Notes:
N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, has launched ‘People First’ mobile application at the Collectors’ conference in Vijayawada. The app will empower citizens with real-time governance. It will keep the citizens updated with the latest schemes and services of the government and the users will also be able to use the app for registering their complaints. The registered complaints will be addressed as soon as possible and selected complaints will be directly monitored by the chief minister himself.

Notes:
India and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to upgrade Thondaman Vocational Training Centre at Hatton located in Nuwara Eliya district of the Island nation. The up gradation of the center will be done using a grant of around Rs 9 crore from the Government of India. The project includes construction of new infrastructure facilities as well as renovation of existing building. The project also includes supply of machinery, equipment & tools for the new courses, furniture and vehicles. A total of 500 youth of Sri Lanka are expected to be trained as skilled workers with suitable skills catering to the job market annually with the completion of the project. This project is in line with Government of India’s efforts to assist and cooperate with government of Sri Lanka in the field of vocational training and skill development.

Notes:
The National conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2017 was organised by Agriculture Ministry at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on September 19, 2017. The 2-day conference was inaugurated by Radha Mohan Singh , the Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister. During the conference, group discussions were held on important topics including Soil Health Card Scheme, management of drought and harvest and doubling farmers’ income. Agriculture Secretary, Shobhan Patnaik laid emphasis on measures to bridge the yield gap among districts and States in a planned manner and steps to ensure payment of remunerative price to the farmers. In addition, Joint Secretaries and senior officials made presentations on the flagship schemes including seed quality control, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card and organic farming. Many States used the opportunity to offer valuable comments and observations on many aspects of the flagship programme of the Government.

Notes:
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been appointed as brand ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission for Uttarakhand. Earlier, Akshay Kumar was also appointed as the brand ambassador for cleanliness drive by the Uttar Pradesh Government and his film ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ was interest-free in the state. The film focuses on importance of building toilets and ending open defecation in the country.

Notes:
Yesteryear Bollywood actress Shakila (82), who was known for her work in films like “Aar Paar” and “CID”, has passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra on September 20, 2017. She was a star in her own right in the 50’s n 60’s. The famous song ‘Baabuji dhiire chalanaa…’ from Aar Paar was filmed on her. Besides her roles in Guru Dutt classics like ‘Aar Paar’ and ‘CID’, Shakila also starred with Shammi Kapoor in Shakti Samanta’s hit ‘China Town’.

Notes:
B Sambamurthy, the former Director and CEO of the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), has been appointed as new interim Chairman of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). He will succeed M Balachandran, who was Non-Executive Chairman of NPCI from September 23, 2013 till September 20, 2017. Prior to the appointment, he was the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Corporation Bank.

Notes:
The United Nations’ International Day of Peace is observed every year on September 21 to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. This year, in 2017, the day will focus on engaging and mobilizing people throughout the world to show support for refugees and migrants. Its messages will be shared with communities hosting refugees and migrants as well as people concerned that refugees and migrants may bring physical and economic insecurity to their lives. The day will highlight solidarity with refugees and migrants and showcase the shared benefits of migration to economies and nations, while also acknowledging legitimate concerns of host communities. The 2017 theme “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All” honours the spirit of ‘TOGETHER’, a global initiative that promotes respect, safety and dignity for everyone forced to flee their homes in search of a better life.

Notes:
Zannah Mustapha, a Nigerian lawyer and teacher, has won the 2017 UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Nansen Refugees Award for his crucial mediating role and efforts to help children affected by the insurgency in the country. Mustapha’s The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School in Maiduguri, which is the capital of Borno state and the centre of Boko Haram violence, stayed open through the insurgency and now provides education to more than 500 students. His school took in children of Nigerian Army soldiers as well as of Boko Haram militants. Apart from this, he had been instrumental in securing their freedom – as well as the release of 82 additional schoolgirls in May 2017 from Chibok kidnapped by the Boko Haram militant group. The 2017 award ceremony will be held on 2 October in Geneva, Switzerland.

Notes:
Ajay Kumar Saroj from India won the gold in men’s 1500m race in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on September 20, 2017. In track cycling, Deborah Herold won a silver in women’s 200m individual sprint race. Meanwhile, Neha Solanki and Jyoti bagged a bronze each in women’s kurash +87kg and —87kg respectively. With 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze, India are 8th in the medals tally with hosts Turkmenistan on top with a whopping 52 gold, 36 silver and 37 bronze. India are being represented by more than 200 athletes in 15 sports disciplines in the Games, touted as the second biggest multi-sporting event of the continent after the Asiad.

Notes:
The Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) is located 10 km from the city of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and covers an area of 195 square kilometers. It is home to elephants, barking deer, sloth bear porcupines and many other animals. Commonly seen birds in the sanctuary are the falcons, golden oriole, Indian tree pie, paradise fly catchers, grey hornbills, Indian peafowl, etc. The best time to visit is from October to June. The forest cover is denuded up to 90% because of selective pilferage by timber mafia over many years.