NATIONAL NEWS

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Virtually Launches 'Medtech Mitra'

Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched MedTech Mitra virtually on 25 December 2023.

It is a strategic initiative of the Central Government to empower  MedTech innovators and advance healthcare solutions.

MedTech Mitra is a platform for emerging entrepreneurs and innovators in India.

The portal will be coordinated collaboratively by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the guidance of NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.

The MedTech Mitra initiative helps people in the medical technology field work together and makes progress in healthcare.

India is taking a holistic approach to health with a vision to transform the health landscape in the country by 2047.

1467 Projects of NHAI Have Been Brought Under The Bhoomi Rashi Portal

The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, 1467 projects of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have been brought under the Bhoomi Rashi Portal.

It is an e-governance initiative of the Ministry of Roa d Transport and Highways.

The portal intends to expedite the process of land acquisition for National Highways.

It acts as a single-point platform for the online processing of land acquisition notifications to accelerate highway infrastructure development projects in India.

This portal would enhance the efficiency of the land acquisition process, ensure transparency and accountability, and result in the e-transfer of benefits directly to the accounts of the beneficiaries.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WHO Has Approved The Malaria Vaccine

The World Health Organization has approved the malaria vaccine in December 2023.

This malaria vaccine has been developed by the biotechnology company Serum Institute of India.

Serum Institute has developed it in collaboration with Oxford University.

The name of this vaccine is R 21/Matrix-M.

This vaccine has been granted pre-qualification certificate by the World Health Organization.

Pre-qualification means greater access to vaccines as a vital tool to prevent malaria in children.

This is a condition for vaccine procurement by UN child rights body UNICEF.

African country Ghana will be the first country where this vaccine will be administered to children.

 

BANKING

Aditya Birla Sun Life and IDFC First Bank

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance and IDFC First Bank have entered into a bancassurance partnership to offer insurance solutions to the bank’s customers.

Under this collaboration, the insurer will leverage the extensive distribution network of IDFC First Bank.

Aditya Birla Sun Life will offer products and services, including those that focus on retirement planning, ensuring a steady source of second income and tax-free returns tailored to their life stages.

The partnership will provide customers with a one-stop-shop for their financial needs, including a range of insurance and banking products, and enhance the customer experience.

The two organisations will also collaborate to create financial solutions that cater to the changing needs of customers.

DCB partners with Easy Home Finance

DCB Bank, a new generation private sector bank and Easy Home Finance Limited (EASY), India's leading mortgage tech company have entered a colending business alliance to offer affordable home loans in the country.

The aim is to enable quick disbursement of affordable home loans and fulfil the dream of many an Indian of owning a home.

DCB Bank has built a granular and secure home loan portfolio across varied geographies and has built expertise in credit assessment for a range of loans such as, prime home loans, affordable home loans, Loan against Property (LAP), Micro-LAP, loan for home improvement, and construction finance for developers as well.

EASY is a pioneer in the mortgage tech space in the Indian subcontinent.

The co-origination, underwriting and disbursement activities from both the parties working together will enable a seamless process for new home buyers.

Easy's asset-light model of neo banking mortgage and a greater reach for digital home loans combined with rural and urban connect of DCB Bank will help customers in faster processing of their home loan application.

Bandhan Bank Unveils 'INSPIRE' Program

Bandhan Bank has launched the ‘INSPIRE’ programme for senior citizens, catering to their diverse banking needs, from preferential interest rates and priority banking to doorstep facilities.

A specially designed INSPIRE membership card will allow senior citizens to access healthcare benefits, enhanced banking services and special interest rates on fixed deposits (FD).

This all-in-one product is packed with multiple benefits to help seniors retire with confidence.

As part of the INSPIRE programme, Bandhan Bank also plans to set up dedicated senior citizen help desks at its branches to ensure personalised service.

The fee discounts include doctor consultations, medical check-ups and dental care through its partner healthcare providers.

The bank also plans to have additional features like direct access to phone banking officers to ease senior citizens while availing banking services.

Regarding preferential fixed deposit rates for senior citizens, Bandhan Bank offers 8.35 per cent interest on 500-day FDs.

 

SPORTS

First Indian to Join the International Table Tennis Federation

Vita Dani has become the first Indian to join the International Table Tennis Federation in December 2023.

Vita Dani is an entrepreneur involved in sports philanthropy.

Vita Dani has become the first Indian to join the International Table Tennis Federation as a steering committee member.

This foundation was established by ITTF in 2018 to attract more people towards the sport.

Vita and his organization (Dani Foundation) have played a big role in shaping the upward trajectory of Indian table tennis.

She is also the co-owner of Chennaiyin Football Club, which is involved in the Indian Super League.

The International Table Tennis Federation was established in the year 1926.

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

QS World University Rankings

Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS) has been awarded an overall QS 4-star rating by the QS World University Rankings for the year 2023.

The QS Star Rating Award was given at the Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI) conference held in Bangalore.

Dr. Prashant Bhalla, President, MRIIRS, received the QS Star Rating Award at the EPSI Conference on ‘Making Indian Higher Education Globally Competitive’ in Bangalore.

As a long-term member of EPSI, Prashant Bhalla has served as its Treasurer.

For Prashant Bhalla's unique contribution to the education industry, he was given the honourable title of Senior Vice President of the Society.

The overall 4-star rating shows that MRIIRS has already achieved international recognition and standards.

The ‘QS Sustainability Ranking’ 2024

Delhi University (DU) has been ranked 220th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2024 announced in December 2023.

In this ranking, DU has achieved this position leaving all the IITs of the country behind.

Thus, DU is the top Indian university in the QS Sustainability Ranking 2024.

The QS Sustainability Rankings 2024 include 1,397 institutions from 95 countries.

Delhi University has scored 73.4 percent out of 100 in the ranking.

The QS Sustainability Ranking evaluates institutions based on nine parameters.

According to the ranking, the University of Toronto in Canada ranks first in the list.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Tagore Literary Prize

Sukrita Paul Kumar has won the sixth edition of the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for her book, 'Salt and Pepper: Selected Poems'.

She received USD 5,000, a Tagore statue and a certificate for contribution to literature at the award ceremony.

The award was started in 2018 by US-based publisher Peter Bundalo.

The award is a platform for world peace, literature, art, education and human rights.

It also recognises works towards human rights and world peace with the Social Achievement Prize.

Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee was awarded the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for social achievement for his contributions to societal welfare.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Executive Director of ICICI Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Sandeep Batra as Executive Director of ICICI Bank, effective from December 2023 to December 2025.

This renewed term of two years is within the five-year term previously approved by the shareholders.

Batra is an ED on the Board of ICICI Bank and has been responsible for the Corporate Centre since July 2018.

He is responsible for the credit, corporate communications, data science, finance, human resource, legal, operations and customer service, technology and secretarial groups.