Government launches e-Sahaj portal to grant security clearance to businesses

  • Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba has launched an online ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for the grant of Security Clearance.
  • Through the portal, applicants will be able to submit applications online and also view its status.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently streamlined the Security Clearance procedures and issued a fresh set of guidelines.

SEBI approves new KYC norms for foreign portfolio investors

  • SEBI has approved a revised framework for settlement of cases as well as new KYC norms for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).
  • The proposal was to allow foreign investors to trade in commodity derivatives market (except for sensitive commodities), as well as a common application form for the registration of FPIs in the domestic markets.

INSV Tarini crew bestowed with Tenzing Norgay Award

  • The all-woman crew of the INSV Tarini, an Indian Navy sailboat, has bagged the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award.
  • The crew won the award for their feat of sailing across the world for eight months.
  • The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award is the highest national recognition for outstanding achievements in the field of adventure on land, sea and air.
  • The women Navy officers spent 194 days at sea as part of a mission under the Navika Sagar Parikrama project.

India signs Financing Loan Agreement with World Bank for UKWDP

  • The Indian government and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement for IBRD Credit of US$74 million for the Uttrakhand Workforce Development Project (UKWDP).
  • The aim is to improve the quality and relevance of training at priority Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
  • The Project has a five-year grace period and a maturity of 17 years.

Bangladesh Cabinet clears deal with India for port use

  • Bangladesh’s Cabinet has approved a draft agreement with India to enable New Delhi to use the Chittagong and Mongla ports for the movement of goods to and from northeast India.
  • Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam has said that Nepal and Bhutan can be added to the agreement if they wish.
  • The agreement will be come into effect for a period of for five years, and there is the provision of automatic renewal for another five years.
  • The main objective of the proposed agreement is to strengthen existing cordial bilateral ties.

India first country in the world to develop document on Cooling Action Plan

  • India has become the first country in the world to develop a document on a plan to compbat global warming.
  • The draft India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) was released on World Ozone Day (September 16th).
  • The ICAP addresses cooling requirement across sectors and lists out actions that may help reduce the cooling demand.
  • The draft was prepared by the Ozone Cell of the MoEFC (the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change).

Germany launches world’s first hydrogen-powered train

  • Germany has rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered train.
  • Two hydrogen-powered trains built by French TGV-maker Alstom are now running on a 62-mile stretch (100km) in northern Germany.
  • The line covers the cities Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude, and was previously run using diesel trains.
  • Alstom plans to deliver another 14 of the zero-emissions trains to Lower Saxony state by 2021.
  • The Coradia iLint trains can run for about 600 miles (1,000km) on a single tank of hydrogen, similar to the range of diesel trains.

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