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Topic Name
Important Days
Important Banking and Economy News
Important Business News
Important State News
Important National News
Important International News
Important MOU’s and Agreement News
Important Mergers and Acquisitions News
Important Appointments and Resignation News
Important Awards and Honours News
Important Defence News
Important Summit & Conference News
Important Science,Technology & Environmental News
Important Apps and Services News
Important Rankings and Indices News
Important Books and Authors
Important Sports News
Important Obituaries
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IMPORTANT DAYS
Global Family Day: 1st January

Global Family Day 2023 is observed on the 1st of January 2023.

Every year, Global Family Day, also known as World Peace Day, is observed
to encourage the idea of peace and unity in the world.

On the first day of the new millennium, in 1997, the United Nations General
Assembly declared the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and
Nonviolence for the Children of the World.

A significant contributor to its promotion in the United States was Linda
Grover, and other initiatives including the publication of publications like
"One Day in Peace - January 1, 2000."
 The idea of a time in the future when there is only peace and no war permeated this
book.

But this was only the beginning of a new peaceful world, and in 1999, all
U.N. member states were officially invited to spend the first day of that year
developing peacebuilding plans.

As a result of the day's success, the U.N. proclaimed Global Family Day a
yearly occasion in 2001
World Braille Day 2023: 4th January

World Braille Day 2023 is observed on the 4th of January 2023.

On World Braille Day 2023, Create awareness about the word Braille because
many have not aware of its importance of Braille.
 On World Braille Day 2023, Give a Braille-written gift to a person who is blind or
partially sighted.

This present might be a book, a toy,
or educational materials. History:

After its inventor, "Braille," the term was given. When Louis Braille was a
young child, he inadvertently injured himself in the eye with his father's awl,
which caused him to lose his vision.
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
He spent time at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in France starting at
the age of 10 when he developed and improved the raised-dot
technique that eventually became known as Braille.

Braille finished his work by creating a code based on cells with six dots
that allowed a fingertip to quickly go from one cell to the next while still
feeling the full unit with one touch.

Braille eventually gained acceptance as the primary method of written
information for blind people on a global scale.

Unfortunately, Braille was unable to witness the usefulness of his creation.
 Two years before the Royal Institute started teaching Braille, in 1852, he passed
dead.

The United Nations General Assembly recognized Braille as a wonderful
tool that gave the blind and visually handicapped access to a wide range
of opportunities (UNGA).

The date January 4 was designated as World
Braille Day in November 2018.
World Day of War Orphans: 6th January

World Day of War Orphans 2023 is observed on the 6th of January 2023.

Children who lose their parents in sudden, violent events like war are
forced to live with a surviving relative or into the foster care system,
where they must deal with horrible living conditions including starvation
and disease.

It's impossible to fathom the emotional and mental strain they experience.

About half of the casualties in wars over the past few centuries were
civilians, a percentage that gradually rose until 2001.

According to UNICEF, there were "almost 140 million orphans worldwide" as of 2015.

Of those, 61 million lived in Asia, 52 million in Africa, 10 million in Latin
America and the Caribbean, and 7.3 million in Eastern Europe and Central
Asia.
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
SOS Enfants en Detresse, a French charity that aims to restore a sense
of normalcy to the lives of children indirectly impacted by war and conflict,
established World Day for War Orphans.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 Or NRI Day: 9th January

NRI Day 2023 or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 is observed on the 9th of January
2023.

NRI Day 2023 or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 theme set by the Ministry of
External Affairs this year is “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in
Amrit Kaal”.

It was in 2000 when the Indian government decided to recognize the NRI
community on January 9th by observing Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Mahatma Gandhi returned to India on January 9, 1915, from South
Africa, which gives the ninth of January its significance as NRI Day.

Despite being formally established in 2000, this day wasn't observed until 2003.
 The idea for NRI Day originated with Indian lawyer, diplomat, and author L.M.
Singhvi.

The day was then formally declared on January 9, 2002, by Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, the country's then-prime minister.

On 9th January 2006, the concept of OCI (Overseas Citizen of India)
was introduced on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
World Hindi Day: 10th January

World Hindi Day 2023 is observed on the 10th of January 2023.

To recognize the significance of the Hindi language and to represent
the global Hindi-speaking population, Vishwa Hindi Diwas is observed.

The inaugural World Hindi Conference, or Vishva Hindi Sammelan, was held
in Nagpur, Maharashtra, in 1975, which is when World Hindi Day first became
a thing.

This day was dedicated to honouring both the Hindi language and
the many authors who have contributed to its literature.
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
Every year, Vishva Hindi Divas is observed to honour the Conference's anniversary.

On January 10, Hindi-speaking people around the world celebrate World Hindi Day.

Many public and private organizations in India hold celebrations for the day, and
people who speak
Hindi abroad also commemorate it with equal fervour.
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day: 11th January

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2023 is observed on the 11th of January
2023.

The fight against human trafficking made progress in the late 20th and early 21st
centuries.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which was passed in 2000, was
the first federal statute to address contemporary slavery.

Anti-Slavery International also founded the American nonprofit organization Free The
Slaves.

The resolution designating January 11 as National Human Trafficking
Awareness Day was approved by the US Senate in 2007.

The entire month of January 2010 was devoted by President Obama to
raising awareness and preventing human trafficking.
National Youth Day 2023: 12th January

National Youth Day 2023 is observed on the 12th of January 2023.

On January 12, 1984, the Indian government declared Swami
Vivekananda's birthday as National Youth Day for the first time.

Since then, the day is celebrated nationwide as National Youth Day.

The government's primary motivation for making the decision was to improve
the quality of life for the people of the country by urging young people to
draw inspiration from Swami Vivekananda's life and accomplishments to
revive youngsters' enduring vitality and boost the economy of the country.
National Road Safety Week 2023:

Every year, National Road Safety Week is celebrated from January 11 to 17.
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
Organized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the week
intends to spread awareness around road safety, which is a major concern
for authorities as well as the government.

National Road Safety Week was celebrated for the first time in 1989.

On March 15, 2010, the Centre sanctioned the National Road Safety
policy, recommended by the Sunder Committee.

The Road Safety Week celebration is initiated by the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways to raise public awareness about traffic rules.

Charitable organizations, non-government organizations, and private
firms across the country join hands with the government to provide
logistic support for road safety measurements.
Indian Army Day 2023: 15th January

Indian Army day 2023 is observed on the 15th of January 2023.

One million Indians volunteered to serve in the British Army during World
War I, and almost 90,000 of them died in the war.

In a similar vein, about half of the officers in the World War II engagements were
Indian.

The loyalty of Indian soldiers was torn as the struggle for Indian
independence gained momentum in 1946.

The majority of the British-led army and navy divisions either rebelled or quit.

Although the British military continued to be "Indianized" until after the country
gained its independence, the ultimate transfer took place on January 15, 1949,
and this is the day we commemorate.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti: 23rd January

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti 2023 is observed on the 23rd of January 2023.

In Cuttack, Orissa/Odisha, on January 23, 1897, Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose was born. Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Dutt were his parents.
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
With the motto "Delhi Chalo," Netaji organized and oversaw a 5,000-man army
known as the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) in Southeast Asia during
World War II in 1942.

To win over the people in his native Bengal, he also started a new political
party called "the Forward Bloc."

According to reports, on August 18, 1945, a plane crash near Tohuku,
Japanese Taiwan, caused Netaji to suffer third-degree burns.

The posthumous 125th birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be
commemorated starting on January 23, 2021, according to a press
announcement from the Indian government's Ministry of Culture on January
19, 2021.

To honor Netaji's sacrifice and enormous contribution to the Indian
independence cause, this event was given the name Parakram Diwas (or
Parakram Divas), which means "Day of Courage" or "Day of Valor."
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti: 23rd January

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti 2023 is observed on the 23rd of January 2023.

In Cuttack, Orissa/Odisha, on January 23, 1897, Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose was born. Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Dutt were his parents.
National Girl Child Day: 24th of January

National Girl Child Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of January 2023.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India
established National Girl Child Day in 2008, marking the beginning of the
day's history.

Children who are girls regularly experience discrimination and
injustice in Indian society.
International Day of Education: 24th January

International Day of Education 2023 is observed on the 24th of January 2023
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
The International Day of Education was declared by the UN General
Assembly in December 2018 to honour education and think about how
crucial learning is to progress and peace.
National Tourism Day: 25th January

National Tourism Day 2023 is observed on the 25th of January 2023.

National Tourism Day has a long history dating back to the Indian
government's proclamation of January 25 as Tourism Day in India.

This day was created to highlight the value of travel and raise awareness of how
vital it is to the economy of the nation.

The nation as a whole warmly
celebrates Indian tourism.
National Voters Day: 25th January

National Voters Day 2023 is observed on the 25th of January 2023.
 The Election Commission of India (ECI), which was established in 1950, was
founded on January 25.

To encourage young people to participate in the election process, this day
was first observed in 2011.
International Customs Day- January 26

International Customs Day is celebrated on January 26 every year and
was initiated by the World Customs Organization (W.C.O.) in 1983.

This day celebrates all the customs officials and agencies that toil day in and
day out to ensure effective world trade management.
 Each year, the day also follows a new theme like ‘Customs bolstering Recovery,
Renewal, and
Resilience for a sustainable supply chain’ or ‘Customs fostering sustainability
for people, prosperity, and the plant
World Leprosy Day: 30th January

World Leprosy Day 2023 is observed on the 30th of January 2023.
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
The disease is also called Hansen’s disease, named after the Norwegian doctor
Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen, who is known for identifying the bacteria that
causes Leprosy.

French philanthropist Raoul Follereau started World Leprosy Day in
1954 to raise awareness of the illness, particularly its socioeconomic
effects.
IMPORTANT BANKING & ECONOMY NEWS
IRDAI makes KYC details mandatory from Jan 1,2023

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
has mandated that all policyholders must provide their Know Your
Customer (KYC) details when purchasing any type of insurance policy
from January 1, 2023.

The rule applies to all types of insurance - life,
general, and health insurance. Key Highlights:

Currently, KYC documents are only required when making a claim worth over Rs 1
lakh.
 Under the new insurance rule, KYC documents will be required even while
purchasing a new policy.

With this, experts believe that the claim process may become faster and more
seamless as the insurers will have a detailed profile of customers.

Until now, sharing KYC documents was a voluntary choice while purchasing a policy.

However, with the new move, the Aadhaar card, PAN (Permanent Account
Number) card, and photo of the customer have become mandatory for the
purchase of new insurance policies.

Although KYC documents are required for the renewal of existing policies,
customers will be provided sufficient time to intimate the details.
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
The time limit will be 2 years for low-risk policyholders and one year for
others, including high-risk customers.
About IRDAI:

Established: 1999

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana

Chairperson: Debasish Panda

The IRDAI is a regulatory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Finance, Government of India, and is tasked with regulating and licensing
the insurance and reinsurance industries in India.
SBI Card partners with Punjab & Sind Bank to launch co-brand credit cards

SBI Cards and Payment Services has partnered with Public sector bank
Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) to launch co-brand credit cards for the bank's
customers.

The collaboration also marks the introduction of 'credit cards' as a new
product segment under the bank's portfolio.

Both partners have rolled out 3 card variants:
1. PSB SBI Card ELITE
2. PSB SBI Card PRIME
PSB SBI Card ELITE will be offered at a joining fee of INR 4999 plus taxes while PSB SBI
Card PRIME will be offered at INR 2999 plus taxes & PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card at INR
499 plus taxes
respectively.

Both PSB SBI Card ELITE and PSB SBI Card PRIME will be available on
the VISA platform and PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card on the RuPay platform.

PSB SBI Card ELITE and PSB SBI Card PRIME have been designed to offer
lifestyle privileges and the best-in-class experience to premium and mass
premium customers, respectively.
About Punjab and Sind Bank:

Founded: 24 June 1908
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
Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana

MD & CEO: Rama Mohan Rao Amara
IDBI Bank signs agreement to transfer IDBI Mutual Fund to LIC Mutual Fund

IDBI Bank signed an agreement to transfer schemes from IDBI Mutual
Fund (IDBI MF) to LIC Mutual Fund (LIC MF).

The decision has been taken to comply with Section 7B of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) Mutual Fund
Regulations.
Key Highlights:
 LIC completed the takeover of IDBI Bank, the sponsor of IDBI Mutual Fund, in
January 2019.

SEBI rules restrict a single promoter to own more than a 10% stake in
multiple asset management companies (AMCs).
 Since IDBI Bank, the parent of IDBI MF, is majority owned by LIC, the transfer is
necessary.

While IDBI Bank is the sponsor of IDBI Mutual Fund, LIC has its own fund
house, LIC Mutual Fund.
Credit card spending fall for the first time Since July - RBI Data

Credit card spending was lower by 11% in November 2022 falling for the
first time since July 2022 to ₹1.15-lakh crore, signalling a slowdown from the
peak levels seen during the festival season.

As per data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Credit card
spending touched a peak of ₹1.29-lakh crore seen in October 2022.
Key Highlights:

The bank-wise data revealed that HDFC Bank saw a 13% decline in its credit
card spending from October 2022, whereas SBI card saw a decline of nearly
10%, ICICI Bank 15%, and Axis Bank an 8% drop.
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
In terms of the number of cards, issuers added a total of 13 lakh cards during
the month, lower than the 17 lakh cards added in October 2022
 This took the aggregate count to 8.1 crore credit cards as of the end of November
2022.

The net addition in cards-in-force during November 2022 was led by SBI Card,
which saw cards increasing by 3.9 lakhs, followed by HDFC Bank which saw
an addition of 2.4 lakh cards, Axis Bank of 2.1 lakh cards.

On the other hand, ICICI Bank saw a net reduction in its number by 1.1 lakh cards.
Govt hikes interest rate on NSC, senior citizen savings scheme from Jan - March 2023

The Finance Ministry increased interest rates on many small savings
schemes including senior citizen savings schemes and National Savings
Certificates (NSCs).

However, the interest rates on the Public Provident Fund (PPF), and the
girl child savings scheme - Sukanya Samriddhi savings scheme - will
remain unchanged.

The new rates will be applicable on fresh deposits between January 1 and March 31,
2023.

The hike in the interest rates is between 20 basis points and 110 basis points.

This is the second successive revision but mostly on non-tax savings schemes.

The hike is in line with the upward revision of interest rates on bank deposits.

Still, small savings will fetch higher than bank deposits.
Small Saving Scheme - Interest rates:
Savings Scheme
Post Office
Interest Rate
Interest Rate
Compounding
(%) Oct- Dec
(%) Jan- Mar
Frequency
2022
4.00
2023
4.00
Annually
Savings
Account
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Post Office Time
5.5
6.6
Quarterly
5.7
6.8
Quarterly
5.8
6.9
Quarterly
6.7
7.0
Quarterly
5.8
5.8
Quarterly
7.6
8.0
Quarterly & Paid
Deposit 1 Year
Post Office Time
Deposit 2 Year
Post Office Time
Deposit 3 Year
Post Office Time
Deposit 5 Year
Post Office
Recurring
Deposit (5
Senior Citizen Savings
Year)
Scheme
Post Office Monthly
6.7
7.1
Monthly & Paid
6.8
7.0
Annually
7.1
7.1
Annually
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) 7.0
7.2
Annually
Sukanya Samriddhi
Yojana
Key Highlights:
7.6
Annually
Income Scheme
National Savings
Certificate (NSC)
Public Provident
Fund (PPF)
7.6
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
According to a Finance Ministry notification, rates for deposits up to 5 years
as well as NSC, senior citizen savings scheme and Kisan Vikas Patra
(KVP) where income accruing are taxable have been hiked by up to 1.1
percentage points.

With the revision, senior citizen savings schemes will earn 40 basis
points more at 8% during the January-March period.

Similarly, a one-year term deposit with post offices would earn 6.6%, for two
years (6.8%), three years (6.9%), and five years (7%).

About KVP, the government has hiked the interest rates to 7.2%, thereby maturing in
120 months.

Currently, KVP yields a 7% rate with a maturity period of 123 months.

The monthly income scheme would earn 40 basis points more at 7.1%,
while the National Savings Certificate (NSC) has been raised by 20 basis
points to 7%.

The interest rate on the girl child savings scheme Sukanya Samriddhi
Yojana was retained at 7.6%, and for the Public Provident Fund (PPF) it
has been kept unchanged at 7.1%.

Savings deposits will continue to earn 4% per annum.

Since 2016, interest rate resetting has been done based on yields of
government securities of the corresponding maturity with some spread
on the scheme for senior citizens, as advised by the Shyamala Gopinath
Committee.
MahaMetro Raises Rs 3,568 Cr. for the Second Phase of Nagpur Metro from ADB & EIB

The MahaMetro Corporation has finalized debt arrangements for the
second phase of its project in Nagpur.

It would be raising a loan of Rs3,586 crore from the Manila-based Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank.
 The first phase of the project was funded by France’s AFD and KFW, a German
agency.
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
The second phase is expected to be completed by 2026.

Both together had
chipped in 630 million Euros.
Contribution:

For the Project, the ADB would be contributing 200 million dollars, and
239 million dollars would be contributed from EIB.

The total amount estimated for the second phase of the project is
estimated to be around Rs 6,700 Crores.

Out of this amount, around Rs, 3,100 Crores will come from the central and
state government in the form of equity capital.

The phase includes 4 extensions covering a distance of 43.8 KMs.

The extension is from Khapri to Butibori and from Automotive Square to Kanhan.

Also, from Prajapati Nagar Station, it will reach Kapsi via Hingna from
Lokmanya Nagar Station. About ADB:

Founded: 19 December 1966

Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines

President: Masatsugu Asakawa

Founded: 1958

Headquarters: Kirchberg, Luxembourg

President: Werner Hoyer
ADB grants $100 million to Shriram Finance for vehicle loans to women entrepreneurs
Multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned USD 100 million
(about `830 crore) to Shriram Finance Limited (SFL), a part of Shriram Group to provide vehicle
loans to women entrepreneurs.

The USD 100 million External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) is a 5-year loan
and is under SFL’s Social Finance framework to provide credit towards the
purchase of new and used vehicles throughout India.
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
The loan can be used for vehicle finance for commercial purposes for BS
VI-compliant vehicles and electric vehicles, specifically, finance women
entrepreneurs, catering to under-developed states of the country.
 It will empower and promote the social and economic status of underserved
communities.

Besides the ADB loan, SFL has also successfully raised $250 million from
US Development Finance Corporation and $ 475 million through a 144A
Bond from the international market in 2022.
About ADB:

Founded: 19 December 1966

Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines

President: Masatsugu Asakawa

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Chairman: Jugal Kishore Mohapatra
Tata AIA Life introduces Emerging Opportunities Fund with Ulips

Tata AIA Life Insurance has launched Emerging Opportunity Fund, and ULIP
plans (Unit Linked Insurance Plans) which can spend money on mid-cap
firms and rising market leaders with the potential to generate important future
development.

The purposes for ULIP plans with the New Fund Offering (NFO)
window will stay open until 31 December 2022.
Key Highlights:

Investments within the Fund might be made using Tata AIA’s ULIP choices
like Fortune Pro, Wealth Pro, Fortune Maxima, and Wealth Maxima.

The Fund may also be hooked up to Tata AIA’s Param Rakshak Solutions.

The fund can make investments as much as 30% of the portfolio in fairness
and fairness-associated devices falling outdoors the mid-cap range.
About Tata AIA Life Insurance:

Commenced Operation: 2001
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
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Naveen Tahilyani

Tata AIA Life Insurance Company (Tata AIA Life) is a Joint Venture (JV)
between Tata Sons and AIA Group Limited (AIA).
HDFC Bank Collaborates with Microsoft as part of its digital transformation journey

India’s largest private sector bank, HDFC Bank, partnered with Microsoft in
the next phase of its digital transformation journey and unlocked business
value by transforming the application portfolio, modernizing the data
landscape, and securing the enterprise with Microsoft Cloud.

HDFC Bank as a part of its Future Ready strategy is developing in-house IPs
as well as partnering with several companies including FinTechs’ to co-create
technology IPs.

The bank will leverage Microsoft Azure to consolidate and modernize its
enterprise data landscape through a Federated Data Lake to scale its
information management capabilities across enterprise reporting, and
advanced analytics using artificial intelligence (AI).
Key Highlights:
 The IP is built on the Microsoft Azure stack, the solution will enable the bank to
democratize and
monetize its data landscape catering to several business units, spanning
multiple systems, reports, and processes.

The solution is powered by its unified architecture, collaborative
engineering environment, industry-leading security, and ecosystem of
AI/ML-based deep learning capabilities.

The Bank will also leverage Microsoft Power Platform’s industry-leading low
code, no code capabilities to set up an App Innovation and Automation
Factory.
 The App Factory will enable the Bank to migrate, modernize and transform its
application portfolio.
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
HDFC Bank will also leverage Microsoft 365, to adopt a modern, integrated,
and secure Digital Workplace covering 3 critical areas of transformation –
employee collaboration, app modernization, and secure remote work.
About HDFC Bank:

Founded: August 1994

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Founded: 1990

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

President: Anant Maheshwari

India Country Manager: Ashutosh Gupta

Managing Director: Sashi Sreedharan

Microsoft India Private Limited is a subsidiary of the American
software company Microsoft Corporation.
Niva Bupa Health Insurance signs corporate agency agreement with Sundaram
Finance to strengthen its distribution

Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (formerly Max Bupa
Health Insurance Company Limited), signed a corporate agency
agreement with Sundaram Finance Limited.

Under the pact, Sundram Finance will offer Niva Bupa’s select range of
indemnity plans to its growing range of existing and past customers.

Some of the innovative retail products being offered by Sundaram Finance to
its customers include ReAssure – Niva Bupa’s highest-selling
comprehensive family floater plan, Senior First, a tailor-made plan for Senior
Citizens, and Health Recharge, a Super Top Up plan.
About Niva Bupa Health Insurance:

Founded: 2008

Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Founded: 1954
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
Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

MD: Rajiv Lochan
Yes Bank partners with Microsoft to transform the mobile banking experience

YES BANK has partnered with Microsoft to introduce a next-generation
mobile application (app) to provide customers with a personalized
banking experience.

Yes, Bank will leverage Microsoft’s Azure platform to create the app which will
offer customers a host of services such as online payments, shopping, rewards,
and offers, as well as customized dashboards. About the app:

The new app will run on Microsoft's enterprise-grade cloud platform.

With the support of the app, Yes Bank aims to scale up various services
by bringing merchants and ecosystem partners onto a common platform.

This will empower the Bank to cater to the diverse financial needs
of customers across loans, payments, deposits, investments, and
cards.
About Yes Bank:

Founded: 2004

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar

Tagline: Experience Our Expertise
Bandhan Bank unveils ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign

One of the fastest-growing banks in the country, Bandhan Bank,
launched its integrated marketing campaign featuring cricketer Sourav
Ganguly as its brand ambassador.

This is the first time that Bandhan Bank has appointed a pan-
India brand ambassador. Key Highlights:

The campaign was conceptualized by Leo Burnett Orchard, which
was brought in as the bank’s creative agency in August 2022.
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
The ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign emphasizes the ‘trust’ that
the brand has been able to earn in 7 years as a Bank and over the last two
decades in the various avatars before the Bank.

The campaign uses the analogy of Ganguly’s career, who became the Bank’s
customer soon after the Bank was launched 7 years ago, to showcase the
trust of customers and stakeholders that the brand has been able to
achieve.
About Bandhan Bank:

Founded: 2015

Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal, India

MD & CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
SBI, ICICI Bank & HDFC Bank Continue To Be Systemically Important Banks In India - RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 2022 lists of Domestic
Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) based on the data collected from
banks as on March 31, 2022.
 The top three Indian lenders -State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank
continue to be D-SIBs.

RBI places these banks in appropriate buckets upon their Systemic
Importance Scores (SISs). Key Highlights:

ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank have been placed in the first bucket while SBI
has been placed in the third bucket.

ICICI Bank and HDFC Ban/k have to maintain additional CET1 at 0.20% of
their Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs).

SBI has to maintain Additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) at 0.60% of its RWAs.

The additional CET1 requirement for D-SIBs has become fully effective from 1 April
2019.

In 2014, RBI issued the framework for dealing with Domestic Systemically Important
Banks.

SBI and ICICI Bank had become D-SIBs in 2015 and 2016.
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
HDFC Bank was also classified as a D-SIB in 2017.

SIBs are perceived as ‘Too Big To Fail’ and their functioning is critical for
essential banking services in the Indian Economy.
About D-SIBs:

D-SIBs in simpler terms are those banks whose failure can impact the
whole of the financial system and create instability.

The RBI first issued the framework for dealing with D-SIBs on July 22, 2014.

The D-SIB framework requires the central bank to disclose the names of
banks designated as D-SIBs starting from 2015.
India Accelerator collaborates with ICICI Bank & Infosys Finacle to promote the startup
ecosystem in
India

India Accelerator, a seed-stage accelerator program has launched the
i3 Launchpad, a program created to nurture and co-innovate with the
startup ecosystem in India.

This has been developed in collaboration with ICICI Bank and Infosys
Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, a wholly-owned product subsidiary
of Infosys.
Aim:

To support a community of entrepreneurs who are on a mission to create
brands that can have a global impact.
About i3 Launchpad:

It is designed to help startups accelerate their success by leveraging
mentorship, resources, and opportunities from Infosys Finacle, ICICI
Bank, and India Accelerator (IA).

It is open to start-ups across all industries and aims to onboard two cohorts
a year with a target of 1218 start-ups in each.
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
The first cohort will include fintech, enterprise tech, Software as a Service
(SaaS), prop tech, wealth tech, sustainability, green tech, and insurance
tech.
About IA:

Founded: 2017

Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana

Founder & CEO: Ashish Bhatia
RBI released the fifth volume of Reserve Bank history (1997-2008)
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the fifth (5th) volume of Reserve Bank
history (1997-2008).

The 5th volume covers the 11
years from 1997 to 2008. Key
Highlights:

The process of preparation for this volume was started by RBI in 2015
under the guidance of an Advisory Committee.

Dr. Narendra Jadhav, a former Member of Parliament and former Principal
Adviser & Chief Economist of the Reserve Bank chaired this committee.
 A team of writers led by the economic historian Dr. Tirthankar Roy has prepared the
volume.

Other members of the team were K. Kanagasabapathy, N. Gopalaswamy,
F. R. Joseph, and S.V.S. Dixit.

The volume covers the developments in policies and operations in major
functional areas during the period which was marked by two major crises in
the global economy, i.e., the Asian financial crisis and the global financial
crisis.

It covers the tenures of three Governors.

It covers the latter part of Dr. C. Rangarajan’s tenure, the complete tenure
of Dr. Bimal Jalan, and a major part of Dr. Y. V. Reddy’s tenure.
About RBI:
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
Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael
Patra, and T. Rabi Shankar
ADB & GoI sign USD 300 million loans to improve connectivity in Assam

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India (GoI)
signed a $300 million loan to upgrade over 300 kilometers of state
highways and major district roads (MDRs) in Assam.
Signatories:

Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs,
the Ministry of Finance, and Nilaya Mitash, Officer-in-Charge, India Resident
Mission, ADB, have signed the agreement of the Assam South Asia
Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Corridor Connectivity
Improvement project.
Key Highlights:

The project supports the government of Assam’s flagship Asom Mala road
improvement program to enhance the quality and service of priority sections
of state highway and MDR networks and fill critical infrastructure gaps.

The roads to be upgraded under the project, including 6 road sections in the
state’s western, central and southern regions, are connected to SASEC
corridors linking India with Bhutan and Bangladesh and are expected to boost
cross-border trade and transport.

The project will expand state highways and major district roads from
single-lane to two-lanes and introduce new climate- and disasterresilient structures.
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
Community schools, water, health, and sanitation facilities, and heritage
and tourism sites will be restored in affected indigenous peoples’
villages.

To protect wildlife and habitats in project areas, viaduct structures will be
constructed to avoidhuman– elephant conflict in the elephant habitats.
About ADB:

Established: 19 December 1966

Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.

President: Masatsugu Asakawa

Membership: 68 countries.

The ADB is a
regional development
bank. About Assam:

Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Capital: Dispur

National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Raimona
National Park, Nameri National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amsang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary,
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
YES BANK partners with BaaS startup Falcon to tap the embedded finance market

Yes, Bank has partnered with banking-as-a-service startup Falcon to tap
into the embedded finance market.

Embedded finance enables the integration of a non-financial
service with a financial service. About the Partnership:

The partnership will enable YES BANK to provide customers with tailormade financial solutions by leveraging Falcon’s wide suite of products,
backed by state-of-the-art technological infrastructure.
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 In addition to this, the bank has also partnered with Microsoft Corp for a mobile
application.

The bank will leverage Microsoft’s Azure stack to create the app which will
offer customers a host of services such as online payments, shopping,
rewards, and offers as well as customized dashboards, in addition to
traditional banking functions.
About Yes Bank:

Founded: 2004

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

CEO: Prashant Kumar.

Tagline: Experience Our Expertise
ADB & GoI sign US$350 million loan to improve the connectivity of the metro rail system in
Chennai

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India (GoI)
signed a US$350 million loan to build new lines and improve the connectivity
of the metro rail system in Chennai with the city’s existing public transport
system.
Key Highlights:

The tranche 1 loan is part of the US$780 million multi-tranche financing
facility (MFF) for the project approved by ADB on 8th December 2022 to
develop 3 new metro lines in Chennai, TN.

The investment project supports the development of 3 new metro lines - 3, 4, and 5.

For Line 3, the project will construct 10.1 kilometers (km) of the elevated
section between Sholinganallur to the State Industries Promotion
Corporation of Tamil Nadu-2, including 9 metro stations and system
components

Multimodal interchanges and facilities will be established along metro rail
corridors to improve commuters’ experience such as drop-off and pick-up
areas, sheltered waiting areas, bicycle facilities, and passenger information.
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
An additional $1 million ADB technical assistance (TA) grant will help the
Chennai Metro Rail Limited with the planning and management of the metro
system’s multimodal integration.
RBI launches Utkarsh 2.0 for the period 2023-2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has
launched Utkarsh 2.0, the second phase of its medium-term strategic
framework for the period 2023-2025.
About Utkarsh 2.0:

“Utkarsh 2.0 builds on the strengths of Utkarsh 2022, retaining the 6 vision
statements along with the core purpose, values , and mission statement.
6 vision statements of Utkarsh 2.0:
1. Excellence in the performance of its statutory and other functions
2. The strengthened trust of citizens and Institutions in the RBI
3. Enhanced relevance and significance in national and global roles
4. Transparent, accountable, and ethics-driven internal governance
5. Best-in-class and environment-friendly digital and physical infrastructure
6. Innovative, dynamic, and
skilled human resources. About
Utkarsh:
 The first strategy framework (Utkarsh 2022) covering the period 2019-2022 was
launched in July 2019.

It became a medium-term strategy document guiding the Bank’s progress
toward the realization of the identified milestones
Issues related to cards, net banking top complaint areas at OBO - RBI report

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Report, issues related to
Automated Teller Machine (ATM)/debit cards and mobile/electronic banking
were the top grounds of complaints received at the Office of Banking
Ombudsman (OBO) from April 1 to November 11, 2021.
Key Highlights:
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
The volume of complaints received under the Ombudsman
Schemes/Consumer Education and Protection Cells during 2021-22
increased by 9.39% over the previous year and stood at 4,18,184

Of these, 3,04,496 complaints were handled by the 22 Offices of RBI
Ombudsman (ORBIOs), including the complaints received under the three
erstwhile Ombudsman Schemes till November 11, 2021.

Complaints related to ATM/ debit cards were the highest at 14.65% of the total,
followed by mobile/ electronic banking at 13.64%.

The rate of disposal of complaints by ombudsmen improved to 97.97% in 202122 from 96.59% in 2020-21.

The coverage of RBIOS was extended to include the non-scheduled Urban
Cooperative Banks (UCBs) with a deposit size of Rs 50 crore or above as at
the end of the previous Financial Year.

Credit Information Companies (CICs) were brought under RBI-IOS with effect from
September 1, 2022.

Between November 12 and March 31, 2022, a total of 1,86,268 complaints
were received under the RBI-OS.
About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael
Patra, and T. Rabi Shankar
Axis Bank partners with OPEN to launch a fully digital current account

India’s third largest private sector bank, Axis Bank, has partnered with the
world’s fastest-growing digital banking enterprise, Open Financial
Technologies Pvt Ltd (OPEN), to provide a fully native digital current
account journey for its customers
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
Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), freelancers, homepreneurs,
influencers, and more would benefit from the fully digital current account.

This is Axis Bank’s first-ever partnership with a fintech player to launch a
fully digital current account. Key Highlights:

The current account holders will get access to Axis bank's over 250 banking
services along with OPEN’s financial automation tools for business
management including payments, accounting, payroll, compliance,
expense management, and other such services.

The authentication process of the digital current account will be
completely online using PAN (permanent account number) and
Aadhaar followed by a Video KYC (know your customer). About OPEN:

Founded: 2017

Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Co-founder and chief executive officer: Anish Achuthan

It operates SME neo-banking platform Open Money, the embedded finance
platform, Zwitch, and the enterprise digital banking platform for banks,
BankingStack.

The 100th Unicorn from India, Open is backed by leading global investors like
IIFL Finance, Temasek, Google, Visa, and Tiger Global, amongst others.
About Axis Bank:
 Founded: 3 December 1993
 Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
 MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
SEBI allows reclassifying govt holding in IDBI Bank as 'public' after-sale

Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has
allowed the central government’s request to reclassify its shareholding in IDBI
Bank after its disinvestment as a “public holding”

This is subject to the condition that the government’s voting rights in the bank
will not exceed 15% of the total voting rights after the sale.
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Key Highlights:

After disinvestment, the bank must make an application to the stock exchanges for
reclassification of the government holding under the public category.

The new acquirer must ensure compliance with the minimum public shareholding
(MPS) requirements within one year of the sale.

Now, the government and state-owned Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) hold a
little over 94% of IDBI Bank and are classified as its co-promoters.

While the government holds a 45.48% stake, LIC holds around 49.24%, and the
remaining 5.28% is public shareholding.
 The government is selling a 30.48% stake in the bank, while LIC will sell 30.24%.

After the sale, the government will be left with 15% and LIC will have a little
over 19% stake in the bank. About SEBI:

Established: on 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory
powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
 Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
 Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch

The SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India
under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance within the GoI.
Annapurna Finance Pvt applies for a universal bank license

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has received an application from Odishabased Annapurna Finance Pvt Ltd (AFPL), formerly known as Annapurna
Microfinance Pvt Ltd, under the Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Universal
Banks in the Private Sector.

The microfinance institution was the only entity to apply for a universal bank
license during the quarter that ended on December 31, 2022.

As per the RBI’s ‘on tap’ licensing guidelines, the initial minimum paid-up
voting equity capital for a universal bank should be Rs 500 crore.

In May 2022, the RBI rejected 4 applications it had received for setting-up universal
banks.
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
The applicants rejected were UAE Exchange and Financial Services Ltd,
Repatriates Cooperative Finance and Development Bank Ltd (REPCO Bank),
Chaitanya India Fin Credit Pvt Ltd, Pankaj Vaish, and others.

In 2021, the RBI announced a 5-member Standing External Advisory
Committee, headed by former RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath, for
evaluating applications for universal banks and small finance banks.
SEBI issues debt broker license to Zerodha-backed GoldenPi Technologies

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a debt
broker license to Bengaluru-based fintech firm GoldenPi Technologies.

With this, GoldenPi became the first online bond platform provider to
receive a debt brokerage license from SEBI.

In Nov 2022, SEBI introduced regulations for online debt trading
platforms which stated that no company or individual shall act as an
online bond platform provider (OBP) without the certificate of registration
as a stock broker under the SEBI Regulations, 2021.
About GoldenPi Technologies:

Founded: 2017

CEO and co-founder: Abhijit Roy

Currently, the Zerodha-backed company offers more than 100+ bonds
and debentures on its online platform in the form of daily listings.

It has more than 3.7 lakh active users on its platform, investing in
corporate bonds, Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD), Initial Public
Offerings (IPOs), and other fixed-income assets.
SEBI extends relaxation on dispatching hard copies of financial statements

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the relaxation
to listed companies from dispatching physical copies of financial
statements till September 30, 2023.

Earlier, the regulator had given similar relaxations to listed
companies till December 2022. Key Highlights:
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
The Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) rules
require listed companies to dispatch a hard copy of the statement
containing salient features of all the documents - financial statements,
board's report, and auditor's report to those shareholders who have not
registered their email addresses.

The listed entities are required to send hard copies of full annual reports to
those shareholders who request the same.

Separately, the SEBI has eased the rules for entities, which listed their nonconvertible securities, from dispatching hard copies of annual reports to
debenture holders.
Dhanlaxmi Bank launches retail internet banking services DhanDelight & mobile banking
app
DhanSmart

Dhanlaxmi Bank has launched all new retail internet banking DhanDelight and
the retail mobile banking app DhanSmart.

The new services are built on an omnichannel platform having various
features covering different banking needs of customers.

DhanDelight and DhanSmart have the latest information system security
features to provide secure banking.
About DhanDelight:

The latest UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) provide a
refreshing user experience and will enable customers to do financial
transactions more securely.
About DhanSmart:

The mobile app also offers a dark theme to improve visual ergonomics,
reduce eye strain, and helps in conserving battery power.

The applications come with value-added features such as biometric
authentication for mobile users, a dashboard for internet users, user-defined
themes, soft token for transaction authentication, credit card reports, online
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subscriptions of various social security and other schemes, online financial
transactions and payments, etc.
About Dhanlaxmi Bank:

Founded: 14 November 1927

Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala, India

MD & CEO: J. K. Shivan
IndusInd Bank partners with British Airways & Qatar Airways to launch a multi-branded credit
card

IndusInd Bank, in a first-of-its-kind initiative, partnered with British Airways
Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, to introduce the unique
multi-branded credit card, powered by Visa.

The card was made available to consumers in the first quarter of the
financial year 2023 - 2024. About the Card:

The credit card will be available in the Infinite variant of Visa.

It will offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to elevate the
international travel experience of customers.

Through this proposition, members will soon be able to collect Avios, the
rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways
Privilege Club, by signing up and choosing their preferred loyalty program.

At the time of application, this credit card will give customers the
flexibility to choose their preferred airline loyalty program and select their
preferred travel destination to collect maximum Avios. About IndusInd Bank:

Founded: April 1994

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Sumant Kathpalia

Tagline: We Make You Feel Richer
RBI lifts restrictions on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services
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
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted restrictions related to Mahindra &
Mahindra Financial Services (M&M Finance) on recovery operations via thirdparty collection agents.

The lifting of restrictions followed submissions made by M&M Finance and its
pledge to strengthen recovery practices and outsourcing arrangements while
tightening the process of onboarding third-party agents and strengthening its
accountability framework.

The RBI action came after reports of a 27-year-old pregnant woman being
allegedly crushed to death on 15 September 2022 in Jharkhand, by a tractor
being driven by a recovery agent acting on behalf of M&M Finance.
About M&M Finance:

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Dr. Anish Shah

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited (MMFSL) is an Indian rural
non-banking financial company
About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael
Patra, and T. Rabi Shankar
ICICI Bank launches digital solutions for exporters

ICICI Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative in the industry, digital
solutions for exporters, and a comprehensive set of banking and valueadded services on a single platform.
Aim:
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
To simplify the journey of exporters by decongesting the current timeintensive manual procedures, thereby significantly improving their operational
efficiency.
Key Highlights:

The set of solutions digitises the entire export life-cycle from the discovery of
export markets, export finance, and foreign exchange services to the receipt of
export incentives.

It also offers industry-first facilities such as instant disbursal of Export
Packing Credit (Insta EPC) and Trade Application Programming Interface
(APIs).

Insta EPC provides export finance instantly, while Trade APIs enable the
smooth handling of export transactions directly from exporters’ ERP systems,
thereby providing greater convenience.
Insta EPC:

Exporters, having a relationship with the Bank, will get the convenience of
Export Packing Credit (EPC) instantly and digitally.

This facility can be availed through Trade Online, the Bank’s flagship digital
platform for export-import transactions.
Digital Letter of Credit facility (e-LC):

The exporters can avail of the e-LC facility, which acts as a digital repository as
well as makes LC available on a real-time basis, for verification of trade terms.
Electronic Bills of Lading (e-BL):

The Bank has partnered with leading e-BL service providers to facilitate the
end-to-end digital movement of trade documents across the world.

This results in efficient working capital management by reducing turnaround
time to a couple of days from the existing industry practice of 8-10 days
Trade APIs:

The Bank offers Trade APIs, a future-ready industry-first solution, for the
seamless handling of export bills.
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
The range of APIs includes Remittances, Letters of Credit, and Bank Guarantees.

The Trade API solution provides the exporters with a simplified ‘Do-It-Yourself
(DIY)’ experience anytime anywhere.

With APIs in place, exporters can initiate transactions via their ERPs directly
with the Bank, thereby enhancing productivity
Trade accounts:

Trade accounts offer foreign currency accounts namely Exchange Earners’
Foreign Currency Accounts (EEFC).

This is a Current Account that allows exporters to hold their foreign currency
earnings in the account, without converting them to local currency.

This feature of the account helps exporters to reduce their foreign exchange
transaction costs.

It also offers specialized Current Accounts like One Globe Trade Account
(OGTA) for export and import-related transactions.
Paperless exports solutions:

The Bank’s digital solutions like e-Softex (catering to IT/ITeS exporters) and eDOCs have simplified exporters’ journey across various stages by offering
digital filing of documents, settlement, and reconciliation of export invoices,
among others.
Foreign exchange solution:

Exporters can book forex deals over the phone or online through digital
platforms to get flexibility and transparency in booking rates.
About ICICI Bank:

Founded: 5 January 1994

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
Aegon Life Insurance launches iTerm Prime Insurance plan

Aegon Life Insurance has launched the iTerm Prime Insurance plan, which
will cater to the needs of self-employed individuals with a special 10%
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discount (5% discount in addition to a 5% online discount for all) on 1st-year
premium.

The policy also offers special add-on features like critical illness
cover and accidental death. About iTerm Prime Insurance plan:
 The iTerm Prime plan is designed to promote life insurance access in developing
India.
 It offers a minimum sum assured of Rs 25 lakhs, with no upper limit on a consumer’s
requirement.

The plan can be purchased online through a completely paperless process
and requires zero documentation or uploads.

The product also offers a ‘Special Exit Value’ option that allows the
policyholder to get all premiums back when they turn 55 years old.

It is designed to encourage emerging India to gain access to life insurance.

The policy also offers a death benefit, which is the highest of 11 times the
annualized premium or 105% multiplied by the total premiums paid as on the
date of death or base sum assured.
About Aegon Life Insurance:

Founded: 2008

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD and CEO: Satishwar Balakrishnan

It is a joint venture between Dutch Aegon N.V., a multinational insurance,
pensions, and asset management company, and The Times Group (also
called Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd), one of India’s largest media
conglomerates.
GST collections stand at Rs 1.49 trillion in Dec 2022

According to the Finance Ministry, the Goods & services tax (GST)
collections for December 2022 stood at Rs 1,49,507 crore, 2.5% more
than Rs 1,45,867 crore collected in November 2022.
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
However, on a year-on-year basis, GST revenue collected for December
2022 was 15% higher than the collections of December 2021, which was Rs
1,29,780 crore.
Key Highlights:

The gross GST revenue collected during December 2022 is Rs 1,49,507 crore,
of which CGST is Rs 26,711 crore, SGST is Rs 33,357 crore, IGST is Rs 78,434
crore (including Rs 40,263 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs
11,005 crore (including Rs 850 crore collected on import of goods).

The total revenue of the Centre and the states after regular settlements in
December 2022 is Rs 63,380 crore for CGST and Rs 64,451 crore for the
SGST.

Monthly GST revenues have been higher than Rs 1.4 trillion
for the 10th month in a row.
World Bank’s flagship Gender Toolkit launched

The 'Toolkit on Enabling Gender-Responsive Urban Mobility and Public
Spaces in India' was launched at a session organized by the World Bank
(WB) & the Chennai Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu (TN).
Key Highlights:

Women are among the largest users of public transport across Indian
cities & around 84% of trips made by women are estimated to be by
public transport.

The toolkit has been designed in response to a 2019 World Banksupported survey of 6,048 respondents in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

This survey found that between 2004 and 2019, men shifted to two-wheelers to
commute to work, while women used auto-rickshaws or taxis, which tend to be
more costly (per trip) than two-wheelers.
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
India has amongst the lowest female labour force participation rates globally, at
22.8% in 2019-20.

This toolkit has practical tools that can help policymakers and private
or community-based organizations ensure safe and inclusive public
spaces and public transport for women in India. Key features of the
Gender Toolkit:

The Gender Toolkit is a two-volume guide that proposes a 4-pillar
implementation framework for urban bodies to design a gender-responsive
urban mobility and public spaces program.

The 1st pillar focuses on the assessment of the ground situation, including
the understanding of gender differences in mobility patterns, safety concerns,
and gaps in policies and infrastructure.

The 2nd pillar recommends integrating gender as a lens while
planning and promoting gender inclusivity among policymakers and
institutions.

The 3rd pillar focuses on awareness creation and capacity building
 The 4th pillar emphasizes strengthening the infrastructure in a way that is gender
inclusive.
About World Bank:

Established: December 1944

Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

President: David Malpass
RBI to issue green bonds worth Rs 16,000 cr in two tranches in Jan, Feb

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that the maiden
Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) would be issued in two tranches for an
aggregate amount of Rs 16,000 crore.
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
The first auction of Rs 8,000 crore would be done on January 25 while the
second for an equal amount will be held on February 9, 2023.
Date of Auction
Amount in
Security-wise Allocation
(Rs Crore)
January 25, 2023
8000
i) 05 Year SGrB for Rs 4,000 crore
ii) 10 Year SGrB for Rs 4,000 crore
February 09, 2023
8000
i) 05 Year SGrB for Rs 4,000 crore
ii) 10 Year SGrB for Rs 4,000 crore

The proceeds will be utilized for funding public sector projects seeking to
reduce carbon emissions. Key Highlights:

In Union Budget 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced
that sovereign green bonds will be issued for mobilizing resources for ‘green
projects’.
About Green bonds:

Green bonds are issued by companies, countries, and multilateral
organizations to exclusively fund projects that have positive environmental
or climate benefits and provide investors with fixed-income payments.

The projects can include renewable energy, clean transportation, and green
buildings, among others. Aim:

To mobilize Rs 16,000 crore through the issuance of green bonds in the
current fiscal ending March 2023.

All eligible green expenditures will include public expenditure undertaken by
the government in the form of investment, subsidies, grants-in-aid, or tax
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foregone (or a combination of all or some of these) or select operational
expenditures.

The eligible expenditures will be limited to government expenditures that
occurred a maximum of 12 months before the issuance of the green
bonds.

Nuclear power generation, landfill projects,
alcohol/weapons/tobacco/gaming/palm oil industries, and hydropower
plants larger than 25 MW have been excluded from the framework.

The Ministry of Finance has constituted a Green Finance Working
Committee (GFWC) including members from relevant ministries and
chaired by the Chief Economic Advisor.

The GFWC will meet at least twice a year to support the Ministry of Finance
(MoF) with the selection and evaluation of projects and other work related to
the Framework.
Feature of sovereign green bonds:

The Sovereign Green Bonds' objective is to mobilize resources for green
infrastructure as part of the government’s overall market borrowings in
2022-23.

Issuance Method: SGrBs will be issued through Uniform Price Auction.

Non-competitive bidding facility: About 5% of the notified amount of
sale will be reserved for retail investors as specified under the ‘Scheme
for Non-competitive Bidding Facility in the auction of Government of
India Dated Securities and Treasury Bills’.

Eligibility for Repurchase Transactions (Repo): SGrBs will be eligible for
Repurchase Transactions (Repo) as per the terms and conditions mentioned
in Repurchase Transactions (Repo) (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018 as
amended from time to time.

Eligibility for Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): SGrBs will be reckoned as
eligible investments for SLR purposes.
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
Underwriting: The underwriting in the auction of SGrBs by the Primary
Dealers will be as per the “Revised Scheme of Underwriting
Commitment and Liquidity Support” issued by the RBI.

When-issued Trading: SGrBs will be eligible for “When Issued” trading
by the guidelines on ‘Transactions in the When Issued market in
Central Government Securities’ issued by the RBI.

Tradability: SGrBs will be eligible for trading in the secondary market.

Investment by Non-residents: SGrBs will be designated as specified
securities under the ‘Fully Accessible Route’ for investment in
Government Securities by non-residents.
About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael
Patra, and T. Rabi Shankar
MFs’ AUM grows 5.4% in CY22, SBI MF widens lead - AMFI

According to the latest data by the Association of Mutual Funds in India
(AMFI), the average assets under management (AUM) for the domestic
mutual fund (MF) industry grew 5.4% year-on-year to Rs 40.2 trillion for the
quarter that ended December.

The growth in assets was primarily due to incremental flows into equity
schemes, driven by monthly systematic investment plans of Rs 12,00013,000 crore.
Key Highlights:

SBI MF and Mirae MF clocked the fastest growth among large AMCs.
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
The former now has assets of over Rs 7 trillion and has widened the lead over
ICICI MF and HDFC MF, ranked number 2 and 3, respectively, with assets of
over Rs 4 trillion each.

Mirae’s assets have grown 15.7% to Rs 1.15 trillion in the past year.

HDFC MF, Axis MF, IDFC MF, and Aditya Birla Sun Life MF were among
the top 10 asset managers that clocked a negative growth during the year, with
the last two seeing a de-growth of around 5%. About AMFI:

Founded: 1995

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

CEO: N.S.Venkatesh

Members: 44

The AMFI is the regulatory body for the mutual fund sector in India.

It is a division of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI),
Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India.
RBI Directs Banks to Improve Financial Statement Disclosures

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to make enhanced
disclosures relating to material items in their notes to accounts wherever
any item under the head “Other Liabilities and Provisions” and “Other
Assets” exceeds 1% of the total assets.
Aim:

To enhance transparency in banks’ financial
statements through disclosures. Key Highlights:

Currently, if any item under the subhead “Miscellaneous Income” under
the head “Other Income” exceeds 1% of total income, banks have to
give particulars in the notes to accounts.

Similar instructions exist in the case of the subhead “Other expenditure”
under the head “Operating Expenses”.
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
The RBI also asked payments banks to disclose particulars of all such items in
the notes to accounts, wherever any item under “Other Income” “Commission, Exchange, and Brokerage” exceeds 1% of the total income.

Its instructions relating to “Financial Statements - Presentation and
Disclosures -Disclosure of material items “apply to all commercial banks.

These instructions shall come into effect for disclosures in the notes to the
annual financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2023, and
onwards,” per the central bank’s directions.
India’s Fastest Payment app - PayRup launched

PayRup (https://payrup.com/), India’s fastest payment app was launched.by
Mahadevappa Halagatti in Lulu Mall, Bangalore, Karnataka.

PayRup is built on cutting-edge technology of web 3.0.

It provides an advanced digital payment experience with
outstanding user experience. About PayRup:

PayRup opens 24/7 customer care facilities for help and support for users.

Customer support desk runs with leading Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) technologies and is supported by global standards.

It ensures the 5 dimensions of service quality and follows SERVQUAL
(Service Quality) standards to provide the best service experience.

PayRup users can pay utility bills and landline bills, recharge their
mobile, broadband, DTH, and purchase Gift Cards.

PayRup services are planned to expand across various financial
instruments, including multiple payment services such as school fees,
pay rent, and other payment collection services.

Recently, PayRup has announced ticketing and booking services for
flights, buses, and hotels. About PayRup:

Established: 2017

Headquarters: Bangalore,
Karnataka
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RBI issues revised list of
accredited credit rating gencies

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the revised list of Six accredited
credit rating agencies (CRAs) to assign risk weight to assets for capital
adequacy purposes by the banks.
The 6 credit rating agencies are
1. Acuite Ratings & Research Limited (Acuite)
2.
Credit Analysis and Research Limited (CARE)
3.
CRISIL Ratings Limited
4.
ICRA Limited
5.
India Ratings and Research Private Limited (India Ratings)
6.
INFOMERICS Valuation and Rating Pvt Ltd

In October,2022 RBI dropped Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited from
the list of accredited rating agencies.
About CRAs:

Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) are companies that evaluate the financial
condition of issuers of debt instruments.

CRAs are regulated by SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 of
the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das
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
Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael
Patra and T. Rabi Shankar
Axis Bank & IISc sign MoU to establish Centre for Mathematics and
Computing

Axis Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka to establish a Centre
for Mathematics and Computing at the Institute. Note:

The Axis Bank Centre for Mathematics and Computing is India's first
comprehensive Academic Research Centre on Mathematics and
Computing.
Key Highlights:

It will be spread across 1.6 lakh square feet and will have state-of-art labs
and programs for faculty and students from different departments of the
institute.
 It is expected that over 500 engineers and scientists will benefit from the Centre
every year.

The Centre will play a vital role in building the nation's future as many
contemporary and futuristic areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data
Science rely on the foundations of mathematics and computing.

Mathematics and Computing are at the core of critical disciplines like
Computational Fluid Dynamics, Computational Biology, Quantum
Computing, Precision Medicine, Digital Health, Climate Science, Materials
Genomics, Cybersecurity, AI, ML, and Data Science.
About Axis Bank:

Founded: December 1993

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
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Standard Chartered Becomes First Foreign Bank to Trade Bond Futures in China

Standard Chartered China has just become the first foreign-invested
bank in China to engage in Chinese treasury bond futures trading.

The move comes as China steps up efforts to draw global investors amid
months of foreign money outflows from its $20-trillion bond market.
Key Highlights:

Standard Chartered Bank (China) Ltd had completed its first treasury bond
futures transaction in China, with the permission of regulators.

Treasury bond futures are a key tool to manage interest rate risks, and
China's opening up of the market will allow foreign investors to better
participate in its onshore bond market and promote yuan
internationalisation.
Recent News:

In February 2022, Standard Chartered Group would invest USD$300
million in its China-related operations over three years, to double
their relevant profit contribution by the end of 2024. About Standard
Chartered plc:

Headquarters: London, England, UK

Standard Chartered plc is a multinational bank with operations in consumer,
corporate and institutional banking, and treasury services.
Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Partners with Clootrack to Boost Customer Experiences

Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Limited (“Kotak General
Insurance“) has partnered with Clootrack, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)driven, real-time customer experience platform.
About the Partnership:

The partnership will help Kotak Mahindra General Insurance understand gaps
in the market to improve its customer experience.
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
This will empower Kotak Mahindra General Insurance with insights into its
non-life insurance products through customer feedback.

Clootrack’s AI-driven comprehensive intelligent customer experience
analytics platform will help Kotak Mahindra General Insurance understand
why customer experience drops.
About Kotak Mahindra General Insurance:

Founded: 2015

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

CEO: Shameel Abdulla

Clootrack is a Kochi-based start-up for
customer experience analytics. NABARD raises Rs
5,000 crore through 3-year bonds

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has
raised around Rs 5,000 crore via 3-year bonds, in the first issue of
fundraising through bonds in 2023.

The coupon for the 3-year bond was 7.63%.

The yield on government bonds with similar
maturity was above 7.16%. Key Highlights:
 The issue by NABARD had a base size of Rs 2,000 crore plus a green-shoe option
of Rs 3,000 crore.

Meanwhile, Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) is likely to raise to Rs
3,000 crore through a 10-year paper (maturing in January 2033).

The base size is Rs 500 crore with a green-shoe option of Rs 2,500 crore.

REC is also looking at issuing medium-term paper (about 41-42 months) to
raise to Rs 3,000 crore from the market.

At present, corporations are not able to file papers for bond offerings with
the ministry of corporate affairs due to technical work underway at
portals.
About NABARD:
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
Founded: 12 July 1982

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

It was established on the recommendations of B. Sivaraman
Committee (by Act 61, 1981 of Parliament).

The NABARD is an apex regulatory body for the overall regulation of
regional rural banks and apex cooperative banks in India.

It is under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Finance, GoI.
SEBI extends trading hours in case of an
outage at stock exchanges

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued
a standard of procedures (SOP) for the handling of stock exchange outages
and extension of trading hours due to the outage. What is a Stock Exchange
outage?

Stock Exchange Outage means stoppage of continuous trading, either
suo-moto by exchange or by reasons beyond the control of the stock
exchange.

Further, stoppage of continuous trading shall not include a trading halt on
account of the index-based market-wide circuit breaker.
Timeline for the necessary communications:
 Communication of such outages by exchanges to be made within 15 mins to all
market participants.

According to the SEBI’s circular, if the affected stock exchange resumes to
normalcy at least one hour (excluding 15 minutes of the pre-opening session,
if applicable) before the normally scheduled market closure then trading
hours on that day will remain unchanged.

Besides, the exchange will have to inform Sebi
through a dedicated email. About SEBI:
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
Established: 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory
powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch

SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India
under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance , GoI.
HDFC Capital achieves $376-mn initial close for scheme 2 of H-CARE 3

HDFC Capital, a subsidiary of HDFC Ltd has achieved the initial close of $376
million for Scheme 2 of HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund – 3 (HCARE 3) to provide long-term, flexible funding across the lifecycle of affordable
and mid-income housing projects including early-stage funding Key Highlights:

H-CARE 3 Scheme 1 & 2 and HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Funds – 1
& 2 have created a US$3.1 billion funding platform, rated as one of the
world’s largest private finance platforms focused on developing affordable
housing.

The company's primary investor in H-CARE 3 Schemes 1 & 2 is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).

H-CARE 3 will provide long-term, flexible funding across the lifecycle of
affordable and mid-income housing projects including early-stage funding.

It will also invest in technology companies (construction technology, fintech, sustainability-tech, etc) engaged in the affordable housing
ecosystem.
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance and Punjab & Sind Bank enter into a strategic partnership

Leading public sector bank Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) and Bajaj Allianz
Life Insurance Company (BALIC) have announced their Corporate
Agency Partnership.
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
Mr. Swarup Kumar Saha, MD & CEO, of Punjab & Sind Bank, and Mr.
Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO, of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, signed the
partnership agreement in New Delhi, Delhi, India.
About the Partnership:

The collaboration would allow new and existing clients of Punjab & Sind Bank
to access a range of retail life insurance products from Bajaj Allianz Life
Insurance, including term, savings, retirement, and investment choices.

PSB is the 25th Schedule Commercial Bank to collaborate with BALIC to
distribute its life goals-based product suite.

The life insurer will work closely with the bank to enable customers to get
seamless service and help them achieve their long-term financial goals in
a planned manner.

This includes responding to customer support requests made via
WhatsApp or a self-service tool like the Bajaj Allianz Life LifeAssist App, in
addition to the well-trained bank employees servicing the life insurance
division.
About Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance:

Founded: 2001

Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra

Founded: 24 June 1908

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

MD & CEO: Swarup Kumar Saha

Tagline: Where Service is a way of life
SEBI Allows AIFs to Participate In Credit Default Swap Transactions

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed
Alternative Investment Funds to participate in credit default swaps
(CDS) to protect buyers and sellers.
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
The new norms will facilitate the deepening of the domestic corporate bond
segment & allow business entities to hedge risks associated with the bonds
market.
Key Highlights:

CDS is a specific kind of counterparty agreement that allows the transfer of
third-party credit risk from one party to another.

Under the new norm, Category-I and Category-II AIFs can buy CDS on
underlying investments in debt securities only for hedging.

While Category-III AIFs can purchase CDS for hedging or otherwise, within
permissible leverage.

Category-II and Category-III AIFs may sell CDS by earmarking
unencumbered government bonds or Treasury bills equal to the amount of
the CDS exposure.

Category III AIFs are allowed to sell CDS, subject to the condition that
effective leverage undertaken is within the permissible limits.

AIFs will have to report details of CDS transactions to the custodian by the next
working day.

Any unhedged position, which would result in gross unhedged positions
across all CDS transactions exceeding 25% of investable funds of the
scheme of an AIF, would be taken only after intimating to all unit holders of
the scheme

Category I and II AIFs would not borrow funds directly or indirectly and
engage in leverage except for meeting temporary funding requirements for not
more than 30 days, not more than four occasions in a year, and not more than
10% of the investable funds.

Such AIFs which transact in CDS will have to maintain a 30-day cooling-off
period between the two periods of borrowing or engaging in leverage.
About SEBI:
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
Established: on 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given
statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch

SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India
under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, GoI.
RBI grants in-principle approval for payment aggregator license to EnKash

Fintech startup EnKash has got in-principle approval from the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a payment aggregator's license.

The license will enable EnKash to broaden its product offerings to millions
of businesses for digital transactions.

BharatPe and Hitachi Payment Services have also received in-principle
authorization to operate as payment aggregators.
About EnKash:

Founded in 2018

Founder: Yadvendra Tyagi

EnKash claims to have assisted 1 lakh businesses to digitize and
decentralize their corporate payments.
About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Deputy governors: Mahesh Kumar Jain, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael
Patra, and T. Rabi Shankar
Exim Bank raises $1 billion via 10-yr sustainability bond issue
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
Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) has raised $1 billion via a 10year Sustainability Bond issue in the 144A/Reg-S format under its
Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Framework.

According to the Exim Bank, the net proceeds of the Sustainability Bond will be
used towards eligible projects under the Bank's ESG Framework, including
renewable energy; clean transportation; access to essential services and
basic infrastructure; affordable housing; and sustainable water and
wastewater management.

This issuance at a coupon rate of CT10 (US 10-year Treasury Bond) +190
basis points makes India Exim Bank the first Indian issuer to open the
markets for dollar and sustainability bond issuances in 2023.
About Exim Bank:

Established: 1982

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

MD: Ms. Harsha Bangari
NPCI allows UPI transactions for non-resident accounts linked to international numbers

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has allowed Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) transactions for non-resident bank accounts linked
to International mobile numbers of 10 countries.

The non-resident bank accounts are Non-Residential External (NRE) & NonResident Ordinary (NRO).

To start with, NRIs from Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman,
Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom
(UK), can make transactions using the UPI platform. Key Highlights:

Member banks to ensure such types of accounts are only allowed as per the
extant FEMA regulations and adherence to the guidelines/instructions issued
by the concerned regulatory departments of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
from time to time.
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
All the necessary Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/ Combating of Financing
of Terrorism (CFT) checks and compliance validation/account level
validations as per the extant rules applicable under the regulatory
guidelines shall be the responsibility of the remitter/beneficiary banks.

The NPCI has asked UPI participants, such as Paytm, Google Pay,
and more to put in place a mechanism by April 30, 2023.
About NPCI:

Founded: 2008

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe
Startup Funding in India Drops 33% To $24 Billion in 2022: PwC Report

According to the PwC India report, titled ‘Startup Tracker-CY 22’, the
funding for India’s startups dropped by 33% to $24 billion in 2022 in
contrast to the earlier year.
Key Highlights:

As per the report, the startups received more than twice the funds raised in 2020 and
2019.

The startups received a total funding of USD 13.2 billion in 2019, USD 10.9
billion in 2020, and USD 35.2 billion in 2021.

In value terms, early-stage deals contributed to approximately 12% of
the total funding in 2022 compared to nearly 7% in 2021.
 Growth and late-stage funding deals, in value terms, accounted for 88% of the
funding activity in 2022.

The average ticket size in the growth-stage deals was $43 million and in
late-stage deals was $94 million in 2022.

The software-as-a-service (SaaS) segment accounted for nearly 25% of all
funding activity; it saw an increase of 20% in funding values during 2022 as
compared to 2021.
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
The early-stage deals accounted for 60–62% of the total funding in 2021 and
2022 in volume terms and the average ticket size per deal was $4 million per
deal.

Bengaluru, Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), and Mumbai account for
nearly 82% of total Indian startups.

As many as 28% of startups in the top three cities have raised
more than USD 20 million. About PwC:

Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal

0Chairperson: Sanjeev Krishnan
SEBI allows MFs to switch from active to passive ELSS schemes

Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
has allowed mutual funds with active Equity-Linked Savings Schemes
(ELSS) to launch passive schemes, a move that will provide a costeffective and tax-saving alternative to individual investors.
Key Highlights:

Under the procedure, the fund house will have to stop all fresh inflows or
subscriptions, including systematic investment plans (SIPs) and
systematic transfer plans (STPs), to the actively managed ELSS scheme.

Besides, AMCs will provide an option to investors to redeem their units without
exit load subject to lock-in requirements.

After completion 3 years from the date of stopping inflows in the actively
managed ELSS scheme, the scheme will be merged with the passively
managed ELSS scheme and the investments would be managed through the
passively managed scheme.

The investments under the ELSS scheme have a 3-year lock-in period,
which is the shortest lock-in period as compared to other tax-efficient
products.

Furthermore, investors can also get a tax deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakh
per financial year under Section 80C of the IT Act.
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
The passive ELSS scheme should be based on one of the indices
comprising equity shares from the top 250 companies in terms of market
capitalization.

The assets under management (AUM) of the ELSS category stood at
over Rs 1.5 trillion as on December 31, 2022.
Aditya Birla Health Insurance in Bancassurance Partnership with Punjab & Sind Bank

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. (ABHICL), the health insurance joint
venture of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. (ABCL), signed a bancassurance
partnership with Punjab & Sind Bank for the distribution of health insurance
products through the bank’s network of branches across India.

This partnership will enable ABHICL to expand its national footprint and
access Punjab & Sind Bank’s widely distributed network of 1,528 branches
and its customers.
About the partnership:
 Through this Partnership, Punjab & Sind Bank’s customers and employees will have
access to
ABHICL’s comprehensive suite of health-first insurance plans, aimed at
encouraging customers to practice a healthy lifestyle through innovative
products such as 100% Health ReturnsTM and Chronic’s Incentive Wellness
To reward with profit.

Also Management Program, Day 1 covers Asthma, High Blood Pressure,
High Cholesterol, and Diabetes; wellness coaching on nutrition and
fitness; Counseling on mental health among others.

With this, ABHICL now has 18 bancassurance companions with over 70,000
direct promoting brokers, throughout India. About Bancassurance:

Bancassurance is an arrangement between a bank and an insurance
company, through which the insurer can sell its products to the bank's
customers.
About Punjab & Sind Bank:
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
Established: 1908

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

MD & CEO: Swaroop Kumar Saha

Tagline: Where
Service is a Way of Life
About Aditya Birla
Health Insurance:

Established: 2015

CEO: Mayank Bathwal

ABHICL, a part of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd (ABCL), is a joint venture
between Aditya Birla Group and MMI Holdings of South Africa
Union Bank of India partners with Garuda Aerospace sanctions 150 Agri
drone loans for Garuda Kisan drones

Chennai’s drone startup Garuda Aerospace has partnered with the Union
Bank of India (UBI) with 150 Garuda Agri Kisan drones receiving sanction for
a loan under the Kisan Pushpak Scheme.

The drone loan will help farmers to digitize land record operations for crop
production, and spraying of fertilizers, chemicals, and pesticides, with the
help of drones.
About the Partnership:

The partnership is for the Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme & Capital
Subsidy under submission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM).

It will be useful for lead generation, customer acquisition, sourcing of
applications, and due diligence of customers for credit deployment.

The bank has launched the Union Kisan Pushpak Scheme for financing Kisan
drones to help farmers in improving their crop yield and enhance their
income.
About Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme:
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
The Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme will finance 150 drone applications
that will benefit the farmer community and create 150 skilled pilots who
will engage to become entrepreneurs and improve farmers' income.

Garuda Kisan drone is the first to receive the Agri drone loan in July 2022
from the Union Minister of Agriculture and farmer welfare Shri Narendra
Singh Tomar.

The AIF loans are collateral-free and can secure up to Rs 10 lakh with 3
months of EMI relaxation and a 5% interest rate for the youth and farmers.

This development will help youth to buy drones and will help them earn
around Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh per month.

Garuda Aerospace has started training 1 lakh youth free of cost and is
targeting to sell 5,000 drones before Mar. 31, 2023.
About Garuda Aerospace:

Founder and CEO: Agnishwar Jayaprakash

Brand ambassador: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Garuda Aerospace is the 1st drone Company to get both DGCA approvals
for Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organization
About UBI:

Founded: 11 November 1919

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

MD & CEO: A Manimekhalai

Tagline: Good People To Bank With
India's retail inflation shrinks to 5.72% for December 2022

India's retail inflation eased to 5.72% in December 2022 primarily on
the back of a decline in food prices.

Retail inflation stood at
5.88% in November 2022. Key
Highlights:

Food prices account for nearly 40% of India’s CPI (Consumer Price Index).
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
Food inflation for December 2022 eased to 4.19%.

In November 2022 it was recorded to be 4.67%.

In the December 2022 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) retained its inflation forecast of 6.7% for
FY23.

In Dec 2022, MPC raised interest rates by 35 basis points to 6.25% to tame inflation.

The consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation has remained below RBI's
upper tolerance band of 6% for the second consecutive month.
About CPI:

The Consumer Price Index is a comprehensive measure used for the
estimation of price changes in a basket of goods and services representative
of consumption expenditure in an economy.

At the national level, there are four Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers.

These are:
1. CPI for Industrial Workers (IW) - Base Year 2016
2. CPI for Agricultural Labourers (AL)
3. CPI for Rural Labourers (RL) - Base Year 1986-87
4. CPI (Rural/Urban/combined) - Base Year 2012

While the first three are compiled and released by the Labour Bureau in the
Ministry of Labour, the 4th one is released by the NSO in the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation.

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) increased by 7.1% for November 2022.

This is the highest in 5 months.

According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
data, IIP recorded positive growth after contracting by 4% in the
preceding month.
SBI launches e-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility in association with National eGovernance Services Limited (NeSL)
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
State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, has launched an
e-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility in association with National eGovernance Services Limited (NeSL).

The introduction of e-BG will replace this function with e-
stamping and e-signature. Aim:

To enhance transparency and reduce turnaround
time from days to minutes. Key Highlights:

NeSL’s Digital Document Execution (DDE) platform, which provides e-Stamp
and e-Sign functions, will facilitate the e-Bank Guarantee process.
 Beneficiaries will instantly receive an e-Bank Guarantee on NeSL’s platform without
further verification.

This facility will bring about a revolutionary change in the banking ecosystem,
where bank guarantee is frequently used in large volumes.

Currently, the bank issues these guarantees with physical
stamping and wet signatures. About NeSL:

MD & CEO: Mr. Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri

NeSL is India’s first Information Utility and is registered with the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under the aegis of the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
Indian Bank to hold special Rupee Vostro accounts of 3 Sri Lanka banks

Indian Bank has received the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulatory
approval to hold special rupee Vostro accounts of 3 banks from Sri
Lanka.

The public sector bank, which has had a long presence in the South Asian
island nation, is expected to activate the special Vostro accounts in about a
week.
About the Vostro account:

A Vostro account in local currency would allow Sri Lanka to import from
India without dipping into its declining dollar supply.
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
The INR Vostro facility is part of the special trade settlement mechanism
finalised by the RBI in July 2022.
 The Vostro accounts would also help Sri Lanka to utilise the rupee lines extended by
India.

It would contribute towards
stabilising the Lankan economy. Key
Highlights:

Indian Bank opened its first overseas branch in Colombo in 1932.

Till now, the State of India (SBI) is the other domestic institution with
which a Sri Lankan bank has opened a Vostro account.

In 2022, as the currency market in Sri Lanka ran out of dollars, most banks
in India virtually stopped discounting letters of credit (LC) issued by banks
in Lanka.
About Indian Bank:

Established: 1907

Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

CEO: Shri Shanti Lal Jain

Tagline: Your Own Bank, Banking That's
Twice As Good
NueGo Forms Strategic Partnership with Paytm for
online bus ticket booking

India’s first premium electric intercity coach services brand, NueGo, has
partnered with Paytm, India’s leading payments and financial services
company and the pioneer of QR and mobile payments, launching a
convenient bus ticket booking facility for its customers.
About the Partnership:
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
This partnership would allow commuters to digitally reserve the seat of their
choice in all NueGo buses across India, providing a seamless digital booking
experience.

Paytm will enable commuters to book tickets without being physically
present inside the bus or at the ticket counter, making the travel experience
even more seamless.
About NueGo:

NueGo, the flagship inter-city electric mobility coach brand of GreenCell
Mobility is currently playing across India primarily on the Bhopal-Indore,
Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Jaipur routes.
Aim:

To provide exceptional ride quality and in-cabin experience for inter-city
travellers while ensuring a safer and greener ride.
About Paytm:

Founded: 2010

Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Amazon Pay & TSSPDCL join hands to simplify electricity bill payments for customers

Amazon Pay announced an association with Telangana Southern State
Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) to simplify electricity bill
payments for TSSPDCL customers.

With this association, Amazon aims to make electricity bill payments instant,
convenient, and rewarding for millions of customers.
About the Association:

Through this association, TSSPDCL customers can now pay their electricity
bills on Amazon using Amazon Pay without any convenience fee and
experience secure and seamless transactions without the hassle of standing
in billing queues.
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
The customers also can earn cash backs on their first bill payment and
exciting rewards on their future bill payments.

After filing the necessary details, customers can choose their preferred
payment modes such as UPI, Amazon Pay Later, Credit Cards, Debit Cards,
Amazon Pay Balance, or Net-banking to instantly complete the transaction.
About TSSPDCL:

Founded: 2 June 2014

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Chairman & Managing Director: Sri G.Raghuma Reddy

TSSPDCL is among the largest electricity billers in India as it caters to 9.2
million customers across 15 districts in Telangana
Russia's second-largest bank VTB launches direct payments in Rupees

VTB - Russia's second-largest bank has launched a mechanism to receive
direct payments in Rupees discarding the conventional mechanism involving
Dollars and Euros, in a major boost to the India-Russia trade.

With this, Russian SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) will now be
able to transact in INR, thus simplifying the payments while dealing with
their Indian trading partners.

The mechanism of direct settlements allows fixing the price of a
product and the payment in the national currency, and to receive
individual quotes on market terms.

It also eliminates preliminary coordination of the transactions.

9 Russian banks, including VTB, opened special Vostro accounts in India
to facilitate Russian-Indian trade in November 2022.
About VTB Bank:

Founded: 1990

Headquarters: Moscow, Russia

President and Chairman of the Management
Board: Andrey L. Kostin
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SIDBI partners with VFS to extend MSME loans up
to Rs 5 lakh at 13% pa

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has entered
into a partnership with VFS Capital to extend loans to the Micro Small
& Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector.

VFS Capital will extend MSME loans up to Rs 5 lakh at a 13%
interest rate per annum. Key Highlights:
 Under the scheme, VFS Capital expects to disburse Rs 30-40 crore in this financial
year.

The loan book of the MFI during 2022-23 is expected to be around Rs 1,1001,200 crore from Rs 805 crore in the last financial year.

VFS Capital is planning to expand its footprint in the north-western part
by launching operations in Rajasthan by the end of January.

At present, it operates in 13 states including West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura

VFS Capital also plans to add 35 new branches this financial year,
bringing the number of units nationwide to 270.
Note:

MD and CEO of
VFS Capital: Kuldip Maity
About SIDBI:

Established: 2 April 1990

Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Chairman & MD: Sivasubramanian Ramann

SIDBI is the apex regulatory body for the overall licensing and regulation of
micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India.
 It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India
(GoI).
PNB Becomes First Public Sector Bank to Launch Credit Cards for FDs
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
The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has become India’s first public sector
bank (PSB) to launch credit cards for its fixed deposit (FD) digitally for
customers.
Features:

Now the customers of the bank will be able to get RuPay or VISA Credit
Cards digitally against single or multiple FDs with a credit limit of 80%.

PNB credit card advantages over fixed deposits (FD)

No documents

No branch visit

Zero joining costs

Instant virtual credit card issuing

Complete Insurance Protection (on the RuPay variant)

UPI connection on RuPay Credit Card Benefits

Exciting
rewards and
promotions Key
Highlights:

PNB has raised the interest rate on fixed deposits across all tenures by 50
basis points to draw in more deposits.

According to PNB, interest rates for term deposits under 2 crore held for 1 to 3
years have increased by 50 basis points to 6.75% from 6.25% previously.

The rate on the PNB Uttam Scheme, which does not offer a premature
withdrawal option, has been increased from 6.30 to 6.80%.

The bank will continue to provide fixed deposit terms of 666 days at an
8.1% annual interest rate About PNB:

Founded: 19 May 1894

Headquarters: Delhi, India

MD & CEO: Atul Kumar Goel
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
Tagline: The name you
can bank upon
South Indian Bank Partners with
SAIL for finance dealers

South Indian Bank (SIB) and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide financial
assistance to the dealers of SAIL across India.

The MoU was exchanged between Praveen Joy (Head-Transaction
Banking Group) of South Indian Bank and Surendra Kumar Sharma,
(CGM- Finance & Accounts) of SAIL.

The tie-up allows us to offer SAIL’s dealers financial assistance for
working capital, especially steel procurement.

With a network of 928 branches, the bank will be able to serve the Micro
Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) and corporate customers of SAIL
located in different geographies.

It will boost India’s steel production, which aligns with the Central
Government’s infrastructure and industrial push.”
About SIB:

Founded: 1928

Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala, India

MD & CEO: Murali Ramakrishnan

Tagline: Experience
Next-Generation Banking
About SAIL:

Founded: 19 January 1954

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Chairman: Soma Mondal
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
It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Steel,
Government of India (GoI).
Mastercard expands Girls4Tech program to promote STEM
studies among girl students

Mastercard announced the expansion of its signature Girls4Tech,
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education
program in India.

The Programme is supported by the Mastercard Impact Fund, in
partnership with the American India Foundation (AIF).
Aim:

To reach an additional 1 lakh female students across the country by 2024 to
encourage them to take up STEM education, this includes 10,800 students in
Tamil Nadu.
Key Highlights:

This includes 14,400 students in Delhi as well as onboard 40 additional
government schools where STEM courses will be offered to girls aged 8
to 14.

In 2020-21, the program reached 17,820 girls across three districts in Tamil
Nadu, to narrow the gender gap in STEM.

While women comprise over 43% of STEM graduates in India, only 14%
go on to pursue scientific research in universities and institutions.
About Mastercard:

Founded: 1966

Headquarters: New York, U.S

CEO: Michael Miebach
LIC launches guaranteed return life insurance plan - Jeevan Azad

The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has launched Jeevan Azad
(Plan No. 868), aimed at individual savings and life insurance.
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
The plan offers an attractive combination of protection and savings.
About Jeevan Azad:

LIC Jeevan Azad is a limited-period payment endowment plan that
provides financial support for the family in case of unfortunate death of
the life assured during the policy term.

The plan addresses the liquidity needed through a loan facility.

It also provides a guaranteed lump sum amount to the surviving life
assured on the date of maturity. Features:
Sum Assured:

The minimum basic sum assured under LIC Jeevan Azad Plan is Rs 2 lakh
and the maximum basic sum assured is Rs 5 lakh.

The policy can be taken for
a term of 15 to 20 years. Premium
Payment Term Calculation:

The premium paying term is calculated as the
policy term minus 8 years. Premium payment Intervals:

Premium can be paid regularly at yearly, half-yearly,
quarterly, or monthly intervals. Age Limit:

The minimum age of entry is 90 days completed and the maximum
age at entry is 50 years. Death Benefit:

The death benefit is payable on the death of the life assured during the
policy term after the date of commencement of risk but before the date of
maturity.

The death benefit shall be “Sum Assured on Death” which is defined as
higher than ‘Basic Sum Assured’ or 7 times of Annualised Premium.

The Death Benefit shall not be less than 105% of ’Total Premiums
Paid’ up to the date of death About LIC:
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
Founded: 1 September 1956

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Chairperson: M R Kumar
LIC launches guaranteed return life insurance plan - Jeevan Azad
 The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has launched Jeevan Azad
(Plan No. 868), aimed at individual savings and life insurance.
 The plan offers an attractive combination
of protection and savings.
SEBI Introduces Information Database On
Municipal Bonds
 Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched
an information database on municipal bonds.
 Ashwani Bhatia, a whole-time member of SEBI, launched the database at a
two-day outreach program on municipal bonds and municipal finance
organized by the SEBI, in New Delhi as part of efforts to develop the bond
markets.
 Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of SEBI, delivered the
keynote speech at the event.
Reserve Bank of India extends time for Bank Locker Renewal
Agreements till Dec 2023
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI ) extended the time for banks to renew their
customer agreements for locker facilities to December 31, 2023, due to
compliance delays.
 The previous deadline was January 1, 2023, communicated through a
circular on August 18, 2021.
Bombay High Court quashes write-off of YES Bank’s additional AT1 bonds
 The Bombay High Court has declared the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) order to
write off ₹8,300 crores of Additional Tier-1 (AT1) bonds of YES Bank to
ineligible investors.
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 The order was passed by justice SV Gangapurwala and justice SM Modak in a batch
of petitions.
 The Bombay HC has given YES Bank 6 weeks for the
implementation of this order.
RBI asks SBM Bank to stop all remittance transactions under
LRS
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed the SBM Bank (India)
Ltd to stop all Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) transactions
with immediate effect till further orders.

The RBI under sections 35A and 36(1)(a) of the Banking Regulation Act,
1949, has directed SBM Bank to stop LRS transactions.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Mobilises Over Rs 30,000 Crore

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), has mobilized over Rs 30,000 crore
for taking up projects in the agriculture infrastructure sector with a
sanctioned amount of Rs.15,000 crore under AIF.

With the support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support through
CGTMSE for a loan of up to Rs.2 crore, and facility of convergence with other
Central and State Govt. The scheme, AIF is providing all-around financial support
to the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, farmer groups like Farmer Producer
Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs),
etc., and many others to create post-harvest management infrastructure and build
community farming asset throughout India.
SEBI slaps Rs 26 crore fine on Coffee Day Enterprises

Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
imposed a penalty of Rs 26 crore on Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL), which
runs Cafe Coffee Day, for the diversion of funds from subsidiaries to a company
related to promoters.

The company has been directed to pay the fine within 45 days.
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ADB & NSFTPL sign Rs 1066 crore loan agreement to upgrade India's Jawaharlal
Nehru Port Container Terminal

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal
Private Limited (NSFTPL) have signed a loan agreement of $131 million or
Rs 1066 crore to upgrade the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal
located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

The loan will be used to improve the terminal's infrastructure and
increase its container handling capacity.
PNB & Aadhar Housing Finance enter into a co-lending partnership to offer home loans

Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd (AHFL) have
entered into a co-lending agreement to offer home loans at competitive
interest rates.
India may peg nominal GDP growth at about 11% in the 2023/24 budget

India is likely to peg its nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth at
around 11% during the budget session, marking a slowdown from its estimate
for the current fiscal year due to the prospect of weak exports.
AU Small Finance Bank launches innovative credit card offering platform -‘Swipe Up’

India's largest Small Finance Bank, AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB),
launched the first-of-its-kind platform in the credit card industry - the
SwipeUp platform.
 With the help of this platform, credit cardholders of any bank can get an upgraded
card instantly.

Other bank credit cardholders can upgrade their card
to one of AU credit cards.
Bank Of Baroda Introduces Vikram Credit Card Dedicated To
Soldiers

On the Occasion of 74th Republic Day celebrations, Bank of Baroda’s (BoB)
subsidiary BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL) has launched Vikram
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Credit Card, the contactless RuPay credit card dedicated to Indian defense,
paramilitary, and police personnel.

Mr. Vikramaditya Singh Khichi, former Executive Director of Bank of Baroda,
launched the Vikram Credit Card.
RBI Seeks Views on Securitisation of Stressed Assets

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a discussion paper on the
securitization of stressed assets to provide an alternative mechanism for the
sale of bad loans, in addition to the existing asset reconstruction route.

The central bank has set out a dozen questions for stakeholders to
deliberate and respond to before February 28.

The RBI had first said on September 30, 2022, that it will introduce a
framework for the securitization of stressed assets.
PSBs, insurers likely drove India's 1st green bond auction

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted the auction of green bonds, with a
total of 8,000 crore worth of two securities, a 5-year bond and a 10-year bond
being sold.

The 5-year and 10-year green bonds were issued at a premium compared to
the similar existing maturity sovereign regular bonds.
HDFC Life Policyholders Can Now Pay Premiums with NPCI's UPI 123PAY

HDFC Life has collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI) to enable policyholders to pay their premiums through a
unique voice-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service, called UPI
123PAY.
Equity mutual funds to adopt T+2 redemption payment cycle from Feb 1 2023

All asset management companies (AMCs) in India will move to T+2 - shorthand
for "trade date plus two days", redemption payment cycle for equity schemes
from February 1, 2023, in a move to benefit mutual fund investors.
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
The announcement has come on the heels of Indian equity markets moving to a
T+1 settlement cycle for all stocks, shortening the settlement cycle by a day
and making the availability of funds a day sooner than at present.
Moody's upgrades ratings for PNB, Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda to 'Baa3'

Global rating agency Moody's Investors Service has upgraded the long-term
local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Bank of Baroda (BOB), Canara
Bank, and Punjab National Bank (PNB) from "Ba1" to "Baa3", reflecting
improving credit profile and macro economic conditions.

The global credit ratings agency also upgraded the Baseline Credit Assessment
(BCAs) of these 3 banks to ba3 from b1.
India sells first green bonds worth ₹8,000 cr at 5-6 bps below sovereign yields

India sold its first sovereign green bonds worth a total of 80 billion rupees
($979.61 million) at yields below comparable government bonds.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has auctioned ₹ 4,000 crore worth
five year bonds at a coupon rate of 7.10%, five basis points below
the five-year sovereign yield.
Paytm & Citibank tie-up for co-branded credit card - Paytm CITI Card

Citibank and payments platform Paytm ( One97 Communications), have ended
their partnership for a co-branded credit card Paytm CITI Card, ahead of the
merger of Citibank’s consumer banking business with Axis Bank.

Both Citibank and Paytm have written to cardholders informing them that the
co-branded credit card will be shut down, and offering them other cards they
could opt for.
Star Health and Allied Insurance & Punjab National Bank enter into long term
Bancassurance Tie-up

Star Healthand Allied Insurance, India’s first standalone health insurance
company, has renewed its strategic corporate agency tie-up with Punjab
National Bank (PNB) for a long-term
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IMPORTANT BUSINESS NEWS
NDTV founders to get Rs 602 crore from sale of 27.26% to Adani Enterprises

Gautam Adani’s Adani Group gained full control of New Delhi Television Ltd
(NDTV) after acquiring the stake of former founders Prannoy Roy and
Radhika Roy.

The Roys received over Rs 602 crore after selling their stake to Adani Enterprises.

They sold sell their 27.26% stake in the news broadcaster at Rs 342.65 per
share, a premium of 17% to the open offer price of Rs 294 per share.

The Roys will continue to hold a 5% stake, valued at Rs 110 crore.

After the transaction, the stake of the acquirer Adani Enterprises-owned
RRRR Holding in NDTV will increase to 56.45% from 29.18% earlier.

An indirect subsidiary of Adani Enterprises—Visvapardhan Commercial—
holds another 8.27% stake in NDTV, taking the overall holding of Adani
Enterprises in the broadcaster to 64.72%.

NDTV announced that Roys, along with four other directors have
resigned following the change of ownership.

NDTV’s board has approved the appointment of Aman Kumar Singh as
a non-executive Additional Director and Sunil Kumar as an Additional
Director in the capacity of non-executive, Independent Director.

Shares of NDTV close at Rs 345.60 on the Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE).
GST revenues grow 15% to Rs 1.49 lakh crore in
December:

The government on the revenue front as GST revenues in December
clocked Rs 1,49,507 crore, registering a 15 per cent increase over the
same period last year.
 This is the 10th straight month when the monthly GST collections have been over Rs
1.4 lakh crore.
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
Of the Rs 1,49,507 crore, collections under Central GST (CGST) were Rs
26,711 crore, under State GST the collections were Rs 33,357 crore, and
Rs 78,434 crore under Integrated GST.

After settling Rs 36,669 crore from IGST to CGST and Rs 31,094 crore to
SGST, the total revenue of Centre and the States in December 2022 was Rs
63,380 crore for CGST and Rs 64,451 crore for the SGST.

Imports accounted for Rs 40,263 crore of GST collections, which was 8%
higher than the previous year, while GST from domestic transactions
(including import of services) was 18% higher than that of the same month
last year.

During November, 7.9 crore e-way bills were generated, which was
significantly higher than Rs 7.6 crore worth of e-way bills generated in
October 2022.

The monthly average collection in the first nine months is now Rs 1.48 lakh
crore, almost Rs 30,000 more than the average monthly collections of Rs
1.18 lakh crore during the same month last year.

The total collection in the April-December 2022 has been Rs 13.34 lakh
crore, 25% more than the Rs 10.67 lakh collection during the same period
the previous year.
Centre's fiscal deficit for the April-November period at 58.9% of the FY23 target:

The Centre’s fiscal deficit for the April-November period of the current fiscal
year came in at Rs 9.78 trillion, or 58.9 per cent of the Budget Estimate (BE)
of Rs 16.6 trillion, compared with Rs 6.96 trillion or 46.2 percent for the same
period last year.

The fiscal deficit widened as a percentage of the full-year target year-on-year
due to lower tax and non-tax revenue and much higher capital expenditure
outlay.
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
In fact, in November, the fiscal deficit widened by Rs 2.2 trillion, the
highest ever in any month this financial year.

Net tax revenue for the April-November period was Rs 12.25 trillion or
63.3 percent of the full-year target, compared with 73.5 percent for the
same period last year.

Non-tax revenue came in at 73.5 percent compared with 91.8 percent for the
same period last year, while non-debt capital receipts (primarily divestment
proceeds) stood at 52.3 percent compared with 11 percent, primarily on the
back of proceeds from LIC’s IPO earlier in the year.

The Centre’s pace of capital expenditure remained strong, at 4.47 trillion
for April-November, or 59.6 percent of the full-year target compared with
49.4 percent for the year-ago period.

Revenue expenditure was Rs 19.96 trillion, or 62.5 percent of the FY23
Budgeted estimate compared with 61.5 percent.
Core sector rebounds sharply to grow at 5.4% in November:

Growth in the output of the core sector, comprising eight infrastructure
industries, rebounded sharply in November to increase at 5.4 percent, owing
to a lower base and double-digit expansion in four of the eight areas.

The data released by the industry department has shown a sequential
acceleration in output growth in sectors like coal (12.3 percent), steel (10.8
percent), electricity (12.1 percent), cement (28.6 percent), and fertilizers
(6.4 percent).

However, crude oil (-1.1 percent) and natural gas (-0.7 percent) production
contracted for the sixth and fifth consecutive month, respectively, along with
that in refinery products (-9.3 percent).

The eight core industries account for 40.27 percent of the weighting of the items
included in the IIP.
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
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected India’s growth to
ease to 6.1 percent in FY24 from an estimated 6.8 percent in FY23,
reflecting a less favourable global outlook and tighter financial conditions.

The IMF cautioned a sharp global growth slowdown in the near term would
affect India through trade and financial channels.

However, Fitch Ratings, while reaffirming India’s sovereign rating at the lowest
investment grade with a stable outlook, said India was somewhat insulated
and hence could be reckoned out of the likely gloomy global scenario in 2023,
given its modest reliance on external demand.
ONGC will be the most profitable public sector enterprise in 2021-22:

ONGC was the top profit-making central public sector business (CPSE) in
2021-22, according to the government of India's Public Enterprise Survey
2021-22.

Following ONGC, the most profitable CPSEs were the Indian Oil
Corporation, Power Grid, NTPC, and SAIL.

During 2021-22, the net profit of operational public sector firms increased by
50.87 percent to Rs 2.49 lakh billion.

In 2020-21, it was Rs 1.65 lakh crore.

The net loss of loss-making CPSEs was lowered by 37.82 percent to Rs
0.15 lakh crore in 2021-22 from Rs 0.23 lakh crore in 2020-21.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL),
Air India Assets Holding Ltd, and Eastern Coalfields Ltd were among the
major loss-making CPSEs.

Total gross revenue from operational CPSE activities was Rs 31.95 lakh
crore in 2021-22, up from Rs 24.08 lakh crore in 2020-21, representing a
32.65% increase.

Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Bharat Oman Refineries Ltd, and Chennai
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Petroleum Corporation Ltd were the top five CPSEs contributing to the
central exchequer.

Furthermore, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure of all
CSR-qualifying CPSEs (160) was Rs 4,600 crore in 2021-22, up 2.61
percent from Rs 4,483 crore in 2020-21.

The top five CPSEs in terms of CSR contributions were ONGC, NTPC, Indian
Oil Corporation, NMDC, and Power Grid.
Forex reserves at $562.9 bn; fall by $70 bn in 2022:

India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $70.1 billion in 2022, data
released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows.

The forex reserves stood at $562.9 billion in the week ended December 30.

The decline in the forex reserves is partly due to the RBI intervention in the
currency markets to stave off volatility and partly on account of the depreciation
of other major currencies held by the central bank.

The RBI net sold $33.42 billion till September, Union finance minister
Nirmala Sitharaman had said in the Lok Sabha earlier.

The RBI holds major currencies including the pound sterling, yen, and euro
in its reserves, which are expressed in US dollar terms.

The rupee depreciated 10.2% against the US dollar in the calendar year
2022, according to Bloomberg data.

The rupee breached 80 against the dollar in September and has
remained at Rs 81-82 levels since then.

With the US Federal Reserve retaining a hawkish stance on interest rates,
the rupee might breach 83 levels, according to analysts.

The increase during the week was mainly due to an increase in the gold
reserves of $354 million, which was offset by a decline of $302 million in
foreign currency assets.

The RBI held 785.35 metric tonnes of gold as of September 30.
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Inflation cools to a one-year low of 5.7% in December:

Retail inflation moderated to a one-year low in December led by food
prices, while industrial output growth rebounded to a 5-month high in
November due to a base effect and robust expansion across sectors
including manufacturing.

Data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed inflation, as
measured by the consumer price index, rose an annual 5. 7% in December,
slower than the 5. 9% in November.

Retail inflation in December 2021 was at 5. 7% too.
 The data showed food inflation in December was 4. 2%, lower than the 4. 7% in
November.

Rural inflation was higher at 6. 1%, while urban was at 5. 4%.

This is the second consecutive month when retail inflation has remained below
the 6% mark which may provide some headroom for the RBI to pause its ratehiking cycle.

Vegetable prices fell 15. 1% while oils & fats, which had emerged as a major
pain point in the past, rose 0. 5% in December after supply chains improved.

The manufacturing sector rose a robust 6. 1% in November, higher than the
0. 3 in the year-ago month.
India's forex reserves shrink by USD 1.268 bn to USD 561.583 bn:

India's forex reserves dropped by USD 1.268 billion to USD 561.583 billion for
the week ended January 6, the Reserve Bank.

The overall reserves had increased by USD 44 million to USD 562.851
billion in the previous reporting week after two consecutive weeks of the
slide.

In October 2021, the country's foreign exchange kitty reached an all-time high of
USD 645 billion.

The reserves had been declining as the central bank deployed the reserves
to defend the rupee amid pressures caused by global developments.
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
Foreign currency assets (FCA), a major component of the overall
reserves, dropped by USD 1.747 billion to USD 496.441 billion during the
week of January 6, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement
released by the RBI.

Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of
appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound, and yen
held in the foreign exchange reserves.

The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by USD 35 million to USD 18.217 billion

The data showed that the country's reserve position with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) was down by USD 18 million to USD 5.141 billion in
the reporting week.
India’s exports drop 12.2% in December, trade deficit inches up:

India’s merchandise exports contracted 12.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in
December to $34.48 billion as slowing external demand amid recession fears
in developed economies continued to weigh on outbound shipments, the data
released by the commerce and industry ministry showed.

Still in the first nine months of the current financial year, exports grew nearly 9 per
cent.

The latest decline in the value of outbound shipments can also be attributed
to the statistical effect of a high base because December 2021 witnessed the
second-highest monthly exports in the previous financial year at $39.3
billion.

Imports last month also contracted 3.46 per cent to $58.24 billion, amid falling
commodity prices.

The trade deficit widened to $23.76 billion, against $21.06 billion in
November last year but was still lower than the all-time high of $29
billion in September.
India's fiscal deficit for FY23 is estimated at Rs 17.5 lakh crore, FY24 Rs 17.95 lakh crore:
SBI
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
The upcoming Indian budget for 2023-24 will be a challenging one for the
government to follow the roadmap for fiscal consolidation amidst a global
environment of declining inflation, a top economist of the State Bank of
India in a report.

For India, this could make things difficult to set a nominal gross
domestic product (GDP) number significantly higher than 10 per cent,
with a deflator of about 3.5 per cent.

But this could also mean a higher GDP growth than anticipated at about 6.2 per cent.

The fiscal deficit of the Indian government for FY23 will be about Rs.17.5 lakh crore.

According to Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI, for
FY23, total receipts of
the Government would be higher than the budget estimates (BE) by
around Rs 2.3 lakh crore, on account of higher direct tax receipts (about
Rs 2.2 lakh crore), higher GST receipts (Rs 95,000 crore) but lower
dividends (about Rs 40,000 crore), lower fuel tax net of cess (Rs 30,000
crore) and lower disinvestment receipts (about Rs 15000-20,000 crore).

According to the report, the government can give a hard push to Sukanya
Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), by encouraging fresh registrations in a mission-
drive mode, allowing one-time registrations for all leftover cases up to 12
years.
Amazon is back as the world's most valued brand, and Apple is down to No 2:

Amazon has reclaimed the top spot as the world’s most valuable brand
despite its brand value falling 15 percent this year from $350.3 billion to
$299.3 billion.

According to brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance’s report, “Global
500 2023”, while Amazon is back at No 1, its brand value has fallen by over
$50 billion this year, with its rating slipping from AAA+ to AAA.

This is because consumers evaluate it more harshly in the post-pandemic world.
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
Apple (brand value down 16 percent to $297.5 billion from $355.1 billion) has
slipped to the second slot to be ranked the world’s second most valuable
brand.

This year’s fall in brand value relates to a fall in forecast revenue with
supply chain disruptions and a constrained labour market expected to limit
the supply of its marquee hardware products.

Instagram (brand value up 42 percent to $47.4 billion) and LinkedIn (up 49
percent to $15.5 billion) have grown in the tech sector, largely due to a wellexecuted strategy to commercialize their services.

Some of the other big gainers include electric car manufacturers Tesla
(brand value up 44 percent to $66.2 billion) and BYD (up 57 percent to
$10.1 billion) as demand grows for electric cars as part of a broader
transition to a low-carbon economy.

In addition to the Global 500 2023 ranking of the world’s most valuable
and strongest brands, Brand Finance is also launching the Brand Finance
Sustainability Perceptions Index with the International Advertising
Association at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

In all 48 tech brands featured in the ranking, two down from the 50 rated in 2022.

This is after Snapchat and Twitter dropped out.

The other tech-focused brands to lose value include Samsung Group (brand
value down 7 percent to $99.7 billion), Alibaba.com (down 56 percent to
$10.0 billion), Facebook (down 42 percent to $59.0 billion), and WeChat
(down 19 percent to $50.2 billion).
The India story:

From India, Tata Group's brand value ranking went up to 69 from 78 last year.

However, reasons for the ranking going up were not available.
 Among Indian IT services players, Infosys jumped to the 150th slot from 158 last
year.
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
Infosys has seen an 84 percent increase in its
brand value since 2020.
Adani Enterprises to deploy hydrogen-powered
trucks:

Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) signed an agreement to launch a pilot
project to develop a hydrogen fuel cell electric truck (FCET) for mining
logistics and transportation with Ashok Leyland, India, and Ballard Power,
Canada.

The FCET is scheduled to be launched in India in 2023.

This collaboration marks Asia’s first planned hydrogen-powered mining truck.

The demonstration project will be led by AEL, a company focused on
both mining operations and developing green hydrogen projects for
sourcing, transporting, and building out hydrogen refueling infrastructure

Ballard, an industry-leading PEM fuel cell engine manufacturer, will
supply the FCmoveTM fuel cell engine for the hydrogen truck and
Ashok Leyland, one of the largest manufacturers of buses in the world,
will provide the vehicle platform and technical support.

The hydrogen-powered mining truck will weigh 55 tons, have three hydrogen
tanks, a 200-km working range, and be powered by Ballard’s 120 kW PEM
fuel cell technology.

The Adani Group previously announced it plans to invest more than $50
billion over the next ten years in green hydrogen and associated
ecosystems corresponding to a capacity of up to 3 million tons of green
hydrogen annually.
Bharti Airtel to invest Rs 2,000 crore to set up hyperscale data center in Hyderabad:

Bharti Airtel Group has announced that it will be investing Rs 2,000 crore
for setting up a large hyper-scale data center.
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
The announcement was made at the Telangana Lounge in Davos,
Switzerland in the presence of Telangana Minister for IT and Industries
K T Rama Rao, Principal Secretary for Industries Jayesh Ranjan, and
the Group's founder-chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal.

The Bharti Airtel Group, through its data center arm, Nxtra Data Centers,
will invest the amount as capital investment for the infrastructure which will
further attract investments from their customers.

The facility will be a hyper-scale data center with a capacity of 60
megawatts (MW) of IT load for the first phase.

It will incorporate the latest technologies in
cooling and security.
WEF launches initiative to unlock $3 trillion a year
for climate and nature:

The World Economic Forum launched the Giving to Amplify Earth Action
(GAEA) to help unlock the USD 3 trillion of financing needed each year to
reach net-zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050.

The global initiative to fund and grow new and existing public, private, and
philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) is supported by more than 45 partners,
including HCL Technologies through its chairperson Roshni Nadar
Malhotra.

With the energy and cost of living crises, the ambition of steering the
planet towards a 1.5-degree Celsius warming pathway hangs in the
balance,

Meanwhile, the recent agreement at the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD
COP15) in Montreal to conserve 30 percent of all Earth and sea looks bold but
fragile in the face of a rising biodiversity crisis.
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
Individuals, academic institutions, companies, and public sector
organizations supporting the initiative include Cambridge Institute for
Sustainability Leadership and HCLTech through their chairperson Roshni
Nadar Malhotra.

Philanthropic financing for climate mitigation has risen in recent years, but
still represents less than 2 percent of total philanthropic giving, estimated at
USD 810 billion in 2021.
About GAEA:

GAEA's growing body of philanthropic partners includes Active
Philanthropy, the African Climate Foundation, Andre Hoffmann Family
Office, the Arab Foundations Forum, Bezos Earth Fund, BMW Foundation,
and Children's Investment Fund Foundation.

It also includes the Clean Air Fund, Climate Leadership Initiative,
ClimateWorks Foundation, Eleven Eleven Foundation, the Gordon and Betty
Moore Foundation, Growald Climate Fund, IKEA Foundation, Laudes
Foundation, Noa's Ark Foundation, United Nations Foundation, the Wellcome
Trust, WINGS and Workday Foundation.
About WEF:

The World Economic Forum is an international non-governmental and
lobbying organization based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland

President: Børge Brende

Chairperson: Børge Brende

Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland

Founder: Klaus Schwab

Founded: January 1971
WEF 2023: India to become a $26 trillion economy by 2047:

India is likely to become a $26-trillion economy in the 100th year of its
Independence in 2047 with per capita GDP growing six times from the current
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level to over $15,000 during the period, EY report released at the sidelines of
the World Economic Forum at Davos.

The report, titled “India@100: Realising the potential of a $26 trillion economy”,
says India is most likely to overtake Germany and Japan to become the third
largest economy after China and the US by 2030.

Carmine Di Sibio, the global Chairman and CEO at EY, said India
offers a unique investment opportunity as the world struggles, with
increased geo-political pressures.

With the biggest talent pool, an accelerated pace of economic reforms,
breakthroughs in energy transition, and rapid digital transformation, the
long-term growth trajectory is positive.

India shows immense potential and is positioned to make a truly
transfo-rmative impact on the world stage
RBI to guide inflation towards 4% target by 2024:

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 2023 monetary policy objective is
to hold inflation within the mandated tolerance band and guide it
towards the medium-term target of 4% by 2024.

Recent data indicated "the first milestone of monetary policy is being passed
– bringing inflation into the tolerance band", the RBI said.

The objective during 2023 is to tether inflation therein so that it aligns with
the target by 2024 – the second milestone

Annual retail inflation rose 5.72% in December versus 5.88% in the previous
month, dipping below 6% for a second straight month after having stayed
above the central bank's tolerance band of 2%-6% for 10 months.

The CAD had reached 4.4% of GDP in the July-September quarter of the
current fiscal year ending March, its worst since the June quarter of 2013.

RBI said its model had pegged India's economic growth at 4.5% for the
October-December quarter of 2022-23.
Air India's mega jet deal with Airbus, Boeing held up by engine-cost debate
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
Air India Ltd.’s order for as many as 500 aircraft from Airbus SE and Boeing
Co. is being held up by an impasse with engine makers powering the 737
Max, dragging out what stands to be one of the biggest single purchases in
civil aviation history.

CFM International, the General Electric Co. and Safran SA joint venture,
is reluctant to offer big discounts on engines and maintenance that
typically accompany mega orders, according to people familiar with the
negotiations.

The deadlock centers on the hourly rates Air India would pay for repairs, said
one of the people, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private.

A representative for CFM declined to comment, citing the confidentiality of
customer conversations, as did officials at Boeing and Airbus.
Twitter has an ad-free subscription in the works, Musk announces
 The micro-blogging platform Twitter is planning to release a higher-priced
subscription plan with no ads.

The new Twitter ad-free subscription plan will be available in the coming weeks

Ads are too frequent on Twitter and too big.

Taking steps to address
both in the coming weeks.
Exim data revised, trade deficit
narrows by $10 billion

India’s foreign trade data for the first eight months of 2022-23 has been revised
significantly higher than the initial estimates released by the commerce
ministry, with each month raising the import bill by at least $2 billion or has
been reduced.

Total merchandise exports between April and November are now pegged at
$298.3 billion, about $12 billion higher than the original monthly data
suggested.
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FPIs pull out Rs 15,236 crore from equities in Jan as China reopens

Foreign investors pulled out a net amount of Rs 15,236 crore this month
so far on attractive Chinese markets and concerns about the US economy
entering a recession.
 However, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have turned buyers in the last four trading
sessions.

The outflow in January came following a net inflow of Rs 11,119 crore in
December and Rs 36,239 crore in November.
 Overall, FPIs pulled out Rs 1.21 trillion from the Indian equity markets in 2022
on aggressive rate hikes by the central banks globally, particularly the US
Federal Reserve, volatile crude, rising commodity prices, and Russia and
Ukraine conflict.
iPhone Maker Apple Becomes First Company To Export Phones Worth $1 Billion In A
Month From India
 iPhone maker Apple has become the first company from India to export
smartphones worth $1 billion (₹8,100 crores) in a single month, meeting the
milestone in December 2022.
 December was also a record month for the industry with mobile phone exports of over
₹10,000 crore
 Last year, tech giant Apple became the world’s first company to hit a $3
trillion market capitalization.
Apple targets raising India production share to up to 25%
 Apple Inc (AAPL.O) wants India to account for up to 25% of its production
from about 5%-7% now, the trade minister told a conference, as the iPhone
maker continues to move its manufacturing away from China.
 They are already at about 5-7% of their manufacturing in India.
 Also, they are targeting to go up to 25%
of their manufacturing.
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India's Rs 8,000-cr green bond debuts,
analysts see strong demand
 The government is likely to kick off its first-ever issuance of green bonds
on a strong note, with debt market participants predicting firm demand.
 The encouraging response to the maiden sale is likely to be reflected in a pricing
premium or “greenium” relative to prevailing levels on corresponding regular
government bonds.
 The maiden tranche of sovereign green
bonds is set to go to auction.
Businesses face tax heat over deductions claimed
for cess
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has asked top income-tax officers
to nudge entities that had claimed deduction on account of cess or surcharge
over the past several voluntarily differential years to pay the tax to avoid
penalties.
 The deadline to resolve and rectify tax returns is March 31.
 After March 31, the amount claimed or taken will be treated as "under-reported"
income and subject to a 50 percent penalty.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman to renew Atmanirbhar pledge, raft of steps likely Budget
 As the government aims to set a template for the next 25 years through the
Budget for FY24, it will likely renew its Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)
pledge by focusing on five pillars – economy, infrastructure, technology,
demography, and supply chain.

According to sources, a raft of measures is being worked out to spur
domestic manufacturing and trim import reliance, especially in fertilizers,
cooking oil, and crude petroleum.
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
Steps are likely to lure businesses seeking to relocate from China, reduce
the compliance burden for India Inc and bolster supply-chain.
FASTag collections hit Rs 50,000 cr in 2022, up 46% YoY: NHAI

Toll collections at national and state highways through FASTag touched
Rs 50,855 crore in 2022, the highest yearly figure and 46 percent more than
in 2021.

FASTag collections in December were approximately Rs 4,167 crore, and
December 24 saw the highest-ever single-day collection at Rs 144 crore,

Electronic toll collections in the previous year were Rs 34,778 crore,
according to data released by the National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI).
UN predicts India growth to moderate to 5.8% in 2023

India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is projected to moderate to
5.8% in the calendar year 2023 from an estimated 6.4% in 2022 as higher
interest rates and a global economic slowdown weigh on investment and export
performance, the United Nation.
IMPORTANT STATE NEWS
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurates the New Zuari
Bridge in Goa

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari
inaugurated the New Zuari Bridge in Goa.

The bridge is an important link between North and South Goa.
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
The bridge is located on the Zuari river at Cortalim village on MargaoPanaji National Highway and aims to ease the traffic woes of Goa.

On the occasion of the inauguration along with the Chief Minister Shri
Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways
and Tourism Shripad Naik, Minister for PWD in Goa government Nilesh
Cabral and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar were present.
Key Highlights:

This 13.20-kilometer eight-lane bridge costing 2530 Crores across the
Zuari river from Bambolim to Verna will have significant benefits for
transport from North Goa to South Goa.


The entire eight-lane project will be completed by April 2023.
It will reduce travel time between North Goa to South Goa by 30 minutes by
strengthening connectivity for Mormugao Port Trust.

The bridge is also the second largest cable-stayed bridge in India, the
first being Mumbai's Bandra Worli sea link.
Triple test survey for Other Backward Classes held in UP

The Allahabad High Court had ordered the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government to
conduct urban local body elections without the Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) reservations as the “triple test” requirement for the quota has not
been fulfilled.

This is the first time that the triple test exercise will be carried out in UP.
 The law department and the urban development department will form the guidelines
for the process.

The 5-member commission will survey to ensure that the OBCs are provided
reservation based on the triple test, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
About the 5-member commission:

The 5 -member commission, named Pichhda Varg Ayog, will be headed by
Justice (retired) Ram Avtar Singh.
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
The remaining 4 members of the commission are
1. Chob Singh Verma
2. Mahendra Kumar, both retired IAS officers,
3. Former additional law adviser Santosh Kumar Vishwakarma

It is a test that requires the government to complete 3 tasks for the
reservation of OBCs in the local bodies.
A list of 3 tasks is given below:
1. To set up a special commission to collect data on the conditions, nature,
and impact of backwardness of OBCs in local body elections in the state.
2. To specify the proportion of reservation required in local bodies in light
of recommendations of the commission, so as not to fall foul of
overbreadth
3. Ensure that reservations for SCs/STs/OBCs should not exceed 50% of the total
seats.

Based on recommendations, the state government should give reservations
on a proportional basis in municipal elections.

It will reduce travel time between North Goa to South Goa by 30 minutes by
strengthening connectivity for Mormugao Port Trust.

The bridge is also the second largest cable-stayed bridge in India, the
first being Mumbai's Bandra Worli sea link.
Triple test survey for Other Backward Classes held in UP

The Allahabad High Court had ordered the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government to
conduct urban local body elections without the Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) reservations as the “triple test” requirement for the quota has not
been fulfilled.

This is the first time that the triple test exercise will be carried out in UP.
 The law department and the urban development department will form the guidelines
for the process.
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
The 5-member commission will survey to ensure that the OBCs are provided
reservation based on the triple test, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
About the 5-member commission:

The 5 -member commission, named Pichhda Varg Ayog, will be headed by
Justice (retired) Ram Avtar Singh.

The remaining 4 members of the commission are
4. Chob Singh Verma
5. Mahendra Kumar, both retired IAS officers,
6. Former additional law adviser Santosh Kumar Vishwakarma

It is a test that requires the government to complete 3 tasks for the
reservation of OBCs in the local bodies.
A list of 3 tasks is given below:
4. To set up a special commission to collect data on the conditions, nature,
and impact of backwardness of OBCs in local body elections in the state.
5. To specify the proportion of reservation required in local bodies in light
of recommendations of the commission, so as not to fall foul of
overbreadth
6. Ensure that reservations for SCs/STs/OBCs should not exceed 50% of the total
seats.

Based on recommendations, the state government should give reservations
on a proportional basis in municipal elections.

National Park: Bandhavgarh National Park, Satpura NP, Madhav NP, Van Vihar NP

Wildlife Sanctuary: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Phen Sanctuary,
Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
Assam Govt Grants Industry Status to the Tourism Sector in Assam

The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Assam Chief Minister (CM) M Shri
Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved the application for the provision of
Industrial status to the tourist sector in Assam.
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
The newly-implemented policy aims for sustainable and environmentally
friendly investment besides capital formation and the creation of gainful
employment.
Key Highlights:

Restaurants, cafeterias, health clubs, spas, and wellness centres among
others are now eligible for subsidies under the industrial strategy as a result
of the tourism industry being given industry status.

This action will further support and stimulate private investment in the
aforementioned tourism-related industries.

The ministry also stated that the region’s overall development might be aided
by the development of the infrastructure through Public Private Partnership
(PPP) models.
About Assam:

Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Capital: Dispur

National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Raimona
National Park, Nameri National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amsang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary,
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary

Airports: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Dibrugarh
Airport, India, Tezpur Airport
Tripura signs Rs 2,275 crore agreement with ADB to improve power
distribution network

Tripura government has signed an agreement for an Asian Development Bank
(ADB)-assisted project of Rs 2,275 crore (US $275 million) for the
Improvement of Tripura’s Power Distribution Strengthening and Generation
Efficiency.
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
The Project agreement was signed between Brijesh Pandey, Secretary of the
Power Department on behalf of the Government of Tripura, and Nilaya Mitash,
Officer-in-Charge of ADB's India Resident Mission.

This was the highest investment package in the power sector of Tripura so
far, and also the biggest single project in the history of Tripura in any
infrastructure sector.

The project will be implemented in the next 3 years.

The ADB project will support the state government’s efforts to strengthen its
power sector by replacing inefficient power plants and strengthening the
distribution system.
About the Project:

The project would have an Rs 1820 crore loan from ADB and Rs 455 crore of
direct investment by the State government to improve energy security, quality
of supply, efficiency, and resilience of the power sector in Tripura.

Under this project, Rokhia's existing 63 MW (3X21 MW) Open Cycle power
project with a 120 MW Combined Cycle power project would reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through fuel saving.

The government will undertake the massive renovation of two power projects Rukhia in the Sepahijala district and Gumati Hydro project in the Gomati
district.

Currently, the northeastern state generates 84 MW of power out of the state
per day demand of 450/460 MW.

It receives around 500 MW of power from ONGC Tripura Power Company
Limited (OTPC), NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation
Limited), and other central PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings).

It also includes the installation of 1,50,000 smart meters, 582 16 KVA, and 547
25-KVA distribution transformers.

It would support at least 15 selected women’s self-help groups (SHGs).
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
The Tripura government is implementing result-based reform linked RDSS
Scheme to improve the operational and financial viability of the Corporation at
an investment of Rs 800 Cr.

Under this Scheme, 5.47 lakh Smart and Prepaid Metres would be installed on
Consumer premises.

In addition, 8720 km LT Aerial Bunched (AB) Cable and 830 Distribution
Transformers (DTs) would also be installed.
About Tripura:

Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya

Chief Minister: Manik Saha

Capital: Agartala

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary, Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Sepahijala
Wildlife Sanctuary

Tribes: Tripura/Tripuri, Riang,
Jamatia, Noatia, Uchai
UP Govt Signs MoUs Worth Rs 18,590
Crore with UAE Companies

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) worth Rs 18,590 crore with 6 United Arab Emirates
(UAE) companies.

The MoU was signed ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investor Summit
(UPGIS) 2023 in Lucknow, UP in February 2023.

A delegation led by Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME)
Rakesh Sachan, met with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani
bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.

The agreement will help create
more than 20,000 new jobs. About the
MoU:
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
The two companies, Astha Green Energy Venture and Shree Siddharth
Infratech and Services, will invest Rs 4,480 crore and Rs 8,000 crore,
respectively, in renewable energy to create 2,560 and 4,800 new jobs.

Meanwhile, another two companies, Sharaf Group and Hindustan Port will
invest Rs 1300 and Rs 210 crore respectively for providing 1500 and 1000
jobs in the Logistics Park sector.
 Lulu Group to invest Rs 4,500 crore in retail and food processing, creating 10,000
jobs.

Sobha Realty will invest Rs 100 crore in education and corporate social responsibility.

The domestic roadshow will start on January 5, 2023, in 9 major cities
in the UP led by UP Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath.
About UP:

Governor: Anandiben Patel

Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath

Capital: Lucknow

National Park: Dudhwa National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuary: Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Hastinapur WS, Katarniaghat
WS

Tiger Reserve: Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lal Bahadur
Shastri International Airport About UAE:

President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Currency: UAE dirham
Odisha becomes 1st state to have separate registration for ‘vintage vehicles

Odisha became the first Indian state to have a separate registration
process for vintage vehicles (both two and four-wheelers) that are more
than 50 years old.
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 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has made provision
under CMV Rule, 1989 for the registration process of Vintage Motor Vehicles
intending to preserve and promote the heritage of vintage. Key Highlights:

The new rules shall provide salient features such as the retention of old
already registered vehicles with a new Vintage registration mark “VA” series
(Unique Registration Mark). “

As per the rule, two-wheelers and four-wheelers (personal use) that are
more than 50 years old from the date of their first registration (including
imported vehicles) shall be defined as Vintage Motor Vehicles.

A vintage motor vehicle is allowed to run on Indian roads only for display,
technical research, or taking part in a vintage car rally, refuelling and
maintenance, exhibitions, vintage rallies, and to and fro to such exhibitions or
car rallies.

If the vehicle is approved, a fresh registration mark will be assigned to the
eligible vehicles for Vintage vehicle as “XX VA YY****”, where VA stands for
vintage, XX stands for State Code, YY will be a two-letter series, and “****” is a
number from 0001 to 9999 allotted by the State Registering Authority.

Governor: Ganeshi Lal

Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

Capital: Bhubaneswar

National Park: Simlipal National Park, Bhitarkanika National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilika Wildlife
Sanctuary, Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary
Defence Minister inaugurates 2 infrastructure projects to improve road connectivity in J&K &
Ladakh

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated 2 infrastructure projects to
improve road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh Union
territories.
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2 infrastructure projects:

The Maitra Bridge in the Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)
 The double-lane Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road.

Singh, inaugurated 28 projects in virtual mode while on
a visit to Arunachal Pradesh. About Maitra Bridge:
 The Maitra Bridge (Jhula Bridge) at Ramban, is a 240-feet Bailey suspension bridge.
 The project has been completed in just 31 days, 2 months ahead of its scheduled
date of completion.

The bridge connects Ramban district administrative
complex and the Gool sub-division. About Srinagar-SonamargGumri road:

The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri double-lane road connects Srinagar to
Kargil and Leh with a carriageway width of 7.00 meters and a road
width of 12.00 meters.

The road link connects the towns of Kashmir via Manigam, Kangan HariGaniwan, Gund, Gagangir, Sonamarg, and Zozila before entering Ladakh.

The total
length of the road is
84.320 km. About
Ministry of Defence:
 Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh
 Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt
The second Phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” begins in New Delhi

The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven
Saris of India will begin from 3rd to 17th January 2023 at Handloom Haat,
Janpath, New Delhi.
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
The 2nd phase was
organized by the Ministry of
Textiles. About the 2nd phase of
VIRAASAT:

The 2nd phase, having 90 participants from different parts of the country, brings
enhanced attraction through the participation of famous Handcrafted varieties of
Saris like Tie and Dye, Chikan embroidered Saris, Hand Block Saris, Kalamkari
printed Saris, Ajrakh, Kantha and Phulkari.

A social media campaign has been launched under the common hashtag
#MySariMyPride to support our handloom weavers.
About the 1st phase of “VIRAASAT”:

The 1st phase of “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India
started on 16th December 2022 and concluded on 30th December 2022.

The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala
Sitharaman, along with Hon’ble Minister of State Smt. Darshana Jardosh and
other women parliamentarians.
 During this phase, 70 participants took part in the event.
About Ministry of Textiles:

Cabinet Minister: Piyush Goyal

Minister of State: Darshana Jardosh
Election Commission launches ‘Mission-929’ to take voter turnout in Tripura to over 90%

The Election Commission (EC) is focusing on 929 polling booths across
Tripura, setting a target of 92% voter turnout in the assembly elections due
early this year.

These booths recorded a voter turnout of less than 89%, which was the
average across 3,328 booths in the 2018 assembly polls.

The voter turnout was 89.5% in the 2018
Tripura assembly election. Mission-929’s aim:
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
To inform people to vote in the
upcoming assembly polls. Key
Highlights:

The Election commission plans to launch an awareness campaign, poll
officials will visit senior citizens and persons with disability, and appeal to them
to cast their votes.

EC will make proper arrangements like ramps, wheelchairs, and separate
queues for persons with disability.
 The ECI is also working on Mission Zero Poll Violence' to make the assembly
elections peaceful.

Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya

Chief Minister: Manik Saha

Capital: Agartala
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary, Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Sepahijala
Wildlife Sanctuary

Tribes: Riang, Jamatia
Manipur - Gaan Ngai festival of Zeliangrong community to be celebrated

In Manipur, the Gaan Ngai festival of the Zeliangrong community is to be celebrated.

The festival is one of the major festivals of Manipur which is celebrated
every year after harvesting. About Gaan Ngai festival:

The Gaan Ngai festival is celebrated for 5 days, usually in December or January.

It is also known as the Chakan Gaan-Ngai or the festival of winter.

During the festival, the Zeliarong community shows their gratitude by
offering to the almighty a good harvest and praying for a better and more
prosperous life in the coming year

It also marks the end of the year when the farmers have stored their foodgrain.

Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous Naga communities
living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland in India.
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 The Zeliarong community in Manipur comprises Rongmei, Liangmei, and Zeme
tribes.

The word Zeliangrong was first coined on 15 February 1947
at Keishamthong Imphal. About Manipur:

Governor: La. Ganesan

Chief Minister: N. Biren Singh

Capital: Imphal
CM Mamata Banerjee launches new campaign 'Didir Suraksha Kavach'

West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) & Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief, Mamata
Banerjee, has launched two initiatives ahead of the panchayat elections 2023–
‘Didir Suraksha Kawach’ and an app ‘Didir Doot’
 The program will be launched on January 11, 2023, & will continue with it for 60
days.

It will focus on 15 state government schemes (Khadya Sathi, Banglar Awas
Yojana, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Swasthya Sathi, Kanyashree, Sikshashree,
Aikyashree, Student Credit Card, Lakshmir
Bhandar, Krishak Bandhu, Samajik Suraksha Yojana, Manabik Pension, Jai
Bangla Pension Scheme, Bidhaba Bhata)

These schemes cover various sectors such as food, housing, health,
education, social security, income, and employment.
About Didir Suraksha Kawach:

Didir Suraksha Kawach’ (Didi Protection Shield)‘ about 3.5 lakh volunteers
of the Trinamool Congress will reach out to all 2 crore households of the
State in 60 days.
Aim:

To be a welfare umbrella for
the people of West Bengal. About Didir
Doot:

The app has been developed for people to register their problems.
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
The app will be used in conjunction with the ‘Didir Suraksha Kawach’
program, with booth workers encouraging people to download it and
register their issues
About West Bengal:

Governor: C. V. Ananda Bose

Capital: Kolkata

Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee

National Park: Sundarban National Park, Jaldapara National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary

Tiger Reserve: Buxa Tiger Reserve
Granules India Partners with Greenko Group for 'green' pharma zones

Hyderabad-based drug maker Granules India has entered into a strategic
partnership with Greenko Group to develop a first-of-its-kind Integrated
Green Pharmaceutical Zones (GPZ) starting with Kakinada, Andhra
Pradesh (AP).
Aim:

To develop and promote carbon-free green molecule solutions for the
pharmaceutical industry and consolidate its position in sustainability and
circular economy initiatives.

The estimated cost of the project will be approximately INR
2,000 Crore over 5 years. Key Highlights:

This is significant as the pharmaceutical industry typically uses
chemicals, which are linked to high carbon emissions, and bulk drug
makers are considered to be a polluting industry.

Granules will build a green field facility based on sustainability principles for
large-scale manufacturing of key starting materials (KSMs), Intermediates,
APIs, and fermentation-based products.

The facility spread across 100 acres, will be commissioned in a phase-wise manner.
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
Greenko ZeroC will supply Carbon Free Energy and enable Green
Hydrogen along with its various chemical derivatives.
About Granules India:

Founded: 1984

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Chairman & Managing Director: Krishna Prasad Chigurupati

Granules are one of the world’s largest producers of paracetamol
and metformin molecules. About Greenko:

MD & CEO: Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh

Union Minister of Defence Shri Rajnath Singh dedicated to the nation 28
infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), worth Rs. 724
crores during an event organized at Siyom Bridge on Along-Yinkiong Road
in Arunachal Pradesh.

It will expand infrastructure along India's border, especially from Ladakh
to Arunachal, along with China.
About Siyom Bridge:

Siyom Bridge is a state-of-the-art 100 m long, Class 70 steel arch
superstructure Siyom Bridge over the Siyom River in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Siyom Bridge on the Alang-Yinkiong road will facilitate the movement
of army vehicles and weapons to the Upper Siang District, Tuting, and
Yinkiong regions along the Line of Actual Control. About 28 infrastructure
projects of BRO:

The projects comprise 22 bridges, including the Siyom bridge; 3 roads, and 3
other projects in 7 border States/Union Territories of Northern & North-Eastern
regions.
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
8 of these projects are in Ladakh; 5 in Arunachal Pradesh; 4 in Jammu &
Kashmir; 3 each in Sikkim, Punjab & Uttarakhand and 2 in Rajasthan.

In addition, 3 telemedicine nodes - 2 in Ladakh & 1 in Mizoram were inaugurated.

These 3 telemedicine nodes would connect Service hospitals via VSAT (Very
Small Aperture Terminal) satellite communications.

It will provide prompt medical intervention for emergencies through
Telemedicine consultation with specialists at Service hospitals using
SATCOM VSAT communication.

With the inauguration of these 28 projects, a total of 103 infrastructure
projects of BRO were dedicated to the nation during 2022 at a total cost of
Rs 2,897 crore
About BRO:

Founded: 7 May 1960

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

Director General: Lt.
Gen. Rajeev Chaudhary
About Arunachal Pradesh:

Governor: B. D. Mishra

Chief Minister: Pema Khandu

Capital: Itanagar
Government of Himachal Pradesh launches CM’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
launched CM’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh for the destitute with an
outlay of Rs 101 crore.
Aim:

To provide the facility of higher education to needy children and destitute women.

All Congress MLAs have decided to contribute their first payment for Sukhashray
Sahayata Kosh.
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
He announced that the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment will
directly transfer assistance to the beneficiary’s account on a simple application.
Key Highlights:

The state government will bear the expenditure on skill development education,
higher education, and vocational training of such children in engineering
colleges, IIIT, NIT, IIM, IT, polytechnic institutes, etc.

No income certificate would be taken from needy children and destitute women.

Under the scheme, children living in childcare institutions, all children being
benefited under foster care, destitute women living in Nari Seva Sadan, Shakti
Sadan, and residents of old age homes would get benefits.

Also, If any other orphan child is identified by the District Child Protection
Unit, he will get benefits under the scheme.

The state government has issued a notification to provide a festival grant of Rs
500 to the residents of Child Care Institutions, Nari Seva Sadan, Shakti Sadan,
and Old Age Homes to celebrate the festivals. About HP:

Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar

Chief Minister: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Capital: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)

National Park: Great Himalayan National Park

Wildlife Sanctuary: Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalatop Wildlife
Sanctuary, Kanwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary
World's First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum opens in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has opened a Palm leaf Manuscript
Museum featuring modern audio-visual technology at the Central Archives in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The museum, which is being promoted as the "World's First Palm-Leaf
Manuscript Museum," was created by the Archives Department in partnership
with the Kerala Museum of History and Heritage at INR 3 crore (about
$420,000).
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About the Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum:

The museum contains a collection of administrative, socio-cultural, and
economic records from the Travancore kingdom, which lasted for 650 years
until the end of the 19th century.

It features 8 theme-based galleries, including
1. History of Writing
2. Land and People
3. Administration
4. War and Peace
5. Education and Health
6. Economy
7. Art and Culture
8. Mathilakam Records

The museum stores 187 manuscripts from the 6th century to the 19th century.

It is housed in a 6,000-square-foot space provided by the Kerala government's
agency for museums, the Keralam–Museum of History and Heritage.
About Kerala:

Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan

Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan

Capital: Thiruvananthapuram

National Park: Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird
Sanctuary, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Indian Army inks pact with Assam govt for treatment of ex-servicemen at medical colleges

The Indian Army signed an agreement with the Government of Assam to offer
the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) at 8 medical
colleges and hospitals in Assam.

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has approved the empanelment of
government medical colleges in Assam with the ECHS.
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
The ECHS benefits will be offered at the medical college and hospitals in
Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Jorhat, Barpeta, Tezpur, Diphu, and North
Lakhimpur.

It will facilitate the cashless and capless treatment of almost 1.12 lakh beneficiaries.

The agreements were inked in presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa
Sarma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lt
Gen RP Kalita.

The Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), which is an Assam government
and TATA Trust initiative, has also been impanelled with ECHS.
About the Indian Army:

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

Chief of Defence Staff: General Anil Chauhan

Chief of the Army
Staff: General Manoj Pande
About Assam:

Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Capital: Dispur

National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Raimona
National Park, Nameri National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amsang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary,
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
Centre approves Rs 28.11 cr for AP tobacco farmers affected by Cyclone Mandous

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal have approved Rs
28.11 crore to provide immediate relief to over 28,000 Flue Cured Virginia
(FCV) Tobacco farmers affected by Cyclone Mandous in Andhra Pradesh
(AP).
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
A special interest-free loan of Rs 10,000 to each member of the Tobacco
Board's Grower Welfare Schemes under southern regions.

The move will benefit 28,112 farmers under the Southern Regions (Southern
Light Soil and Southern Black Soil) of AP.

The interest-free loan to eligible FCV tobacco farmers will be administered by
the Tobacco Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
About FCV Tobacco:

FCV tobacco is a major commercial crop grown in 10 districts of
Andhra Pradesh with an annual production of 121 million kg (2021-22)
in an area of 66,000 hectares.

Of the total unmanufactured tobacco exports (excluding tobacco waste)
during FY 2021-22, FCV tobacco exports constituted 53.62% in volume
terms and 68.47% in value terms.
About Cyclone Mandous:

The name of Mandous has been suggested by the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) in 2020 as a member of the World Meteorological Organisation
(WMO).

Mandous has been categorized as a ‘Severe Cyclonic
Storm’.
Madhya Pradesh government to launch Chief Minister’s Residential
Land Rights Scheme

Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
launched the Chief Minister’s Residential Land Rights scheme (Mukhyamantri
Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana) from Bakpura
Panchayat of Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Aim:
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
To give poor individuals the opportunity to build their own homes and
includes the delivery of all other government benefits with the plot.
About Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana:

Free leases of residential land were distributed by CM Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan to the selected beneficiaries.
Eligibility:

The CM had instructed the Revenue Department to identify the eligible
beneficiaries for this scheme and prepare their data.
 Under the scheme, applications from 14 lakh people have been received from across
MP.

Out of these, residential plots worth Rs 120 crore were provided to 10,500
eligible beneficiaries of Tikamgarh district.
 Each beneficiary family was given a plot of about 600 square feet for the construction
of houses

Once a family gets a plot, they will also be eligible to avail the benefits of
schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

There will be no premium charged for these plots and will be allocated
in the names of both the husband and the wife.

Along with this, the CM also laid the foundation stone for development
works worth Rs 255 crore. About MP:

Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel

Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Capital: Bhopal

National Parks: Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary, Ken Gharial Wildlife
Sanctuary, Narsinghgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Chhattisgarh CM celebrates the traditional ‘Cherchera’ festival in Raipur
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
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel celebrates the
traditional Cherchera festival at Dudhadhari Math in Raipur,
Chhattisgarh.
About the Festival:

Cherchera festival is an important harvest festival in Chhattisgarh.

The traditional Cherchera festival is celebrated on the full moon night of
the ‘Paush’ Hindu calendar month in the happiness of taking the crops to
their homes after cultivation.

According to mythological belief, on this day Lord Shankar begged Mata
Annapurna, so people used to donate green vegetables along with paddy on
this day.
About Chhattisgarh:

Governor: Anusuiya Uikey

Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel

Capital: Raipur

National Park: Kanger Valley National Park, Indravati (Kutru) National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary, Narsinghgarh Wildlife
Sanctuary, Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary
Military Tattoo & Tribal Dance Festival to be held in New Delhi to mark 126th
birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

A Military Tattoo & Tribal Dance Festival ‘Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram Ka’
will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on January 23 & 24, 2023,
as part of the Republic Day celebrations 2023 and to mark the 126th birth
anniversary (Parakram Diwas) of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

The event is being organized by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) serving as the
coordinating agency.
Aim:
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 To remember the sacrifices of the country’s brave hearts and celebrate the rich
cultural heritage which
makes India so unique and diverse.
About the Festival:

The two-day festival will showcase the prowess of the Armed Forces and
the ethnic beauty of India’s tribal culture.

The program included a military tattoo (paramotor gliding, hot air balloon,
horse show, motorcycle display, air warrior drill, navy band) and an hourlong traditional dance performance (khukri dance, gatka, mallakhamb,
kalaripayattu, thangata) by tribal artists from across the country.

The objective of the festival is to celebrate together the bravery of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose, embrace the true spirit of India, and renew the
commitment to building a strong and prosperous New India.

The grand finale includes a performance by famous singer Shri Kailash Kher
Tribal Bodies Step Up Demand To 'Free' Parasnath Hills From Jains

Tribal bodies stepped up their demand to “free” the Parasnath hills in
Jharkhand's Giridih district from the “clutches” of the Jain community.
About Parasnath hills:

Parasnath is a mountain peak in the Parasnath Range.

It is located towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the
Giridih district of the Indian state of Jharkhand.

It has been named Parasnath after the 23rd Jain Tirthankara.

It is a holy and reverend site for the Jain community, called “Sammed Sikhar ''.

Out of 24 Tirthankaras of Jains, 20 got NIRVANA on Parasnath Hills.

On the mountain, A Jain temple is believed to have been constructed by
Magadha King Bimbisara (543-491 BCE.)
International Kite Festival 2023 to begin in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Shri Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the
International Kite Festival 2023 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
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
The festival is being organised by Gujarat Tourism on the G20 theme of
'One Earth, One Family, One Future.

The event is organised after a gap of two years due
to the covid 19 pandemic. Key Highlights:

The International Kite Festival has been held in Ahmedabad annually since
1989 on the occasion of the official celebration of uttarayan.

Apart from Ahmedabad, the festival will also be organised in Surat,
Vadodara, Rajkot, Dwarka, Somnath, Dhordo, and Kevadia.

More than 800 kite flyers from across India and the world will
participate and display their unique creations in this Festival.

This year, kite enthusiasts from different countries will fly Kites at the same
time attempting to create a Guinness World Record for the maximum
number of kite flyers.

A special Parade by international and national kite flyers, a theme pavilion
displaying the history of kites, and workshops on making and flying kites are
among the major attractions of the festival 2022. About Gujarat:

Governor: Acharya Devvrat

Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel

Capital: Gandhinagar

National Park: Gir National Park, Velavadar National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary,
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala becomes India’s first state with a fully digital banking
service

Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan declared that Kerala has become the
first state in India to enable digital banking in all eligible accounts.

The ambitious Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project of the state
government, which was almost 90% completed, will reduce the digital divide.
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Key Highlights:

The K-FON will ensure internet facilities to everyone in the state and a 17,155
km-long optic fibre cable network has been laid.

Once the project gets completed, the internet will be available to
everyone in the state either for a cheaper price or for free-of-cost.

On the occasion, the CM also pointed out that Kerala received three
'Digital India' awards for its advancement in the digital sector.
1. Silver medal for Ksheerashree portal
2. Platinum award for Digital Workforce Management System
3. Gold medal for District Administration of Kottayam

The Kerala government has created an Economic Offences Wing in the
state police to tackle such cyber crimes.
About KFON:

KFON is a radical public-funded project conceived to ensure high-speed
Internet access to an entire Kerala.

Under the project, a venture of equal partnership between Kerala State
Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) and Kerala State
Electricity Board (KSEB), 30,000 km of fibre optic cable will be laid connecting
all parts of Kerala.
UP govt launches UP Global City campaign to make urban bodies on par with global
standards

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has launched a statewide 100-day 'UP
Global City' campaign to make urban bodies of the state on par with global
standards.

The campaign has been launched by the state's Urban Development and
Energy Minister Shri Arvind Kumar Sharma.
Aim:
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
To bring urban areas in the state up to global standards, which includes
improving urban amenities, air quality, cleanliness, and beautification as
well as proper waste disposal.

The campaign will be implemented in all
762 urban bodies of UP. Key Highlights:

Global Investors' summit (3-day summit) is scheduled to take place in
Lucknow from February 10 to 12, 2023.

The UP government has already started the preparations for the G-20 summit.

In preparation for the G20 summit, the UP government will introduce
“Brand UP” and has planned several events in Agra, Varanasi, Greater
Noida, and Lucknow.

Apart from the 100-day ‘UP Global City’, other similar campaigns being run by
the UP government are – the Swachh Dhaba campaign, Swachh Virasat
Abhiyan, etc.
About Swachh Dhaba campaign:

A 3-month 'Swachh Dhaba' campaign is being run from January to March
2023 for disposing of the garbage coming out of dhabas, restaurants,
hotels, and other small 'gumtis' in UP.
About Swachh Virasat Abhiyan:

The ‘Swachh Virasat Abhiyan’ is set to start on January 14, 2023.
 The campaign focuses on the cleanliness work of all tourist, historical and religious
places.

The UP government will also implement door-to-door garbage collection
from February 1 to March 31, 2023, and will hold a marathon race later this
month.
About UP:

Governor: Anandiben Patel

Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
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
Capital: Lucknow

National Park: Dudhwa National Park

Wildlife Sanctuary: Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandraprabha
Wildlife Sanctuary, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Bird Wildlife Sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh is set to host 4th edition of the Mandu Festival

The 4th edition of the Mandu Festival will be held between January 07January 11, 2023 in Madhya Pradesh (MP)
Aim:

To showcase the destination’s historic heritage blended with a modern vibrancy.

The first edition of the Mandu Festival began on 28
Dec 2019 at Mandu, MP. Key Highlights:

The 5-day festival organized by the Madhya Pradesh government
and curated by E-Factor Entertainment is set to showcase the
historical legacy of Mandu.

Meanwhile, Mandu has also been shortlisted in the tentative list of UNESCO
World Heritage Sites apart from Orchha.

In addition to that, MP is hosting the Skydiving Festival and the Hriday
Drishyam Kala Utsav in January 2023 and the Chanderi Mahotsav in
February 2023
 The Hriday Drishyam will be organized in Bhopal and Indore and will go for 4 days
January 8-11, 2023.

The 6th edition of the Hriday Drishyam festival will be a musical
extravaganza with artists showcasing their talents.
About MP:

Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel

Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Capital: Bhopal
Tripura Government launches ‘Saharsh’ in all govt, govt-aided schools
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
The Tripura government introduced a special education program titled
‘Saharsh’ to encourage social and emotional learning in schools.

The Saharsh Scheme was launched by State Education Minister Shri Ratan Lal Nath
at the
inauguration event of the 49th state-level science, mathematics, and environment
exhibition in
Agartala.
Key Highlights:

The Saharsh initiative was launched in August 2022 in 40 schools in the state on a
pilot basis.

After the successful implementation of the project, it would be
introduced in all government and government-aided schools in the
state from the second week of January 2023.

The Saharsh initiative, which was found to be effective in social and economic
development in research studies of Harvard and Columbia Universities, is
being first contextualized with local realities of India and implemented in
Tripura.

Meanwhile, the Tripura government has trained teachers in 204 schools for
the Saharsh curriculum, while teachers in 200 more institutes are about to
be trained soon.

While Tripura was ranked among 5th grade in Performance Grading Index
during the erstwhile Left Front government, the state now ranks among
Grade 1 in the category.
About Tripura:

Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya

Chief Minister: Manik Saha

Capital: Agartala

Tribes: Tripura/Tripuri, Riang, Jamatia, Noatia
Osmanabad District Court becomes 1st court in Maharashtra to introduce e-system of
functioning
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
The Osmanabad District Court has become the first court in Maharashtra to
introduce an e-system of functioning.

Under this system, all the court-related work including filing, payment, and
other court services, etc. can be done through the mobile app or online
modes.

The system was inaugurated by the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad bench’s
Judge, and Osmanabad Guardian Judge, Arun Pednekar.

Chief District Judge of Osmanabad Anju Shende and Member of
Maharashtra-Goa Bar Council Advocate Milind Patil, President of
Osmanabad District Bar Association Advocate Sudhakar Munde were also
present on the occasion.
Key Highlights:

The courts of all talukas of Osmanabad district are working on the esystem and 500 lawyers in the district have already registered for the new
system.

Besides, the library of the court has also been
converted into digital mode.
BSE signs MoU with Goa govt to promote the development
of SMEs
 Leading stock exchange Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has joined hands
with the government of Goa for the development of SMEs (Small and Medium
Enterprises) in Goa.
Key Highlights:
 With the association of the Goa government, the exchange will look at
creating awareness amongst SMEs in the state on the benefits of listing on
the exchange.
 BSE will also guide them on the efficient ways of raising capital through equity
infusion.
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 The exchange will also provide training and capacity-building support
to District Industries Centre officials and facilitate SMEs concerning
registration/listing on the platform.
 The Partnership will play a significant role in opening a plethora of
opportunities for small-medium enterprises.
About BSE:
 Founded: 9 July 1875
 Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
 MD & CEO:
Sundararaman
Ramamurthy About
Goa:
 Governor: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
 Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant
 Capital: Panaji (Panjim)
 Airport: Goa International Airport
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee launches vehicle location control centre &
mobile app to enhance security for women
 West Bengal (WB) chief minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a new
vehicle location control centre and mobile app, as part of efforts to
enhance security for women in WB.
 These would help the police track movement of vehicles, as well as keep a
tab on crimes on women inside moving cars.
 Also, there will be one panic button in each vehicle, pressing which will alert the
police
About West Bengal:
 Governor: C. V. Ananda Bose
 Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee
 Capital: Kolkata
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 National Park: Sundarban National Park, Jaldapara National Park, Singalila National
Park.
 Tiger Reserve: Buxa Tiger Reserve
 Wildlife Sanctuary: Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary
Meghalaya CM Shri Conrad Sangma launches shared school bus system &
agriculture response vehicle scheme

Meghalaya Chief Minister (CM) Shri Conrad Sangma launched the 30
shared school bus system & prime tourism vehicles and agriculture
response vehicle scheme in Shillong city, Meghalaya. About the shared
school bus system:

The buses will help to minimize traffic congestion in Shillong, Meghalaya.

The buses are part of the Sustainable Transport and Efficient Mobility
Society (STEMS) program focussed on mobility and overall
transportation to decongest the city.

The buses are GPS enabled for real-time tracking with a passenger
information system and LED screens to show the routes.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) will develop a mobile application and
website for tracking and booking the buses while the transport department
will be roped in for operations and maintenance of the buses.

The drivers and the caretakers of the buses will be trained by the
Meghalaya Skills Development Society
About Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme:

The Meghalaya government is providing financial assistance to tourism
entrepreneurs to purchase premium tourist vehicles.

The introduction of the Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme
will mitigate the amount spent on the transportation of agricultural produce
by our farmers by giving them financial assistance for procurement of the
‘Agriculture Response Vehicles’ under the scheme,

Governor: B. D. Mishra
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
Chief Minister: Conrad Sangma

Capital: Shillong
OTPC ties up with APDCL to develop a 250 MW battery energy storage system in Assam

ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd (OTPC) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Assam Power Distribution Company Limited
(APDCL) to develop a battery energy storage project in Assam at an
investment of Rs 2,000 crore.

The MoU has been signed to develop a Battery Energy Storage System
Project of capacity up to 250 MW / 500 MWh in a phased manner in Assam
by incorporating a Joint Venture Company.

The Project will help the state improve power availability during peak
load hours, improve the integration of renewable energy generation with
the electricity grid, and enhance grid reliability. Note:

Managing Director of APDCL: Rakesh Kumar

Minister of Power, Cooperation, Mines & Minerals, Indigenous & Tribal Faith
and Cultural Department, Government of Assam: Smt. Nandita Gorlosa
About OTPC:

Established: 2004

Headquarters: Tripura, India

Chairman: Arun Kumar Singh

MD: Sanil C.Namboodiripad

OTPC is a joint venture of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), gas
utility GAIL (India) Ltd, the Government of Tripura, and India Infrastructure
Fund-II.
About Assam:

Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Capital: Dispur
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
National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Raimona
National Park, Nameri National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board signs MoUs with chapters of 8 countries of GOPIO

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and 8 countries of the Global Organisation
of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) signed 8 Memorandum of Understanding
(MoUs) in Indore, MP.
 The MoUs were signed on the occasion of the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
Convention.

These MoUs were signed with France Metropole Paris, Reunion Island,
Martinique, Sri Lanka, GOPIO International, Malaysia, and Mauritius.

The MoU was signed by the Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture and
Managing Director of the Tourism Board Sheo Shekhar Shukla and presidents
of eight countries of GOPIO.
The objective of the MoUs:

To promote cooperation in the development of the tourism sector of the state
and to promote tourism destinations.

It also seeks to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in research,
promotion, and tourism development.
About GOPIO:

Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is an international
network of people of Indian origin (PIO).

It was founded at the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin
in New York City in 1989. Objective:

To fight against the violation of human rights of people of
Indian origin.
Uttarakhand Governor approves Bill granting 30% women's
reservation in government jobs
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
Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) has approved a bill to
grant 30% reservation for women in government jobs.

Uttarakhand Public Services (Horizontal Reservation for Women)
Bill, 2022 was passed by the Uttarakhand assembly on November
29, 2022, & now the bill has become an Act.

The bill seeks to provide 30% reservation to women in government
jobs to ensure social justice, equality of opportunity, improvement in
living standards, and gender equality in public planning. About
Horizontal reservation:

Horizontal reservation refers to the equal opportunity provided to other
categories of beneficiaries such as women, veterans, the transgender
community, and individuals with disabilities, cutting through the vertical
categories.

The horizontal quota is applied separately to each vertical category,
and not across the board. About Uttarakhand:

Governor: Gurmit Singh

Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami

Capital: Bhararisain
(summer) and Dehradun (winter)
Delhi Most Polluted City in India In
2022: CPCB Data

According to an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data,
Delhi was the most polluted city in India in 2022 with PM 2.5 levels more
than double the safe limit and the 3rd highest average PM10 concentration.

According to the NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) tracker, PM2.5
pollution in the national capital has reduced by over 7% in 4 years, from 108
micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 to 99.71 micrograms per cubic metre in
2022.
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Key Highlights:
Top 10 most polluted cities in 2022 for PM 2.5:
1. Delhi (99.71 micrograms per cubic metre)
2. Haryana's Faridabad (95.64 micrograms per cubic metre)
3. Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad (91.25 micrograms per cubic metre)
4. Patna, Bihar
5. Muzaffarpur, Bihar
6. Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
7. Meerut, UP
8. Gobindgarh, Punjab
9. Gaya, Bihar
10. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Top 10 most polluted cities in 2022 based on PM 10:

Ghaziabad (217.57 micrograms per cubic metre)

Faridabad, Haryana (215.39 micrograms per cubic metre)

Delhi (213.23 micrograms per cubic metre)

Noida,UP

Patna, Bihar

Meerut, UP

Muzaffarpur,Bihar

Durgapur,West Bengal

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Aurangabad, Maharashtra

For both PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations, the majority of cities in the
top 10 most polluted list are from Uttar Pradesh (UP).

NCAP Tracker is a joint project of news portal Carbon Copy and a
Maharashtra-based start-up 'Respirer Living Sciences' and is designed to
track India's progress in achieving clean air targets.

The country’s current annual average safe limits for PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 40 ug/m3
and 60 ug/m3.
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
The Centre launched NCAP on January 10, 2019 to reduce PM2.5 and
PM10 levels in 102 cities by 20% to 30% by 2024 (with 2017 being the
base year).

For analysis, the NCAP tracker has only taken into account nonattainment cities which recorded a monitoring uptime of more than 50%.

According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
(CREA), 4 years since the introduction of the National Clean Air Programme
(NCAP), India’s first national policy on curbing air pollution, air quality has
improved in only 49 out of 131 cities in FY 21-22, compared to the previous
year.

Only 38 of the 131 cities that were given annual pollution reduction targets
under agreements signed between State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs),
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and the Centre managed to meet the targets for
FY 21-22.

The NCAP, announced 4 years ago, covers 132 of India’s most polluted or
so-called non-attainment cities

This is defined as a city whose air quality did not meet the national ambient
air quality standards from 2011 to 2015.

The NCAP aims to bring a 20%-30% reduction in pollution levels from
PM2.5 and PM10 particles by 2024, using 2017 pollution levels as a base.
About PM2.5:

PM2.5 is tiny particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter
and can enter the lungs and bloodstream.
About CPCB:

Established: 22 September 1974

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Chairperson: Shri Tanmay Kumar
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
The CPCB of India is a statutory organization under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Mo.E.F.C.C.)
NTPC REL signs MoU with the Government of Tripura for collaboration in Renewable
Energy Development

The NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tripura for the Development
of Floating and Ground Mounted based Renewable Energy Projects in
Tripura.

The MoU was signed by Shri Rajiv Gupta, Chief General Manager, NTPC
REL, and Shri Mahananda Debbarma, Director General and CEO, of Tripura
Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) in New Delhi.

This MoU embarks upon the journey towards the development of largesized Renewable Energy Projects in the State of Tripura and shall help
Govt of Tripura in meeting its Clean Energy Commitments and
obligations.
About NTPC REL:

Founded: 2020

Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya

Chief Minister: Manik Saha

Capital: Agartala
Govt declares J&K as ‘Free Area’ for purposes of Prevention and Control of
Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government has declared the whole Union
Territory (UT) as a “Free Area” for purposes of the Prevention and Control of
Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.

The declaration has been made in the exercise of powers conferred by subsection (5) of section 6 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and
Contagious Diseases in Animals (PCICDA) Act, 2009,
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after the Government on being satisfied that no cases of Lumpy Skin
Disease (LSD) have been reported from any district of Union Territory
of J&K.
About Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreak in India:

Lumpy Skin disease is a contagious viral disease that spreads among cattle
through mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps by direct contact.

The Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreak in India started in Gujarat and Rajasthan
and in 3 months cattle in 15 states across India were affected.

The Lumpy virus mostly affected
cows, buffaloes, and deer. About J&K:

Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha

Capital: Srinagar, Jammu
 National Park: Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Kazinag National Park,
Dachigam National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary,
Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary
Punjab government to launch ‘Schools of Eminence’ project

The Punjab government will launch its first major education project,
‘Schools of Eminence’ on 21st January 2023 at the Indian School of
Business (ISB), Mohali.
About the Project:

Under the project, the Punjab government will upgrade the existing government
schools into the School of Eminence for the students of classes 9 to 12.

Under phase 1, the government plans to upgrade nearly 110 government
schools as ‘Schools of Eminence’.

The Punjab govt had set aside a fund of Rs 200 crore for this project.

This project is inspired by the Delhi model of the School of specialized
excellence which conducts the admissions of Class 9 level.
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About Punjab:

Governor: Banwarilal Purohit

Chief Minister: Bhagwant Mann

Capital: Chandigarh

Wildlife Sanctuary: Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary, Harike Wildlife
Sanctuary, Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala’s Wayanad becomes 1st district in the country to provide basic documents to all tribal
people

Kerala’s Wayanad becomes the first district in the country to provide
basic documents and facilities such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards,
birth/death certificates, election ID cards, bank accounts, and health
insurance to all tribal people.
Key Highlights:

The Wayanad district administration has attained the creditable achievement
by providing 1,42,563 services to as many as 64,670 tribal beneficiaries as
part of the Akshaya Big Campaign for Document Digitisation (ABCD)
campaign.

This includes ration cards to 15,796 families, Aadhar cards to 31,252,
birth certificates to 11,300, voters’ identity cards to 22,488, and digital
locker facilities to 22,888 persons through the ABCD campaign.

The drive was launched in November 2021 at
Thondernad grama panchayat. Aim of the campaign:

To ensure basic documents to all citizens belonging to the Scheduled
Tribes (ST) communities, the documents are digitized and saved in
DigiLocker accounts opened for them.

Apart from the basic documents, other services such as income certificates,
ownership certificates, age certificates, and applications for new pensions are
also provided at the camps.
About Kerala:
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
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan

Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan

Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
 Airport: Kannur International Airport, Cochin International Airport, Calicut International
Airport

Ramsar Sites: Vembanad, Ashtamudi & Sasthamkotta Lakes

National Park: Silent Valley National Park,
Eravikulam National Park
Centre approves 'Apple Cluster' for Jammu and
Kashmir's Shopian district

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) approved an
"Apple Cluster" for Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district under the
Cluster Development Programme.
 This was announced during a daylong conference on the 'India Cold Chain
Conclave'.

The Conclave was organized by the Ministry in conjunction with the Ph.D.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) & National Centre for Cold Chain
Development (NCCD) in New Delhi, Delhi. Key Highlights:

The Shopian apple cluster envisages the development of Shopian apple on 3
verticals including preproduction-production, post-harvest management,
value addition and logistics, marketing, and branding to make it globally
competitive.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 135.23 crore, of which, about Rs 37.05
crore would be provided by the Ministry as grant-in-aid.

The project is expected to be implemented in 4 years.
About J&K:

Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha

Capital: Srinagar, Jammu
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 National Park: Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Kazinag National Park,
Dachigam National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gulmarg
Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala’s Wayanad becomes 1st district in the country to provide basic
documents to all tribal people

Kerala’s Wayanad becomes the first district in the country to provide basic
documents and facilities such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, birth/death
certificates, election ID cards, bank accounts, and health insurance to all
tribal people.
Centre approves 'Apple Cluster' for Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) approved an
"Apple Cluster" for Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district under the Cluster
Development Programme.
 This was announced during a daylong conference on the 'India Cold Chain
Conclave'.

The Conclave was organized by the Ministry in conjunction with the Ph.D.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) &National Centre for Cold Chain
Development (NCCD) in New Delhi, Delhi.
Rajasthan govt to rent out drones to farmers

The Government of Rajasthan will provide drones on rent to the low-income
farmers of Rajasthan to help them in spraying fertilizers and pesticides.

Around 1,500 drones will be made available at custom hiring centers by the
state government in two years.

In conventional agricultural practices, pesticides are sprayed either manually
or with the help of tractor-mounted sprayers where high quantities of
pesticides and water are used and where a sizable portion of spray goes waste
in the environment.
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Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag
 Biswa Sarma announced that the Centre has nominated the Charaideo
Maidam, the burial ground of the Ahom Dynasty (1228-1826) in Assam for the
coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site (cultural site) for the year 2023-2024.
 Charaideo commonly known as ‘Pyramids of Assam’ was the original capital of the
Ahom Kings.
 The ‘Pyramids of Assam’ has been selected by Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi out of 52 heritage sites across the country seeking the
coveted tag.
Himachal Pradesh targets to be 1st Green Energy State by 2025
 The Himachal Pradesh (HP) Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
announced that HP targets to become 1st Green Energy State by 2025
 HP would harness hydro, hydrogen, and solar energy and switch to green
products which will enhance the premium and advantage in export.
 The CM directed Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL),
Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (HIMURJA), Himachal
Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), and the Department of
Energy to take action in this direction.
Indian Army participates Monastic festival of Monpa tribe of Tawang at Tawang Monastery,
Arunachal Pradesh
 The three-day Torgya festival, a Monastic festival of the Monpa tribe was
celebrated at the Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh‘s Tawang
district.
 The festival starts on the twenty-eighth day of
the eleventh lunar month
IndianOil to pump in Rs 2,200-cr investment for
projects in Tamil Nadu
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 The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has planned investments of
around ₹2,200 crores in Tamil Nadu (TN) over the next two years, to take the
major grassroots and expansion projects in TN.
 The projects include a 'grass-roots terminal' at Asanur and Vallur, a 'captive
petroleum' project, oil and lubricant-LPG jetty at Kamarajar port among others.
 The IOCL has achieved 10% ethanol blending with petrol in TN and
Puducherry and was working towards increasing it to 20% in line with
the Centre’s mandate.
Odisha’s Ganjam district Tops Country In MGNREGA Work
 Ganjam district in Odisha has occupied the top position in the country in
generating man-days and providing 100 days of work to rural households
under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA).
 As many as 63,449 households in the district have been provided 100 days of
employment.

Ganjam was followed by Barmera (2.18 crore) in Rajasthan and
Tiruvannamalai (2.13 crore) in Tamil Nadu in generating man days during
the period.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel announces unemployment allowance from next financial
year

On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day (Jan 26, 2023), Chhattisgarh
Chief Minister (CM) Shri Bhupesh Baghel announced a monthly
unemployment allowance for unemployed persons in Chhattisgarh
from the next financial year (2023-24).

It was one of the key promises made by Congress during
the 2018 Assembly polls.
BPCL To Set Up 1GW Renewable Energy Plant In Rajasthan
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
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) with Rajasthan to set up a 1 gigawatt (GW) renewable
energy (RE) plant in Rajasthan as the nation's second-largest state oil refiner
pivots, toward a net zero emission target by 2040.

The power plant will be built with an investment of INR 5,000 crore.

The MoU was signed between Rajasthan’s Energy Department Secretary
Bhaskar A Sawant and BPCL head Renewable Energy Shelly Abraham at a
ceremony organized by the Bureau of Investment Promotion, Government of
Rajasthan.
Uttar Pradesh government gets ₹9000 crore investment proposals during Chandigarh
roadshow

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government received investment proposals worth
₹9000 crores at the eighth (8th) and last domestic roadshow organized in
Chandigarh ahead of the Global Investors Summit to be held in Lucknow on
February 10-12, 2023.

The investors' summit is an initiative by the chief minister (CM) Shri Yogi
Adityanath to make UP a trillion-dollar economy in the next 5 years.
Assam's Bioethanol Unit Will Be Set Up By October 2023

The minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli
revealed that India's first ever bio-refinery unit for production of bioethanol
from bamboo is expected to be set up by October 2023 in Assam.

It will be the country’s first unit for producing ethanol from bamboo.

He mentioned this while addressing the ‘Evolve-2023’, an international emobility and alternative fuels conference organised by the Kerala Motor
Vehicles Department.
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IMPORTANT NATIONAL NEWS
Food Processing Industry Invests Rs 4,900 Cr Under PLI Scheme:

The government has announced that the food processing industry has
invested Rs 4,900 crore so far under the production-linked incentive (PLI)
scheme.

The PLI scheme for the food processing industry was approved in March
2021, with a budget outlay of Rs 10,900 crore.

It will be implemented for seven years until 2026-27.
 A total of 182 applications have been approved under the PLI scheme for the food
processing industry

According to data reported by PLI scheme beneficiaries, the scheme has
attracted an investment of approximately Rs 4,900 crores.
 Incentives amounting to Rs 800 crore are likely to be disbursed in the current
financial year.

The sales-based incentive of Rs 107.3 crore has been disbursed so far, it added.

The implementation of the scheme is likely to facilitate the expansion of food
processing capacity by nearly Rs 30,000 crore and create additional direct
and indirect employment opportunities for about 2.5 lakh persons by 2026-27.
 PLI beneficiaries' investments are likely to increase sales and exports of food
products.

The ministry stated that a total of 112 food processing projects were
completed and operationalized during 2022, leveraging the private
investment of Rs 706.04 crore and generating direct and indirect
employment for 25,293 people.

During the year, approximately 190 food processing projects were approved.

As per the ministry, the 'One District One Product (ODOPY) scheme
(under the Prime Minister-Formalisation of Micro Food Processing
Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme) has been approved for 713 districts across
35 states and union territories, with 137 distinct products.
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
About 46 new projects have been approved for the Operation
Greens Scheme in 2022.
Govt launches Prajjwala Challenge inviting ideas, solutions, and actions to
transform rural economy:

The government has launched Prajjwala Challenge inviting ideas,
solutions, and actions to transform the rural economy.

According to Rural Development Ministry, it is one of the platforms
where ideas are invited from individuals, Social Enterprises, startups,
the Private Sector, Community Based Organizations, Incubation
centres, and Investors who have the potential to transform the rural
economy.

The Ministry said the applicants can visit the website:
www.prajjwalachallenge.com and apply till the 31st of January.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission
has launched the Prajjwala Challenge to transform the rural
economy.

The top five ideas will be rewarded with two lakh rupees each.
India's first underwater metro worth over Rs 8000 crores to be operational by 2023:

India's first underwater tunnel, being built under the Hooghly River in West
Bengal at a cost of around ₹ 120 crores as part of the East-West Metro
Corridor, will be a blink-and-you-miss-it experience for passengers as trains
will cross the 520-meter stretch in just 45 seconds.

The tunnel -- the Indian version of Eurostar's London-Paris corridor -- is 13
meters below the riverbed and 33 meters below ground level.

The 520-meter tunnel is part of the East-West Metro Corridor of Kolkata -from the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V in the east to Howrah Maidan in the
west across the river.
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
The tunnel's construction is complete and is likely to be commissioned in
December 2023 after the completion of a 2.5-km stretch between
Esplanade and Sealdah on the corridor.

It will take 45 seconds to cross the tunnel

The East-West Corridor of the metro rail has been marred by delays and resultant
cost escalations.

It was approved in 2009 at ₹ 4,875 crores and a completion date of August 2015.

According to officials, the cost has now increased to ₹ 8,475 crores out of
which ₹ 8,383 crores has already been spent.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates Incubation Centre at National Research
Development Corporation:

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has
inaugurated the Incubation Centre at the National Research Development
Corporation (NRDC) in New Delhi.

The Centre will provide multi-pronged support to StartUps.

Dr. Singh noted that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of
'StartUp India, NRDC had reoriented itself to become the only National level
PSU providing its services for taking the lab scale technologies developed by
Public Funded Research Institutes to industry.
Shri Amit Shah inaugurated mega-dairy, talks of cooperation between Nandini, Amul
brands:

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated a mega-dairy built at
Rs 260 crore in the Mandya district of Karnataka

Addressing a public gathering after the inauguration, he stated that if Amul
and Nandini work together jointly, there will be primary diaries at every
village level in three years.

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) will get all technical support and
cooperation from Amul, adding that if Karnataka and Gujarat come together
in this direction, it will benefit the farmers all over the country.
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
The Union Minister announced that he is giving an assurance from the
platform of Mandya to the farmers and cooperative workers in the country
that his government will not let them get cheated or meted with injustice.

In 1975, Karnataka processed 66,000-kilo milk and now it is processing 82 lakh kilos
of milk.

The federation's turnover per year is 25,000 crores and nearly 80 per
cent of the money goes to farmers.

Sri Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Nirmalananda Natha Swamjji, and Chief
Minister Basavaraj Bommai were present on the occasion.
Coffee exports from India up by nearly 2% to 400,000 tonnes in 2022

Coffee shipments from India, Asia's third-largest producer and exporter,
rose 1.66 percent to 4 lakh tonne in 2022 on the rise in instant coffee exports
and re-exports, according to the Coffee Board.

Exports stood at 3.93 lakh tonnes in 2021.

In value terms, coffee export was higher at Rs 8,762.47 crore in 2022 as
against Rs 6,984.67 crore in the previous year.

India ships both Robusta and Arabica varieties, besides instant coffee.

According to the Board's latest data, the shipment of Robusta coffee
declined marginally to 2,20,974 tonnes in 2022 from 2,20,997 tonnes in
the previous year.

Similarly, export of Arabica fell 11.43 percent to 44,542 tonnes from 50,292 tonnes.

However, the export of instant coffee increased 16.73 percent to 35,810
tonnes in 2022 from 29,819 tonnes in the previous year.

Italy, Germany, and Russia are the major export destinations for Indian coffee.

Some of the major exporting companies are CCL Products India, Tata
Coffee, ITC Ltd, Olam Agro, Vidya Herbs, and Sucden Coffee India.

Coffee production is pegged higher at 3,93,400 tonnes for the 2022-23 crop
year (October-September), as against the final output of 3,42,000 tonnes
achieved last year.
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'SMART' program launched to boost R&D in Ayurveda:

A special government initiative aimed to boost scientific research in
healthcare areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals was launched.

The Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching
Professionals (SMART) program was launched by the National
Commission for Indian System of Medicine and the Central Council for
Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, the two prominent institutions under the
Ayush Ministry.

The program was launched on Monday by Vaidya Jayant Deopujari,
Chairman, of NCISM, and Professor Rabinarayan Acharya, Director
General, CCRAS in the presence of Prof. B S Prasad, President of the
Board of Ayurveda, NCISM, and other senior officials.

The 'SMART' program will have a deep long -term
rejuvenating impact on research in the field of Ayurveda and
it will be a great service to the nation.
The government will launch a Digital India Innovation Fund:

The government will launch a Digital India Innovation Fund which will support deep
tech startups.

Deep technology (deep tech) or hard tech is a classification of
organization, or more typically startup company, with the expressed
objective of providing technology solutions based on substantial scientific or
engineering challenges.

India had over 3,000 deep-tech start-ups, dabbling in new-age technologies
like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), the Internet of Things, Big
Data, quantum computing, robotics, etc., at the end of 2021.

India’s deep-tech ecosystem has grown 53% in the last decade and is now at
par with that in developed economies like the US, China, Israel, and Europe.
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
From drone delivery and cold chain management to climate action and clean
energy, deep-tech startups are making their presence felt across sectors.

Bengaluru accounts for 25-30% of India’s deep-tech start-ups, followed
by Delhi-NCR (15-20%) and Mumbai (10-12%).

Overall, the share of deep-tech start-ups in India’s overall entrepreneurial
ecosystem stands at 12% now.
Women workers participating in the MGNREGS have touched a ten-year high in the ongoing
financial year:

The proportion of women workers participating in the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has touched a
ten-year high in the ongoing financial year.

According to the latest statistics, 57.8% of the workers who used the
scheme this year were women, their highest level of participation since
2012-13.

Out of the 15 States (Kerala, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan,
Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Telangana,
Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh) being surveyed, 14
States reported an upward trend in women’s participation except for Kerala.

The drop in Kerala is miniscule.

For the last five years, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, women’s share in the
MGNREGA workforce has been hovering between 85-90%.

The proportion of women workers in Bihar grew 3.7 percentage points this
year, while UP saw a 3.3 percentage point hike.

Despite this, U.P. has participation in MGNREGS at around 37%.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA), also known as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) is Indian legislation enacted
on August 25, 2005.
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
The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of
employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household
willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum
wage.

The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the
entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.
Central government offices are expected to go fully digital by the end of February 2023:
 As most Central government offices are expected to go fully digital by the
end of February 2023, several security measures have been put in place to
avoid any cybersecurity incidents such as the recent cyber and ransomware
attack at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
 E-Office is designed and developed by National Informatics
Centre, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY).

E-Office is a cloud-enabled software that can be deployed/hosted in any
data centre or any cloud identified by the organization.
 The NIC team shall help the organization set up the e-Office environment,
master data preparation, and initial rollout.
About e-Office:
 The e-Office aims to support Governance by ushering in more effective and
transparent inter and Intra-Government processes.

The vision of the e-Office is to achieve a simplified, responsive, effective, and
transparent working of all Government Offices.

The Open Architecture on which e-Office has been built makes it a reusable
framework and a standard reusable product amenable to replication across
the Governments, at the Central, State, and District levels.

e-office is for unclassified files with two-factor authentication and is not
available on the Internet but on NICNET.

It has mandatory features for the authentication of documents with digitally
signed certificates and e-signatures.
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
So far, 74 ministries and departments have migrated to e-office version 7.0.

CERT-In is an organization of the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology, Government of India, to secure Indian cyberspace.
India's unemployment rate rose to the highest in 16 months at 8.30 percent in December:

India's unemployment rate rose to 8.30 percent in December, the highest
in 16 months, from 8.30 percent in the previous month, data from the
Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

The urban unemployment rate rose to 10.09 percent in December from 8.96
percent in the previous month, while the rural unemployment rate slipped to
7.44 percent from 7.55 percent, the data showed. About CMIE:

The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) is an independent
private limited entity that serves both as an economic think-tank as well as a
business information company.

Headquarters- Mumbai, India, Chairman- Mahesh Vyas.
PM has inaugurated Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation
in Kolkata:

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Dr. Syama
Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPMNIWAS) at Joka in Kolkata via video conferencing.

SPM – NIWAS has been set up at a cost of around Rs. 100 Crore, on
8.72 acres of land at Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata, West
Bengal.

Through this apex institute on Water and Sanitation, the Department of
Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) aims to bridge the knowledge
capacity-building gap in the field of public health engineering, sanitation &
hygiene, through short, medium & long-term courses which are not just related
to engineering but also cover aspects of management, health, accounting, law,
and public policies.
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
The inauguration of SPM-NIWAS was followed by a day-long national
conference on ‘Drinking Water Quality– Issues & Challenges’ organized by
DDWS and supported by UNICEF, INREM Foundation, and WaterAid.

The conference was attended by senior officials from the Government of
India, officers of State Governments, and representatives from various
development Partners’ of the Rural Wash Partners’ Forum.

The conference began after observing a two-minute silence on the demise of
the mother of the Prime Minster.
2nd phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Sareess of India
begins in New Delhi:

The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75
handwoven Sarees of India will begin in New Delhi.

This phase being organized by the Ministry of Textiles will start at 11 AM and
will close at 8 PM on daily basis.

The second phase, having 90 participants from different parts of the country,
will bring participation of famous handcrafted varieties of Sareess like Tie and
Dye, Chikan embroidered Saris, Hand Block Saris, Kalamkari printed Saris,
Ajrakh, Kantha, and Phulkari.

The first phase of “VIRAASAT”- started on the 16th and concluded
on the 30th of last month. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates
Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh:

Defense minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Siyom bridge in
Arunachal Pradesh, along with 27 other infrastructure projects completed by
the Border Roads Organisation.

Built at 724 crore rupees, these projects will hugely augment India’s border
infrastructure, mostly along the Chinese border, from Ladakh to Arunachal.

The Siyom bridge on the Along-Yinkiong Road will facilitate faster induction of
troops, heavy equipment like howitzers, and mechanized vehicles to forward
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areas of the Upper Siang district, Tuting, and Yinkiong regions along the Line of
Actual Control (LAC).

21 other bridges, three roads, and three additional infrastructure projects in
Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Punjab, and
Rajasthan, were virtually inaugurated by Rajnath Singh from the Siyom bridge
site.
Govt proposes to ban online betting ads on social media platforms:

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has proposed to ban advertisements
of online betting sites on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube, as per draft rules for online gaming.

The Indian Express was the first to report, in October, on how these social
media platforms were rife with such advertisements and that the
government could soon intervene to curb them.

According to the draft rules, social media platforms must seek verification from
a proposed self-regulatory body about whether an online gaming company has
been registered with it before hosting its advertisements.

The self-regulatory body, in turn, can only register those online games
that do not allow wagering based on the outcome of an event, that is,
betting platforms.

This means intermediaries like Instagram and YouTube will not be allowed
to host advertisements on platforms that offer online betting under the
proposed rules.

Social media platforms must also display that a certain online game has been
registered with the self-regulatory body.
President has inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan Jaipur:

President Droupadi Murmu reached Jaipur on a two-day visit to Rajasthan.

She inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.

The President, women are continuously moving forward from Panchayat to
Parliament House on their merit.
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
It is a record to have more than 100 women in the Parliament of the country for the
first time.

President Murmu described Indian Constitution as a vibrant document.

The President will also inaugurate the Transmission System for Solar
Energy Zones in Rajasthan and lay the foundation stone for the thousand
Mega Watt Bikaner Solar Power Project virtually.

She will also grace the launch of a National Campaign on ‘RISERising India through Spiritual Empowerment’, organized by Brahma
Kumaris.

Also, the President will grace the inauguration of the 18th National Jamboree
of the Bharat Scouts and Guides at Pali, Rajasthan.
Government proposes self-regulation for e-gaming companies:

A self-regulatory body, mandatory know-your-customer norms for verification, and a
grievance
redressal mechanism are among the key proposals in the draft rules for
online gaming, released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

Online games will have to register with a self-regulatory body, and only
games cleared by the body will be allowed to legally operate in India.
 Online gaming companies will not be allowed to engage in betting on the
outcome of games, the proposed rules say.
 The proposed rules, aimed at safeguarding users against potential harm from skill-
based games, have been introduced as an amendment to the Information
Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules,
2021.
 The attempt is to regulate online gaming platforms as intermediaries and
place due diligence requirements on them.
 As per the principles laid under the rule, wagering on the outcome of a game will not be
allowed.
 All online gaming companies will have to register with the self-regulatory body
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 MeitY has invited comments on the draft rules by January 17, and the final rules
may be ready next month.
 The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to reach $5 billion in 2025.
 The industry grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38 percent in
India between 20172020, as opposed to 8 percent in China and 10 percent in
the US.
 It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15 percent to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue
by 2024, as per a report by VC firm Sequoia and management consulting
company BCG.
Cabinet approves Rs 19,744 cr for National Green Hydrogen Mission:
 The Union Cabinet approved an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore for the
National Green Hydrogen Mission.
 Addressing the nation on its 75th Independence Day in 2021, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi launched a national mission for green fuels in line with the
Centre's stated target of making India energy-independent before completing
100 years of Independence.
 The mission will have four components that aim at enhancing domestic production of
green hydrogen
and promoting the manufacturing of electrolyzers — a key constituent for making
green hydrogen.
 The initial outlay for the mission will include Rs 17,490 crore for strategic
interventions for the green hydrogen transition (SIGHT) program, Rs 1,466
crore for pilot projects, Rs 400 crore for research and development (R&D), and
Rs 388 crore for other missions components.
 The initial target is to produce 5 million tonnes (mt)of green hydrogen annually.
 SIGHT will include two financial incentive mechanisms for the domestic
manufacturing of electrolyzers and the production of green hydrogen.
 The mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production
pathways.
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
Adani Enterprises, Reliance Industries, Tata Group, JSW Energy, Larsen
& Toubro, ACME Group, ReNew Power, and others have announced
investment plans.

Ashok Leyland, which is India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, is
looking at a tie-up to run a section of its fleet on green hydrogen.

However, the sector has been demanding sovereign support since the cost
of electrolyzers and the overall cost of manufacturing green hydrogen is
high.

The current cost of green hydrogen in the country is around $5 per kilogram.
 The nodal department for the mission will be the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy.

To meet the 5 mt targets, it is expected an associated renewable energy
capacity of close to 125 gigawatts will be required.

The Centre expects close to 50 mt per annum of carbon
emissions to be averted by 2030.
India aims for $17 bln cut in food, fertilizer subsidies in FY24:

The government aims to cut spending on food and fertilizer subsidies to Rs
3.7 lakh crore ($44.6 billion) in the fiscal year from April, down 26% from this
year to rein in a fiscal deficit that ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food and fertilizer subsidies alone account for about one-eighth of total
budget spending of Rs 39.45 lakh crore this fiscal year, but reductions in
food subsidies, in particular, may prove politically sensitive with elections
looming on the horizon.

The government expects to budget around Rs 2.3 lakh crore for food
subsidies in the coming fiscal year, compared with Rs 2.7 lakh crore for
the current year to March 31

A large part of the savings will come from the end of a COVID-19-era free
food scheme, which will be replaced with a lower-spending program.
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
That will effectively halve the free rations available to the poor in a year with a
series of state elections, while general elections loom in 2024.

The government is eager to tame its fiscal deficit, which is targeted at
6.4% of GDP for the current fiscal year.

That is far above the average of 4% to 4.5% over the past decade, excluding
the pandemic years when spending surged and the ratio peaked at 9.3%.
 The government plans to shave at least half a percentage point from the ratio in
2023/24.

The subsidy numbers will be announced on February 1, when Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget for FY24 in
Parliament.
Ghaziabad-Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhya section becomes India’s longest rail track
with automatic signalling system:

Indian Railway’s Ghaziabad-Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay section has
become the nation’s longest fully Automatic Block Signalling (ABS)
section.

The 762 km long route has been fully automated.

With its implementation, the increase in line capacity to run more train services will
become possible.

The Railways have planned to implement the project on existing high-density train
routes.

The railways have adopted the ‘Electronic Interlocking’ to derive
benefits of digital and modern technologies in train operation and
to enhance safety.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has linked reforms in
the Indian Railways with the development of the country.

In this regard, the government has also increased the budget allocation to the
Railways.

In FY 2022-23, the highest-ever budget allocated was Rs 2,45,800 crores.
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
In 2020-21, Rs 1,55,181 crore was allocated in the budget while between
2014-19, about Rs 99,178 crore was allocated to Railways.
About Automatic Block Signalling

Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) helps control the trains’ movement the automatic
stop signals.

These signals are operated automatically by the passage of trains into
and out of the automatic signalling sections.

The system helps to increase the line capacity without the construction of any
additional stations.

The Indian Railways has rolled out the ‘Automatic Block Signalling’ on a mission
mode.

The ABS is a cost-effective solution.
Cabinet approves over Rs 2,500-cr scheme for upgrading infra of DD, AIR:

In a bid to upgrade Prasar Bharati's broadcast infrastructure and network, the
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a scheme worth
more than Rs 2,500 crore for Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur announced the
Central Sector Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development
(BIND)' scheme with an outlay of Rs 2,539.61 crore up to 2025-26, which
was approved by the CCEA.

Prasar Bharati, as the country’s public broadcaster, is the most important
vehicle of information, education, entertainment, and engagement for the
people, especially in the remote areas of the country through Doordarshan and
All India Radio (AIR).

The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major
upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach,
including in the LWE (Left Wing Extremism), border, and strategic areas, and
provide high-quality content to the viewers.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates National Genome Editing & Training Centre in
Punjab:
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
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology;
Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr.
Jitendra Singh inaugurated "National Genome Editing & Training Centre"
at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali, Punjab.

The Minister also, at the same time, inaugurated a 4-day International
Conference on Food and Nutritional Security 2023: - iFANS.

National Genome Editing & Training Centre" (NGETC) inaugurated today is a
one-roof state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a national platform to cater to
the regional needs to adapt different genome editing methods, including
CRISPR-Cas mediated genome modification.

The International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security (iFANS-2023) will
be jointly organized by the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI),
Centre for Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), National Institute of
Plant Biotechnology (NIPB), and International Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) at NABI, Mohali.

The 4-day conference will brainstorm how genome editing could
enhance the country's food and nutritional security under changing
climate in the country.

The conference will have multiple sessions with as many speakers from 15 different
countries.

They will share their experience through their contribution to plant sciences in
the frontier areas of their research.

The conference will bring on new challenges and new ideas and will also work
as a stage for fostering new research collaborations between laboratories in
different countries.
1st All India Annual States' Ministers Conference on "Water Vision@2047"
Begins in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh:
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
The 1st All India Annual States' Ministers Conference on "Water
Vision@2047" began in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

The two days conference began with the auspicious ‘Jal Kalash’
ceremony by the Chief Guest and Dignitaries.

“Water Vision @ 2047 is an important dimension of the journey of Amrit Kaal
for the next 25 years”, the Prime Minister remarked.

The objective of the conference is to deliberate on Water Vision for India for
the next 25 years i.e., till 2047 as part of the larger plan of India@2047 as
envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

The forum aims to bring together key policymakers for debating and
deliberating on ways to optimally utilise water resources for holistic economic
and human development in a sustainable manner.

Highlighting the importance of the circular economy in the field of water conservation,
the Prime
Minister informed that the government has laid a lot of emphasis on the circular
economy in this budget.
Fifty ASI-protected monuments ‘missing’: Ministry of Culture

The Ministry of Culture in its latest submission at the Parliament revealed that
as many as 50 centrally protected monuments under the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI) are untraceable or missing.

The submission was made on December 8 to the Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture as part of a report titled
‘Issues relating to Untraceable Monuments and Protection of
Monuments in India’.

According to the submission, 11 monuments are missing from the state of
Uttar Pradesh, two from Delhi and Haryana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan
each, and one from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand,
and Madhya Pradesh each.
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
These monuments have either been lost in urbanization or submerged by
reservoirs and dams while others are untraceable, said the submission.

The Parliamentary Committee noted that “out of the 92 monuments
declared as missing by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), 42
have been identified due to efforts made by the ASI”, but from the
remaining list of 50 monuments.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates three-day ‘North East Krishi Kumbha2023’:

In Meghalaya, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the three-day ‘North East Krishi
Kumbha-2023’ and took part in the 49th Foundation Day celebration of the
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam.

The Minister also inaugurated the administrative cum academic block
office and Girl's Hostel of the College of Agriculture at Kyrdemkulai, Ri
Bhoi district.


The farmers and farming should always be treated with honour.
The highlights of the North East Krishi Kumbha -2023 included live
demonstrations and an exhibition of recent technologies through 102 stalls,
by the host institute and its regional centres along with all the ICAR
institutes.

K Moses Chalai, Secretary, North Eastern Council, Dr. B C Deka, VC AAU,
Jorhat, Dr. Anupam Mishra, VC, CAU, Imphal, Dr. S K Chaudhuri, Director
ICAR, NEH Region and senior officials of Centre and State Government were
present during the program.
PM Modi Inaugurates Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention 2023 In Indore:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas convention in Madhya Pradesh's Indore.

The theme of the PBD convention is 'Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress
in Amrit Kaal’.
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
The Centre has organized the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in
partnership with the Madhya Pradesh government.

S Jaishankar and Anurag Thakur addressed the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
program held as part of the PBD convention.

Australia's Member of Parliament Zaneta Mascarenhas was the guest of honour at
the event.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 to mark the
arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Mumbai from South Africa on that day in
1915.

Since 2015, the convention has been organized every two years to
mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the
development of the nation.

Modi also lauded Indore's efforts in promoting the Swachh Bharat campaign
and said the city is known worldwide for its food, adding to its identity as the
"raajdhaani (capital)" of cleanliness and taste.

President of Guyana Irfaan Ali was the chief guest, and President of
Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi was the special guest of honour.

Surinamese President Santokhi echoed Modi's sentiments about Indore and
said it was his honour to step foot on the soil of the cleanest city in India.
President Droupadi Murmu lays the foundation stone for SJVN's 1,000 MW solar project in
Rajasthan:

President Droupadi Murmu virtually laid the foundation stone of state-owned
energy firm SJVN's 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project in Jaipur,
Rajasthan.

Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra and state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also
attended the event

This project will be implemented through its wholly-owned subsidiary
SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL).
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
According to SJVN CMD Nand Lal Sharma, "Development cost of the project
is Rs 5,492 crore and viability gap funding support of Rs 44.72 lakh per
megawatt for this project is being done by IREDA.

It will come up on a 5,000 acres area".

The project is scheduled to be commissioned by March 2024, the project will
generate 2,454.55 million units (MU) in the first year and approximately
56,838 MU would be generated on a cumulative basis over 25 years.

The project would also lead to a reduction in carbon emissions of 27,85,077 tonnes.

Sharma further stated that the project will generate up to 200 direct and
1,000 indirect employment opportunities.

As per the statement, SJVN has bagged the 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar
Power Project under Central Public Sector Undertaking Scheme PhaseII, Tranche-III (Government Producer Scheme) through competitive
bidding.

The power generated by the project shall be for self-use or use by
government/ government entities, either directly or through distribution
companies.
PM launches Aspirational Block Programme aimed at spurring development parameters:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the government’s Aspirational Block
Programme (ABP), which is aimed at improving the performance of blocks
lagging on various development parameters.

The ABP was launched during the 2nd National Conference of Chief
Secretaries, which was held in January.
 The Indian Express reported that the government is set to launch the Aspirational
Blocks Programme.
 The Centre had announced its intention to launch this initiative in the Union Budget
2022-23.
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
Launching the Aspirational Block Programme, Prime Minister underscored
the success achieved in various Aspirational Districts in the country under
the Aspirational District Programme

According to sources, the program will cover 500 districts across 31
states and Union Territories initially.

Over half of these blocks are in 6 states—Uttar Pradesh (68 blocks), Bihar
(61), Madhya Pradesh (42), Jharkhand (34), Odisha (29), and West Bengal
(29).

However, states can add more blocks to the
program later
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh unveils the theme for
National Science Day 2023:

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology;
Minister of State (Independent
Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,
Pensions, Atomic Energy and
Space, Dr Jitendra Singh released the theme for the "National
Science Day 2023", titled "Global Science for Global Wellbeing" at
National Media Centre.

As India enters 2023, the theme indicates India's emerging global role
and rising visibility in the international arena.

India has acquired Global Visibility in the Comity of Nations under Prime
Minister Modi and we are ready for Outcome-oriented Global
Collaboration to address Global Challenges.

The National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on 28
February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’.
 The government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD) in
1986.
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
On this day Sir C.V. Raman announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect'
for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.

On this occasion, theme-based science communication activities are
carried out all over the country.
Home Minister inaugurates ‘Jai Hind- The New Light and Sound Show at Red
Fort:

Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Jai Hind- The New Light and
Sound Show' at Red Fort in New Delhi.

On this occasion, according to Mr. Shah, the one-hour presentation did a
fantastic job of showcasing India's rich history and civilization.

He asserted that no one can create a great nation if they do not learn from the past.

During the Amrit Kaal, he urged the populace to work together to make their
nation the best in the world within the next 25 years.
Centre named new Integrated Food Security Scheme as PMGKAY:

The Centre has named the new Integrated Food Security Scheme Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, PMGKAY.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet had approved a new integrated food
security scheme for providing free foodgrains to Antodaya Ann Yojna
(AAY) and Primary Household (PHH) beneficiaries.

Implementation of the new scheme has started from the 1st of January this
year, benefiting more than 80 crores of poor and poorest of poor people.

Keeping in view the welfare of the beneficiaries and to maintain uniformity
across the States, free foodgrains will be provided under PMGKAY for the
year 2023 to all Primary Household and Antodaya Ann Yojna beneficiaries,
as per entitlement under National Food Security Act.
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
The integrated scheme will strengthen the provisions of the National
Food Security Act in terms of accessibility, affordability, and availability of
food grains for the poor.

Necessary steps have already been taken for the smooth implementation of the
PMGKAY in the field.

The Central Government will spend more than two lakh crore rupees in
2023 as food subsidies under NFSA and other welfare schemes, to remove
the financial burden of the poor and the poorest of the poor.
Kisan Vikas Patra’s (KVP) interest rate was hiked for January–March 2023 quarter:

The government has hiked the interest rate on Kisan Vikas Patra for the
quarter of January – March 2023.

The Kisan Vikas Patra is a small savings tool that will make it easier for
people to contribute to longterm savings plans.

Due to its low risk and assurance of profits, it is a well-liked investing tool

At the end of the maturity period, you will receive the invested money
with a guaranteed double increase in value, regardless of market
volatility
Kisan Vikas Patra interest rates 2023:

Deposits made into KVP accounts will now earn an interest rate of 7.2% annually
compounded.

Earlier the interest rate offered on KVP was 7%.

At 7.2% interest, the investment in the KVP account will double in value after 120
months.

A single adult, a Joint Account (up to 3 adults), a guardian on behalf of a
minor or on behalf of a person of unsound mind, or a minor above 10 years in
his name can open Kisan Vikas Patra.
Types of KVP accounts:
(1) On an application to the accounts office in Form-1, the following types of
accounts can be opened under the Scheme, namely:
(a) Single Holder Type Account
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(b) Joint A- Type Account
KVP can be transferred from one person to another person

(i)
KVP may be transferred from one person to another person on the following
conditions only.
On the death of the account holder to nominee/legal heirs.
(ii) On the death of the account holder to the joint holder(s).
(iii) On order by the court.
(iv) On pledging of account to the specified authority.
The Country's largest student-run festival 'Saarang 2023' will be held for five days:

The Director of IIT Madras Prof. Kamakoti has said that the country's
largest student-run festival Saarang 2023 will be held for five days
this month.

Speaking with the media in Chennai, he revealed that participants from more
than 500 universities throughout the nation will take part in the occasion,
which is being conducted three years after COVID.

He mentioned that the event, which would feature a hundred different kinds of
sports and competitions, is projected to draw around 80,000 pupils.
Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates School of Logistics,
Waterways and Communication in Agartala:

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri
Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Dr Manik Saha, Chief Minister, Tripura
inaugurated the School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication.

The school will enable the rich pool of talent of the region to
become world-class experts in the transportation and logistics
sector.

To unlock the promised economic potential of the Northeast, the school
will enable the capacity of human resources along our opulent
waterways

The Centre for Logistics, Communication and Waterways would facilitate in
conducting
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studies/research, training, workshops/seminars for stakeholders like
businesses, exporters/importers, Chambers of Commerce and Industries,
local entrepreneurs, tourist operators etc.

It has been set up under the State Institute of Public Administration and Rural
Development (SIPARD).

SIPARD is an autonomous body funded by the Government of Tripura and
partially by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

The two countries have renewed and strengthened the Indo-Bangladesh
Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade which outlines new measures
to facilitate the inland water trade, develop
infrastructure and improve cross-country transport and logistics facilities.

In addition to the existing 6 ports of call, five additional ports of call and two
extended ports of call on each side have been agreed upon along with a
longer period of 5 years (against the 2-year validity earlier) for protocol
renewal.

The Government of India is providing financial assistance under the
Central Sector Scheme for the development of Inland Waterway in
the Northeast including Tripura.
Grand cultural event Sur Sarita-Symphony of Ganga to be held in
Varanasi:

The world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas will be flagged off by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.

In the coming 50 days, this luxury cruise will not only bring to the world India’s
potential for cruise tourism for India but will also showcase India’s natural
beauty, cultural heritage, and spiritual splendour.

Ministry of Culture will organize a grand curtain raiser cultural
program ‘Sur Sarita – Symphony of Ganga’ on the launch of the world’s
longest river cruise in Varanasi.
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
Ganga Vilas Cruise will cross Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bangladesh, and Assam in a
journey of 51 days.

Keeping this in mind, songs have been chosen from different states, and
folk musicians from Assam, Bihar, and Bengal will join Shankar Mahadevan
to pay homage to the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra.

The show, of about an hour, will end with Shankar Mahadevan’s rendition of
‘Kartavya Ganga’ which promises the river goddess that every Indian will
always take care of her.
In a first, India among the top five ECM markets globally in 2022:

India was among the top five markets, globally, in terms of equity
fundraising despite the quantum of funds raised declining by 43 per cent.

According to a report by Kotak Investment Banking, funds to the tune of
$16.4 billion were transacted via equity capital market (ECM) activity in
India in 2022.

Traditionally, India has rarely featured in the top 10 in terms of ECM activity.

Interestingly, in 2022, India also broke into the top-five league in terms of market
capitalisation.

India's outperformance comes on the back of a sharper decline in ECM
activity in major markets such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.

ECM activity globally took a hit on account of heightened volatility amid rising interest
rates.

S. Ramesh, managing director & chief executive officer, of Kotak
Investment Banking, said Indian markets have become stronger as far
as ECM activity is concerned, underpinned by encouraging participation
by domestic investors.

The investment bank expects fundraising by way of initial public offerings to
jump 30 per cent this year, led by sectors such as pharmaceutical and
healthcare.
India’s first Centre of Excellence of online gaming in Meghalaya:
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
The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and
Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced
that India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) of online gaming will be set
up in Shillong, Meghalaya by March 2023.

The CoE will be set up under Digital India Startup Hub through the Software
Technology Parks of India (STPI).

The STPI was set up in 1991 as an autonomous society in the field of
Science and Technology under the MeitY.

Digital Skills have become necessary to thrive in the post-Covid world.
Understanding the significance of digital skills in today’s era, MeitY is relaunching Skill India through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
(PMKVY) 4.0.
Scope of Online gaming industry

India has one of the largest markets for the gaming business, the Boston
Consulting Group (BCG) and Sequoia India report suggests that the Indian
mobile gaming industry will be worth $5 Billion in 2025.

But the other side of the coin is the presence of violent and unregulated content in
online games.

Hence, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that MeitY has recently
circulated draft amendments to the IT Rules 2021 about Online Gaming for
public consultation.

According to the draft amendments, online games will be mandated to
register and can legally operate in the country only after government
clearance.
Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the Regional Office of Employees Provident
Fund Organization in Alwar, Rajasthan:

Union Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the Regional
Office of Employees Provident Fund Organization in Alwar, Rajasthan.
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
With the opening of this regional office, more than 2 lakh members and
8500 pensioners working in about 12000 establishments of Alwar and
neighbouring districts of Bharatpur and Dhaulpur will be benefitted.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yadav appreciated the important role
played by EPFO in providing social security to workers in the last 70
years.

EPFO is the custodian of the hard-earned money of more than 6.4 crore
members and their families who benefit from this fund in times of distress and
it is a big responsibility of this organization.

Regional Office, Jaipur is divided into two Regional Offices, namely
Regional Office Jaipur and Regional Office Alwar, in managing large
offices of EPFO.
SPIC MACAY, Culture Ministry collaborate for ‘Music in the Park’ series under ‘Shruti
Amrut’:

The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture
Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) organized its very popular ‘Music in the
Park’ series this year under the name ‘Shruti Amrut’ in collaboration with
the Ministry of Culture and the New Delhi Municipal Council.
 The beauty of Indian Classical Music was showcased by eminent artists from across
the country.
 In this series, the first event of 2023 was held in Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri, New
Delhi.

The concert began with a Sarod performance by Aman Ali Bangash, a 7th
Generation musician from Senia Bangash Gharana.

He was accompanied by Anubrata Chatterjee (Tabla) and Abhishek Mishra
(Tabla). Following this, a Hindustani Vocal performance by Padma Bhushan
Begum Parween Sultana of Patiala Gharana accompanied by Akram Khan
(Tabla), Shrinivas Acharya (Harmonium), and Shadaab Sultana (Vocals) was
performed.
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
SPIC MACAY is a voluntary youth movement that promotes the tangible &
intangible aspects of Indian & world heritage by organizing programs and
workshops on Indian Classical, Folk Music and dance, Yoga, meditation,
crafts, and other aspects of Indian culture.

It is a movement started in 1977 and has chapters in over
850 towns across the world.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launches “Geospatial
Hackathon”:

The Department of Science and Technology under Union Minister Dr.
Jitendra Singh has announced the Geospatial Hackathon to promote
innovation and Start-Ups in India’s geospatial ecosystem.

The Geospatial Hackathon will conclude on March 10, 2023, with two sets
of hackathon challenges to determine four winners for the “best solutions”
to the geospatial select problem statements: the Research challenge and
the Start-Ups challenge.

This hackathon aims to promote partnerships not only among the public and
private geospatial sectors but also to strengthen our country’s geospatial
Start-Up ecosystem.

The Geospatial Hackathon seeks to promote innovative and cutting-edge
solutions from India’s vibrant start-up community as well as recognize research
work that could be applied to solve geospatial issues.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh appreciated the Ministry of Science and
Technology, Survey of India, IIIT Hyderabad, and Microsoft India for planning,
participating, and designing the Geospatial
Hackathon, which he said will serve as a formal launchpad for India’s
geospatial strategy and policy, which envisions making India a global leader
in the geospatial sector in times to come and becoming truly Atmanirbhar.
PM Modi shares snippets titled ‘Your Exam, Your Methods-Choose Your Style’ from Exam
Warriors book:
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
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared snippets titled ‘Your Exam, Your
Methods-Choose Your Style’ from Exam Warriors book and urged
students to share how they prepare for exams.

The Prime Minister said that in the book Exam Warriors, one Matra is
‘Your Exam, Your Methods – Choose Your Style.
 He urged all students to share their interesting experiences while preparing for the
exams.

The Prime Minister said it will surely
motivate Exam Warriors.
ASI unearths two 1200-year-old miniature
stupas at Nalanda:

The Patna circle of the s unearthed two miniature votive stupas dating
back 1200 years during landscaping work near the Sarai Tila mound
within the grounds of "Nalanda Mahavihara," a world heritage site in the
state's Nalanda district.

The stupas, carved from stone, depict Buddha figures.

These two votive stupas (offered in fulfilment of a vow) were discovered
by the ASI officials during landscaping near Sarai Tila mound within the
premises of 'Nalanda Mahavihara'.

Beginning in the 7th century CE in India, small miniature terracotta stupas
became popular as votive offerings.

Devout pilgrims visiting various holy sites and temples throughout Asia
would either purchase small votive offerings or make their own

The Nalanda Mahavihara site comprises the archaeological remains of a
monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to
the 13th century CE.

It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and
important artworks in stucco, stone and metal.

Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian subcontinent.
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
It engaged in the organized transmission of knowledge over an
uninterrupted period of 800 years
Padho Pardesh scheme discontinued by MoMA:

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) has discontinued the scheme of
interest subsidy on education loans for overseas studies for students
belonging to minority communities (Padho Pardesh).

All banks were notified by the Indian Banks’ Association last month
about the discontinuation of the Padho Pardesh Interest Subsidy
Scheme from 2022-23.
 The scheme so far was being implemented through Canara Bank, the designated
nodal bank.

The existing beneficiaries as on March 31, 2022, will continue to receive the
interest subsidy during the moratorium period of the loan, subject to
compliance with the extant guidelines, according to the Association’s
communication to Banks.

The reason why the scheme has been discontinued
could not be ascertained. About the scheme

Under the scheme, interest payable by the students availing education loans
as prescribed under the Education Loan Scheme of the IBA for the period of
moratorium (that is course period, plus one year or six months after getting a
job, whichever is earlier) shall be borne by the Government of India.

After the period of moratorium is over, the interest on the outstanding loan
amount shall be paid by the student, through the existing Educational Loan
Scheme.
 The Candidate will bear the Principal instalments and interest beyond the
moratorium period.
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
As per the scheme, the total income from all sources of the employed
candidate or his/ her parents/guardians in case of an unemployed
candidate shall not exceed ₹6 lakhs per annum.

Thirty-five per cent of seats are earmarked for girl students.
 In case of the non-availability of girl students, seats can be transferred to boy
students.

As per MoMA’s latest annual report, during the year 2020-21, an amount of
₹20.20 crore was released to Canara Bank for reimbursement of interest
subsidy of fresh plus renewal candidates under the Scheme.
NCERT notifies India’s first national assessment regulator:

The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) has
notified India’s first national assessment regulator, PARAKH, which will work
on setting norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment and
evaluation for all recognised school boards in the country.

The regulator aims to set up assessment guidelines for all boards to help
remove disparities in scores of students enrolled with different state
boards.

PARAKH has been launched as part of the implementation of the National
Education Policy (NEP)-2020 which envisaged a standard-setting body to
advise school boards regarding new assessment patterns and the latest
research, and promote collaborations between them.

The Centre will also manage India’s participation in international assessments
such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Trends
in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and Progress in
International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), stated the expression of
interest issued by NCERT last September.
Hyderabad to host India’s first Fourth Industrial Revolution center on healthcare, life
sciences:
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
Hyderabad will host a World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth
Industrial Revolution (C4IR), the first thematic center in India to focus on
life sciences and healthcare

The center will be an autonomous, non-profit organization focusing on
policy and governance for healthcare and life sciences.

The announcement was made after the state government and the
international organization signed a collaboration agreement during the
annual meeting.

C4IR Telangana–with the support of the Forum’s global network of Fourth
Industrial Revolution Centres and the backing of the state and central
governments in India–will be a key player in driving stakeholder engagement,
building bridges between the public sector and SMEs and supporting job
creation in the healthcare sector

C4IR Telangana is the 18th center to join the Forum’s Fourth Industrial
Revolution Network, which spans four continents.

The collaboration agreement was signed by Jeremy Jurgens, managing
director of the Forum, and Shakthi Nagappan, chief executive officer of the
government’s Telangana Life Sciences Foundation, in the presence of Rao
and Brende.

Jayesh Ranjan, IT principal secretary, and Shyam Bishen, head of healthcare
at the Forum, were also present.

C4IR Telangana is the only such center in India with a thematic focus on healthcare
and life sciences.

The state accounts for one-third of global vaccine output and is regarded
as a leading life sciences hotspot in Asia.

Also, the state contributes about 35 percent of India’s pharmaceutical production.
PM inaugurates second phase of Saansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23 in Basti District:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the second phase of
Saansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23 via video conferencing.
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
Saansad Khel Mahakumbh has been organized in Basti district, Uttar
Pradesh by Shri Harish Dwivedi, Member of Parliament from Basti since 2021.

The Khel Mahakumbh organizes various competitions in both indoor and
outdoor sports like wrestling, kabaddi, kho kho, basketball, football, hockey,
volleyball, handball, chess, carrom, badminton, table tennis, etc.

Apart from these, competitions in essay writing, painting, rangoli making, etc
are also organized during the Khel Mahakumbh.

Observing that the year 2023 has been declared the International Year of
Millets, the Prime Minister noted the huge role that millets can play in the
nutrition of the players.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, and Member of
Parliament, Shri Harish Dwivedi were present on the occasion among others.

The first phase of the Khel Mahakumbh was organized from 10th to 16th
December 2022 and the second phase of the Khel Mahakumbh is
scheduled from 18th to 28th January 2023.

The Khel Mahakumbh organizes various competitions in both indoor and
outdoor sports like wrestling, kabaddi, kho kho, basketball, football, hockey,
volleyball, handball, chess, carrom, badminton, table tennis, etc.

Apart from these, competitions in essay writing, painting, rangoli making, etc
are also organized during the Khel Mahakumbh.

The Khel Mahakumbh is a novel initiative that provides an opportunity and a
platform for the youth of District Basti and neighboring areas to showcase
their sporting talent, and motivates them to take sport as a career option.
PM Modi launches projects worth Rs 38,000 cr, inaugurates two Metro rail lines:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation
stones of various development projects in Mumbai.
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
These projects, which are worth more than Rs. 38,000 crores, belong to
different sectors and aim to develop infrastructure, ease urban travel, and
strengthen healthcare in the state.

During his visit, PM Modi launched two new Mumbai Metro Rail Lines
2A and 7 which have been developed at a cost of around Rs. 12,600
crores.
 The Prime Minister not just did inaugurated the metro lines, but also rode the newly
launched metro.
 The two newly-inaugurated metro lines comprise a 35 km-long elevated
corridor stretching from Andheri to Dahisar in suburban Mumbai.
 Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Kohsyari, Maharashtra CM Eknath
Shine, and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was also present on the
occasion and accompanied PM Modi at the event. Some other
Inaugurations of PM:
 To facilitate the ease of travel for passengers in the Metro, the Prime Minister
also launched an app named “MUMBAI 1 Mobile App”.

The mobile app facilitates digital ticket booking through UPI payment.
 PM also launched the National Common Mobility Card (Mumbai 1), which enables
quick, contactless, digital transactions.
 It will initially be used in metro corridors and can be extended to other modes of mass
public transit, including local trains and buses, thus reducing the need for
commuters to carry multiple cards or cash.
 The Prime Minister also inaugurated 20 ‘Aapla Davakhana’ (health clinics) named after
Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and laid foundation stones for the redevelopment
of three hospitals in the state.
 The list includes – a 360-bed Bhandup Multispeciality Municipal Hospital, a 306bed Siddharth Nagar Hospital, Goregaon (West), and a 152-bed Oshiwara
Maternity Home.
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 PM Modi also laid the foundation stones for 7 sewage treatment plants, a road
concretization project, and the redevelopment of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Terminus.
Government to combine Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) with Ayushman
Bharat:
 The National Health Authority (NHA) is in the process of integrating the Central
Government Health Scheme (CGHS) with the Ayushman Bharat Digital
Mission (ABDM)
 This is aimed at creating digital health identification of CGHS beneficiaries
and storing their digital health records, thus ensuring quick treatment to the
needy

So far, around 100 million health records have been linked to ABDM.
 CGHS was started in 1954 to provide comprehensive healthcare to central
government employees and pensioners and their dependent family members.

The scheme currently covers more than 4.1 million beneficiaries in 75 cities.
 Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is a 14-digit number that allows
citizens to access and manage their medical records digitally.

It creates comprehensive medical history across healthcare providers with
citizens sharing relevant health records with ABDM-registered healthcare
providers digitally.

The NHA, the implementing agency of ABDM, had in July 2022 announced
the expansion of its digital health ecosystem by integrating digital health
applications.

In 2021, the health ministry shifted the CGHS to NHA’s IT platform to
deliver healthcare services to eligible beneficiaries seamlessly.
Government to combine Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) with Ayushman
Bharat:
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
The National Health Authority (NHA) is in the process of integrating the
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) with the Ayushman Bharat
Digital Mission (ABDM)

This is aimed at creating digital health identification of CGHS beneficiaries
and storing their digital health records, thus ensuring quick treatment to the
needy

So far, around 100 million health records
have been linked to ABDM.
NGOs‘generalized flag surveillance of citizens in
Delhi High Court

The Center for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and the Software Freedom
Law Centre (SFLC) flagged what they said was “generalised surveillance” of
Indian citizens by the Government, in an ongoing case before the Delhi High
Court.

The Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) said that the
government has ordered us to provide all the traffic which goes through the
internet to their [Centralised] Monitoring System (CMS).“
Pension Yojana logs 10 million enrolments in a calendar year

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) targeted towards unorganised sector
workers — saw the highest-ever takers in 2022 with enrolments rising 36
percent.

The figure crossed 10 million for the first time in a calendar year, data
released by the finance ministry showed.

The number of enrolments in 2022 rose to 12.5 million
from 9.2 million in 2021.
PM-KISAN handout to be raised to Rs 8,000; to cost Rs
22,000 cr extra

The Centre may enhance the income support to farmers under the PMKISAN scheme to `8,000 from `6,000/year, in the upcoming Budget as it
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seeks to provide a modicum of consumption booster, despite the budgetary
focus on macroeconomic stability.

An increase of Rs. 2,000 per farmer would entail an annual additional cost of
around Rs. 22,000 crores to the government.
PM Names 21 Largest Islands In Andaman And Nicobar After 21 Indian Heroes
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees in a
ceremony on the occasion of Parakram Diwas.
 PM Modi also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to
Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, earlier known
as Ross Islands.
Government releases guidelines for social media influencers
 The government made it mandatory for social media influencers to disclose
their ‘material’ interest in endorsing products and services and violations can
attract strict legal action, including a ban on endorsements.
 The regulations are part of continuing efforts to curb misleading advertisements
as well as protect the interests of consumers amid the expanding social influencer
market which is projected to be worth around Rs 2,800 crore by 2025.
Export obligation relaxed for hotel, health, education sectors under EPCG scheme
 Traders from three sectors — hotels, healthcare, and education are not
required to maintain average export obligations for FY21 and FY22 under the
Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme.
 They will also have the option to extend the export obligation for a longer period
without paying any fees.
 Under the EPCG scheme, traders are allowed to import capital goods at zero
duty if they take on the export obligation.
The centre may add slabs in the overhaul of the income tax regime
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 The government has held extensive discussions over the past few weeks to
overhaul the new personal income tax regime without exemptions, with a
new plan expected to be announced in the Union budget on 1 February
 One of the proposals examined is to add more slabs to the new income tax
scheme so that the income range covered in each slab is narrower, preventing
taxpayers with diverse incomes from clustering in wide slabs
Centre spent Rs 3.43 trillion on free ration scheme
 The Centre spent a total of Rs 3.43 trillion for the seven-phase
implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY) between April 2020 and December 2022.
 This expenditure is against an earlier estimate of Rs 3.9 trillion for the free ration
scheme because the off-take of grains by the states at 9.17 million tonnes was
23% less than the initial estimate in the seventh phase (October-December,
2022) of the scheme.
Centre approves ₹15,225 crore credit for over 20,000 agri-infra projects

The Centre has approved ₹15,225 crore credit for over 20,000 projects so
far, under Agriculture Infra Fund (AIF), but co-operatives' disbursal rate
(against the sanctioned loans) is less than 15 percent whereas it is nearly
80 percent in the case of banks.

Since it started in July 2020, 46,384 proposals for credit totaling ₹27,452
crores have been sent to the AIF.
Indian markets achieve complete transition to T+1 settlement cycle

Indian stock markets are embarking on a shorter settlement cycle or T+1
regime for the final list of large stocks from January, a move that will help
reduce margin requirements for clients and boost retail investment.

T+1 (trade plus one) means that trade-related settlements will be cleared
within a day of the actual transactions.
India sends notice to Pakistan to amend 1960 Indus Water Treaty
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
India announced that it wants to modify the 62-year-old Indus Water Treaty
(IWT) with Pakistan, citing what it called Pakistan’s “intransigence” in
resolving disputes over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects,
both in Jammu and Kashmir.

India also protested Pakistan’s “unilateral” decision to approach a court
of arbitration at The Hague.
Cheetah reintroduction programme: 12 big cats from South Africa to be brought to
India

As many as 12 cheetahs will be brought to India as the central government
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa on the re-
introduction of the big cats in the country.

The development comes months after eight cheetahs were flown from
Namibia and introduced at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on
the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on September 17 last
year.

As per the agreement, an initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be flown from South
Africa to India next month.
All government vehicles older than 15 years to be scrapped from April

From April, all government vehicles that have completed 15 years will
automatically lose their right to ply on roads as their certificate of registration will
expire, according to a new rule of the central government.

To weed out old, polluting, and potentially less-safe vehicles from Indian roads,
Nitin Gadkari-led Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has already rolled
out the vehicle scrapping policy.

The draft notification of the policy
was issued in November.
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Jal Jeevan mission provides tap water to 11
crore rural households:
The Jal Shakti Ministry had provided 11 crore rural households with a tap water connection

Data from the Ministry’s dashboard suggest that 56% of the targeted 19.3
crore households had been covered.

In September 2022, 53% of the households, or 10.2 crore
households, had been covered.
CIL sets aside ₹42,600 cr for cleaner coal transport, solar

State-run miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) plans to invest around ₹42,600 crore in lowemission infrastructure for fossil fuel mining and green energy to help India
achieve its net-zero targets, chairman and managing director Pramod Agrawal

CIL plans to invest ₹24,000 crore in first mile connectivity (FMC) projects in
three phases, including ₹10,500 crore in phase I involving 35 projects, which
will enable mechanized transportation of 415 million tonnes of coal.
Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Mughal Gardens renamed as Amrit Udyan

The Mughal Garden, located within the grounds of the Rashtrapati Bhavan
in New Delhi, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

The garden, known for its beautiful flowers and lush green plants, has now
been renamed Amrit Udyan and is set to open its doors to the public from
January 31.
Govt forms grievance committees to address complaints against social media platforms

The Centre notified three grievance panels that will take the final call on
social media takedowns, as proposed by an amendment to the information
and technology rules notified last year.

The panels have been appointed in exercise of the powers conferred by subrules (1) and (2) of rule 3A of the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021,
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
The move has been opposed by several members of civil society and industry
stating that it will give the government far-reaching powers over what content
stays online.
IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL NEWS
IISc Bengaluru to be G20 Science working group’s secretariat

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) of Bengaluru has been chosen as the
secretariat for Science 20 (S20) – the science working group of the G20
summit.

The G20 is being presided over by India and the theme of the S20 in 2023
is ‘Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development’.
The G20 forum is made up of 19 countries and includes the European Union (EU).
About the S20 2023:

Science 20 (S20) 2023 will work towards resolving global issues like poverty.

It will focus on three key issues:
1. Universal Holistic Health
2. Clean Energy for Green Future
3. Connecting Science to Society and Culture

These three issues will be discussed at the events that will be held in
Agartala, Lakshadweep, and Bhopal throughout the year 2023

The S20 will play a major role in resolving global concerns like the hunger
crisis and bring together the Group of 20 countries in developmental efforts.

The S20 2023 will focus on creating a framework that supports the
development of responsible technologies, encouraging IP sharing and
technological transfers, and startup mentorship programs and funding.

It will also promote global support for large-scale science projects, and a
framework for holistic health programs and mental health programs.
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
Also, an inaugural conference will be held in Puducherry from January 30
to 31, 2023 and a summit meeting will be organized in Coimbatore, Tamil
Nadu.

S20 will be a platform for addressing issues like climate change and
sustainable development in G20 nations.
International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 kickstarts

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the
International Year of Millets (IYM), a proposal sponsored by the
Government of India (GoI) to promote these "Nutri-cereals."

The declaration will be helpful to the Government of India in articulating its
goal of making IYM 2023 a "People's Movement" as well as presenting India
as the "Global Hub for Millets," as India produces one-fifth of the world's
millets.
About Millets:

Millets are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses that are often referred to as
“Nutri-cereals”.

Millets’ were among the first crops to be domesticated in India
with several evidence of their consumption during the Indus valley
civilization.

In India, millets are primarily a Kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural
inputs than other similar staples.

The main millet-growing states in India are Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Millets are also an integral part of the G-20 meetings and delegates will
be given a true millet experience through tasting, meeting farmers, and
interactive sessions with start-ups and Farmer Producer Organisations
(FPOs).
Key Statistics:

India is the largest producer of millet in the world.
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
Currently, India is the fifth largest exporter of millets in the world, according
to 2020 data with exports continuously increasing at around 3% Compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) in the last five years ending with 2020.

The global market for millets is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during
the forecast period, 20212026.

India is the world leader in the production of millet with a share of around 41%
of total world production in 2020.

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare data, India
produces around 12 million MT of millet annually

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
organized the opening ceremony of the International Millet Year- 2023 on 6
December 2022 in Rome, Italy.

Earlier in April 2018, millet was promoted as a "nutritional grain & after this,
the year 2018 was declared the National Millet Year.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare sponsored a special
"Millet Luncheon" for the Members of the Parliament in the Parliament House
in preparation for the year-long celebration of IYM 2023.
Activities for the International Year of Millets:

The ministry has planned 15 activities over 15 days in January 2023
which include engaging sports persons, nutritionists, and fitness experts
through video messages.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries will be organizing Millet Fair-cum-exhibitions in
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) will hold Eat Right Melas in Punjab, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will
participate in the trade exhibition organized in Belgium in January 2023.
About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare:

Cabinet Minister: Narendra Singh Tomar
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
Minister of State: Shobha Karandlaje

Secretary: Shri Sanjay Agarwal
UNSC adopts first-ever resolution on Myanmar, demanding an end to
violence and release of political prisoners

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC ) has adopted its first-ever
resolution on Myanmar in 74 years to demand an end to violence and urge
the military junta to release all political prisoners, including ousted leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the army took power from Suu Kyi's
elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, detaining her and other officials.
Key Highlights:

The 15-member council has long been split on how to deal with the
Myanmar crisis with China and Russia arguing against strong action.

The remaining 12 members voted in favour.

The resolution urges the junta to immediately release all arbitrarily detained
prisoners, including Suu Kyi and ex-president Win Myint.

It also demands an immediate end to all forms of violence and asks for all
parties to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of
law.
About UNSC:

Founded: 24 October 1945

Headquarters: New York, United States

India's permanent representative to the UN: Ruchira Kamboj
(India’s first woman Permanent Representative to the UN)

Membership: 15 countries (Permanent members- China, France, Russia,
United Kingdom, United States)

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun
Croatia Joins Schengen Zone and Adopts the Euro
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
Croatia has switched its currency to the euro and joined the European
Union’s borderless Schengen zone.

Croatia first entered the European Union (EU) in 2013 and now becomes
the 27th country to join the Schengen area and the 20th to adopt the euro
as its currency.

However, Croatia will continue to impose strict border controls on its eastern
boundaries with non-EU neighbours such as Bosnia, Serbia, and
Montenegro.
About Schengen Area:

The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that
have officially abolished all passports and all other types of border
control at their mutual borders.

Of the 27 EU member states, 23 participate in the Schengen Area & 4 EU
members are not part of the Schengen Area.

The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990
Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg.
About the Euro area:

Euro area or ‘eurozone’ is a bloc of the member states of the European
Union (EU) that have replaced their national currencies with a single currency
– the euro.

Before adopting the euro as its currency, Croatia used the kuna with 1
Croatian kuna equalling about 14 cents in the United States.

Currently, 1 euro equals about $1.06 in the U.S.

The new Croatian euro coin will depict scientist Nikola Tesla on one side.

It will also feature a map of the country and the national checkerboard design.

Both the Croatian kuna and the euro will remain available for making cash
payments for 14 days, after which people can only use euros.
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About Croatia:

President: Zoran Milanović

Capital: Zagreb

Currency: Euro
India takes over leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union

India took over the leadership of the Asia Pacific Postal Union (APPU) in January
2023.

Former Member (Personnel) of, the Postal Services Board, Dr. Vinaya Prakash
Singh will take over the charge of Secretary General of the Union for a tenure
of 4 years.

This is the result of the elections during the 13th APPU Congress held in
August-September 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Singh will succeed Mr.Lin Hongliang of China.

This is the first time an Indian is leading an international
organization in the postal sector. About APPU:

Founded: 1 July 1982

Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand

Secretary General: Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh

Membership: 32 state members

India has been a member of APPU since 1973.

The APPU is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union
(UPU) in the region, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Goal:

To extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between
member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal
services.

The Secretary-General leads the activities of the Union and is also the
Director of the Asian Pacific Postal College (APPC) which is the largest
intergovernmental postal training institute in the region.
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
The APPU is responsible for overseeing the technical and operational UPU
projects in the region as the regional centre for several UPU activities,
enabling the best possible integration of the region into the global postal
network.
India identifies copper and lithium mines in Argentina

India has identified 2 lithium mines and 1 copper mine in Argentina for a
possible acquisition or longterm lease.

The Centre sent a team of 3 geologists to the Latin American nation to assess
potential lithium deposits and possible acquisition opportunities in November
2022.

The team consisted of one geologist from the Mineral Exploration
Corporation Ltd (MECL), KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), and the
Geological Survey of India (GSI).
Key Highlights:

Argentina is ranked among the main mineral reserves across the globe.

Lithium reserves have been found in all the continents but Chile,
Argentina, and Bolivia together are referred to as the “Lithium Triangle”-
holding underneath in its salt flats more than 75% of the world supply.

Argentina is the 4th largest producer of lithium.

It also has the 3rd-largest reserve of minerals in the world.

Australia is the top lithium producer globally.

The US and China, are key producers of the mineral besides the Lithium Triangle.

Lithium is widely used in manufacturing batteries and
other electronic products. About KABIL:

Established: 2019

KABIL is a joint venture formed through the participation of the National
Aluminium Company (Nalco), Hindustan Copper (HCL), and Mineral
Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL).
Aim:
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
To ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic
minerals in the domestic market.
New Members Join United Nations Security Council

Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland officially began
their 2-year term as nonpermanent members of the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC ).

The 5 latest UNSC members - Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and
Switzerland are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway,
whose terms ended on December 31, 2022.

In a tradition that Kazakhstan started in 2018, the 5 countries' ambassadors
installed their national flags alongside those of other members outside the
council chambers.

Malta joined for a 2nd time, Ecuador a 4th, and Japan a record 12th.

The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and
the United Arab Emirates. About United Nations Security Council:

Founded: 24 October 1945

Headquarters: New York, United States

Membership: 15 countries (Including 5 permanent members - China,
France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States)

It is responsible for maintaining
international peace and security
India & Panama sign agreement on cooperation
in training of diplomats

India and Panama signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
enhance cooperation for the training of diplomats.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Panama's
Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo signed the MoU during the 17th
Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) Convention 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh
(MP).
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About the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention:

The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in
partnership with the Madhya Pradesh Government from 08-10 January
2023 in Indore, MP

The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for
India’s progress in Amrit Kaal”. Key Highlights:

During the consultations, both sides comprehensively reviewed their bilateral
relations covering issues such as trade and investment, pharmaceuticals,
capacity building, space cooperation, and consular.

They also discussed the ways to improve the economic, health, financial
and people-to-people ties between India and Panama.

Both leaders have also shared their
perspectives on global situations. About Panama:

President: Laurentino Cortizo

Capital: Panama City

Currency: Balboa
India, and the UK sign & exchange letters to formalize Young Professional Scheme in
London

India and the United Kingdom (UK) signed and exchanged letters of the
UK-India Young Professional Scheme (YPS) at an event in London, UK.

High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram K Doraiswami, and
Matthew Rycroft, the permanent secretary at the Home Office of the UK
signed the event.

It is for the first time that the UK has done such an agreement with a visa-
national country like India. About the Scheme:

The YPS is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Migration
and Mobility Partnership between the two governments which was signed on
May 4, 2021.
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
PM Shri Narendra Modi and UK PM Mr. Rishi Sunak announced the launch
of the Young Professional Scheme at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

The scheme will allow graduates aged 18 to 30 to stay in the other country
for up to 2 -years without needing to have a job in hand.

The scheme allows for exchange visas for up to 3,000 individuals per year

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the state of the wide-ranging
India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and progress on the
Roadmap 2030 for future relations.
About the UK:

Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak

Capital: London

Currency: Pound sterling
Guyana offers 200 acres of land for the exclusive production of millet

President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
offered 200 acres of land in Guyana to India for cultivation and production
of millets for the private sector after the United Nations (UN) declared 2023
as the International Year of Millet (IYOM).

The offer was made by Mr. Irfaan Ali to Union Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, who called on the visiting
foreign dignitary in New Delhi.

Mr. Irfaan Ali also requested Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s presence at
the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) in February 2023 to present India’s vision on agriculture and food
security.
Key Highlights:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 75th session in March
2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM).
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
The IYM 2023 is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and direct policy
attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability
for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions.

IYM 2023 aims to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 12 (Responsible
consumption and production), SDG 13 (Climate action) and SDG 15 (Life on
land).

IYOM -2023 would provide an opportunity to increase global production,
efficient processing, and better use of crop rotation and promote millets as a
major component of the food basket.
About Guyana

President: Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Capital: Georgetown

Currency: Guyanese dollar
India and UAE Sign Agreement on Green Hydrogen Development and Undersea Cable
Connectivity

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reached an agreement to
collaborate on green hydrogen development and the laying of an undersea
cable connecting India to the UAE under Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi’s “One Sun, One World, One Grid” initiative.

The Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy Shri RK
Singh and UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Mr. Suhail Al
Mazrouei signed the agreement during a meeting to discuss opportunities
for cooperation in the field of power and renewable energy.
Key Highlights:
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
India has undertaken the goal of becoming net zero by 2070 and is working on
its way to fulfilling other commitments underlined under the Paris Climate
Agreement.

India is also moving towards the Mission announced by Prime Minister
Modi and the UN Secretary-General in October 2022 called Mission LiFE
– Lifestyle for Environment.

Mr. RK Singh will be in charge of the 13th Assembly of the International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

A 168-nation international organization devoted to renewable energy is called
IRENA.

In November 2021, India, which had committed to generating around 40%
of its total electricity from non-fossil sources by 2030, achieved this goal 9
years earlier than expected.
About UAE:

President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Currency: UAE dirham
UN General Assembly Adopts Indian Co-sponsored Resolution on 'Education For
Democracy'

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution titled
'Education for Democracy,' which reaffirms everyone's right to an education.

The resolution, adopted by consensus, will recognize the importance
of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong
learning opportunities for all.

The resolution also calls on member states to work on the challenges
associated with access, affordability, digital literacy, and digital
skills.
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 This isn't the first time that an education resolution has been adopted by the UN
General Assembly.

Earlier in 2015, a similar resolution was passed at the Assembly
encouraging all UN entities to use education to promote peace, human
rights, and democracy.

The resolution aimed at encouraging member states to integrate education
for democracy into their education standards.
About UNGA:

Established: 1945

Headquarters: New York, United States

President: Csaba Kőrösi

The UNGA is one of the six principal organs of
the United Nations (UN).
Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi To Be Chief
Guest on Republic Day 202
 President of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest at India's
Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2023.
 This is the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt will
be the Chief Guest on our Republic Day.
 Also, this is the 1st first time India has invited a foreign dignitary to the event
after the gap of the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Netherlands plans to shut Europe’s largest gas field in October 2023
 The Netherlands plans to close Europe’s largest gas field, Groningen in
October 2023 because it is "very dangerous" to continue to manage it.
 This was stated by Hans Vijlbrief, state secretary for mining, who is
responsible for the earthquake-prone Groningen gas field.
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 The Dutch government plans to close the earthquake-prone Groningen gas
field by Oct. 1, 2023, but will monitor to see if there’s a gas shortage in Europe
after this winter &if needed, it could remain operating until October 2024.
First B20 meet to focus on climate action & resilient global value chains

The first meeting (Three-day meeting) of Business 20 (B20)- G20’s
business group, was organised in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar city.

The meeting will focus on key issues from climate action, innovation,
global digital cooperation, and building resilient global value chains to
promoting financial inclusion and raising a digitally inclusive society.
WEF signs pact with Indonesia for Ocean conservation

The World Economic Forum (WEF) signed a new partnership with the Indonesian
government to support its ambitions to scale blue carbon restoration and ocean
conservation efforts at the Annual Meeting 2023.

The partnership is the first of a series being initiated by the Forum’s
Ocean Action Agenda to help meet the rapidly increasing demand for
high-quality blue carbon credits and projects around the world and
connect global blue carbon actors from various sectors.
India to moot energy efficiency pact at G20

In line with New Delhi’s strong focus on energy transition and energy security,
India planned to launch an initiative “ Energy Efficiency partnership for 2030”
during its G20 presidency this year.
India becomes 1st nation to extend assurance to Sri Lanka for its debt restructuring

India has become the first creditor nation to extend assurance towards
restructuring the debt of Sri Lanka with financial assistance worth $4 billion as
the island nation makes efforts to unlock a bridge financing package from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF).

India will encourage greater investment in core areas of energy,
tourism, and infrastructure
India and Egypt reiterate support for Non-Aligned Movement
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
India and Egypt reiterated support for the Non-Aligned Movement.

In a joint statement issued after the end of bilateral engagements for President
Abdel Fateh el-Sisi, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade here,
both countries expressed a desire for an exchange of technology between
their defense industries.
India-Egypt MoU on cultural cooperation signed for 5 years - Culture Ministry

The Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
cultural cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the
Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to
strengthen the cultural ties with Egypt.

Under the aegis of the MoU on Cultural Cooperation, both countries look
forward to witnessing a host of cultural activities happening in due course in
the realm of Music, Dance, Theatre, Literature, Library, Organising Festivals
in respective countries, and Research and Documentation, etc.
Sri Lanka to release Stamp With India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru's Portrait on 75th National
Independence Day

As part of its 75th National Independence Day celebrations, the government of
Sri Lanka has decided to release a commemorative stamp that will include a
portrait of the first Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

The main ceremony of the National Independence Day Celebrations will be
held on February 4, 2023, at Galle Face Green in Colombo Sri Lanka.
The Rachid Karameh International Fair of Tripoli (Lebanon) inscribed on UNESCO's World
Heritage List

The Rachid Karami International Fair (RKIF) located in Lebanon's northern
city of Tripoli has been officially inscribed on the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger.

The RKIF would receive international attention and continued support from
UNESCO, which contributed to its restoration and preservation.
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China's population drops for first time since 1961

According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China
(NBS), the population in the Chinese mainland in 2022 is 1.41175 billion which
will fall by 850,000 from 2021.

China’s population declined for the first time since 1961 due to a plunging birth rate.

The NBS announcement comes at a time when China’s economic growth fell
to its second-lowest in five decades, registering a paltry 3% increase in 2022.
India signs MoU with South Africa to bring 12 more cheetahs in February 2023

India and South Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to
bring in dozens of African cheetahs to India over the next 10 years, in a new
development for Project Cheetah.

An initial batch of 12 cheetahs (7 male and 5 female) is scheduled to be flown
from South Africa to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh (MP), India
in February, 2023.
India extends USD 40 mn for bolstering sports infrastructure in Maldives - EAM Jaishankar

India’s External Affairs Minister Shri S. Jaishankar has extended a
concessional USD 40 million Line of Credit for developing sporting
infrastructure in the Maldives.

This is part of New Delhi’s efforts to bring PM Narendra Modi’s flagship
projects such as “Fit India” and “Khelo India” into the ambit of the
‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
IMPORTANT MOUs & AGREEMENTS
India and Austria will sign five agreements:

India and Austria will sign five agreements on January 2023.

One of these five agreements is an agreement on 'migration and mobility'.
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
India will sign a “Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership
Agreement” (MMPA) with Austria on January 2023.

The second agreement is on the ‘Working Holiday’ program.

This will enable Indian students in Austria to work for 6 months.

The agreement on migration and mobility will benefit students, academics,
professionals, and business people in Austria.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is on a trip to Cyprus and Austria.

This is the first trip to Austria by an Indian Foreign Minister in 27 years.

Mr. Jaishankar and Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also
held a meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Czech and Slovakia, under the
“Slavkov” trilateral format for the Central European countries.

Its capital is signed an agreement for an ADB-assisted project of Rs 2,275
crore (US $275 million) for the Improvement of Tripura's Power Distribution
Strengthening and Generation Efficiency.

The project would have an Rs 1820 crore loan from ADB and Rs 455 crore
of direct investment by the State government to improve energy security,
quality of supply, efficiency, and resilience of the power sector in Tripura.

The existing 63 MW (3X21 MW) Open Cycle power project with a 120
MW Combined Cycle power project in Rukhia in the Sepahijala district
would reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the improvement of the
generation infrastructure.

The State government is implementing result-based reform linked
RDSS Scheme to improve the operational and financial viability of the
Corporation at an investment of Rs 800 Cr.
 Under this Scheme, 5.47 lakh Smart and Prepaid Meters would be installed on
Consumer premises.

In addition, 8720 km LT Aerial Bunched (AB) Cable and 830 Distribution
Transformers (DTs) would also be installed.
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
The efficiency of the Gomti Hydel Power Project would be increased
through its modernization.
IIT-Madras, DRDO tie up for advanced defence tech R&D:

IIT-Madras has created a ‘centre of excellence’ at a campus unit set up by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop
advanced national defence and security technologies.

The interdisciplinary research group will bring in faculty and researchers from
multiple departments for translational research.

Called the ‘DRDO Industry Academia-Ramanujan Centre of Excellence
(DIA-RCoE), it will also work towards the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal in the
defence sector.

Set up under the ‘long-term directed research policy’ of the Defence Ministry,
the centre will undertake basic and applied research in verticals like
electronics and computational systems; naval systems and naval
technologies; advanced combat vehicle technologies; high-power CW laser
sources; and next-generation communication and networking technologies.
Microsoft to boost Indian space tech startups signs MoU with ISRO:

Microsoft will work closely with the startups identified by ISRO and will
onboard those companies to its Startup Founders hub platform to support
them at every stage.

Tech giant Microsoft is all set to fuel space tech startups in India.

At the future-ready technology summit 2023, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella
showcased several cloud-based and AI-powered projects and also revealed
its plans to foster Indian startups in the space tech domain.

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with ISRO
(Indian Space Research Organisation) to fuel space tech startups
using technology tools and platforms.

With this partnership, Microsoft will help ISRO to strengthen its vision
towards getting the most out of space tech startups in the country.
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
Microsoft will work closely with the startups identified by ISRO and will
onboard those companies to its Startup Founders Hub platform to support
them at every stage.

These startups will also get free access to various tech tools and resources
which includes technical support to build and scale their product on
Azure.

On top of that, they will also get to use GitHub Enterprise, Visual Studio
Enterprise, and Microsoft 365 tools.

Microsoft will also mentor space tech entrepreneurs in terms of cloud tech,
product, design, fundraising, and sales and marketing aspects.

The company will also collaborate with ISRO to organize knowledgesharing and thought leadership sessions across the country.
General Atomics partners with Bharat Forge to manufacture aerostructures in India:

San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), a
subsidiary of General Atomics, announced its partnership with Bharat
Forge Ltd.

The move is expected to result in significant capability-building for both
companies and provide an impetus to the Indian large, unmanned aircraft
industry.

It will also help India develop a manufacturing ecosystem for high-end drones.

The move will provide India with an opportunity to manufacture main
landing gear components, subassemblies, and assemblies of
remotely piloted aircraft in the country.

Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited
said that aerospace is a high 'technology intensive' domain, which relies on
product integrity, reliability, and zero defect.
India, Panama sign MoU to enhance cooperation in training of diplomats:

India and Panama have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
enhance cooperation in the training of diplomats.
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
External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that in a
bilateral meeting with Panama's Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney
Mencomo in Indore.

Also, they discussed the opportunities for greater economic, health,
finance, and people-to-people linkages.

Dr. Jaishankar informed that as democracies, both leaders have also
shared their perspectives on global situations.

He also appreciated the Panamanian Minister for participating in the
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention.
About Panama:

Capital: Panama City

President: Laurentino Cortizo

Currencies: Panamanian Balboa, United States Dollar
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board signs MoUs with chapters of eight countries of GOPIO:

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board signed MoUs with chapters of eight
countries of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
at the MP Tourism Pavilion of Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore at the
17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention.

These MoUs were signed with France Metropole Paris, Mauritius,
Reunion Island, Martinique, Sri Lanka, GOPIO International, Malaysia,
and Mauritius.

The MoUs were signed by Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and
Managing Director Tourism Board Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla on behalf of
the Tourism Board and presidents of eight countries of GOPIO.

Principal Secretary Shri Shukla said that these MoUs have been executed to
boost cooperation in the development of the Tourism sector of the State, and
promotion, and publicity of tourist places
Sony Sports signs Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Samsonite as sponsors for Australian Open:
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
Broadcaster Sony Sports Network, which will air the Australian Open this
month across its channels and OTT app SonyLiv, has roped in sponsors
like Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Samsonite as co-presenting sponsors and
Panasonic as an associate sponsor for the upcoming open.

This will mark the return of the network's live tennis studio show, ‘Extraaa
Serve’, hosted by Arpit Sharma, Extraaa Serve will feature Olympian,
Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, and Indian tennis player, Somdev
Devvarman, former tennis player Gaurav Natekar and Davis Cup player Purav
Raja.

In addition to this, the Hindi commentary for the tournament will be
provided by Natekar, Manish Batavia & Atish Thukral.

Top-seeded players, including the returning Novak Djokovic, Rafael
Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas will all be part of the
men’s singles draw.

The broadcaster launched its 'Slam Of The Greats' campaign, which pays
homage to the ‘Greats of Tennis in this Era’, such as Roger Federer, Novak
Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, and other tennis
legends while also highlighting the rise of a new young crop of tennis stars
vying to leave their mark on the tournament in their path for greatness
themselves.
IPA, RIS sign agreement to set up Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity:

An agreement was signed between the Indian Ports Association (IPA) and
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) for setting up
a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity.

The Memorandum was signed in the presence of the Union
Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda
Sonowal.
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
Sonowal stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
India is witnessing great changes, particularly in the infrastructure and
policy areas.

Further, Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary at Ports, Shipping and Waterways
complimented the both IPA and RIS teams for the effort put in for setting up
the center.
IPA, RIS sign agreement to set up Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity
 An agreement was signed between the Indian Ports Association (IPA) and
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) for setting up
a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity.
 The Memorandum was signed in the presence of the Union Minister for Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
 Sonowal stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
India is witnessing great changes, particularly in the infrastructure and
policy areas.
Fertiliser majors sign MoUs with Morocco’s OCP group for 1.7 MT import of soil Nutrients
 To ensure stability in the supplies of soil nutrients four fertilizer firms – state-run
National Fertilisers Limited and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd and
Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd and Paradeep Phosphates Ltd from the
private sector– have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
Morocco’s OCP Group for annual imports of 1.75 million tonnes (MT) of
phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers.
 This will immensely benefit the farming community in India and contribute to ensuring
food security
IMPORTANT MERGERs & ACQUISITIONS
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Adani Group acquires NDTV founders’ 27.26% stake
to raise stake to 64.7%

The Adani Group has acquired a 27.26% equity stake in NDTV from Prannoy
Roy and his wife Radhika Roy, founders of the news broadcaster.

As of December 30, 2022, 64.71 % is the total stake of Adani Group In NDTV.

Earlier, on December 23, 2022, Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy announced
the sale of 27.26% out of their remaining 32.26% shareholding in the NDTV
to the Adani Group.

Earlier Adani Group acquired a 29.18% stake in NDTV by buying a company
backed by the television network's founders, Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy.

Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited (an indirect subsidiary of the
company) holds an 8.27% equity stake in NDTV and RRPR (before the present
acquisition) held a 29.18% equity stake in NDTV.

Consequent to the present acquisition,
RRPR will hold 56.45% About Adani Group:

Founded: 20 July 1988

Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Chairman & MD: Gautam Adani
SBI Mutual gets RBI approval to buy 9.99% of Equitas SFB for various schemes

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a proposal of SBI Funds
Management Limited (SBIFML) to acquire 9.99% equity shares in the Equitas
Small Finance Bank (SFB) through various schemes of SBI Mutual Fund.

The banking regulator's approval is subject to compliance with the relevant
regulations issued by RBI and SEBI.

It is valid for
1 year till 2 January
2024. About SBI
Funds Management:

Founded: 1987
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
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Mr. Shamsher Singh

SBIFML is a joint venture between the State Bank of India, an Indian public
sector bank, and Amundi, a European asset management company.
About Equitas Small Finance Bank:

Founded: 2016

Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

MD & CEO: Vasudevan Narasimhan Pathangi

Tagline: It’s Fun Banking
Axis Bank Enters Into Revised Pact With Max Financial Services For Acquiring
Additional 7% Stake In Max Life

Axis Bank has entered into a revised agreement with Max Financial
Services Limited to acquire an additional 7% stake in Max Life Insurance
at fair market value using discounted cash flow method.

The revision in the agreement follows the guidance issued by the
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) in
October 2022.
About the Acquisition:

Axis Bank and its subsidiaries - Axis Securities and Axis Capital had
2021 entered into definitive agreements with Max Financial Services Ltd
for acquiring a 20% stake in its subsidiary Max Life Insurance Co Ltd.

Following this, Axis Entities have acquired a 12.99% stake in Max Life at Rs
35 per share with the right to acquire an additional 7% stake in the company.

As per the revised agreement, the valuation for the right to acquire the balance
7% equity stake of Max Life would be at fair market value using discounted
cash flows instead of valuation as per Rule 11UA of the Income Tax Rules,
1962."
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
In October 2021, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
(IRDAI) imposed a penalty of Rs 3 crore on Max Life and Rs 2 crore on Axis
Bank due to violations of rules in the proposed deal. About Axis Bank:

Founded: December 1993

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO:
Amitabh Chaudhry
Axis AIF exits SBI
General for Rs 350
crore

Axis Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) bought its 1.27% stake in SBI
General Insurance Co to 2 entities of IIFL Alternative Investment
Funds for about ₹350 crores.

This marks the total divestment of Axis AIF’s 1.65%
stake within the insurer. Key Highlights:

Axis AIF purchased the shares in September 2018 for about ₹200 crores.
 Axis AIF purchased the shares via a scheme known as Axis New Opportunities Fund
AIF-I.

The first step of the sale - 0.38% to Avendus Future Leaders Fund happened earlier.

In the second step, two entities of IIFL AIF - IIFL India Private Equity FundSeries 1A and IIFL Special Opportunities Fund- Series 9 bought out the
stake.

The full divestment value is about ₹450-₹475 crore, according to Centrum
Capital, which advised on the deals.
About SBI General Insurance:

Founded: 24 February 2009

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

CEO: Prakash Chandra Kandpal.
Alibaba sells Paytm stake worth $125 million via block deal
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
China's Alibaba Group has sold about a 3% stake in One97
Communications, the parent entity of leading Indian mobile payments and
financial services company Paytm, for ₹1,031 crores through a block deal.
 According to block deal data on the NSE, Alibaba.com sold 19.2 million shares at
₹536.95 apiece.

While Morgan Stanley Asia bought 5.5 million shares, Ghisallo Master
Fund acquired 4.98 million shares.

Formally known as One97 Communications, Paytm was listed in 2021 after
a mega $2.5 billion initial public offer (IPO).

In November 2022 the Japanese SoftBank Group sold 29 million shares
of Paytm, or a 4.5% stake, worth about $200 million through a block deal.

SoftBank had a 17.5% stake in
Paytm as of Sept. 30, 2022. Apax
Partners to sell its entire stake in Shriram
Finance

Private equity firm Apax Partners, through its arm Dynasty Acquisition, to
sell its entire 4.63% stake in Shriram Finance for a total value of up to ₹2,250
crores and a floor price of ₹1,300 per share.

Dynasty Acquisition, which held 1.73 crore shares of Shriram Finance,
had acquired the stake in Shriram City Union Finance from TPG
Capital in 2015.
About Shriram Finance:

MD and CEO of Shriram Finance: YS Chakravarti

Shriram Finance has three major non-promoter shareholders: Piramal
Group, private equity company TPG, and Apax Partners.

Shriram Finance is owned by the three companies
collectively to the tune of 15%.
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ONGC Videsh retakes 20% stake in Sakhalin-1 oil and gas
fields of Russia

The overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC),
ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has re-taken a 20% stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil and
gas fields in the far east region of Russia.

Sakhalin-1 is a large oil and gas field in far-east offshore Russia, spread over
1,140 square kilometres, which includes three offshore fields namely
Chayvo, Odoptu and ArkutunDagi.

The Sakhalin-1 project is operated by Exxon Neftegas (ENL), a subsidiary of
Exxon Mobil which holds a 30% participating interest.

The project is estimated to hold approximately 2.3 billion barrels of oil and
17.1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in recoverable reserves.

The other former foreign shareholders in the project – Japan’s Sodeco
consortium and ONGC Videsh – were asked to apply to the Russian
government to regain their shareholdings in the project.

OVL acquired a 20% stake in
the project in July 2001. About
ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL):

OVL is a Miniratna Schedule “A” Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) of
the Government of India (GoI) & is the wholly owned subsidiary and
overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC).
 It comes under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas.

ONGC Videsh is the second largest petroleum company in India,
next only to its parent ONGC.
Canara Bank sells its entire 40% stake in CIBL to SBI for Rs. 114 crores
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
Canara Bank sold its entire 40% stake in Russian joint venture (JV)
Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL), Moscow to the other venture partner State
Bank of India (SBI) for about Rs 114 crore (USD 14.67 million).

The transaction is expected to be completed on or before March 31, 2023.

Based on the share sale agreement and with the consent of the Central
Bank of Russia, entire shares held by Canara Bank have been transferred
to SBI on November 30, 2022.
NARCL acquires its first stressed account from IDBI Bank-led lenders
 The National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) also known as India's bad
bank/Asset
Reconstruction Company (ARC) has acquired its first stressed asset Jaypee
Infratech from IDBI Bank-led lenders.

It acquired its exposure aggregating about ₹9,234
crores at a 55% haircut. Dell acquires Israeli cloud
services startup Cloudify for $100 million

Dell Technologies has acquired Israeli startup Cloudify which is known
for cloud orchestration and infrastructure automation.

Dell spent close to $100 million in buying the startup to boost its cloud
services business, specifically its offerings in DevOps.

This transaction allows Dell to continue to innovate our edge offerings.
IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS NEWS
Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu to take oath as Israel's new PM
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
Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as Israel's prime minister (PM)
for a sixth time, leading the Jewish state's most right-wing government to
date.

He Succeeds Yair Lapid, who served as PM of Israel from July 2022 to Dec 2022.

Benjamin Netanyahu was the 25th Prime Minister of Israel.
 Netanyahu has the support of 63 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset (Israeli
parliament).

In the house, 54 lawmakers voted against his government.

The lawmakers supporting the new government are all right-wing, including
Netanyahu's Likud party supported by the ultra-orthodox Shas, United
Torah Judaism, the far-right Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionist Party, and
Noam.

Netanyahu announced the appointment of 31 ministers and 3 deputy ministers.

Three government ministries - defense, education, and welfare - will have
two ministers serving at the same time.

However, women remain in the minority with only 5 ministerial posts,
marking a new low in their representation.
About Benjamin Netanyahu:

Benjamin Netanyahu was born on 21 October 1949, in Tel Avi, Israel.

He is the longest-tenured prime minister in the country's history, having
served for a total of over 15 years.

He is also the first PM to be born in Israel after its Declaration of Independence.

He is also the Chairman of Likud – National Liberal Movement.
 He previously served as PM from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009, 2013, 2015,
and 2020.
About Israel:

President: Isaac Herzog

Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
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
Capital: Jerusalem

Currency: New shekel
Ex-ITDC MD Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao takes charge as CEO of FSSAI

Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao was appointed as the chief executive officer
(CEO) of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Before Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao, Mr. Arun Singhal was the CEO of
FSSAI from 2020 to 2022. About Mr G Kamala Vardhana Rao:

Rao was employed with the Indian Tourism Development Corporation
Ltd. (ITDC), a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Tourism, as its
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD).

He has served as Principal Secretary of, the Public Works Department, and
as Principal Secretary, of Finance and Expenditure, Government of Kerala.

He has also served as Secretary, of Kerala Tourism, and Director of Culture at, the
Government of
India.
About FSSAI:

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

Chairperson: Shri Rajesh Bhushan

CEO: Shri Ganji Kamala V Rao

The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, Government of India.
IDBI Bank re-appoints Mr. Suresh Khatanhar as deputy MD for a year

IDBI Bank’s Board of Directors re-appointed Mr. Suresh Kishinchand
Khatanhar as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) on the Board of the
Bank for 1 year with effect from January 15, 2023. About Mr. Suresh
Khatanhar:

Mr. Khatanhar is a career banker with a total experience of 38 years in almost
all areas of commercial banking in public sector banks, new generation
private sector banks, and universal banks.
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
He started his banking career with Dena Bank and handled branch
banking, Credit Appraisal/ Monitoring, and Stressed Accounts.

He was appointed as Senior Relationship Manager at the IDBI Bank.

He also handled large corporate branches including the Overseas Branch (DIFC) of
the bank.

To drive the retail banking business, he was appointed as DMD to
spearhead the bank's vision, direction, and business model for 3
years.

Currently, he is handling retail assets, credit cards, third-party distribution & LIC
synergy; retail
liabilities, priority sector group & financial inclusion; treasury & international
borrowing; credit monitoring group; retail collection & recovery, audit, legal,
centralized operations, corporate strategy & planning, and administration.
About IDBI Bank:

Founded: 1 July 1964

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Rakesh Sharma

IDBI Bank Limited is a development finance institution under the
ownership of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and the
Government of India (GoI).
Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao gets the second term as NAARM Director

Dr. Ch Srinivasa Rao assumed charge as director of the National
Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) for the second
term.

He was selected again by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB).

He has been serving as the Director of the Hyderabad-based
NAARM for the last 5 years. About Dr. Ch Srinivasa Rao:

Before this, he headed several ICAR institutes such as CRIDA (Central
Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture).
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
He was on deputation to International Crop Research Institute for
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru from 2006-2008.

He was the Project Coordinator, of AICRP (All India Coordinated
Research Projects) for Dryland Agriculture during 2013-2014.

His areas of research include climate change, contingency planning,
soil carbon sequestration, rainwater management, and rainfed
mission development.
About NAARM:

Established: 1976

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

It was established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), to
address issues related to agricultural research, training and development, and
education management, in India.
Lieutenant General Arvind Walia appointed as the new Engineer-in-Chief of the
Indian Army

Lieutenant General Arvind Walia has been appointed as the next Engineer-in-Chief
of the Indian Army
 He would be succeeding Lt Gen Harpal Singh who is superannuating on December
31, 2022.
About Lieutenant General Arvind Walia:
 Lt Gen Walia an officer of the 1986 batch & an alumnus of the Indian Military
Academy, Dehradun.

He is the silver medallist from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and
was an officer in the Corps of Engineers.

He has commanded an independent squadron in the desert sector, a
Regiment in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), an Engineer Brigade along the
Western front, and the MEG and Centre at Bengaluru,
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Karnataka.

He was also an instructor at the College of Defence Management in
Secunderabad and the National Defence College in Delhi.

He has conducted staff appointments including Brigade Major of a Mountain
Brigade, Director in the Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch at the Integrated
Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Chief Engineer of a
Command and Brig Q in a Strike Corps.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sworn in as the 39th president of Brazil

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the 39th president of
Brazil in a ceremony held in the National Congress in Brasília, Brazil
following the 2022 Brazilian general election

He was sworn in as President of Brazil for the 3rd time after defeating
Jair Bolsonaro (Incumbent President of Brazil from 2019 to 2022).

Meanwhile, Geraldo Alckmin was sworn in as the 26th
Vice President of Brazil. Note:

Lula is the first Brazilian president to have been elected to a third term in
office and the first to have defeated an incumbent president in an
election.
About Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva:

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is known mononymously as Lula.

He is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist, and former metalworker.

He was first elected as president of Brazil in 2002.

Again he was re-elected for a second term as president of Brazil in
2006 which ended in 2011. About Brazil:

Capital: Brasília

Currency: Real

It is the largest country in South America.

It is the fifth-largest country in the world by area.
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Tata Sons chairman Mr. N Chandrasekaran to head Maharashtra government advisory
council

The Maharashtra government has appointed Tata Sons Chairman Mr. N
Chandrasekaran as the head of the new Economic Advisory Council of
Maharashtra.

This was announced by the deputy chief minister Shri Devendra
Fadnavis in the Maharashtra Legislative Council in Nagpur,
Maharashtra.

The state government is forming an Economic Advisory Council to make
Maharashtra a trillion-dollar economy.

It will function as a private research organization with a focus on issues
related to agriculture, banking, engineering, and education.

The state government will also focus on certain 'aspirational' regions to
increase the state's human development index.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a target of India becoming a $5
trillion economy by 2024-25 About Mr N Chandrasekaran:

In October 2016, Mr. Chandrasekaran joined the Tata Sons board & in January
2017, he was promoted to the post of chairman.

He was also the chairman of Tata Motors and Tata Global Beverages (TGB).

He became the first non-Parsi to lead the companies in the Tata Group.
 He is also the chairman of Air India after the airline was acquired by the Tata Group
earlier in 2022.

In December 2022 Mr. Chandrasekaran was also appointed as the Chair of
B20 India to lead the trade agenda during India's G20 presidency.
Mr. Ajay Kumar Srivastava appointed as the new MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank

The Centre has appointed Mr. Ajay Kumar Srivastava as the
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the
public sector Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for 3 years.

He was appointed following the superannuation of Mr. Partha Pratim Sengupta.
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
Before this appointment, he was serving as the
executive director of the IOB. About Mr Ajay Kumar
Srivastava:

He started his banking career as a probationary officer in 1991 with Allahabad Bank.

He also served as Director on the Board of Regional Rural Bank in Allahabad Bank.

After serving for over 27 years, he joined IOB in October 2017.

He was appointed as Director on the Board of India Infrastructure Finance
Company Limited (IIFCL) by the government for 2 years.

The highlight of his stint as Executive Director has been playing a very key role
in bringing the Bank out of loss in March 2020 and out of Prompt Corrective
Action (PCA) in September 2021.

He was the only Executive Director in the Bank for about 14
months during 2020-2021. About IOB:

Founded: 10 February 1937

Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Tagline: Good
People to Grow With
ECI appoints Maithili
Thakur as Bihar’s state
icon

Folk singer Maithili Thakur was appointed as the state icon for Bihar by the Election
Commission (EC).

She will create awareness among the voters for their participation
in the electoral process. About Maithili Thakur:

Maithili Thakur was born in the Madhubani district of Bihar.

She has rendered traditional folk songs of Bihar in Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Hindi.
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
Recently, she was selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to the folk music of Bihar for 2021.
About ECI:

Founded: 25 January 1950

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

Election Commissioner of India: Arun Goel
Canara Bank MD & CEO Mr. L V Prabhakar retires

Mr. Lingam Venkata Prabhakar, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Canara Bank Limited, retired from the services of the bank on
attaining the age of superannuation.
About Mr Lingam Venkata Prabhakar:

Mr. L V Prabhakar has over 34 years of rich experience in banking,
spread across a spectrum of domains.

He is the Chairman of Canara Robeco Asset Management Co. Ltd,
Canara HSBC OBC Insurance Company Ltd & Canfin Homes Ltd.
 He is the Chairman of the IBA Standing Committee on Payment Systems & Banking
Technology.

He is the Director on the Board of Governing Council of the Indian Institute of
Banking & Finance (IIBF) & National Institute of Banking Management (NIBM)
 Before joining Canara Bank, he worked as the Executive Director of Punjab National
Bank.

He has also served on the Boards of PNB Metlife India Insurance, PNB
Housing Finance Limited, and Everest Bank Ltd, Nepal.
About Canara Bank:

Founded: 1 July 1906

Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Non Executive Chairman: Vijay Srirangam

Tagline: Together We Can
BharatPe appoints CFO Mr. Nalin Negi as interim CEO & Mr. Suhail Sameer steps down
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
BharatPe, a fintech unicorn, announced that chief executive officer (CEO)
Mr. Suhail Sameer has resigned from his position and assumed the role of
strategic advisor beginning on January 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, the company’s chief financial officer (CFO) Mr. Nalin Negi will
be the interim CEO while BharatPe searches for Sameer’s replacement.
About Mr Suhail Sameer:

Mr. Sameer served as CEO of the FMCG business at RP-Sanjiv Goenka
Group and joined BharatPe in August 2020 as president.

He was the Founding Managing Director of CSEC ventures, where he built
out the modern Ayurveda & Healthy Snack Brands.
About Mr. Nalin Negi:

Mr. Negi joined BharatPe in August 2022 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

He brings over 28 years of experience and business acumen and the last 15
years of that has been in banking and financial services, having worked at
renowned brands like GE Capital and SBI Card.

He has also worked in the past as Co-CEO for the
GE SBI credit card venture Recent News:

Three senior executives, chief technology officer Vijay Aggarwal, PostPe
head Nehul Malhotra, and chief product officer for lending and consumer
products Rajat Jain - resigned from the company in Nov 2022.
About Bharatpe:

Established: 2018

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Chairman: Rajnish Kumar
BSE appoints Mr Sundararaman Ramamurthy as MD and CEO

India's leading stock exchange, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has
appointed Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy as the Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company for 5 years.
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
In November 2022 BSE received consent from the regulator Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to appoint Mr. Ramamurthy as MD and
CEO of the exchange.

Ramamurthy will now succeed Ashishkumar Chauhan,
former MD, and CEO of BSE. About Mr Sundararaman
Ramamurthy:

Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy has more than 20 years of experience at the
National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE), and as a senior member of
the NSE team.

Before joining NSE in 1995, Ramamurthy also worked at the Industrial
Development Bank of India (IDBI).

He served as the MD and Chief Operating Officer of Bank of
America’s Indian arm (BANA) About BSE:

Founded: 9 July 1875

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
US Vice-President Ms. Kamala Harris names Indian-American Mr. Rajeev Badyal
to National Space Council Advisory Group

The American Vice President Ms. Kamala Harris has named Indian American
Mr. Rajeev Badyal to the National Space Council's Users Advisory Group
(UAG)
Roles & Responsibilities:

He will be responsible to maintain a robust and responsible US space
enterprise and preserve space for current and future generations.

Harris had named US Air Force Rtd General Lester Lyles as chair of the UAG.
 The UAG will provide the National Space Council advice and recommendations on
matters related to space policy and strategy, government policies, laws, regulations,
treaties, international instruments, programs, and practices across the civil,
commercial, international, and national security space sectors. About Rajeev Badyal:
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 He served as the vice president
of satellites at SpaceX.

Presently, he is serving as the vice president of
Project Kuiper of Amazon. About Project Kuiper:

Project Kuiper is a long-term initiative to launch a constellation of Low
Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband
connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.
About Ms. Kamala Harris:

Ms. Kamala Devi Harris is the 49th and current vice president of the United States.
She is the first woman to be elected as the Vice-President of the United States.
US President Mr. Joe Biden Renominates Mr. Eric Garcetti As Envoy To India

United States (US) President Mr. Joe Biden has renominated former
Los Angeles Mayor Mr. Eric Garcetti as the Ambassador of the United
States to India.

The US has not had a full-time envoy in India since 2021 when the
previous US envoy Mr. Kenneth I Juster completed his tenure.

India currently chairs G20, resulting in scores of diplomatic activities
between the two countries. About Mr. Eric Garcetti:

Mr. Garcetti, who served as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles from July 2013
until December 2022, is a close aide of President Biden.

In July 2021, Mr. Joe Biden nominated Mr. Garcetti as the United
States Ambassador to India.
Mr. Prasanna Kumar Motupalli appointed as chairman and MD of NLC India
Ltd

Mr. Prasanna Kumar Motupalli was appointed as Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD) of the state-run NLC India Ltd (NLCIL), a Navratna Public
Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Coal till the date of his
superannuation is June 30, 2026.
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About Mr Prasanna Kumar Motupalli:

He has over 30 years of experience in the generation sector across fuel
management, operations and maintenance, coal handling, and power plant
erection.
 He worked with NTPC Limited as an Executive Director, handling corporate fuel
management

Mr. Motupalli currently serves as the Managing Director of Gujarat State
Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL).
About NLC India Ltd:

Founded: 1956

Headquarters: Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, India

It is a central public sector undertaking under the administrative control of the
Ministry of Coal, Government of India
Paytm Payments Bank appoints Mr. Surinder Chawla as MD & CEO

The parent company of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL), One 97
Communications, announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
approved the appointment of veteran banker Mr. Surinder Chawla as the new
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for 3 years.
About Mr. Surinder Chawla:

Mr. Surinder Chawla is a Chartered Accountant who carries with him an
experience of 28 years in retail banking.

He has worked with banking institutions such as HDFC Bank, RBL
Bank, ABN Amro Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank.

He worked with HDFC Bank for almost 12 years, rising to the post of
Head of the Retail Liabilities Product Group.

Currently, he is serving as the head of branch banking at RBL Bank
(formerly known as Ratnakar Bank).
About Paytm Payments Bank:

Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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
Chairman: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Gabon appoints Ms. Ossouka Raponda as the first female vice president and Mr.
Alain-Claude Bilie as the new prime minister

Former minister Mr. Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze was appointed as the new
Prime Minister (PM) of Gabon to replace Ms. Rose Christiane Ossouka
Raponda.

Meanwhile, Gabon's President Mr. Ali Bongo appointed Ms. Rose Christiane
Ossouka Raponda as the oil-rich central African nation’s first female vice
president.
Role of VP:

The Role of VP is to assist the head of state though the position does not
allow for an interim role as president.

Mr. Nicole Jeanine Lydie Roboty remains as finance minister and Mr. Vincent
de Paul Massassa is the oil minister in the revamped 45-member executive.

Mr. Lee White was reappointed
as environment minister. About Ms
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda:

Ms Raponda was born in 1964 in Libreville, Gabon.
 She served as minister of budget and public finance from February 2012 until
January 2014.
 She was elected Mayor of the capital city Libreville in 2014, representing the ruling
Gabonese
Democratic Party & also she was the first woman to hold the position since
1956 and she served until 2019.

She served as Prime Minister (PM) of Gabon from July 2020 to January
2023 & she was also the country's first female PM.

Her appointment is the 4th cabinet shuffle by
Ondimba since the failed coup. About Mr. Alain-Claude
Bilie:
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
Mr Alain-Claude Bilie born on 16 September 1967, Makokou, Gabon.
 In 2006, he was appointed Minister of Communications and was elected to Gabon's
National Assembly.
 In March 2012, By Nze was made an advisor to the President and the government's
spokesperson.
 In July 2020, he became the Minister of State and the Minister of Energy and Water
Resources.

In 2022, he served as
a Deputy Prime Minister.
About Gabon:

President: Ali Bongo Ondimba

Capital: Libreville

Currency: Central African CFA franc

Gabon is the second-smallest member of the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries.
NASA appoints Indian-American space expert Mr. AC Charania as NASA’s
chief technologist

An India-American aerospace industry expert, Mr. AC Charania has been
appointed as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s
(NASA‘s) new chief technologist.

He has been designated as principal advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson on
programs and technology policy at NASA’s headquarters.

He replaced Indian-American scientist Ms. Bhavya Lal.
About Mr. AC Charania:

Mr. Charania has also worked in strategy and business development for the
Virgin Galactic (now Virgin Orbit) LauncherOne small satellite launch vehicle
program.
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
He also served in multiple management and technology roles at
SpaceWorks Enterprises, including helping to incubate 2 startups,
Generation Orbit and Terminal Velocity Aerospace.

He also works at Blue Origin to mature its lunar permanence strategy, Blue
Moon lunar lander program, and multiple technology initiatives with NASA

Before joining NASA, he served as vice president (VP) of product strategy at
Reliable Robotics, a firm that works to bring certified autonomous vehicles to
commercial aviation.
About NASA:

Established: July 29, 1958

Headquarters: Washington, D.C, United States of America

Administrator: Bill Nelson
Justice N Kotiswar Singh appointed as acting chief justice of Gauhati HC

According to the notification issued by the Department of Justice in the
Law Ministry, Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh was appointed as
the acting chief justice of the Gauhati High Court (HC), Assam.

Justice Singh's appointment will come into effect following the retirement
of Chief Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya.

In May 2022, Justice Kotiswar Singh was appointed as the Acting Chief
Justice of the Gauhati High Court following the elevation of the then Chief
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to the Supreme Court.

While Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65 years, high court judges
retire at 62. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance ropes in Suryakumar Yadav to launch the
“360° Financial Protection” campaign

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance announced an association with the world’s
top T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav, to launch a new digital-first campaign “360° Financial Protection with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance".
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
The campaign's central message is how ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
offers a comprehensive suite of protection products providing all-around life
cover that offers 360-degree financial protection in any critical situation,
together with trust, dependability, and consistency.
About ICICI Prudential Life Insurance:

Founded: 2000

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

MD & CEO: Narayanan Srinivasa Kannan

It is established as a joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited and
Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited.
RS Sodhi steps down as Amul MD; Jayen Mehta given interim charge

R S Sodhi, managing director (MD) of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing
Federation (GCMMF), the owner of India’s biggest dairy brand Amul, has
stepped down from his post.

Present Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Federation Jayen Mehta
has been given the charge temporarily. About R S Sodhi:

Sodhi had been the Managing Director (MD) at Amul since June 2010.

Under his leadership, GCMMF’s turnover surged from Rs 9,774.2 crore in
2010-11 to Rs 46,481 crore in 2021-22.
 For more than three decades, he worked under the direct guidance of
Verghese Kurien, the father of the White Revolution.
 He is also the President of the
Indian Dairy Association. About
GCMMF:
 Established: 1973
 Headquarters: Anand, Gujarat
 Chairman: Shamalbhai B Patel
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 GCMMF procures 30 million litres of milk per day from over 18,600 village
dairy co-operative societies.
IAS officer Santhi Kumari becomes first woman Chief Secretary of Telangana
 Telangana Chief Minister Shri K Chandrashekar Rao appointed senior
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santhi Kumari as the first
woman Chief Secretary of Telangana.
 The order was given a day after the Department of Personnel and Training
(DoPT) relieved Somesh Kumar from the post.
 Santhi Kumari as the 6th Chief Secretary of the Telangana.
 She will be
in service till April
2025. About
Santhi Kumari:
 Santhi Kumari hails from Andhra Pradesh.
 She served at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for two
years overseeing financial inclusion.
 She worked in the Chief Minister’s Office for 4 years as Principal Secretary to
the CM and headed the ‘Industry Chasing Cell’, which is mandated to
implement single window industrial clearances under TS-iPASS
 Before she was appointed Chief Secretary, she held the post of Special
Chief Secretary, Forest. About Telangana:
 Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
 Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
 Capital: Hyderabad
Herbalife Nutrition ropes in India’s star cricketer Smriti Mandhana as Nutrition Sports athlete
Sponsor
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 Premier global nutrition company,Herbalife Nutrition India Private Limited
(Herbalife Nutrition Ltd) is partnering with international women’s cricketer,
Smriti Mandhana as a ‘nutrition sponsor’.
 She is the 5th Indian athlete and the 2nd cricketer to join the Herbalife family.
 Smriti Mandhana follows in the footsteps of fellow Indian sporting
legends, Virat Kohli, Mary Kom, Lakshya Sen, and Manika Batra.
About Smriti Mandhana:
 Currently, she is the Vice-Captain of the India Women’s National Cricket Team.
 Smriti Mandhana’s performance on the field made her the first Indian women
cricketer to be recognized as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in
2018.
 She won BCCI’s MA Chidambaram Trophy for best woman cricketer for the year
2013-14.
 She was also the only Indian player to be named in the ICC Women’s Team of the
Year 2016.
 She was honoured with the
prestigious Arjuna Award in 2019. About
Herbalife Nutrition:
 Founded: February 1980
 Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
 Chairman & CEO: Michael O. Johnson
Meta appoints Mr. Vikas Purohit as Director of Global Business Group India

Facebook-parent Meta has appointed Mr. Vikas Purohit as Director of its
Global Business Group in India.

He will lead the strategy and delivery of the charter that is focused on the
country's largest advertisers and agency partners.

Mr. Purohit will report to Arun Srinivas, Director and Head of Ads
Business for Meta in India. About Mr Vikas Purohit:
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
Mr. Purohit comes with more than 20 years of experience in senior business,
sales, and marketing roles at companies such as Tata CLiQ, Amazon,
Reliance Brands, Aditya Birla Group, and Tommy Hilfiger.

He started his career at Aditya Birla Group before joining Tommy Hilfiger and
then heading retail at Reliance Brands.

He has served as the chief executive at
Tata CLiQ till October 2022. About Meta:

Founded: January 4, 2004

Headquarters: California, United States

Chairman & CEO: Mark Zuckerberg
Cognizant appoints ex-Infosys president Mr. Ravi Kumar as CEO

Nasdaq-listed Cognizant Technology Solutions has appointed Mr. Ravi
Kumar S as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of the Board,
effective immediately.

Mr. Kumar succeeds Mr. Brian Humphries in both roles.

To facilitate a smooth transition, Mr. Humphries will remain with the company
as a special advisor until March 15, 2023. About Mr. Ravi Kumar S:

Mr. Kumar worked as a scientist with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

He joins Cognizant after a 20-year career at Infosys, where he held
various leadership roles, most recently serving as President from January
2016 through October 2022.
 He has overseen Infosys business operations in India, Latin America, Japan, and
China.

He also serves on the Board of Governors of the New York Academy of
Sciences and the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Kumar currently serves on the board of
directors of TransUnion. Other Appointments:

The company also announced that Mr. Stephen J. Rohleder, a member of
Cognizant's Board since March 2022, has been elected Chair of the Board.
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 Former Chair Mr. Michael Patsalos-Fox will remain on the Board as an independent
director.
 Cognizant also announced that Mr. Surya Gummadi has been named President of
Cognizant
Americas.
About Cognizant:

Founded: 26 January 1994

Headquarters: Teaneck, New Jersey,
United States
Govt extends tenure of SBI MD Mr. Challa
Sreenivasulu Setty by 2 years

The government has extended the term of State Bank of India (SBI)
Managing Director (MD) Challa Sreenivasulu Setty for two years with effect
from January 20, 2023.

SBI announced that its board has considered raising funds through the
issue of infrastructure bonds worth up to ₹10,000 crores during the
financial year 2023.
About SBI:

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara
Mr. Kartik Jain appointed as MD and CEO of Shriram AMC

The Board of Shriram Asset Management Company, which is part of the
Shriram Group, approved the appointment of Mr. Kartik Jain as the
company’s new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

His appointment will re-orient the brand’s customer strategy and
enhance operational efficiency About Mr. Kartik Jain:

He also served as CMO at HDFC Bank and led marketing and eChannel at
ICICI Lombard General Insurance.
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
Before joining Shriram AMC, Mr. Jain headed Product, Platforms, and
Digibank at DBS Bank India's Consumer Business Group in Mumbai.
 At KPMG, Jain advised clients in the UK and Europe on eBusiness strategy and
process reengineering.
About Shriram AMC:

Shriram AMC is a subsidiary of the Shriram Group, a financial conglomerate
with assets worth over Rs 2.25 lakh crore

Director: Subhasri Sriram
Govt extends tenure of Bank of Baroda MD and CEO Mr Sanjiv Chadha

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the
proposal of the Department of Financial Services for extending the term of
managing director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bank of Baroda
Mr Sanjiv Chadha for about 5 months till 30 June, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the
headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions,
recommended the elevation of Executive Director (ED) Mr Debadatta
Chand as managing director of Bank of Baroda.

Besides, the Bureau recommended Union Bank of India ED Rajneesh
Karnataka for the position of MD & CEO in Bank of India.

The Bureau in November 2022 suggested the name of K Satyanarayana
Raju for the position of MD and CEO of Canara Bank.

FSIB is headed by former secretary of, the Department of Personnel
and Training (DoPT), Bhanu Pratap Sharma.
About BoB:

Founded: 20 July 1908

Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Tagline: India’s International Bank
Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh sworn in as the first female Sikh judge of the United
States
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
Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh has been sworn in as a Harris
county judge, becoming the first female Sikh judge in the United States
(US).

Indian American Judge Ravi Sandill, the state's first South Asian judge of
Texas, presided over the ceremony, which took place in a packed
courtroom.

Judges and Justices serve no fixed term - they serve until their death,
retirement, or conviction by the Senate.
About Manpreet Monica Singh:

Manpreet Monica Singh was born and brought up in Houston.

Her father immigrated to the US in the early 1970s.

She has been a trial lawyer for 20 years.

She was involved with many civil rights organizations at various levels.

In the USA, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.

She is on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Texas, the Texas Lyceum,
and the Sikh Coalition (also serving as Trustee).

She is also a Chapter Representative for the exclusive American Board
of Trial Advocates and an ongoing lecturer for the Texas Bar CLE
classes.
Awards & Honors:

She was runner-up for Houston Young Lawyers Association Most
Outstanding Attorney in 2010 and the South Asian Bar Association
Distinguished Member Award Winner in 2017.
UNGA confirms Ms. Inger Andersen for a second term as UNEP Executive
Director
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
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) confirmed Ms. Inger Andersen
of Denmark for a second term as executive director of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
 She will serve as a UNEP executive director for a second four-year term from June
2023 to June 2027.

Andersen is currently serving her initial four-year
term from 2019 to 2023. Key Highlights:

Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres sent a note to the 193 members of
the General Assembly on January 9, 2023, nominating Andersen for reelection.
 Russia circulated a "draft decision" to the assembly later that would have required
Guterres "to present candidates for the position of executive director".

The assembly defeated the Russian proposal by a vote of 13-77 with 62 abstentions.
 It then held a secret ballot on Andersen's nomination, approving her on a
136-0 vote with 31 abstentions.
About Ms. Inger Andersen:

Ms. Andersen was born in Jerup, Denmark.
 In 1992, she was appointed the Global Environment Facility Coordinator for
MENA at UNDP, where she oversaw the global environment portfolio in 22
Arab countries.
 She serves as Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank
Head of the CGIAR Fund Council and then World Bank Vice President for
the Middle East and North Africa.
 In June 2019, Ms. Andersen served as the director general of the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for 4 years.
About UNEP:

Established: 5 June 1972

Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya

First director: Maurice Frederick Strong
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
UNEP is the leading environmental
authority in the UN system.
Centre appoints ex-BSF DG Pankaj Kumar
Singh as Deputy NSA
 The center has appointed former director general of the Border Security Force
(BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh as the deputy National Security Advisor (Dy NSA) in
the National Security Council Secretariat of India.
 He has been appointed for the post on a re-employment contract, which is valid for 2
years.

The other deputy NSAs are Rajinder Khanna, Dattatray
Padsalgikar, and Vikram Misri. About Pankaj Kumar Singh:

Pankaj Kumar Singh is a 1988-batch IPS Officer of the Rajasthan cadre.

He was the 29th Director General of BSF.
 He is the son of former Director General of Border Security Force, Prakash
Singh, who served as the DG of BSF from 1993 to 1994.
 He had taken the charge as BSF DG on 31st August 2021, making him the first
father-son duo along with his father Prakash Singh to hold the BSF's top job.

He had served with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as Inspector
General (Chhattisgarh) and IG (Operations) at CRPF HQ in Delhi.
Awards & Honors:

He awarded with UN Peace Medal (Bar), Police Medal for Meritorious
Service, and President Police Medal for Distinguished Service
About NSC:

Founded: 19 November 1998

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

National Security Advisor: Ajit Kumar Doval

First National Security Advisor: Brajesh Mishra
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
The three-tier structure of the NSC comprises the Strategic Policy Group
(SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), and the National Security
Council Secretariat.
Mr. Nick Walker was appointed as the new CEO of Vedanta's Cairn Oil & Gas

Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas, India’s largest private oil and gas exploration and
production company, has appointed Mr. Nick Walker as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO).

He will be the 6th CEO of the company since mining billionaire Anil
Agarwal-led group bought the company from Scottish explorer Cairn
Energy plc, now known as Capricorn Energy plc, in 2011.

Cairn Oil & Gas is committed to increasing India's domestic crude oil and
gas production with a vision to contribute 50% of India's production and add
reserves and resources.
About Nick Walker:

He has also worked in various companies like BP, Talisman Energy, and Africa Oil.

He has over 30 years of diverse international experience in technical,
commercial, and executive leadership roles.

Before this current post, Mr. Walker was President and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) at Lundin Energy, one of the leading European independent E&P
companies.
EESL CEO Vishal Kapoor takes over as CEO of CESL

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Energy Efficiency Services (EESL),
Vishal Kapoor took over the additional charge of CEO of Convergence
Energy Services Limited (CESL).

He Succeeds Mahua Acharya, who resigned from
the post on Dec 01, 2022. About Vishal Kapoor:
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 Vishal Kapoor served as a joint secretary in the Ministry of Power (MoP),
Government of India (GoI).

He joined EESL on November 2, 2022.
 He led various government interventions, schemes, and reforms in the power
distribution sector.

He played an instrumental role in formulating the Revamped
Distribution Sector Scheme for the Operational and Financial
turnaround of distribution utilities.
Vodafone Idea appoints Sujeet Sharma As VP-Active Network And Commercial

Sujeet Sharma has been appointed as Vice President – of Active Network,
Commercial of Vodafone Idea.

He will oversee the procurement for the company.

Before Vodafone Idea, he served Bharti Airtel for 15 years and he last held
the position of VP & Head of Infrastructure Procurement and Operations.

He joined Airtel in 2007 as Senior Manager in the Supply Chain Department
and moved on to roles like Deputy General Manager, and General Manager in
the Department.

Before joining Airtel, he worked for 6 years at Idea Cellular, where he
began as a senior executive - materials in 2001.
EESL CEO Vishal Kapoor takes over as CEO of CESL
 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Energy Efficiency Services (EESL),
Vishal Kapoor took over the additional charge of CEO of Convergence
Energy Services Limited (CESL).
 He Succeeds Mahua Acharya, who resigned from
the post on Dec 01, 2022.
Vodafone Idea appoints Sujeet Sharma As VP-Active
Network And Commercial
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 Sujeet Sharma has been appointed as Vice President – of Active Network,
Commercial of Vodafone Idea.
 He will oversee the procurement for the company.
 Before Vodafone Idea, he served Bharti Airtel for 15 years and he last held the
position of VP &Head of Infrastructure Procurement and Operations.
 He joined Airtel in 2007 as Senior Manager in the Supply Chain Department
and moved on to roles like Deputy General Manager, and General Manager in
the Department.
Mr. Chris Hipkins to be New Zealand’s next prime minister
 New Zealand's ruling Labour Party selected Mr. Chris Hipkins(44) to replace
Jacinda Ardern as its new leader and the 41st prime minister (PM) of New
Zealand.
 Hipkins emerged as the only candidate to be nominated for the leadership
of the ruling Labour party.
IAS officer Mr. Vikram Dev Dutt appointed as new director general of DGCA
 Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Vikram Dev Dutt has
been appointed as the next director general (DG) in the Directorate of
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment.
 He will take over as the DG of the aviation regulator on February 28, 2023, upon
the superannuation of incumbent DGCA chief Arun Kumar.
Nykaa appoints Mr. P. Ganesh as CFO
 Nykaa's parent firm, FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd., has appointed Mr. P
Ganesh as the chief financial officer (CFO) from Feb. 3, 2023.
Tata Trusts appoints Mr. Siddharth Sharma as CEO & Ms. Aparna Uppaluri as COO
 One of the country's oldest public charitable foundations, Tata Trusts appointed
Mr. Siddharth Sharma as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Trusts and
Ms. Aparna Uppaluri as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
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 Mr. Sharma will succeed Mr. N Srinath, who resigned as the CEO of Tata Trusts in
2022.
 The appointments of the new CEO and COO will come into
effect from April 1, 2023.
RBI approves appointment of Mr. Prabdev Singh as India CEO of
JP Morgan Chase
 JPMorgan Chase & Co. has received approval from India’s central bank
(Reserve Bank of India) to name Mr. Prabdev Singh as the lender’s chief
executive officer (CEO) in the country for a period of a three-year.
 Mr. Singh had been JPMorgan’s interim CEO since November 2022 replacing
Mr. Madhav Kalyan who in October 2022 was named head of payments for Asia
Pacific.
 Before joining JPMorgan, he was a trained engineer and had worked for a decade at
HSBC Holdings Plc.
Govt extends tenure of Sangeeta Verma as acting Chairperson of CCI
 The Central government has extended the tenure of Sangeeta Verma as the
acting Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which has
been functioning without a full-time Chairperson for three months now.
 She was initially appointed as acting Chairperson of CCI in Oct 2022 for 3
months or until a new chairperson was appointed after the previous
chairperson Mr. Ashok Kumar Gupta demitted office.
 At present CCI is working with only 2 members.
Mr. Shamal Patel & Mr. Valamji Humbal were re-elected as chairman & vice-chairman of
Amul

The board of directors of Gujarat Cooperative milk marketing federation
Limited (GCMMF), the umbrella body of milk cooperatives in Gujarat that owns
the brand Amul Re-elected Mr. Shamalbhai Patel and Mr. Valamji Humbal as
Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively.
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
The elections were being held after a gap of 2.5 years, in the presence of
17 of the 18 members who represent their district milk unions in Gujarat.
Standard Chartered Bank appoints Mr. Sarabjit Anand as Chief Technology and Operations
Officer

Standard Chartered Bank has appointed Sarabjit Anand as the chief
technology and operations officer (CTOO) for India and South Asia.

Mr. SV Shivshanker has been appointed by the United Kingdom (UK)-based
bank as Head of Human Resources for India and South Asia.
India elected as Vice-chair at the 12th session of FAO’s ITWG on ANGR for Food and
Agriculture

During the 12th session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group
(ITWG) on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) in Rome, Italy, India was elected
as Vice-Chair and represented the Asia and Pacific region.

Dr. B N Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Sciences), Indian Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and the National Coordinator, Vice-chaired
the Session and also acted as Rapporteur.
US President Mr. Joe Biden nominates Indian-American astronaut Raji Chari for US Air
Force Brigadier General post

Indian-American astronaut Raja J Chari has been nominated by
President Mr. Joe Biden for the appointment to the grade of Air Force
brigadier general.

The nomination will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

The US Senate approves all senior civilian
and military appointments.
IDFC AMC Appoints Mr Manish Gunwani as Head –
Equities

IDFC Asset Management Company Limited (‘IDFC AMC’), one of the top 10
AMCs in the country, has appointed Mr. Manish Gunwani as Head –
Equities.
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 In this role, Mr. Gunwani will have overall responsibility for equity fund management
for the fund house.

Gunwani has over 25 years of experience, covering the entire gamut of
equity research and fund management.
Netflix co-founder Mr Reed Hastings steps down as co-CEO
Netflix Inc co-founder Mr Reed Hastings,the entrepreneur who reshaped the
media landscape and led the charge into streaming, stepped down as co-chief
executive of the company
 Mr Hastings, 62, co-founded the company in 1997 when Netflix delivered its
subscribers movies on DVDs sent in the mail, will become chairman.
Shri J.P. Nadda’s Term as BJP Chief Extended Till June 2024
 BJP leader and Union minister Shri Amit Shah announced that the Bharatiya
Janata Party has extended its president Shri J.P. Nadda’s term till June, 2024.
 Shri Nadda’s extension was proposed by defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh.
 He was appointed as BJP president on January 20, 2020.
 He had taken over the presidency of the party after Shah was appointed as union
home minister in 2019.
Mr Anurag Gupta Appointed as VP & Head of Global Merchant & Network Services,
American Express Banking Corp., India
 American Express Banking Corp., (AEBC) has appointed Mr Anurag Gupta
as the Vice President (VP) and Head of Global Merchant & Network Services
in India, bringing both the acquiring and the network cards issuance teams
under one leader
Mr BG Mallya takes over ICF as general manager
 Mr BG Mallya, took charge as General Manager of Integral Coach Factory (ICF).
 Prior to this, he was serving Southern Railway (SR) as its additional general
manager.
 Mallya is an officer of 1985 batch of Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers.
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IMPORTANT AWARDS & HONOURS NEWS
Riafy Technologies app won Google Play’s Best of 2022 Award:

The outgoing year gifted Riafy Technologies with a milestone achievement,
as users chose the company’s novel app as their ‘favorite’, finding ‘Dance
Workout for Weight Loss’ among Google Play’s Best of 2022 Awards.

The app provides original and customized ways to support people in
maintaining their physical and mental fitness.

Riafy is being incubated under Kerala Startup Mission, the nodal
agency of the government for entrepreneurship development and
incubation activities in the State.

The app, available in 11 languages, is used by lakhs of users in 176
countries. With the ‘pandemic pounds’ phenomenon, several individuals
suffered from acute weight problems and associated health issues, unable to
access fitness regimes.

The award, which was announced in September at the Google Developer
summit in Bengaluru, was given over to the company at the Global Huddle
meet in Thiruvananthapuram recently.

Company’s Co-founder and CEO John Mathew.

The company was the first Indian developer to be featured at Google I/O,
the world’s largest Android conference (2015), and has since been
showcased for four consecutive years.

Riafy’s consumer-end products are used by 45 million people in 160
countries and 27 global languages.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award was announced:

An educationist in Bhutan, a doctor in Brunei, and civil society activists in
Ethiopia, Israel, and Poland were among the 27 people chosen for the
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), the highest honour for
overseas Indians.
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
The PBSA is conferred by the President as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas Convention on nonresident Indians (NRIs), persons of Indian origin
(PIOs), or organizations established and run by NRIs or PIOs in recognition of
their outstanding achievements in India and abroad.

The 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held at
Indore in Madhya Pradesh during January 8-10.

The awards will be conferred by the President during the valedictory
session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations.

The recipients were chosen by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the vice
president.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar is the vice-chair of the panel, whose
other members are drawn from various walks of life.
The awardees, who represent excellence achieved by the Indian diaspora in different fields:

Jagadish Chennupati of Australia in the field of science and technology and
education, Sanjeev Mehta of Bhutan in education, Dilip Loundo of Brazil in art
and culture and education, Alexander Maliakel John of Brunei in medicine,
Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan of Canada in community welfare, Joginder Singh
Nijjar of Croatia in art and culture, Ramjee Prasad of Denmark in IT and
Kannan Ambalam of Ethiopia in community welfare.
The other awardees:

Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay of Germany in community welfare, Mohamed
Irfaan Ali of Guyana in politics and community welfare, Reena Vinod
Pushkarna of Israel in business and community welfare, Maqsooda Sarfi
Shiotani of Japan in education, Rajagopal of Mexico in education, Amit Kailash
Chandra Lath of Poland in business, Parmanand Sukhumal Daswani of the
Republic of Congo in community welfare, Piyush Gupta of Singapore in
business, Mohanlal Hira and Sanjaykumar Shivabhai Patel of South Sudan in
community welfare.
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
Sivakumar Nadesan of Sri Lanka (community welfare),
Dewanchandrebhose Sharman of Suriname (community welfare), Archana
Sharma of Switzerland (science and technology), Frank Arthur Seepersad
of Trinidad and Tobago (community welfare), Siddharth Balachandran of
the UAE (business), Chandrakant Babubhai Patel of the UK (media),
Darshan Singh Dhaliwal of the US (business and community welfare),
Rajesh Subramaniam of the US (business) and Ashok Kumar Tiwary of
Uzbekistan (business) are also among the awardees.
Odisha Wins World Habitat Awards 2023 For Slum Upgradation Program:

Odisha won the UN-Habitat's World Habitat Awards 2023 for Jaga Mission, a 5T
initiative of the state.

According to an official statement, the Jaga mission is the land titling and
slum upgrading program that aims at empowering the lives of slum dwellers.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Government of
Odisha has set itself the ambitious target of becoming the first slum-free
state in India and is leading the Jaga Mission program to upgrade all of the
state's 2,919 slums

100 percent of households in 2,724 slums have been provided with pipe
water connections, 707 slums have transformed fully into liveable habitats,
100 percent of households in 666 slums have individual toilets, and 8 cities
have become slum-free.

Earlier in 2019, Odisha's Jaga mission received World Habitat Awards for its
success in providing land tenure security to the slum dwellers
Odakkuzhal Award for Ambikasuthan Mangad:

Writer Ambikasuthan Mangad has been selected for Odakuzhal Award 2022
for his collection of short stories titled Pranavayu.

The award consists of ₹30,000, a citation, and a plaque.

Instituted by the Guruvayurappan Trust, the award is being given for the
best collection of short stories in Malayalam.
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
In its evaluation, the judging committee for 2022 said Pranavayu included
contemporary stories filled with modern vision and outlook.

The stories Neeraliyan and Pranavayu, which are based on the topic of
climate change, offer a unique reading experience in Malayalam

The award will be presented on the occasion of the 45th death anniversary
of Mahakavi G. Sankara Kurup, who established the Guruvayurappan
Trust, at the Ernakulam Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad building here.

Literary critic Dr. M. Leelavathi will present the award
to Ambikasuthan Mangad.
Jalna and Nagpur Police win ‘Best Police Units’ award:

Nagpur, Jalna district police, and Nagpur city police in Maharashtra have
bagged the ‘Best Police Unit’ awards for 2021 in the state under different
classes for maintaining law and order, use of modern technology, evolving
community policing, and administration.

The Jalna police got the award in ‘Class A’ and the Nagpur police in
‘Class B’, as per the winners announced by Additional Director General
of Police (law and order) Kulwant Sarangal.

Police units with less than 6,100 Indian Penal Code cases are grouped in
‘Class A’, while those with more than 6,100 IPC cases are grouped in
‘Class B’, according to a police circular.

In ‘Class A’, Raigarh district police got the second best police unit award,
while Sindhudurg district police won for the best unit for conviction in session
trial cases, Beed district police for the best unit in technology for policing,
and Gadchiroli police for the best unit in community policing initiatives.

In ‘Class B’, Pune city police bagged the second best police unit award, MiraBhayandar-Vasai Virar police won for the best unit in technology for policing,
while Solapur rural police won two awards — best unit for conviction in session
trial cases and community policing initiatives.
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
Jalna police force comes under the Aurangabad range.

The Aurangabad rural police from the same range had won the best
police unit award for 2020 in ‘Class A’.
CJI DY Chandrachud to be conferred with the 2022 CLP Award for Global Leadership by
Harvard Law School:

The Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession has decided to
confer Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with the ‘Center on the
Legal Profession Award for Global Leadership’.

CLP’s highest professional distinction will be presented to CJI Chandrachud on
January 11.

Justice Chadrachud, who became chief justice in November 2022, holds
an LLM and an SJD from Harvard Law School.

According to CLP’s media release, the award is being presented to the CJI in
recognition of his lifetime of service to the legal profession in India and around
the world.

The CLP will honour Justice Chandrachud’s storied career and
everything he has done for the profession and the rule of law in India
and around the world.

Further, in receiving this award, Justice Chandrachud will join a select group
of past recipients, including Samantha Power (former U.S. Permanent
Representative to the United Nations under President Barack Obama and
current head of the Agency for International Development), Brad Smith (ViceChair and President of Microsoft), the late Vernon Jordan (who throughout
his distinguished career served as the President of the National Urban
League, Senior Managing Director of Lazard Frères, Senior Partner at Akin
Gump, a Member of the Board of Directors for several Fortune 500
companies, and a close advisor to Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack
Obama), and Kenneth Frazier (Executive Chair and former CEO of Merck).
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Veteran actress-director Aparna Sen receives lifetime achievement award at Jaipur Film
Fest:

Veteran actor-director Aparna Sen was honoured with the lifetime
achievement award at the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the
Jaipur International Film Festival.

After receiving the honour, Sen said the Lifetime Achievement Award is not the
end road of her journey as a creative person.

Grammy award winner Ricky Kej, film script writer Kamlesh Pandey,
screenplay writer-film producer Haider Hale and others were present at the
opening ceremony.

More than two hundred producers, directors, and scriptwriters attended the event.

282 films from 63 countries will be screened
Golden Globes 2023: ‘RRR’ wins Best Original Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’

RRR won Best Original song at the ongoing ceremony for Naatu Naatu.

The song is composed by music director MM Keeravaani, and sung by
Kala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj, with lyrics by Chandrabose.

Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Telugu star Chiranjeevi and
several other celebrities congratulated musician M. M. Keeravani and
other team members of ‘RRR’.

RRR is also nominated for Best Picture non-English language category.

The original song nominees were “Carolina,” from “Where the Crawdads Sing,”
music by Taylor Swift; “Ciao Papa,” from “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,”
music by Alexandre Desplat; “Hold My Hand,” from “Top Gun: Maverick,”
music by Lady Gaga, BloodPop, Benjamin Rice” and “Lift Me Up,” from “Black
Panther: Wakanda Forever,” music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig
Göransson.

Drawing inspiration from the lives of freedom fighters Komaram Bheem and
Alluri Sitarama Raju, RRR narrates a fictional tale set in the 1920s.
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
The film boasts an ensemble cast, starring the likes of Jr NTR, Ram
Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Samuthirakani, Alison
Doody, and Ray Stevenson.
e-NAM wins Platinum Award at Digital India Award 2022:

e-NAM, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
has won the Platinum Award in the Digital Empowerment of Citizens Category
in Digital India Awards 2022 held in New Delhi.

The President of India, Ms. Droupadi Murmu, as Chief Guest of the event,
has conferred the Digital India Awards, 2022 to Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi,
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

e-NAM is a digital platform integrating 1260 APMC mandis across 22
States and 3 UTs to facilitate online trading of 203 agriculture and
horticulture commodities to enable farmers to realize better remunerative
prices for their produce.

e-NAM is catalyzing the digital transformation of mandi operations
and e-trading of agricultural commodities.

More than 1.74 Crore farmers & 2.39 Lakh traders have been registered on the eNAM portal.

A total trade consisting of 69 million metric tonnes worth Rs. 2.42 lakh crore
has been recorded on the e-NAM platform.
Indian peacekeepers have been awarded the UN Medal for Exemplary Service:

The United States of America and the United Nations have both received
a distinguished award for their contributions to the cause of peace.

The United Nations Medal was presented to 1,171 Indian peacekeepers
deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan during a
special award ceremony in Upper Nile.

Major Jasmine Chatha, a woman officer of the Indian Army, led the parade
of the Indian contingent at the award ceremony in Upper Nile for the first
time.
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
India is one of the most significant contributors of troops to UN peacekeeping
missions.

India's peacekeepers are acknowledged for their outstanding
performance and obligations while serving in missions.

As of June 2022, India has sent 2370 military soldiers to UNMISS, second only to
Rwanda (2637).
About UN peacekeeping:

The UN Security Council authorized the deployment of UN military
observers in the Middle East in 1948, marking the beginning of UN
peacekeeping.

It aids in guiding nations away from war and toward the arduous path of peace.

For peacekeeping, it sends out police and soldiers from all over the world.

India ranks among the nations that contribute the most police and
military personnel to UN peacekeeping missions.

Currently, nine out of the twelve UN peacekeeping deployments
have more than 5,700 Indian personnel on the ground.
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel crowned Miss Universe 2022:

Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu crowned her successor, Miss
USA R'Bonney Gabriel at the 71st Miss Universe pageant held at the New
Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

Contestants from over 84 countries participated and competed at this year's
pageant.

While Miss Venezuela was the first runner-up, Miss Dominican Republic
was crowned as the second runner-up.

The 2022 edition saw many firsts, like the debut of Bhutan, and the
comeback of countries like Angola, Belize, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Switzerland, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Uruguay.
About R'Bonney Gabriel:
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
Miss USA 2022 and Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel is a woman who wears
many hats.

She is a fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor with a zest for life.

While in high school, she instantly fell in love with constructing designs with fabrics
and textiles.

At the University of North Texas, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in
Fashion Design with a Minor in Fiber in 2018.

She is presently the CEO of her sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.
Google Doodle honours India’s ‘Pocket Dynamo’ Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav on his 97th
birth anniversary:

Google has celebrated the 97th birth anniversary of legendary Indian
wrestler Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, also known as Pocket Dynamo,
with a doodle.

The celebrated wrestler became independent India’s first athlete to
clinch an Olympic medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki.

The tribute on Google’s home page shows two sketches of the legendary
wrestler. In one, Jadhav can be seen in a tactical position, while the other
shows him wearing an Indian jersey.
About Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav:

According to Google Doodle’s blog, the wrestler was born today in
Maharashtra’s Goleshwar village in 1926.

He inherited his athleticism from his father, who was also a wrestler and one
of his village’s best and started training with him.

Following this, Jadhav shined at multiple competitions held at state and national
levels.

However, his first brush with an international competition was with the London
Olympics in 1948, where he finished sixth, the highest-ever for an Indian
wrestler at the time.
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
After four years of relentless training, Jadhav participated in the 1952
Helsinki Olympics and bested wrestlers from Germany, Mexico, and
Canada.

He later lost to the eventual title holder but won a bronze medal,
becoming the first athlete from independent India to earn a medal.

India celebrated Jadhav’s return with a parade of bullock carts that carried
him through his hometown village.

Jadhav’s golden wrestling career unfortunately ended before the next Olympics due
to his knee injury.

He later worked as a police officer before retiring as an Assistant Commissioner in
1983.

He was posthumously awarded the Chhatrapati Puraskar in 19921993 by the Government of Maharashtra for his contribution to
wrestling.

To honour his achievement, the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games’ wrestling
venue was named after him.
Writer K Venu received Federal Bank Literary Award 2023:

Noted writer K Venu was conferred with Federal Bank Literary Award
2022 for his autobiography ‘Oranweshananthinte Katha.

Venu received the award from Balagopal Chandrasekhar, Chairman
and Independent Director of Federal Bank, at a special event held as
part of the Kerala Literature Festival.

Nandakumar V, Executive Vice President & Head – Branch Banking and
Regi CV, Kozhikode Zonal Head, Federal Bank handed over the prize
money. Writer M Mukundan presided over the function.

‘Oranweshananthinte Katha’ was chosen by the judging panel comprising
writer and literary critic KC Narayanan, Sunil P Ilayidom and PK
Rajashekharan.

10 works were shortlisted for the award.
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
Judging panel member P K Rajashekaran commented that the essence of
the book brought back the memory of the most intense political timeline in
the modern history of Kerala.

This is the first-ever literary award constituted by the Federal Bank.

The award was announced by Nandakumar V, Executive Vice President & Head –
Branch Banking.

Chairman Balagopal Chandrasekhar delivered the keynote address.

The literary community of Kerala has produced rich literature over the years that
makes us all proud.

By constituting the award, Federal Bank aims to celebrate the diversity of
contemporary literature and recognise writers for their cultural contributions
Naanera bags Golden Kailasha award in Ajanta-Ellora film festival:

Naanera, a Rajasthani film directed by Deepankar Prakash, bagged the
Golden Kailasha award for the best movie at the Ajanta-Ellora film festival.

Naanera (Grandfather’s House) revolves around Manish.

Naanera also bagged awards for best director, best screenplay, best editor

The best picture award, announced by FIPRESCI India jury N
Vidyashakar, included a trophy and a cash prize of Rs one lakh,

Kannada film Koli Esru (chicken curry), won awards for best child artist
(Apeksha Chorna Halli) and best actress for Akshatha Pandavapura.

The film revolves around a young mother in the village who goes out of her
way to fulfil her daughter’s wish to eat chicken curry.

Best actor prize went to Jeetu Kamal for the Bengali film Aparajito.

Kamal played the role of Indian cinema legend Satyajit Ray in the film which
traces the journey of the director as he worked on his debut 1955 film Pather
Panchali.

As many as 55 films were screened in this five-day film festival.

The event was organized after a break of two years of the Pandemic.
Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit wins Bahrain's ISA Award for Service to
Humanity:
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
Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder Dr. Sanduk Ruit has won the
ISA Award for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award in Bahrain.

The award carries a cash prize of USD 1 million, a certificate of merit, and a gold
medal.

Dr. Ruit is the pioneer in delivering high-quality microsurgical procedures in remote
eye camps.

He made modern eye care affordable and accessible to countries in Asia, Africa, and
Latin America.

Dr. Ruit has trained more than 650 doctors, teaching them to cure preventable
blindness.

He is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award by the GoI, The National Order
of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' congratulated senior
ophthalmologist Ruit for receiving prestigious Bahrain’s ISA award
New Goa Manohar International Airport wins best sustainable greenfield airport award:

GMR Goa International Airport (GGIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports
Infrastructure, has won the 'Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport' award under
aviation sustainability and environment at ASSOCHAM's 14th International
Conference-cum-Awards for Civil Aviation 2023.

The award was presented for "excellent initiatives" taken by GGIAL in
implementing sustainability as one of the core concepts.

During the conference, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya
Scindia presented the award to the senior officials from GGIAL in the
presence of industry dignitaries and participants.

The forum recognizes the companies engaged in civil aviation initiatives that
adopt best practices and technological advancement in their daily operations.
ESAF Bank bags Inclusive Finance India Award 2022:

ESAF Small Finance Bank has bagged the prestigious Inclusive Finance
India Awards 2022 for its contributions to advancing the goal of financial
inclusion and supporting inclusive growth.
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
K. Paul Thomas, MD, and CEO, of ESAF Bank, received the award from
Anantha Nageshwaran, Chief Economic Advisor at the 19th Inclusive Finance
India Summit held in New Delhi.

The Inclusive Finance India Awards is an initiative of ACCESS
Development Services constituted in 2009 in partnership with HSBC India.

This award is a recognition of ESAF’s unique spectrum of Financial Inclusion
projects ESAF Dhansree, ESAF Udyog Jyothi, LSEDP (Local Sustainable
Economic Development Project), ESAF Balajyothi, ESAF Vayojyothi, and
ESAF Garshom.

The Inclusive Finance India Awards initiative aims to celebrate and encourage
deserving institutions to continue to enhance outreach to the poor by way of
motivating management and staff through
recognition of their painstaking efforts and enhancing the credibility of the
institution, thereby making it more attractive for funding.
ESAF Bank bags Inclusive Finance India Award 2022:
 ESAF Small Finance Bank has bagged the prestigious Inclusive Finance
India Awards 2022 for its contributions to advancing the goal of financial
inclusion and supporting inclusive growth.
 K. Paul Thomas, MD, and CEO, of ESAF Bank, received the award from
Anantha Nageshwaran, Chief Economic Advisor at the 19th Inclusive Finance
India Summit held in New Delhi.
Eleven children conferred with PM’s national award

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal
Puraskar (PMRBP) 2023 on 11 children, including one with a rare bone
disorder who is now an accomplished singer and a youngster who jumped into
a river to save the life of a woman.

Minister of women and child development Smriti Zubin Irani will also interact
with the children and congratulate them in the presence of the minister of
state for women and child development Munjpara Mahendrabhai.
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Naatu Naatu' from SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' nominated for Best Original Song in Oscars

Director SS Rajamouli’s historical epic RRR has scored a nomination in the
Best Original Song category at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards, more
popularly known as the Oscars.

In the Best Original Song category, RRR's song “Naatu Naatu” is competing
with “Applause” (Tell it Like a Woman), “Hold My Hand” (Top Gun: Maverick),
“Lift Me” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), and “This is a Life” (Everything
Everywhere All At Once).
901 Police Medals to celebrate bravery, distinguished service:

A total of 901 police personnel were awarded Police Medals on the
occasion of Republic Day, a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA).

The Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) has been awarded to 140 police
personnel, the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) to 93
personnel, and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) has been
awarded to 668 personnel.

As many as 80 out of 140 gallantry awards have been conferred on police
personnel deployed in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
Woman naval air operations Lt Commander Disha Amrith to lead Navy’s R- Day contingent

Lt Commander Disha Amrith, a woman naval air operations official posted at
a strategic base, will lead the Indian Navy’s Republic Day contingent of 144
young sailors.

Its tableau will showcase the ‘Nari Shakti’ in the force.

The tableau will also reflect the Navy's focus on remaining a combat-ready, credible,
and cohesive force.
IMPORTANT DEFENCE NEWS
IAF successfully test-fires extended range version of the BrahMos air missile
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
The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired the extended-range
version of BrahMos air-launched missile against a ship target from a SU30MKI aircraft.

The missile achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region.

The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian
Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BrahMos
Aerospace (BAPL), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have proven
the capability of the nation to achieve this feat.
About BrahMos air-launched missile:

BrahMos Aerospace is an Indo-Russian joint venture which produces supersonic
cruise missiles.

The missiles can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

A BrahMos missile travels at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost thrice the speed of
sound.

The first test of the initial version of the Cruise Missile was conducted in
2017, making it a significant addition to the IAF’s operational capabilities
from stand-off ranges.

It was the first launch of an extended-range version of BrahMos missile from Su30MKI aircraft.

With this, the IAF has achieved the capability to carry out precision
strikes from Su-30MKI aircraft against a land/ sea target over very long
ranges.
Defence Ministry begins Process to Buy 100 More K-9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzers

The Defence Ministry has started the process for the procurement of 100
more K9-Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzers which are built in India by
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) using technology transferred from South Korean
defense major Hanwha Defense.

The 100th gun was delivered to the Army in February 2021, the contract for
which was signed in May 2017.
About K-9 Vajra:
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
The K9 Vajra is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer (a
short gun for firing shells on high trajectories at low velocities) transferred
from South Korean defense major Hanwha Defense based on its K9
Thunder.

The K9 gun has been developed under the ‘Buy Global’ program of
the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) where foreign
companies are allowed to participate.

The K9 Vajra was mainly bought for use in deserts, but the India-China
standoff prompted them to be deployed in the mountains as well.

At the height of tensions in eastern Ladakh in 2020, the Army deployed one
regiment of K-9 Vajra-tracked self-propelled howitzers there to augment its
long-range firepower in the backdrop of a massive build-up of forces by China
across the Line of Actual Control
About howitzer:

A howitzer is a long-ranged weapon, falling between a cannon (also known
as an artillery gun in the United States), which fires shells at flat trajectories,
and a mortar, which fires at high angles of ascent and descent.
Other howitzers being used in the Indian Army:

Dhanush, K-9 Vajra and
M777 Ultra Light Howitzers About
L&T:

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Chairman: Anil Manibhai Naik

MD & CEO: S. N. Subrahmanyan
Captain Shiva Chouhan becomes the first woman officer to be deployed at Siachen

Captain Shiva Chouhan of the Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps became
the first woman officer to get operationally deployed at the world's highest
battlefield, Siachen Glacier.
About Captain Shiva Chouhan:
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
Capt Shiva Chouhan, who hails from Rajasthan, is a Bengal Sapper Officer.

She successfully led the Sura Soi Cycling Expedition from the Siachen War
Memorial to the Kargil War Memorial conducted on the occasion of Kargil
Vijay Diwas in July 2022.

She is an officer of the Fire and Fury Corps.

In September 2021, a team of 8 specially-abled people created a world
record by reaching Kumar Post at 15,632 feet height.
About Siachen Glacier:

The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on the earth.

It is spread over an area of 76 kilometres.
 It is the longest glacier in Karakoram and the second-longest in the world's nonpolar areas.

Under Operation Meghdoot, the Indian Army took control of the entire
Siachen glacier in 1984.
India & Japan to hold joint Air Exercise, 'Veer Guardian-2023' to promote air
defence cooperation

India and Japan are all set to hold the joint Air Exercise, 'Veer Guardian2023' involving the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force
(JASDF) at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan from 12 January 2023 to 26 January
2023.
Aim:

To promote Air Defence cooperation between the countries.

The decision to enhance bilateral defence cooperation and address the
emerging security needs of the two countries was made during the second
2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting held in Tokyo, Japan, in
September 2022.
Key Highlights:
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
The Indian contingent participating in the air exercise will include 4 Su-30MKI
Sukhoi aircraft , 2 C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft and 1
Ilyushin Il-78 in-flight refuelling tanker, will participate in the exercise.
 Meanwhile, the JASDF will deploy its 4 F-2 multi-role attack fighters and 4 F-15 Eagle
aircraft.

It will include the conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two Air Forces.

They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex
environment and will exchange best practices.

Exercise 'Veer Guardian' will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship
and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two Air
Forces.
About MoD:

Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh

Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt

Defence
Secretary: Giridhar
Aramane About IAF:

Chief of Defence Staff: General Anil Chauhan

Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram
Chaudhari
DRDO develops unmanned aerial vehicles for
operations in the Himalayan frontier

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has
developed an untethered multi-copter payload, an unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV).
Aim:

To carry out logistic operations in the Himalayan frontier.
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
The multicopter was exhibited by DRDO at the 108th Indian
Science Congress in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Key Highlights:

DRDO is developing a multicopter with a payload capacity of 5kg to 25kg and
is working to increase the capacity to 30kg
 It can perform autonomous missions with waypoint navigation with a radius of up to 5
km.
 The payload UAV can be helpful to drop medicines for soldiers deployed at high
altitudes or war zones
 It can travel to a designated location in auto mode and release payload and return to
the home location.

Beacon-based landing accuracy of 100 mm, ground vehicle follow mode and
modular design for ease of operation are some of the other features of the
multi-copter payload.

ft.
Successful trials of the multi-copter were conducted at Sikkim at an altitude of 14,000

The product will be ready for induction in the Armed Forces
after two remaining trials. About DRDO:

Established: 1958

Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Chairman: Dr. Sameer V Kamath

The DRDO is the premier agency under the Department of Defence
Research and Development in the Ministry of Defence of the Government of
India.
India successfully carries out a test launch of the Prithvi-II ballistic missile from Chandipur,
Odisha

India successfully carried out a test launch of the tactical ballistic missile
Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of
Odisha.
About Prithvi-II:
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
The Prithvi-II is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic
missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile
Development Program (IGMDP).
 The Prithvi-II missile has a range of around 350 kilometers & can carry 500-1000 kg
of warheads.

It has been an integral part of India’s nuclear deterrence.

The missile struck its target with high accuracy.

The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical
parameters of the missile. About IGMDP:

The IGMDP was established by the
Indian government in 1983 Goal:

To become independent in the development and manufacture of a wide
range of missiles, including ballistic and surface-to-air missiles.

Prithvi was the first missile
developed under this program. About
MoD:

Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh

Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt

Defence Secretary: Giridhar Aramane
ICG ship ‘Kamla Devi’- the last vessel of the FPV series, commissioned in West Bengal
 Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship ‘Kamla Devi’, the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) designed,
built, and
delivered by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata
to the Indian Coast Guard was commissioned.

As per the specifications of the ICG, ICGS Kamla Devi is officially the 5th
and last vessel of the series of FPVs designed and built by GRSE.

Director General of the ICG, V.S.
Pathania, commissioned the ship. Note:
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
The ICG ship Kamla Devi was named after Kamladevi Chattopadhyay, a
well-known Indian social reformer and independence activist.
About ICGS Kamla Devi:
 ICGS Kamla Devi is 48.9 meters long and 7.5 meters wide with a displacement of
308 Tons.

With 3 engines and water jets, she is capable of a top speed of 34 knots
and an endurance of over 1,500 nautical miles.
 She also has an Integrated Bridge System and is fitted with a 40/60 gun as the main
armament.

The ship has advanced habitability features with fully airconditioned accommodations for 35 personnel.

It will patrol the seas and carry out anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and search
and rescue operations as and when required.

Also, ‘MV Ma Lisha’, a Passenger-cum-Cargo Ocean Going Ferry built by
the shipyard for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana was flagged off by
GRSE chairman and managing director (CMD) Commodore (retd) P R
Hari

This is the first such ship built for exports to a Latin American country by
any Defence Public Sector shipyard.
About Kamladevi Chattopadhyay:

She is the first lady in India to run in elections from the Madras seat, which
paved the way for women in India.

She was granted the Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship in 1974, the
highest honor bestowed by India's National Academy of Music, Dance,
and Drama.

The government awarded her the Padma Bhushan and Padma
Vibhushan in 1955 and 1987, respectively.

She is known as Hatkargha Maa because of her involvement
in the handloom industry. About ‘MV Ma Lisha’:
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
The MV Ma Lisha was designed and built by GRSE.

It will move towards Chennai and once at Chennai, she will be loaded onto a
semi-submersible vessel MV Sun Rise for her long voyage to Guyana.

The 70-meter-long vessel with a displacement of 1,700 tonnes is propelled
by two diesel engines and can attain a maximum speed of 15 knots.

The ship can accommodate 294 passengers including 14 crew members along
with 14 cars, two trucks, and 14 containers and cargo.
21st edition of bilateral naval exercise 'Varuna' - 2023 begins

The 21st edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France
commenced on the western seaboard.
Represents:

India is represented by the indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Chennai, guided missile frigate INS Teg, maritime
patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integral helicopters, and MiG29K fighter
aircraft.

The French Navy will be represented by the aircraft carrier Charles De
Gaulle, frigates FS Forbin and Provence, support vessel FS Marne and
maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique.

The exercise would be conducted over 5 days from 16 to 20 January 2023.

The 20th edition of the bilateral naval exercise named 'Varuna'
between the Indian Navy and the French Navy was conducted from
March 30 to April 03, 2022, in the Arabian Sea.
About the Exercise:

During the exercise, enhanced air defence exercises, tactical
manoeuvres, surface firing, replenishment, and other maritime
operational activities will be conducted.

The exercise facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies
to foster cooperation for good order at sea, underscoring the shared
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commitment of both nations to the security, safety, and freedom of the
global maritime commons.
About 'Varuna':

The bilateral exercise between the navies of India and France was
started in 1993, it was named 'Varuna' in the year 2001.

It has become a hallmark of the India – France
strategic bilateral relationship. Other biennial training
exercises between India and France:

Garuda – Exercise Garuda VII between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the
French Air and Space Force (FASF) was held in November 2022 at Air Force
Station Jodhpur.

SHAKTI - The 6th edition of the biennial training exercise 'Yudhbhayas
Shakti 2021' between the armies of India and France was conducted
from November 15-26, 2021 at Frejus, France.
Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launches ‘Soul of Steel’ Alpine Challenge to
promote tourism in border areas

The defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh introduced the “Soul of Steel"
Alpine Challenge, to promote tourism in border areas.

He launched a website for volunteers to sign up for various adventure activities
under this joint initiative of the Indian Army and Centre for Land Warfare
Studies (CLAW) Global, a veterans‘ organization.

As part of a joint expedition by the Indian Army and CLAW, Road to the
End, a 460-km long car rally was also flagged off by Rajnath Singh.

The rally will reach its destination in the Garhwal Himalayas near Niti
Village in Chamoli district in the next 3 days.

CLAW, a team of Indian Special Forces veterans with multiple
specializations in mountaineering, skydiving, SCUBA diving, unarmed
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combat, multi-terrain survival tech, and emergency medical response will
spearhead the challenge.
About the ‘Soul of Steel’ challenge:

The ‘Soul of Steel expedition will test one’s high-altitude endurance and
adventure in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas.

It will initially have 12 Indian participants plus 6 international teams, between
the age group of 18 and 30 years.

It is based on the lines of the ‘Ironman triathlon’, a long-distance triathlon held
in Europe which tests an individual's physical capabilities.

It is being organized by CLAW Global, a conglomerate of giants.
About MoD:

Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh

Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt

Defence Secretary: Giridhar Aramane
Tata Boeing Aerospace delivers first fuselage for 6 AH-64 Apache to Indian Army

Tata-Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), an Indo-American defense and
aerospace joint venture firm, has delivered the first fuselage (the central
part of an aircraft or helicopter, to which the wings and tail are connected),
for the six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Indian Army.

The first Apache is scheduled to be delivered to the
Indian Army in Feb 2024. Key Highlights:

The TBAL facility in the Indian city of Hyderabad is the global sole source
supplier for Apache fuselages and has produced complex aero-structures for
Boeing 737 and 777 aircraft.

So far, the TBAL plant in India has supplied more than 190 fuselages.

India operates 4 classes of aircraft from Boeing,

The C-17 Globemaster III strategic transporter

The P8I Poseidon multi-role maritime mission aircraft
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
The Chinook heavy-lift helicopter

The Apache attack helicopters

More than 1,275 units of the Apache helicopters are in operation,
accumulating more than 4.9 million flight hours globally, of which 1.3
million have been in combat.

The Indian Army's 6 Apaches are the second fleet of Apaches ordered by
India, as the Indian Air Force had taken delivery of 22 AH-64-E variants of the
Apache chopper in 2020.
Note:

Tata Group recently won the ‘Supplier of the year award 2022 from Boeing,
among more than 11,000 suppliers worldwide.

Boeing
India President:
Salil Gupte About
TASL:

Founded: 2007

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

MD & CEO: Sukaran Singh

Chairman: Vijay Singh

The TASL is an Indian aerospace manufacturing, military
engineering, and defense technology company.

It is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and
aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company.
Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone - I Commenced in Rajasthan

The first edition of a joint exercise between the special forces of the
Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” is
being conducted at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
Aim:
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
To boost the defense
cooperation between India & Egypt.
About Cyclone - I:

The 14-day long exercise engages both the contingents to advance
special forces skills such as Sniping, Combat Free Fall,
Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Designation, and sharing of
information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques &
procedures.

Exercise “Cyclone - I” is the first exercise of its kind bringing the special
forces of both nations on a common platform.

The participants would also undertake joint planning and drills for Special
Forces operations in a mechanized warfare setting as well as surgical strikes
on terrorist camps/hideouts to include sniping of High-Value Targets.
Additional Info:

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the 1st Egyptian President
and the 5th leader from the Middle East to grace the Republic Day
celebrations as the chief guest.
About MoD:

Union Minister: Rajnath Singh

Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt

Defence
Secretary: Giridhar
Aramane About
Egypt:

President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Prime Minister: Mostafa Madbouly

Capital: Cairo

Currency: Egyptian pound
Tata Boeing Aerospace delivers first fuselage for 6 AH-64 Apache to Indian Army
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
Tata-Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), an Indo-American defense and
aerospace joint venture firm, has delivered the first fuselage (the central part of
an aircraft or helicopter, to which the wings and tail are connected), for the six
AH-64 Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Indian Army.

The first Apache is scheduled to be delivered to the Indian
Army in Feb 2024.
Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone - I
Commenced in Rajasthan

The first edition of a joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian
Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” is being conducted
at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
Indian Navy to commission fifth Kalvari class submarine ‘Vagir’

The Indian Navy is set to commission the fifth of six French-designed
Scorpone class submarines (Kalvari class) Vagir.

The submarine was built in India by Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra in collaboration with
France-based M/s Naval Group.

The Chief of the Naval Staff Adm R Hari Kumar will be the Chief
Guest for the ceremony.
Eastern Air Command to conduct annual Command-level exercise
Poorvi Akash in Feb 2023

The Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct
an annual Command-level exercise, Poorvi Akash, in the eastern sector
in the first week of February 2023.
 The air combat military drill is being conducted after a gap of two years due to the
COVID-19 Pandemic.
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
The Eastern Air Command conducted a pre-planned exercise in its AOR on
December 15 and 16, 2022
Indian Navy conducts 6-day Mega exercise AMPHEX 2023 in Andhra Pradesh

The Indian Navy conducted a six-day-long mega military exercise - AMPHEX
2023 along with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) near Kakinada in
Andhra Pradesh (AP).

It was the largest biennial tri-services amphibious exercise.
BSF conducts ‘Ops Alert’ exercise to step up security on Indo-Pak border along
Gujarat & Rajasthan ahead of Republic Day 2023

The Border Security Force (BSF) has carried out an “Ops Alert” exercise to
enhance security along the India-Pakistan border in the Kutch district of
Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan ahead of the 2023 Republic Day.

The ‘Ops Alert’ exercise commenced on January 21, 2023, & will continue till
January 28, 2023 “ along the Indo-Pak international border from Sir Creek
(marshy area) to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer district of
Rajasthan.
India, Nato to hold strategic talks; focus on regional security, China
 New Delhi is set to host a rare strategic dialogue with the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (Nato) focused on regional security issues in
development with potentially global ramifications.
 The dialogue is expected to be held in early March
 Within South Asia, the security alliance of 30 countries from North America
and Europe was present in Afghanistan, where Nato forces fought for 20 years
until the US-led withdrawal in late 2021.
Indian Navy Launches its Largest War Game TROPEX in IOR
 The 2023 edition of the Indian Navy’s major maritime exercise Theatre
Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX), is currently underway in
the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
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 TROPEX 23 is being conducted over 3 months from
Jan - Mar 23, 2023.
First Ever India-Japan Bilateral Air Defence Exercise - 'Veer
Guardian 2023' Concludes
 The inaugural edition of the bilateral air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’ between
the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) concluded
in Japan.
 The 16-day joint exercise was conducted to enhance air defense cooperation
between the two air forces.
 Su-30 MKI pilot squadron leader Avani Chaturvedi participated in the bilateral air
exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’.
IMPORTANT SUMMITS & CONFERENCES
TN CM launches a platform for global Tamil
investors
 Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM) Shri MK Stalin launched the Global Tamil
Angels platform
(www.tamilangels.fund) for investors from the global Tamil diaspora to make
investments in TN’s startups.
 The platform was launched at the “Global Startup Investors Summit,” jointly
organised by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission and FeTNA
International Tamil Entrepreneur Network in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
About the Platform:
 The platform will connect the Tamil Nadu-based start-ups with the global
Tamil angel investors, will offer legal consultation for investing and help
take products to the global markets.
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 During the event, a multi-crore American Tamil Fund by investors from the
TN Diaspora in the U.S. to make investments in Tamil Nadu-based start-ups
was announced.
 The investors presented an intent to invest $2 million (about ₹16.5 crores) by
December 2023 to MSME Minister T.M. Anbarasan.

Mr. Stalin highlighted various initiatives taken by his government, including
the ₹1,000-crore Green Climate Fund.
About Tamil Nadu:

Governor: R. N. Ravi

Chief minister: M. K. Stalin

Capital: Chennai

Dance: Bharatnatyam, Karakattam

National Park: Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Guindy
National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Kalakad Wildlife sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary,
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Tiger Reserve: Anamalai Tiger Reserve

Biosphere Reserve: Agasthyamalai
Biosphere Reserve
Voice of Global South Summit: PM Modi
announces ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a new ‘Aarogya Maitri’
project under which India will provide essential medical supplies to any
developing country affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crisis

Under this project, India will provide essential medical supplies to any
developing country affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises

India will launch the Global South Science and Technology Initiative to share
its expertise in areas such as space technology and nuclear energy, and
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establish the Global South Center of Excellence for research on developing
solutions that can be scaled up and implemented around the world.

India will establish a global south centre - Centre of Excellence.

This institution will research development solutions or best practices of any of
our countries which can be scaled & implemented in other members of the
global south

PM Modi also suggested a Global South Young Diplomats Forum that will
help connect youthful officers to Foreign Ministries.
UAE names oil giant ADNOC’s chief Mr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber as COP28 climate
conference president

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has named Mr. Sultan al-Jaber, Cabinet
Member and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE,
& Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC Group) as President of the COP28
climate summit.

Mr. Jaber, also UAE’s minister of industry and technology and its climate
envoy, will help develop the COP28 agenda and play a central role in
intergovernmental negotiations to build consensus.

The summit will be held from 30th November and 12th
December 2023 in Dubai, UAE. Note:

The UAE is the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement and has
committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
 The COP28 conference will be the first global stocktake since the landmark Paris
Agreement in 2015.

The UAE, a major OPEC oil exporter, will be the second Arab state to host the
climate conference after Egypt hosted the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) in 2022.
About Mr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber:
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 Mr. Jaber is the UAE's climate envoy and has participated in 10 COP meetings so
far.
 He is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Masdar, which is the UAE's renewable
energy company.

He is also overseeing an acceleration of ADNOC’s low-carbon
growth strategy approved in 2022. About UAE:
 President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
 Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
 Capital: Abu Dhabi
 Currency: UAE dirham
B-20 inception meeting to be organized in Gandhinagar:

As part of India’s G-20 presidency, a Business-20 (B-20) inception
meeting will be organized at Gandhinagar in Gujarat between the 22nd
to 24th of January.

The meeting will be held to formulate policy recommendations to be
submitted to G-20 ahead of the leaders' Summit.
 This will be the first of 15 events that the State is set to organize as part of India's G20 presidency.

The inaugural ceremony of the B-20 inception meeting will be attended by
Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnav, State Chief Minister
Bhupendra Patel, India's Sherpa to G-20 Amitabh Kant, and Tata Sons
Chairman N Chandrasekaran.

More than 150 policy-makers, business executives, CEOs, and senior
executives representing enterprises from G-20 countries will take part in
the inaugural meeting.
IMPORTANT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
India’s 1st Atmanirbhar human space flight Gaganyaan
to be launched by 2024
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
Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh announced
that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch
India's first Atmanirbhar human flight 'Gaganyaan' by the year 2024.

Gaganyaan' would be India's first human flight and it will also be an excellent
symbol of self-reliance as it will increase the confidence of the nation.
Key Highlights:

In 2024, there will be two preliminary launchings.

The 1st launch will be unmanned, this experiment will be done to mark
the routes because if the 'Gaganyaan' rocket goes into space then it
should also return safely in the same way.

In the 2nd launch also there will be no humans, instead, a robot will be there as a
human replica.

After the complete success of 2 tests, in the 3rd launch, humans will be sent into
space.
Bengaluru Startup Digantara Launches second satellite - Pushan Alpha on SpaceX
Rocket to monitor space weather

Bengaluru Space sector start-up Digantara launched its second satellite
Pushan-Alpha as a rideshare onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the
Transporter-6 mission to the low earth orbit (LEO) from Cape Canaveral in
Florida, United States (US).
Key Highlights:

The Pushan-Alpha mission is named after the Hindu solar deity
considered the god of journeys and protector of travellers.

The mission observations will help complement Digantara’s ROBI (ROBust
Integrating proton fluence meter) mission.

It is the world’s first commercial space-based space weather monitoring
system onboard Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) PSLV-C53
launched on June 30, 2021.

Transporter-6 was SpaceX’s 6th dedicated smallest rideshare mission carrying 114
payloads.
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
The Pushan-Alpha mission has a 3-fold objective:
1. To extend radiation measurements to the sun-synchronous orbit
2. To assess mid to high-energy particle radiation from the South Atlantic Anomaly
3. To investigate any correlation between atmospheric drag and particle
environment for enhanced orbit and debris modelling.
4. Digantara is developing end-to-end infrastructure to address the difficulties of
space operations and space traffic management through its Space Mission
Assurance Platform.
Note:
5. Digantara Aerospace founder
and CEO: Anirudh Sharma
ISRO to develop spatial
infrastructure geoportal for Ladakh
6. The government of the Union Territory of Ladakh has partnered with the Indian
Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), a unit of the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) to develop a “Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘GeoLadakh’ for UT-Ladakh.
Key Highlights:
7. The project encompasses spatial database generation (water resources,
vegetation, and energy potential) using remote sensing, geospatial
techniques, and the development of a Geo-portal for hosting this database.
8. The project aims towards training of UT-Ladakh officials on Geospatial techniques
and applications.
9. The portal provides geospatial data visualization and analytics for UTLadakh, consisting of Spatial viewer, Carbon Neutrality, Geospatial utility
mapping, and Geo-Tourism.
10.
Currently, ISRO is setting up an optical telescope at Hanle for tracking
spacecraft and space objects.
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11. Also, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IIRS
(ISRO) and UT-Ladakh Administration towards carrying out the above
work.
About ISRO:
12.
Established: 15 August 1969
13.
Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
14.
Chairman: Sreedhara Somanath
US Air Force unveils new B-21 Raider nuclear stealth bomber
15. The United States Air Force has unveiled its latest high-tech strategic bomber,
the B-21 Raider, which is the world's 1st sixth-generation aircraft and can carry
conventional and nuclear payloads.
16. The next-generation stealth bomber was rolled out at arm’s manufacturer
Northrop Grumman’s facility in California.
17. The first new bomber in 30 years could cost nearly $700m (£569m) each and
can carry nuclear and conventional weapons.
18.
The first flight by a B-21 is expected to take place in 2023.
About B-21 Raider:

The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raid of World War II
when 80 airmen, led by Lt Col James 'Jimmy' Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers set off on a mission that changed the Second World War.

The B-21 is a long-range strike stealth bomber with high survivability.

It will eventually replace the B-1 and B-2 models and the fleet is estimated to
cost $203bn (£165bn) to develop, buy and operate over 30 years.
About Northrop Grumman Corporation:

Founded: 1994

Headquarters: Virginia, United States

President & CEO: Kathy J. Warden
China launches Asia’s first semi-high-speed hydrogen train with a range of 600 km
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
China's CRRC Corporation Limited has unveiled Asia’s first hydrogen urban train.

The hydrogen train gets a top speed of 160 km/h (Kilometre per hour),
and the operational range without refuelling is 600 km on a single tank.

This is the second such train in the world.

Earlier in 2022, Germany became the first country to operate the world’s
first-ever hydrogen-powered passenger train fleet.
Key Highlights:

The Hydrogen train was developed based on the Fuxing high-speed
platform and includes 4 cars with it.

The train will also get Digital solutions from the CRRC including
GoA2 automation, component monitoring sensors, and 5G data
transmission equipment.
 The operation of the train will reduce CO2 emissions compared to diesel traction by
10 tons per year.

India will most likely get its
first hydrogen train by 2023. About
China:

Capital: Beijing

Currency: Renminbi
ISRO & Social Alpha sign MoU to establish SpaceTech Innovation Platform

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Social Alpha
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the
SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN), India’s first dedicated
platform for innovation curation and venture development for the
burgeoning space entrepreneurial ecosystem.
 It is a one-of-its-kind public-private collaboration for start-ups and SMEs in the space
industry.

This is an important step towards providing further impetus to India's
recent space reform policies. Key Highlights:
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
SpIN has launched its first innovation challenge from early-stage start-ups for
developing solutions in areas of maritime and land transportation, urbanization,
mapping and surveying, disaster management, food security, sustainable
agriculture, environmental monitoring, and natural resources management.
About SpIN:

SpIN is India’s first dedicated platform for innovation, curation, and
venture development for the burgeoning space entrepreneurial
ecosystem.
 SpIN will primarily focus on facilitating space tech entrepreneurs in three distinct
innovation categories:
1. Geospatial Technologies and Downstream Applications;
2. Enabling Technologies for Space & Mobility; and
3. Aerospace Materials, Sensors, and Avionics
Google launches anti-misinformation project in India to prevent violence

American multinational technology company, Google's subsidiary
Jigsaw is launching a new anti-misinformation project in India.
Aim:

To prevent the misleading information that has been blamed for
inciting violence and deaths. Key Highlights:

The initiative will use “prebunking” videos, designed to counter false claims
before they become widely circulated on the company’s YouTube platform
and other social media sites.

The experiment in India will be bigger in scope as it will deal with multiple
local languages Bengali, Hindi, and Marathi & cover diverse sections of a
country populated by over a billion people.

Indian government officials have called on tech companies such as Google,
Meta, and Twitter to take stronger action against the spread of fake news.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has repeatedly
invoked “extraordinary powers” to block YouTube channels, and some
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Twitter and Facebook account allegedly used to spread harmful
misinformation.
About Google:

Founded: September 4, 1998

Headquarters: California, United States

CEO: Sundar Pichai
UK’s 1st Ever Rocket Mission suffers Anomaly & ends in Failure

The United Kingdom's ((UK’s) attempt to launch the first rocket from its
soil failed after the rocket carrying 9 satellites failed to reach orbit.

Virgin Orbit is a carrier company, providing the launch service.

UK's satellites are sent through foreign spaceports and it was its first-ever
attempt to launch a rocket from its land.

The Virgin Orbit system is relatively new and it's only been
in operation since 2020. About UK:

Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak

Capita: London

Currency: Pound sterling
NASA's James Webb Telescope Discovers Its 1st Exoplanet

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s(NASA) James Webb
Space Telescope (JWST) has captured its first-ever exoplanet, formally
classified as LHS 475 b, the planet is almost the same size as our earth
clocking in at 99% of Earth's diameter."
About the Research Team:

The research team is led by Kevin Stevenson and Jacob Lustig-Yaeger,
both from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in
Laurel, Maryland, United States (US).
 The team’s results were presented at a press conference of the American
Astronomical Society (AAS).
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
The team chose to observe this target with Webb after carefully reviewing
targets of interest from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
(TESS), which hinted at the planet’s existence.

Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) captured the planet easily
and clearly with only two transit observations.

Among all operating telescopes, only Webb is capable of characterizing the
atmospheres of Earth-sized exoplanets.

The researchers also confirmed that the planet completes an orbit in just two
days, information that was almost instantaneously revealed by Webb’s precise
light curve.
Key Highlights:

LHS 475 b is relatively close, at only 41 light-years away, in the constellation Octans.

The LHS 475 b is closer to its star than any planet in our solar system, its
red dwarf star is less than half the temperature of the Sun, so the
researchers project it still could have an atmosphere.
South African Launch Of World’s First Agri-Focused Satellite Will Generate
Revenue Of $108 million

The Chairperson of the South African Council for Space Affairs, Pontsho
Maruping announced that the successful launch of the world’s first agrifocused satellite called AgriSAT-1 /ZA 008 is expected to generate over USD
100 million in revenue for South Africa.
About AgriSAT-1 /ZA 008:

Dragonfly Aerospace launched the satellite, on a Space X Falcon 9 rocket.

It is the world’s first agriculture-focused satellite constellation providing
the agriculture and forestry industry with high-quality data to support
efficient and sustainable practices.

The satellite is the first of a 7-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit for
customer EOSDA (EOS Data Analytics).
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
The remaining 6 satellites of the constellation will be deployed over the next 3 years.

Images obtained from Dragonfly’s satellite will deliver valuable information
for harvest monitoring, application mapping, seasonal planning, and
assessments that analyze information such as soil moisture, yield
prediction, and biomass levels.

This data will support growers in reducing carbon dioxide emissions
and help them to develop sustainable agricultural methods.
Startup firm IG Drones develops India’s first 5G-enabled drone - Skyhawk

Startup firm IG Drones, which was born out of the Veer Surendra Sai University of
Technology
(VSSUT) campus in Odisha's Sambalpur has developed a 5G-enabled
drone named Skyhawk that is capable of vertical take-off and landing.
About the drone:

The drone can be used in defence and medical applications.

The drone can carry a 10 kg payload and has an endurance of around 5 hours.

As it’s a VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing), it can be operated from any
terrain without the need for a conventional runway.

It is equipped with capabilities like artificial intelligence and thermal imaging.

It is also capable of operating through satellites in case an internet link is not
available.

The drone is IP67 rated and can be controlled through a combination of
NavIC + GPS navigational satellites which remain connected in the upper
range of 50 to 60 in case of failsafe activation.

The drone can travel 100 km in 12 to 15
minutes at its maximum speed. About IG Drones
 IG Drones is an India-based tech company providing drone survey, mapping and
inspection services.

Chief Administrative Officer: KC Sahoo

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
NASA analysis- 2022 Fifth Warmest Year on Record, Warming Trend Continues
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
According to an analysis released by the US National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), the earth's average surface temperature in 2022
tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest year on record. Key Highlights:

According to scientists from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS),
NASA's leading centre for climate modelling, Continuing the planet's longterm warming trend, global temperatures in 2022 were 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit
(0.89 degrees Celsius) above the average for NASA's baseline period (19511980).
 The past 9 years have been the warmest since modern record-keeping began in
1880.

According to NASA, this means Earth in 2022 was about 2 degrees
Fahrenheit (about 1.11 degrees Celsius) warmer than the late 19th-century
average.

NASA scientists, as well as international scientists, determined carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions were the highest on record in 2022.

The reason for the warming trend is that human activities continue to
pump enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the
long-term planetary impacts will also continue. About NASA:

Founded: July 29, 1958

Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

Administrator: Bill Nelson
Tech Mahindra & Microsoft join hands to bring Cloud-powered 5G Core Network
Modernisation to Telecom Partners

A leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business reengineering services and solutions, Tech Mahindra and Microsoft, have
announced a strategic collaboration to enable cloud-powered 5G core
network modernization for telecom operators globally.
Key Highlights:
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
The 5G core network transformation will help telecom operators to
develop 5G core use cases and meet their customers’ growing
technological (Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), IoT (Internet
of Things), and edge computing) requirements.

It will further enable us to modernise, optimise, and secure business
operations and develop green networks with reduced costs and a faster
time to market.

As a part of the collaboration, Tech Mahindra will provide its talent expertise,
comprehensive solutions, and managed services offerings like “Network
Cloudification as a Service” and AIOps to telecom operators for their 5G
Core networks.

The partnership is in line with Tech Mahindra’s NXT.NOWTM framework,
which aims to enhance the ‘Human Centric Experience.
About Tech Mahindra:

Founded: 24 October 1986

Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Chairman: Anand Mahindra

Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer: CP Gurnani
CMPDIL Invents New Dust Control
Technology

Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), Ranchi (a
consultancy subsidiary of Coal India Limited) has invented a “System and
Method for Controlling Generation and Movement of Fugitive Dust” and
obtained a patent for the same in December 2022 (Patent No. 416055).
Aim:
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
To minimize and control the
fugitive dust in mining areas. Key
Highlights:

The system can be used in mines, thermal power plants, railway sidings,
ports, and construction sites wherein coal or other minerals/fugitive
materials are stored under the open sky.
 Apart from reducing dust generation from open sources, it will also provide noise
attenuation.

The invention relates to the synchronized application of windbreak (WB) and
vertical greenery system (VGS) for reducing the generation and dispersion
of fugitive dust.

The WB and VGS are erected in the upwind and downwind direction to
the fugitive dust source(s) respectively.

The WB reduces the speed of the wind approaching the source and hence, it
reduces the intensity of the ambient air to pick up dust while blowing over
the source.

The VGS acts as a filter and reduces the quantity of the residual dust
moving along with the wind toward the receptors in the down-wind
direction.
About CMPDIL:

Founded: 1 November 1975

Headquarters: Ranchi, Jharkhand

Chairman & Managing Director: Shri Manoj Kumar

The CMPDI is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited which is under the ownership
of the Ministry of Coal of the Government of India (GoI).
About the Ministry of Coal:

Cabinet Minister: Pralhad Josh

Secretary: Amrit Lal Meena
RailTel bags ₹170 cr Work order for Puducherry smart city project
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
RailTel Corporation of India Ltd, a Mini Ratna Public Sector Unit (PSU) under
the Ministry of Railways has received a work order from the Department of
Revenue and Disaster Management, Government of Puducherry for design,
develop, supply, install, test, commission and Operations and Maintenance
(O & M) for 5 years of Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) and other
associated activities for Puducherry Smart City.

The estimated total value of the work order is Rs 170.11 crore (including
goods and services tax), and the project will be completed in 10 months.
Key Highlights:

RailTel has been selected through competitive bidding and it is the first smart
city project awarded by the Puducherry Government.

The project includes Data Center Disaster Recovery (DC-DR), On Street
Parking Management, an Intelligent Traffic Management System, the Creation
of online/mobile based platform to facilitate tourists and visitors, City level
application and Smart Dashboard, Smart Kiosks, Smart Poles with CCTV, WiFi, Air Quality Monitoring, Digital Billboard, etc

The Intelligent Transit Management System has helped cities to improve their
operational efficiency by reducing their operational cost while improving
services.

Smart City Centres are also providing technical support in ensuring better
safety of women on the streets, environment sensitivity of people, faster
response, and better preparedness for emergencies and disasters.
About RailTel:

Founded: September 26, 2000

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

Chairman & Managing Director: Sanjai Kumar
India's 1st intranasal Covid vaccine to be launched on Republic Day 2023
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
Homegrown vaccine maker Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) will
launch its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine iNCOVACC (also known as BBV154),
the first of its kind in India, on Republic Day January 26, 2023.

This was announced by the chairman and managing director of Bharat
Biotech, Krishna Ella while participating in the ‘Face-to-Face with New
Frontiers in Science’ segment of the IISF, organized at the Maulana Azad
National Institute of Technology (MANIT).
Serum Institute of India launches India’s first HPV vaccine against cervical cancer

To commemorate National Girl Child Day and Cervical Cancer Awareness
Month, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Serum Institute of India (SII), Mr. Adar
Poonawalla has launched CERVAVAC, India’s first indigenously developed
quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine for the prevention of
cervical cancer.

The qHPV CERVAVAC is the outcome of the partnership between SII &
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) along with the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation.
Canada to commercialize the world's 1st photonic-based quantum computer

Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Mr. Justin Trudeau has announced a new federal
investment of 40 million Canadian dollars ($32 million), which will enable
Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc., a Toronto-based Canadian quantum
computing company to build and commercialize the world's first photonicbased, fault-tolerant quantum computer.
Silent Valley bird species go up to 175:

The Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park bird census discovered 141 species,
including 17 new ones.

In Silent Valley, 175 different bird species have been identified thus far.
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
It is situated on the border between the Nilambur Taluk in
Kerala's Malappuram District, the Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad
District, and the Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu.

There are some endangered plant and animal species in this national park.

Botanist Robert Wight visited this region in 1847.

It is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which has a diverse biodiversity.

It is close to Anginda peak and Mukurthi peak, the fifth-highest peak in South India.

Both the Kunthipuzha River and Bhavani River, tributaries of the
Bharathappuzha River, have their origins close to Silent Valley.

In Silent Valley, the Kadalundi River also has its beginning.

Among the 17 species recently discovered in the Silent Valley were the
Brown Wood Owl, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Malabar Woodshrike, Whitethroated Kingfisher, Indian nightjar, Jungle nightjar, and Large
Cuckooshrike.
Centre puts Neelakurinji on the list of protected plants:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) has listed
Neelakurinji ( Strobilanthes kunthiana) Under Schedule III of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972, it is included in the list of protected plants.

This action is intended to safeguard the plant from being damaged or
uprooted, which has become a major hazard to flowering areas.

The new ordinance also imposes severe penalties on anyone found guilty of
destroying or uprooting the plant.

Those uprooting or destroying the plant will be fined Rs 25,000 and imprisoned for
three years.

As per the order, cultivation and possession of Neelakurinji are not permitted.

Forest officials said Neelakurinji has been included in the list after the
Center expanded the earlier protected list of six plant species to 19.
About Neelakurinji:
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
Neelakurinji is an indigenous plant found in a tiny stretch of the Western
Ghats, from the Mangaladevi hills to the Nilgiris highlands.

Strobilanthes kunthiana, the most popular Neelakurinji, blooms only once every 12
years.

However, some rare kinds of Neelakurnji can also be found in the Western Ghats.

The flowering of Neelakurinji is a big draw for tourists, who come to the regions
where it blooms.

However, this has resulted in the damage and uprooting of the plant,
which is a severe threat to the flowering areas.
IMPORTANT APPS & SERVICES NEWS
IIT Madras develops India's Indigenous Mobile
Operating System - BharOS

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)-the incubated firm has
developed an Indigenous Mobile Operating System named 'BharOS' that can
benefit India's 100 crore mobile phone users.

The BharOS was developed by JandK Operations Private Limited
(JandKops), which has been incubated at IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies
Foundation.

The Foundation is funded by the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), Government of India (GoI), under its National Mission on
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS).
About BharOS:

The software can be installed on commercial off-the-shelf handsets.

It provides a secure environment for users and is a significant contribution
towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.
 It provides access to trusted apps from organization-specific Private App Store
Services (PASS).
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
It comes with No Default Apps (NDA), which means that users are not forced
to use apps that they may not be familiar with or that they may not trust.
 Bharos provides 'Native Over The Air' (NOTA) updates that can help keep devices
secure.

NOTA updates are automatically downloaded and installed on the device
without the user needing to manually initiate the process.
South Indian Bank launches MSME online portal

The South Indian Bank (SIB) launched a Micro Small & Medium
Enterprise (MSME) online portal providing instant online ‘In Principle’
approval of up to ₹1 crore.

MSME enterprises are the most important pillars of the Indian economy and
the govt. is also working towards making the sector stronger.

This development is against the backdrop of the central government
considering making India a 5 trillion economy

SIB is facilitating MSME’s to get instant funds.

This initiative will help thousands of micro and small
businesses to take quick disbursals. About SIB:

Founded: 1928

Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala, India

MD & CEO: Murali Ramakrishnan

Tagline: Experience Next-
Generation Banking
Piyush Goyal to launch MAARG
portal for startup mentorship:

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal will launch the MAARG
platform (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth), which
would facilitate mentorship between startups and entrepreneurs across
sectors, stages, and functions.
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
The matchmaking phase of the portal, which will be launched on the
occasion, will allow startups to connect with mentors and discuss their
mentorship needs

Goyal will also announce the results of the National Startup Awards 2022.
 The National Startup Awards 2022 invited applications across 17 sectors, fur, and 7
special categories.

The sectors included Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Construction, Drinking
Water, Education & Skill Development, Energy, Enterprise Technology,
Environment, Fintech, Food Processing, Health & Wellness, Media and
entertainment, Industry 4.0, Security, Space, Transport, and Travel.

The National Startup Awards 2020 and 2021 have recognized 367 startups
as winners and finalists.
'Womaniya on Government eMarketplace' commemorated in New Delhi:
 The success of “Womaniya on Government eMarketplace” was commemorated in
New Delhi.

There are over one lakh 44 thousand Udyam-verified women micro, small
enterprises (MSE) registered at present, known as “Womaniya”.

They are registered as sellers and service providers on the GeM portal and
have fulfilled over 14.76 lakh orders amounting to over 21 thousand crore
rupees in Gross Merchandise Value.

The event was held by GeM in partnership with the Self-Employed Women’s
Association, Bharat, and attended by women entrepreneurs and participants
from stakeholder organizations and associations.

The “Womaniya” initiative was launched in 2019.

It has sought to encourage the participation of women entrepreneurs and selfhelp groups from the informal sector on the GeM portal and facilitate the sale
of their products directly to various Government buyers, sans intermediaries.
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IMPORTANT RANKING & INDEX NEWS
Chennai, Southern cities top in terms of women employment:

Chennai is India's best city for women’s employment and it is followed by
Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, a report by Avtar, a firm
specializing in workplace inclusion.

The report ranks 111 cities on parameters nurturing a conducive ecosystem for
women’s employment.

Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Coimbatore, and Madurai from the
rest of the Top 10 cities— each has a population of more than one million—
in terms of women’s employment.

Tiruchirappalli, Vellore, Erode, Salem, Tirupur, Puducherry, Shimla,
Mangalore (officially Mangaluru), Thiruvananthapuram, and Belagavi are
the top 10 cities in another category of cities with a population of less than
one million.

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka got the
top five state averages in the country.

In north India, the top three cities are Delhi, Srinagar, and Amritsar.

In the south, the top three slots are taken by Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

In the eastern region, Kolkata is at the top slot, followed by Dhanbad and Patna.

In the western region, Pune, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad secure first, second,
and third places respectively. Raipur, Indore, and Bhopal secure the first,
second, and third places in the central region.

The study, apart from indexed scores, considered steps were taken by states
and cities in empowering women in the last year.

It considered key inclusion measures required for increasing women’s workforce
participation.
Bangalore, Delhi in the Top 10 best-performing global airports of 2022:
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
Tracking the performance of airports and airlines, Cirium issued a list of
the top-performing global airports of 2022 in which Bangalore’s
Kempegowda International Airport won the 2nd rank, whereas Delhi’s
Indira Gandhi International Airport acquired the 7th spot.

While Kempegowda International Airport saw on-time departure for 84.08%
of 201,897 flights, Delhi’s IGI witnessed 81.84% on-time departure for
411,205 flights.

Along with the above analytics, Cirium also released a list of the most punctual
airlines globally wherein Azul Airlines surfaced as “the global leader”.

It is a Brazilian carrier based in Barueri, a suburb of São Paulo.

The airline is counted among the top three airlines in Brazil which started operations
in late 2008.

It has, since, become the fastest-growing airline in the country and won many
awards for its services.
The top 10 Rankings for best-performing global airports of 2022 according to Cirium’s report
are as follows:
1. Tokyo, Japan – (HND) Haneda Airport
2. Bengaluru, India – (BLR) Kempegowda International Airport
3. Salt Lake City, USA – (SLC) Salt Lake City International Airport
4. Detroit, USA – (DTW) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
5. Philadelphia, USA – (PHL) Philadelphia International Airport
6. USA – (MSP) Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
7. Delhi, India – (DEL) Indira Gandhi International Airport
8. Seattle, USA – (SEA) Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
9. Bogotá, Colombia – (BOG) El Dorado International Airport
10. North Carolina, USA – (CLT) Charlotte
Douglas International Airport
Delhi most polluted city in India in 2022:
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
A recent data by Central Pollution Control Board claimed Delhi to be India's
most polluted city in 2022 with PM 2.5 levels more than double the safe limit
and the third highest average PM10 concentration.

PM2.5 pollution in the national capital has reduced by over 7 per cent in four years,
from 108
micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 to 99.71 micrograms per cubic metre in
2022, reported PTI citing the report by NCAP Tracker.

NCAP Tracker is a joint project of news portal Carbon Copy and a
Maharashtra-based start-up 'Respirer Living Sciences' and is designed to
track India's progress in achieving clean air targets.

The Centre launched the National Clean Air Programme on January 10,
2019 to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels in 102 cities by 20 per cent to 30
per cent by 2024 (with 2017 being the base year).

Some more cities were added to the list, while some were dropped subsequently.

Now there are 131 cities which are called non-attainment cities, as they
did not meet the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for
the period of 2011-15 under the National Air Quality Monitoring
Programme.

In September 2022, the government set a new target of a 40 per cent
reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026.

Among the most polluted cities with respect to PM2.5 levels, Delhi (99.71
micrograms per cubic metre) ranked first, Haryana's Faridabad (95.64
micrograms per cubic metre) ranked second and Uttar
Pradesh's Ghaziabad (91.25 micrograms per cubic metre) third, according
to the analysis of CPCB data.

Ghaziabad (217.57 micrograms per cubic metre) was the most polluted nonattainment city in the country in terms of PM10 levels, while Faridabad
(215.39 micrograms per cubic metre) ranked second and Delhi (213.23
micrograms per cubic metre) stood third.
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
In 2021, Ghaziabad was the most polluted with respect to PM2.5 levels while
it ranked third in terms of PM10 levels.

The country's current annual average safe limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are
40 micrograms per cubic metre and 60 micrograms per cubic metre,
respectively
World's most powerful passports: Japan tops list:

For the fifth straight year, the Japanese passport is the most powerful among all
passports in the world, as it allows visa-free access to as many as 193 countries,
according to Henley Passport Index 2023.

India, on the other hand, improved its position by 2 spots from last year, and
is currently ranked 85th on the index.

A holder of an Indian passport can travel visa-free to 59 countries (60
in 2022); Mauritanian and Uzbekistan passports are as powerful as
that of India.

According to Henley Passport Index, Japanese passport holders can visit
193 out of 227 destinations visa-free.

An Indian passport holder, on the other hand, can visit 59 destinations without a visa.
Passports of these countries hold the top 10 spots on the Henley Index:
India's richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam:

The richest 1% percent in India now own more than 40 percent of the
country's total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together
share just 3 percent of the wealth.

Taxing India's ten-richest at 5 percent can fetch entire money to bring children back to
school.

A one-off tax on unrealized gains from 2017-2021 on just one billionaire,
Gautam Adani, could have raised Rs 1.79 lakh crore, enough to employ more
than five million Indian primary school teachers for a year
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
The report titled 'Survival of the Richest' further said that if India's
billionaires are taxed once at 2 percent on their entire wealth, it would
support the requirement of Rs 40,423 crore for the nutrition of malnourished
in the country for the next three years.

A one-time tax of 5 percent on the 10 richest billionaires in the country (Rs 1.37
lakh crore) is more than 1.5 times the funds estimated by the Health and Family
Welfare Ministry (Rs 86,200 crore) and the Ministry of Ayush (Rs 3,050 crore)
for the year 2022-23.

On the other hand, approximately 64 percent of the total Rs 14.83 lakh crore
in Goods and Services Tax (GST) came from the bottom 50 percent of the
population in 2021-22, with only 3 percent of GST coming from the top 10
percent.

Oxfam said the total number of billionaires in India increased from 102 in 2020 to 166
in 2022.

The combined wealth of India's 100 richest has touched USD 660 billion
(Rs 54.12 lakh crore) -- an amount that could fund the entire Union Budget
for more than 18 months.
WEF Global Risks Report Unveils Top Risks World Is Facing:

The World Economic Forum taking place in Davos, Switzerland released the
18th edition of the Global Risk Report 2023 based on the 2022-2023 Global
Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) that reveals the cost-of-living crisis, food
supply crisis, energy supply crisis, rising inflation, and cyberattacks on critical
infrastructure are the major risks, the world is witnessing currently.

Apart from the five top risks, the report mentioned other issues as well that
have the potential to impact the world on large scale including the
weaponization of economic policy, weakening of human rights, NetZero
targets, failure of non-food supply chains, and a debt crisis.
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
According to the report, the participants of the survey see the way 2025 will
be dominated by a social and environmental risk that is driven by underlying
geopolitical and economic trends.

The WEF Global Risks Report ranked the ‘cost of living crisis’ in first place
among all the global risks based on its severity over the short term.

As per the respondents of GRPS, the Cost of living is the most severe
global risk which was already there but due to the advent of the pandemic,
the crisis of cost of living escalated.

This risk further shoots up as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The disruption occurred in the energy supply due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis,
expanded the
expenditure of countries, and end it up in rising inflation. To solve this issue,
many countries introduced restrictions including export bans.

The report also mentioned that due to the increase in fuel prices,
protests broke out in nearly 92 countries.

Apart from this, rising inflation is another top global risk that potentially
impacts global space, earlier GRR (Global Risks Report) warned that
inflation and debt an emerging risks.
Shah Rukh Khan only Indian to beat Tom Cruise, Jackie Chan, and others on the world's
richest actor list:

Shah Rukh Khan is the only Indian on the list of the world's richest actors.
Tom Cruise and Jackie Chan are on the list, while Jerry Seinfeld occupied the
numero uno position.

As per a recent list released by the World of Statistics, Shah Rukh Khan is
the third richest actor in the world with a net worth of $770 million.

The list is led by Seinfeld star Jerry Seinfeld and Tyler Perry with $1 billion.

They are followed by Dwayne Johnson, with $800 million.

Shah Rukh Khan is the only Indian on the list.
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
SRK, apart from acting, has a sports business, his VFX company, and
a host of other business ventures.

Top Gun star Tom Cruise follows SRK on the list with $620 million.

The only other non-American, apart from SRK, on this list is Jackie Chan with $520
million.

George Clooney and Robert De Niro end the list with $500 million.

And now SRK has become the only Indian to beat some of the cult
Hollywood stars to feature on the world's richest actors list.

As per the data released by World of Statistics, Shah Rukh Khan has taken the
fourth position in the list of eight richest actors in the world with an estimated
net worth of $770 million.

He has beaten the likes of Tom Cruise, Jackie Chan, George Clooney, and Robert
De Niro.

According to the list, the richest actor in the world is Jerry Seinfeld with a
net worth of $1 Billion followed by Tyler Perry ($1 Billion), and Dwayne
Johnson ($800 million) in number two and three positions.
Mukesh Ambani ranks 2nd among the top 100 CEOs globally:

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani has been ranked
second on Brand Finance’s annual report on the world’s top CEOs for the
year 2023.

The Brand Guardianship Index 2023 saw the rise of Nvidia CEO, Jensen
Huang, and Mukesh Ambani of Reliance to 1st and 2nd position,
respectively.

They both now rank above last year’s leader Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, who now sits
in the 3rd place.

Ambani, who's also the Managing Director of RIL, is the longest-serving
CEO in the ranking at 40 years.

He is also the 9th richest person in the world, as per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.

Meanwhile, Jensen Huang, who's ranked number 1 CEO by Brand Finance
Brand Guardianship Index, has overseen Nvidia’s further advancement into
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the next era of computing, through innovation in the likes of artificial
intelligence, digital biology, climate sciences, and autonomous vehicles and
robotics, says the report.

Similarly, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella (3rd) continues to be central to
Microsoft’s culture of teamwork, innovation, and inclusivity says the report.

The top 1o list is dominated by Indian-origin executives.

Nadella is followed by Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen (4th), Google’s Sundar
Pichai (5th), and Deloitte’s Punit Renjen (6th).
Jio is India's strongest brand, ranked ninth globally:

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio is the strongest brand in India
and ranked ninth among the world's strongest brands, according to a
report published by Brand Finance.

This makes 'Jio' ahead of brands like EY, Coca-Cola, Accenture, and
Porsche, and behind the likes of Google, YouTube, Deloitte, and Instagram.

The report titled 'Global 500 - 2023' is published annually and ranks the
world's most valuable and strongest brands.

With a Brand Strength Index of 90.2, Jio is the only brand among the
world's strongest 25 brands, according to the Brand Finance listing

Brand Finance was in Davos to launch its Brand Guardianship Index 2023 at
an exclusive event hosted in association with Deloitte during the World
Economic Forum.

Brand Finance announced the rankings of the world's top 100 CEOs and host
a panel discussion alongside global leaders on the topic -- Building
sustainability into the organizational culture and brand strategy.

Brand Finance is
headquartered in London.
Jio is India's strongest
brand, ranked ninth
globally:
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
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio is the strongest brand in India
and ranked ninth among the world's strongest brands, according to a
report published by Brand Finance.

This puts 'Jio' ahead of brands like EY, Coca-Cola, Accenture, and
Porsche, and behind the likes of Google, YouTube, Deloitte, and
Instagram.

The report titled 'Global 500 - 2023' is published annually and ranks the
world's most valuable and strongest brands.
Ambani 1st among Indians, 2nd globally on Brand Guardianship Index 2023

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has overtaken the likes of Satya Nadella of
Microsoft and Google's Sundar Pichai to be ranked No.1 among Indians and
second globally on the Brand Guardianship Index 2023.

Brand Finance constructs its Brand Guardianship Index in a similar way to the
Brand Strength Index that underpins its corporate brand valuations.
Israel is India’s top petro-product buyer

Israel has emerged as the top buyer of Indian petroleum products, with
more than $1 billion worth of purchases in December, followed by the
UAE, the US, and Togo.

This comes as Russia continues to be the top source of crude oil for New Delhi.
 From less than 3% in 2021, the share of Russian crude in the Indian
crude basket has seen an exponential rise.
Delhi and Bengaluru among top global cities for women entrepreneurs:
 Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are among the top 50 cities providing a
beneficial business environment for women entrepreneurs, according to the
findings of Dell Technologies’ 2023 Women Entrepreneur Cities (WE Cities)
Index.
 According to the report, Delhi has demonstrated significant improvement
over its score in 2017 by offering a skilled workforce and cost benefits,
making it a preferred city for women-led businesses.
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 Mumbai is a new entrant to this list and Bengaluru is one of the top 10 cities
in the world which provides accessibility and inclusive policies.
IMPORTANT BOOKS & AUTHORS
Manu S. Pillai presents his new book, The World: A Family History:

"The World: A Family History of Humanity," by British historian Simon
Sebag Montefiore, was recently discussed with Indian scholar Manu S.
Pillai.

This two-part book, published by Hachette India, focuses on the
significance of families in shaping world history.

Montefiore, an internationally bestselling author whose works have been
translated into 48 languages, hopes to provide a comprehensive narrative of
humankind's journey through the ages, beginning with a family walking along a
beach 9,50,000 years ago and including notable families such as the Caesars,
Medicis, Incas, Ottomans, Mughals, Bonapartes, Habsburgs, Zulus,
Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Krupps, and Churchills.

The book, released on October 27, 2022, has been regarded as a groundbreaking achievement that will alter our perception of history.
Breaking Barriers is a new book written by former IAS Kaki Madhava Rao:

"Breaking Barriers: The Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary," a new book by
former IAS officer Kaki Madhava Rao, examines the inner workings of
the civil service at the grassroots level and throws insight into micro
policies and governance.

The book was written by Rao, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official
from the 1962 batch who retired as the chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh,
and it was published by Emesco Books Private Limited.

Rao had a career in the IAS as well as roles as a member of the Board for
Financial Supervision and a Director at the Reserve Bank of India.

He was born in 1939 in the Pedamaddali village of Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district.
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
Rao's rural Andhra Pradesh background is covered in "Village Days,"
which summarizes the entire book.

Rao's exposure to the national stage and development into an adult is
described in depth in chapters two through five.

The sociopolitical elements of state and local administration are covered in
Chapters 6 through 9, along with the interaction of politics and economics in
decision-making.

NT Rama Rao, Chenna Reddy, and N Chandrababu Naidu are just a few
of the politicians that are discussed in chapters 10 and 11 along with the
political economy of the nation.
Homeopathic Physician & teacher Dr. AK Dwivedi's book 'Human Anatomy' released by the
Governor of MP:

The third convocation ceremony of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University
Bhopal was held in the state capital.

On the occasion of the convocation, a Medical book 'Human Anatomy' in Hindi
Manav Sharir Rachna Vigyan was released by the Governor of Madhya
Pradesh Shri Mangubhai Patel at the function which is a very useful book for
the Medical students of all courses related to medical education written by Dr.
AK Dwivedi, Homeopathic Doctor of Indore Professor & HOD Physiology
SKRP Gujarati Homeopathic Medical College Indore and member of Scientific
Advisory Board in the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of
AYUSH (Govt. of India).

This book has been published by Madhya Pradesh Hindi Granth Academy.

On this occasion, Mohan Yadav, Minister of Higher Education in MP
Government, Atul Kothari, National Secretary of Education and Culture Utthan
Nyas, New Delhi, Vice Chancellor of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University, Prof.
Khem Singh Daheria, and Registrar Yashwant Singh Patel and other dignitaries
were present.
Sanjeev Sanyal's New Book on the Role Of “Revolutionaries In India's Freedom Struggle:”
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
Noted economist and popular historian Sanjeev Sanyal is set to
release his latest book, "Revolutionaries: The Other Story of
How India Won Its Freedom," in January 2023.

Sanyal has authored best-selling books including "Land of the Seven
Rivers," "The Ocean of Churn," "India in the Age of Ideas," and "The
Indian Renaissance."

He also co-authored and edited six Economic Surveys of the Government of
India between 2017 and 2022, and has published over 200 articles and
columns in leading national and international
publications.

He has also represented India on various international forums, such as the
OECD and G7, and served as the Co-Chair of the G20's Framework Working
Group.

A Rhodes Scholar and Eisenhower Fellow, he was named “Young Global
Leader 2010” by the World Economic Forum at Davos.
About the Book:

Sanyal is a great storyteller. Instead of being purely dry history, his book
emphasizes the human side of these revolutions through narratives and other
subtleties.

They are not just cardboard cutouts that have been inserted into a rewritten
account of the liberation struggle.

Our independence movement's revolutionary nature has been downplayed
in modern history in two ways: first, by being reduced to small footnotes in
a largely nonviolent mainstream battle.

The alternative is to make them into idealistic characters with nothing to do
but occasionally display bravery.
Shashi Tharoor's Latest Book Ambedkar: A Life Launched at Kitaab Kolkata
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
Parliamentarian and author, Shashi Tharoor’s latest book Ambedkar: A Life
was recently launched at the Kitaab Kolkata event organized by Prabha
Khaitan Foundation (PKF) at the ITC Sonar presented by Shree Cement.

The event was attended by young and old bibliophiles, members of Ehsaas Women,
and FICCI FLO.

Suhel Seth, management consultant, author, columnist, and public
speaker, was in an hour-long conversation with the author.

Kitab is a signature event of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation conceptualized
by Mr. Sundeep Bhutoria which provides a forum for writers, poets,
intellectuals, and thinkers to launch their books and share their thoughts.
About the book:

The biography of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is neither the first
one nor the last, but Shashi Tharoor's meticulously-researched work adds
a new perspective to one of India's most revered icons and an intellectual
giant.
 He chronicles the course of the great man's life from his 14 April 1891 birth into a
Mahar family in the Bombay Presidency to his 6 December 1956 passing in
Delhi.
 He details the numerous hardships and humiliations Ambedkar had to face in a
culture that denigrated the group of people he was born into, as well as the
unwavering resolve with which he surmounted every challenge he faced.
 Ambedkar's struggles to outlaw untouchability, his disagreements with other
political and intellectual giants of his time, such as Gandhi and Nehru, and his
determination to give India a visionary Constitution that enshrined both
traditional notions of social justice and the unalienable rights of the individual.
A book about "Jadunama" by legendary author-lyricist Javed Akhtar, authored by Arvind
Mandloi:
 The book Jadunama, authored by Arvind Mandloi about the eminent poetlyricist Javed Akhtar, was published.
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 At the book event were Javed's children Zoya and Farhan Akhtar as well as his
wife, actor Shabana Azmi. Actress Shibani Dandekar, Farhan's wife, also
attended the function.
 In Jadunama, a writer, poet, lyricist, and political activist are featured.
 Jadu was given the name at birth; it was inspired by a poem of Javed sahab's
father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, titled "Lamha, lamha kisi jadoo ka fasana Hoga" ("Every
instant shall be the story of a specific enchantment"). The tiny kid was given the
new name Javed (which means "forever") and Akhtar (meaning "star") because
everyone saw that Jadu was not a serious name when he was in
kindergarten.
 He has not only been in the spotlight ever since, but he also keeps shining
brilliantly like the ever-present star
 The Padma Shri (1999), Awadh Samman Uttar Pradesh (2001), Indira Gandhi
Rashtriya Ekta Puraskar (2005), and Padma Bhushan were among the many
honours he received during his lifetime
Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi releases Assam chief minister's Diary No.1:
 Former Chief Justice of India and member of the Rajya Sabha Ranjan Gogoi has
released a book 'Chief Minister's Diary No.1' containing the account of events
of the first year in office of Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
 Terming him a fortunate Chief Minister who did not have to face any situation
like a catastrophic earthquake of 1950, the Indo-China War of 1962, or the
Assam Agitation.
 His diary essentially featured the growth initiatives that the state has witnessed over the last
11 months.

He said that without violating the sanctity of the oath of office he took while
assuming the office of the Chief Minister, he enumerated the day-to-day
development activities that he undertook as the Chief Minister of the state.
 He also said that in the next four years, he would bring out subsequent editions of his
diary.
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
CM Sharma also thanked former Chief Justice, India Ranjan
Gogoi for releasing the book.
Dhoni releases autobiography of Prof. K.K. Abdul Gaffar:

Techno-educationalist, Professor K.K. Abdul Gaffar’s autobiography,
‘Njaan Sakshi’ (me as the witness), was released by cricket legend
Mahendra Singh Dhoni at a grand function organised in Kasaragod

Iconic cricketer M.S.Dhoni said that he has always been a big fan of teachers,
as he released the autobiography of techno-educationalist, Prof K. K. Abdul
Gaffar's 'Njaan Sakshi'(me as the witness) that reveals many interesting
details.

Marwan Al Mullah, the CEO of Dubai health authority (DHA), received the first copy
from Dhoni.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in a video message said that
Prof Gaffar's autobiography highlights his life, knowledge, and
dedication.
About the book:

Incidentally, the book includes the infamous disappearance of P. Rajan, an
engineering student from Kozhikode REC, during the emergency period and
recalls the pressure put on him on behalf of the government and the police
to influence him as a witness in the case.

He was the last person who saw Rajan before the latter was taken into
custody by the police from the REC hostel on March 1, 1976.

According to Prof Gaffar, he had met Rajan and his friends at his place as
they were coming back after winning the university youth festival.

His emotional account of Rajan waving at him as he walks into the night
is one of the most heartwarming passages of the book.
 The book has a lot of such details about the case, both known and unknown to
Kerala society.
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
His emotional account of Rajan waving at him as he walks into the night
is one of the most heartwarming passages of the book.
Tamal Bandyopadhyay's book "Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking."

Tamal Bandyopadhyay, a veteran journalist, has published "Roller
Coaster: An Affair with Banking" through Jaico Publishing House.

The book gets into the stories and insights of the Indian banking business as
seen by a writer who has covered the industry for over 25 years.

Tamal has seen the industry and its main players grow from a rookie reporter
to an editor, a columnist, and now an author.

"Roller Coaster" is not only about India's commercial and central bankers'
victories and struggles, but also about their personalities, leadership styles,
and how they have created the culture and ideals of the Indian banking
sector.
R. Kaushik and R. Sridhar wrote the book 'COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian
Cricket Team.'

'COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team,'
published by R. Kaushik and R. Sridhar, provides an inside look at the
Indian cricket team.

The book focuses on R. Sridhar's seven-year term as fielding coach for the Indian
cricket team.

The book is anecdotal rather than technical, presenting an insider's
perspective of Indian cricket's meteoric growth.

The book details Virat Kohli's journey, Rishabh Pant's development,
and the team's ascent to the number one Test position.
ABOUT THIS BOOK

Coaching Beyond reflects primarily on R. Sridhar’s seven-year coaching
tenure with the Indian cricket team as its fielding coach.

This book isn’t as technical as it is anecdotal.
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
It throws light, for instance, on how Virat Kohli overcame a dismal Test
series in England in 2014 to smash four hundred in as many matches in
his next overseas outing, in Australia.

It also traces Rishabh Pant’s journey toward becoming the ferocious ballstriker and outstanding gloveman he is today while delving into the minds
of players and the support staff to analyze India’s progression toward the
number 1 Test ranking.

Revelations of behind-the-scenes parleys jostle with the then head coach Ravi
Shastri’s motivational skills in a riveting read that provides an insider’s account
of the rise and rise of Indian cricket.
R. Kaushik and R. Sridhar wrote the book 'COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the
Indian Cricket Team.'

'COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team,' published by
R. Kaushik and R. Sridhar, provides an inside look at the Indian cricket team.

The book focuses on R. Sridhar's seven-year term as fielding coach for the Indian
cricket team.

The book is anecdotal rather than technical, presenting an insider's
perspective of Indian cricket's meteoric growth.

The book details Virat Kohli's journey, Rishabh Pant's development, and the
team's ascent to the number one Test position.
IMPORTANT SPORTS NEWS
Koneru Humpy wins India’s first-ever silver medal at World Blitz Chess Championship in
Almaty, Kazakhstan:

Former world rapid champion Koneru Humpy has won India’s first-ever Silver
medal in the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Humpy defeated China’s Zhongyi Tan to win Silver in the 17th and final rounds.

Fourth-seeded Humpy scored an impressive 12.5 points, just half a point
behind the gold medal winner Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhastan.
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
Humpy is the second Indian to win a medal at World Blitz, after Viswanathan Anand.

Humpy has received compliments from Youth Affairs and Sports Minister
Anurag Singh Thakur for taking home the silver medal at the World Blitz
Chess Championships.
Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr:

Portugal Football team captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the Saudi
Arabian club Al Nassr on a contract until 2025.

The club in a tweet described the signing as history in the making.

The club said it would inspire their league, nation, and future generations,
boys and girls to be the best version of themselves.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo said he is eager to experience a new football league in a
different country.

The Portugal captain was free after leaving Manchester United following a
controversial interview in which he had criticized the club.
Hockey Haryana Women’s U-18 team wins Khelo India Youth Games 2022:

Hockey Haryana's women's team won the Khelo India Youth Games
2022 Women’s Under 18 Qualifiers after defeating Madhya Pradesh
2-0 in the final at Bhubaneswar.

In the final match, Pooja and Gurmail Kaur scored a goal each for Haryana
to end the contest in their favour.

Odisha stepped up to claim third place after beating Hockey Jharkhand
2-1 in the 3rd and 4th place encounter.

Sanjna Horo scored for Jharkhand but Odisha came back with goals from
Puja Sahoo and Sunelita Toppo to complete a thrilling comeback.

Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand have qualified for the
Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Madhya Pradesh next year.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh clinches Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Men’s U-18 title:

In Hockey, Madhya Pradesh defeated Odisha 6-5 to clinch the Khelo India
Youth Games 2022 Men’s Under-18 Qualifiers title in Bhubaneswar.
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
In a thrilling final, Zameer Mohammad was the star of the final, scoring a
hat-trick while Ali Ahmad, Mohammad Zaid Khan, and Captain Ankit Pal
netted one goal each for Madhya Pradesh.

On the other hand, Anmol Ekka, Paulus Lakra, Deepak Minz, Akash Soreng,
and Anmol Ekka scored one goal each for Odisha.

Haryana claimed third place in the competition with a win against
Jharkhand 2-0 in the 3rd and 4th place clash.

Amandeep and Roshan scored goals for Haryana.

With this, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana, and Jharkhand have qualified
for the Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Madhya Pradesh next year.
Koustav Chatterjee becomes India’s 78th Grandmaster, 10th from West Bengal:

Nineteen-year-old Kolkata-based chess player Koustav Chatterjee became India’s
78th Grandmaster.

Koustav is also the tenth GM from West Bengal.

Koustav secured his final GM norm by drawing with GM Mitrabha Guha in
the 10th round of the MPL National chess championship on the last day of
2022

Koustav earned his first GM norm in October 2021 at a
Grandmasters’ chess tournament in Bangladesh.

He got his second GM norm at the Asian championship in the first week of
November 2022.

He crossed the FIDE rating of 2500 in August.

Koustav is in the joint-lead with GM Abhijeet Gupta at the National Senior
Chess Championship with a score of 8/10 after 10 rounds
About FIDE:

President: Arkady Dvorkovich

Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, France
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
Membership: 200 national
associations
Magnus Carlsen wins all threeworld chess championships:

Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen wins all three world chess
championship titles and he has won all three world chess championship titles
for the third time in his career.
 He achieved this feat by winning both the World Rapid and World Blitz chess titles in
Almaty.

No other player has ever won the Rapid and Blitz titles in the same year.
 Carlsen won the World Classical Championship in November 2021 by
defeating grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi.
 According to the International Chess Federation, his 2882 rating in 2014 is the
highest in the history of chess.

He has currently a 2859 rating in classic and a 2839 rating in rapid.

Carlsen became the youngest person to be ranked number one in the world in 2010.

Gambit, move, Stalemate, Check, Grandmaster, and Castling are some
important terms related to Chess.
About FIDE (International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation):

President: Arkady Dvorkovich

Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, France

Membership: 200 national associations
Belinda Clark: Former Australia captain becomes first female cricketer to have statue:

Former Australia captain and World Cup winner Belinda Clark has become
the first female cricketer to be honoured with a sculpture in the world.

Cricket Australia unveiled a statue of Clark in the Sydney Cricket
Ground precinct, joining fellow Australian greats in Richie Benaud,
Steve Waugh, Stan McCabe, and Fred Spofforth.
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
Clark was the captain of Australia for 12 years and won two ICC
Women's World Cup trophies, amassing 15 Test matches and scoring
919 runs at an average of 45.95.

The Australian is also a member of the ICC Hall of Fame and also has the
award for Australian Female Cricketer of the Year named after her.

Clark retired from the sport in 2005 having also captained the side in 101
ODIs, by the end of which she was her nation's top scorer in the format.

The 52-year-old, who became the first person to score an ODI double
century with 229 against Denmark in 1997, has since been inducted into
the ICC Hall of Fame as well as serving as chief executive of Women's
Cricket Australia.
Pranesh becomes India’s 79th chess Grandmaster:

Pranesh clinched the Rilton Cup title here to become India’s 79th Chess
Grandmaster.

The Rilton Cup is the first tournament of the FIDE circuit.

The 16-year-old Pranesh crossed the 2500-rating threshold and became a
GM, having completed his three norms before the Rilton Cup.

To become a GM, a player has to secure three GM norms and cross the live rating of
2,500 Elo points.

The Indian made a clean sweep of the field in Stockholm, winning eight games
and finishing a full point ahead of IM Kaan Kucuksari (Sweden) and GM Nikita
Meshkovs (Latvia) as the tournament concluded.

He topped the standings with eight points.

The one who accumulates the most points by the end of the year
qualifies for the 2024 FIDE Candidates.

Nineteen-year-old Koustav Chatterjee had recently become the country’s 78th
Grandmaster during the National Senior Chess Championship.
International Hockey Federation signs JSW as global World Cup partner
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
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has signed a partnership
with the JSW Group for the upcoming FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World
Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela.

The group supports and promotes the Olympics in India and has created an
Olympic Training Institute in the Inspire Institute of Sport as well as Olympic
training centres across the country.

The 15th edition of FIH’s flagship event for men will be played from 13
January to 29 January in Odisha, India.

The year 2021 saw a comeback for sports sponsorships and media
deals, as compared to 2020, following a lull after the pandemic.

The year helped India achieve a billion-dollar scale with a 62% growth over
2020, found a report by GroupM ESP, the entertainment, esports, and
sports division of GroupM India
Hyderabad to host first-ever Formula E World Championship race:

The first-ever ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in India to
be held in Hyderabad on February 11 kicked off with the sale of tickets
for the prestigious event getting underway.

Telangana Special Chief Secretary (Municipal Administration) Arvind
Kumar booked the first ticket at an event here.

Akbar Ebrahim, president Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India,
and other dignitaries were present.

The government thought that hosting Formula E would put Hyderabad in the
league with some of the top cities in the world and it is a matter of prestige
that Hyderabad got to host the prestigious event.

It would place Hyderabad as a global destination for e-mobility

Hyderabad race on February 11 will be the fourth race of the season, season
9 of Formula E, the first three include Mexico City and Riyadh (second and
third)
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
Private firm Ace Nxt Gen is the official promoter of the Formula E Race
in India in partnership with Formula E and the Telangana government.
Mascot, torch, and anthem of Khelo India Youth Games to be unveiled in Bhopal:

In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will unveil the
mascot, torch, and anthem of Khelo India Youth Games-2022 in a colourful
program at Shaurya Smarak in Bhopal.

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Nishith Pramanik will be the
guest of honour.

Madhya Pradesh's Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Smt. Yashodhara
Raje Scindia informed that in this program various facets of Khelo India will
be explained through drone and laser shows.

Madhya Pradesh is hosting the fifth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games.

In this sports event, to be held from the 30th of January to the 11th of
February, six thousand players will show their sports skills in eight different
cities for 13 days.
Adelaide International: Novak Djokovic saves championship point to win the
title after beating Sebastian Korda:

Novak Djokovic defeated America’s Sebastian Korda in a nerve-
wracking final to win the Adelaide International men’s singles title.

The 21-time Grand Slam winner won the match 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-3), and 64 in three hours and nine minutes.

After losing the first set, Djokovic faced a championship point with the scoreline reading 5-6 in favour of Korda.

However, once the Serbian took the match in the tie-breaker, there was no stopping
him.

Djokovic also equalled Rafael Nadal’s tally of 92 ATP singles titles in the Open Era.

Nadal and Djokovic are joint-fourth in the list after Jimmy Connors (109), Roger
Federer (103), and Ivan Lendl (94).
 The former World No.1 also won his 34th match in a row on Australian soil since the
beginning of 2019.
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 The 35-year-old has also won 23 of his last 24 matches and has looked in decent
form of late.

Djokovic is now set to return to the Australian Open, which gets
underway in just over a week.
Gareth Bale announces retirement from football career:

Wales and Los Angeles FC winger Gareth Bale had decided to end his
playing career at the age of 33, having reached exceptional milestones in
both club and international football.

Bale played a Wales record of 111 games for his country and was a fivetime Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

He helped the Welsh reach the 2016 and 2020 Euros before leading them to
their first World Cup since 1958 at Qatar 2022.

Bale started his senior career at then-Championship side Southampton,
which introduced the 17-year-old to professional football before he moved
to Tottenham Hotspur two years later.

After six seasons and nearly 150 appearances in the Premier League, Bale
was signed by Real Madrid for a fee reported by British media as a world
record of 100 million euros ($107.45 million).

In 2013-14, his first season in Spain, he helped Real Madrid to their 10th
Champions League trophy, awaited by the club for more than 10 years.

Bale made 12 appearances and scored six goals in the triumphant campaign,
including in the 4-1 final win over Atletico Madrid. First European Championship:

Bale became Wales' youngest player when he made his debut as a
substitute at the age of 16 years and 315 days old against Trinidad &
Tobago in May 2006.

Having scored 41 goals, he remains their all-time top scorer.
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
He captained Wales in their first European Championship in 2016, making the
semi-finals, and helped them qualify again for Euro 2020, before reaching the
2022 World Cup for the first time since 1958.

The 33-year-old, who in Qatar became Wales' most-capped player in their
second group game against Iran, vowed to keep playing for the national team
amid doubts over his future after they were knocked out with a 3-0 defeat by
England.
South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius announces retirement from international cricket:

Cricket South Africa has announced that all-rounder Dwaine
Pretorius has called time on his international career.

Pretorius has represented the Proteas across all three formats in 30 T20Is,
27 ODIs, and three Tests since making his debut in 2016.

He was also part of two World Cup squads for South Africa.

The 33-year-old said it was one of the toughest decisions of his career to step
away from international cricket.

He will be shifting his focus to T20 cricket and other shorter formats.

The 33-year-old thanked his coaches, teammates, and family for
supporting him and had a special thank you for Faf du Plessis.
Anahat Singh clinches Girls U-15 squash title at British Junior Open tournament in
Birmingham:

Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh clinched the girl's Under-15 squash
title at the most prestigious British Junior Open tournament in
Birmingham, England

The 14-year-old defeated Sohaila Hazem of Egypt, 3-1 in the final.
 Despite the first set being closely contested, she took the lead and won the
tournament.

The British Junior Open is held in January every year in the UK where all the
best players from all over the world compete to win the coveted title.
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
This year it was held after a Covid-induced gap of two years from the
4th to the 8th of January
Virat Kohli slams 73’rd international 100, equals Sachin Tendulkar’s record:

Virat Kohli returned to the Indian ODI side with yet another dazzling
hundred against Sri Lanka in the first three-match ODI series.

It was Kohli’s 45th ODI ton and 73rd in international cricket.

With this century, Kohli reached another ODI milestone, equaling Sachin
Tendulkar’s record of 20 ODI tons at home.

While Tendulkar reached the landmark in 164 matches, Kohli did it in 101 games.

Kohli also surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most centuries against Sri Lanka
in ODIs.

Tendulkar has eight to his credit while Kohli has gone to nine.

Earlier, Kohli ended his ODI century drought during India’s tour of Bangladesh.

The number 3 batter remained century-less for 1214 days.

The former India skipper had left batting legend Ricky Ponting behind
when he last scored an ODI century.
 Kohli is just five ODI centuries away from breaking Tendulkar’s record for most
hundreds in the format.
 Kohli has 45 ODI centuries, whereas Tendulkar has scored 49 ODI hundreds in his
career.

Kohli can break another record as he needs 180 more runs to enter the top
5 all-time run-getters in ODIs.

Kohli is only behind Tendulkar, Sangakkara, Ponting, Jayasuriya, and
Jayawardene in the elite list.
Khelo India Senior National Women Kho Kho leagues set to take place in
Punjab:
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
The Khelo India Senior Women National Kho Kho league is set to take place
at Chandigarh University, Punjab.

The league is being organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India and will
be held over three phases with full financial support from the Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports.

A total of 12 teams and close to 200 players are slated to participate.

The Kho Kho women’s league for junior and sub-junior age groups is
scheduled from January 16 to 19 at the Alberta Ekka Kho Kho stadium in
Hotwar, Ranchi.

The Khelo India women’s leagues, which are being held across multiple
sports since 2021, is an initiative taken by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and
Sports to develop the overall sports ecosystem of the country.
France captain Hugo Lloris announces retirement from international football:

France team captain Hugo Lloris announced his decision to retire from
international football at the age of 36.

Lloris represented France in four World Cups and three Euros and
captained Les Blues to the World Cup trophy in 2018.

The Tottenham Hotspur showstopper led his team to the World Cup final in
Qatar, where they were beaten by Argentina on penalties.

The 36-year-old holds many records and is France's most-capped player with
145 appearances to his name.

Lloris made his debut for Les Blues back in November 2008.

He was handed the armband two years after his international debut and would
go on to captain France in 121 matches.
Hockey India enters the metaverse ahead of home World Cup:

Hockey India has launched a new metaverse product to tie in with its hosting
of the Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13-29.

‘Hockeyverse’, which Hockey India claims marks a first for a national
sports federation, has been launched across the governing body’s
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social media platforms and is designed to enhance the tournament
experience for fans around the world.

Before the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 BhubaneswarRourkela, Hockey India launched the 'Hockeyverse' on their social media
platforms.

Hockey India has taken a giant leap into the future with this innovative
initiative of launching the Hockeyverse which is a great way to get people,
particularly youngsters, engaged and excited about hockey.

This new metaverse platform is immersive and interactive and those who can't
be here in Rourkela and Bhubaneswar to experience the best of world hockey can
use this platform to connect with the event.
Ashleigh Gardner And Harry Brook Win ICC Players of The Month Award For
December:

Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner and England’s Harry Brook have
won the ICC Player of the Month Awards for December following their
sparkling show at the international level.

While Gardner produced an excellent all-around show during a bilateral
T20I series against India, Brook continued his rise with an eye-catching
show in the Pakistan Test series.

Gardner scored 115 runs at an impressive strike rate of 166.66 and also took
seven wickets during a 41 T20I series win over India.

The allrounder saved her best for the fifth and final contest as she struck an
unbeaten 66 before taking two wickets in a 54-run win.

On the other hand, Brook had a remarkable series in Pakistan as he
peeled off three centuries in as many Tests to help England complete a
historic 3-0 clean sweep.

The rising England star started the tour in Rawalpindi in emphatic fashion,
hitting 19 fours and five
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sixes on his way to a blistering 153 in the first innings and then followed
that with a quickfire 87.

In Multan, he scored
108 and 111 in Karachi.
Virat Kohli becomes fifth
highest run scorer in ODI:

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli became the fifth-highest run-scorer in the
history of ODI cricket, overtaking Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene to
enter the top five.

Virat added another record to his pile of accomplishments during India’s
third and final ODI of the series against Sri Lanka in Kerala.

In the 35th over of India’s batting, Kohli smashed a leg-cutter bowled by
Chamika Karunaratne between mid-off and covers for a four.

With this, he was able to become the fifth-highest run scorer in ODIs.

Virat is currently racing towards his 46th ODI and 74th international cricket century.

He has hit his 65th ODI fifty.

At the time of becoming the fifth-highest run-scorer, Virat had 12,652 runs in
268 ODIs at an average of 57.78, with 45 tons and 65 half-centuries. His best
score in the format is 183.

He overtook Jayawardene, who has scored 12,650 runs in 448 matches, 418
innings at an average of 33.37.

He has 19 centuries and 77 fifties in the format, with the best score of 144.

The highest run-scorer in ODI history is Indian legend, Sachin Tendulkar.

He has scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83.

He has 49 centuries and 96 fifties in this format, with the best of 200*.

Following Tendulkar are, Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs in
404 matches), Australian great Ricky Ponting (13,704), Sri Lankan all-rounder
Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430 in 445 matches), and Virat.
11-year-old Kashmiri girl bags gold medal at National Sqay Championship:
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
Falak Mumtaz, an 11-year-old from Shopian in South Kashmir, won
gold in the National Sqay Championship 2023.

Falak Mumtaz won the gold medal in the National Sqay
Championship last week in Jammu, overcoming all odds.

She didn't have access to education because she came from a poor home.

But that didn't stop her from fulfilling her ambition.

Her devotion to Sqay earned her a gold medal.

Falak is a bright and determined sixth-grader at Aisha Ali Academy in Kulgam.

Her long-term goal is to become an IAS officer and
help the valley's people.
Yamaguchi, Axelsen win Malaysia Open singles crowns:

Akane Yamaguchi and Viktor Axelsen won the Malaysia Open Super 1000
women’s and men’s singles titles in Kuala Lumpur.

Yamaguchi won her maiden Super Series Premier title at the China Open in 2017.

Yamaguchi, after dropping the first game 12-21, bounced back to win the
tightly fought second game 21-19 before sealing the contest 21-11 in the
third.


The men’s singles final saw a repeat of last month’s World Tour Finals.
Axelsen, the regaining Olympic and world champion, won the Malaysia
Open title in straight games, beating Japanese youngster Kodai Naraoka
in 40 minutes.

This was Axelsen’s ninth Super Series Premier title and third Malaysia Open crown.

Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan, the world no. 1 pairing in women’s doubles, blew
away South Korea’s Baek Hana-Lee Yulim 21-16, 21-10 in 52 minutes.

In mixed doubles, the world no. 1 pairing of Zheng Siwei-Huang
Yaqiong, carrying on their last season’s dominating display, claimed
the season’s first Super Series Premier title.
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 Zheng-Huang beat Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan 21-19, 21-11 in 44
minutes.

Last season, the Chinese pairing won an overwhelming nine Super
Series titles on the World Tour.
Broadcaster Viacom18 bags Women's IPL five-year media rights for Rs 951 cr:

Reliance-backed Viacom18 has secured the Women’s Indian Premier
League (WIPL) media rights for five years (2023-27) at an auction.

Viacom18 had committed ~951 crores for five years, translating into a
per-match value of Rs 7.09 crore.

There will be a total of 134 matches in the five-team WIPL over five years,
with 22 matches each in the first three years.

The number could touch 34 matches each in the final two years.
 BCCI is anticipating growth in WIPL over the next few years, said executives at the
cricketing body.

While BCCI was eyeing Rs 1,100-1,250 crore from the sale of media rights
for WIPL for five years, observed media experts, what has come in is 14-24
percent lower in terms of total bid value (Rs 951 crore).

The Big Bash League in Australia has both a men’s and women’s edition.

At last year’s e-auction for the men’s IPL for 2023-27, the total value of
media rights was nearly 3x the previous cycle’s value at Rs 48,390 crore,
with the per-match value at Rs 118 crore.

Disney Star and Viacom18 had picked up the television and digital rights
for Rs 23,575 crore and Rs 23,491 crore, respectively.

Viacom18 and Times Internet had picked up the overseas
rights for Rs 1,324 crore.
Barcelona beats Real Madrid 3-1 to win Super Cup:

Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup for the first time since the
competition was revamped and moved to Saudi Arabia with a 3-1
victory over Real Madrid.
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
Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, and Pedri scored a goal each at King Fahd
Stadium in Riyadh to give Barcelona its first Super Cup trophy since 2018 —
and its 14th overall — and the first since the tournament began being played in
a Final Four format in 2020 in a lucrative deal for the Spanish soccer
federation.

It was also Barcelona’s first title since former player Xavi took over as the
team’s coach in 2021, and since Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain.
 Barcelona had not lifted a trophy since the 2021 Copa del Rey under former coach
Ronald Koeman.
 That was Messi’s 35th and final title with Barcelona before leaving amid the club’s
financial struggles.

Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 at home in the first “El Clásico” of the season
at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the Spanish league in October.

The Super Cup used to be played between the Spanish league
champion and the Copa del Rey winner.

Now the runners-up in both competitions also participate.

Madrid played as the league champion and Barcelona was the league
runner-up. Betis won the Copa title over Valencia last season.

The current contract to play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia runs
through the 2024-25 season.
Rwanda's Geovanis Uwase suspended for illegal bowling action:

Geovanis Uwase, the Rwanda fast bowler, has been suspended from
bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after her action was
found illegal at Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup.

The decision was taken by the Event Panel, which comprises members
of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists.

Uwase was reported by the match officials during Rwanda's match against
Pakistan, with footage captured during their match against Zimbabwe on
January 17 shared with the Event Panel for review.
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 In two games in the tournament so far, Uwase has one wicket from six overs at an
economy rate of 3.

According to the ICC regulations, a bowling action is deemed illegal if a
bowler's elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees, measured from the point at
which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal until the point at which the ball is
released.

Any elbow hyperextension is discounted to determine an illegal bowling action.

Uwase's suspension will remain in place until Uwase undergoes a
reassessment that confirms her elbow extension is within the permissible
limit.

Rwanda is currently second in their group with one win and one loss from two
games and is well-placed to qualify for Super Sixes.

In their last match of the first round, they will face table-toppers
England in Potchefstroom.
All-time great Hashim Amla ends long cricket career:

Hashim Amla, who ended a 22-year playing career, will be regarded as one
of South Africa´s all-time cricketing greats.

English county Surrey announced that they had been informed by Amla, 39,
that he would not be returning as a player this year after helping the side to
win the English county championship in 2022.

Amla was a key member of one of South Africa´s most powerful teams
when they clinched the Test championship mace with a series win in
England in 2012.

He retired from international cricket after the 2019 Cricket World Cup and
did not play in South African domestic cricket after the 2018/19 season.

But he continued to be a prolific run-scorer for Surrey, scoring 1,712 runs at
an average of 48.91 in his last two seasons.
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
Amla is currently a batting consultant with the MI Cape Town
franchise in the SA20 league.
Rohit breaks Dhoni's record of most ODI sixes in India:

Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave the hosts another solid start, this time
against New Zealand in the 1st ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International
Stadium, Hyderabad.

The 35-year-old looked solid in his 38-ball 34 but failed to capitalize.
 In the process, Rohit broke a long-standing record of MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian
captain.

The former now has
the most ODI sixes in India.
Rohit smashes his 124th ODI
six in India

In a career spanning over a decade, Dhoni took the greatest of bowlers to cleaners.

He smashed 123 sixes in ODI cricket in India.

Rohit, who broke Dhoni's record, now has the most ODI sixes in India.

The former reached the landmark in the third over bowled by Henry Shipley.

Rohit smacked an incredible six over extra
cover on the final delivery. Rohit surpasses Adam
Gilchrist (ODI runs)

In the third ODI against Sri Lanka, Rohit surpassed South African legend AB
de Villiers (9,577) in terms of ODI runs.
 The former has now overtaken Australian legend Adam Gilchrist (9,619) in this
regard.

Rohit, who now owns 9,630, went past him in his 239th ODI appearance.

He owns 29 centuries and 47 fifties in ODIs.

The tally also includes three double tons.
Hockey World Cup: Netherlands breaks the record for most goals in a men’s HWC match,
beats Chile 14-0
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
Netherlands went past Australia’s record of most goals scored by a team in
a single FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup match

In its final Pool C match, three-time winner Netherlands scored its 13th goal
in the 48th minute against Chile at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar to
go past Australia’s 12-0 win over South Africa during the 2010 edition.

The Dutch side eventually won the match 14-0.

The 14th and final Netherlands goal came two minutes before the fulltime hooter when captain Brinkman scored from a Penalty Corner to
complete his hat-trick.
Virat Kohli back in top-five in ODI rankings:

Former India skipper Virat Kohli, who scored two centuries and scored
283 runs in three matches against Sri Lanka, jumped two places to break
into the top five in the latest ICC ODI rankings.

Kohli now has 750 points and has second-placed Rassie van der Dussen
(766) and third-placed Quinton de Kock (759) in his sights, while Pakistan
skipper Babar Azam remains way out in front with 887 points.

Kohli has the opportunity to close the gap further in the ongoing three-match
ODI series against New Zealand.

Kohli's team-mates Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep
Yadav have also moved up in rankings.

Gill, who hit his maiden ODI century in India to complement his fifty during the
series, has moved up 10 spots to 26th.

The young Indian opener scored 207 runs at an average of 69.

Siraj, who emerged as the leading wicket-taker in India's 3-0 series win
against Sri Lanka, climbed 15 spots to rise to third on the list for ODI bowlers
with his nine scalps.
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
The performance helped Siraj improve to a career-best rating of 685
points and close in on pacesetters Trent Boult (730) and Josh
Hazlewood (727).

Kuldeep Yadav was also rewarded for his five wickets from just two matches
against Sri Lanka, with the left-arm spinner moving up seven spots to 21st in
the latest rankings for bowlers.
Mary Kom-led Oversight Committee to run WFI

Committee that will run the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and also probe
into the allegations of 'sexual misconduct, financial irregularities and
misgovernance' leveled by India's top wrestlers, including Olympic and World
Championships medallists, against the federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan
Singh, other officials and some coaches at the national camp.

The other members of the committee are London Olympics bronze
medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, former badminton player Trupti Murgunde, a
member of SAI's Mission Olympic cell, and former SAI administrators
Radhica Sreeman, and Cdr Rajesh Rajagopalan.
BCCI rakes in Rs 4669.99 crore from sale of Women's Premier League teams:

Women's cricket has touched a new glass ceiling in India and It
is the latest goldmine that the Indian cricket Board has
discovered.

Five companies, with the Adani Group leading the race, which made the
highest bid-Rs 1289 crore-for the Ahmedabad franchise, splurged as much as
Rs 4669.99 crore to buy the five teams for the women’s IPL, which has been
named as the Women's Premier League (WPL) by the BCCI.
Harmanpreet Named Captain of The ICC Women's ODI Team of The Year:

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has been named the captain of the ICC
Women's ODI Team of the year for 2022 which also includes her
teammates, opener Smriti Mandhana, and fast bowler Renuka Singh, the
International Cricket Council.
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
Other players in the ICC Women's
T20I team of the year
Suryakumar Yadav bags ICC Men's T20I
Cricketer of the Year 2022:

Swashbuckling India middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who had an
outstanding run in the shortest format in the year 2022, was named the ICC
Men's Cricketer of the Year by the sport's global governing body.
 Surya had a phenomenal run last year where he broke a plethora of records in the
T20Is.

He beat the likes of Sam Curran, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad
Rizwan, and Zimbabwe's batting all-rounder Sikandar Raza for the top
honor.
India crowned first-ever ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World champions

It was another clinical display with the ball that held the key to India’s march to
victory, with Titas Sadhu setting the pace, with the spinners delivering another
telling performance when it mattered.

Complementing the fine bowling was outstanding fielding.

The dismissal of England’s captain, Grace Scrivens, epitomised the sheer
determination in the Indian ranks.
Aryna Sabalenka Wins Australian Open For First Grand Slam Crown:

Aryna Sabalenka tamed her nerves to blast her way to a maiden Grand Slam
title at the Australian Open, with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Kazakh 22nd seed
Elena Rybakina in a thrilling final featuring two power-hitters in the women's
game.

Saba Lenka’s 11th straight win of the year will propel the Belarusian fifth
seed back to her career-high ranking of number two behind Poland's Iga
Swiatek, as she reaps the rewards of an improved playing mindset in the
New Year.
Djokovic riding high in pursuit of 22nd Slam title and top ranking
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
Novak Djokovic has won all nine of his previous Australian Open finals so
confidence is sky-high as he bids to equal Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam record
and return to world number one.

That makes the Serb heavy favourite but in Stefanos Tsitsipas his invincibility
will face a major test when they meet in the Melbourne Park title match.
Copa America 2024: USA to host 16-team tournament

The United States will host the 2024 Copa America, which will feature 10 teams
from South America and six from North and Central America and the
Caribbean.

It will be the second time the Copa America has been hosted outside of South
America.

Ecuador was originally scheduled to host the tournament but its government
said in November it would be unable to.

The 2021 tournament took place in Brazil and was won by Argentina.
IMPORTANT OBITUARIES NEWS
Football legend & 3-time FIFA World Cup winner Pele passed away

Former Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who
was popularly known as Pele passed away at the age of 82 in São Paulo,
Brazil.
About Pele:

He was regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and labeled "the greatest"
by FIFA.

He began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national team at 16.

During his international career, he won three Fédération Internationale de
Football Association (FIFA) World Cups: 1958, 1962, and 1970 & he is the
only player to have won 3 FIFA world cup titles.

He was nicknamed O Rei (The King) following the 1958 tournament.
 His 1977 autobiography, “My Life and the Beautiful Game,” made the phrase part of
football’s lexicon.
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
He was named “Athlete of the Century” by the International Olympic
Committee in 1999, co-“Football Player of the Century” by the world soccer
body FIFA in 2000, and a “national treasure” by Brazil’s government.

During his 21-year career, he has scored the most career goals 1,283 in
1,363 games including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.

In January 1995, he was appointed by Fernando Cardoso as minister of sports.

He was named Fifa's Player of the Century in 2000.

In 2000, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International
Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

He proposed legislation to reduce corruption in Brazilian football, which
became known as the "Pelé law.

The Pelé law is a Brazilian law that forces professional sports clubs to
observe business law and pay tax within two years.
Pritzker-winning Japanese architect Arata Isozaki Passed away

A Pritzker-winning Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki Passed away at the age
of 91 in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa.
About Arata Isozaki:

Arata Isozaki was a Japanese architect, urban designer, and theorist
from Ōita, Island of Kyushu, Japan.

He is known as a post-modern giant who blended the culture and history
of the East and the West in his designs

He began his architectural career under the apprenticeship of Japanese
legend Kenzo Tange, a 1987 Pritzker laureate.
 He founded his own office, Arata Isozaki & Associates, which he called "Atelier"
around 1963.

His works also include philosophy,
visual art, film, and theatre Notable Works:
 Ōita Prefectural Library, (1962–1966) Ōita, Ōita, Japan
 Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art (1972–1974) in Fukuoka, Japan
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 Kitakyushu Central Library (1973–1974) in Fukuoka, Japan
 Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), (1981–1986) Los Angeles, California,
United States
 He is also known for his international works such as the Sports Hall for the
1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and the Himalayas Center, a
multifunctional cultural complex in Shanghai. Awards & Honors:

He was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 1986.

Isozaki won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, internationally the highest
honour in the field, in 2019
Former Tata Sons director RK Krishnakumar passed away

Tata Group veteran and former Tata Sons director Rayaroth Kuttambally
Krishna Kumar passed away at the age of 84 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
About RK Krishnakumar:

Krishna Kumar was born in Thalassery, Kerala.

He joined Tata Administrative Services in 1963.

In 1965, he was transferred to Tata Global Beverages, then known as Tata
Finlay, and worked through the re-branding of the company as Tata Tea, to
become the vice president of South India Plantations in 1982.

In 1997, he was appointed as the head of the division of Indian Hotels
Company (IHCL), which owns the Taj Group of hotels.
 In 2002, he was appointed to the board of Tata Sons, the investment holding
company of Tata Group.

In 2007, he joined Sir Dorabji Tata Trust & then in 2009 he joined RNT
Associates, the investment company of then-chairman Ratan N Tata.

He retired as a board member of Tata Sons in 2013.

He was a close associate of Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata
and was involved in Tata group's charitable trusts that hold a 66% stake
in Tata Sons.
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Awards & Honors:

In 2009, Krishnakumar was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest
civilian award by the Indian government, for his contributions to Indian
Trade and industry.
Grammy-winning singer Anita Pointer Passed away

Grammy-winning American singer and songwriter Anita Marie Pointer
Passed away at the age of 74 in Los Angeles.
About Anita Marie Pointer:
 Anita Marie Pointer was born on January 23, 1948, in Oakland, California, United
States.

She was best known as a founding member of the vocal group the Pointer Sisters.

She was also the lead singer on many of their other hits, including "Yes
We Can Can", "Fire", "Slow Hand", and "I'm So Excited".

In 1987 Anita released her first solo album named, “Love for What It Is”,
which got the single Overnight Success.
About Pointer Sisters:

The Pointer Sisters are an American girl group from Oakland, California.

The group gained a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. Awards &
Honors:

The Group’s first musical album was Fairytale which won a Grammy
Award for Best Country Vocal Performance.

After winning Grammy, the Pointer Sisters became the first black female group
to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville & the first contemporary act to
perform at the San Francisco Opera House

In 1975, the Pointer Sisters won a Grammy Award for Best Country
Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, with Anita and Bonnie
Pointer.

The group won three Grammy Awards for their albums and had 13
United States top 20 hit songs between the years 1973 and 1985.
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
Their album “Break out” went triple platinum and garnered two
American Music Awards.
Karnataka's Sri Jnanayogashrama's seer Siddeshwar Swami passed
away

The seer of the Sri Jnanayogashrama in Vijayapura, Karnataka who
was known for his scholarly discourses and powerful oratory, Siddeshwar
Swami Passed away at the age of 81 in Karnataka. About Siddeshwar
Swami:

Siddeshwar Swami hails from Bijjaraji in Vijayapura, Karnataka.

He has spent over 65 years at the ashram and is known for his simple
lifestyle and engaging speaking style.

He was known as the "walking god" among his disciples.

He was also fondly known as Buddiji.

Swamiji has written several books on the Upanishads, Gita, Sharana
philosophy, and general spirituality.
f o o tb a l le r S h ya m a l G h o s h p a s s e d a w a y

Former Indian football player Shyamal Ghosh passed away at the age of 71
in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).
About Shyamal Ghosh:

Ghosh made his international debut in the Merdeka Cup against Thailand in
1974 and was part of the Indian team in the 1974 Asian Games.

At the domestic level, he represented both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan,
winning several trophies, including Kolkata League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup,
and Rovers Cup

He also found success in the Santosh Trophy, representing Bengal 5 times,
and winning the title thrice - 1975, 1976, and 1977.
Awards & Honors:
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
Ghosh was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award by
East Bengal Club in 2016.
Gujarat’s first woman chief secretary Manjula Subramaniam
Passed away

The first woman chief secretary of Gujarat, Dr. Manjula Subramaniam passed
away at the age of 74 in Vadodara, Gujarat.
About Dr Manjula Subramaniam:
 Dr. Manjula Subramaniam, a 1972 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of
the Gujarat cadre

She had served as the first woman chief secretary of Gujarat during Modi's
tenure as the state's chief minister in 2007 and retired in 2008.

She had also served as the chief vigilance commissioner and principal
secretary of the Energy and Petrochemicals Department.

She was appointed as the additional director on the Board of Directors of
Gujarat Gas Limited in August 2020 for a tenure of 5 years.

She was part of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation.

She was also the director of Gujarat Industries Power
Company Limited (GIPCL)
Veteran Sinologist Janaki Ballabh passed away

Veteran Sinologist Janaki Ballabh
passed away at the age of 94. About Janaki
Ballabh:


Janaki Ballabh born in Dalakot village in Almora in Uttarakhand.
He was closely associated with India’s independence movement.
 He was married to Shayma Ballabh, who worked as the first Hindi announcer at
Radio Beijing.
 He was also the first Indian to have been given long-term residency in China along
with his wife.
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
He spent 5 years in Beijing working for Foreign Languages Press and
stayed put in the country until 1961.

He worked for various Indian publications, including ‘Veer Arjun’, ‘Sainik
Samachar’, ‘New Age’ (the Communist Party of India’s official publication),
and later at the Information and Cultural office of the Chinese Embassy
from 1963-77.
Awards & Honors:

In 1961, he was given the Peace and Friendship Award by the then-
Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.
The last surviving Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham Passed away

The last surviving member of the first successful space mission under the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA's) Apollo program,
US astronaut Walter Cunningham, passed away at the age of 90.
About Walter Cunningham:

Cunningham was born on March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa, United States (US).
 He was an American astronaut, fighter pilot, physicist, entrepreneur, and venture
capitalist.

He is NASA's third civilian astronaut (after Neil Armstrong and Elliot See).

He was part of the Apollo 7 mission which took off on October 11, 1968,
and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean 11 days later on October 22.
 Before joining NASA, he was enlisted in the US Navy and began training as a pilot in
1952.

He served as a fighter pilot with the US Marine
Corps on 54 missions in Korea. Awards & Honors:

Cunningham was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and
NASA Distinguished Service Medal for his service.
Noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sumitra Sen Passed away
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
Noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sumitra Sen passed away
at the age of 89 in Kolkata About Sumitra Sen:

She is known for her performances of songs like "Jokhon Porbe Na Mor,"
"Sokhi Vabona Kahare Bole," and "Mone Ki Dwidha."
Awards & Honors:

In 2012, she was honoured with the Sangeet Mahasamman award by the
West Bengal government. About Rabindra Sangeet:

Rabindra Sangeet, also known as Tagore Songs, is a collection of over 2,000
songs and poems written and composed by the Bengali polymath
Rabindranath Tagore.

Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 the first Indian &
also the first non-European to receive such recognition.
Former PepsiCo India chairman PM Sinha Passed Away

Former chairman of PepsiCo, India, and South Asia, PM Sinha, passed away
at the age of 82 in Gurugram. About PM Sinha:

PM Sinha, popularly known as Suman.

Sinha started his career with Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL), where he was the
head of government relations.

He was the second chairman & CEO of PepsiCo India who helmed the
company for a decade from 1993 to 2003.

He became the chairman of Bata in 2004.

PepsiCo entered India in 1989.
Senior BJP leader & former West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi passed away

The three-time speaker of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Legislative Assembly and
former Governor of West Bengal Keshri Nath Tripathi passed away at the
age of 88 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
About Keshri Nath Tripathi:

Tripathi was born on 10 November 1934, in Allahabad, UP.

He was governor of West Bengal from July 2014 to July 2019.
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
A senior advocate of Allahabad high court, he served as a member of the
UP Legislative Assembly 6 times.

He represented the Jhunsi seat between 1977-1980 and Allahabad South
seat for 5 consecutive terms between 1989-2007.

He was cabinet minister during the Janata Party regime from 1977 to 1979.
 He also served as the Speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly thrice between 1991
and 2004.

He had an additional charge of Bihar as governor twice and an
additional charge as governor of Meghalaya and Mizoram as well.

He was also the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh

He was a poet and an essayist and had
penned many books
Father of Laparoscopic Surgery Dr. Tehemton
Erach Udwadia passed away

The father of Laparoscopic surgery in India, Dr. Tehemton E Udwadia
passed away at the age of 88 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About Dr Tehemton Erach Udwadia:

Dr. Tehemton E Udwadia was born on 15 July 1934, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

He is an Indian surgeon and gastroenterologist at two Mumbai hospitals,
Breach Candy Hospital and Hinduja Hospital.

Udwadia was the founder president of the Indian Association of
Gastrointestinal Endo-Surgeons and presided over the association from
1993 to 1998.

He has served as the president of the Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of
India, the Association of Surgeons of India, and the Society of Endoscopic and
Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia.

He has been the president of the Indian chapter and the World body of
the International College of Surgeons.
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
He is the author of two books, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and
Laparoscopic Surgery in Developing Countries. Awards & Honors:

Udwadia received the SAGES Millennium Award from the Society of
American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons in 2000.

In 2000, he was awarded the Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest Indian award
in the medical category, from the Medical Council of India.

The Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo-Surgeons awarded him
the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

In 2006 he was awarded the civilian award of the Padma Shri from the
Government of India (GoI).
Veteran US sports journalist Grant Wahl Passed away

American soccer journalist Grant Wahl Passed away, while covering the
World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands in Lusail
Stadium, Qatar.

This was the 8th World Cup for Wahl, who has been covering football
continuously since 1996. About Grant Wahl:
 His Sports Illustrated career mainly focused on college basketball and soccer in the
United States.

He was also the author of the book The Beckham Experiment
(2009)
Renowned Kashmiri poet & Kashmir’s first Jnanpith awardee Prof Abdul
Rehman Rahi passed away

Kashmir’s renowned poet and first Jnanpith awardee Professor Abdul
Rehman Rahi Passed away at the age of 98 in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
(J&K).
About Prof Abdul Rehman Rahi:

Abdur Rehman Rahi was born in 1925, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
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
He began his career as a clerk in the Public Works Department of the
Government for a few months in 1948 .
 In 1977, he joined the newly-established Department of Kashmiri at the University of
Kashmir.
 He was the founder member of the Kashmiri progressive writers movement called
Cultural Congress.

Rahi's major works - Sana-Wani Saaz (poems) (1952), Sukhok Soda (poems),
Kashir Shara Sombran, Kalam-e-Rahi (poems)
Awards & Honors:

Rahi was the youngest Indian to be given the Sahitya Akademi Award in
1961 for “Nawroz-i-Saba”, a collection of his outstanding poems.

In the year 2000, he was also honoured with the prestigious Padma
Shri award for Literature & Education.

The Sahitya Akademi also honoured Rahi with the Sahitya Academy
Fellowship, India's highest literary honour in 2000 for recognition of his long
contribution to Kashmiri literature and culture.

He received the highest literary award in the country, the Jnanpith award (for
the year 2004) in 2007 for his collection 'Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz' (In Black
Drizzle).
Former Union Minister Sharad Yadav passed away

Former Union Minister and one of the country's most prominent
socialist leaders, Sharad Yadav, Passed away at the age of 75 in
Gurugram, Haryana.
About Sharad Yadav:
 Yadav was born on 1 July 1947 in Babai, Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh
(MP).

He was an Indian politician from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party.

He was a three-time member of the Rajya Sabha (1986, 2004, 2014).
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
He was elected as Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) 7 times in his
political career including 4 times from Bihar's Madhepura district and twice
from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh (MP) & once from Badaun in Uttar
Pradesh (UP).
 He won the Madhepura Lok Sabha seat a total of 4 times; in 1991, 1996,1999, and
2009.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time at the age of 27 from
Jabalpur in 1974 & he was reelected in 1977.
 He was the first Janata Dal United JD(U) president and held the post from 2003 to
2016.

He founded the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) in May 2018.

In March 2022, he merged his party Loktantrik Janata Dal with
the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
Congress MP from Jalandhar Santokh Chaudhary Passed away

Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from Jalandhar, Punjab Santokh
Singh Chaudhary, Passed away at the age of 76 while taking part in the
Bharat Jodo Yatra.
About Santokh Singh Chaudhary:

He was a former Cabinet Minister of Punjab and a member of parliament
from Jalandhar (Lok Sabha constituency).

He won the 2014 Indian general election and the 2019 Indian general election
being an Indian National Congress (INC) candidate.
Prince William's Godfather and Last King of Greece Constantine II Passed away

Godfather to Prince William & Last King of Greece Constantine II
Passed away at the age of 82. About Constantine II:

Constantine was born in Athens on June 2, 1940.

When Constantine was an infant, the royal family fled Greece during the
German invasion of World War II, moving to Alexandria (Egypt), South Africa.
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
Constantine II, the 2nd cousin of Britain’s King Charles III, is the only
son of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece.

At the 1960 Rome Olympics, he participated in sailing and won a gold medal
in the Dragon class along with 2 other Greek sailors.

He married Princess AnneMarie of Denmark in 1964.

He was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee and
became an IOC Member in 1963 and served until 1974.
Renowned scientist & former Keltron chairman Dr AD Damodaran passed away

Renowned scientist and former chairman of the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) - National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science
and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram Dr A D Damodaran passed
away at the age of 87 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
About Dr A D Damodaran:
 In the initial phase of his career, A D Damodaran served at Bhabha Atomic Research
Centre.
 He became the chairman of Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation
(KELTRON).

He chaired the Science, Technology and Environment Committee (STEC),
the former version of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology
and Environment (KSCSTE).

His areas of interest covered food nutrition and nutraceuticals, advanced
materials and intellectual property rights.
The last Nizam of Hyderabad Mukarram Jah Bahadur passed away

The titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mukarram Jah Bahadur passed
away in Turkey at the age of 89.

He was the successor and grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir
Osman Ali Khan Bahadur. About Mukarram Jah Bahadur:
 Mukarram Jah also known as Nawab Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah
Bahadur.

He was born on Oct 06, 193 in Nice, France.
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
His mother Durrushehvar was the only daughter of Abdul Majid, the last
Caliph of Islam who was sent into exile by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who
abolished the Caliphate.

His father was Azam Jah, the eldest son of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan,
whose kingdom was merged with India on September 18, 1948.

He was the titular Nizam of Hyderabad between 1967 and 1971

He was coronated as Asaf Jah the Eighth on April 6, 1967, after the
passing away of Mir Osman Ali Khan in February 1967

He was linked to two of the most well-known dynasties in the Muslim world.

Jah chaired the H.E.H. The Nizam's Charitable Trust and Mukarram Jah Trust
for Education & Learning (MJTEL)

He was the head of the House of Asaf Jah until
he died in 2023.
Veteran linguist & specialist in Dravidian languages
Ronald E Asher Passed away

Renowned British linguist Ronald E Asher (RE Asher) who specialized in
Dravidian languages passed away at the age of 96 in Edinburg, Scotland,
United Kingdom (UK).
About Ronald E Asher:

Asher was born on June 23, 1926, in Nottinghamshire, England, UK.

He is a multi-lingual scholar had reached India in 1953 to learn Tamil

He translated major works of Malayalam legend Vaikom Muhammed
Basheer and other Malayalam writers into English.
 He served as the President of the International Association for Tamil Research from
1983 to 1990.

In 1971, Asher wrote his first book on Tamil, A Tamil Prose
Reader with R. Radhakrishnan. Awards & Honors:
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
In 1983, he was awarded the Gold Medal by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi for
"distinguished services" in Malayalam

In 2007, the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters,
elected Asher as an Honorary fellow.

In 2018, Asher was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of
Edinburgh in recognition of his contributions to linguistics.
Padma Shri awardee & Social Worker Prabhaben Shah passes away

A social worker from the Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli,
Daman, and Diu & Padma Shri awardee Prabhaben Shah passed away at
the age of 92 in Daman.
About Prabhaben Shah:
 Prabhaben was born in 1930 in the Surat district’s Bardoli town and moved to
Daman in 1963.

Shah decided to be a social worker at the age of 12.

She had established a Gujarat medium primary school in Bal Mandir.

In 1963, she established a woman named Mahila Mandal.

In 1969, Prabhaben started sewing classes for women in Daman.

She also started the Women Cooperative Society and Women Credit Society.

She started Gujarati and English medium Balwadi (nursery), and
a library for students from economically weaker sections.

She helped needy people during the Kutch earthquake in 2001, and
the Kerala flood in 2018. Awards & Honors:

In January 2022, Prabhaben received the Padma Shri, India’s fourthhighest civilian honour, in the social work category for her altruistic
services.
Bharatanatyam dancer, guru Lakshmi Vishwanathan Passed away

Renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and guru, writer, and research
scholar Lakshmi Vishwanathan Passed away at the age of 78.
About Lakshmi Vishwanathan:
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
She can be described as a Dancer’s Dancer.
 She had a long association with The Music Academy as a member and later as a
Vice-President

She authored 4 books Kunjamma-Ode to a Nightingale (a biography of M.S.
Subbulakshmi); Women of Pride-the Devadasi Heritage; Kapaliswara Temple;
and Bharatanatyam: The Tamil Heritage.
Awards & Honors:

She received many awards including Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu
government, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the President of India,
and titles like Nritya Chudamani (Sri Krishna Gana Sabha) and Nritya
Kalanidhi (The Music Academy, Madras), as well as the Kalidas Samman.

She was a gold medallist in English
literature from Madras University.
Gambian vice-president Badara Alieu Joof passed
away

The Vice President (VP) of the West African nation of Gambia, Badara Alieu
Joof passed away in India at the age of 65.

The announcement was made by the Gambia’s
president Adama Barrow. About Badara Alieu Joof:
 Joof began his career as a qualified teacher, teaching English at The Gambia
College.

He had also worked in Gambian civil service as well as in the World Bank
as an Education Specialist for West and Central Africa
 He served as Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology from
2017 to 2022.

Joof was appointed as vice president
of the Gambia in 2022.
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Jnanpith winning Assamese poet Nilamani
Phookan passed away

Renowned Assamese poet and Jnanpith winner Nilamani Phookan passed
away at Guwahati, Assam at the age of 89.
About Nilamani Phookan:

Phookan was born in Dergaon in the Golaghat district, of Assam.

He started his career as a lecturer at Arya Vidyapeeth College in Guwahati
in 1964, where he worked until his retirement in 1992.
Notable Works:
 Surya Heno Nami Ahe Ei Nadiyedi ("The sun is said to come descending by this
river"), 1963.

Manas-pratima. Guwahati Book Stall, 1971.

Phuli Thaka Suryamukhi Phultor Phale ("Towards the Blooming Sunflower"), 1971.

Silpakalar Upalabdhi Aru Ananda is one of his important books on art criticism.
Awards & Honors:

In 1981 he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese for his
poetry collection, Kavita (Kobita).
 He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1990 for Literature &
Education.

He received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest literary
honor in India, given by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of
Letters in 2002
 Phookan has won the 56th Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, for the
year 2020.

He was the third Assamese poet, author, and writer after Birendra Kumar
Bhattacharyya and Mamoni Raisom Goswami to win the Jnanpith Award.
US Rock Legend David Crosby Passed Away

United States (US) Rock singer, David Crosby
passed away at the age of 81. About David Crosby:

David Crosby was born on August 14, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, U.S
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
He was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

He was the son of Oscar-winning Hollywood cinematographer Floyd Crosby.

He was a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash

He was one of the most influential rock singers of the 1960s and ’70s.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two different groups.

He was awarded the Grammy for Best New Artist of 1969 for his
debut album "I See You"
Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora passed
away

Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora passed away at
the age of 61 in New Delhi, India.
Renowned Indian architect Dr. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi passed away

Renowned Indian architect Dr. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi
passed away at the age of 95. Jnanpith winning Assamese poet
Nilamani Phookan passed away

Renowned Assamese poet and Jnanpith winner Nilamani Phookan passed
away at Guwahati, Assam at the age of 89.
US Rock Legend David Crosby Passed Away
 United States (US) Rock singer, David Crosby
passed away at the age of 81.
Some iconic architectural designs of BV Doshi:
 FLAME University, IIM Bangalore, IIM Udaipur, NIFT Delhi, Amdavad ni Gufa,
CEPT University, and the Aranya Low-Cost Housing development in Indore
for which was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Former Indian & Iron Man of India Sabir Ali passed away
 Former Indian decathlete&Iron Man of India Sabir Ali passed away at the age
of 67 in New Delhi, India.
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Veteran Telugu actress & former parliamentarian J Jamuna passed away
 Veteran Telugu film actress and former parliamentarian J Jamuna
passed away at the age of 86 in Hyderabad.
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