Banking and Financial Awareness:
- The IICA (Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs) and the IPPB (Indian Post Payments Bank) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the training of employees of the IIPB in the field of payments banking.
- The Reserve Bank of India is ready to issue Rs. 10 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series.
- Government launches 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds 2018.
- Paytm Payments Bank, IndusInd Tie up for FD Facility.
- RBI Initiates PCA Against Allahabad Bank.
- NABARD Sanctioned Rs 372.51 crore to Odisha.
- Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank Introduces Desktop ATMs in Rural India.
- SBI, NABARD Tie up to Promote Joint Liability Groups in Bengal.
Appointments
- Vijay Keshav Gokhale who served as an ambassador to China and currently serving as the secretary (economic relations) has been named as India's next foreign secretary.
- Former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna appointed as the new Deputy National Security Advisor.
- Abhay has taken charge as the new chief of the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau).
- Pankaj Jain Assumes Charge as IIFCL Managing Director.
- Vinay Sahasrabuddhe Named ICCR Chief.
Obituaries
- Veteran Poet Anwar Jalalpuri Passes Away.
- Odia actor, director Ananta Ojha passes away.
- Politician, R Margabandhu passes away.
- Former Maharashtra Minister Madhukarrao Kimmatkar passes away.
Honour and Awards
- MAS Chief Ravi Menon Named Best Central Bank Governor in Asia-Pacific.
MoUs and Partnerships
- Cabinet approves MoU between India and UK in transport.
- Cabinet approves Indo-Myanmar agreement on the land border crossing.
- MoU between India and Israel on Cooperation in Oil and Gas Sector Approved.
- HDFC Bank Partners with Rajasthan Govt. to Promote Start-up Culture.
Important News- World
- Nepal bans solo climbers from scaling Mount Everest and its other mountains to avoid accidents.
- A very unique language called "The Bird Language" or "The Whistle Language" of a Turkish village has become a part of UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- For the first time ever Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced the VAT (Value Added Tax).
- Israel has filed a notice to withdraw from the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) along with the United States.
- 6 new countries comprise of Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and the Netherlands Entered to the United Nations Security Council.
- Egypt's Mohamed Salah has been awarded the Confederation of African Football Player of the Year Title 2017.
- Saudi Arabia, UAE introduce VAT for the first time.
- China develops underwater surveillance networks in the Indian Ocean, South China Sea.
- US puts Pakistan on Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom.
- Iceland Becomes 1st Country to Legalise Equal Pay.
- Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 Kicked off at Kathmandu.
- Pakistan State Bank Allows use of Chinese Currency Yuan for Bilateral Trade & Investment Activities.
Important News- India
- Metro Cards for Public Buses from 31st March 2018.
- A Book Tribute to Pratibha Patil on her completed 50 glorious years in politics.
- The Cabinet of India approved National Medical Commission Bill 2017 which led to doctors' strikes for 12 hours.
- The Minister of Women and Child Development inaugurated online portal NARI in New Delhi to empower women and provide women citizens with easy access to information on various government schemes and initiatives for women.
- Govt. Of India announced Customers will not be charged any transaction charges up to Rs 2000 on making payments through debit cards, BHIM app and Aaadhar-enabled payment system.
- Income Tax Department launches on-line chat service.
- The Union Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley unveiled the contours of the Electoral Bonds scheme to clean the political funding system by ensuring that there is a flow of clean money to the political parties without revealing the names of the donors.
- The Union Government has approved the Rs 680 crores strategic Zojila pass tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Namami Gange projects worth Rs 295 crore approved by NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga).
- A new, highly effective vaccine for typhoid (devoloped by India) has been approved by the WHO (World Health Organization) for global use.
- GAIL commissions India’s second largest rooftop solar plant in UP.
- Core sectors’ record 6.8% growth in November 2017.
- Government launches NARI portal and e-Samvad portal.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs exempts cruise tourists with e-visa from biometric enrolment till 2020.
- Atal Pension Yojana reaches subscriber base of 80 lakhs.
- World's Biggest Cleanliness Survey 'Swachh Sarvekshan 2018' Launched.
Business, Science and Technology
- Humanoid Sophia, who got citizenship from Saudi Arabia is on India’s visit.
- NASA to launch Parker Solar Probe to explore sun’s outer atmosphere.
- NASA to launch two missions — GOLD and ICON to explore the ionosphere.
- India GDP Growth Likely at 6.5% in 2017-18: CSO
- India's GDP Growth at 6.5% in FY18, will Accelerate to 7.6% in FY20: HSBC.
Defence
- India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear sites for the 27th consecutive year.
- Defence Ministry gives final nod for Barak missiles, PGM bombs.
- Defence Ministry clears Rs.2420 Crore worth contracts for Navy, Army.
Important News- States
- Uder Vikas Samiksha Yatra Bihar Chief Minister laid down foundation stones for more than 100 projects worth Rs 700 Crore in Nalanda district.
- Arunachal Pradesh became the second state in the North-East after Assam to become Open Defecation Free. The three remaining districts of Upper Subansiri, Siang Changlang were declared ODF.
- Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has given New Year gift to the farmers of the state by launching a 24-hours power supply free of cost.
- The Karnataka government announced that Karnataka International Travel Expo (KITE) which will be the largest B2B event of the country will be held from 28th February 2018.
- APGVB (Andhra Pradesh Gramin Vikas Bank) introduced desktop ATMs in rural India.
- Bhanakpur village of Haryana has become the second village in the country and first in Haryana to sing National Anthem on loudspeakers daily.
- Goa will be hosting the 3rd Edition of the Science Film Festival of India from January 16-19.
- Karnataka receives approval for the purchase of electric vehicles under FAME India scheme.
- CCEA approves construction of bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in J&K.
- NMCG approves five Namami Gange projects in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- West Bengal CM Unveils Official Emblem of West Bengal Government.
- Karnataka to Hold 'Largest B2B Travel Event' in the Country.
- 1st Draft of National Register of Citizens in Assam Released.
Sports News
- Vidarbha Claims Maiden Ranji Trophy in the 84-year long history of the Indian domestic tournament by Delhi by nine wickets at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
- Indian Golfer Shiv Kapur Wins Royal Cup at Pattaya.
- Meghalaya signs host city contract for 39th National Games in 2022.
- G Sathiyan Becomes India’s Highest-Ranked Player in Latest ITTF Rankings.
