30th-31st January, 2024

1. Ministry of Rural Development has launched Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission’s (DAY-NRLM’s) “SARATHI” app at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
2. World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD) has introduced innovative 7-year USD 100 million plastic waste reduction-linked bond to tackle plastic pollution.
3. Bank of Baroda’s wholly-owned subsidiary for cards, ‘BOB Financial Solutions Limited’, has been rebranded as ‘BOBCARD Limited’.
4. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its stake in HDFC Bank.
5. Inaugural edition of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’ has commenced at Mahajan, Rajasthan.
6. January 26– First-ever UN International Day of Clean Energy
7. January 28– World Leprosy Day; Theme– Beat Leprosy
8. January 30– World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
9. International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced ICC Awards 2023.
10. East Bengal FC has defeated Odisha FC in Kalinga Super Cup 2024 Final Fourth edition of the 2024 Indian Super Cup (2024 Kalinga Super Cup) at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
11. Jannik Sinner of Italy has won the men’s singles title, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won the women’s singles title at the Australian Open 2024.
12. REC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL).
13. Tshering Tobgay, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected for his 2nd term as Prime Minister of Bhutan.

National News

1. Ministry of Rural Development has launched Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission’s (DAY-NRLM’s) “SARATHI” app at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
   • Objective-
     • To fill the gap between government schemes and their beneficiaries.

   • More about SARATHI App-
     • It is developed in partnership with The/Nudge Institute.
     • It allows for consistent monitoring and tracking of livelihood planning as well as progress.
     • Real-time usage of the app mitigates the risk of leakage of consumption and livelihood support being provided to the target households.
     • SARATHI has been well-embedded in the LokOS system.

Source: rural.gov.in, The Hindu

Banking and Economy

1. World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD) has introduced innovative 7-year USD 100 million plastic waste reduction-linked bond to tackle plastic pollution.
   • Objectives-
     • To reduce and recycle plastic waste in vulnerable communities and address the global challenge of plastic leaking into nature and oceans.
     • To improve the local pollution and air quality, reduce associated health impacts, and create job in marginalized communities.

   • Key features of the Bond-
     • Bond is 100% principal protected.
     • Investors in the bond will forego a portion of ordinary coupon payments, instead they receive equivalent amount through hedge transactions.
     • Investors will receive annual coupons composed of a fixed amount and payments linked to the sale of a portion of plastic and carbon credits produced by the projects.

2. Bank of Baroda’s wholly-owned subsidiary for cards, ‘BOB Financial Solutions Limited’, has been rebranded as ‘BOBCARD Limited’.
   • More about BOBCARD Limited–
     • Tagline for – Credit Reimagined
     • New logo – Baroda Sun
     • It is a non-banking Financial Company(NBFC) established in 1994.
       Source: Hindu Business Line

3. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its stake in HDFC Bank.
   • Key points-
     • RBI has allowed LIC to acquire an additional 4.8% stake in HDFC Bank, raising its total stake to 9.99% by January 24, 2025.
     • LIC has already owned a 5.19% stake in HDFC Bank as of December 2023.
       Source: ET

Defence News

1. Inaugural edition of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’ has commenced at Mahajan, Rajasthan.
   • Objectives-
     • To train troops of both sides for Joint Operations in Semi Desert terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
     • To achieve shared security objectives, improve the level of defence cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.
   • Participation-
     • Indian Army contingent- 45 personnel from Battalion from the Brigade of the Guards (Mechanised Infantry)
     • Saudi Arabian contingent- 45 personnel from Royal Saudi Land Forces
       Source: PIB

Important Days

1. January 26– First-ever UN International Day of Clean Energy
   • Objective-
     • To raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet.

   • 26 January is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
     Source: UN
   
   
   
   
2. January 28– World Leprosy Day; Theme– Beat Leprosy
   Source: WHO
3. January 30– World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day; Theme– Unite. Act. Eliminate.
   Source: worldntdday

Sports

1. International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced ICC Awards 2023.
   • List of ICC Awards 2023-

2. East Bengal FC has defeated Odisha FC in Kalinga Super Cup 2024 Final Fourth edition of the 2024 Indian Super Cup (2024 Kalinga Super Cup) at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
   Source: sportstar
3. Jannik Sinner of Italy has won the men’s singles title, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won the women’s singles title at the Australian Open 2024.
   • Key points-
     • Indian player Rohan Bopanna has became the oldest man (at 43 years and 329 days)to win a Grand Slam.
     • He has won doubles title with his partner Matthew Ebden (Australia) in Australian Open.
     • Australian Open 2024 has been held at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia.

   • List of winners in Australian Open 2024 under different category-

Source: The Hindu, HT

Memorandum of Understanding

1. REC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL).
   • Objective-
     • To collaborate on a suite of funding solutions for Renewable Energy Projects as well as large-scale infrastructure projects in India.

Source: PIB, PIB

Appointments

1. Tshering Tobgay, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected for his 2nd term as Prime Minister of Bhutan.
   • Key points-
     • He is 4th freely elected prime minister of Bhutan since democracy was established in Bhutan in 2008.
     • He is a former bureaucrat and an was previously prime minister from 2013 to 2018.

2. Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister of Bihar for the 9th time.
   • He has formed alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
     Source: HT
3. Sharat Chauhan has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
   Source: The Hindu
4. Azali Assoumani has been re-elected as the President of Comoros for 4th term.
   • Key points-
     • India-Comoros partnership forms strong pillar of India-Africa partnership and the ‘Vision Sagar‘.
     • What is Vision SAGAR?
       • Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is India’s policy or doctrine of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
       • It was announced on March 12, 2015.

Source: Business Standard

Miscellaneous

1. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has released the first Volume of ‘Political History of Assam (1947-1971)‘ in Guwahati, Assam.
   • Published by- Assam government
   • Edited by- Famous historian Dr. Rajen Saikia
   • More about book-
     • Book will provides an insight into the political events that have shaped socio-economic life of Assam.
       Source: TOI
2. 1st hockey Olympian from Chandigarh, Sukhbir Singh Gill has passed away.
   • He represented India at the Sydney Olympics (2000), Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur (2002), and FIH Champions Trophy in Cologne (Germany) in 2002.
     Source: HT

3. Rana Talwar, 1st person from Asia to head a global bank (Standard Chartered) has passed away.
   Source: HT

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