NATIONAL NEWS

National Summit on Quality of Biologicals

• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the National Summit on Quality of Biologicals, organised by the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), in New Delhi on 27 January.

• The summit will act as a platform to bring together stakeholders, regulatory authorities and academia for dialogue on various aspects of the quality of biologicals.

• The conclave will lead to capacity building, technology enhancement and new organic growth towards realising the government's dream of 'Healthy India'.

• The summit will help in upgrading the infrastructure and technologies of the country's biopharmaceuticals and in-vitro diagnostic industry.

• It is also to initiate studies using state-of-the-art analytical platforms to promote development of pharmacopoeial monographs for new biologicals made with updated technologies.

National Child Science Congress

• The 30th National Child Science Congress began at Science City in Ahmedabad on 27 January 2023.

• The Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, Gujarat Council of Science City, and SAL Education are hosting the five-day Congress.

• This program is supported by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication, Government of India.

• It aims to transform the way science is taught and learned in schools by linking the learning process to the surrounding physical and social environment.

North India's Largest Floating Solar Plant

• North India's largest floating solar plant has been installed at Chandigarh's Water Works.
• The solar plant with 2MWp capacity will generate 28 million units of electricity.
• Also, due to the installation of panels on water, this project will reduce the evaporation of about 382 million litres annually.
• The electricity generated from the solar panels installed on Dhansa Lake will be used by the Forest Department.
• The forest department will light up all its offices with the electricity generated from this solar panel.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Signed MoU with South Africa

• India and South Africa on 27 January signed a Memorandum of Understanding to introduce 12 African Cheetahs annually over the next eight to ten years.

• As per the agreement, an initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be brought from South Africa to India during February 2023.

• These cheetahs will be joined by eight cheetahs brought to India from Namibia during 2022.

• Increasing the cheetah population is a priority for the Government of India and its conservation will have important and far-reaching consequences, aiming to achieve a number of ecological objectives.

• Under the scheme, 50 cheetahs will be released in various national parks of the country over a period of 5 years.

BANKING

LIC Launches Guaranteed Return Life Insurance Plan

• The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has launched Jeevan Azad, aimed at individual savings and life insurance.
• 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.
• 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.
• The minimum age of entry is 90 days completed and the maximum age at entry is 50 years.

RBI Extends Time for Bank Locker Renewal Agreements

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the time for banks to renew their customer agreements for locker facilities to 31 December 2023, due to compliance delays.
• The previous deadline was 01 January 2023, communicated through a circular on 18 August 2021.
• In order to facilitate the execution of the revised agreements, the banks have been advised to make arrangements, like ensuring the availability of stamp papers, etc.
• Also, there is a need for revision in the Model Agreement drafted by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to fully comply with the revised instructions.

SPORTS

Australian Open Tennis

• In the Australian Open Tennis, the Brazilian duo of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos won the Mixed Doubles title on 27 January.

• The Brazilian pair defeated the Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza 7-6, 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

• Mirza was the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in her hometown Hyderabad in 2005.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

UN Report 'Global Economic Situation and Prospects-2023'

• The United Nations has projected India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be 5.8 percent in FY 2023 in the report 'Global Economic Situation and Prospects-2023'.

• This is slightly lower than the 6.4 percent projected in 2022.

• According to the United Nations, the decrease in India's GDP growth rate is high interest rate, investment due to global economic slowdown, pressure on exports etc.

• Whereas, the United Nations has projected India's economic growth to remain ‘strong’ while the outlook for other South Asian countries is ‘more challenging’.

AWARDS & PRIZES

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.

• 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.

• 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.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

General Manager of Central Railway

• Naresh Lalwani appointed as the new General Manager of Central Railway.

• He replaced Ashok Kumar Mishra, General Manager, Western Railway, who was also holding the additional charge of Central Railway.

• He is a senior Indian Railway Service of Engineering officer of 1985 batch.
• Prior to taking over as General Manager, Central Railway, he was serving as Senior Deputy General Manager and Chief Vigilance Officer, Western Railway.

OBITUTARY

Veteran Actress and Former MP Jamuna

• Veteran film actress and former Lok Sabha MP from Rajahmundry, Jamuna passed away in Hyderabad. She was at the age of 86.

• She acted in about 200 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi.

• Started her career as a stage artist, debuting with Puttillu on Silver Screen.
• She won the Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry in 1989 from the Congress.
• She was identified with her role in ‘Satyabhama’ and became a household name for the mythological character.