NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First Organic Fisheries Cluster Launched In Sikkim

The Government of India has launched the country's first organic fisheries cluster in Soreng District of Sikkim.

The fisheries cluster set up under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was inaugurated by Union Minister for Panchayati Raj; and Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Guwahati, Assam on 6 January 2025.

Sikkim is the first fully organic state of India and was certified in 2016. Sikkim now aims to be the first state in India in organic fisheries.

The first organic fisheries cluster under the PMMSY will be funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

NABARD will support the fisheries cluster by funding infrastructure, capacity building, and forming fisheries-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs).

These clusters will promote organic fisheries and aquaculture free from harmful chemicals, antibiotics and pesticides.

Union Home Minister to Launch BHARATPOL Portal

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, is set to launch the BHARATPOL portal, developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The event will take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The portal promises to enhance real-time information sharing among law enforcement agencies (LEAs) across India and internationally, enabling quicker responses to transnational crimes.

Aim is to streamline communication and facilitate international police assistance for criminal investigations.

Management: CBI will manage the portal as the National Central Bureau (NCB-New Delhi) for INTERPOL in India.

Collaboration: It will improve coordination between central, state, and union territory law enforcement agencies.

The portal will centralize and expedite requests related to criminal investigations, such as Red Notices and other INTERPOL notices.

Drone Technology Lab and Centre of Excellence Launched at DCR, Puttur

The Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, has recently launched a Drone Technology Lab and a Centre of Excellence for Profiling and Bioactive Components.

These initiatives aim to foster innovation in cashew research and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Drone Technology Lab:

The lab is designed to drive innovation in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications, particularly for plantation crops.

It is equipped with advanced drone systems and data processing tools, providing a platform for smart farming and research into sustainable agricultural practices.

The lab aims to enable research in the application of drone technology to enhance farming techniques.

Centre of Excellence for Profiling and Bioactive Components:

The Centre is dedicated to exploring and analyzing the phytochemicals present in cashew apples, nuts, kernels, shells, and leaves.

This initiative focuses on identifying bioactive components to promote better utilization of the cashew tree and its products.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Transfers ₹1,415.44 Crore to Women under Maiya Samman Yojana

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren transferred ₹1,415.44 crore to 56.61 lakh women under the Maiya Samman Yojana on January 6, 2024.

The scheme was a key promise made by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc ahead of the Assembly elections.

The scheme increased the monthly transfer to women from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 for women aged between 18 to 50 years.

The December instalment of ₹2,500 was transferred, and the January instalment would be transferred later.

₹30,000 annually is provided to women under the scheme.

Direct monthly cash transfers of ₹2,500 were aimed at boosting household income, especially in rural areas, improving women's financial autonomy.

This initiative aimed to bring women into the formal banking system by requiring women’s bank accounts for receiving transfers.

Global economic studies show that women-directed cash transfers lead to improvements in family health, education, and nutrition.

Women generally invest a higher proportion of their income in family welfare than men.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US To Lift Sanctions on Indian Entities For Civil Nuclear Cooperation

The United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has announced that the United States will lift the sanctions imposed on certain Indian entities to promote close cooperation in civilian nuclear programmes.

The sanctions were imposed by the United States after India conducted a series of nuclear test in Pokhran, Rajasthan in 1998.

The United States imposed sanctions on over 200 Indian entities in response to India’s nuclear test in Pokhran in 1998.

Jake Sullivan was on a two day visit to India on 5 and 6 January 2025 to attend the 3rd meeting of the India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) with the Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

During his visit,Jake Sullivan said that cooperation in the next generation of semiconductor technologies, cutting-edge research and space exploration will be the area of focus of the cooperation between the two countries

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Salam Kisan Partners with IIT Ropar

Salam Kisan, a leading agritech platform, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar to foster agritech innovation through advanced technologies.

The partnership was officially announced at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit 2024 in Dubai.

The partnership aims to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and cyber-physical systems to empower farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

A focus will be on skilling and upskilling farmers to improve their digital literacy and capabilities.

The collaboration will also promote methods that enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices.

The MoU includes mentoring for early-stage agritech start-ups, providing resources and guidance to scale their solutions.

 

BANKING

NPCI Enables Seamless Mobility for 3.2 Million Chennai MTC Commuters

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai to integrate RuPay on-the-go, a contactless payment solution for public transit.

Over 3.2 million daily commuters using Chennai MTC will benefit from this efficient and seamless transit system.

Multi-Modal Ticket Payment:RuPay on-the-go enables multi-modal ticket payment across: Chennai Metro, MTC buses and Chennai Metro parking facilities

This is facilitated using a single card.

RuPay on-the-go was launched under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) programme, which aims to simplify public transit across multiple cities in India.

The system offers travellers a hassle-free, contactless experience on metros and buses, using a single card marked with the RuPay contactless symbol.

RuPay cards also facilitate smooth transactions at merchant outlets.

The card can be linked with UPI-enabled apps, allowing users to make UPI payments through RuPay Credit Cards on UPI.

 

BUSINESS

Reserve Bank of India Increases Gold Reserves by 8 Tonnes in November 2024

According to the World Gold Council (WGC), In November 2024, central banks globally added a total of 53 tonnes of gold to their reserves.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) contributed 8 tonnes of this total.

With the additional 8 tonnes in November, the RBI’s total gold holdings increased to 876 tonnes.

RBI's year-to-date gold purchases for 2024 stand at 73 tonnes, making it the second-largest buyer of gold for the year, after Poland.

Poland’s National Bank (NBP) emerged as the largest buyer of gold in November 2024, adding 21 tonnes to its reserves.

Central banks, especially those from emerging markets, continued to buy gold in 2024 to secure a stable and secure asset amid global economic uncertainty.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

11th Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of DOS

The government of India has appointed a senior Indian Space Organisation (ISRO scientist V. Narayanan as the 11th chairman of ISRO and secretary of the Department of Space (DOS).

He will succeed the current chairman S.Somanth and assume office on 14 January 2025.

The name of V. Narayanan was approved by the apex Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in a meeting held on 7 January 2025 in New Delhi.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by the Union Minister for Home Affairs and of Cooperation, Amit Shah.

V. Narayanan has been appointed for a term of two years with effect from 14 January 2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

V Narayanan is a distinguished scientist and is an expert in Rocket and Space spacecraft propulsion. He joined ISRO in 1984 and later became the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).

President of Athletics Federation of India

Bahadur Singh Sagoo has been unanimously elected as the new President of the Athletics Federation of India on 7 January 2025.

Bahadur Singh Sagoo will replace Adille Sumariwalla who has been the President of the Athletics Federation of India since 2012.

The general body of the Athletics Federation of India elected its new officer bearers -President, Secretary General and Treasurer in the meeting held in Chandigarh on 6 and 7 January 2025.

Niels Lindholm of World Athletics was the observer at the election and participated virtually in the whole process.

The newly elected office bearer of the Athletics Federation of India as as follows;

President - Bahadur Singh Sagoo

Secretary General - Sandeep Mehta

Treasur -BE Stanley Jones

The term of the newly elected President, Secretary General and the Treasurer is four years (2025-2029).