• The fourth edition of Indo-Latin America Cultural Festival organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) began in New Delhi. Total 34 artists of three countries - Colombia, Ecuador and Chile are participating in the two-day festival. On the first day of the festival, artists from Chile mesmerized the audience with their music and dance.
• The festival is bringing together key stakeholders from India and Latin America to deliberate on the prospects of cultural and educational collaborations. Akashvani correspondent reports that the Indo-Latin America Cultural Festival serves as a testament to the enduring cultural bonds between India and Latin America, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation of the rich traditions and artistic expressions from both regions.

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched a unique week-long programme for Aspirational Blocks in the country called ‘Sankalp Saptaah’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. He also launched the Aspirational Blocks Programme Portal and inaugurated the exhibition showcased on the occasion. The Prime Minister also interacted with 3 Block Level Officers.
• Interacting with Ms Ranjana Agarwal, School teacher from Baheri, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh the Prime Minister asked about the most impactful idea from the Chintan Shivirs organized in her block. Ms Ranjana Agarwal mentioned the all-round development programme of the block and highlighted the importance of all stakeholders coming on the same platform to turn the government schemes into a mass movement. The Prime Minister also enquired about the changes implemented to improve the learning outcome of schools. Ms. Agarwal mentioned opting for activity-based learning instead of the traditional teaching methods and gave examples of organizing Bal Sabhas, music lessons, sports and physical training etc.

• Indians are consuming more than the WHO-recommended amount of salt every day, 8 gm instead of five grams across all categories of people, according to a recent survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).The study, published in the Nature journal, found that salt intake was higher in men (8.9 gm), employed people (8.6 gm) and current tobacco users (8.3 gm).
• The consumption was also higher than the mean among obese persons (9.2 gms) and those with high blood pressure (8.5 gms). “Reducing salt intake to 5 grams can reduce your high blood pressure by 25 per cent. We need to cut down eating processed foods and those cooked outside home,” said Dr Prashant Mathur, lead author of the study and director of ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research.

• The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation of Mumbai-based Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-operative Bank Ltd with Pune-based Cosmos Co-operative Bank Ltd.The Scheme has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred under …the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Scheme will come into force with effect from September 26, 2023.
• The branches of Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-operative Bank Ltd will function as branches of Cosmos Co-operative Bank Ltd., with effect from September 26, 2023. The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation of Mumbai-based Sahebrao Deshmukh Co-operative Bank Ltd with Pune-based Cosmos Co-operative Bank Ltd.

• State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed an initial agreement with NTPC Green Energy Ltd to explore setting up green hydrogen and offshore wind projects. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will primarily explore the feasibility and setting up of renewable energy projects in various domains.
• The MoU was signed by ONGC executive director Debdulal Adhikari and NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) CEO Mohit Bhargava in the presence of ONGC chairman and CEO Arun Kumar Singh and NTPC chairman and managing director Gurdeep Singh.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked Regulated Entities (REs), namely commercial banks and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), to display information regarding borrowers whose secured assets have been taken into possession by the REs under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002 in a given format.
• Lenders may have to undertake a huge exercise over the next six months as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked them to display on their website information on borrowers whose secured assets have been taken into possession by them under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002.

• These entities are Saraswat Co-operative Bank, Rajkot Nagarik Sahakari Co-operative Bank and Bassein Catholic Co-operative Bank.The RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 25 lakh, Rs 13 lakh and Rs 23 on Bassein Catholic Co-operative Bank, Rajkot Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd and Saraswat Co-operative Bank, respectively.
• The central bank in different press releases said that the penalties were due to deficiencies in regulatory compliance by the banks. The central bank in different press releases said that the penalties were due to deficiencies in regulatory compliance by the banks.

• The Centre extended the tenure of senior bureaucrat Piyush Goyal as the chief executive officer of National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID). A 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Nagaland cadre, Goyal was appointed to the post in August 2022.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved an extension in Goyal's tenure as the CEO, NATGRID beyond March 25, 2024, for a period up to November 19, 2025, it said.The NATGRID is a federal intelligence gathering organisation created to enhance the country's counter-terrorism capabilities.

• Nikhil Mukund Wagh, Public Relations Officer of Goa Shipyard Limited, a company under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, was honoured with the “Promising PR Person of the Year” award in New Delhi.The award was given at an event held by the Public Relations Council of India in Delhi.
• The award was given by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense and MP Jual Oram and on this occasion former Secretary of Tourism Department Vinod Zutshi, Chief Guide of PRCI Jairam and National President of PRCI Geeta Shankar attended the event.Wagh was presented with the award in the presence of public relations, corporate communication and media professionals.

• The Indian shooting contingent continues to dominate at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou as the men’s trio of Swapnil Kusal, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Akhil Sheoran clinched a gold medal at the 50 m rifle men’s 3P event.With a score of 1769 points, Team India secured the gold.
• The silver medal was won by China with 1763 points and the bronze medal went to South Korea with 1748 points.With their score, India also broke the world record of 1761 points held by the USA since last year.

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