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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.