NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Women Entrepreneurship Platform Partners with Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation to Empower Women Entrepreneurs : The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has conceptualized a flagship initiative called ‘Faral Sakhi’, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in the city of Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra.The program will provide comprehensive training and support to help women entrepreneurs engaged in traditional snack production to scale their ventures sustainably and effectively.MBMC collaborated with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog and formally launched ‘Faral Sakhi’ under the Award to Reward initiative of WEP.WEP, incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018 as an aggregator platform, transitioned into a public-private partnership in 2022.The ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative aims at creating permanent employment opportunities for women by engaging them in the production and sale of traditional festive snacks (‘Faral’).
2. India submits its 4th Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: India’s 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was submitted on 30th December 2024. The BUR-4 updates the Third National Communication (TNC) and contains the National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for the year 2020.The report also embodies information on India’s national circumstances, mitigation actions, an analysis of the constraints, gaps, related finance, technology, and capacity-building needs.
3. IIT Madras partners with Union govt. to enhance agricultural extension system: The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, has collaborated with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on a project to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural extension system through digitalisation.Vistaar (Virtually Integrated System To Access Agricultural Resources) is a pilot project wherein the institute’s expertise will be used. The Centre for Research on Startups and Risk Financing and the startup it incubated, YNOS Venture Engine, have developed comprehensive information on the Indian startup landscape.The institute and the agriculture ministry have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enrich the Vistaar platform with information about startups in agriculture and allied sectors. This will enable farmers and stakeholders in agriculture and allied sectors to be aware of the capabilities and offerings of startups.
4. Amit Shah released Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through The Ages Book: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has released the book ‘Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages’ in New Delhi.The editor of the book is Professor Raghuvendra Tanwar, Chairman, Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).
5. Telangana Government Engages IIT to Study Polavaram Irrigation Project: The Telangana government has initiated a collaboration with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) to assess the effects of the Polavaram irrigation project on the Godavari River. This decision follows concerns regarding the project’s impact on local ecosystems and communities. The Polavaram project aims to provide irrigation to approximately 295,000 hectares, stabilise an additional 400,000 hectares, and supply drinking water to 540 villages, benefiting around 285,000 individuals. The chief minister of Telangana, A Revanth Reddy, has expressed concerns about the potential impact of the Polavaram project on the Lord Ram temple in Bhadrachalam. In 2022, flooding caused damage in the area, denoting the risks posed by the project. The IIT-H study aims to evaluate these threats comprehensively.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. The Discovery of Pallas’s Cat in India: The decline of feline species worldwide, especially big cats like snow leopards, is alarming. Conservationists are increasingly concerned about their dwindling populations, primarily due to habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. Snow leopards inhabit high mountain ranges across Central and South Asia. Recently, finding occurred in Himachal Pradesh, India, where the elusive Pallas’s cat was photographed for the first time. This discovery marks the importance of conservation efforts and the need to protect lesser-known species. Pallas’s cat, scientifically known as Otocolobus manul, is a small wild feline native to the steppes of Central Asia. Named after the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas, who described it in 1776, this cat has a unique appearance. It features a flat face, short legs, and thick fur, which help it survive in harsh, high-altitude environments.
2. Unrwa Faces Closure Amidst Rising Tensions: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa) is on the brink of closure due to new Israeli legislation. This agency provides essential services to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The impending halt of its operations poses threat to the livelihood of many families, including those like the Hashash family in Balata Camp, who rely heavily on Unrwa for healthcare, education, and food assistance. Unrwa was established in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees. It operates nearly 100 schools and numerous health facilities in the West Bank. The agency serves over 5 million registered refugees, providing vital services such as food aid, medical care, and education. In Balata Camp alone, Unrwa runs four schools and a health centre, employing around 200 people.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Kerala Forest Act Amendment Sparks Controversy: The Kerala government has introduced a Bill to amend the Kerala Forest Act of 1961. This Bill is set to be debated in the upcoming session of the state Assembly. Farmer organisations have expressed concerns regarding the proposed amendments. They argue that the changes will negatively impact the lives of residents in approximately 430 village panchayats. The primary aim of the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to prevent the forest from being used as a dumping ground for waste materials. The Bill seeks to criminalise the act of dumping waste in rivers within forest areas or in bodies of water that lead into these regions. Additionally, it proposes to enhance the powers of forest officers and increase fines for various offences.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. India Unveils Draft Rules for Data Protection: On January 3, 2024, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP). This announcement follows the Act’s passage in Parliament in August 2023. The government has opened a feedback window via the MyGov portal, allowing stakeholders to submit their comments until February 18, 2025. The anticipation surrounding these rules is high, as they are expected to clarify various facets of the law. The draft rules aim to provide clarity on several important topics. They cover the obligations of data fiduciaries, the role of consent managers, and the handling of children’s personal data. Additionally, they outline the establishment of the Data Protection Board, which will oversee compliance and address breaches.
2. NASA Unveils Mars Chopper Drone Successor: NASA has recently introduced the Mars Chopper, a new drone designed to succeed the Ingenuity helicopter. Ingenuity operated on Mars for nearly three years, far exceeding its initial mission parameters. The Mars Chopper represents advancement in aerial exploration capabilities on the Red Planet. The Mars Chopper is approximately the size of an SUV. It features six rotors, each with six blades, which are smaller than those of Ingenuity. This innovative design is expected to provide enhanced lift and stability during flight. The bulkier structure allows for a greater payload capacity, enabling it to carry up to five kilograms of scientific instruments
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Federal Bank launches digital platform FedOne for corporate banking: Federal Bank, one of India’s largest private sector banks, has launched FedOne, a new transaction banking platform powered by Nucleus Software’s FinnAxia solution.The implementation, completed after a 10-month collaboration, aims to modernize the bank’s corporate banking services.Federal Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks, has marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey with the launch of FedOne™, powered by Nucleus Software’s advanced transaction banking platform, FinnAxia®.FedOne™ is set to revolutionise the corporate banking landscape, enabling Federal Bank to seize emerging business opportunities and deliver exceptional value through streamlined processes and advanced technology.
1. CCI Sets New Standards in M&A Regulations: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has made strides in regulatory efficiency, particularly in the realm of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The Annual Report for FY 2023-24 revealed that the average clearance time for mergers is now just 16 days. This marks a notable improvement from previous years and reflects CCI’s dedication to maintaining a competitive market while ensuring fair practices. The Green Channel Scheme, introduced in August 2019, has revolutionised the M&A landscape. This scheme allows automatic approvals for combinations that do not present horizontal, vertical, or complementary overlaps. Since its launch, 100 combination notices have been filed under this scheme. Despite a slight decrease in usage from 27% in FY 2021-22 to 22% in FY 2023-24, it remains a preferred option for businesses seeking quick clearance.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom 2025: On January 5, 2025, President Joe Biden honoured 19 distinguished individuals during a ceremony at the White House. This event recognised contributions across various fields, including politics, entertainment, and sports. The honourees included prominent figures such as Hillary Clinton, philanthropist George Soros, and posthumously awarded Robert F. Kennedy. Notable personalities like Lionel Messi, Jane Goodall, and Denzel Washington were also among the recipients. Messi could not attend due to prior commitments.
No comments:
Post a Comment