Exp. First G-20 meeting to take place in Puducherry on Jan 31

Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the first G-20 meeting will be held in Puducherry on January 31.

The Lt Governor released stickers, badges, and posters with the G20 logo and also inaugurated a selfie booth in the presence of Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy at an event.

Representatives of different countries will participate in the meeting and many important decisions will be taken.

These programs will be organized in different parts of the country in different segments. Kolkata will host the first meeting on the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.

Exp. Varanasi Cantt Railway Station awarded ‘Eat Right Station’ with a certification by FSSAI

The Varanasi Cantt railway station has been awarded a 5- star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for providing quality and nutritious food to passengers.

The “Eat Right Station” certification is awarded by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the railway stations that set benchmarks (as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006) in providing safe and wholesome food to passengers.

FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.  The stations are awarded a certificate following the completion of an FSSAI-empanelled third-party audit.

The 5-star rating indicates full compliance by the station to ensure safe and hygienic food is available to passengers.

The other railway stations with this certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station (Mumbai), Vadodara Railway Station, Chandigarh Railway Station.

About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Founded – 5 September 2008
Headquarters: New Delhi
Under – Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Chairperson – Rita Teaotia

Exp. India & France hold 36th Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi

India and France held the 36th Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi.

The two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral and global issues.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation while the French delegation was led by Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President.

The last edition of the Strategic Dialogue was to be held in Paris in November 2021.

During the 36th Strategic Dialogue, both sides also agreed to deepen the most significant three pillars of the India-France strategic partnership, including defence to counter-terrorism, civilian nuclear energy, space, and cybersecurity.

About France

Capital- Paris
President- Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister- Elisabeth Borne
Official language- French

Exp. Dharmendra Pradhan chaired the 3rd meeting of the steering committee of National Skill Development Mission

Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan has chaired the third meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Skill Development Mission in New Delhi.

The progress made in the skill development efforts and the road map ahead were discussed in the meeting.

The minister also discussed various issues such as convergence of skill development schemes, skill gap analysis and skill mapping, connecting Indian youth to global opportunities, developing a curriculum to reflect emerging trends, etc.

About National Skill Development Mission

It was launched in 2015 to provide a strong institutional framework to implement skill development efforts across the country and provide training to one crore youth every year.
Aim – To provide a strong institutional framework at the Center and in all States for the implementation of skilling activities in the country.
Under- Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Dharmendra Pradhan in News

Dharmendra Pradhan released the book ‘India: The Mother of Democracy’
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated ‘Baji Rout National Football Tournament
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India’s second Srijagannath Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya

Exp. Health Minister chaired a high-level meeting to eliminate Kala-azar from the country by 2023

Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of Kala-Azar disease in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Chaired a meeting with State Health Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal & Jharkhand to review the progress of elimination of Kala Azar disease in these States.

During the high-level meeting, the Union Health Minister assured Centre’s complete support in fight against eliminating the life-threatening disease by 2023.

India is committed to eliminating Kala Azar from the country by 2023. 632 (99.8%) endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status.

Only one block (Littipara) of Pakur district, Jharkhand, is in the endemic category. We are working holistically with the state government and other stakeholders to achieve elimination in Jharkhand,

Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have achieved the Kala-azar elimination targets at the block level.

What is Kala-azar

It is also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), black fever and Dumdum fever.
The disease is the second largest parasite killer in the world after Malaria.
It is a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting about 100 countries including India.
Symptoms
Fever, weight loss, fatigue, anaemia, and swelling of the liver and spleen.

Exp. Narendra Tomar inaugurated ‘North East Krishi Kumbha-2023’

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the three-day ‘North East Krishi Kumbha-2023’ in Meghalaya.

He also participated in the 49th Foundation Day celebration of the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam.

Tomar also presented awards to several progressive farmers to recognize and encourage their contributions to the development of agriculture.

The event included live demonstrations and exhibition of recent technologies through 102 stalls, by the host institute and its regional centers along with all the ICAR institutes.

About Meghalaya

Capital – Shillong
Chief Minister – Conrad Kongkal Sangma
Governor – D. Mishra (additional charge)

Exp. G20 Foreign ministers to meet in Delhi in March 2023

The foreign ministers of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries are set to meet in New Delhi in March 2023.

India assumed the Presidency of the G20 starting in December 2022.

The 43 Heads of Delegations- the largest ever in G20-will be participating in the final New Delhi Summit in September next year.

India’s special invitee guest countries are Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and UAE.

India is hosting G20 meetings across several cities around the country.

Drawing inspiration from its G20 Presidency theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’-“One Earth One Family One Future, as well as the Prime Minister’s vision of an ‘all of government” approach, India will host over 200 meetings in over 50 cities across 32 different workstreams.

Exp. Government approved BIND Scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” (BIND).

The BIND scheme is aimed to bring modernization to the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).

The outlay of the scheme is Rs.2,539.61 crore and is for the time period upto 2025-26.

Prasar Bharati played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic in disseminating important public health messages and awareness to the public.

At present, DD operates 36 TV channels including 28 regional channels and AIR operates from more than 500 broadcasting centres.

The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population up from 59% and 68% respectively.

The Scheme also envisages free distribution of over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs to people living in remote, tribal, LWE, and border areas.

Exp. 50 ASI-protected monuments disappear

50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments have gone untraceable, which flagged a matter of grave concern.

The report titled ‘Issues relating to Untraceable Monuments and Protection of Monuments in India’ was submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture on December 8.

According to the Ministry of Culture report titled ‘Issues relating to Untraceable Monuments and Protection of Monuments in India’ submit to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments have gone missing.

Rapid urbanization has engulfed 14 monuments. As many as 12 monuments have been submerged by the construction of reservoirs and dams, while 24 have gone missing.

The missing monuments include: 11 in Uttar Pradesh, two each in Delhi and Haryana, and in states like Assam, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Other missing monuments include- the Guns of Emperor Sher Shah, Tinsukia (Assam); the Ruins of Copper Temple, Paya, Lohit (Arunachal Pradesh); Kos Minar, Mujesar, Faridabad (Haryana); Kutumbari Temple, Dwarahat, Almora (Uttarakhand); Rock Inscription, Satna (Madhya Pradesh); Old European Tomb, Pune (Maharashtra); 12th Century Temple, Baran (Rajasthan); and Telia Nala Buddhist ruins, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

Exp. Aegon Life Insurance launched iTerm Prime Insurance plan

Aegon Life Insurance has launched iTerm Prime Insurance plan catering to the need of self-employed individuals with a special 10% discount on the first-year premium.

iTerm Prime offers a minimum sum assured of ₹25 lakhs, with no upper limit on a consumer’s requirement.

The product also offers a ‘Special Exit Value’ option that allows the policyholder to get all premiums back when they turn 55 years old.

It is designed to encourage emerging India to gain access to life insurance.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking Sector

Bajaj Allianz launched Respect Senior Care Rider
Indian Bank launched its flagship programme ‘MSME Prerana ‘in Rajasthan
IDFC FIRST Bank has launched ZERO Fee Banking on savings accounts
Indian Bank launched a new special retail term deposit dubbed “Ind Shakti 555 days”.
Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches Non-Participating ‘Guaranteed Fortune Plan
IDFC First Bank launched a sticker-based debit card named FIRSTAP
Union Bank of India inaugurated ethical hacking lab

Exp. RBI lifted restrictions on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services

The Reserve Bank of India has lifted the restrictions it had imposed on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd.

The restrictions prevented the company from effecting any recovery or repossession activity through outsourcing arrangements.

On 22nd September 2022, the RBI had directed the non-banking finance company to immediately cease carrying out any recovery or repossession activity through outsourcing arrangements till further orders.

Mahindra Finance could continue recovery or repossession activities through its own employees

Exp. ICICI Bank launched digital solutions for exporters

Private lender ICICI Bank has launched a range of digital solutions to streamline the lifecycle of exports.

Objective – To simplify the journey of exporters by decongesting the current time-intensive manual procedures

The rationale behind the launch is to streamline several manual procedures and compliances for exporters and improve their operational efficiency.

Facilities such as instant export finance and a current account to hold foreign currency are included in the suite of solutions.

It will digitize the entire export life-cycle from the discovery of export markets, foreign exchange services to receipt of export incentives.

About Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank

Founded – 1994
Headquarters – Vadodara, Gujarat
MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi
Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka

Exp. Jalna and Nagpur Police won ‘Best Police Unit’ award

Jalna district police and Nagpur city police in Maharashtra have bagged the ‘Best Police Unit’ awards for 2021 in the state.

The award has been given under different classes for maintaining law and order and evolving community policing and administration.

The Jalna police got the award in ‘Class A’ and the Nagpur police in ‘Class B’, as per the winners by Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Kulwant Sarangal.

Police units with less than 6,100 Indian Penal Code cases are grouped in ‘Class A’, while those with more than 6,100 IPC cases are grouped in ‘Class B’.

Recent Awards

UN-Habitat’s World Habitat Awards 2023 for Jaga Mission – Odisha state
Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards 2022 – IIT Madras
Atal Samman Award – Prabhu Chandra Mishra
First KR Gouri Amma national award – Aleida Guevara

Exp. Dr. Tapan Saikia received Assam highest civilian award ‘AssamBaibhav’

Mumbai-based physician Dr. Tapan Saikia has been honored with the highest state civilian award, ‘Assam Baibhav’, for his contribution to cancer treatment.

Assam Saurav (Assam’s second-highest civilian award) has been conferred to Krishna Roy; Gilbertson Sangma; Nayanmoni Saikia; Dr. Binoi Kumar Saikia and Dr. Shashidhar Phukan.

AsomGaurav (third highest civilian award) has been conferred to 15 people.

Recent Awards

VinFuture special prize 2022 – Prof. Thalappil Pradeep
Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2021-22 – Sudeep Sen and Shobhana Kumar
Platinum Icon in Digital India Awards 2022 – Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
First Rohini Nayyar prize for rural development – Sethrichem Sangtam
Mrs World 2022 title- India’s Sargam Koushal

Exp. 5 January – National Birds Day

National Birds Day is observed every year on 5 January.

Objective – To raise awareness of the value of tiny tweets in the ecosystem

National Bird Day, which has American origins, has been celebrated annually on January 5 since its inaugural event in 2002.

This particular day was chosen because January 5 also happens to be the day of the yearly “Christmas Bird Count.” This yearly national holiday has been observed in the USA for quite some time.