09th January, 2024

1. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has launched refreshed PAiSA Portal and PM SVANidhi Portal at a seminar on ‘Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) for Street Vendors’.
2. Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated the 1st Healthy & Hygienic Food Street of country, ‘PRASADAM,’ at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
3. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made mandatory machine-to-machine (M2M) and Wireless Personal Area Network/ Wireless Local Area Network (WPLAN/WLAN) registration to all entities.
4. Assam government has launched ‘Baayu’, India’s 100% electric bike taxi service.
5. India and Saudi Arabia have signed bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
6. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has relaxed norms on investment in infrastructure debt funds (IDFs) of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) by insurance companies.
7. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has successfully priced USD 5 billion in dual-tranche global benchmark bond, securing USD 3 billion for a 3-year issuance and USD 2 billion for a 10-year issuance.
8. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a fuel cell that uses hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and releases heat and water as byproducts.
9. Former US President Barack Obama has won 75th creative arts emmy awards under Outstanding Narrator category.
10. January 8– Earth’s Rotation Day
11. Germany has won United cup 2024 title by defeating Poland in finals held in Sydney, Australia.
12. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has appointed former Indian Premier League official Raghuram Iyer as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IOA.
13. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has won 5th term as the Prime Minister of the country.

National News

1. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has launched refreshed PAiSA Portal and PM SVANidhi Portal at a seminar on ‘Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) for Street Vendors’.
   • Objectives of seminar-
     • To sensitize all States and Union Territories on the importance of robust Grievance Redressal Committees.
     • To bring together key stakeholders to enhance their understanding of the legal provisions within the Street Vendors Act 2014.
   • These portals will provide real-time progress updates on the mission and scheme, and improve transparency and accountability.

2. Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated the 1st Healthy & Hygienic Food Street of country, ‘PRASADAM,’ at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
   • Key points-
     • PRASADAM will connect common citizens in every corner of the country with pure and safe local and traditional food.
     • Other initiatives launched-
       • Union Health Minister and the Chief Minister also jointly launched the ‘Mannhit app’ which is an initiative facilitating screening for mental health.
       • He has also launched 30 bedded additional wards under the Emergency Covid Response Package, 3 Community Health Centers and 8 primary health centers under PM-ABHIIM.
       • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released “The DART Book” to check common food adulterations at home with simple tests.
         Source: PIB
3. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made mandatory machine-to-machine (M2M) and Wireless Personal Area Network/ Wireless Local Area Network (WPLAN/WLAN) registration to all entities.
   • Key points-
     • Entities can register with DoT through a simple and transparent online process via SalarSanchar portal.
     • Non-compliance may lead to withdrawal or disconnection of telecom resources.
     • Decision has been taken to extend the scope of registration in order to generate standard based and secure M2M/IoT ecosystem.

Source: dot.gov.in

State News

1. Assam government has launched ‘Baayu’, India’s 100% electric bike taxi service.
   • Objective-
     • To improve the air quality and public health of cities by deploying electric vehicles in transport and logistics sector.
   • Key points-
     • It is an initiative of of state government run Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) in collaboration of Bikizee Ecotech.
     • Baayu aims to generate 5000 livelihood opportunities.
     • It is supported by NITI Aayog’s Shoonya Zero pollution mobility campaign
       Source: ET

International News

1. India and Saudi Arabia have signed bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
   • Key points-
     • A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj 2024.
     • Out of total seats, 1,40,020 seats reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Haj Committee whereas 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through private operators.
       Source: The Hindu

Banking and Economy

1. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has relaxed norms on investment in infrastructure debt funds (IDFs) of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) by insurance companies.
   • Objective-
     • To encourage investments by insurers in the sector and to increase the ease of doing business.
   • Relaxed norms-
     • Insurers are allowed to make investments in IDF-NBFCs which are registered with the RBI.
     • IDF-NBFCs must have a minimum credit rating of AA or its equivalent by a Credit Rating Agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
     • Debt securities will have a residual tenure of not less than 5 years.

   
   

2. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has successfully priced USD 5 billion in dual-tranche global benchmark bond, securing USD 3 billion for a 3-year issuance and USD 2 billion for a 10-year issuance.
   • Objective-
     • To promote social and economic development across the expansive region of Asia and the Pacific.
   • Details of 3-year bond-
     • Coupon rate- 4.125% per annum
     • Payment frequency- semi-annually
     • maturity date- January 12, 2027
     • Priced at- 99.663%
     • yields- 11.9 basis points over the 4.375% US Treasury notes due December 2026.

   • Details of 10-year bond-
     • Coupon rate- 4.125% per annum
     • Payment frequency- semi-annually
     • maturity date- January 12, 2027
     • Priced at- 99.530%
     • yields- 21.3 basis points over the 4.5 per cent US Treasury notes due November 2033.

Source: The Print

Science and Technology

1. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a fuel cell that uses hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and releases heat and water as byproducts.
   • More about fuel cell–
     • Designed by- Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
     • Importance- These cells are ideal for human space missions because the heat and water generated as byproducts are also essential, meaning a single system can meet multiple requirements of the mission.
     • It was sent to space on the fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and it generated 180W power during the short duration test.
     • Test has successfully demonstrated another Silicon-based cell developed by VSSC.

Source: Indian Express

Awards

1. Former US President Barack Obama has won 75th creative arts emmy awards under Outstanding Narrator category.
   • Key point-
     • He has won award for his Netflix documentary series Working: What We Do All Day
       Source: TIME
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   
   

Important Days

1. January 8– Earth’s Rotation Day
   • On this day the world celebrates the anniversary of French physicist Leon Foucault’s 1851 proof that the Earth rotates on its axis.
     Source: Business Standard

Sports

1. Germany has won United cup 2024 title by defeating Poland in finals held in Sydney, Australia.
   • About United cup 2024?
     • It is an international outdoor hard court Mixed-sex team tennis competition held by the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association.
     • List of winners-

Source: atptour

Appointments

1. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has appointed former Indian Premier League official Raghuram Iyer as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IOA.

2. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has won 5th term as the Prime Minister of the country.
   • Key points-
     • She has won a record 4th consecutive term as the country’s Prime Minister.
     • Her party Awami League has won two-third of the seats.
       Source: India Today

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