European Parliament to discuss India’s anti-CAA resolution

The European Parliament will discuss the draft resolution on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) during a plenary session on 29th January. The five-page resolution was drafted by the 154 members, fearing that the recently enacted legislation by India could trigger the ‘largest statelessness crisis’ in the world.

The resolution describes the CAA is described in the resolution as “discriminatory” and “dangerously divisive” and also a “violation of India’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”. The resolution has also called on the Indian government to ensure the right to peaceful protest is allowed and to guarantee the life and physical integrity of those who choose to protest.

India used digital technologies to reduce disparities: UN

A flagship UN study has stated that, India has successfully managed to use digital platforms to reduce disparities among population groups. India’s experience of complementing mobile technologies with the Aadhaar identification system to reduce inequality is likely to be replicated in other countries in future. “India harnessed the potential of digital technologies for more inclusive development”, as published in the The World Social Report 2020, by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Banks sanction Rs.40,000 crore in last two months under Mudra loans

Banks have disbursed more than Rs 40,000 crore under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in the last two months. There has been a step-up in Mudra loans in the last two months. At the end of November 2019, disbursal was only at Rs 51 lakh crore, while as on January 24, 2020, the disbursal of Mudra loans sanctioned stood at Rs 1,97,816 crore. Which means a little less than one-third of the total loans disbursed was done from December 2019 till date.

Rs 37 crore Innovation Challenge Fund launched by UK government in India

The UK government has launched 4 million pound, which is about Rs 37 crore, Innovation Challenge Fund in India. The Fund will encourage industry and academia to collaborate and develop tech solutions for social, economic and environmental challenges. The initiative is focused on two major tech clusters: artificial intelligence in Karnataka and future mobility in Maharashtra. Apart from smart mobility, the challenge fund is also looking for proposals in areas of safety and convenience, technology leap, connectivity, and recycling & upgrading.

West Bengal becomes 4th state to pass anti-CAA resolution

West Bengal became the fourth opposition-ruled state after Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in its assembly. The state assembly had previously passed a similar resolution against NRC in September 2019.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the CAA a law that is “a shame to humanity and civilisation” and sought its immediate withdrawal. Congress and Left Front added muscle to Trinamool Congress’s opposition and the single BJP MLA present in the assembly was the lone voice of dissent.

Mangaluru Smart City signs MoU with IGBC for sustainable development

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and Mangaluru Smart City Ltd (MSCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for sustainable development in Mangaluru. The MoU aims at capacity building of professionals involved in the development of Mangaluru as a smart and green city.

Under the MoU, a joint assessment study will be done to evaluate the green criteria of Mangaluru as per IGBC Green Cities rating system. MSCL is the first smart city in the country to enter into an MoU with IGBC. The two parties shall work together towards development of green buildings in Mangaluru and also incentivising green buildings rating system to suit various types of construction projects.

Diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida appointed as first post-Brexit UK ambassador

Portuguese diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida was appointed as the head of future EU diplomatic mission to the UK after Brexit on 24 January. The UK’s exit was scheduled for 31 January 2020. Almeida will head the first EU delegation to the UK as of the first day of February. Joao Vale de Almeida has experience as the European union’s U.S. ambassador in 2010-2014. Prior to his appointment to London, he was the EU ambassador to the United Nations.

BFSI Digital Innovation Awards 2020 won by Bajaj Housing Finance Limited

Bajaj Housing Finance Limited (BHFL), a 100% subsidiary of Bajaj Finance Limited, has won the ‘BFSI Digital Innovation Award‘ for Cloud Solutions at the Express BFSI Technology Conclave and Awards 2020 held in Pune. The event held on 24th-25th January was organised by the Express Computer, an IT business magazine from the Indian Express Group. The conclave ended with the BFSI Digital Innovation Awards which were given away to Indian Banks or Indian subsidiaries of MNC BFSI institutions in the BFSI industry that demonstrate the innovative use of a particular technology or a combination of technologies for distinct business benefit.

Pavan Sukhdev awarded Tyler Prize for green economy work

Renowned Indian environmental economist and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador Pavan Sukhdev, 59, has been awarded the 2020 Tyler Prize, regarded as the “Nobel Prize for the Environment” for “green economy” work. He has been acknowledged for his work on bringing the economic consequences of environmental degradation and loss to the attention of corporate and political decision-makers. Sukhdev will receive the award alongside conservation biologist Gretchen Daily, at a private ceremony on May 1. They will be conferred with a gold medallion and share a cash prize of USD 200,000.