Nandini Sahakar Yojana

Nandini Sahakar Scheme by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is a women-focused framework of financial assistance, project formulation, hand-holding, and capacity development aimed at assisting women cooperatives to take up business model-based activities under the purview of NCDC. There is no minimum or maximum limit on financial assistance to projects by women cooperatives.

Nandini Sahakar Scheme was launched to align itself with the principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat outlined by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The scheme is a framework of assistance to improve the socio-economic status of women. It supports the entrepreneurial dynamism of women through women's cooperatives. It converges critical inputs of women’s enterprises, business plan formulation, capacity development, credit and subsidy, and interest subvention of other schemes.

NCDC funding is project-based. No proposal has been received from any women's cooperative in Bihar under the Nandini Sahakar Scheme. However, as of 31.03.2024, NCDC has disbursed financial assistance of Rs.6426.36 crore for the development of cooperative societies exclusively promoted by women across the country.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred with Fiji’s highest civilian award

Introduction to the Prestigious Recognition

President Droupadi Murmu, a distinguished leader and the head of state of India, has been conferred with Fiji's highest civilian honor The Order of Fiji. This significant accolade reflects her exceptional contributions and the strong bilateral relations between India and Fiji.

The Significance of Fiji's Highest Civilian Award

Fiji's highest civilian award is a testament to outstanding service and contributions to the nation and the international community. This prestigious honor is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, leadership, and positive impact.

Droupadi Murmu: A Leader of Vision and Integrity

President Droupadi Murmu has been a beacon of leadership and integrity. Her tenure as the President of India has been marked by numerous achievements and initiatives that have significantly influenced both national and international spheres. Her commitment to public service, social justice, and economic development has earned her widespread respect and recognition.

Key Achievements of President Murmu

• Promoting Education and Empowerment: Under President Murmu's leadership, numerous educational initiatives have been launched, focusing on empowering marginalized communities and promoting gender equality in education.
• Strengthening Diplomatic Relations: President Murmu has played a pivotal role in enhancing India's diplomatic ties with various countries, including Fiji. Her efforts have paved the way for stronger bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and technology.
• Advocating for Environmental Sustainability: A staunch advocate for environmental conservation, President Murmu has championed several policies aimed at protecting natural resources and promoting sustainable development. The Ceremony and Its Significance

The Ceremony and Its Significance

The conferral ceremony was a grand event, attended by dignitaries from both India and Fiji. The award symbolizes the deep-rooted friendship and mutual respect between the two nations. It also highlights the shared values and collaborative efforts in addressing global challenges.

Event Highlights

• Venue and Attendance: The ceremony was held at a prestigious venue in Fiji, with notable figures from various sectors in attendance.
• Speech by President Murmu: In her acceptance speech, President Murmu expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening India-Fiji relations.
• Cultural Performances: The event featured cultural performances that showcased the rich heritage of both India and Fiji, symbolizing the cultural bond between the two countries.

Impact on India-Fiji Relations

The recognition of President Murmu with Fiji's highest civilian award is a milestone in India-Fiji relations. It underscores the mutual respect and admiration between the two nations and sets a precedent for future collaborations.

Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation

This honor is expected to catalyze further cooperation in various fields, including:

• Economic Partnerships: Boosting trade and investment opportunities between India and Fiji.
• Cultural Exchanges: Promoting cultural exchange programs to strengthen people-to-people ties.
• Educational Initiatives: Collaborating on educational projects to enhance learning and development.

Conclusion

The conferment of Fiji's highest civilian award to President Droupadi Murmu is a testament to her exemplary leadership and contributions. It also marks a significant chapter in the flourishing relationship between India and Fiji. As both nations continue to build on this foundation, the future holds promising prospects for enhanced cooperation and mutual growth.

India is the 2nd Largest Aluminum Producer in the World

Production of key minerals in the country, such as iron ore and limestone, has continued to show robust growth in Q1 of FY 2024-25, after reaching record production levels in FY 2023-24. Iron ore and limestone account for about 80% of the total MCDR mineral production by value. Production of iron ore was 275 million metric ton (MMT) and limestone at 450 MMT in FY 2023-24. As per provisional data, in the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminum production in FY 2024-25 (April-June) posted a growth of 1.2% over the corresponding period last year, increasing to 10.43 lakh tons (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-June) from 10.28 LT in FY 2023-24 (April-June). India is the 2nd largest Aluminum producer, 3rd largest lime producer and 4th largest iron ore producer in the world. Continued growth in production of iron ore and limestone in the current financial year reflects the robust demand conditions in the user industries viz. steel and cement. Coupled with growth in Aluminums, these growth trends point towards continued strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.

Moon crater named after national luminary Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

Lhamu Pasang Sherpa, the first Nepalese woman to summit Everest, now has a lunar crater named in her honor.

Nepal celebrates the naming of a crater at the Moon’s South Pole in honor of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit Mt. Everest. The US Geological Survey, which maps extraterrestrial planets and the Moon, as well as topographic and hydrological features of Earth, has named a crater on the Moon’s South Pole after Sherpa.

On April 22, 1993, Pasang Lhamu made mountaineering history by becoming the first Nepalese woman to successfully reach the summit of the world’s highest peak. Unfortunately, during the descent, the climbers encountered severe weather conditions. She died near the south summit of Mt. Everest.

The Government of Nepal has honored her memory by declaring Pasang Lhamu a National Luminary. Jasamba Mountain (7,315m) in the Mahalangur Range has been renamed Pasang Lhamu Mountain, and the 117 km-long highway from Trishuli to Dhunche has been designated Pasang Lhamu Highway. Additionally, postage stamps have been issued in her name.

India to host first BIMSTEC Business Summit in New Delhi from August 6-8

India is preparing to host the first-ever BIMSTEC Business Summit in New Delhi from August 6-8, marking a significant step towards fostering greater regional collaboration in the Bay of Bengal region. The Ministry of External Affairs, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), will organize this three-day event.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will inaugurate the summit, with Union Minister of Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal and other leaders scheduled to deliver keynote addresses.

The event is expected to draw a diverse array of participants, including ministers from BIMSTEC member states responsible for trade, commerce, industry, and energy, along with high-ranking government officials, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry associations.

Manu Bhaker becomes first Indian woman to win two medals at a single Olympics edition

India’s star shooter Manu Bhaker made history by becoming the first Indian woman in independent India to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games. She clinched a bronze medal in the 10m pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh, defeating South Korea 16-10 at the Paris Olympics. With this achievement, Manu Bhaker joins P.V. Sindhu as the only Indian women to have won two Olympic medals. Earlier, Manu had opened India’s medal tally at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event.

Manu Bhaker secured a bronze medal in the Women’s Air Pistol event at the Paris Olympics 2024, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Bhaker’s score of 221.7 points earned her the third place, marking India’s first medal in the ongoing Olympics. This historic win represents a remarkable comeback for the 22-year-old shooter. It was a redemption arc for Manu after her pistol malfunctioned in Tokyo Olympics. The gold medal went to South Korea’s Ye Jin, who set a new Olympic record with 243.2 points. Her compatriot Kim Yeji claimed silver with 241.3 points.

Novak Djokovic wins elusive Olympic gold

Novak Djokovic emerged victorious in the men’s tennis singles at the Paris Olympics 2024, clinching the gold medal. The 37-year-old Serbian defeated Carlos Alcaraz with scores of 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2) in a gripping final at the Philippe-Chatrier court. This win makes Djokovic the oldest Olympic tennis champion, while Alcaraz, who had the chance of becoming the youngest Olympic tennis winner, fell short. With this historic achievement, Novak has become only the third male player, alongside Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi, to complete a Career Golden Slam.

Julien Alfred becomes fastest woman in the world

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred became the fastest woman on earth after winning the 100-meter race at the ongoing Paris Olympics. Alfred stunned pre-race favorite Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States, who claimed the second spot.

Alfred clocked 10.72 seconds to claim gold in the rain-drenched race at the Stade de France’s running track. Meanwhile, Richardson had to settle for silver after clocking 10.87 seconds. USA’s Melissa Jefferson claimed bronze with a time of 10.92 seconds.

In the final, Richardson’s poor reaction time contributed to her second-place finish. The American had a reaction time of 0.221 seconds, while Alfred had a reaction time of 0.144 seconds. Alfred was too far down the track for Richardson to mount one of her famous comebacks.

PM Modi inaugurates 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE)and said that India is finding solutions for global food and nutrition security. The triennial conference, organised by the International Association of Agricultural Economists, will be held from August 2 to 7, 2024. The theme for this year’s conference is, “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.”

It aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts. The conference will highlight India’s proactive approach to global agricultural challenges and showcase the nation’s advancements in agricultural research and policy.

The ICAE 2024 will serve as a platform for young researchers and leading professionals to present their work and network with global peers. It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutes and universities, influence policymaking on both national and global scales, and showcase India’s agricultural progress, including advancements in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems. The conference will witness the participation of around 1,000 delegates from around 75 countries.

IAF’s Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla picked as ‘Prime Astronaut’ for Indo-US Mission to Space Station

Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the prime astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced. A joint statement signed between India and the US during the official state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2023 envisioned a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the ISS.

Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc, USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, the Indian space agency said. A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission. These include Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Prime) and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Backup).

During the mission, the Gaganyatri will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities. The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Program and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA.