28th January 2025

1. Uttarakhand, 1st State to Implement Uniform Civil Code
2. DGS & C-DAC partner to enhance Maritime Innovation
3. Wetland City Accreditation: Indore & Udaipur become India’s first Ramsar wetland cities
4. DFS Releases Rs 500 Crore Capital Infusion into IFCI through PREF
5. CheQ Launches ‘CheQ Wisor,’ India’s First AI-Powered Credit Card Expert
6. Indian short film ‘Anuja’ nominated for 97th Academy Awards 2025
7. The ePlane Company Becomes India’s First to Secure DGCA’s eVTOL Certification
8. IDBI Bank Re-appoints Rakesh Sharma as MD & CEO for 3 years
9. KMBL Completed Acquisition of StanChart’s Personal Loan Portfolio for Rs 3,330 Crore
10. Renowned Cardiac Surgeon & Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K. M. Cherian passed away
11. A new biography ‘Soumitra Chatterjee and His World (Vintage)’ Released in WB
12. Mohan Appointed as Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
13. Bumrah Crowned ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year
14. Farewell to Narendra Chapalgaonkar: Judge, Writer, Scholar
15. Smriti Mandhana Named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024
16. Suriaraj Appointed Executive Director of Dhanlaxmi Bank
17. Omarzai Crowned ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
18. India’s Determined Path to Tuberculosis Elimination

State News

1. Indore and Udaipur Become Accredited Wetland Cities

• What:
  • Indore and Udaipur are the first Indian cities to be accredited as wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention.
• Why:
  • The accreditation recognizes cities that value their wetlands and promotes conservation and sustainable use of these resources.
• Tell me more:
  • The announcement was made by the Ramsar Convention, which now includes 74 accredited wetland cities globally, with 31 new cities added this round.
  • The Union environment minister highlighted this achievement as a sign of India’s commitment to ecological conservation in urban development.

Source: TOI

Banking and Economy

1. Government Approves ₹500 Crore Capital Infusion for IFCI

• What:
  • The government has approved a capital infusion of ₹500 crore in the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) through a preferential issue of shares.
• Why:
  • This infusion aims to strengthen IFCI’s financial position and increase the government’s stake in the company.
• Tell me more:
  • The approval was communicated by the Department of Financial Services and is part of the budget for FY 2024-25.
  • The government’s holding in IFCI will rise from 71.72% following this capital infusion.

Source: BS

2. CheQ Launches India’s First AI-Powered Credit Card Expert

• What:
  • CheQ has launched CheQ Wisor, the first AI-powered credit card expert in India.
• Why:
  • The tool aims to help individuals manage their credit cards by providing personalized insights and real-time assistance.
• Tell me more:
  • CheQ Wisor is designed for users aged 25-45 to make better financial decisions and optimize credit card usage.
  • Key features include spending insights, a unified rewards view, and personalized tips based on individual spending behavior.
  • The tool will be available exclusively on the CheQ platform, with early access for Beta whitelisted users.

Source: TOI

3. Kotak Mahindra Bank Acquires Personal Loan Portfolio

• What:
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank has completed the acquisition of a personal loan portfolio worth ₹3,330 crore from Standard Chartered Bank.
• Why:
  • The acquisition aims to strengthen Kotak Mahindra Bank’s presence in the personal loan segment, which is part of its strategy to grow its unsecured retail advances.
• Tell me more:
  • The initial announcement in October 2024 indicated a larger portfolio of ₹4,100 crore, but the final amount decreased due to customers paying off loans.
  • The bank’s unsecured retail loans, including microcredit, constituted 10.5% of its net advances as of December 2024.
  • The acquisition allows Kotak Mahindra Bank to target middle and high-income salaried individuals.

Source: BS

Defence News

1. ePlane Company Receives Certification for Electric Aircraft

• What:
  • The ePlane Company has received type certification acceptance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its electric aircraft.
• Why:
  • This certification marks the first acceptance under new rules for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The DGCA issued airworthiness criteria for eVTOLs and specifications for vertiports.
  • The startup plans to complete test flights by the end of 2026 and aims to provide air ambulances, cargo planes, chartered flights, and air taxis.
  • The company is currently focused on partnerships with hospitals, vertiport builders, and logistics providers.

Source: TOI

Awards

1. Indian Short Film Anuja Nominated for Academy Award

• What:
  • The Indian short film Anuja has received a nomination for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
• Tell me more:
  • Anuja follows a nine-year-old girl and her sister as they face a life-changing opportunity.
  • The film is produced by Guneet Monga, with contributions from Priyanka Chopra and Mindy Kaling.
  • Directed by Adam J Graves, the film aims to portray the joy and challenges faced by young girls.

Source: IE OSCAR

2. Jasprit Bumrah Named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year

• What:
  • Jasprit Bumrah has been awarded the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year title for his outstanding performance in 2024.
• Tell me more:
  • Bumrah took 71 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 14.92, achieving five five-wicket hauls.
  • He is the first Indian fast bowler to receive this honor and was ranked No. 1 in February 2024.
  • His memorable performance included a six-wicket haul against England in Vizag, where he took 6/45.

Source: TOI

3. Smriti Mandhana Wins ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

• What:
  • Smriti Mandhana has been named the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2024.
• Why:
  • The award recognizes her outstanding performance, scoring 747 runs in 13 innings, making her the leading run-scorer in Women’s ODIs for the year.
• Tell me more:
  • Mandhana scored the fastest ODI century for India against Ireland, reaching the milestone in just 70 balls.
  • She currently ranks No. 2 in the ICC women’s ODI batting rankings with 738 points.
  • Her performances against Ireland included scores of 135, 41, and 73 in three ODIs.

Source: IE

4. Azmatullah Omarzai Named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

• What:
  • Azmatullah Omarzai has been awarded the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2024.
• Tell me more:
  • Omarzai scored 417 runs and took 17 wickets in 14 matches during the year.
  • He played a key role in Afghanistan’s four series wins over Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.
  • His batting average was 52.12, and he took wickets at an average of 20.47.

Source: IE

Memorandum of Understanding

1. MoU Signed to Enhance Technological Innovation in Maritime Sector

• What:
  • The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote technological innovation in India’s maritime sector.
• Why:
  • The MoU aims to modernize maritime administration and enhance collaboration on initiatives that transform the maritime industry.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed by Shri Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, and Shri E. Magesh, DG C-DAC, at an event hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • The partnership focuses on areas such as digitalization, automation of maritime processes, data analytics, cybersecurity, and maritime education and training.

Source: PIB

Appointments

1. IDBI Bank Reappoints Rakesh Sharma as MD & CEO

• What:
  • IDBI Bank’s Board of Directors has re-appointed Rakesh Sharma as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) for three years starting March 19, 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • Rakesh Sharma has been leading IDBI Bank since October 10, 2018, and previously served as MD & CEO of Canara Bank from September 2015 to July 2018.
  • The disinvestment process for IDBI Bank was initiated in October 2022, involving the sale of stakes held by the Government of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India.

Source: HBL

2. New Director Appointed at ISRO’s LPSC

• What:
  • M Mohan has been appointed as the new director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiyamala, following the vacancy left by V Narayanan.
• Tell me more:
  • Mohan was previously the system leader for the Moon Impact Probe during the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008.
  • LPSC is located in Thiruvananthapuram and is crucial for ISRO’s technical operations.
  • Before this role, Mohan headed the projects division at VSSC and led the Gaganyaan project.

Source: TOI

3. P. Suriaraj Appointed as Executive Director of Dhanlaxmi Bank

• What:
  • P. Suriaraj has been appointed as the executive director of Dhanlaxmi Bank for three years by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Tell me more:
  • His role includes serving as a whole-time director on the Board under Section 10A(2)(a) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Source: TH

Miscellaneous

1. Dr. K M Cherian, Pioneer Heart Surgeon, Passes Away

• What:
  • Dr. K M Cherian, a renowned heart surgeon and pioneer of coronary artery bypass surgery in India, passed away at the age of 82 in Bengaluru.
• Tell me more:
  • He founded Frontier Lifeline Hospital and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991.
  • He performed India’s first successful coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 and was also the first to conduct heart-lung and pediatric heart transplants in the country.
  • His autobiography, ‘Just an Instrument’, was launched on January 24, shortly before his passing.

Source: NIE

2. New Biography Celebrates Life of Soumitra Chatterjee

• What:
  • A new biography titled Soumitra Chatterjee and His World by Sanghamitra Chakraborty has been released to honor the life and work of the versatile actor.
• Why:
  • The biography aims to celebrate Soumitra Chatterjee’s contributions to cinema and culture, filling a gap in the recognition of his multifaceted career.
• Tell me more:
  • The launch event at the Kolkata Literary Meet featured anecdotes and readings, attended by fans and admirers.
  • Chatterjee was influenced by mentors such as Rabindranath Tagore, Shishir Bhaduri, and Satyajit Ray, starring in 14 films directed by Ray.
  • Soumitra Chatterjee performed in iconic films like Apur Sansar, Sonar Kella, and Charulata.

Source: TH

3. Renowned Author and Judge Narendra Chapalgaonkar Passes Away

• What:
  • Author and retired Bombay High Court judge Narendra Chapalgaonkar died at the age of 87 after battling cancer.
• Tell me more:
  • He served as the president of the 96th All-India Marathi Literary Meet held in Wardha in February 2023.
  • He practiced law from 1962 to 1999 and was appointed as an additional judge in the Bombay High Court in 1990.
  • His biography of freedom fighter Swami Ramanand Tirtha is highly acclaimed.

Source: TOI

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