NATIONAL NEWS

IREDA Releases Vigilance Journal 'Pahal'

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has unveiled 'Pahal'- the insightful house journal of its Vigilance Department.

The journal was unveiled by the Chairman and Managing Director of IREDA, Shri Pradip Kumar Das on January 25, 2024.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited is an Indian public sector enterprise that provides financial assistance and other services to projects related to renewable sources of energy and energy conservation.

2nd Edition of India Energy Week

The second edition of India Energy Week is scheduled to take place in Goa from 6 to 9 February 2024.

Indian Energy Week is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI).

India Energy Week is a great opportunity to showcase the latest developments in the energy sector and provide a platform for further growth.

The event hosts two influential conferences - the Strategic Conference and the Technical Conference.

The Strategic Conference will host global energy ministers, CEOs, policymakers and business leaders to discuss the trends shaping the future of energy.

The Technical Conference, on the other hand, will provide technical expertise for engineers, project managers and innovators driving India's energy transition. This conference will focus on cutting-edge research and industry best practices.

Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Signed MoU With The Government Of India

Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as both states signed an MoU with the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Government of India (GoI) in New Delhi.

The MoU is for the implementation of the “Modified PKC-ERCP” which integrates the original PKC with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan.

This is the second project under the national perspective plan of the interlinking of rivers (ILR) program.

With a view to utilize the water resources optimally, the integration of the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link of NPP with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) was discussed in 11th and 12th meetings of the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR) in year 2019.

Ministry of Rural Development and Lady Irwin College Renews MoU

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), and Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

During the five-year term of MoU, MoRD will work with ROSHNI – Centre of Women Collectives led Social Action (CWCSA), to strengthen interventions for better results of Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH (FNHW) for rural communities.

This initiative will enhance capacity building of community resource persons (CRP) for FNHW and gender interventions.”

ROSHNI-CWCSA is supported by UNICEF India technically and financially

ROSHNI assists DAY-NRLM to improve food, nutrition, health, and WASH (FNHW) outcomes for 9.96 crore Self Help Group (SHG) members and their households across the country.

World's First Melanistic Tiger Safari

The Government of Odisha has recently announced the establishment of the world's first melanistic tiger safari and it is likely to be ready for visitors by October 2024.

There are preparations to develop Safari near Baripada, the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj.

A 200- hectare site adjacent to National Highway 18 has been identified for this initiative.

It is located near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj.

This safari will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world and will give tourists a chance to see "the rare and majestic "melanistic tiger species found only in Odisha."

The safari will house surplus tigers from Nandankanan Zoo and rescued or orphaned tigers that are unfit for the wild but are suitable for display. Open enclosures will provide habitat for these tigers.

The safari is intended to offer a close encounter with the rare beauty of melanistic tigers, thereby promoting awareness of their conservation needs.

 

BANKING

Bank of Baroda's Subsidiary was Renamed as 'BOBCARD Limited'

Bank of Baroda’s wholly-owned subsidiary for cards, ‘BOB Financial Solutions Limited’, has been rebranded as ‘BOBCARD Limited’ with the tagline “Credit Reimagined”.

Accordingly, the NBFC has also unveiled a new logo called ‘Baroda Sun’, which comprises dual ‘B’ letterforms that hold the rays of the rising sun.

The rebranding embodies “revitalised commitment to reimagine the country’s credit landscape with excellent credit solutions and customer-centric offerings.

It aims to offer customer-centric, solution-driven assistance that assures service through innovation.

BOBCARD offers an array of consumer and commercial credit cards and caters to all segments of customers with varied needs, including shopping, travel and business cards for large corporations and MSMEs.

The company also has exclusive credit cards for Defence Personnel.

It is also the merchant payment processing partner of Bank of Baroda’s merchant acquiring business.

As per the latest RBI data, the NBFC had 22.4 lakh outstanding credit cards in force as of December 2023.

General Insurance Council Collaborates with Insurance Companies

The General Insurance Council (GIC) in consultation with all the general and health Insurance companies have announced the “Cashless Everywhere” initiative.

Currently the cashless facility is available only at hospitals where the respective insurance company has an agreement or tie-ups.

However, under the ‘Cashess Everywhere’ initiative, policyholders will be eligible to get treated in any hospital they choose, and a cashless facility will be made available even if the hospital is not in the network of the Insurance company.

For elective procedures, the customer should intimate the Insurance Company at least 48 hours prior to admission.

For emergency treatment, the customer should intimate the Insurance Company within 48 hours of admission.

The claim should be admissible as per the terms of the policy and the cashless facility should be admissible as per the operating guidelines of the Insurance Company.

The 100% cashless system will be backed up by a technological platform with the aid of the National Health Authority.

The new system of cashless payment, apart from needing a technological platform, also needs a lot of standardisation of rates and services.

In the cashless system, insurance companies will pay only up to the amount taken as a sum assured in the policy.

For instance, if the sum assured is Rs 5 lakh, insurers will pay the hospital up to Rs 5 lakh during the year.

 

SPORTS

ICC Lifts Suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket After Two-Months

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect.

Sri Lanka Cricket has been reinstated as a member of the International Cricket Council after a two-month suspension.

Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended for violation of responsibilities as an ICC Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation, and administration of cricket in Sri Lanka.

ISSF World Cup

In air rifle shooting, Indian Olympian Divyasnsh Singh Panwar had won gold in the men's event with a world record score in the final.

Sonam Uttam Maskar, bagged silver in the women's 10-metre event in Cairo.

India is now firmly on the top of the table in the season-opening World Cup stage with two gold and three silver medals in their kitty after three days of competition.

This was Divyansh's fifth overall World Cup stage gold and second individual gold.

 

DEFENCE

Ministry of Defence Signs Contract with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to acquire 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

The value of the 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) will be Rs 1,070 crore.

These FPVs will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by MDL under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ acquisition category.

These FPVs will be delivered in 63 months.

Along with several high tech advanced features and equipment, these FPVs will be equipped with multipurpose drones, wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft lifebuoy and Artificial intelligence capability enabling greater flexibility and operational edge to the ICG to face new age multidimensional challenges.

The acquisition of these FPVs is aimed to boost ICG’s capability and reinforces the increased focus of the government towards maritime security.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Martyr's Day

India celebrates January 30 as Martyrs' Day to pay tribute to all those freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country.

The day is also marked as the death anniversary of the country's 'Bapu', Mahatma Gandhi.

On this day in 1948, Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House in New Delhi.

Martyrs' Day is celebrated by paying tribute to the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi.

The President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and all three service chiefs (Army, Air Force and Navy) pay homage to the 'Father of the Nation'.

The significance of Martyrs' Day lies in the fact that Mahatma Gandhi led major movements against British rule through a non-violent approach.

His philosophy was based on the principles of non-violence, fighting for truth (Satyagraha), political and personal freedom (Swaraj) and his principles inspired millions of people.

 

OBITUTARY

Rana Talwar, First Asian to Head a Global Bank

Rana Talwar, the first person from Asia to head a global bank (Standard Chartered) passed away at the age of 76 after being unwell for some time.

Talwar was a board member at DLF, having joined the realty major in 2006.

He began his career with Citibank India in 1969, swiftly ascending through the ranks to lead its retail businesses in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, and North America.

He was instrumental in major acquisitions, including the Trade Finance business of UBS, Grindlays Bank in India and the Middle East from ANZ, and the Credit Card business from Chase Manhattan in Hong Kong.

Dr Nitya Anand, Man Who Discovered India's First Oral Contraceptive Pill 'Saheli'

Dr Nitya Anand, who discovered India’s first oral contraceptive pill ‘Saheli’, passed away after a prolonged illness at SGPGIMS Lucknow. He was 99.

Anand was also the former director of the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) from 1974 to 1984.

He was with CDRI since its inception in 1951.

He published over 400 research papers and over 130 patents and supervised 100 PhD students.

In 2016, Saheli was incorporated in the National Family Programme of India.

Anand is a Padma Shri recipient.