National
PM Modi launches two innovative customer centric initiatives of RBI
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched two innovative customer centric initiatives of RBI namely, the Retail Direct Scheme and the Reserve Bank - Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.
- Addressing the event in the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, the Prime Minister said these schemes will expand the scope of investment in the country and make access to capital markets easier and more secure for investors.
- Emphasizing the citizen centric nature of these schemes, Mr. Modi said the biggest touchstone of any democracy is the strength and pro-activeness of its grievance redressal system, adding that the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme will go a long way in that direction.
- He informed that investors just need to open a Retail Direct Gilt Account by logging on to the RBI Retail Direct’s official website.
- Highlighting the fact that India’s banking system is now operational round the clock, anywhere across the country, Mr. Modi said India has jumped 19 times in terms of digital transactions in the past seven years.
- Emphasizing that the current government is focused on resolution and recovery, Mr. Modi said non-performing assets have been identified with transparency in the last seven years.
Nations soften their stand on fossil fuel phase-out at COP26 meeting in Glasgow
Nations have softened their stand on fossil fuels phase out at COP 26 Glasgow meet.
- A new draft of the final deal that could emerge from the COP26 climate summit appears to have watered down its call to curb fossil fuels, but did not remove all mention of the need for their phase out. The texts from Glasgow are the first UN climate papers to make a specific mention of fossil fuels.
- The COP26 summit has passed its scheduled finishing time, as negotiations on a deal to avert the worst impacts of climate change continue today. Sticking points include subsidies for coal and other fossil fuels, and financial help to poorer nations.
- Meanwhile, India has called for collective resolve for accelerated mitigation and adaptation actions to combat climate change.
- The outcomes of COP26 must reflect the urgency in scaling up finance and other means of implementation support to developing countries, he stressed at the stock take plenary.
- The Minister said the overwhelming role of historical cumulative emissions in bringing the world to a 1.1 degrees rise in temperature must be noted and urgency in ambition must begin with actions of developed country parties.
- The 2022 edition of the Conference of Parties, or the 27th COP, will take place at Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt's Environment Ministry said.
President Kovind to give National Sports Awards 2021
- President Ram NathKovind will give away the National Sports Awards 2021 at RashtrapatiBhavan.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will be given to 12 sportspersons.
- They are athlete Neeraj Chopra, Wrestler Ravi Kumar, BoxerLovlinaBorgohain, Hockey player Sreejesh PR and Manpreet Singh, Para Shooter AvaniLekhara, Para Athlete SumitAntil, Para ShuttlerPramodBhagat, Krishna Nagar, Para Shooter Manish Narwal, Cricketer Mithali Raj and Footballer Sunil Chhetri.
- 35 sportspersons will receive Arjuna Award.
- They include Para Paddler Bhavana Patel, Para Archer Harvinder Singh, Athlete Arpinder Singh, Sabre Fencer Bhavani Devi, Cricketer ShikharDhawan, Tennis Player Ankita Raina, Shooter Abhishek Verma and Boxer Simranjit Kaur.
- The President will also present Dronacharya Award to outstanding coaches in Sports and Games, Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games and Rashtriya Khel ProtsahanPuruskar.
Railway Board decides to drop special train tag and return to pre-Covid fares
- The Railways has issued an order to discontinue the special tag for mail and express trains and revert to pre-pandemic ticket prices with immediate effect.
- In a letter to zonal railways, Railway Board said trains will now be operated with their regular numbers and fares will revert to pre-pandemic prices.
- Railways has been running only special trains since the lockdown was eased. Long-distance trains and even short-distance passenger services are being run as special trains with slightly higher fares to discourage people from avoidable travels.
International
Pandemic not over: Germany reports record 50,000 new Covid cases
- Germany has exceeded 50,000 Covid cases for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic as it recorded, 50,196 new COVID-19 infections, according to health authorities.
- Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has described the rise in infections as "dramatic".
- Her spokesperson said, the pandemic is returning in a new spectacular fashion and called on regional authorities to take further steps to quell the outbreak.
- Germany's relatively low vaccination rates of just over 67 percent are also cited as one of the reasons for the outbreak. From Monday, Berlin will ban unvaccinated people from entering restaurants, terraces, bars, sports halls, and hairdressers.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte announces Western Europe's first partial Covid lockdown of winter
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has announced Western Europe's first partial Covid lockdown of the winter, with three weeks of restrictions for shops, sport and catering.
He said that the annoying, drastic move was in response to record infections and rising intensive care cases. Meanwhile, Police have fired water cannon against hundreds of protesters in The Hague.
Last weekend too, thousands of protesters marched through The Hague in anger at existing Covid restrictions. Latest daily figures on Friday showed 16,287 new Covid cases, just short of Thursday's record but up a third on the previous week.
Dutch vaccination rates are relatively high, with 82.4% of over-12s having two doses, that's 73% of the total population.
Austria is also expected to back a lockdown for unvaccinated people this weekend.
In Austria, vaccination coverage is at 65% and the country is expected to go for a national lockdown for the unvaccinated.
Denmark, which had downgraded coronavirus as no longer a socially critical disease, has re-instated a Covid pass that was phased out in September.
Economy
FDI in India growing rapidly over last few years: Piyush Goyal
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that Foreign Direct Investment, FDI in India has been growing rapidly over the last few years.
- Virtually addressing the 4th edition of the India-Korea Business Partnership Forum in New Delhi, Mr. Goyal said, India has today become an attractive and preferred destination for investments.
- He invited South Korean entrepreneurs to invest in new sectors like Defence and Retail.
- The Minister said, there is a need to complement the complementary strengths in Automobiles, Textiles, Food processing, Leather Products, Metals, Mining, Chemicals and also through some of the traditional sectors like Steel and look at new emerging opportunities in Defence, e-Commerce and Retail.
- He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India initiative is complemented by Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Southern Policy.
- Mr. Goyal said, many Korean companies have leveraged the opportunities that India has to offer to Make in India for the world using the competitive and comparative advantages of skilled manpower, low-cost manufacturing and the Government support that is provided for businesses in India.
Sports
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur felicitates winners of Olympic, Paralympic games in Varanasi
- Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur felicitated the winners of Olympic and Paralympic games at a function in Varanasi.
- Union Minister also addressed the DAV Sports Conclave organized by DAV United Foundation.
- He also visited theSampurnanand Sports stadium in Sigra area of Varanasi and discussed ways to increase sports facilities and infrastructure at the stadium with concerned officials.
