Daily Current Affairs September 07 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Paytm Introduces Card Soundbox Device for Contactless UPI and Credit/Debit Card Payments        

• Paytm has introduced the Paytm Card Soundbox, a device designed to facilitate mobile and card payments, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and RuPay.
• This product is aimed at helping merchants expand their businesses by offering a “tap and pay” solution for credit and debit card payments.
• It builds upon Paytm’s earlier innovation of audio-based confirmations with the Paytm Soundbox.

Note :

• Paytm was the 1st company to launch audio-based confirmations with Paytm Soundbox, transforming in-store payments in the country.

Key Features :

• The device allows “tap and pay” functionality for card payments, with a limit of up to ₹5,000.
• It operates on a 4th Generation (4G) network for rapid payment alerts.
• Equipped with a 4W speaker for clear audio payment alerts.
• Long-lasting battery life, lasting up to 5 days.
• Provides transaction alerts in 11 languages, customizable by the merchant via the Paytm for Business app.
• Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled smartphone users can make payments by tapping.
• It combines the functionality of a Point of Sale (POS) unit, a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Quick Response (QR) code card, and a sound box for confirming transactions.
• The Card Soundbox device addresses two significant challenges for merchants: accepting card payments and receiving instant audio transaction alerts.

Recent News :

• In Aug 2023, One97 Communications Limited (OCL), the parent company of Paytm, India’s prominent payments and financial services company, launched two payment devices – Paytm Pocket Soundbox and Paytm Music Sound Box to provide enhanced payment experiences for merchants while being non-promotional.

About Paytm :

• Established : 2010
• Headquarters : Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Founder & CEO : Vijay Shekhar Sharma

Federal Bank Introduces WhatsApp Lending Platform for Pre-Approved Personal Loans

• Federal Bank has introduced a WhatsApp Lending Platform to facilitate the application process for pre-approved personal loans.
• The platform’s inauguration was conducted by Federal Bank’s Chairman, AP Hota.

Key Features :

• This innovative channel simplifies and streamlines the application process for pre-approved personal loans.
• It eliminates unnecessary complexities and delays commonly associated with traditional loan application procedures.
• Customers can initiate the loan application process by sending a simple “hi” message to the bank’s dedicated WhatsApp number, 9633 600 800.

About Federal Bank :

• Headquarters : Aluva, Kochi, Kerala, India
• MD & CEO :Shyam Srinivasan
• Tagline : your perfect banking partner

Indian Bank Collaborates with OneCard to Introduce Mobile-First Co-Branded Credit Cards  

• Indian Bank has partnered OneCard to introduce mobile-first, contactless and metal-co-branded credit cards.
• The card comes with a mobile app that allows cardholders to control their interactions.

Key Highlights :

• This international metal credit card is curated to offer a host of tailored benefits, including lifetime validity with zero joining and annual fees.
• The card allows card holders to oversee/track every facet of their credit card interactions in the feature-packed app.
• Users can track real-time transactions, manage expenses, convert payments into EMIs, redeem rewards, handle repayments, plan monthly budgets, adjust credit limits, and make payments, all within the app.
• In addition to the credit cards, OneCard is a mobile-first metal credit card managed by FPL Technologies in partnership with issuer banks.

About OneCard :

• Headquarters : Pune, Maharashtra
• CEO : Anurag Sinha

About Indian Bank :

• Established : 15 August 1907
• Headquarters : Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• MD & CEO : Shanti Lal Jain
• Tagline : Your Own Bank

Shivalik Small Finance Bank Partners with Fintech Infrastructure Firm Falcon to Provide Digital Products

• Shivalik Small Finance Bank, headquartered in North India, has entered into a partnership with Falcon, a fintech company for developing financial products like instant Digital Fixed Deposits (FDs) and savings accounts.
• The partnership will help develop a tech platform that outperforms legacy systems and enables the bank along with tech companies.

Key Features :

• One of the key benefits of this next-gen platform is that it will reduce the cost and time required for launching new financial products.
• The platform comes with several pre-equipped features, including no-code mobile and web applications.
• This makes it easier to create user-friendly interfaces for customers.
• The platform includes a robust developer hub, indicating that it is designed to support developers in creating and maintaining financial products.
• It also mentions secure Software Development Kits (SDKs) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which highlights the importance of security in financial technology.
• Falcon’s Co-Founder, and CEO :

About Shivalik Small Finance Bank :

• Headquarters : Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Managing Director : Anshul Swami
• Shivalik became the 1st Small Finance Bank in India to transition from an Urban Co-operative bank namely Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank (SMCB).

ManipalCigna Health Appointed by IRDAI as Lead Insurer for Karnataka State Awareness Insurance Plan

• ManipalCigna Health Insurance has been appointed as the lead health insurer by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for the State Insurance Awareness Plan in

Objective :

• To expand insurance coverage and raise awareness about health insurance in Karnataka.
• ManipalCigna will play a crucial role in creating awareness about health insurance, ensuring that the citizens of Karnataka have access to insurance coverage.

Key Highlights :

• ManipalCigna’s extensive multi-distribution network will facilitate the dissemination of health insurance information to a wide audience.
• ManipalCigna is known for its innovative approach to health insurance, which will help in spreading awareness about the importance of health insurance at the grassroots level in Karnataka.
• Leveraging the Manipal Group’s local presence and expertise in healthcare delivery, the company aims to support IRDAI’s goal of “Insurance for All 2047.”
• ManipalCigna has introduced a new Kannada tagline, “Health Insurance Avashyaka” (Health Insurance is a Necessity), to emphasize the essential role of health insurance in ensuring both health and financial well-being.
• Managing Director and CEO, ManipalCigna Health Insurance : Prasun Sikdar

SBI Card Introduces Enhanced Features for its Super-Premium Card ‘AURUM’

• SBI Card, the largest credit card issuer in India, has introduced new features for its super premium card named ‘AURUM targeted at C-suite executives and high net-worth individuals.

About AURUM :

• ‘AURUM’ is a by-invitation-only card, initially launched in February 2021 and now extends enhanced benefits to its users, ranging from introduction of new annual spends-based milestones and welcome benefits to additional international lounge benefits and golf privileges.
• With these enhancements, ‘AURUM’ cardholders can now enjoy benefits worth up to ₹2 lakh annually, based on their spending.
• The card offers unlimited international lounge access to cardholders, as well as 4 international lounge visits for accompanying guests.
• In addition, the card also offers a one-year Club Marriott membership as a welcome gift.
• The joining and annual membership fee for this exclusive card is Rs 9,999.
• However, this fee is reversed once the cardholder achieves a spending milestone of Rs 12 lakh within the card membership year.

About SBI Card :

• Founded : May 1998
• Headquarters : Gurugram, Haryana, India
• MD & CEO : Abhijit Chakravorty
• SBI Card launched by State Bank of India (SBI) and GE Capital.

Indian Bank Extends Online Locker Agreement Execution through NeSL’s DDE Platform

• Indian Bank became the 1st Public Sector Bank (PSB) to extend the facility of execution of on-line locker agreement through Digital Document Execution (DDE) Platform of National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL), India’s 1st Information Utility and is registered with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
• The introduction of online locker agreements available 24/7 aims to enhance customer convenience and will reduce the turn-around time of the agreement execution.

About DDE :

• DDE is a fully automated contract execution platform with paperless e-stamp and electronic signature (e-Sign) facility.
• The facility of e-Sign includes Aadhar based (OTP/Biometric) and dongle-based digital signature.
• The platform offers individual and multiple signatories to execute documents in sequence, which will facilitate joint account holders also to execute on-locker agreements at their ease.
• Customers can track transaction status and download the Electronic Evidence (65B) certificate in real-time.
• The end to end digital process eliminates the need for physical stamp papers and signatures, making it faster and more efficient.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

‘Green Hydrogen Pilots in India’ Conference held in the run-up to G20 Summit

• In the run-up to the 18th G20 Summit, a day-long conference on “Green Hydrogen Pilots in India” was held in New Delhi.
• The conference showcased various Green Hydrogen Pilots being implemented by both India’s public and private sector companies.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission are the pilot projects, which have been allocated 1,466 crores.
• The conference, hosted by NTPC Ltd., also present ed pioneering innovative pilots and progress in green hydrogen technology.

Key Highlights:

• The Minister gave an overview of ongoing green hydrogen pilots and steps being taken by India in this direction.
• Many green hydrogen pilots are going on in India and across the world. We have pilots for green steel and in heavy-duty transportation.
• Electric mobility is not viable for long-distance heavy mobility; hence hydrogen or ammonia is the answer.
• In shipping, around the world, countries are making some ships ready.
• World shipping will go green within around 10 years.
• The Secretary informed that an amount of Rs. 456 crores is set aside for steel, Rs. 495 crores for transport, Rs. 115 crore for shipping and Rs. 400 crores for other projects.
• The pilot projects aim to revolutionize these sectors and promise to set new standards for sustainability and innovation”.
• Shri Bhalla said that MNRE had already requested the concerned Ministries, namely the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to send their proposals for pilot projects in respective sectors.

Jal Jeevan Mission Achieves Milestone of 13 Crore Rural Households Tap Connections

• The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) achieved another milestone of providing tap water connections to 13 Crore rural households.
• Working with ‘speed and scale’, the life changing mission has increased the rural tap connection coverage from only 3.23 Crore households at the start of the Mission in August 2019 to 13 crore in just 4 years.
• Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August 2019 as the country celebrated its 73rd Independence Day.

Key Highlights

• 6 States namely Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh) and 3 UTs – Puducherry, D&D and D&NH and A&N Islands, have reported 100% coverage. Bihar at 96.39%, followed by Mizoram at 92.12%, are also poised to achieve saturation in the near future.
• Goa, Haryana, Punjab, A&N Islands, Puducherry, D&NH and D&D are ‘Har Ghar Jal certified States/ UTs i.e., in these states/ UTs, the villagers have confirmed through Gram Sabhas that ‘all households and public institutions in the village are getting adequate, safe and regular supply of water.
• As many as 145 districts and 1,86,818 villages in the country have reported 100% coverage.
• The Mission implements the programme in partnership with States/ UTs and it is the combined efforts of all including development partners that transformational change is seen on ground.
• Every second, one tap water connection is getting installed thereby changing the rural landscape of the country. Since 1st January 2023, on an average 87,500 tap connections are provided every day.
• Uttar Pradesh has topped the progress chart in the current FY by installing 61.05 lakh Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) since January 2023.

Recent News

• In May 2023, Under Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) celebrates a new milestone of ensuring safe and clean drinking water through taps to more than 12 Crore rural households of the country.

World’s tallest Nataraja statue installed at G20 summit venue

• The world’s tallest Nataraja statue has been installed at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 summit in Delhi.
• The 28-foot-tall statue weighing 20 tonnes was made in a record time of seven months by sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapathy and his team at Swamimalai in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu.
• The statue was built in Ashtadhatu (8 metals) using the trad itional casting method.
• The statue was transported to the national capital in four days and a special green corridor was created for its transportation.

The average processing time of Income Tax Returns reduced to 10 days

• Average processing time of Income Tax Returns (ITR) has been reduced to ten days in the Assessment Year 2023-24.
• The average processing time of ITR was 82 days in the Assessment Year 2019-20, and 16 days in Assessment Year 2022-23.
• Income Tax Department said, it is committed to processing the ITR in a speedy and efficient manner to the taxpayers.

Key Highlights:

• According to the Department, six crore 98 lakh ITRs for Assessment Year 2023-24 were filed, out of which 6 crore 84 lakh ITRs have been verified.
• The Department informed that more than two crore 45 lakh refunds for Assessment Year 2023-24 have already been issued.
• The income Tax Department said, there are several cases in which the ITRs have been processed and refunds have also been determined, but the Department is unable to issue them.
• It said taxpayers have not yet validated their bank account in which the refund is to be credited.
• The Department urged the taxpayers to validate their bank accounts through the e-filing portal to get the refunds.

India Unveils the First Portable Hospital in the World, the Arogya Maitri Cube

• India has built the world’s first disaster hospital that can be airlifted, packed in 72 cubes.
• It has been named as ‘Aarogya Maitri Cube’.

What is Aarogya Maitri Cube?

• Aarogya Maitri Cube is the world’s first disaster hospital that can be airlifted.
• It has been developed indigenously under Project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri).
• It has been developed as part of India’s ‘Aarogya Maitri’ initiative to provide essential medical supplies to friendly countries.

Key Features:

• Aarogya Maitri Cube is packed in 72 cubes.
• These cubes contain essential equipment and supplies, such as an operation theatre, a mini-ICU, ventilators, blood test equipment, an X-ray machine, a cooking station, food, water, shelter, a power generator, and more.
• The special cage can hold 36 mini-cubes filled with supplies needed for 100 people to survive for two days.
• There are two of these cages, called master cubes, which can be joined to support 200 survivors.
• One of the major features of these cubes is their ability to handle various severe injuries, including bullet injuries, major bleeds etc.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival concludes in Lalitpur, Nepal

• The Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival, spanning 3 days, concluded in Lalitpur, Nepal.
• The festival was inaugurated by Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud.
• Participating Countries: Literature from several South Asian countries was showcased during the festival, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
• The festival showcased literature, music, dance, poetry and other art forms.

Key Highlights :

• Professor Avadhesh Pradhan, actress and writer Divya Dutta, Prof Madhav Prasad Pokharel and actress Manisha Koirala received the ‘Yashaswi Sahitya Samman’.
• A new award called the ‘Yashasvi Book Prize’ was introduced this year, recognizing outstanding literary works in various categories.
• Bibek Ojha received the award for fiction for his book ‘Aithan.’
• Nawaraj KC was honoured for creative non-fiction for ‘Sunyako Mulya.’
• Renuka GC received recognition for her storybook ‘Sanesh.’
• Mahendra Malla was acknowledged for his poetry collection ‘Bhasako Bakpatra.’
• Govinda Giri Prerana received the Biography category award for ‘Sushree Parijaat.’
• Anuradha was honoured with the Children’s Literature Award for ‘Chhamchhako Chhamchhami.’

Other recipients of the ‘Yashasvi Book Prize’ include :

• Reema KC was awarded for the translation of ‘Selected Poems of Amrita Pritam.’
• Narayan Ghimire received recognition in the Food and Drug category for ‘Raithane Khanpan Ra Chadparva.’
• Lakpa Dendi Sherpa was honored for his autobiography ‘Himalayan Maverick.’
• Sushant Thapa received the award in the category of English poetry writing for his compilation of poems titled ‘Means of Merit.’

About Nepal :

• President : Ram Chandra Poudel
• Prime Minister : Pushpa Kamal Dahal
• Capital : Kathmandu
• Currency : Nepalese rupee

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Uttar Pradesh Leads in Electric Vehicle Registrations with the Highest Number

• Uttar Pradesh (UP) has emerged with the highest adoption rate of electric vehicles in the country, with 1,70,269 electric vehicles registered in the state.
• According to data from Vahan, which tracks vehicle registrations, there has been a 4.9% increase in the overall number of electric vehicles registered in India.
• Between January and September of CY23, a total of 10,24,781 electric vehicles were registered in India.

Key Highlights :

• As per the statistics, after UP, Maharashtra registered the highest number of electric vehicles with 1,24,558 and Karnataka with 1,00,235.
• While original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are expanding their electric vehicle portfolios, companies are developing and partnering to ramp up the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles on city and national highways.
• ICRA, a credit rating agency, predicts that electric two-wheelers are expected to achieve a penetration rate of 10-12% of new vehicle sales by FY25.
• Electric three-wheelers and electric buses are also expected to see substantial growth, reaching penetration rates of 14-16% and 11-13%, respectively, by FY25.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sato Kilman elected as Vanuatu’s new prime minister

• Four-time Vanuatu Prime Minister (PM) Sato Kilman has been picked for the top job for a record 5th time, ending Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau’s 9-month reign as leader of the government.
• Kilman received a total of 27 votes, while Kalsakau got 23 votes.
• Previously, he was Prime Minister of Vanuatu on 4 occasions, from December 2010 to April 2011, May to June 2011, June 2011 to March 2013, June 2015 to February 2016.

About Vanuatu :

• President : Nikenike Vurobaravu
• Capital : Port Vila
• Currency : Vatu

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO-developed device for fishers’ safety successfully tested at Neendakara                 

• ‘Nabhmitra’, a device developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) for the safety of fishermen, was successfully tested at Neendakara,a coastal area in Kollam city, Kerala.

Key features of Nabhmitra device :

• It enables two-way messaging services from and to sea for the safety of fishermen.
• The device is designed to communicate weather and cyclone warnings to fishermen in their local language, enhancing their understanding and safety.
• Fishermen can use the device to send distress messages to the authorities in case of emergencies, such as capsizing or fire on their boats.
• The device is equipped with an emergency button that can be pressed by fishermen during critical situations.
• When the emergency button is pressed, the device allows fishermen to establish communication with a designated control centre.
• The control centre receives alerts from the device, including the precise location of the distressed boat, aiding in swift rescue operations.
• Nabhmitra’ also assists fishermen by helping them identify suitable fishing fields, improving their catch efficiency.
• Additionally, the device provides valuable information about shipping channels and maritime boundaries, contributing to safe navigation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization, unveils the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard

• Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), unveiled the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard.
• Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, launched the dashboard in a virtual ceremony.
• Developed under the leadership of India’s G20 Presidency and with the expert knowledge partnership of UNWTO, the dashboard is a testament to India’s commitment to sustainable tourism.
• It showcases best practices, case studies, and insights from G20 countries, all modeled for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• This dashboard is a lasting legacy of India’s G20 Presidency, reflecting its dedication to global collaboration and sustainable growth in the global tourism industry.

Key Highlights:

• The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard serves as a comprehensive online public platform, amalgamating the collective knowledge of the G20 Tourism Working Group.
• It consolidates the GOA Roadmap, survey results, case studies, and best practices from G20 countries.
• The dashboard offers insights into sustainable tourism practices and also provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and growth.
• The virtual launch witnessed participation from G20 Member countries, invited countries, international organizations, Indian States & Union Territories, and industry stakeholders.

About UNWTO

• Founded: 1946
• Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
• Head: Secretary-General; Zurab Pololikashvili

India Post and Shiprocket partner to strengthen e-commerce export ecosystem

• The Department of Posts, as part of its ongoing initiatives to create an export ecosystem for e-commerce in the country, entered into an agreement with Bigfoot Retail Solution Pvt Ltd (Shiprocket), one of th e leading e-commerce enablement platforms.
• The collaboration aims to enhance e-commerce exports by leveraging India Post’s extensive presence and reliable shipping solutions.
• The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Shri Alok Sharma, Director General Postal Services, Chief Postmaster General Delhi Ms Manju Kumar and Shri Saahil Goel, CEO, of Shiprocket, marking a significant milestone in India’s cross-border e-commerce landscape.

Key Highlights:

• India Post has taken a series of steps in the recent past like expansion of Foreign Post Offices, introduction of the Postal Bill of Export to enable commercial exports through post offices, launch of a competitive International Tracked Packet Service and setting up of Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs) across the country.
• This agreement will lead to technical integration between Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra and Shiprocket and enable India-based sellers, using Shiprocket, to directly generate e-PBE and shipping labels from the Shiprocket platform itself.
• The exporters can avail packaging, label printing, pickup facilities and induct their shipments to the nearest DNK in any part of the country.

Recent News

• India Post has entered into an agreement with Canada Post to introduce International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) between the two countries to facilitate e-commerce exports.
• India Post signed an MoU with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Tripta Technologies for logistic service

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Thailand Women’s Cricket Team’s Nattaya Boochatham Becomes First Bowler From Associate Nation to Claim 100 Wickets in T20Is

• Thailand spinner Nattaya Boochatham created history with a three-wicket haul during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier game against
• In the match, Boochatham finished with a figure of 3/3 to complete 100 wickets in T20Is, becoming the first player, both from men’s and women’s from an Associate nation to get to the landmark in T20Is.
• The 36-year-old spin all-rounder has now claimed 101 wickets in 73 ODI games for an average of 9.96, making him the only bowler to ever reach that milestone with a bowling average under ten.
• She not only becomes the only female cricketer in the world to have 100 T20I wickets, but she also has the highest bowling average on the list.
• If she takes one wicket in Thailand’s upcoming match against Hong Kong on September 6, she will surpass the 102 wicket total of current No. 1 bowler Sophie Ecclestone.

Amul to be the official sponsor of Indian Contingent for XIX Asian Games

• Amul will be the Official Sponsor of the Indian Contingent for the XIX Asian Games 2022 to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8 2023.
• Amul has partnered with an Indian sports person through the Indian Olympic Association since the London 2012 Olympics for all Indian contingents to the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and we are pleased to further strengthen our decade-long relationship.
• As part of this association, Amul will use the integrated logo in its communication to celebrate the efforts of the sportsperson.
• The India contingent will field 634 athletes at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou across 38 different sports with the largest contingent of 65 in athletics.

About Amul

• Founders: Verghese Kurien, Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel;
• Founded : 14 December 1946
• Headquarters : Anand, Gujarat
• Managing Director : Jayen MehtaJayen Mehta
• Amul, a dairy co-operative based in the western state of Gujarat, is one of the largest milk producers in the world.
• It is under the ownership of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF), Department of Cooperation, Government of Gujarat.

About China :

• President : Xi Jinping
• Capital : Beijing
• Currency : Renminbi

Recent News

• In May 2023, State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has partnered with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMFL), better known as Amul, to offer financial services to Amul’s supply network pan-India under the MUDRA scheme.
• In June 2023, Advertising industry veteran & the creator of the iconic ‘Amul Girl’ campaign that started in the 1960s, Sylvester daCunha, Passed away at the age of 80.

ICC, IndusInd Bank to Ink Multi-Year Sponsorship Deal

• IndusInd Bank has agreed to a multi-year sponsorship deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC), beginning with the men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
• The multi-year deal is valued at $20-$24 million (about Rs 160-200 crore)
• It is learnt that IndusInd Bank and Mastercard have repl aced digital payments platform BharatPe and ed-tech company Byju’s, who have decided to prematurely end their association with the ICC due to financial woes.
• BharatPe and Byju have joined other tech startups like Unacademy, MPL, and Paytm that have cut down on their sponsorship investments amid a decline in private equity funding and focus on profitability
• The ICC’s other top-tier sponsors include MRF Tyres, Booking.com, Aramco, and Emirates.

About ICC

• Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Founded: 15 June 1909
• CEO: Geoff Allardice
• Chairman: Greg Barclay

About IndusInd Bank:

• CEO: Sumant Kathpalia
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founder: S. P. Hinduja
• Founded: April 1994, Mumbai

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Valarmathi, the Voice Behind ISRO’s Launch Countdowns, Passed Away

• N Valarmathi, the renowned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist known for her voice during rocket launch countdowns, passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).

About N. Valarmathi :

• Valarmathi was born in Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• She joined ISRO in 1984 and contributed to various missions, including Insat 2A, IRS IC, IRS ID, and The Technology Experiment Satellite (TES).
• Notably, she announced countdowns for rocket launches at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, including the last countdown for Chandrayaan-3.
• She is an Indian scientist and project director of RISAT-1, India’s first indigenously-developed radar imaging satellite (RIS) which was launched successfully in 2012.

Awards & Honors :

• She is the 1st person to receive the Abdul Kalam Award, instituted in 2015 by the Government of Tamil Nadu in honour of former President Abdul Kalam.

Former Zimbabwe cricket legend Heath Streak Passed away   

• Former Zimbabwe’s great cricketer captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49.

About Heath Streak :

• Streak was a Zimbabwean cricketer and cricket coach who played for and captained the Zimbabwe national cricket team.
• He was the all time leading wicket taker for Zimbabwe in Test cricket with 216 wickets in 65 Tests and scored 1,990 runs and in ODI cricket with 239 wickets in 189 ODI matches and scored 2,943 runs.
• In both Tests and ODIs, he is by far Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker.
• He remains the only Zimbabwean cricketer to have taken over 100 Test wickets and completed the double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets in ODIs.
• He was a key member of that Zimbabwean team which was competitive against cricket’s major nations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
• In 2021, Streak was given an 8-year ban from cricket after admitting breaches of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code.

Daily CA One- Liner: September 7

• Paytm has introduced the Paytm Card Soundbox, a device designed to facilitate mobile and card payments, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and RuPay.
• Federal Bank has introduced a WhatsApp Lending Platform to facilitate the application process for pre-approved personal loans.
• Indian Bank has partnered OneCard to introduce mobile-first, contactless and metal-co-branded credit cards.
• Shivalik Small Finance Bank, headquartered in North India, has entered into a partnership with Falcon, a fintech company for developing financial products like instant Digital Fixed Deposits (FDs) and savings accounts.
• ManipalCigna Health Insurance has been appointed as the lead health insurer by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for the State Insurance Awareness Plan in
• SBI Card, the largest credit card issuer in India, has introduced new features for its super premium card named ‘AURUM targeted at C-suite executives and high net-worth individuals.
• Indian Bank became the 1st Public Sector Bank (PSB) to extend the facility of execution of on-line locker agreement through Digital Document Execution (DDE) Platform of National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL), India’s 1st Information Utility and is registered with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
• In the run-up to the 18th G20 Summit, a day-long conference on “Green Hydrogen Pilots in India” was held in New Delhi.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) achieved another milestone of providing tap water connections to 13 Crore rural households.
• The world’s tallest Nataraja statue has been installed at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 summit in Delhi.
• Average processing time of Income Tax Returns (ITR) has been reduced to ten days in the Assessment Year 2023-24.
• India has built the world’s first disaster hospital that can be airlifted, packed in 72 cubes.
• Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), unveiled the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard.
• The Department of Posts, as part of its ongoing initiatives to create an export ecosystem for e-commerce in the country, entered into an agreement with Bigfoot Retail Solution Pvt Ltd (Shiprocket), one of th e leading e-commerce enablement platforms.
• Thailand spinner Nattaya Boochatham created history with a three-wicket haul during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Qualifier game against Kuwait
• Amul will be the Official Sponsor of the Indian Contingent for the XIX Asian Games 2022 to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8 2023.
• The Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival, spanning 3 days, concluded in Lalitpur, Nepal.
• Uttar Pradesh (UP) has emerged with the highest adoption rate of electric vehicles in the country, with 1,70,269 electric vehicles registered in the state.
• Four-time Vanuatu Prime Minister (PM) Sato Kilman has been picked for the top job for a record 5th time, ending Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau’s 9-month reign as leader of the government.
• ‘Nabhmitra’, a device developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) for the safety of fishermen, was successfully tested at Neendakara,a coastal area in Kollam city, Kerala.
• N Valarmathi, the renowned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist known for her voice during rocket launch countdowns, passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• Former Zimbabwe’s great cricketer captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49.
• IndusInd Bank has agreed to a multi-year sponsorship deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC), beginning with the men’s Cricket World Cup in India