Sachin Bansal resigns as director of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank

Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal has resigned as Ujjivan Small Finance Bank director. The Bank in its regulatory filing informed that it received Bansal’s resignation letter dated January 27 and that the Board of Directors has taken note of it. He has been holding the role since May 2019. Bansal stepped down in the interest of propriety and to prevent conflict of interest arising out of the fact that his wholly-owned firm Navi Technologies has applied for a banking license.

New Delhi World Book Fair 2022: France to be the guest of honour

As announced by Emmanuel Lenain, France Ambassador to India, France will be the guest of honour at the New Delhi World Book Fair in January 2022. It is as part of a reciprocal invitation as New Delhi is the guest of honour this year at Livre Paris (Paris Book Fair).

Leading and emerging Indian authors will be invited to Paris to meet readers, while publishing industry professionals will enhance cooperation between France and India in this area during networking events.

In a special ceremony at Jaipur Book Mark, the Ambassador also conferred the 2020 Romain Rolland Book Prize along with Leila Slimani, novelist and President Emmanuel Macron’s Envoy for Francophone Affairs.

DRDO contingent led by scientist at Republic Day parade

For the first time, a defence scientist, Y Sreenivasa Rao, led the DRDO contingent ‘Mission Shakti’ at the 71st Republic Day parade. The contingent displayed the indigenous Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASAT). India became only the fourth nation after the US, Russia and China to have the capability. Rao has been associated with the Air Defence project of the DRDO for long. He is also the Secretary, Aeronautical Society of India, Hyderabad.

Former Karnataka minister and senior JDS leader K Amarnath Shetty passes away

Former minister and senior JDS leader K Amarnath Shetty passed away on Monday in Mangaluru at a private hospital. He was 80. He was admitted to AJ hospital following a brief illness. A few years ago he had undergone plastic surgery under his feet. Shetty who entered electoral politics in 1965, became the MLA in 1983 from Moodbidri-Mulky constituency. In 1984, he was made minister for tourism and religious endowment under Ramakrishna Hegde’s government. 

India and France to discuss on collaboration of films and audio visual

India and France in an extensive meeting discussed on ways and means on co-production of films and also collaborate in audio visual exchanges. The meeting was held by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar with a French delegation led by the Culture Minister of France Franck Riester. They agreed to have a joint working group towards implementation of the objectives.

Prime Minister Modi pays tribute to Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to one of the key leaders of the freedom struggle Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary, saying his sacrifice will continue to inspire Indians. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also paid tribute saying that, Lala Lajpat Rai was a fierce nationalist and his remarkable and heroic role during the Vandemataram movement and Simon go-back agitation and his patriotism will continue to inspire every Indian. Popularly called Punjab Kesari, Rai was born in Punjab’s Moga in 1865.

Introduction of African cheetah in India allowed by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to a suitable habitat in India. Since the rare Indian cheetah is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia. The apex court will monitor the project and the committee will submit its report every four months. The African cheetah will be introduced on an experimental basis in the best suitable habitat to see whether it can adapt to Indian conditions.

1,256 projects financed under J&K Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation

In Jammu and Kashmir, around 1,256 projects worth Rs 2280 crore are being financed under J&K Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation, for development purpose. All government departments will have to handover the completed infrastructure development projects, before the third week of March this year for their formal inauguration.