NATIONAL NEWS

Kerala Chief Minister Launches KaWaCHaM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Kerala Warnings, Crisis and Hazard Management System (KaWaCHaM) at the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

KaWaCHaM is a state-of-the-art disaster risk warning system aimed at ensuring swift rescue operations and timely alerts in disaster-prone areas.

The system will provide real-time disaster warnings through sirens and strobe lights, enabling timely evacuation in affected areas.

It is developed by KSDMA in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the World Bank under the National Cyclone Mitigation Plan.

It provides warnings for extreme weather events such as heavy rain, strong winds, and sea surges.

District disaster management authorities and emergency operation centres can now issue disaster warnings through sirens and messages.

Haryana Women And Child Development Minister Launches App

On National Girl Child Day 2025, Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Shruti Choudhry launched the ‘Samman Sanjeevani’ app under the ‘Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana’ in Chandigarh.

The app aims to ensure timely delivery of benefits under the scheme for BPL women and girls aged 10–45 years by tracking facilities like the distribution of sanitary napkins through Anganwadi centres and schools.

It will also collect beneficiary data and provide monthly updates.

The Minister highlighted that the Women and Child Development Department is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme, with various programmes planned to promote women’s empowerment and raise awareness about the importance of daughters.

This initiative reinforces Haryana’s commitment to enhancing the health, education, and welfare of women and girls.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Becomes Observer in the Eurodrone Programme

India has officially joined the Eurodrone programme as an observer state, marking its entry into the OCCAR-managed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS)

The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), based in Bonn, Germany, approved India's request made in August 2024.

The Letter of Approval (LoA) was delivered to India’s ambassador to Germany, Ajit Gupte, by OCCAR-EA Director Joachim Sucker.

Airbus, in collaboration with Leonardo (Italy), Dassault Aviation (France), and Airbus Defence and Space (Spain), is developing the Eurodrone.

It is designed for diverse missions, including Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and airborne early warning.

India’s participation follows Japan, which became the first observer state in November 2023. This move reflects India’s intent to explore defence collaboration opportunities with Europe.

Observer status enables India to engage in discussions and collaborations on common interests related to advanced defence technology and innovation.

 

BANKING

RBI Approves Establishment of NUCFDC

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will inaugurate the corporate office of the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) in Mumbai.

The event will mark the launch of several initiatives aimed at achieving Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of "Sehkar Se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation).

During the occasion, Shri Amit Shah will release the annual calendar of activities for the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, highlighting efforts to promote cooperative organizations across India and enhance their global presence.

Additionally, he will launch training programs designed to improve the operational and managerial capabilities of 10,000 newly formed multipurpose cooperative societies.

A ranking framework for primary cooperative societies will also be introduced to enhance their transparency, efficiency, and performance.

The NUCFDC, established with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), aims to address challenges faced by approximately 1,500 Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs).

It will provide these banks with essential IT infrastructure and operational support while functioning as a self-regulatory organization under RBI supervision.

The RBI has mandated the NUCFDC to secure a paid-up capital of ₹300 crore by February 8, 2025, within one year of its registration.

This initiative underscores the government’s dedication to strengthening the cooperative sector and empowering urban cooperative banks, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development across the country.

Bank of Baroda Signs Memorandum of Understanding with South Central Railway

Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Central Railway (SCR) to provide a comprehensive salary package for over 85,000 employees across 6 states: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

The initiative includes enhanced personal accident insurance coverage, free Hospicash facilities, and special offers on retail loans, debit cards, and credit cards.

Unique benefits comprise reimbursement for girl child marriage (aged 18-25), higher education cover, and transportation of imported medicines.

Employees will also receive personal accident insurance of up to ₹1.25 crore for on-duty accidental death and ₹1 crore for off-duty incidents, alongside a group term life insurance facility of ₹10 lakh.

Additionally, retired employees up to 70 years of age can avail of these benefits if their pensions are routed through the Baroda Government Employee Salary Account, in accordance with the bank’s guidelines.

 

BUSINESS

Bharat Interface for Money Partners with FinTech Yatra 2025

Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), powered by NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), has joined hands with FinTech Yatra 2025 to promote financial inclusion and digital literacy across India.

Over 200 individuals from NGOs will be trained to educate communities about secure digital payment practices, with a focus on rural and remote areas.

Rahul Handa, Chief Business Officer of NBSL, emphasized that this initiative aligns with BHIM's mission to bridge the digital divide and promote efficient digital payment solutions.

The 10,000 km journey aims to connect fintech innovators with financial institutions, venture capitalists, and stakeholders to foster innovation in India’s financial ecosystem.

BHIM is an Indian state-owned mobile payment app developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer IDBI Bank

IDBI Bank has announced the reappointment of Rakesh Sharma as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for another three-year term.

The decision, approved by the Board of Directors on January 23, 2025, will be effective from March 19, 2025, after receiving the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval.

Rakesh Sharma, a seasoned banking professional with over 40 years of experience, began his career at State Bank of India (SBI), where he held key roles in credit assignments, international banking operations, HR, and retail operations across multiple regions.

He also served as Head of the Mid Corporate Group in Andhra Pradesh and as Chief General Manager in Bihar and Jharkhand.

In his leadership roles, Rakesh Sharma was MD and CEO of Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd. from 2014 to 2015 and Canara Bank from 2015 to 2018.

At Canara Bank, he also chaired the bank's group companies.

 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Amitabh Kant’s Book: 'How India Scaled Mt. G-20'

Amitabh Kant, India’s G-20 Sherpa, authored the book 'How India Scaled Mt. G-20', published by Rupa Publications chronicling India’s achievements during its G-20 Presidency.

The book highlights India’s determination and collaborative efforts in making the 2023 G-20 Summit in New Delhi a historic success.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the book as a commendable endeavour, providing a clear perspective on India’s efforts toward human-centric development.

Amitabh Kant played a pivotal role as G-20 Sherpa, steering negotiations and diplomatic efforts during India’s presidency.

The book includes a foreword by S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, emphasizing the transformative impact of the G-20 Summit.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 is observed every year on the 27th January.

The UN General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7 on November 1, 2005, to designate January 27 as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD).

On January 27, 2006, the first commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day was held at the UN Headquartered in New York City.

After that UN Headquarters commemorates this day every year.

While UN offices and other state offices across the world conduct their ceremonies.

 

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