Leading financial services provider Paytm announced on Monday that Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder and CEO, has resigned from his position as Non-Executive Chairman and Board Member of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) in anticipation of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) impending prohibition on the bank’s operations.

The company said in a BSE filing that the PPBL reconstituted the Board with the appointment of retired IAS officers Debendranath Sarangi and Rajni Sekhri Sibal, former executive director of Bank of Baroda Ashok Kumar Garg, and former chairman of the Central Bank of India Srinivasan Sridhar.

One 97 Communications Ltd (OCL) will reassemble the Board to oversee PPBL’s future operations following the RBI’s March 15 ban on bank operations. They became Independent Directors recently.

“OCL withdraws its nominee from the Paytm Payments Bank Board and Vijay Shekhar Sharma steps down as part-time, non-executive Chairman and Board member,” the filing stated.

By withdrawing its nominee, the company stated that it supports PPBL’s decision to choose a board composed solely of independent and executive directors.

“In order to facilitate this transition, Vijay Shekhar Sharma has also resigned from the Paytm Payments Bank Board, the company has been informed separately. The company stated in its filing that “PPBL has informed us that they will begin the process of appointing a new Chairman.”

The central bank decided to extend the deadline for Paytm Payments Bank Ltd. to cease accepting deposits by 15 days, to March 15, which is a noteworthy development.
The previous date that was set was February 29.

Users of the company’s mobile app can rest easy knowing that Soundbox, Card Machine, and QR codes will all still work after March 15th.

The CEO and MD of Paytm Payments Bank, Surinder Chawla, stated, “We welcome the appointment of Sridhar, Sarangi, Garg, and Sibal to our Board, marking a significant step forward in PPBL’s journey.”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had earlier directed that the PPBL terminate the nodal accounts of One 97 Communications Ltd (OCL) and Paytm Payment Services Ltd (PPSL).

Due to “persistent non-compliances” and “continuing material supervisory concerns” within the bank, the RBI terminated this.

The CEO and founder of Paytm, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, met with Sitharaman in Delhi to ask for assistance, but he was told to speak with the regulator directly.

Over 30 crore people use Paytm, with about 11 crore of those users transacting each month. Additionally, it has a network of about a crore merchants who take payments on a regular basis. Users of the company’s mobile app can rest easy knowing that Soundbox, Card Machine, and QR codes will all still work after March 15th.

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“A sentiment for a generation”: Well-known people impacted by Pankaj Udhas reminisce

Interim Union Budget 2024: Will it meet needs and aspirations?

Similar to how Bollywood actor John Abraham debuted on screen in 2012 for the music video of Pankaj Udhas’ timeless hit “Chupke Chupke,” actress Sameera Reddy received her big break in 1997 for the maestro’s “Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein.”

Following a protracted illness, Pankaj Udhas passed away in Mumbai on Monday at the age of 72. He had been receiving treatment for cancer at a private hospital for a while.

Reddy, who was devastated to learn of the 72-year-old ghazal legend’s cancer death, told IANS that “the most beautiful song… changed my life and launched my career.” I am where I am today because that song made people notice me.”

Reddy portrayed an Indian woman in the music video who falls in love with an Australian man. As the love tale progressed, Pankaj Udhas sang the song.

Reddy recalled how “his melodious and most captivating voice” had shaped her career, saying, “People still remember me from that song.” The loss of a legend today fills me with such sadness. My heart hurts for it. He has been an emotion for our generation and will always be remembered. We shall always remember his music.”

The music video for the song honoring the legend was also posted by the actress on Instagram.

“Today we have lost a legend. ‘Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatien’ changed my life,” Reddy wrote in the caption. Being a part of his generation was a privilege and an honor. We are grateful to Pankaj Udhas Sir for his lovely songs that have touched the hearts of our generation. You will be missed. Peace be with you.”

The late ghazal maestro’s close friend and veteran film exhibitor Manoj Desai of Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir fame also paid tribute to the ghazal legend. The hard reality that his 33-year friend had passed away was not something he was willing to accept.

Desai, who also owns Mumbai’s Gaiety Galaxy, another famous theater, showed his sorrow in a video while crying.

“Pankaj, it’s hard for me to believe that you are no longer with us in this world, as we have spent more than 33 years together,” he said. Everyone who was there enjoyed your ‘Khazana’ music special that you used to perform for cancer patients. Out of respect for you, all ghazal artists, including Bhupendra Singh, Anup Jalota, and numerous other ghazal singers, used to come without any pain. God bless you. I hope you find peace in the afterlife.

Comedian Sunil Pal paid homage to the ghazal maestro by recalling how much of a sport Pankaj Udhas was. He would always laugh away at parodies of ghazals and take them in his stride.

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Interim Union Budget 2024: Will it meet needs and aspirations?

The government has targeted every single household and individual over the past ten years, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who stated on Thursday that the government has provided housing for all, “har ghar jal,” electricity for all, cooking gas for all, bank accounts, and financial services for all.

“Over the past ten years, there has been a significant positive transformation in the Indian economy. The future is something that the people of India are hopeful and optimistic about.

“During the second term, our government intensified its efforts to create a prosperous nation that includes the complete development of all citizens and all regions. ‘Sabka saath sabka vikas sabka vishwas’ is our government’s strengthened motto, she declared in the Lok Sabha during the presentation of the interim budget for 2024.

“We developed all regions with the goal of achieving social and geographic inclusivity as part of our development philosophy. Sitharaman stated, “Bharat committed to panch pran and laid a solid foundation for the amrit kal. The country overcame a once-in-a-century pandemic with the nationwide approach of’sabka prayas’.”

As a result, our young nation is full of hope and confidence for a bright future, as well as high aspirations and pride in its existence. Based on its incredible work, we anticipate that the people will once more bestow upon our government a resounding mandate.

“Our compassionate and all-encompassing approach to development represents a significant shift from our previous strategy of providing resources up to the village level. We have provided housing for everyone, har ghar jal, electricity for everyone, cooking gas for everyone, bank accounts, and financial services for everyone in record time over the last ten years, the Finance Minister stated.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the government supports “empowering the poor” and that over the past ten years, at least 25 crore people have received help to overcome multifaceted poverty.

According to Sitharaman, the government’s top priority is meeting the needs and aspirations of the Garib (poor), Mahilaye (women), Yuva (youth), and Annadata (farmers).

During the presentation of the 2024 Interim Budget to the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister stated, “The government’s power to assist the poor also increases manifold when they become empowered partners in the development process.”

She claimed that by using PM Jan Dhan accounts to facilitate direct benefit transfer (DBT) of 34 lakh crore rupees, the government was able to save 2.7 lakh crore, bolstering the welfare of the underprivileged.

According to Sitharaman, the PM Swanidhi scheme provided credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors, while the PM Vishwakarma Yojna provided end-to-end support for artisans and craftsmen.

“11.8 crore farmers, including marginal and small farmers, received direct cash assistance every year under the PM Kisan Samman Scheme,” the speaker stated.

Garib Kalyan, Desh ka kalyan, she said, means that the welfare of the poor is the welfare of the nation, and that the country advances when the poor advance.

Following President Draupadi Murmu’s approval of the interim budget on Thursday, the Finance Minister and her two state ministers arrived at Parliament House, where PM Modi presided over a meeting of the Union Cabinet to approve the interim budget.

The government’s top priority, she continued, is to give Indian MSMEs enough training and enable them to meet their needs and compete on a global scale. It will also support their innovation and large-scale growth.

According to the Finance Minister, a new initiative will be introduced to support the deep-tech industry for defense needs.

On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will support girls between the ages of 9 and 14 receiving vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer.

“To prevent cervical cancer, our government will promote vaccination among girls between the ages of 9 and 14 years.” While presenting the interim budget 2024 to the Lok Sabha, she stated, “Various schemes for maternal child care will be brought under one comprehensive program for synergy in implementation, upgrades of anganwadi centers under saksham anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 will be expedited for improved nutrition delivery, early childhood care, and development.”

Many young people have aspirations of becoming qualified doctors. Our government intends to use the current hospital infrastructures under different departments to establish more medical colleges. For this reason, a committee will be formed to look into the problems and offer pertinent suggestions,” Sitharaman continued.

Elon Musk appears poised to make his foray into the rapidly growing Indian electric vehicle (EV) market this year with his Tesla cars, but the government announced on Thursday that it will enhance and develop the EV ecosystem by providing manufacturing and charging infrastructure support.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new bio-manufacturing initiative to support green growth during her presentation of the Interim Budget to the Lok Sabha.

“The government will expand and strengthen the EV ecosystem by supporting manufacturing and charging infrastructure,” she stated.

According to Nirmala Sitharaman, the construction of new airports and the enlargement of current ones will proceed quickly.

The Finance Minister declared, “In the last ten years, the aviation sector has been galvanized and the number of airports has doubled to 114.”

“There are 517 new routes with 1.3 crore passengers on them. More than 1,000 new aircraft have been preemptively ordered by Indian carriers, the spokesperson stated.

“Rapid urbanization and a rapidly growing middle class are occurring; metro rail and Namo Bharat may serve as the impetus for the necessary urban transformation. Large cities emphasizing transit-oriented development will encourage the expansion of these systems, according to Sitharaman.

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Republic Day in India: What You Should Know

An extremely affordable, IOT-integrated water quality monitoring system was created by a student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati.

With its integration of IoT, various sensors, and AI ready for improved water quality monitoring, the R-SAM-PRO gadget thoroughly answers important needs related to water and sanitation through technological innovation.

Real-time data provided by the system is essential for resource management and environmental conservation.

Because of its low cost and intuitive design, it is very accessible and has the potential to be widely used, particularly in environments with limited resources. This might greatly improve the methods for monitoring water quality.

“The cost, accessibility, and real-time data transfer capabilities of our platform are what make it impactful on social communities. Satyam, a PhD Scholar at the university’s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, stated, “We aim to empower communities and authorities with the tools needed for effective water resource management and remediation by providing a cost-effective, multi-parametric, IoT-enabled solution.”

The gadget brought him the title of “Best Product Design” in the Water and Sanitation category at the esteemed Vishwakarma Awards 2023, which were presented by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in collaboration with the Maker Bhavan Foundation and the WIN Foundation.

The goal of this competition was to find and assist India’s top innovators in science and engineering colleges when it came to technology.

‘Water & Sanitation, Clean Technology & Smart Mobility’ was the subject for 2023.

“Satyam’s project, a shining example of technological innovation, demonstrates a profound comprehension of the difficulties encountered in managing water resources, especially in underdeveloped countries. Prof. Sanjukta Patra of the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT-Guwahati stated, “The system’s affordability, accessibility, and real-time data transmission capabilities are not just a testament to his technical prowess but also his commitment to societal betterment.”

According to Satyam, “the critical issue of water pollution, especially in developing countries,” motivated him to build the device. My goal was to provide communities and authorities the tools they needed to manage water resources effectively.”

This real-time water monitoring system powered by the Internet of Things has advanced data retrieval, a hybrid power system, many sensors, and integrated GPS.

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Republic Day in India: What You Should Know

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti 2024: Everything You Ought To Know

A 500-year-old dream was at last realized with the completion of the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram temple. Numerous millions of people nationwide commemorated the “Pran Prathisthan” of the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday afternoon. Activities included processions, unique poojas, prayer chanting, hymns, ringing of temple bells, shouts of “Jai Shree Ram,” gulal spraying, cracker popping, and the distribution of delicious “prasad” and “maha-prasad.”

Most of the approximately 5,000 Hindu temples scattered throughout the city, both large and small, participated in the festivities. Some are very old, some are very large, some are very popular, and a few are very magnificent, representing or honoring multiple gods and goddesses and drawing millions of devotees every day.

Since Sunday, practically every temple in the nation has been decked out in flowers, with marigolds being the most popular flower along with a variety of “tulsi,” lotuses, hibiscus, and other flowers that create a beautiful and melodious atmosphere.

Many temples are transformed into a vivid, colorful display at night by sparkling fairy lights and tiny ghee-oil lamps that emit a golden, warm glow. This represents an unprecedented second Diwali celebration in which Lord Ram, the Prince of Ayodhya, is welcomed with great pomp and circumstance at his home.

The majority of the nation’s Lord Ram Temples are notable due to their distinct histories, customs, and devotees’ feelings. For a live telecast of the Ayodhya ceremonies, several temples have set up special LED screens.

“I firmly believe and have great faith that Ram’s followers are fully engrossed in this momentous occasion today. This is greatly felt by the followers of Ram everywhere in the nation and the world. “This is the most sacred and divine moment of all,” he said.

In addition, PM Modi commended the Indian judiciary, stating that it upheld justice and cited the historic ruling in the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid case as evidence.

“For decades, there was a legal dispute regarding Lord Ram’s existence. At the event, he said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the Indian judiciary for doing justice.” That Lord Ram is the “spirit of Indian Constitution” was also added. Ram is “not a dispute,” according to the prime minister, but rather “a solution.”

The Prime Minister praised the historic temple inauguration and stated that although Indians have faced a “complicated past,” the future appears bright going forward. Following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, Prime Minister and head of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Samiti Mohan Bhagwat received a silver model of the Ram temple from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

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Shivam Dube’s all-around performance ensures his spot in the T20 World Cup team: Sunil Gavaskar

My goal was to maintain a high strike rate while batting: Yashasvi Jaiswal

Shivam Dube has been in outstanding form, and former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has acknowledged this, saying that the all-rounder is not just an all-around backup for Hardik Pandya but a competitor who is actively trying to get into the T20 World Cup team.

In addition to securing wins for India, Shivam Dube’s rapid ascent in the Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan established him as a strong candidate for the T20 World Cup in 2024. Discussions amongst cricket enthusiasts and experts centered on Dube’s consistent and impactful performances, while Hardik Pandya’s fitness remained a concern.

Even if Pandya were fit, Dube’s performances were making it difficult for selectors to consider dropping him, Gavaskar stressed.

“Oh, listen, what if Hardik is unfit?’ We have been discussing him a lot. I believe he is ensuring that, even in the event that Hardik is fit, he is traveling with the World Cup team. It is difficult for anyone to let go of you when you perform like this. If the selectors choose to bench him, it will be a very difficult choice. The selectors are having a headache because he is exerting every effort possible, according to Gavaskar.

In Mohali, Dube’s flawless sixty-run innings demonstrated both his batting ability and his usefulness with the ball, helping India win by six wickets. His impressive figures of 1-9 in two overs showcased his versatility. The momentum carried over to Indore, where Dube’s brilliant 63 not out of 32 deliveries gave India a decisive 2-0 series lead.

The master of cricket continued, praising Dube’s increased self-assurance on the international scene and pointing out that the all-round player had gained the respect of his teammates. Gavaskar noted that Dube had improved his understanding of the game and had stopped copying other players in favor of concentrating on displaying his special abilities and qualities.

I believe that following these two games, he now has a sense of belonging on the international scene. Thanks to two outstanding performances, he has earned the respect and admiration of his teammates.”

“I believe he is simply much more at ease with his own style of play. He is more adept at his own game. He’s no longer attempting to imitate anyone. Gavaskar said, “He’s saying, This is what I can do and what I bring to the table.

Selectors faced a delightful quandary as Dube’s story progressed from being a replacement to a player who had carved out his own niche, just as the cricketing world eagerly awaited the announcement of the T20 World Cup squad.

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My goal was to maintain a high strike rate while batting: Yashasvi Jaiswal

The first human eye tissue model creates “tears in a dish”

In India’s six-wicket victory over Afghanistan, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal declared his goal was to continue batting at a high strike-rate during the successful chase of 173 at the Holkar Stadium, following his match-winning 68 off 34 balls.

On January 17, with one game remaining in Bengaluru, India won the series thanks to Jaiswal’s fourth T20I fifty and his 92-run partnership with Shivam Dube, who scored 63 runs without missing any wickets. India finished the chase with 26 balls remaining.

“I was attempting to express myself as I had been told to do. I was focused on getting my team off to a strong start and trying to punish the loose balls. I was attempting to bat as deep as possible if I had made a strong start. I was attempting to maintain a high strike rate. In the press conference held after the game, Jaiswal stated, “I wanted to keep batting with a good strike rate.

Due to a groin strain, the left-handed batter missed the first Twenty20 International in Mohali, but he stated he is always eager to help the team. It’s about putting in a lot of effort during practice and trying to help the team whenever I can. I’m just attempting to be clear about my intentions and perform well for my team.” he added.

Jaiswal also delighted in his partnership with the talisman batsman Virat Kohli, who made 29 off 16 balls, during their 57-run stand for the second wicket. It was truly pleasant to be present. Every time I bat with Virat bhaiya, I gain a lot of knowledge.

We had brief conversations about where we could hit boundaries during this match as well. We came to the conclusion that hitting long on or mid-off was simple. Positive energy was present along with the intention. We simply wanted to make good shots,” he added.

With less than six months until the Men’s T20 World Cup, Dube – who recently scored his second consecutive fifty of the series—was happy with his contributions to India’s success thus far. The captain told me I played well and he is really happy with my performance. Both he and Jaiswal are skilled stroke players who are aware of our abilities. Our strategy was to attack and end the game early, but my job was to take on the spinners.

“The game should have been over sooner, but there was no specific goal in mind. I have worked on a lot of things, including how to mentally prepare for the T20 game in addition to skill. Managing stress and selecting which bowlers to take on.”

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The first human eye tissue model creates “tears in a dish”

Education in 2024: What the future holds for students

The initial organoid model of the human conjunctiva, a tissue involved in tear generation, was created by a Dutch scientific team.

Tears are produced by our eyes to shield them from wounds and diseases. Through the secretion of mucus, the conjunctiva, a tissue covering the inside of the eyelids and the white of the eye, contributes to the formation of these tears.

This mucus shields the ocular surface from infections and enables tears to adhere to it.

The researchers utilized human conjunctiva cells and cultured them into three-dimensional structures in a dish for their work, which was published in the journal Cell Stem Cell. These microscopic formations, which resemble actual human conjunctiva, are known as organoids.

“Once we had these functioning organoids, we wanted to know how the conjunctiva is involved in the production of tears,” said lead researcher Marie Bannier-Helaouet, from the Organoid group at the Hubrecht Institute in Netherlands.

“We discovered that the conjunctiva makes antimicrobial components and therefore contributes to tear production in more ways than by simply making mucus,” she added.

Then, in order to simulate allergies, the researchers changed the environment of the plate containing the tiny conjunctivae.

“The organoids started to produce completely different tears: There was more mucus but there were also more antimicrobial components,” said Bannier-Helaouet.

Under these conditions, they also found a new cell type in the organoids: Tuft cells.

“Similar cells have been discovered in other tissues, but not in the human conjunctiva.”

In the allergy-like environment, the number of tuft cells increased, indicating a potential involvement for these cells in the ocular response to allergens.

Conjunctiva is impacted by a number of illnesses and conditions, including infections, allergies, cancer, and dry eye syndrome. When this conjunctiva tissue malfunctions severely, blindness may also result.

The newly-developed organoid model opens the possibility for study into disorders affecting the conjunctiva.

Long-term, it might even be feasible to create new conjunctivae for patients suffering from genetic diseases, ocular burns, or ocular malignancies.

“We are now running preclinical studies in rabbits to assess whether this approach is feasible and helpful,” Bannier-Helaouet said.

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Education in 2024: What the future holds for students

Makar Sankranti 2024: A Joyous Celebration of Harvest

According to an official, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched sports infrastructure projects worth Rs 660 crore on Friday. These projects include the construction of 12 new Hockey Training Centers (HTCs), 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums, the Cuttack Table Tennis Academy, and the Rourkela Gymnastics Academy.

The infrastructure push will support the growth of sports culture at the local level and motivate people to lead healthier lifestyles, Official Said.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Patnaik also laid the foundation stone for eleven sports projects.

“We want to provide the best sports facilities for our young sportspersons so that they can realise their potential and bring laurels to Odisha and India. I hope that the facilities launched today will provide a big momentum to the sports development in the state,” Patnaik said on the occasion.

According to official sources, the 48 multipurpose indoor stadiums that were built throughout the state include courts, rooms, and other amenities for a variety of sports, including weightlifting, chess, badminton, table tennis, yoga, and others.

In Bhawanipatna, a refurbished multipurpose indoor hall has also been opened.

In addition to 16 top-notch TT tables, the Cuttack Table Tennis Academy has a fully-stocked gym and a separate weightlifting area.

The facility also includes spaces created especially for yoga and zumba, as well as a section reserved for chess enthusiasts. Similar to this, the Rourkela Gymnastics Academy has facilities for weightlifting, table tennis, yoga, and other activities in addition to equipment that meets international standards.

In order to enhance the hockey ecosystem in the state, Chief Minister Patnaik officially opened 12 Hockey Hubs (HTCs) that will provide professional coaching under the guidance of knowledgeable coaches.

As a result, the state now has the greatest number of HTCs in the nation, with 23 (Sundargarh-17, Sambalpur-2, Jajpur-1, Cuttack-1, Ganjam-1, and Bhubaneswar-1).

Eleven sports infrastructure projects were also made possible by Patnaik, including the construction of four multipurpose indoor stadiums in Remuna, Baliguda, Titlagarh, and Karanjia; an indoor swimming pool in Bhadrak; a football training centre; a basketball court and indoor swimming pool in Cuttack; a women’s football training centre in Aul; an HTC in Deogarh; an upgraded Baripada stadium; and an upgraded Nehru Stadium in Bhadrak, among other things.

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TATA WPL 2024: Date, time, location, live streaming, live broadcast, and watch times

“A sentiment for a generation”: Well-known people impacted by Pankaj Udhas reminisce