Daily updates 25 September 2019

                               National

1. PM Modi Inaugurates Gandhi Solar Park at UN Headquarters

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 50 kilowatt 'Gandhi Solar Park' at the UN headquarters. 
• PM Modi and other leaders also released a commemorative postage stamp of Mahatma Gandhi, at the programme ''Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World'' at the UN headquarters.
• The event was hosted to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which will underline the continuing relevance of Gandhian thoughts and values in today's world.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
• The UN Headquarters in New York, United States.

2. President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates India Water Week, 2019

• President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the sixth ''India Water Week-2019'' being organised with the theme of ''Water cooperation-coping with 21st-century challenge' at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
• The President emphasised on the need to store and capture the rainwater by utilizing existing reservoirs, dams, other water bodies.

3. Earthquake strikes in Pakistan & India (J&K) Border region

• As per the Indian Meteorological Department, Earthquake hits the Pakistan-India border region at around 4:31 PM on 24th September 2019. The earthquake was of the magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale and a depth of 40 km.

Banking

4. RBI places withdrawal curbs on depositors of PMC Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India has imposed restrictions on Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank, under which the depositors cannot withdraw more than Rs 1,000 from their accounts.
• The depositors will be allowed to withdraw a sum not exceeding Rs 1,000 of the total balance in every savings bank account or current account or any other deposit account.
• The curbs will remain for six months. PMC Bank has also been barred from making fresh loans and taking deposits.
• PMC Bank is a multi-State scheduled urban co-operative bank with operations in the states of Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Appointment

5. Kotak AMC MD Nilesh Shah appointed as new AMFI chairman

• Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Asset Management Company (AMC), has been appointed as the new chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
• He will replace the Managing Director, and CEO of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company, Nimesh Shah.
• The AMFI also elected Saurabh Nanavati, Chief Executive Officer, Invesco Mutual Fund as the vice-chairman of AMFI, for a period of one year.
• AMFI was incorporated on August 22, 1995, as a non-profit organisation. As of now, all the 44 asset management companies that are registered with Sebi, are its members.

6. Godavarthi Venkata appointed as next Indian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau

• Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Guinea Bissau.
• He will succeed Partha Satpathy. A 1993 batch-IFS officer, Srinivas is presently the country's Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• President of Guinea Bissau: Jose Mario Vaz.
• Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau: Aristides Gomes.
• Capital of Guinea Bissau: Bissau.
• Currency of Guinea Bissau: West African CFA franc.

7. Kim Ji-Hyun steps down as National Women’s badminton coach

• National women’s badminton coach Kim Ji-Hyun has stepped down from her post of National women’s coach of India.
• She has played a vital role in helping P.V. Sindhu win the 2019 badminton World Championship gold.
• As a result she is unlikely to be with the Indian team ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as per her contract.

Agreements

8. SBI Life Insurance signs corporate agency pact with Repco Home Finance

• SBI Life Insurance has signed a corporate agency agreement with city-based Repco Home Finance Ltd to offer the company’s range of products to RHFL customers.
• According to the agreement, the partnership would see over 148 branches and 27 satellite centres of RHFL spread across the country to offer SBI Life Insurance products to its customers.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• Chairperson of SBI: Rajnish Kumar; Headquarter: Mumbai; Founded: 1 July 1955.

Awards

9. PM Narendra Modi receives Global Goalkeeper Award

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the 2019 Global Goalkeeper Award.
• He received the award for Swachh Bharat Mission from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, aims to accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage in the country.
• Global Goalkeeper Award is a "special recognition" by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• The award celebrates a political leader who has "demonstrated their commitment to the Global Goals through impactful work in their country.

10. Adam Harper to get SASTRA Ramanujan prize for 2019

• The SASTRA Ramanujan prize for 2019 will be awarded to Adam Harper. Mathematician Adam Harper is an Assistant Professor with the University of Warwick, England.
• The prize is conferred annually on mathematicians from across the world who are less than 32 years of age and working in an area influenced by the genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. The prize carries a citation and an award of $10,000.
• The award was instituted in 2005 and awarded by SASTRA University on its campus near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.

11. Amitabh Bachchan to be honoured with Dada Saheb Phalke award

• The country’s highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke award, will be presented this year to Amitabh Bachchan.
• This award is given for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), a shawl and a cash prize of ₹1,000,000.
• The award very appropriately comes in the year that marks Mr Bachchan’s golden jubilee in cinema. He made his debut in 1969 with Khwaja Ahmad Abbas’ Saat Hindustani.
• Mr Bachchan has been honoured with the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
• Dadasaheb Phalke award was introduced by the government in 1969 to commemorate the “father of Indian cinema” who directed Raja Harischandra (1913), India's first feature film, and it was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady of Indian cinema”.

Defence

12. India-US Tri-Services ''Exercise Tiger Triumph'' to be held in November

• India and the United States are set to hold their first tri-services exercise code-named "Tiger Triumph" at Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh in November this year.
• The plan for this exercise was discussed during the Final Planning Conference (FPC) for India-US Tri-Services Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) concluded at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command.
• For the first time, the US and India will be holding the tri-service military exercise. India earlier conducted such tri-service exercise with Russia.
• The announcement for the ‘Tiger Triumph’ was made by US President Donald Trump during the ‘Howdy Modi!’ event in America.

13. Ponung Doming becomes Arunachal's first woman Lieutenant Colonel

• Army officer Ponung Doming became the first woman officer from Arunachal Pradesh to be elevated to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army.
• She was commissioned into the Indian Army as a Lieutenant in 2008. She was promoted as a Major in 2013.
• She is currently posted in Pune, Maharashtra. She had completed her graduation in civil engineering. She served the UN Peacekeeping force in Congo in 2014.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Chief of the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat.

14. ICGS 'Varaha' commissioned by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has formally commissioned the Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel 'Varaha' at the Chennai Port Trust.
• The vessel includes Integrated Bridge System, automated power management system, high power external firefighting system, indigenously built Integrated Platform Management System and help traversing system.
• The ship also carries four high speed boats including two rigid hull inflated boats for boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.

Schemes and Committees

15. Union Home Minister launches 'Private Security Agency Licensing Portal'

• The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a single-window system 'Private Security Agency Licensing Portal'. The single-window system will be used for issuing licences to private security agencies.
• The portal will be available in several Indian languages within 90 days and more facilities will be added to it on a later stage.
• The online system will enable authorities in states and UTs to e-search criminal antecedents for verification of character and other antecedents of applicants through CCTNS before giving licences for private security agencies and employees/guards.

Sports

16. Indian chess player Koneru Hampi wins the Skolkova Fides Grand Prix title 2019

• Indian chess grandmaster, Koneru Hampi of Gudivada ( Andhra Pradesh) has clinched Fide World Grand Prix 2019 title with 8 points from 11 rounds in Skolkovo, Russia.
• In the final round, Hampi just needs to play a draw for the title. The advantage she has in the final round is that have to play white pieces against the defending world champion Wenjun Xu of China. While other Indian, D Harika secured the sixth place with 5 points.

17. Manipur wins Senior Women’s National Football Championship

• Manipur defeated Railways by 1-0 to win the Senior Women’s National Football Championship held in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. This was Manipur's 20th National title.
• Bala Devi emerged as the highest scorer of the tournament, with 21 goals from 6 matches, while Panthoi Chanu was named the best goalkeeper. Both players represented Manipur in the championship.

Daily updates 24 September 2019

State News

1. Pink tickets for women for free travel in DTC and cluster buses

• Pink tickets will be issued to women passengers under the Delhi government's scheme for free travel in DTC and cluster buses which was approved by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) board.
• The scheme has been approved till March 2020 and it will be rolled out on Bhai Dooj on October 29. Women travelling in DTC and cluster buses will be given pink tickets having a face value of ₹10 each.
• The government will then reimburse the transporter based on the number of such tickets issued.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal; Lt. Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.

Agreements

2. Wipro ties up with FEBRABAN to develop online business platform

• Wipro, the Bengaluru-based software services provider has tied up with Febraban, an industry body representing the Brazil’s financial services industry.
• Wipro will develop an online platform "Noomis" for the financial services industry in Brazil.
• Noomis will serve as a meeting point and a discussion platform for the finance professionals in Brazil who will participate in CIAB, an information technology trade show for financial services organized by FEBRABAN.
• Noomis will provide reliable, analytical, and unbiased information via news reports, videos, and newsletters that will enable participants to stay up to date on financial market trends.

3. Airtel, Bharti AXA Life tie up to offer pre-paid plan with term cover

• Bharti Airtel has tied up with Bharti AXA Life Insurance to offer a pre-paid plan with insurance protection cover for its customers, as part of its strategy to leverage the deep penetration of mobile services to build a financially secure India.
• Airtel has come up with an innovative ₹599 pre-paid bundle with offers ₹4 lakh life insurance cover from Bharti AXA Life Insurance. The recharge comes with a validity of 84 days, and the insurance cover continues automatically for three months with every recharge.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• MD & CEO of Airtel Payments Bank: Anubrata Biswas.
• Headquarters of Airtel Payments Bank: New Delhi.

4. Paisalo Digital and Bank of Maharashtra sign agreement to co-origination of loan

• Paisalo Digital has signed its co-origination loan agreement with the Bank of Maharashtra. This is Company's second Co-origination Agreement with any Bank, before Bank of Maharashtra, the company has already signed a co-origination loan agreement with State Bank of India.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• CEO of Bank of Maharashtra:  A. S. Rajeev.

Awards

5. Ravish Kumar receives Gauri Lankesh National Award for Journalism

• Senior journalist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, Ravish Kumar has received the 1st Gauri Lankesh National Award for Journalism.
• The award was conferred by the Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust. The award was presented to him by freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy.
• Three books, Neera Nade by Vinaya Okkunda, Dehali Nota by D. Umapathy, and Maatige Enu Kadime, a translation of Mr. Kumar’s The Free Voice by Harshakumar Kugwe, were released on the occasion.

6. Sonu Nigam bags Magnificent Performing Arts Award in UK

• Popular Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam has been honoured with the Magnificent Performing Arts Award at the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London.
• The 21st Century Icon Awards are the brainchild of UK-based Indian-origin entrepreneurs Tarun Ghulati and Preeti Rana, co-founders of Squared Watermelon Ltd.

7. Best Fifa Football Awards 2019

• The "Best Fifa Football Awards 2019" felicitated in Milan. Barcelona's Lionel Messi won the best men's player at the Best Fifa Football Awards in Milan.
• It is the 6th time Messi has been voted the world's best men's player after winning it in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

The complete list of awards is as follows:

• Best Men's Player Award: Lionel Messi
• Best Women's Player Award: Megan Rapinoe
• Men's Coach of the Year: Jurgen Klopp
• Women's Coach of the Year: Jill Ellis
• Best Men's Goalkeeper: Alisson
• Best Women's Goalkeeper: Sari van Veenendaal
• Fair Play Award: Marcelo Bielsa and the Leeds United squad
• Puskas Award for the Best Goal: Daniel Zsori
• FIFA Fan Award: Silvia Grecco

Business

8. SEBI penalises Aurobindo Pharma and promoters for insider trading

• Securities and Exchange Board of India has imposed a penalty of over Rs 22 crore on Aurobindo Pharma and its promoters. They have been penalised for violating insider trading norms.
• The regulator had conducted an investigation into the trading in the scrip of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.
• SEBI found that these entities purchased shares while in possession of the UPSI pertaining to Aurobindo, and made unlawful gains from having purchased its shares at a lower price before the publication of the unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI).

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• Headquarter of SEBI: Mumbai; Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi.

Sports

9. Sebastian Vettel wins F1 Singapore Grand Prix

• Ferrari Sebastian Vettel has won the Singapore Grand Prix. The event was held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore.
• Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished the race at 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

10. Divij Sharan bags St. Petersburg Open doubles title

• Indian tennis player Divij Sharan clinched the men's doubles title in ATP Tour tennis tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia. Divij Sharan Open with partner Igor Zelenay, defeating Matteo Berrettini and Simone Bolelli 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

11. Daniil Medvedev won St Petersburg Open title

• Daniil Medvedev won a sixth career title as he defeated Borna Coric 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the St Petersburg Open, Russia. World number four Medvedev, who since July has reached five finals in as many tournaments, won his third title of the year and sixth of his career.

12. Carolina Marin lifts China Open title

• Olympic gold medalist Carolina Marin defeated Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying 14-21, 21-17, 21-18 in the women's badminton singles final match to lift the China Open title.
• She is returning to the court after eight months as she had knee surgery. She missed the BWF World Championships which concluded last month in Basel, Switzerland.

13. Malvika Bansod wins the Maldives International Future Series

• Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod has won the Maldives International Future Series held in Maldives. She defeated Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar by 21-13, 21-11 to win the Maldives International Future Series.
• Also, Vaibhav and Prakash Raj claimed the men’s doubles title after beating Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul by 21-16 and 21-15.

14. Nelly Korda wins LET title at Ladies French Open

• Nelly Korda has won the Ladies European Tour Title at Lacoste Ladies French Open. She shot a four-under 67 to win her first Ladies European Tour title.
• India’s Aditi Ashok was the best Indian at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France as she shot even par 71 in the final round to finish at 26th.

Important Days

15. International Day of Sign Languages: 23 September

• The United Nations General Assembly observes 23 September every year as the International Day of Sign Languages.
• The day is recognised to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
• It also recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity.
• The first International Day of Sign languages was celebrated in 2018.
• The theme of day for 2019: Sign Language Rights for All!

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Clerk Mains:

• Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945.
• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

Obituaries

16. Former Indian Cricketer Madhav Apte passes away

• Former Indian cricketer Madhav Apte passed away. He has played 67 first-class matches, scored 3336 runs, with six centuries and 16 half-centuries. He made his Test debut against Pakistan at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai on November 1952 and played his last test against West Indies at Kingston in April 1953.

17. Ex-PTI correspondent B R Vats, who covered 1st LS polls, passes away

• Bhagat Ram Vats a former PTI senior correspondent passed away. He travelled extensively with first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and covered the country's maiden Lok Sabha polls for 14 years, covering his activities in India and abroad, especially his election tours in 1952, 1957 and 1962.
• He started his career with The Statesman, New Delhi, and later joined the Press Trust of India.

Daily updates 22 and 23 September 2019

National

1. Maharashtra, Haryana Assembly Elections held on 21st October

• Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) Election 2019 Date, Scheduled on 21st October, while counting of votes will be held on October 24.
• Both Maharashtra and Haryana are the first states to go to polls after the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in the two states. Maharashtra, which has a total of 288 assembly seats. Whereas, in Haryana has 90 assembly seats.

State News

2. Actor Govinda appointed as the brand ambassador of Madhya Pradesh

• Madhya Pradesh government will appoint filmstar Govinda as brand ambassador to promote the state’s traditions and tourist places.
• It is Kamal Nath government’s intention that the message about the state’s traditions and tourist destinations should reach the masses.
• The government also has plans to set up a film city in the state and plans to promote Madhya Pradesh as a destination for film making.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lal Ji Tandon.

Appointment

3. Madhukar Kamath elected as chairman of the ABC (2019-20)

• Madhukar Kamath was elected as the chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2019-20.
• He will replace Hormusji N Cama. He presently served as the chairman emeritus of DDB Mudra group and mentor of Interbrand India.
• He has also been the president of Advertising Agencies Association of India.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• ABC established: 1948; Headquarters: Mumbai.

4. CBDT sets up NeAC & appoints KM Prasad as first Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax of NeAC

• Central Board of Direct Tax(CBDT) has newly set up National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) in Delhi.
• The initiative is a part of government efforts to reduce human discretion in assessments and scrutiny, which in turn will eliminate possibilities of corruption, by leveraging new technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, video conferencing, telecommunication application software and mobile applications.
• CBDT has also appointed 1984 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Krishna Mohan Prasad as the first Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax of NeAC.
• The Centre will have 16 officials and will be headed by a Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (PCCIT) as its chief.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• CBDT Established: 1944; Chairman: Pramod Chandra Mody.

Agreements

5. Max Bupa and Indian Bank signed bancassurance tie-up for health insurance solutions

• Indian Bank has signed a bancassurance agreement with a standalone health insurance player, Max Bupa to provide Max Bupa's suite of health insurance products to its customers.
• Under the agreement, Max Bupa will provide comprehensive health insurance solutions and services to over 40 million customers of Indian Bank spread across 2800 branch network, through a slew of digital touchpoints.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• MD & CEO of Max Bupa: Ashish Mehrotra.
• MD & CEO of Indian Bank: Padmaja Chunduru.

Awards

6. 71st Emmy Awards 2019 declared

The 71st annual primetime Emmy Awards honours handed out at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Here is the complete list of Winners of EMMY AWARDS 2019:

Sl. No.	Category	Winner
1.	OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES	Game of Thrones (HBO)
2.	OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES	Fleabag (Amazon)
3.	LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA	Billy Porter, Pose

Check Complete list of Emmy Awards 2019...Click Here

7. Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ India’s official entry to Oscars 2020

• The Film Federation of India (FFI) has chosen ‘Gully Boy’ as India’s official entry to the Oscars.
• “Gully Boy”, produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar and directed by Zoya Akhtar’, featured Ranveer as an up-and-coming rapper who sets out to achieve his dream by rhyming about his life on the Mumbai streets.
• Assamese film “Village Rockstars”, directed by Rima Das, was India’s official submission to the Oscars last year.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

•  President of Film Federation of India: Firdausul Hasan

8. Kerala Tourism receives three PATA Gold Awards

• Kerala Tourism has won three prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan.
• The awards are given for an ethnic food restaurant run by women at Kumarakom(Kerala) under its Responsible Tourism(RT) mission, the second one for Kerala tourism campaign advertisement ‘Come Out and Play’ and the third one was for its website www.keralatourism.org. This year(2019), Kerala Tourism won the highest number of PATA awards in the South Asia region.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
• Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan

Sports

9. Rahul Aware wins bronze in 61 kg free-style category at World C’ship

• Indian wrestler Rahul Aware has won a bronze medal in men's 61-kilogram freestyle category at the World Championship in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
• He beat 17th seeded American Tyler Lee Graff 11-4 to ensure he finished on the podium. It was India’s fifth medal at this edition of the World Championships with a total haul of 1 silver and 4 bronzes.

10. Amit Panghal settles with historic silver in World Championships

• Amit Panghal settled for the silver medal at World Boxing Championships after he lost to Uzbekistan's Shakhobidin Zoirov 3-2 in the 52kg category final.
• He became the first Indian male pugilist to win a silver in World Championships at Ekaterinburg in Russia.

Obituaries

11. Veteran actor and multi-faceted artiste S.K. Padmadevi passes away

• Veteran actor and multi-faceted artiste S.K. Padmadevi passed away. she was part of the first Kannada talkie film ‘Bhakta Dhruva’ (1934).
• She also starred in ‘Samsara Nouke’, first Kannada social film (1936).
• She was the recipient of R. Nagendra Rao award for lifetime achievement by Karnataka Chalanchitra Academy in 2016.

12. Veteran American Journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert S Boyd passes away

• Noted American Journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Skinner Boyd passed away.
• He shared a 1973 Pulitzer Prize with colleague Clark Hoyt for coverage of Democratic vice-presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton's exit from the campaign due to mental health issues.
• He worked as the Washington bureau chief of Knight Ridder for 20 years, once the nation’s 2nd -largest newspaper chain with properties like The Philadelphia Inquirer and Miami Herald.

Miscellaneous

13. Ladakhi Shondol dance creates history by entering into Guinness book of records

• Shondol dance, which is known as the royal dance of Ladakh, has created history by entering into the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Ladakhi dance.
• Shondol is a famous dance, which artistes used to perform for the king of Ladakh.
• The event was held on the concluding day of the ongoing Buddhist carnival Naropa festival near the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh.
• As many as 408 women attired in traditional dresses and beautiful headgears performed the dance, which broke the previous record of 299 artists dance of Shondol in the 2018 festival.