Current.Affairs.Exams

Merchant-led digital payments provider Mswipe Technologies said it has been granted a payment aggregator (PA) licence by the Reserve Bank of India. The company had received an in-principle nod from the central bank to operate as a payment aggregator in August 2022. PA is provided under Section 7 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will join the inaugural session as the Chief Guest, and deliver the keynote address. The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.

It is committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the international community. The theme of this edition is "Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”. Over the course of three days, decision-makers and thought leaders of the world will engage each other across conversations in various formats, over six thematic pillars.

These include Tech Frontiers: Regulations and Realities, Peace with the Planet: Invest and Innovate, and War and Peace: Armouries and Asymmetries.

Malta became the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The ISA is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries that aims to reduce the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels. ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France. Currently, 116 countries are signatories to ISA Framework.

The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has been released, with France securing the top spot, while India's passport ranking has slipped one place from last year, moving from 84th to 85th position. The Henley Passport Index ranks nations based on the strength of their passports. France leads the list, with its passport granting visa-free access to 194 countries.

Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain are also among the top-ranked countries alongside France. Meanwhile, Pakistan maintains its position at 106th place, similar to last year, while Bangladesh has slipped from 101st to 102nd position. Maldives, continues to have a strong passport, maintaining its position at 58th place.

The Henley Passport Index derives its rankings from data spanning the past 19 years, based on the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) specialized data, covering 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations worldwide. The index is updated monthly and serves as a global standard for citizens of independent countries.

The latest report on India's most valuable companies, released by Axis Bank's private banking unit Burgundy Private and Hurun India reveals that Reliance Industries (RIL) has for the third year has topped the list, this time followed by Tata Consultancy Services and HDFC Bank. Among emerging companies, the report showed that Suzlon Energy grew at the fastest pace.

The 2023 Burgundy Private and Hurun India 500 report based on records the total market capitalization of Reliance Industries at Rs 15.6 lakh crore, higher than Tata Consultancy Services and HDFC Bank, ranked second and third with a market value of Rs 12.4 lakh crore and Rs 11.3 lakh crore, respectively.

HCL Technologies and Kotak Mahindra Bank have made their comeback to the top 10 list this year. Additionally, Jio Financial Services secured a 28th rank, after demerging from Reliance Industries.

The Indian women’s team won a historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 after beating Thailand 3-2 in the final in Shah Alam, Malaysia. PV Sindhu, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly and teenage sensational Anmol Kharb won their respective matches as India won the final.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur said 45 crore Jan Dhan accounts have accumulated 2.1 lakh crore rupees so far.
He inaugurated the 2024 Annual Government and Institutional Business Meet of the Federal Bank in Delhi.
The gross Non-Performing Assets, NPA has reduced to 3.2 percent, and return on asset has seen a rise from 0.5 percent to 0.79 percent in 2023.

Paytm announced that it has shifted its nodal account to Axis Bank from Paytm Payments Bank to continue seamless merchant settlements as before.

The RBI has given 15 more days till March 15 to Paytm Payments Bank to stop deposits, credit transactions, and top-ups in customer accounts.

Also, the RBI has asked Paytm Payments Bank to facilitate the seamless withdrawal of customer deposits parked with partner banks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil a colossal 125-foot statue of Bir Lachit Borphukan in Lahdoigarh, Holongapar, Jorhat. This announcement was made by the Assam Chief Minister in a recent statement, highlighting a series of significant events planned for the first week of March this year, aimed at honoring the state’s rich history and cultural heritage.

The statue of Bir Lachit Borphukan, a celebrated general who is best known for his leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat where he thwarted the Mughal invasion, is a project that symbolizes the valor and spirit of the Assamese people.

The 16th conference of the World Social Forum (WSF) 2024 commenced in Kathmandu.
The five-day WSF 2024 under the "Another World is Possible" banner aims to open horizontal exchange among civil society organisations, social movements, trade unions and individuals opposing neoliberal globalisation.

An Indian Army Havildar has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal by President Droupadi Murmu for designing an innovative drone called 'Multipurpose Octocopter', which can not only undertake surveillance operations but can also be used for other tasks like dropping munitions, aerial engagement of targets and logistics operations.

The 'Multipurpose Octocopter', designed by Havildar Singh, can undertake surveillance operations by providing live-camera feed to the operator. It can be used to drop essential supplies to forward posts, including in high-altitude areas.
The octocopter has been equipped with a platform for firing assault rifles and dropping grenades onto enemy targets.

India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that fintech connectivity will strengthen both cross-border transactions and linkages.

A virtual ceremony joined by Modi, his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe also saw the launch of India’s RuPay card services in Mauritius.

Bhutan was the first country to adopt UPI services in 2021, and the digital public infrastructure has been launched, either fully or partially, in Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nepal and France.