1.
The Agumbe Rainforest Complex (ARC) in Karnataka, known for its high rainfall, has seen a decline in its peak monsoon rainfall over the past two years, losing its reputation to lesser-known towns in the Udupi district.
Agumbe has historically been famous for receiving over 8,000 mm of rainfall during the monsoon and was nicknamed the ‘Cherrapunji of the South.’ However, towns like Nadpal and Mudradi in Udupi district have recorded higher rainfall than Agumbe recently
2.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is creating the ‘Bima Sugam’ online platform, which is described as a ‘game-changer’ and a ‘UPI moment’ for the insurance sector.
Benefits of the portal:
It will serve as a one-stop destination for insurance-related needs, including policies, portability, agent changes, and claims.
Buyers can directly purchase life, motor, or health policies through web aggregators, brokers, banks, and insurance agents. Insurance companies will be major shareholders in the platform, which will offer services via an ‘e-insurance account’ (E-IA).
3.
In the second ODI between Team India and Australia in Indore, India achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 3000 ODI sixes. They posted a formidable total of 399/6, striking an impressive 18 sixes during their innings. This remarkable feat made India the first team to reach the milestone of 3000 ODI sixes. The West Indies closely trail as the second team on the list with 2953 sixes, while Pakistan holds the third position with 2566 sixes
4.
The Assam government is working on a law to create an indigenous-only zone ( protective ring of 8 km radius) around Batadrava, the birthplace of 15th-16th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva who propounded neo-Vaishnavism.
Assam govt also decided to develop and beautify a total of 21 places where Srimanta Sankaradeva stayed even for a night during his spiritual journey. A modern namghar (prayer hall) will be built in these places and a 15-day circuit will touch these 21 places
5.
3 new air routes to become operational in Arunachal in Oct
After inaugurating the newly-developed infrastructure at the Tezu airport in Lohit district, Scindia said that, under the Centre’s UDAN-5 scheme, Itanagar will soon be connected to Rupsi, Jorhat, and Delhi.
The Tezu airport is the fourth in the state after Donyi Polo, Pasighat and Ziro airports and 17th in the Northeast.
6.
What is Goa’s new beach shack policy?
The Goa government recently approved the ‘Goa State Shack Policy 2023-2026’, for the erection of temporary seasonal structures, beach shacks, deck beds and umbrellas along beach stretches for the next three tourist seasons.
Beach shacks — typically built from eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, wooden poles and thatched palm leaves — have become a popular attraction for domestic and international tourists visiting Goa.
The shack policy allows unemployed persons of Goan domicile to operate ‘temporary’ shacks on the beachfront during the peak tourist season from September 1 to May 31. By June 10, the shacks have to be mandatorily dismantled. According to the policy, 259 shacks are permitted on nominated beach stretches in North Goa and 105 shacks are allowed in South Goa. The licences for operating these shacks are allotted based on categories of experience by draw of lots, and one shack is permitted per family.
What changes in the new policy?
In the draft policy, the government inserted a contentious clause, stipulating that the age of applicants for allotment of beach shacks should be between 18 and 60, sparking outrage among traditional Goan shack holders. The previous beach shack policies had no bar on age.
7.
In another move aimed at “encouraging newcomers” in the business, the government has relaxed the eligibility criteria for experience, with 90 per cent of shacks to be allotted to applicants having at least one year of experience running a shack and 10 per cent to those with no experience.
Citing complaints from tourists about Goan food missing from shacks, the new policy makes it mandatory for shacks to serve Goan cuisine.
A “Digital Coast” has been proposed at the beaches, where shack allottees will be provided POS (point of sale) machines to facilitate digital transactions for customers.
8.
Tripura and Sikkim have achieved 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF) plus status
A press release from the Ministry of Jal Shakti has said that the country has achieved yet another major milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II with three-fourths of the total villages in the country i.e., 75 per cent of villages achieving ODF Plus status under Phase II of the Mission.
An ODF Plus village is one which has sustained its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status along with implementing either solid or liquid waste management systems. As of date, more than 4.43 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, which is a significant step towards achieving the SBM-G phase II goals by 2024-25.
9.
Antyodaya Diwas is celebrate on September 25 on the occassion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya who was elected as the president of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) in 1967.
The term Antyodaya signifies lifting up the most impoverished individuals, and this day is dedicated to the goal of extending assistance to the very last person in society who needs it.
The essence of the Antyodaya Mission is to extend support to the most vulnerable individuals. The motto is to assist all the underprivileged and rural youth in India in finding job opportunities both nationally and internationally.
In 2014, on Antyodaya Diwas, the Ministry of Rural Development revamped its skill development program known as Aajeevika Skills into the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). Later, in November 2015, it was renamed as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM.
On this day, various activities are organised, including blood donation camps and seminars to promote the spirit of helping those in need.
10.
Indian government has introduced a new policy aimed at ensuring that the thousands of casual labourers employed by the BRO to develop infrastructure in the country’s most remote regions, are granted dignity in the event of their demise.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh approved the policy for the preservation and transportation of the mortal remains of ‘casual paid labourers’ to their native place
The policy also raises the funeral expenses from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 for those whose last rites are performed at the worksite.
This highlights the dangerous nature of the work these workers undertake in challenging terrains.
Previously, the facility of preserving and transporting mortal remains at government expense was only available to BRO’s General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) personnel
This is a significant development as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) employs around one lakh casual workers for constructing border infrastructure in various regions, including Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
These projects include the construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, airfields, and helipads
11.
New Jersey will soon get the world’s largest ever modern-era Hindu temple to be constructed outside India
Said to be a landmark of Hindu culture and architecture in the Western hemisphere, Akshardham would be formally inaugurated on October 8 under the guidance of BAPS spiritual head Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The temple is possibly the second largest after the iconic Angkor Wat in Cambodia
12.
Rongbong Terang has been presented with Moidul Islam Bora Literary award for 2023.
Rongbong Terang’s first published book is ‘Karbi Lamkur’ (1967). On the other hand, the first collection of stories published by Terang is ‘Bon Faringor Geet’ (1990). ‘Rangmili’s Hahi’, published in1981, is Terang’s first novel. It was for this novel that Terang received the Assam Prakashan Parishad Award in 1983 and the Bishnuprasad Rabha Award of the Sahitya Sabha in 1982.
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