Khan appointed as the brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2023
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has been appointed as the brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2023. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan launched the World Cup 2023 campaign ‘It takes one day’ in his iconic voiceover. The World Cup 2023 will be held in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023. India will start their world cup campaign against Australia on October 8 and the Rohit Sharma led side will take on Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15.
World Cup 2023 Schedule
The schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule has been released by ICC. The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be held in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023. The upcoming World Cup will feature a total of 10 teams. India, as the host nation, has secured direct qualification, along with Afghanistan, Australia, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. These teams earned their spots through their performance in the 2020-2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. The remaining two teams will be determined through the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers taking place in Zimbabwe.
UNDP India joins hands with Absolute to further sustainable agriculture practices under PMFBY
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and bioscience company Absolute® have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and enhance farmers’ resilience. The collaboration aims to address various challenges faced by Indian farmers, including weather fluctuations, pest attacks, erratic rainfall, and humidity, leading to lower yields and income.
Significance: Ensuring Resilience for Farmers and Agricultural Sector
The collaboration between UNDP India and Absolute® holds significant importance in ensuring resilience for farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.
By enhancing the implementation of PMFBY and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), the partnership aims to offer critical risk protection and financial support to farmers affected by unforeseen events like floods, excess rains, and droughts.
The significance of the collaboration lies in the following aspects:
Strengthening Income Stability: PMFBY’s risk protection ensures that farmers receive financial support in the event of crop loss or damage, stabilizing their income and providing a safety net during difficult times.
Promoting Adoption of Innovative Practices: The scheme encourages farmers to adopt modern and innovative agricultural practices to mitigate risks and enhance productivity.
Ensuring Agricultural Credit Flow: By stabilizing farmers’ income, PMFBY encourages the flow of credit to the agriculture sector, fostering food security and supporting crop diversification.
Leveraging Advanced Technology: The partnership’s focus on utilizing advanced technology and data-driven solutions will enhance the efficiency and transparency of crop insurance and agricultural credit processes.
Empowering Farmers: The collaboration aims to empower farmers through credit profiling and accurate crop loss assessment, enabling better risk evaluation and mobilization of agriculture financing.
Data-driven Policymaking: Advanced technology will facilitate farmland identification, farm monitoring, and analytical capabilities, leading to data-driven policymaking and fraud analytics.
Supporting Vulnerable Farmers: The efficient and transparent delivery of government support through PMFBY will benefit vulnerable farmers who are susceptible to climate-driven yield losses.
Strengthening Food Security: The infusion of technology in the agriculture sector will lead to increased food security, crop diversification, and overall growth and competitiveness.
Indian-origin doctor is new chairman of International Myeloma Foundation
Renowned scientist, clinician and researcher, S. Vincent Rajkumar, has been appointed as chairman-elect of the Board of Directors of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). Dr. Rajkumar takes over from the current chairman, Brian G.M. Durie, who is not seeking re-election to the post. Dr. Durie, the co-founder and chairman of the Board of Directors for 33 years, has said that he will not seek re-election as chairman when his current term ends in spring 2024. He will, however, remain a member of the Board, hold the position of Chairman Emeritus and continue to perform his current activities.
Career of Dr S. Vincent Rajkumar
Dr. Rajkumar has also served as principal investigator of several clinical trials for the treatment of myeloma, including pivotal trials that led to the regulatory approval of thalidomide for the treatment of the disease in the U.S. He has published more than 480 peer-reviewed papers primarily in the field of multiple myeloma and related plasma cell disorders.
Among Dr. Rajkumar’s accolades include the Jan Waldenstrom Lifetime Achievement Award (2021), the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator Award (2018) and the Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award (2016).
About the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF)
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells — white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called “multiple” because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in the bone where it grows. It can appear as both a tumor and/or an area of bone loss, and it affects the places where bone marrow is active in an adult: the hollow area within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, and the areas around the shoulders and hips.
The IMF was founded in 1999 and is the first, largest global foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation’s reach extends to more than 5,25,000 members in 140 countries.
Julius Robert Oppenheimer the “father of the atomic bomb”
Christopher Nolan’s movie Oppenheimer hits theatres across the world. Oppenheimer film chronicles the story of the scientist Julius Robert Oppenheimer the “Father of the Atomic Bomb”.
About Oppenheimer:
Oppenheimer was born in New York in 1904 and displayed early academic talent. He has a well-educated family and has a privileged upbringing.
Education:
Oppenheimer attended New York’s Ethical Culture School, where he excelled in a variety of courses, including physics and languages.
He has got a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1925 from Harvard University.
Then he completed his PhD in Physics at the University of Gottingen in Germany.
Scientific Carrier:
After completing his doctorate, Oppenheimer went to the United States and joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley.
He made substantial contributions to theoretical physics throughout the 1930s, particularly in quantum mechanics and spectroscopy. He swiftly rose to prominence in the scientific community.
The Manhattan Project:
When World War II broke out, Oppenheimer’s career took a drastic shift. In 1942, he was named scientific head of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret US government endeavour to create this atomic weapon. Oppenheimer plays a key role in the successful development of the first nuclear bombs, leading a team of great scientists and engineers.
The Trinity Test and Aftermath:
The world’s first atomic bomb exploded in New Mexico in July 1945, bringing the Manhattan Project to a close. The successful test signaled the beginning of the nuclear age. Oppenheimer, on the other hand, was disturbed by the ethical and moral implications of unleashing such powerful weapons.
He famously quoted the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, saying, “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Post-War Struggles:
After the war, Oppenheimer’s security clearance was revoked due to suspicions about his previous involvement with left-wing organizations and alleged connections to Communist sympathisers. He lost his security clearance 1954, effectively ending his direct engagement in government science initiatives.
Later Years:
Oppenheimer devoted the later part of his life to teaching and research. He returned to academia and lectured at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study. Despite the criticism, he continued to make contributions to theoretical physics and mentored a new generation of scientists.
Legacy:
Robert Oppenheimer’s scientific discoveries and role in the development of the atomic bomb are important to his legacy. Even though his later years were tarnished by political problems, he is remembered for his brilliance as a scientist and his leadership during the Manhattan Project.
Death:
Robert Oppenheimer died in 1967, leaving behind a complex and lasting legacy that is still disputed and studies today.
Aaykar Diwas Or Income Tax Day 2023: Date, Significance and History
The Income Tax department observes July 24 every year as Income Tax Day or ‘Aaykar Diwas’, to commemorate the introduction of provision of income tax in the country. On the same day in the year 1860, Income tax was originally introduced in India by Sir James Wilson, to compensate for the losses incurred during the first war of independence. This is the 163rd anniversary of Income Tax Day.
On Income Tax Day, the CBDT organizes various events and activities to raise awareness about income tax and its importance. These events include seminars, workshops, and outreach programs. The CBDT also releases a commemorative postage stamp on Income Tax Day. Income Tax Day is an important day for the Indian government and for taxpayers. It is a day to celebrate the importance of income tax and to reaffirm our commitment to paying our taxes honestly and on time.
Income Tax Day celebrations
In the week preceding the occasion, several activities are undertaken by regional offices of the tax department. Outreach programmes are held across the country to promote tax payment as a value norm, and to sensitise potential taxpayers that paying taxes is an ethical duty of the citizens.
History of Income Tax Day
On July 24, 1860, Sir James Wilson introduced income tax for the first time in India. Wilson did this to compensate for the losses suffered by the British regime during the first war of independence in 1857. ‘Aaykar Diwas’ was celebrated for the first time on July 24, 2010, to mark 150 years of income tax in India.
“Since income tax was first levied as a duty in the year 1860 and the authority to levy that duty came into force on July 24 of that year, it is proposed to celebrate this day as Income Tax Investiture Day,” a finance ministry official said in July 2010.
Income Tax department
Headquartered in New Delhi, the Income Tax department is responsible for direct tax collection for the Government of India. It functions under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of finance, and is headed by an apex body called the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
About the Central Board of Direct Taxes
The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963. The officials of the Board in their ex-officio capacity also function as a Division of the Ministry dealing with matters relating to levy and collection of direct taxes. Historical Background of C.B.D.T.
HCLTech joins XR Startup Programme with MeitY, Meta
HCL Tech, a multinational IT company ,has joined the XR Startup Program, a collaborative effort between Meta and the MeitY Startup Hub, to bolster and accelerate extended reality (XR) technology startups in India.
As part of this collaboration, HCL Tech will play a key role in establishing a flourishing ecosystem for Indian startups, enabling them to lead and innovate in vital sectors like education, healthcare, and agri-tech.
HCLTech’s Supportive Ecosystem for Startups
HCL Tech’s team of experts will provide tailored mentorship to the startups, conducting thought leadership sessions and sharing invaluable business and industry insights. As the program advances, the startups can utilize HCLTech’s global infrastructure, next-generation engineering technology, and innovation labs to develop, test, and validate their use cases.
MeitY Startup Hub
MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) is an initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), committed to strengthening and enriching the startup ecosystem across India. The hub focuses on promoting technology innovation, startups, and the creation of Intellectual Properties (IPs).
It serves as a national coordination, facilitation, and monitoring center, bringing together all incubation centers, startups, and innovation-related activities under MeitY.
Through its emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship, MeitY Startup Hub has played a key role in propelling India to become the third-largest startup ecosystem worldwide..
Extended Reality(XR) and Metaverse
Extended Reality (XR) encompasses Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and related technologies. The initiative seeks to expedite India’s role in shaping the metaverse and fostering the growth of XR technologies in the country.
The metaverse is a network of interconnected digital spaces, offering 3D experiences. Users can effortlessly move between these spaces, engaging in activities that go beyond the boundaries of the physical world.
CM Sukhu launched scheme to economically empower women
CM of Himachal Pradesh announced the launching of a collateral-free loan scheme, namely Sashakt Mahila Rin Yojna to economically empower women.
About the scheme:
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched a new scheme on 20th July to economically empower women.
The ‘Sashakt Mahila Rin Yojna’ is an initiative of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB) which will provide loans to women for pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, engage in livelihood activities, fulfil their day-to-day needs and uplift their families.
Eligibility Criteria:
This scheme is mainly launched to provide financial assistance to bonafide Himachali women to fulfil their needs and dreams.
Objective:
Sashakt Mahila Rin Yojna has been launched with the primary aim to economically empower women of Himachal Pradesh by providing loan facilities to them which will help them to fulfil their day-to-day needs and their entrepreneurial dreams.
Benefits provided under the scheme:
Under this scheme, beneficiaries will get the credit facility of Rs.21,000, Rs.51,000 and Rs.1,01,000 at a relatively low interest rates of 8.51%. The main benefit of this scheme is that beneficiaries need not to provide any assets or collateral as security against the loan amount.
Significance of the Scheme:
This scheme will economically empower women to fulfil their needs and dreams.
The absence of collateral will remove a significant barrier for women, especially those who are may not have any valuable assets to offer as security to raise loan.
This scheme will contribute to the economic empowerment of women, make them financially independent and improve their socio-economic status.