On the occasion of World Tourism Day on Friday, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a national responsible tourism initiative titled Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi. The primary aim of this initiative is to elevate the overall experience for tourists in destinations, by having them meet ‘tourist-friendly’ people who are proud Ambassadors and Storytellers for their destination.

The Ministry said that under this initiative, special emphasis is being placed on the training of women and youth to enable them develop new tourism products and experiences like heritage walks, food tours, craft tours, nature treks, homestay experiences, and other innovative tourism products based on the potential of the destination.

Tourism-specific training is being followed by general training in digital literacy and digital tools to ensure that the experiences they create are discoverable and visible to tourists, nationally and globally. Since the pilot of this program on August 15th this year, around 3,000 people have been trained in the 6 pilot destinations on the importance of creating a positive experience for tourists, thereby being a Paryatan Mitra.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar would be inaugurating the 20th Divya Kala Mela, in Pune, Maharashtra tomorrow. This event will be held from 28th September to 6th October 2024, at PWD Ground, New Sangvi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune. The Mela is being organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) [DEPwD], under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, through National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC), an apex corporation under the DEPwD.

The Divya Kala Mela stands as a unique celebration of the craftsmanship, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of Divyang (Persons with Disabilities) artisans, artists, and entrepreneurs from across India. Approximately 100 Divyang participants from over 20 states and Union Territories will showcase an eclectic assortment of products, including home décor, clothing, eco-friendly stationery, toys, and personal accessories. Visitors will also have the chance to explore a range of organic packaged foods, handlooms, and exquisite embroidery work.

The Reserve Bank of India had organized a day long conference for the Directors of Small Finance Banks, SFBs in Bengaluru. The theme of the conference was ‘Governance in SFBs – Driving Sustainable Growth and Stability’.

Delivering the keynote address, RBI Deputy Governor Mr. Swaminathan J. encouraged the Directors to be vigilant and proactive in identifying and mitigating emerging risks. He emphasised the need for strengthening cybersecurity and a stronger focus on financial inclusion, customer service and grievance redressal. He also highlighted the importance of sustainable business models.

According to an official press release, the Conference also included technical sessions conducted by senior officials of RBI in the areas of ‘Governance and Assurance Functions’, ‘Business Risk – Regulatory and Supervisory Expectations’ and ‘IT Systems and Cybersecurity’.

India has risen to 39th position among 133 global economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed this as a remarkable feat. In a social media post, Mr Modi said the government is committed to ensuring a vibrant innovation ecosystem, which can transform the lives of the youth.

India has climbed from 81st in 2015 to 39th in 2024 among 133 economies. In the Global Innovation Index, India is the first among ten economies in Central and Southern Asia. It is also the first among lower-middle-income economies.

Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav announced the theme of 9th Ayurveda Day as “Ayurveda innovation for Global Health”. This year, Ayurveda Day will be celebrated on 29th October. At the curtain raiser event in Delhi, the Minister said the theme underscores the potential of Ayurveda’s contribution in global health system through various innovative practice solutions. The Ayurveda day is observed every year on the auspicious occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti, also known as Dhanteras. Since 2016, Ayurveda Day has been celebrated annually. The celebration reflects the commitment of India for the promotion of Ayurveda as an indispensable part of the holistic healthcare system of Indian traditional medicine system and overall healthcare culture of India.

The central government has announced an increase in minimum wage rates by revising the Variable Dearness Allowance. The new wage rates will take effect from the 1st of next month. The minimum wage rates are categorized based on skill levels-unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled, as well as by geographical areas A, B, and C. After the revision, minimum wage rates for workers in area ‘A’ in construction, sweeping, cleaning, and loading & unloading for unskilled work will be 783 rupees a day. For semi-skilled workers, the minimum wage will be 868 rupees a day, and for skilled, clerical, and watch & ward (without arms), the minimum wage will be 954 rupees a day. For highly skilled workers and watch & ward (with arms), the revised wage will be 1,035 rupees a day.

Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi has said that India has become the World’s third largest Producer and Consumer of Ethanol. While inaugurating the two-day India Sugar and Bio-Energy conference in New Delhi, the Minister emphasized that the government is committed to a robust, sustainable sugar industry that is not only an economic pillar but also a driving force in India’s renewable energy landscape. Speaking on Sugar Production in the country, the minister said that in the last decade sugarcane cultivation increased by about 18 percent while the sugarcane production has increased by 40 percent. He added that through Minimum Support Price, the dues of farmers has become a thing of the past and stressed on the vital role of the farmers in the country’s renewable energy landscape from being the Anna Dattas to becoming Urja Dattas. Mr. Joshi added that the government has launched national green hydrogen mission last year with an outlay of 19 thousand 744 crore rupees to make India a global hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen.

In May 2024, a tragic incident in Alappuzha, Kerala, highlighted the ongoing threat of rabies in the 21st century. A nine-year-old boy died from rabies after being bitten by a stray dog. He was not vaccinated after the attack owing to the absence of major wounds. This preventable death prompted school assemblies that turned into science classes. A message was delivered to over 159,000 students across 740 schools, underscoring the critical need for immediate medical attention and vaccination after any animal bite to prevent rabies.

This incident serves as a stark reminder that, despite advancements in medical science and the availability of effective rabies vaccines, the disease remains a significant public health challenge. With a nearly 100% fatality rate once symptoms develop, rabies continues to be a formidable threat. World Rabies Day, observed on September 28 to commemorate the death of Louis Pasteur, encourages reflection on both the historical misconceptions that once shaped the approach to this deadly disease and the ongoing efforts to develop vaccines and modern strategies for rabies control. By connecting the past and present, we are reminded of the continuous need for awareness, education, and vaccination to eradicate rabies.

In a significant demonstration of its advancing space capabilities, China successfully launched eight satellites into orbit from a sea-based platform.

The launch took place from the Haiyang sea launch platform off the coast of Shandong province.

The mission utilised the Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) rocket, marking its second successful launch since its debut. This solid-fueled rocket, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is designed specifically for commercial satellite deployments and sea-based launches.

A Russian Soyuz capsule landed on the Kazakh steppe on Monday, bringing two Russian cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut back to Earth after a stint on the International Space Station (ISS).

The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft with Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Oleg Kononenko and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson landed at 1159 GMT.

Kononenko and Chub had been part of the ISS crew since last September, completing a 374-day mission. Dyson's stay was shorter, lasting 184 days.