National News

Bhubaneswar Recognized for Best Public Transport System.

• At the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024, Bhubaneswar was awarded the title of “City with the Best Public Transport System.”
• The event, held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was attended by over 2,200 delegates, including more than 50 international participants.
• The theme for this year’s conference was “Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions.”
• Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, also announced that Gurugram, Haryana, will host the 18th UMI Conference & Exhibition in 2025.

   Other Award Winners

• City with the Most Sustainable Transport System: Kochi (Kochi Metro Rail Corp.)
• Best Non-Motorized Transport System: Srinagar (Srinagar Smart City Ltd.)
• Best Safety and Security System: Gandhinagar (Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation)
• Best Intelligent Transport System: Surat (Surat Municipal Corporation)
• Best Record of Public Involvement in Transport: Bengaluru (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation)
• Best Passenger Services and Satisfaction (Metro Rail): Mumbai (Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd.)

PM Modi and Spanish PM Inaugurate C-295 Aircraft Factory.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have jointly inaugurated the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) C-295 aircraft factory in Vadodara, Gujarat.
• This facility serves as the final assembly line for the C-295 military transport aircraft, which India purchased from Airbus.
• This marks Prime Minister Sanchez's first visit to India, making it a significant occasion as it is the first visit by a Spanish Prime Minister in 18 years.
• The assembly plant has been established through collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus Spain, situated on the TASL campus.
• The C-295 program includes a total of 56 aircraft, with 16 to be delivered directly from Spain and the remaining 40 to be manufactured in India.
• This facility will be the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India, with Tata Advanced Systems responsible for producing the 40 aircraft locally.

                     International News

India Ranks 79 out of 142 in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index.

• India has been ranked 79th out of 142 countries in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2024.
• This index assesses countries based on various indicators, including the effectiveness of government constraints, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, and the efficiency of both civil and criminal justice systems.
• While India performed reasonably well in governance aspects, it faced challenges in areas such as the protection of fundamental rights and overall law enforcement effectiveness.
• Among South Asian nations, India ranks third, following Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• The top five countries globally are Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany, while Venezuela ranks lowest at 142.

                       Banking and Finance

SBI awarded Best Bank in India for 2024 by Global Finance Magazine.

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has been awarded the title of Best Bank in India for 2024 by Global Finance Magazine.
• This recognition was presented at the 31st Annual Best Bank Awards held alongside the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
• SBI Chairman CS Setty accepted the award, highlighting the bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional services and promoting financial inclusion across the nation.
• The Global Finance Best Bank Awards are renowned for their credibility and significance in the corporate finance sector, celebrating banks that excel in customer service and innovative solutions.
• With an extensive network of over 22,500 branches and 62,000 ATMs, SBI has been enhancing its presence in the Indian banking industry through its YONO digital platform.
• Notably, 63% of new savings accounts were opened digitally in the first quarter of FY25, alongside pre-approved personal loan disbursements totaling Rs 1,399 crore via YONO.
• This recognition underscores SBI’s role as a leader in advancing banking services and financial accessibility in India.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das ranks top central banker by US magazine.

• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has been recognized as the top central banker by Global Finance magazine, a prestigious US-based publication.
• This marks the second consecutive year that he has received this distinction, underscoring his effective leadership at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Governor Das earned an A+ grade in the Central Bank Report Cards 2024, placing him at the forefront among three central bank governors globally who achieved this rating.
• The grading system evaluates central bankers on a scale from A to F, assessing their success in areas such as inflation control, economic growth, currency stability, and interest rate management.
• An 'A' signifies outstanding performance, while an 'F' indicates failure.
• In addition to Governor Das, Denmark’s Christian Kettel Thomsen and Switzerland’s Thomas Jordan have also been recognized in the A+ category.
• This accolade highlights the RBI’s commitment to maintaining financial stability and effective monetary policy under Governor Das's guidance.

Solex Energy partners with SBI to provide finance for solar projects.

• Solex Energy has teamed up with the State Bank of India (SBI) to offer financing options for solar projects targeting commercial, industrial, and institutional customers.
• Under this partnership, SBI will provide loans of up to Rs 10 crore for solar initiatives through its Surya Shakti Solar Finance Scheme, available nationwide.
• This collaboration aims to enhance the accessibility and affordability of solar energy, positioning it as a key component in India's renewable energy landscape.
• The partnership is expected to accelerate the adoption of solar solutions, empowering clients and channel partners to drive business growth effectively.
• Chetan Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Solex Energy, expressed enthusiasm about this initiative and its potential to support India's transition to renewable energy.

  Recent Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the Banking Sector

• Liberty General Insurance has partnered with Maruti Suzuki Insurance Broking to promote insurance awareness in both rural and urban areas.
• The Indian Navy has collaborated with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance to provide insurance coverage for naval civilians.
• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has partnered with Axis Bank to offer a $500 million climate loan in India.
• NCRTC and Airtel Payments Bank have launched co-branded National Common Mobility Cards to improve commuter convenience.
• Federal Bank has joined forces with Bhashini to enhance the capabilities of Chatbot Feddy with vernacular language support.
• Bandhan Life has partnered with Bandhan Bank to strengthen its insurance business.

                            Appointment

Deepak Agarwal Named Managing Director of NAFED.

• Deepak Agarwal has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) for a five-year term.
• The appointment was made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• Agarwal, an IAS officer from the 2000 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, takes over the role following a temporary appointment held by Pankaj Kumar Bansal, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation.
• Bansal served as acting MD from September 30 until a permanent replacement was confirmed.

    About NAFED

• Founded in 1958, NAFED plays a vital role in India's agricultural landscape as a cooperative marketing organization.
• Its mission is to promote the welfare of Indian farmers by ensuring fair prices for their agricultural produce and providing essential market linkages.
• Operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, NAFED is tasked with supporting price stabilization for key agricultural commodities, thereby enhancing the economic stability of farmers across India.

                            Awards

Bibhab Talukdar Receives IUCN’s Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership.

• Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, a renowned conservation scientist from Assam, has been honored with The Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership by the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• This prestigious award was presented to him at the 5th IUCN SSC Leaders’ Meeting currently taking place in Abu Dhabi.
• Talukdar received this recognition for his significant contributions to species conservation and leadership within the SSC.
• He has been actively involved with the IUCN SSC since 1991 and was appointed Chair of the Asian Rhino Specialist Group in 2008.
• The meeting brings together approximately 300 conservation experts to address pressing issues related to biodiversity and climate change.

   Recent Award Highlights

• Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024: Awarded to Urmila Chaudhary from Nepal.
• Conscious Companies Awards: Presented to Mohanji for promoting social consciousness in business.
• Femina Miss India 2024: Crowned to Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh.
• 54th Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2022): Honored to Mithun Chakraborty for lifetime achievement in Indian cinema.
• 32nd Ekalabya Puraskar: Given by the Odisha government to Pratyasa Ray for excellence in swimming.
• FIDE 100 Awards: Awarded to Magnus Carlsen (Men’s category, Norway) and Judit Polgar (Women’s category, Hungary).

Kochi Wins Most Sustainable Transport System Award at 17th UMI Conference.

• Kochi, the city in Kerala, has been recognized as the City with the Most Sustainable Transport System at the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2024.
• The awards ceremony took place during the event held at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The theme for this year's UMI Conference focused on "Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions".
• The event was organized by the Institute of Urban Transport (India) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Gujarat government, and the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
• The recognition of Kochi highlights the city’s commitment to sustainable urban mobility and effective public transport solutions.

                               Sports

India Shines at U23 World Wrestling Championships 2024 with 9 Medals.

• The Indian wrestling team concluded the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2024 in Tirana, Albania, with an impressive haul of nine medals—comprising 1 gold, 1 silver, and 7 bronze.
• This follows a successful campaign in 2023, where India also secured 9 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze) at the previous championship.

  Medal Winners at U23 World Wrestling Championships 2024

• Gold Medal: Chirag Chikkara (Men’s Freestyle 57kg)
• Silver Medal: Anjli (Women’s Freestyle 59kg)
• Bronze Medals:

• Vishvajit More (Men’s Greco Roman 55kg)
• Monika (Women’s Freestyle 68kg)
• Neha Sharma (Women’s Freestyle 57kg)
• Shiksha (Women’s Freestyle 65kg)
• Abhishek Dhaka (Men’s Freestyle 61kg)
• Sujeet (Men’s Freestyle 70kg)
• Vicky (Men’s Freestyle 97kg)

India Dominates Japan Para-Badminton International 2024 with 24 Medals.

• Indian para-badminton athletes delivered a stellar performance at the Japan Para-Badminton International 2024, securing a total of 24 medals—including 6 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze.
• The event took place in Tokyo and was classified as a level 2 category tournament.

   Medal Highlights

• Leading the medal tally were Sivarajan Solaimalai and Sukant Kadam, who played crucial roles in India's success.

Afghanistan A Clinches Title at 2024 Emerging Asia Cup.

• The Afghanistan A men’s cricket team emerged victorious at the 2024 Emerging Asia Cup, defeating Sri Lanka A by seven wickets.
• This exciting match took place in Al Almerat, Oman, marking a historic win as it was the first time the ACC Men's Emerging Teams Asia Cup was held in T20 format.

   Key Highlights

• Afghanistan A reached the final by defeating India A in the semi-finals, while Sri Lanka A overcame Pakistan Shaheens in the other semi-final.
• Player of the Match: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar (Afghanistan)
• Player of the Series: Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan)