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India celebrates ‘National Girl Child Day’

January 24, 2020

National Girl Child Day is being celebrated on 24 January in Madhya Pradesh on the theme of “Aware girl child-able Madhya Pradesh” (Jagruk Balika-Samarth Madhya Pradesh) under the “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao” scheme. Women and Child Development Department will also celebrate National Girl Child Week from January 24 to 30.

National Girl Child Day is celebrated by India every year on 24th January with an aim to focus on the inequalities faced by girls, to promote the education, health and nutrition of the girl child, and to spread awareness about the rights of a girl child.

‘International Day of Education’ celebrated globally

January 24, 2020

24th January is celebrated globally as International Day of Education with the theme ‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace’. The day is dedicated to education. It was celebrated for the first time on 24 January 2019.

On December 3, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for bringing global peace and sustainable development.

‘Women with Wheels’ launched at Indira Gandhi International Airport

January 24, 2020

A unique taxi service ‘Women with wheels‘ which will be only available for the female commuters and will be driven by women drivers only, has been launched at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. It is an initiative by ‘Sakha cabs‘.

All the women drivers have been trained by Azad foundation in driving, self-defence, personality development and English speaking for eight months. 30 to 40 rides are being given by them on a daily basis.

Russia to be focal theme of 44th Kolkata book fair

January 24, 2020

The 44th International Kolkata Book Fair will begin and Russia will be the focal country. Around 22 countries from Asia, Europe and Latin America would take part in the 12-day mega event, known over the decades for its huge footfall. It will be inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The fair would be held at the Central Park in Salt Lake and stalls of approximately 600 publishers and 200 small magazines will be set up. Publishers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other states would be among the participants.

Reliance Jio – 1st Telecom to launch UPI Payments

January 24, 2020

Mukesh Ambani-led telecom major Reliance Jio has launched UPI-powered payments service and has started offering the feature to its subscribers. The company has become the first telecom operator to enter the UPI payments space.

Currently, Reliance Jio is India’s largest telecom operator with over 370 million subscribers. Jio’s UPI payments feature, which is only available for select users now, will soon be made available to others.

Jio’s UPI payments/ money transfer feature has not been directly linked to the Jio Money wallet but is available on the LTE network provider’s My Jio app. This app acts as a portal to other Jio apps like — JioCinema, JioTV and JioCloud.

USD 210 million loan agreement signed for State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness

January 25, 2020

The Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra and the World Bank signed a loan agreement of USD 210 million to support small holder farmers participate in competitive agriculture value chains, facilitate agri-business investments, increase market access and productivity in focus commodities, and build resilience of crops to recurrent floods or droughts in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The project will be implemented in all 36 districts of Maharashtra. Specific focus will be given to women-led enterprises and the participation of women in the decision-making processes of farmer producer organizations. The loan amount will be funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The loan will have a 6-year grace period with a maturity period of 13.5 years.

CEC Sunil Arora assumes Chairmanship of FEMBoSA for 2020

January 25, 2020

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora has assumed Chairmanship of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2020. The Outgoing Chair of FEMBoSA, KM Nurul Huda who is also CEC of Bangladesh, handed over the Logo of FEMBoSA to Mr Arora at the 10th Annual Meeting of FEMBoSA held in New Delhi.

FEMBoSA was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries held at New Delhi in May, 2012. With its eight members, FEMBoSA represents a very large part of the democratic world and is an active regional association of Election Management Bodies.

Rowing Federation of India lifts 2 year ban over Dattu Bhokanal

January 25, 2020

Asian Games gold medallist rower and Olympian Dattu Baban Bhokanal’s two-year ban, imposed on him on April 30, 2019, has been lifted by the Rowing Federation of India (RFI). This paves the way for India’s top rower to participate in the Olympic Qualification Regatta in April.

The RFI had banned Bhokanal, who was a member of the men’s quadruple sculls team that won gold at 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, for pulling out of the single sculls race midway earlier in the Games. Bhokanal, who was the lone rower representing India in the 2016 Rio Olympics, was in the wilderness for over eight months and his ban was set to end on April 30, 2021.

‘Visualizing the Future: New Skylines’ – International Summit on women in STEM

January 25, 2020

India hosts the International Summit on Women in STEM ‘Visualizing the Future: New Skylines’ at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Department of Biotechnology organized the summit which aimed to boost the women participation in STEM field for the development of scientific career.

Around 350 participants from different STEM field across the globe participated in the event including scientists, socialists, entrepreneurs, researchers, teachers and students. Posters were presented by women scientists and students.

The summit provided a good platform for young students and researchers to interact and network with leaders in the field, to develop ideas and generate a future action plan for making career in STEM fields.

10th National Voters’ Day celebrated in India

January 25, 2020

India celebrated 10th edition of National Voters’ Day on 25th of January with the theme ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy‘ which aims to renew the citizens’ faith in the electoral process as well as to educate the voters of India.

President Ram Nath Kovind was the Chief Guest at the 10th National Voters’ Day function which was organized by the Election Commission of India at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The National Voters’ Day is being celebrated on 25th January every year since 2011.

World’s smallest gold coin minted by Switzerland’s Swissmint

January 25, 2020

World’s smallest gold coin has been minted by Switzerland state-owned Swissmint. The coin is of 2.96 millimeter (0.12 inches) and features face of scientist Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue. It weighs 0.063 grams and has a nominal value of 1/4 Swiss francs (USD United States Dollar- 0.26).

Swissmint said the coin, of which just 999 have been made, will be sold for 199 francs with a special magnifying glass so owners can see the famous physicist Einstein on its face.

Waste to energy plant commissioned in Bhubaneswar by East Coast Railway

January 25, 2020

Indian Railways has commissioned country’s first governmental waste to energy plant at Bhubaneswar. The national transporter has put in place the governmental Waste to Energy plant in Mancheswar Carriage Repair Workshop which falls under East Coast Railway. The waste to energy plant has been constructed in three months.

The new plant has been installed at a cost of ₹1.79 crore while the maintenance cost will be ₹10.4 lakhs per year and the estimated income from the byproducts will be ₹17.5 lakhs per year. The waste to energy plant uses a patented technology called POLYCRACK, is first-of-its-kind in Indian Railways and fourth in India.

It is world’s first patented heterogeneous catalytic process which converts multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water. The process is a closed-loop system and does not emit any hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere.

Meerut to have India’s first war memorial for animals

January 25, 2020

Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh will be host to India’s first war memorial for service animals including dogs, horses and mules. This place will dedicate itself to the contributions and heroics of animals who have helped the army in counter insurgency operations in Kashmir and in the battlefield during the Kargil War.

The memorial, claimed by officials to be similar to the National Warn Memorial in Delhi, will come up at the army’s specialized breeding, rearing and training centre for animals: the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut.

The preliminary design of the memorial and the land has already been identified. Granite tablets with names and service numbers of more than 300 dogs, 350 handlers and a few horses’ mules will be inscribed at the memorial. The army has more than 100 dogs, 5000 mules and 1500 horses.

Mansi, a Labrador, who was awarded army’s highest honour for dogs due to her role in the counter insurgency operations in Kashmir in 2016, tops the list of animals to be remembered. Her handler, Bashir Ahmed War, will also adorn the tablet.

Srinagar joins the list of ‘Open Defecation Free’ cities

January 25, 2020

Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor of Srinagar announced Srinagar as ‘Open Defecation Free’. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Central Government presented the Swachhata Certificate to Srinagar making its place in the list of cities that are now ‘Open Defecation free’. It’s another achievement after Srinagar gets 45th Rank in Cleanest Cities in the country.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or the Clean India Mission was introduced as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 in 2014. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan meant to make India the Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2019. It ensures to provide sanitation facilities to all. The campaign was completed by 2 October 2019 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

New India Co-op Bank to be converted into Small Finance Bank

January 25, 2020

New India Co-operative Bank (NICB) has been decided to be converted into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) after being agreed by its shareholders under Voluntary Transition of Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) into SFB. NICB will now approach the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Registrar of Societies for further action. The bank currently has 31 branches across Maharashtra and Gujarat and has networth of Rs. 230 crores.

Recently, Uttar Pradesh-based Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank has taken the lead among urban co-operative banks to convert into a Small Finance Bank. With two multi-state Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) initiating steps to convert into a SFB, larger UCBs such as Saraswat Co-operative Bank, SVC Co-operative Bank, Bharat Co-operative Bank, Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank and Thane Janata Sahakari Bank, are also expected to weigh the possibility of converting into an SFB.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2020

January 25, 2020

Government of India has instituted an annual award known as ‘Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar’ in order to recognise the excellent work done by individuals and institutions in India in the field of disaster management. The award is announced every year on 23rd January, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

For the year 2020, Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre, Uttarakhand (in the institution category) and Kumar Munnan Singh (Individual category) have been selected for the award for their commendable work in Disaster Management.

The winner shall receive a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs, in case of individual and receive a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakhs, in case of an institution. The cash prize shall be utilized by the winning institution for Disaster Management related activities only.

Kerala’s Barrier-Free Tourism Project receives global recognition

January 25, 2020

Kerala Tourism’s Barrier-Free Tourism Project has won global recognition with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) making a special mention of the south Indian state as an “Emerging Global Destination” in the Accessible Destination Awards 2019. Kerala Tourism Director P Bala Kiran received the conferment from UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili at the awards ceremony in Madrid.

In an effort at making 120 destinations across the state disabled-friendly, Kerala Tourism had launched the barrier-free project in March 2019. The disabled friendly project work has already been completed in the beaches of Azhikode & Snehatheeram, the hill destination of Vilangankunnu and the dams in Poomala and Vazhani in Thrissur district of Kerala. Under the ongoing major development projects the work is also being implemented in Chavakkad Beach, Peechi and Thumboormoozhi in Kerala.

Indian Olympic Association appoints Prem Chand Verma as the Deputy Chef de Mission

January 25, 2020

Dr. Prem Chand Verma has been appointed as Chef de Mission by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Dr. Verma, is currently appointed as Commissioner, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Union Ministry of Finance.

Dr. Verma who also happens to be the Working President of Table Tennis Federation of India has replaced Rakesh Sharma for this coveted post and would be accompanying the Indian contingent to Japan by the end of July.

Ex-IOB Executive Director appointed as CVC panel member

January 25, 2020

The Central Vigilance Commission has appointed A.D.M. Chavali, retired Executive Director of the Indian Overseas Bank, as a member in the Advisory Board for Banking & Financial Frauds. The tenure of Chavali would be up to August 20, 2021. The board is headed by T.M. Bhasin, former Vigilance Commissioner and former Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Indian Bank.

The board, which was constituted last year and renamed earlier this month, is empowered to conduct the first level of examination of the allegations against officials in the rank of general managers and above in public sector banks and other financial institutions, in fraud cases involving more than ₹50 crore.

Its other members of the board are former Urban Development Secretary Madhusudan Prasad, former Director General of the Border Security Force D. K. Pathak and former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Bank Suresh N. Patel.

Corruption Perception Index released: India ranks 80th

January 25, 2020

Transparency International has launched Corruption Perception Index on January 23, 2020, based on data collected in 2019. The was released during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Denmark and New Zealand topped the index as they are the most honest countries.

Other countries in the top level are Norway (7th), the Netherlands (8th), Germany and Luxembourg (9th). India slipped two positions to 80th in the index along with Benin, China, Morocco, and Ghana. India’s neighboring country Pakistan ranked 120 on the list. A total of 180 countries have been placed in public sector corruption cases in this index.

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