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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Implementation of New Alternate Investment Funds Regulations Mandates Compulsory Custodian Appointments and Dematerialization of Investments

• Capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board’s November 2023 decision to extend the requirement of mandatory appointment of custodians has become effective.

Key Highlights :

• Extension of Custodian Requirement : In November 2023, mandatory appointment of custodians by Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) was extended to schemes with corpus less than or equal to ₹500 crore.
• Previous Norms : Till now, this mandatory Custodian appointment norm applied to Category III AIFs and to Category I and II AIFs with corpus more than ₹500 crore.
• It now extends to all AIFs.
• Effective Date of Amendment : With effect from January 5,2024 SEBI has amended its 2012 framed AIF Regulations.
• Dematerialization Requirement : As per the amendment, AIFs can hold securities of their investments only in dematerialised form.
• This is subject to certain exceptions.
• Exceptions to Dematerialization : The exceptions include investments by AIFs in instruments which are ineligible for dematerialization.
• Investments held by an AIF’s liquidation scheme that are not available in dematerialised form.
• Custodian Designation : AIFs may now designate a Custodian who is a Sponsor of an alternative fund or an Associate of a Manager, but only under specific circumstances.
• Net Worth Requirement : The Sponsor or Manager should always have at least ₹ 20,000 crore in net worth.
• Independence and Representation : Furthermore, the interests of the Sponsor, Manager, and their allies are not represented by fifty percent or more of the Custodian's directors.
• Pledge for Independence : Additionally, SEBI is now requesting that the AIF Manager and the Custodians sign a pledge promising to operate independently of one another when handling the Fund's schemes.

What are Alternative Investment Funds(AIFs)?

• Alternative Investment Fund or AIF means any fund established or incorporated in India which is a privately pooled investment vehicle which collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing it in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors.
• AIFs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Types of AIFs :

• Applicants can seek registration as an Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) with the help of these three following categories of alternative investment funds, with the help of an alternative investment fund manager.

The Category I AIF

• Venture Capital Funds: Venture capital funds invest in start-up companies with high growth potential.
• SME Funds: These funds invest in small and medium-sized enterprises with a proven profitability and growth track record.
• Social Venture Funds: Category 1 AIFs invest in social enterprises that aim to positively impact on society or the environment while generating financial returns.
• Infrastructure Funds: Infrastructure funds invest in infrastructure projects such as airports, highways, and power plants.

Category II AIF

• Real Estate Funds: Real estate funds invest in properties and generate returns through rental income, capital appreciation, or both.
• Private Equity Funds: Private equity funds invest in private companies and provide capital to help them grow and expand.
• Debt Funds: Debt funds invest in debt securities such as bonds, debentures, and other fixed-income instruments.

The Category III AIF

• Hedge Funds: Hedge funds are AIFs that employ various investment strategies, such as short selling and leverage, to generate returns for investors.
• Commodity Funds: Commodity funds invest in physical commodities such as gold, silver, and oil, as well as commodity futures and options.
• Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE): In this case, the fund managers buy shares at a discount.
• PIPE helps small-medium-sized companies to fund their projects with ease.

About SEBI :

• Established : 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman : Madhabi Puri Buch (first woman to lead the SEBI)
• SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), GoI.

Tata Pay Secures Payment Aggregator License from RBI                   

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a payment aggregator (PA) licence to Tata Payments, Tata group’s digital payments app.
• Tata Payments, held through Tata Digital, aims to facilitate e-commerce transactions through its platform.
• Tata Payments operates under Tata Digital, the subsidiary entity of the Tata Group dedicated to its digital businesses.

Key Highlights :

• Industry Players : Tata Pay joins other prominent players like Razorpay, Cashfree, and Google Pay in obtaining the coveted payment aggregator license.
• Transaction Management : With the PA license, Tata can manage and power all e-commerce transactions within its subsidiary entities, leading to more efficient fund management.
• DigiO's License : DigiO, a Bengaluru-based identity verification startup backed by Groww, also secured the payment aggregator license on January 1,2024 expanding its capabilities to offer in-payment services.
• DigiO powers digital identification for multiple fintechs and will be able to bundle in-payment services on top of it.
• Tata's Digital Payments History : In 2022, Tata Group launched its digital payments application on the Unified Payments Interface in partnership with ICICI Bank.
• Limited Consumer Traction : While the salt-to-technology conglomerate has been planning a detailed financial services strategy, consumer traction is limited as of now.
• Tata's Payments Business Portfolio : This is the second payments business to be housed within the Tata group.
• It also owns the licence to run 'white label ATMs' in rural India under the subsidiary Tata Communications through the brand name Indicash.

RBI Introduces Stricter Regulations for Short-Term Commercial Papers and Non-Convertible Debentures

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened rules for the issuance of short term Commercial Papers (CPs) and Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs), with an initial maturity of up to one year.
• The new norms are effective from April 1, 2024, and include six key changes.

What are commercial papers/ non-convertible debentures?

• Commercial Paper (CP): An unsecured money market instrument issued in the form of a promissory note.
• Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs): A secured money market instrument with an original or initial maturity up to one year.
• Eligibility for Investment : All residents are eligible to invest in commercial papers and non-convertible debentures.
• Non-residents are eligible to invest in CPs and NCDs to the extent permitted under FEMA or the rules framed under.
• Tenor Restrictions : Short-term CPs cannot have a tenor less than 7 days or exceed one year.
• NCDs' tenor cannot be less than 90 days or more than one year.
• Minimum Denomination and Settlement : As per the revised norms, CPs and NCDs issued from April 1 onwards will have a minimum denomination of Rs 5 lakh and in multiples of Rs 5 lakh thereafter.
• Both these debt instruments cannot be issued with options, while the settlement must be done within a period not exceeding T+4 working days.
• Form of Issuance and Holding : CPs and NCDs shall be issued only in dematerialised form and held with a depository registered with Sebi. They cannot be permitted to be underwritten or co-accepted.
• Individual Subscription Limit : According to the RBI, total subscription by all individuals in any primary issuance of CPs or NCDs shall not exceed 25 per cent of the total amount issued.
• Coupon Structure : CPs shall be issued at a discount to the face value, while NCDs shall be issued at a discount to the face value or with a fixed or floating rate coupon.
• Floating Rate NCDs Coupon Linkages : The coupon on floating rate NCDs shall be linked to a benchmark published by a financial benchmark administrator, or approved by the Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association, which shall ensure that any floating rate approved by them is determined transparently.
• The coupon on floating rate NCDs can also be linked to policy rates published by the RBI.
• Credit Rating Requirement : The minimum credit rating assigned by a credit rating agency for the issuance of CPs and NCDs will be 'A3' as per rating symbol and definition as prescribed by Sebi.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy governors : Swaminathan Janakiraman, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael Patra and T. Rabi Shankar

AIIB to Spearhead INR 2,500 Crore Funding in Mahindra-OTPP's Green Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT)

• Sustainable Energy Infra Trust, a renewable energy infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) backed by Mahindra group, is raising Rs 2,500 crore in a round led by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with participation from domestic institutional investors (DIIs).

Key Highlights :

• The funding, spearheaded by AIIB, signifies a significant step towards financing green initiatives and sustainable urban development.
• Mahindra OTPP's Green InvIT is dedicated to funding and promoting renewable energy and other environmentally conscious infrastructure projects in India.
• As sustainable finance gains prominence globally, the collaboration between AIIB and Mahindra OTPP's Green InvIT highlights the growing importance of green infrastructure investments in achieving a balance between economic development and environmental stewardship.

About AIIB :

• Founded : 16 January 2016,
• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• President : Jin Liqun
• Membership : 109 member states
• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a multilateral development bank and international financial institution that aims to collectively improve economic and social outcomes in Asia.
• It is the world's second largest multi-lateral development institution.

LEO1 and NSDL Payments Bank introduce a prepaid identification card for students and educational institutions                         

• Edu-fintech startup LEO1, in collaboration with NSDL Payments Bank and with MasterCard as network partner, launched India’s first numberless Prepaid ID card for students and educational institutions.
• As per the fintech startup the prepaid student card is designed with an aim to provide educational institutes and students with a streamlined and cost-effective payment solution.

Features

• The prepaid card will help digitise the financial ecosystem in educational institutes across India and create cash-free campuses.
• With the LEO1 card, parents will be able to send money digitally and monitor category-wise usage of the card and overall spending.
• Students will be able to use it effortlessly to tap and pay institute fees, make payments effortlessly at any retail outlets that use point of sale (POS) terminals.
• Students will also be able to pay online payments just like any other debit card, withdraw cash, if necessary, from an ATM.
• Complete with their student and curriculum details, students will also be able to use it as a student ID card.

About LEO1 :

• Established : 2017
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Founder & Managing Director : Rohit Gajbhiye 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi Inaugurates India's Largest Global Trade Show at Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country's largest Global Trade show at Gandhinagar one day ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.
• President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi and President of Timor Leste, José Ramos-Horta, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel were present on the occasion.
• Spread across an area of two lakh square meters, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show will be India’s largest-ever Global Trade Show.
• A total of 100 countries are participating in the five-day trade show as visiting countries, while 33 countries are joining as partners.
• Over 1,000 exhibitors in the research sector representing 20 countries including Australia, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, UK, Germany and Norway will participate in the trade show.
• This time, the trade show will feature 13 halls, each dedicated to various themes, including 'Make in Gujarat' and 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat'.
• Around 450 MSME units will also take part in the Trade show.
• Cutting-edge products and services across various sectors, including the sunrise industries like electric vehicles, green hydrogen, renewable energy, semiconductors and cyber security will be presented in the trade show.

E-way bills without e-invoice details for B2B, B2E transactions to be blocked from March 1

• Selected GST payers will not be able to generate e-way bills without details of e-invoice with effect from March 1, 2024.
• This is applicable for e-invoice-enabled taxpayers and for the transactions related to supplies under B2B (Business to Business) and exports.
• However, EWBs for other transactions such as B2C (Business and non-supplies) will function as usual without any change.
• As on date, businesses with an annual turnover of ₹5 crore or more are mandatorily required to generate e-invoices, which means 10 lakhs assesses are required to comply with this.
• This number does not include exempted categories such as banks, non-banking financial companies, or insurance companies.
• An e-way bill is an electronic document generated on a portal, evidencing the movement of goods and indicating whether tax has been paid.
• E-invoice has been operationalised since October 2020 for the taxpayers with Annual Aggregate Turnover (AATO) above ₹500 crore.
• In a phased manner, e-invoice generation has become mandatory for taxpayers with AATO above 5 crore.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Kyrgyzstan Declared 'Snow Leopard' As National Symbol                               

• Kyrgyzstan has officially declared the snow leopard as its national symbol.
• The Kyrgyz Republic states that “snow leopard is not only a symbol of natural wealth and cultural prosperity but also an indicator of the stability and health of the mountain ecosystem”.
• The Cabinet of the Kyrgyzstan government will develop a logo, explore symbol usage at different levels, and define its ideological content.

About Snow Leopard:

• The snow leopard is also known as Panthera.
• It represents greatness, nobility, courage, bravery, and resilience.
• Cloaked in a dense white-grey fur spotted with prominent black rosettes, snow leopards are inhabitants of high mountainous terrain.
• Often referred to as the 'ghosts of the mountains,' these elusive creatures effortlessly blend into their surroundings, becoming nearly indistinguishable in their natural habitat.
• Known for their climbing prowess, snow leopards navigate steep slopes with ease due to their powerful build.
• Their hind legs grant them the ability to leap six times the length of their bodies, while a long tail provides agility, balance, and acts as protection against the cold, wrapping around the resting snow leopard.
• The habitat of snow leopards spans the mountainous regions of 12 countries in Asia, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• According to the World Wildlife Organization, this extensive range covers approximately 772,204 square miles, with China hosting 60% of the habitat.
• Notably, over 70% of the snow leopard's habitat remains unexplored.

About Kyrgyzstan :

• President : Sadyr Japarov
• Capital : Bishkek
• Currency : Kyrgyzstani som

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Arunachal Pradesh's Adi Kekir, Handmade Carpets, and Wancho Wooden Craft Granted Geographical Indication (GI) Tag                    

• Arunachal Pradesh's ginger, locally known as Adi Kekir, handmade carpets and Wancho wooden craft have secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

About Adi Kekir Ginger :

• Adi Kekir is a specific variety of ginger grown in East Siang, Siang, and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is known for its taste and size.

About Handmade Carpets :

• The handmade carpets made by Tibetan refugees, who live in various parts of the state, are known for their typical designs, motifs and textures.

About Wancho Wooden Craft :

• Wancho wooden craft items are unique as they feature tobacco pipes with head-shaped bowls and drinking mugs showing warriors carrying heads.
• The artisans also make sculptures of Lord Buddha, animals and dolls.
• Including ginger, handmade carpets, and Wancho wooden craft, a total of six products from Arunachal Pradesh have now received the Geographical Indication (GI) certification.
• Earlier, Arunachal Pradesh had received the GI tag for products such as Yak Churpi (cheese from Arunachali yak milk), Khamti rice (sticky rice from Namsai district), and Tangsa textile (from Changlang district).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

President Awards Sheetal Devi Arjuna Award for Sporting AchievementsX

• India’s best-performing athletes were conferred with the national sports awards by President Droupadi Murmu in a regal ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan where para archer and sports bigwig, Sheetal Devi from Jammu and Kashmir was also conferred with Arjuna Award.
• Sheetal Devi along with 26 athletes and para-athletes were conferred with the Arjuna Awards in a colorful ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Sheetal Devi belongs to a remote hamlet Lohi Dhar of mountainous Kishtwar district of Jammu division.
• Sheetal Devi who won two gold medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games, is the first international para archer without upper limbs due to a rare condition called Phocomelia.
• In the women's compound bow at the 2022 Asian Para Games, Sheetal Devi received two gold medals in mixed doubles and women's individual after winning a silver medal in women's double compound.
• In the women's compound competition at the Para Asian Games final, she won a gold medal.
• The Indian Para-archer became the first Indian woman to win 2 gold medals at the Asian Para Games.
• Sheetal has secured a spot at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Former President Kovind to Award Diplomas at IIMC's 55th Convocation

• Former President Ram Nath Kovind will confer Post Graduate Diploma degrees at the 55th Convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in New Delh
• The diplomas will be given to students from the 2021-22 and 2022-23 batches from all the six centres of the Institute.
• A total of sixty-five students will also be awarded different medals for outstanding performances.
• The IIMC is one of India's leading institutions that offers education in the field of media and communication in nine different courses in six centres across the country.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice BR Gavai Nominated as Chairperson of Supreme Court Legal Services Committee                              

• Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai has been nominated as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), replacing Justice Sanjiv Khanna – the senior most judge of the top court after the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee is constituted under Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, with the aim of providing "free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society" in cases under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
• Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, specifies that the Central Authority, which is the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), shall constitute the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.

Composition of SCLSC :

• The SCLSC is composed of a sitting Supreme Court judge who serves as the chairman.
• Other members possessing the experience and qualifications prescribed by the Centre are also part of the committee.
• Both the chairman and other members are nominated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• As of now, the SCLSC comprises Chairperson BR Gavai and 9 other members appointed by the CJI.

Role of CJI :

• The CJI holds the authority to nominate the Chairman and other members of the SCLSC.
• Additionally, the CJI has the power to appoint the Secretary to the Committee.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy's Elite Marine Commandos Effectively Rescue 21 Crew Members, Including 15 Indians, from MV Lila Norfolk

• The Indian Navy's elite marine commandos successfully rescued 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk.
• The merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk sent a distress message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, reporting a boarding by five-six unknown armed personnel.
• The Indian Navy diverted frontline warship INS Chennai from her anti piracy patrol and it intercepted the hijacked vessel.

Key Highlights : 

• The rescue operation involved deploying a range of assets, including a warship (INS Chennai), maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, P-8I aircraft, and long-range aircraft, along with Predator MQ9B drones.
• The Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk belonged to Lila Global, and the company's CEO, Steve Kunzer, confirmed the successful rescue by the Indian Navy ship INS Chennai.
• The rescue comes amid a series of maritime incidents in strategic waters in recent weeks, highlighting the heightened security concerns.
• Earlier incidents include a drone attack on the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto with 21 Indian crew members off India's west coast in December 2023.
• Another commercial oil tanker, en route to India, faced a suspected drone strike in the Southern Red Sea on the same day, with a crew of 25 Indians.

About Indian Navy :

• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of Defence Staff : General Anil Chauhan
• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R. Hari Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

ARCIL Acquires Loans Worth ₹1,100 Crore from RBL and Bandhan Bank

• Avenue Capital-backed Asset Reconstruction Company of India (Arcil) has acquired nearly ₹1,100 crore in small-ticket loans from RBL Bank and Bandhan Bank in two separate transactions.

Key Highlights :

• RBL Bank Transaction : RBL Bank sold small business loans amounting to ₹360 crore to ARCIL in an all-cash deal at auction, resulting in less than 1% recovery.
• Bandhan Bank Transaction : Bandhan Bank sold a ₹719-crore home loan portfolio for ₹289.6 crore at a Swiss auction, equating to a 40% recovery for the bank.
• Both transactions closed in the last week of December.
• Binding Offer for Affordable Home Loan Book : ARCIL provided a binding offer of ₹280 crore for Bandhan Bank's affordable home loan book, which was valued at ₹775 crore as of September 30, 2023.
• Swiss Challenge Auction : The offer from ARCIL triggered a Swiss challenge auction, where the anchor bidder has the first right to match counter offers.
• Counter Offer from Kotak Mahindra Bank : Kotak Mahindra Bank made an improved offer of 40% of the outstanding dues during the auction, but Arcil, the anchor bidder, matched the offer.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO Conducts Successful Test of Fuel Cell for Potential Application in Space Missions

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated a fuel cell that utilises hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, producing heat and water as byproducts.

What is a Fuel Cell?

• A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity from fuel and air through electrochemical reactions, without combustion, thus avoiding pollutants associated with high flame temperatures.

Key Highlights :

• The fuel cell, sent to space on the fourth stage of the PSLV on January 1, generated 180W of power during a short-duration test.
• 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.
• ISRO Chairperson S Somanath mentioned that the fuel cell, designed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), serves as a precursor to future power systems for space stations.
• ISRO is expected to launch multiple test vehicle missions, including at least one unmanned spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission in the current year.
• The zero-emission fuel cells developed by ISRO might find applications on Earth, potentially replacing vehicle engines.
• The fuel cell's ability to survive and perform in the harsh environments of space has been verified during its onboarding on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM).
• India has targeted setting up a space station in low earth orbit by 2035.

About ISRO :

• Established: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
• Chairman: S. Somanath

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

Coal India partners with EdCIL for education initiative in Jharkhand

• State-owned CIL has entered into an initial pact with EdCIL (India) Ltd for an education initiative in 11 mining districts of Jharkhand.
• EdCIL (India) Ltd is a consultancy and project management firm.
• The initiative is in line with the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The project will be implemented in 11 districts of Jharkhand within a period of three years.
• The estimated cost of the project is Rs 27.08 crore.
• The 11 districts have mining areas of three subsidiaries of CIL --Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).
• Coal India Limited (CIL) has entered into a MoU with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for "Setting up of Multi Skill Development Institutes (MSDIs)”.

MoU signed between Indian Railways and CII to promote and facilitate green initiatives

• Indian Railways has signed an MoU with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to reduce energy and water consumption lowering GHG emissions.
• IR and CII have renewed their MoU for third consecutive term.
• Indian Railways, as a major stakeholder of the transportation sector in India shared the responsibility of environment protection.
• IR, itself has set “Net Zero Carbon Emission” target by the year 2030.
• CII has been actively partnering with IR since July 2016 to promote and facilitate green initiatives over Indian Railways.
• First MoU was signed in year 2016 for 03 years and upon its expiry another MoU was signed in year 2019 for further 03 years.
• GreenCo rating: This initiative has been implemented in 75 Railways units (workshops & manufacturing facilities) and has improved their environmental performance substantially.
• Green Railway Stations: Around 40 stations have achieved green certificate and have demonstrated significant improvements by saving 22 million KWh energy and 3 billion litres of water annually.

NHPC and Gujarat govt sign MoU for ₹4,000 crore Investment in Kuppa Hydro project

• NHPC has signed an MoU with Gujarat Power Corporation Limited, Government of Gujarat for investment in the proposed 750 MW Kuppa Pumped Hydro Storage Project.
• As per the MoU, NHPC will invest an estimated Rs. 4000 crores in the proposed project, situated at Chhota Udaipur, Gujarat.
• NHPC and the Government of Gujarat plan to develop and utilize pumped hydro storage projects as an effective solution for energy storage.
• The MoU aims to contribute towards the national objective of clean and green energy, i.e. attainment of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and a “Net Zero” target by 2070.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hindi Day: 10th January

• World Hindi Day 2024 is observed on the 10th of January 2024.
• The inaugural World Hindi Conference, or Vishva Hindi Sammelan, was held in Nagpur, Maharashtra, in 1975, which is when World Hindi Day first became a thing.
• This day was dedicated to honouring both the Hindi language and the many authors who have contributed to its literature.
• Every year, Vishva Hindi Divas is observed to honour the Conference's anniversary.
• On January 10, Hindi-speaking people around the world celebrate World Hindi Day.
• Many public and private organizations in India hold celebrations for the day, and people who speak Hindi abroad also commemorate it with equal fervor.

Daily CA One- Liner: January 10

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country's largest Global Trade show at Gandhinagar one day ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.
• Selected GST payers will not be able to generate e-way bills without details of e-invoice with effect from March 1, 2024.
• India’s best-performing athletes were conferred with the national sports awards by President Droupadi Murmu in a regal ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan where para archer and sports bigwig, Sheetal Devi from Jammu and Kashmir was also conferred with Arjuna Award.
• Former President Ram Nath Kovind will confer Post Graduate Diploma degrees at the 55th Convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in New Delhi.
• State-owned CIL has entered into an initial pact with EdCIL (India) Ltd for an education initiative in 11 mining districts of Jharkhan
• Indian Railways has signed an MoU with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to reduce energy and water consumption lowering GHG emissions.
• NHPC has signed an MoU with Gujarat Power Corporation Limited, Government of Gujarat for investment in the proposed 750 MW Kuppa Pumped Hydro Storage Project.
• Capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board’s November 2023 decision to extend the requirement of mandatory appointment of custodians has become effective.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a payment aggregator (PA) licence to Tata Payments, Tata group’s digital payments app.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened rules for the issuance of short term Commercial Papers (CPs) and Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs), with an initial maturity of up to one year.
• Sustainable Energy Infra Trust, a renewable energy infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) backed by Mahindra group, is raising Rs 2,500 crore in a round led by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with participation from domestic institutional investors (DIIs).
• Edu-fintech startup LEO1, in collaboration with NSDL Payments Bank and with MasterCard as network partner, launched India’s first numberless Prepaid ID card for students and educational institutions.
• Kyrgyzstan has officially declared the snow leopard as its national symbol.
• Arunachal Pradesh's ginger, locally known as Adi Kekir, handmade carpets and Wancho wooden craft have secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai has been nominated as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), replacing Justice Sanjiv Khanna – the senior most judge of the top court after the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• The Indian Navy's elite marine commandos successfully rescued 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk.
• Avenue Capital-backed Asset Reconstruction Company of India (Arcil) has acquired nearly ₹1,100 crore in small-ticket loans from RBL Bank and Bandhan Bank in two separate transactions.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated a fuel cell that utilises hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, producing heat and water as byproducts.
• World Hindi Day 2024 is observed on the 10th of January 2024.