AFSPA extended in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for another six months.

About AFSPA

• It gives powers to the army, state and central police forces to shoot to kill, search houses and destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents in areas declared as “disturbed” by the home ministry.
• AFSPA is invoked when a case of militancy or insurgency takes place and the territorial integrity of India is at risk.
• Security forces can “arrest a person without a warrant”, who has committed or is even “about to commit a cognizable offence” even based on “reasonable suspicion”.
• It also provides security forces with legal immunity for their actions in disturbed areas.
• While the armed forces and the government justify its need in order to combat militancy and insurgency, critics have pointed out cases of possible human rights violations linked to the act.

Legendary actress Asha Parekh received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020

President Droupadi Murmu gave away the National Film Awards for the year 2020 under various categories at the 68th edition of the ceremony

About Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh is an accomplished Indian classical dancer as well as a well-known actress, director, and producer in the film industry. She began her acting career as a child actor.

About Dadasaheb Phalke award

• The Award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the pioneering filmmaker who gave India its first film– ‘Raja Harishchandra’, in 1913.
• The award is considered the highest honour in the Indian film fraternity.
• It is awarded for “its outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

PM Modi flags off  Vande Bharat Express 2.0 from Gandhinagar

• This train will run from Gandhinagar in Gujarat to Mumbai in Maharashtra.
• This is the third Vande Bharat Express in the country – after New Delhi – Varanasi and New Delhi – Karta Vande Bharat Express
• This train comes with several features to enhance comfort as well as safety.
• The 16coach train has a seating capacity of 1,128 passengers

About Vande Bharat Trains

• It is an indigenously designed and manufactured semi high speed, self-propelled train that is touted as the next major leap for the Indian Railways in terms of speed and passenger convenience since the introduction of Rajdhani trains.
• The first Vande Bharat was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme’ at a cost of about Rs. 100 crore.
• The Vande Bharat was India’s first attempt at adaptation of the train set technology compared with conventional systems of passenger coaches hauled by separate locomotives.
  • The train set configuration, though complex,is faster, easier to maintain, consumes less energy, and has greater flexibility in train operation.
• Currently, two Vande Bharat Expresses are operational—one between New Delhi and Varanasi and the other from New Delhi to Katra.
• The 400 new trains will have “better efficiency”and railways are looking at making several of these trainsets with aluminium instead of steel.
  • An aluminium body will make each trainset around 40-80 tonnes lighterthan a current Vande Bharat and this will mean lower consumption of energy as well as better speed potential.

Features of the Vande Bharat Trains

• These trains, dubbed as Train 18during the development phase, operate without a locomotive and are based on a propulsion system called distributed traction power technology, by which each car of the train set is powered.
• Its coaches incorporate passenger amenities including on-board WiFi entertainment, GPS-based passenger information system, CCTVs, automatic doors in all coaches, rotating chairs and bio-vacuum type toilets like in aircraft.
• It can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph due to faster acceleration and deceleration, reducing journey time by 25% to 45%.
• It also has an intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient.

Provisional dates for MotoGP to be held in India 22nd-24th September 2023

• The world’s premier two-wheel racing championship will be held at the Buddh International Circuit, which staged Formula 1 from 2011 to 2013.
• MotoGP on Friday confirmed that it will race in India from 2023 with provisional dates set at September 22-24, marking the return of a big ticket motorsport event in the country after Formula 1’s departure nine years ago.
• Top officials from MotoGP’s commercial rights holder Dorna had visited India earlier this month to sign a seven-year MoU with Indian race promoters Fairstreet Sports (FSS).
• They had also held meetings with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur

Saudi University has introduced yoga to its members and students

• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lies at the furthermost part of south western Asia.
• It is bordered by the Arabian Gulf, United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the east; Red Sea in the west; Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan in the north; Yemen and Oman in the south.

1st October observed as

• World Vegetarian Day
• International Day of Older Persons