NATIONAL NEWS

Government Launches CGS-NPF Scheme

The government of India has launched a credit guarantee scheme to enable the farmers to acces credit from eligible financial institutions on harvested crops deposited in registered warehouses.

The Credit Guarantee Scheme for e-NWR-based Pledge Financing (CGS-NPF) was launched by the central government in New Delhi on 6 December 2024.

The government hopes that the launch of the scheme will boost the post-harvest lending to farmers/trades to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in the next 10 years.

The Credit Guarantee Scheme for e-NWR-based Pledge Financing (CGS-NPF) was launched by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, in New Delhi

The corpus of the CGS-NPF Scheme is Rs 1000 crore.

The CGS-NPF fund will be managed by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

The farmers/traders can avail loans from eligible financial institutions against the electronic negotiable warehouse receipts issued by Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) accredited warehouses.

The electronic negotiable warehouse receipts will be issued against the agricultural commodities deposited by farmers/traders with Warehouses.

The government will counter-guarantee the loan extended by the financial institutions against such electronic negotiable warehouse receipts.

Indore to Criminalise Begging From 1 January 2025

India’s cleanest city, Indore of Madhya Pradesh, will file a first information report (FIR) against a person for giving money and alms to beggars from 1st January 2025.

The district administration issued the order to criminalise giving alms and money to beggars under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Indore is one of the 10 cities in India where the government has launched the Bhiksha Vriti Mukta Bharat pilot project.

The Indore district administration launched a beggar-free campaign in the city in February 2024.

In the first phase, the beggars caught begging were sent to an ashram in Ujjain, where they were counselled and pledged not to beg again.

In the second phase of the campaign, the administration has made giving alms and money to beggars a criminal offence from 1st January 2025, invoking section 163 of the BNSS.

Section 163 of the BNSS is similar to section 144 of the old Indian Penal Code (IPC) where the competent district authorities can issue prohibitory orders in cases of nuisance or apprehended danger.

People who violate orders issued under Section 163 can be punished by a maximum jail term of six months and a fine of Rs 1000.

India's First Diabetes Biobank Launched in Chennai

India has established its first diabetes biobank in Chennai, a collaborative effort between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF).

This state-of-the-art facility aims to advance diabetes research by collecting, processing, and storing biological samples for in-depth studies into the causes, patterns, and related complications of the disease.

The biobank will focus on identifying novel biomarkers for early diabetes detection and personalizing treatment strategies.

Unique diabetes variations in India, including genetic and environmental factors, will be analyzed.

It will support long-term research tracking the progression of diabetes and its complications.

The facility aims to enhance India’s role in the global fight against diabetes, contributing valuable data for collaborative research.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Moldova signs Migration and Mobility Partnership Pact

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Moldova, Mihail Popsoi, were on an official visit to India on 15-16 December 2024.

During his visit, India and Moldova signed three agreements, including a Migration and Mobility Partnership agreement, to strengthen the bilateral ties.

During the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Moldova, Mihail Popsoi, to India, three agreements were signed between the two countries.

Declaration of Intent on a Migration and Mobility Partnership.

Moldova signed a Framework Agreement to join the International Solar Alliance.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, Ministry of External Affairs of India, and the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, to enhance cooperation in diplomatic training

 

BANKING

BOBCARD Unveils Premium Women's Credit Card 'TIARA'

BOBCARD Limited., a subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, has launched the TIARA Credit Card, a women-centric card aimed at supporting, empowering, and celebrating women’s financial autonomy.

It is designed specifically for modern women, offering a blend of elegance and functionality.

The TIARA Credit Card is a premium product launched on the RuPay network.

It offers unparalleled rewards in categories such as travel, dining, lifestyle, entertainment, and health.

The card offers complimentary vouchers and memberships worth up to Rs 31,000 from leading brands including:

Myntra, Nykaa, Flipkart, Lakme Salon, Urban Company, Book My Show, Big Basket, Swiggy One, Amazon Prime, Disney Hotstar, Gaana Plus, and Fitpass.

The card was launched at Pinkathon, a platform celebrating women’s strength and resilience.

ICICI Bank teams up with Commonwealth Bank of Australia

ICICI Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).

The partnership aims to support customers across the Australia-India corridor, enhancing bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

Both banks will collaborate to introduce corporate and institutional customers interested in investing or setting up businesses in each other's home countries (Australia and India).

The banks will facilitate trade between corporate customers in Australia and India by providing banking services and guidance on cross-border trade opportunities.

The banks will provide banking services to customers migrating between Australia and India, ensuring seamless financial support for individuals relocating.

The partnership will enhance cross-border payments by collaborating on customer-centric solutions, making financial transactions smoother for businesses and individuals involved in trade and migration.

The collaboration emphasizes trade, investment, migration, and cross-border financial services, contributing to the strengthening of the Australia-India economic corridor.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

FIFA Best Male Awards 2024

Brazillian and Real Madrid football player Vinicius Junior won the 2024 FIFA Best Male Footballer of the Year award. Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the FIFA Best Female Player award.

The winners of the 2024 FIFA Awards were announced and felicitated at a function held in Doha, Qatar, on 17 December 2024. FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave the awards to the winners.

FIFA awards honours male and female players and coaches for their performance in the current football season.

FIFA is the world governing body of football.

Best FIFA Women’s Player – Aitana Bonmatí of Spain and Barcelona football club of Spain.

Best FIFA Men’s Player – Vinícius Junior of Spain and Real Madrid football club of Spain

Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper – Alyssa Naeher of the United States of America

Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper – Emiliano Martínez of Argentina and English club Aston Villa.

Best FIFA Women’s Coach – Emma Hayes, coach of the United States women's team.

Best FIFA Men’s Coach – Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the Real Madrid football club of Spain.

1st Marta Award – Marta of Brazil.

FIFA has instituted the award in honour of the legendary Brazilian women's footballer Marta, and it is given to the best goal scored in a season. The first winner was Marta herself.

Puskas Award - Alejandro Garnacho of English football club Manchester United.

The Puskas Award was instituted by FIFA in 2009 in honour of Ferenc Puskas of Hungary. It is given to the best goal scored by a male football player in a football season.

FIFA Fair Play Award- Thiago Maia of Brazil.

He was chosen by a panel of experts. He was honoured for his efforts to help people affected by floods in the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil in 2024.

 

SPORTS

Odisha Masters 2024 Badminton Men’s Singles Title

Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar won the men’s single title of the 2024 BWF Super100 Odisha Masters badminton tournament on 15 December 2024.

Rithvik was the sole Indian winner in the Odisha Masters, which was dominated by the Chinese players, who won three titles, and the Japanese claimed the women’s doubles title.

The $100,000 lakh prize money BWF Super 100 Odisha Masters 2024 was held in Cuttack, Odisha, from 10-15 December 2024.

It was the third edition of the BWF Super 100 Odisha Masters after the inaugural edition in 2021 and 2023.

The BWF Super 100 Odisha Masters 2024 was organised jointly by the Badminton’s governing body in India, the Badminton Association of India and the Odisha Badminton Association.

21-year-old Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar, ranked 78th in the world, defeated fellow Indian Tharun Mannepalli in the finals to win the men’s singles title of the Odisha Masters.

TT Waldner Cup 2024 in Norway

Team Asia won the inaugural Waldner Cup 2024 Table Tennis tournament, defeating Team World 14-10.

Manika Batra was the only Indian player to be included in the Team Asia team.

The Waldner Cup has been instituted by Swedish table tennis great Jan-Ove Waldner.

It was an invitational tournament approved by the Norwegian Table Tennis Association.

The Waldner Cup was held in Oslo, Norway, from 13-15 December 2024.

Team Asia comprised Manika Batra of India, six-time Olympic gold medallist Ma Long of China, two-time Olympic bronze medallist Shin Yubin of South Korea and Kirill Gerassimenko of Kazakhstan.

The Team World consisted of 2024 Paris Olympics men’s singles silver medallist Truls Moregardh of Sweden, six-time Olympic medallist Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany, Hugo Calderano of Russia, Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico and Bernadette Szocs of Romania.

 

OBITUTARY

Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain

One of the best-known Tabla maestros of his generation, Ustad Zakir Hussain, died in San Francisco, the United States of America, on December 14, 2024. He was 73 years of age.

Ustad Zakir Hussain was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in San Francisco and died due to complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Zakir Hussian was the son of the renowned Tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha Khan and was born in Mumbai on 9 March 1951.

From the age of seven years, Zakir Hussain started performing on stage as a Tabla player.

Zakir Hussain was one of the foremost Indian musicians who took Indian classical music to the world stage. He performed with music legends like sitarist Ravi Shankar, Sarod player Ali Akbar Khan, and Santoor player Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Ustad Zakir Hussian also composed music for films.

He was the music composer of films like Manto and Mr and Mrs Iyer. He also made short appearances in films like Heat and Dust, Saaz and Perfect Murder.