NATIONAL NEWS

Panel formed to prepare energy transition roadmap for India

• The oil ministry has set up the Energy Transition Advisory Committee headed by former petroleum secretary Tarun Kapoor.
• The government is planning to draw up an energy transition roadmap for the oil NSE -0.25 % and gas sector that could prove to be a key step on India's path to net-zero emissions by 2070.
• The committee has until the middle of 2022 to recommend a roadmap for the sector's transition.

Semiconductor mission launched by IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

• Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the India Semiconductor Mission.
• Companies which are interested in tapping the Rs 76,000-crore incentives earmarked by the Center for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India can begin applying for the same from January 1, 2022.
• The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is a specialized and independent business division within the Digital India Corporation.

BANKING

Paisabazaar.com and Axis Bank Launch Pre-Qualified Program for Personal Loan

• Paisabazaar.com, India’s largest digital marketplace for consumer credit, announced  that it has strengthened its partnership with Axis Bank, India’s third largest private sector bank, by launching a Pre-Qualified Program for unsecured loans on its platform.
• The Pre-Qualified program on Paisabazaar.com entails deep technology and analytics collaboration with Banks and NBFCs, which enables select customers to view customized and pre-qualified lending offers on the fintech’s platform.
• Paisabazaar.com:
  • Cofounder & CEO – Naveen Kukreja.
  • Headquarters    - Gurugram, Haryana.
• Axis Bank:
  • CEO & MD – Amithab chaudhry.
  • Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Sebi Restructures Its Advisory Committee On Market Data

• SEBI has restructured its advisory committee on market data that recommends policy measures pertaining to areas like securities market data access and privacy.

• Rejigging its market data advisory committee, Sebi has said the panel will now be chaired by S Sahoo, Professor at National Law University, Delhi and former chairperson, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

• The 20-member committee was earlier headed by Madhabi Puri Buch, ex-whole time member of Sebi.
• SEBI:
  • Chairman: Ajay Tyagi.
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Somalia President 'suspends' prime minister over corruption charges

• President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed of Somalia has suspended the Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and removed the commander of the marine forces until corruption investigations are concluded.
• He was suspended over allegations of corruption, misuse of public land and trade allegations over the holding up of parliamentary elections.
• Somalia:
  • Capital - Mogadishu.
  • Currency - Somali shilling.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Russia Test-fires New Hypersonic Tsirkon Missiles

• Russia test-fired around 10 new Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missiles from a frigate and two more from a submarine.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded the weapon as part of a new generation of unrivaled arms systems.

• Russia:
  • Capital - Moscow.
  • Currency - Russian ruble.

Chinese Ministry Launches Five-Year Plan To Become Global Robotics Hub

• China has proposed a five-year strategy to help it achieve its goal of becoming a worldwide robotics innovation center by 2025..

•  It intends to achieve this by concentrating on improvements to essential components such as servomotors and control panels.

• China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated this week that operating income from the country's robotics industry is expected to expand by an average of 20 per cent between 2021 and 2025, according to the five-year strategy.
• China:
  • Capital:Beijing
  • Currency:Yuan

SPORTS

South Africa's Quinton De Kock Announces Retirement From Test Cricket

• South Africa's wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect.

New Zealand’s Ross Taylor announces retirement from international cricket

• Veteran New Zealand batter, Ross Taylor has announced retirement from international cricket at the end of the ongoing domestic season.

•  Taylor hence will play his final appearance in the second Test against Bangladesh, where will equal Daniel Vettori’s record of 112 tests for New Zealand. He will be part of the one-day international series in Australia.

•  He is the first cricketer to play more than 100 matches for New Zealand in all 3 formats.

STATE NEWS

Jhansi Railway Station Renamed As 'Veerangana Lakshmibai Railway Station' By UP Government

• The Uttar Pradesh government  changed the name of the Jhansi railway station to 'Veerangana Lakshmibai Railway Station'.

• The announcement was made through a notification three months after the state government had sent a proposal to the Union Home Ministry for a change in the name of the railway station, which was accepted.

•  Before this, the Mughalsarai Railway Station was renamed Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Railway Station.