GOI signed MoU with Flipkart under DAY-NULM scheme

Government of India signed MoU with Flipkart for selling the products made by women self-help groups under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) on the e-commerce platform.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) consists of 44 lakh women across the country which aims to make women financially independent.

No extra charge on digital payments via RuPay & UPI from 1st Jan 2020

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges for businesses with over Rs 50 crore annual revenues will be waived off from January 1, 2020.

She said that all digital transactions using RuPay or UPI will not face any additional charges from January 1, 2020.

The Department of Revenue (DoR) will also notify UPI and RuPay as the approved mode of payment for digital transactions without any Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).

NITI Aayog releases 2nd SDG India Index and Dashboard 2019

NITI Aayog has released the 2nd edition of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index and dashboard for the year 2019 in New Delhi.

India's composite score has improved to 60 in 2019 from 57 in 2018, according to the SDG India Index.

The SDG India index was based on 54 targets spread over 100 indicators out of 306 outlined by the UN, and these 100 indicators are drawn from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's (MoSPI's) National Indicator Framework (NIF).

The SDG India index has been developed in collaboration with the (MoSPI), United Nation's in India, and Global Green Growth Institute.

11-day long 'Dhanu Jatra' begins at Bargarh in western Odisha

The 11-day long 'Dhanu Jatra' begins at Bargarh in western Odisha. Dhanu Jatra is based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna and his uncle Kansa.

Jatra is the world's largest open-air theatre. The annual festival came into being in 1947-1948 to celebrate Indian's Independence and to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

CBIC paid Rs 1,12,000 crore as refunds to exporters

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced that it has paid 1,12,000 crore rupees as Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) refunds to exporters.

The numbers indicated the government's effort to fast track refunds under GST especially to exporters. The refunds only 3,604 crores are pending with Customs. 

The data analytics to identify risky exporter entities that "take input tax credit fraudulently and monetize it by paying IGST and taking a refund".

CACS & e-BCAS launched to enhance security & ease of doing at airports

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Civil Aviation launched the Biometric enabled Centralised Access Control System (CACS) and 'e-BCAS Project Training Module.

The two projects aim to enhance security and ease of doing business at airports. CACS project is aimed to digitize the employee movement process at the airports.

The 'e-BCAS' project to achieve a "paperless office" under e-Governance initiative of Government of India. The multi-layered security system encompasses the uniqueness of the Airport Entry Permit (AEP) users, biometric authentication in addition to PIN-based identity verification through contactless smart card technology.

HDFC Life partners with Paytm to expand its distribution

HDFC Life Insurance partnered with Paytm to expand its distribution. The partnership is aimed to enable customers of Paytm to purchase insurance products from HDFC Life.

HDFC Life Insurance increases the insurance penetration in India and to simplify the customer experience right from the purchase to the claim process.

Sanjay Gupta of 'Jagran' to be honoured with Lokmanya Tilak journalism award

The Editor-in-chief of Dainik Jagran Sanjay Gupta will be awarded the Lokmanya tilak National Journalism award for his contribution in the field of Journalism.

He will receive the award on the 139th Foundation Day of 'Kesari', the newspaper started by Lokmanya Tilak. The award was instituted by the Kesari-Maratha Trust with the aim to promote the courageous and idealistic practices.

S S Deswal given additional charge of DG of CRPF

Surjeet Singh Deswal has been given the "additional" charge to head Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The Union home ministry took the decision as CRPF's serving DG Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar retired on 31st December 2019.

Surjeet Singh Deswal is presently serving as the Director-General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Australia's Peter Siddle retires from international cricket

Australia pace bowler Peter Siddle has announced his retirement from international cricket. He took 221 wickets from 67 test matches.

He also played 20 ODIs and two T20s for Australia. He started his International Cricket career against India in 2008.

Virat Kohli & Jasprit Bumrah named in Wisden's T20I team of the decade

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah were the only Indians in Wisden's T20 International team of the decade.

Australia's limited overs skipper Aaron Finch was named captain of the Wisden's T20 International team of the decade.

Players in Wisden's T20I team of the decade: Aaron Finch, Colin Munro, Virat Kohli, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, Mohammad Nabi, David Willey, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga.

Sarbananda Sonawal launches torch relay of Khelo India Youth Games

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonawal launched the torch relay of Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati, Assam.

The 3rd edition of the tournament will be held in Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on January 2020.

The officials of the competition are preparing a total of eight venues for the tournament to make the Games one of the largest sporting spectacles of the country.