January 2024 Current Affairs MCQ Questions and Answers

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched an indigenous assault rifle named ‘Ugram’, intended to meet the
operational requirements of armed forces, paramilitary, and state police entities. The rifle, with a calibre of 7.62 x 51 mm, has been designed, developed, and manufactured in collaboration with a private industry partner.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has entered into a three-year Memorandum of
Understanding with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a unit of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), to develop a “Green Cover Index” for the country’s extensive network of National Highways.

Bandhan Bank has announced that it has secured mandate to collect revenue on e-GRAS portal from Assam government. This will enable people of Assam
to make their tax payments as well as non-tax payments through the Government Receipt Accounting System Portal (GRAS). This will make
transactions easier, paperless and accessible for
people of Assam.

The World Bank approved a loan of USD 200 million for India’s ‘Mission Karmayogi’ program.

India signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Arabia.

Private lender Federal Bank said that it has received the approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to permit ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company
(ICICI AMC) to acquire an aggregate holding of up to
9.95 percent of stake in the bank. RBI accorded the approval subject to conditions, Federal Bank said in a regulatory filing.

The average monthly gross GST collection of ₹1.66 lakh crore in the first 9-month period this year represents a 12% increase compared to the ₹1.49 lakh crore average recorded in the corresponding
period of FY23. The revenues for the month of December, 2023 are 10.3% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year.

India’s First National Highway Steel Slag Road was inaugurated on NH-66.

Cabo Verde was recently certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Suraksha Yojana’ to provide health insurance to children.

State-owned REC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Baroda (BoB) to jointly finance projects in the power, infrastructure, and logistics sectors over the next three years. The MoU was signed in presence of Vivek Kumar Dewangan, IAS, CMD, REC Limited and Debadatta Chand, MD and CEO, Bank of Baroda along with Lalit Tyagi, executive director, Bank of
Baroda.

 Man Singh won the gold medal at the 19th Asian Marathon Championships 2024 in Hong Kong, China.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has been awarded the prestigious Leif Erikson Lunar Prize by the Husavik Museum, Iceland in recognition of the space agency’s unwavering commitment and significant contributions to lunar exploration. The award celebrates Isro’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, which has played a pivotal role in enhancing our understanding of celestial mysteries.

 Dr. Arvind Panagariya was appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Suraksha Yojana’ to provide health insurance to children.

The ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report for 2024 was released by the World Bank.

The Karnataka High Court recently suspended all mining licenses for stone quarrying within a 20-km radius of the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam.

IG Drones was awarded a contract to survey the Personalized Rapid Transit Corridor (PRT) of India’s first Neo Metro Project in Uttarakhand.

The United Nations has declared 2024 the International Year Of Camelids. The decision has been taken to highlight the significant importance of camelids in the lives of people across the world.
According to the official website of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), camelids influence the lives of millions of households in more than 90
countries.

Cyber risks are seen as the most serious concern to
Indian organizations, with 38% of respondents believing they are highly or extremely vulnerable to them. When compared to the highlights of the 2022 Global Risk Survey – India, cybersecurity has risen
two points from third to first on the risk radar.

An estimated 24.82 crore Indians have moved out of
multidimensional poverty in the last nine years, with poverty levels declining to 11.28 percent in 2022-23 from 29.17 percent in 2013-14 — a reduction of 17.89 percentage points — according to a discussion paper released by NITI Aayog.

According to CBRE India Research’s report “MSMEs:
Unleashing the Engines of Economic Prosperity”,
Maharashtra has the largest share (17%) of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India, followed by Tamil Nadu (10%) and Uttar Pradesh (9%). The research was revealed during the CREDAI National New India Summit 2024 (5th edition), which took place in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, from January
7th to 9th, 2024.

HDFC Bank has informed that the Board of Directors has recommended the reappointment of Atanu
Chakraborty as the part time non-executive chairman and independent director of the Bank to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a second term of
three years.

Switzerland recently agreed to host a Global Peace Summit on Ukraine.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Shiksha Saathi Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to students for higher education.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya has launched MedTech Mitra, an online portal that aims to assist medtech
innovators in clinical evaluation, regulatory facilitation, and uptake of new products. The portal will be coordinated collaboratively by the Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Central
Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under
the guidance of NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.

Ranking second after China, India has surpassed Taiwan in weightage in MSCI Emerging Markets index. India’s index weightage took a leap from 7 per cent to 17.1 per cent in eight years. Although India’s
position in emerging markets portfolios remains relatively light, its growing size is making its markets more relevant for global funds.

The ‘World Economic Outlook’ report for 2024 was released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader of business
decisioning data and analytics, in collaboration with Jupiter Wagons, introduces the Indian Railway Freight Activity (IRFA) Index, a pioneering initiative
aimed at providing a comprehensive and data-driven
assessment of the dynamics of Indian Railway freight activity.

India’s coking coal imports are at a five-year high for the April-November period (11 months) of this fiscal at 38.14 million tonnes (mt). Imports were slightly higher on a Y-o-Y basis with nearly 38.12 mt of shipments coming in for the comparative period last year.

The book “Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns” was authored by M.J. Akbar.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Laxmi Yojana’ to promote the education and well-being of girls.

Public sector lender Bank of Baroda has launched a
Special Short Term Deposit Product offering higher
Rate Of Interest in Short Term deposits. The Bank of Baroda special FD scheme –“bob360 Term Deposit” — is available for a tenor of 360 days. bob360 Term Deposit offers high rate of interest for Domestic Term Deposits to Residents/NRO and Resident Senior Citizen.

State-run Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has signed a firm contract worth Rs 488.25 crore with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the short refit of an Indian naval ship. The contract, officially signed on December 19, 2023, involves the repair and maintenance of equipment and systems on board the naval vessel, the company said.

Microsoft launched the “AI Odyssey” initiative.

The Henley Passport Index 2024 highlighted the “power” of passports of 199 countries. The index, which ranks countries based on the number of destinations that allow visa-free entry to their passport, was topped by France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain. According to the latest ranking, India stands at the 80th rank in the list of most powerful passports.

Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Khadi Village & Industries Commission (KVIC) have signed an MoU to
introduce made in India labelled khadi merchandise, improve the quality of khadi products and empower khadi artisans, the QCI said in a statement.

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) announced plans to develop India’s first and biggest jewellery park in Navi Mumbai.

Uttar Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Balika Protsahan Yojana’ to encourage the education of girl children.

In order to facilitate non-resident Indians (NRIs) for
resolving their issues, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a new website nri.punjab.gov.in of the NRI Affairs Department. Launching the website, the Chief Minister described it as a path-breaking initiative aimed at ensuring the
well-being of the NRIs on one hand and helping them to stay connected with their roots on the other.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
has unveiled a new logo for Chartered Accountants (CA) India recently. The logo was launched by VicePresident of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar in the presence of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry CA Piyush Goyal and Praful Pansheriya, Minister of State
for Parliamentary Affairs.

The XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) will be launched by ISRO’s PSLV-C58 mission.

The Reserve Bank said it has imposed penalties totalling Rs 2.49 crore on three banks, including Dhanlaxmi Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank and ESAF
Small Finance Bank for contravention of regulatory
norms. A penalty of Rs 1.20 crore has been slapped on Dhanlaxmi Bank for non-compliance with certain directions on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and
Other Restrictions’, KYC and certain norms related to
interest rate on deposits.

India’s first National Highway made with steel slag was inaugurated on NH-66.

The UAE Land Forces contingent comprising 45 personnel is in India to participate in the 1st edition of the India – UAE Joint Military Exercise ‘DESERT
CYCLONE’. The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted
in Mahajan, Rajasthan from 2nd to 15th January 2024.

Kolkali dance is a traditional folk dance of the Lakshadweep Islanders. Kolakali dance is performed by moving in a circle, striking small sticks, and maintaining rhythm using particular moves. The circle would gradually shrink as the dance progressed.

Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM)
has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India for banking services to self-help groups (SHGs) in the state. The MoU has been signed to expedite the SHG bank linkage on savings, credit, insurance and remittances for 12,000 self-help groups promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission
(DAY-NRLM) in the northeastern state.

The 8th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) was conducted by Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok, Thailand from 19 – 22
Dec 2023. Chiefs of Navies/ Senior Delegates from 27
Members/ Observer countries participated in the event.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in
Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding
Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand.

The foundation stone for the modernization and upgradation of Paradip Fishing Harbour was laid in Odisha.

Anahat Singh won the girls’ under-19 title at the 2023 Scottish Junior Open squash tournament.

The country’s biggest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), said that it has signed a $165 million Line of Credit (LoC) from the World Bank in Delhi to support
grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects in residential and institutional sectors. SBI is planning
to make it mandatory for builders to make rooftop
solar installations if the project is funded from the bank’s green funds.

The inaugural ‘Inland Waterways Development Council’ meeting was held aboard the MV Ganga Queen in Kolkata.

Jadung Village in Uttarkashi district witnessed abandonment following the 1962 Indo-China war, which significantly impacted diplomatic relations between the two nations and left unresolved border disputes. The fallout from the conflict resulted in the residents deserting the village due to the strategic and geopolitical changes in the region.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to enhance the bulk deposit limit for large urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to ₹1 crore and above from the current ₹15 lakh and above. With the bulk deposit bar being raised to ₹1 crore and above, customers’ placing deposits below this threshold will earn a uniform rate of interest.

China’s ocean drilling vessel, Mengxiang, embarks on an unprecedented journey to probe Earth’s mantle and breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity (Moho).Weighing an impressive 33,000 tonnes and stretching 179 meters, Mengxiang is a colossal ship engineered to withstand powerful tropical cyclones. The vessel’s mission represents humanity’s inaugural
exploration into the uncharted territory of the Earth’s mantle, a crucial layer connecting the surface to the core.

The Indian Olympic Association appointed Raghuram Iyer as the Chief Executive Officer. The lack of a CEO was an issue which was flagged even by International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach when he was visiting Mumbai for the IOC Session a couple of months back.

The Centre has appointed Nina Singh as the first woman Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). She will hold the top post till
July 31, 2024. Singh, a 1989-batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre, is currently the Special Director General of CISF, which mans airports, Delhi Metro,
government buildings and strategic installations
throughout the country.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Krishi Saathi Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to farmers for crop production.

The central bank observed that gross household financial savings, which had surged to 15.4 per cent of GDP in 2020-21 (pandemic peak year), supported by large precautionary savings, fell to 11.1 per cent in 2021-22 and further to 10.9 per cent in 2022-23, reverting to its pre-pandemic trend (an average of 11 per cent during 2011-12 to 2019-20).

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur and Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin unveiled the official jersey of 6th
Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai recently. Mr Thakur also unveiled the mascot for the Games. The mascot is the Veera Mangai Velu Nachiyar. The
theme song of the games was also released.

India became the first country to approve the use of 3D-printed corneas for human trials.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. MTHL, India’s longest sea bridge covering 21.8 km out of which 16.5 km is over the sea, is expected
to see the movement of more than 70,000 vehicles every day.

The ‘Aspirational Blocks Programme’ was launched to improve the quality of life in blocks with high poverty rates.

Madhya Pradesh emerged as the overall champion in the Beach Games 2024 held at Ghoghla Beach in Diu.

The Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, recently launched the ‘Build for Billions’ startup accelerator program in collaboration with RBIH and Union Bank of India.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Vriddha Pension Yojana’ to provide financial support to senior citizens.

Project ‘Veer Gatha’ is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’ to provide health insurance to economically weaker sections.

Argentina’s new President, Javier Milei, has withdrawn the country from its planned entry into the expanding BRICS club of nations. It would have been admitted to the BRICS club on 1 January, alongside Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Vriddha Pension Yojana’ to provide financial support to senior citizens.

Odisha launched the third phase of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).

The Government of India has signed an agreement with Asian Development Bank to avail 100 million US dollar loan, to improve urban services and tourism
facilities in the northeastern state of Tripura. Finance Ministry said, the project will upgrade urban water supply systems by installing 42 kilometers of new
transmission and distribution pipes and establishing four new water treatment plants.

he inaugural edition of the Joint Military Exercise ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ will be held between India and the United Arab Emirates in Rajasthan.

The Kuwaiti Dinar recently secured the first rank in the Forbes list of the 10 strongest currencies in the world.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has developed the Bhoomi Rashi portal to digitize the land acquisition process for National Highway (NH) Projects. The portal has greatly reduced the time period for publication of notifications and brought in
efficiency as well as transparency.

Germany won the 2024 United Cup tennis tournament.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities (DEPWD) and the National Human Resources Development Network (NHRDN) have signed a memorandum of understanding on the closing day of the International Purple Fest in Goa. This strategic collaboration aims to aggregate
employment opportunities for Divyangjans through the innovative PM-DAKSH-DEPWD digital portal.

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 seniormost judge of the top
court after the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

DLabs at the Indian School of Business (ISB) launched
‘Build for Billions’, a startup accelerator programme,
themed around financial inclusion for the informal
economy, in partnership with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) and Union Bank of India.

“Growth in India is projected to reach 6.2% in 2024, slightly lower than the 6.3% estimate for 2023, amid robust domestic demand and strong growth in the manufacturing and services sectors,” UN report said. The report notes that economic growth in India is projected to remain “strong” at 6.2% this year mainly supported by resilient private consumption and strong public investment.

Govindayapalli Ram Mohan Rao has been appointed as Executive Director, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), on January 3. His appointment is for three years and he will be handling the Investigation Department and Internal Inspection Department.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Suraksha Yojana’ to provide health insurance to children.

The International Purple Fest – 2024 was inaugurated in Goa.

Rajendranagar Police Station was awarded the title of the best police station in 2023 at the 58th DGsP/IGsP Conference in Jaipur.

Rajasthan launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Scheme’ to provide free coaching to underprivileged students.

India’s first Healthy & Hygienic Food Street, ‘PRASADAM,’ was inaugurated in Ujjain.

Ola Electric has become the first Indian e-scooter (e2W) company to get eligible for the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, according to a report. “Ola Electric has successfully met the stringent eligibility assessment requirements
outlined in the PLI Scheme, including a minimum of 50% domestic value addition to its vehicles,” the report claimed.

Barack Obama won the Emmy for best narrator for his Netflix documentary series, “Working: What We Do All Day”, repeating in a category he previously
won for narrating a Netflix series on national parks. He also has two Grammys for his voice work on the audiobooks of his two memoirs.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to farmers.

Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) signed an agreement with CAMYEN SE of Argentina for Lithium exploration and mining.

Sports entrepreneur Vita Dani has become the first Indian to be inducted as a governing board member of the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Foundation. The Foundation was established in 2018 by the ITTF to attract more people to the sport.

Paramilitary forces are transitioning to the ‘Sandes
App’ to address concerns regarding data security,
prioritizing the use of indigenous technology over
popular international platforms like WhatsApp. The
shift underscores the strategic move to safeguard
sensitive information and ensure secure
communication within security organizations,
aligning with the government’s emphasis on data
sovereignty.

The 25T Bollard Pull Tug launched at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, Kolkata, is named Bhishm.

Canada-based Brookfield will acquire the Indian business of American Tower Corporation (ATC) for an enterprise value of USD 2 billion, a release said. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and
expected to close in the second half of 2024. ATC India has a portfolio of approximately 78,000 sites across the country.

After a review, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to enhance the bulk deposit limit for Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, in Tier 3 and 4, to Rs 1 crore and above from ₹15 lakh and above which was the meaning of bulk deposits as per a previous Master Direction.

ISRO successfully tested 10 Ah Silicon-Graphite-anode-based high energy density Li-ion cells.

To showcase the rich cultural heritage and to promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the first-ever ‘Shimla Winter Carnival’ at its historic ridge on 25 December. The event started with a cultural parade that saw the participation of 450 women presenting Mahanati, showcasing the talent of self help groups and Anganwadi workers.

Kuwait’s ruler appointed Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah as the country’s new prime minister. Sheikh Mohammed, an academic and a
former foreign minister who also served as ambassador to the United States, is tasked with forming the first new government since Emir Sheikh
Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah took over after the death of his half brother last month.

Public sector Indian Bank has partnered with FPL Technologies, to launch the Indian Bank One Cobranded Credit Card. The partnership brings in Indian Bank, FPL Technologies, NPCI, and VISA, signaling a synergy of expertise, innovation, and commitment toward providing customers with unparalleled
services in the credit card domain.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the first all-girls sainik school at Vrindavan recently. According to the defence ministry, Samvid
Gurukulam Girls Sainik School, the first all-girls sainik
school with a strength of about 870 students, has been inaugurated under the initiative of establishing 100 new sainik schools in partnership with
NGOs/private/state government schools in all states/Union territories.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Shiksha Saathi Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to students for higher education.

 Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’ to provide health insurance to economically weaker sections.

The Madhya Pradesh government recently launched the ‘Ladli Bahna Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to women.

Jharkhand launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Krishi Aashirwad Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to farmers.

The Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) conducted a maiden bilateral exercise, named ‘ExAyutthaya’, which symbolises the significance of
‘Ayodhya’ in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand, which
holds historic legacies and has rich cultural ties. The exercise between the two navies was conducted from December 20 to 23 last year.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana’ to provide subsidized food to the poor.

The Rural Development Ministry and State Bank of India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate enterprise financing for rural selfhelp groups (SHG), an official statement said. The
MoU was signed by Additional Secretary Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Charanjit Singh and Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, Corporate office Mumbai, Shantanu Pendsey.

Magnus Carlsen won the 2023 World Blitz Chess Championship in the Open Category in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Gabriel Attal was named on January 9 as France’s
youngest-ever Prime Minister, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks a fresh start for the rest of his term amid growing political pressure from the far
right. Mr. Attal, 34, rose to prominence as the government spokesman and Education Minister.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Arogya Yojana’ to provide health insurance to children.

Nitish Kumar, the president of Janata Dal (United), has
achieved the remarkable feat of being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the record ninth time. This political development occurred just 18 months after his departure from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Life Insurance Corporation of India has reduced its
shareholding in Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd to 9.617
per cent from 11.701 per cent. In a disclosure to the exchanges, LIC said it sold the shares at an average
price of ₹79.58 through secondary market between
June 2019 and December 2023.

Researchers from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic
Resources (NBFGR) have contributed to India’s marine
biodiversity knowledge by discovering two new species
of Congrid eels. This finding enriches our understanding
of relatively less studied fish groups along the coasts of
Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Vidya Saathi Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to students for higher education.

ITC, a renowned Indian corporation, has formed a
significant cooperation with Microsoft and Skymet to address the growing issues that tobacco producers in
India confront as a result of climate change. This effort uses cutting-edge technology like drones, AI, and data analytics to give precise weather forecasts, crop advisories, hotspot mapping, and nutritional supplementation.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has extended the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components by one year. The
scheme will be applicable for five consecutive financial years, starting from FY24 and ending in 2027-28.

Coast Guards of India and Japan took part in a joint
exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ off the Chennai coast as part of strengthening the bond of the two countries. One ship of the Japanese Coast Guard and four ships and an aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard took part in the exercise.

The United States continues to have the most powerful
military in the world, followed by Russia and China, according to the Global Firepower rankings 2024. India has the fourth strongest military globally, according to the index which evaluated the strength of 145 countries.

IndusInd Bank has launched ‘eSvarna’ which is a corporate credit card on RuPay network. eSvarna RuPay credit card can be used to link with any
supporting UPI app and then payments can be made
using it too. While many retail credit cards were launched on RuPay network however as per the claim by IndusInd Bank eSvarna is India’s first corporate RuPay credit card to be linked with UPI.

Jio continues to be the strongest Indian brand, ahead
of likes of Life Insurance Corporation and State Bank of
India, according to the latest report ‘Global-500 2024’
published by Brand Finance. In the 2024 ranking, Jio is
placed at the 17th position among the world’s
strongest brands with a Brand Strength Index of 88.9 in
the list led by WeChat, YouTube, Google, Deloitte, Coca Cola and Netflix.

The book “Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns” was authored by M.J. Akbar.

The 25T Bollard Pull Tug launched at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, Kolkata, is named Bhishm.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has
approved the appointment of former Coal India chief
Pramod Agrawal as the chairman of the BSE. The appointment will be effective from January 17, 2024. Agrawal, a former IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh
cadre, served as Coal India Chairman from February 2020 to June 2023.

 India has become the first country to launch a national green hydrogen mission.

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Rao Inderjit Singh launched the MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application for revised fund flow procedure under MPLAD (Member of
Parliament Local Area Development) Scheme, at
Khurshid Lal Bhawan, New Delhi.

The remains of a 2,800-year-old human settlement were discovered in Vadnagar, India.

The board of the Washington-based International Monetary Fund is set to deliberate and potentially grant final approval for the disbursement of the next $700 million tranche for Pakistan under the existing
$3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). According to the IMF’s latest figures, the projected real GDP for the year is anticipated to experience a contraction of 0.5 per cent, indicating potential economic
headwinds.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Old Age Pension Scheme’ to provide financial support to senior citizens.

The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) announced a year-long festival on “Connecting the world through Ramayan” as part of the seventh edition of the “India International Ramayan Mela.”

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Arogya Abhiyan’ to provide healthcare services to children.

The Indian Air Force conducted its first night landing at the Kargil Advanced Landing Ground with the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Laxmi Yojana’ to promote the education and well-being of girls.

“India is projected to grow at 6.2% in 2024, supported by robust domestic demand and strong growth in the manufacturing and services sectors,” the United Nations has said. The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 report,
launched on January 4, said that gross domestic product in South Asia is projected to increase by 5.2% in 2024.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Shiksha Saathi Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to students for higher education.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a scheme to develop 40 lakh self-helpgroup (SHG) members as rural micro-entrepreneurs and help them become ‘lakhpati baidos (elder sister)’. The scheme, ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila
Udyamita Abhiyan’, will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore and offered to those SHG members who are willing to undertake a personal business plan along with their group activity.

Bihar launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Balika Anudan Yojana’ to promote the education of girl children.

The 7th edition of the mega food show ‘Indus Food 2024’ was inaugurated in Greater Noida.

Global growth is projected to slow for the third consecutive year, reaching 2.4 per cent in 2024, down from 2.6 per cent in 2023, said the World Bank
forecast in its latest Global Economic Prospects
report. Among global economies, developing
countries’ economies will be hit harder, growing at just 3.9 per cent, far below their pre pandemic average.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to economically weaker sections for higher education.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Krishi Kalyan Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to farmers.

The military regimes governing Burkina Faso, Mali, and
Niger surprised the international community by
announcing their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This decision was labeled as a “sovereign decision,” indicating a self-determined move without
external influence.

Andhra Pradesh became the second state after Bihar to conduct a caste census.

The ‘World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2024’ report was released by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Argentina recently declined the invitation to join BRICS.

COP29 will be held in Azerbaijan, with Mukhtar Babayev as the president-designate.

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited
(NIIFL) announced that its board of directors has
appointed Sanjiv Aggarwal as chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) of the company. The appointment follows a search process
conducted by NIIFL’s board of directors.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has launched the National Transit Pass System (NTPS) pan-India to facilitate the seamless transit of timber,
bamboo, and other forest produce across the country. Speaking during the launch in New Delhi, Mr. Yadav said that NTPS is envisioned as a ‘One
Nation-One Pass’ regime that will contribute to the ease of doing business.

The country’s total debt, or the total outstanding bonds which are being traded in the market, rose to USD 2.47 trillion (Rs 205 lakh crore) in the September
quarter, according to a report. The total debt amount in the March quarter of the previous fiscal was USD 2.34 trillion (Rs 200 lakh crore).

Markets regulator Sebi has extended the deadline to June 30 2024 for demat and mutual fund account holders to provide a nomination. Earlier, the deadline to nominate a beneficiary or opt out of it by
submitting a declaration form was December 31, 2023. The move is aimed at helping investors to secure their assets and pass them on to their legal
heirs.

Assam launched India’s first app-based 100% electric and decentralized bike taxi service ‘Baayu’.

 Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Old Age Pension Scheme’ to provide financial support to senior citizens.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) was awarded the contract to set up the 2,400 MW greenfield thermal power plant in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district.

The film “Oppenheimer” won the “Best film – drama” award at the 81st Golden Globe Awards 2024.

The National Highway Authority of India has undertaken ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag initiative to
discourage use of single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple Fastags to a particular vehicle. “FASTags with valid balance but with incomplete
know your customer (KYC) will get deactivated or blacklisted by banks post 31st January 2024,” the ministry of road transport and highways said in astatement.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has given its nod to a transformative initiative aimed at upskilling and providing job opportunities for 300,500 women and youth in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim. According to the World Bank, the USD 100 million ‘Sikkim: Integrated Service Provision
and Innovation for Reviving Economies (INSPIRES)’
Operation aims to foster growth and development by focusing on non-farm sectors, including
renewable energy, IT services, tourism, hospitality, wellness care, and creative design.

INSAT-3DS, flagged off by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), is an advanced meteorological
satellite. Weighing 2275 kg, the satellite has completed
assembly, integration, and testing at ISRO’s UR and is
poised for an upcoming launch to enhance India’s capabilities in weather monitoring.

The grand event of the International Gita Mahotsav
– 2023 took place from December 7 to December 24
in Kurukshetra, Haryana. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the main programme on December 17 and also inaugurated a three-day International Gita Seminar at Kurukshetra University.

 Uttar Pradesh won the State Champion award for outstanding performance in Civil Aviation at the Wings India Awards 2024.

The sixth edition of the Rabindranath Tagore Literary
Prize was awarded to poet-critic Sukrita Paul Kumar for her book, ‘Salt & Pepper: Selected Poems’. An amount of USD 5,000, a Tagore statue and a certificate for contribution to literature was given to Kumar at the award ceremony in New Delhi.

Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance has launched a new product, T.U.L.I.P, a term with a unit-linked insurance plan. The product is a plan that gives a life
cover up to 100 times the annual premium while permitting customers to earn returns like a ULIP product.

The interest rate applicable to the Sukanya Samriddhi scheme was increased by 20 basis points to 8.2 per cent, and that to the three-year Time
Deposit Scheme—a fixed deposit (FD) scheme with a maturity period of three years—by 10 basis points to 7.1 per cent—both with effect from January 1,
according to a circular by the Ministry of Finance.

INS ‘Imphal’, the first ship to be named after a city from the Northeast was commissioned to the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command,
the sword arm of the Indian Navy. INS Imphal, a Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer of the Visakhapatnam-class, was built in the Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai.

Suchetha Satish set a Guinness World Record for singing in 140 languages in a 9-hour concert.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Shiksha Saathi Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to students for higher education.

Rajasthan launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Scheme’ to provide free coaching to underprivileged students.

Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL) and Flipkart entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on decarbonising Flipkart’s supply chain. The initiative aims to reduce Flipkart’s carbon footprint in the
primary, secondary, and tertiary movements of goods across sourcing locations, warehouses, and customer deliveries.

Three items of Arunachal Pradesh have received the
prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, officials
said. These are adi kekir (ginger), carpet handmade
by Tibetan settlers and wooden items made by the
Wancho community, they said.

New investments, announced by India Inc in the first nine months (9M) of FY24, at ₹10.80 lakh crore are still low and not picking up at the desired rate, according to an analysis by Bank of Baroda’s
Economic Research Department (ERD). This is an indication that the industry in general is still in a wait and watch mode, the ERD said in a report.

Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory to implement the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, an initiative that aims to empower and enhance the skills of the craftsman community, officials said. PMVY, an initiative launched by the Central
government in September 2023, aims to recognise artisans and craftspeople through PM Vishwakarma certificates and ID cards, officials said.

NHPC Limited announced an investment in the proposed 750 MW Kuppa Pumped Hydro Storage Project in Gujarat.

In a move to streamline the import, clinical investigations, and testing of medical devices, the Centre has launched the National Single Window
System (NSWS). The NSWS portal, distinct from the
existing SUGAM and cdscomdonline portals, has
been developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

Union Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled the logo and booklet for the upcoming “Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024.” The Mega Mobility show is set to take place from February 1-3, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam,
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The ‘Swachh Mandir’ (Clean Temple) campaign will be held from 14th January to 22nd January.

The Rajasthan government launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Sarthi Yojana’ to provide training and financial assistance to youth for employment opportunities.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released Third advance estimate of area and production of various horticultural crops for the year
2022-23. The estimation of total horticulture production for the year 2022-23 is 355.25 million tonnes, which is about 8.07 million tonnes more
(increase of 2.32%) than the year 2021-22.

Argentine President Javier Milei has withdrawn the country’s planned entry into BRICS, informing leaders of member nations in letters. In his letter to
the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, Javier Milei said that the decision taken by the previous government has been reversed.

PM Narendra Modi recently visited Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya.

The CRC Samba-Jammu, inaugurated by Lt. Governor
Shri Manoj Sinha, is a significant initiative by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India. It aims to provide
comprehensive support, skill development, and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), promoting their empowerment and facilitating their seamless integration into mainstream society.

The International Purple Fest – Goa 2024 was organized from 8 to 13 January 2024. Pramod
Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa was the Chief Guest, and Shri Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, was the Guest of Honour.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an extension of the Payments Infrastructure
Development Fund (PIDF) scheme until December 31, 2025. Initially launched in 2021 for a three-year period, this extension aims to continue fostering financial inclusion and supporting the country’s
payment infrastructure.

A report by crypto trading platform CoinSwitch
showed Delhi maintained its lead in India’s crypto adoption, followed by Bangalore and Mumbai. The parameter for this was in terms of value invested.
The report also states that the markets picked up significantly towards the end of 2023.

Hyundai Motor India has roped in popular Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone as its brand ambassador, the Korean automaker said. Her association adds a touch of star power, emphasising Hyundai’s
commitment to style, performance and an
unparalleled driving experience, the company said in a statement.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Suraksha Yojana’ to provide insurance coverage to students.

An investment of Rs 45,000 crore for the development of river cruise tourism in the country has been promised by the Inland Waterways
Development Council (IWDC). The centre aims to develop 26 more waterways which will be fit for River Cruise tourism. Present operational strength is
of eight waterways.

Bikaner-III Neemrana-II Transmission, a project
special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by Power Finance Corporation’s subsidiary PFC Consulting is estimated to cost ₹1,544 crore. Tata Power will
maintain the transmission project for 35 years.

Chad’s transitional government has appointed former opposition leader Succes Masra, who recently returned to the country following exile, as
prime minister. Masra will serve through the transition to civilian rule, Mahamat Ahmad Alhabo,
Chad’s new secretary-general of the presidency, said.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sold $5 Billion Dual Tranche 3- and 10-Year Global Benchmark Bonds.

Public sector lender Central Bank of India has entered into a strategic co-lending partnership with Kisetsu Saison Finance, India for MSME Loans. Bank
in its regulatory filing said that the participation by both entities in this co-lending arrangement will result in greater expansion of the portfolio by Central
Bank of India and Kisetsu Saison Finance, India.

The ‘Build for Billions’ startup accelerator program was launched by DLabs at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on January 12 said it
has cancelled the licence of The Hiriyur Urban Cooperative Bank over inadequate capital and earning prospects. After the cancellation of licence, the bank is prohibited from conducting the business of
‘banking’ which includes, acceptance of deposits and
repayment of deposits with immediate effect, the RBI added.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a substantial allocation of Rs 1,170.16 crore for 29 road projects in Ladakh. This funding aims to address the connectivity challenges faced by Ladakh, the largest Union Territory, and foster socio-economic development. Additionally, Rs 181.71 crore from the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) has been earmarked for the construction of eight bridges inthe region.

Denmark has announced its Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) initiative to boost collaborative efforts between the two countries in the sustainable energy solutions sector and advance their joint global goal towards carbon neutrality.

Indian Army will observe 2024 as the “Year of Technology Absorption” as it’s trying to gradually mature into a modern force that will have a new
operational philosophy for induction of drones and counter-drones systems right across infantry, artillery and armoured battalions, and establish Command Cyber Operations Support Wings
(CCOSWs), besides bridging other conventional asymmetries.

Indian Navy Ships Cheetah, Guldar and Kumbhir were decommissioned on 12 Jan 2024 after rendering four decades of glorious service to the nation. Cheetah, Guldar and Kumbhir were constructed at the Gdynia Shipyard, Poland as Polnocny class Landing Ships and were commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1984, 1985 and 1986 respectively.

The number of stock market investors in India has surged past the 8 crore milestone, registering a remarkable growth of 22.4% from the figure
recorded on December 31, 2022, as per data from
the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The state of
Maharashtra tops the list of highest number of registered investors at 1.48 crore. Uttar Pradesh has ascended to the second position, surpassing Gujarat, with 89.47 lakh investors. The state recorded a
growth of 33.8% in new investors.

Public sector bank Indian Overseas Bank has
introduced ‘Savings Account Portability Online’, a scheme that is aimed at offering an easier savings account portability process for customers who move to different locations. With the new online scheme, customers don’t have to fill out those endless forms and wait for days and weeks for the account transfer to materialise.

The Kyaukphyu deep sea port is a proposed infrastructure project in Myanmar.

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues crossed ₹1,64,800 crore in December 2023, with year-on-year growth slowing to a three-month low of 10.3% from a 15.1% rise in the previous month. December’s GST kitty is about 1.8% lower than the
nearly ₹1.68 lakh crore collected a month earlier.

IndusInd Bank has launched its UPI-enabled IndusInd Bank Samman RuPay Credit Card, in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) especially for government sector employees. The cards have been launched for government sector employees to provide them with a range of exclusive benefits and enhance their overall banking experience.

V.K. Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI AAYOG inaugurated India’s First National Highway Steel Slag Road section on NH- 66 Mumbai-Goa National
Highway. Dr Saraswat said that the Steel Slag Road Technology, developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) is transforming the
waste of steel industries into wealth and is helping
the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to build stronger and ecofriendly national highways in the country.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a one-year extension to the co-branding partnership between Bajaj Finance and RBL Bank. On October 27, Bajaj
Finance had sought a longer extension for its credit card ties with RBL Bank. The initial permit was for a two-year period.

Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up a wholly-owned finance company in the GIFT City in Gujarat. The entity at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) will present new business
opportunities for PFC and contribute to the growth
of the country’s power sector.

The ‘Global Risks Report 2024’ was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The humanoid robot unveiled by Google DeepMind and Stanford University is named Mobile ALOHA.

 Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Old Age Pension Yojana’ to provide financial support to senior citizens.

The United Nations Security Council has appointed
former Afghan President Hamid Karzai as special envoy for peace in Afghanistan. China and Russia  abstained from voting on the Security Council resolution, which was supported by 13 countries.

Indian airline IndiGo has announced that it had made
history by “becoming the first Indian airline to carry 100 million passengers in a single calendar year.” With this achievement, it has joined a select club of
global carriers to operate on such scale. This development further cements IndiGo’s standing among the 10 largest airlines in the world by passenger traffic.

Bank of India has rolled out a Super Special Fixed Deposit scheme, featuring an alluring interest rate of 7.50 per cent per annum. This exclusive offer is open to both existing customers and new ones and is
applicable for deposits ranging from Rs 2 crore to less than Rs 50 crore. The fixed deposit comes with a specified maturity period of 175 days, commencing
January 1, 2024.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the minimum capital requirement for small finance banks (SFBs) from Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore. This
move aims to enhance the financial resilience of SFBs
and ensure their long-term sustainability. It is worth
noting that all SFBs currently in operation have a net worth exceeding Rs 200 crore.

SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit is a special fixed deposit scheme introduced by the State Bank of India (SBI) with the aim of mobilizing funds dedicated to
supporting environmentally-friendly projects. This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s
ambitious goal of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2070.

Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana’ to provide subsidized food to the poor.

The Karnataka High Court suspended all mining licenses for stone quarrying within a 20-km radius of the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam.

 Gujarat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana’ to provide subsidized food to the poor.

Every year, National Farmer’s Day is celebrated on December 23. National Farmer’s Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the former Prime Minister of the country. Chaudhary Charan Singh served the nation from 1979 to 1980.

The University of Oxford recently announced the launch of the first human trial for its ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine.

The United Kingdom launched the “India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund” to promote green investments.