NATIONAL NEWS

Assam Government Announces Monthly Financial Assistance for Research Scholars

The Government of Assam announced a monthly financial assistance scheme for research scholars under the Atal Vichal Agragami Assam programme.

The scheme will be launched on February 11, 2026.

₹25,000 per month will be provided to regular research scholars.

₹40,000 per month will be provided to Divyang research scholars, ensuring inclusive higher education support.

The scheme is applicable to scholars enrolled in universities and higher education institutions across Assam.

The initiative aims to reduce financial stress, allowing scholars to focus on quality research and academic excellence.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who described it as a transformative step for Assam’s academic ecosystem.

The scheme focuses on empowering young talent, promoting high-quality and interdisciplinary research, and strengthening Assam as a knowledge-driven economy.

Higher financial support for Divyang scholars highlights the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and social justice.

The assistance will help scholars meet expenses related to research materials, fieldwork, data collection, and living costs.

It is expected to encourage long-term and in-depth research projects and improve overall research productivity.

The scheme forms part of Assam’s broader education reform agenda, complementing initiatives in skill development and industry–academia collaboration.

It aligns with national priorities of research, innovation, and self-reliance, while helping attract and retain research talent within the state.

Rajasthan To Develop Alwar Biological Park In NCR Region

Rajasthan government has planned a new Biological Park in Alwar district, which will become the first biological park of its kind in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The park will be developed in the Kati Ghati–Jaisamand area of Alwar and will cover around 100 hectares of land.

30% area will be developed as a zoo, while the remaining 70% will be maintained as green and natural forest space to ensure an eco-friendly environment.

The biological park will house over 400 wild animals belonging to 81 species, including lions, cheetahs, Indian tiger species and African giraffes.

A key attraction will be the availability of lion safari, tiger safari and herbivore safari at a single location, a first-of-its-kind feature in the NCR region.

A high-tech animal rescue centre will be set up inside the park, developed on the lines of the Gir National Park rescue facility in Gujarat.

The park will also include a modern veterinary hospital with advanced medical facilities and a dedicated team of wildlife doctors and forest officials.

A butterfly park will be developed within the complex to showcase different butterfly species and enhance educational and ecological awareness.

Animals will be sourced from around 25 zoos across India, with transfers to be carried out in a phased and regulated manner after approvals.

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared, and the project will commence after clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The Alwar Biological Park is expected to boost wildlife conservation, eco-tourism and regional development while strengthening Rajasthan’s position in sustainable tourism and biodiversity protection.

India Notifies GEI Targets Under Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

Government of India notified Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets in January 2026 for additional carbon-intensive sectors under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).

208 new obligated entities have been brought under the compliance framework, expanding coverage of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM).

With this notification, the total number of obligated entities has increased to 490, strengthening India’s industrial decarbonisation framework.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) refers to emissions per unit of output, focusing on efficiency improvement rather than absolute emission cuts.

GEI-based targets allow industrial growth while reducing carbon footprint, making them suitable for developing economies like India.

The move encourages adoption of cleaner technologies, energy efficiency measures, and sustainable production practices in emission-intensive industries.

The notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the nodal ministry for climate policy and emission regulation.

Under CCTS, entities that exceed GEI targets earn carbon credits, while those failing to meet targets must purchase credits, ensuring compliance through a market-based mechanism.

One carbon credit represents reduction or removal of one tonne of CO₂ equivalent, creating financial incentives for emission reduction.

Expansion of obligated entities will improve market liquidity, credibility, and effectiveness of the Indian Carbon Market.

For industries, the scheme increases short-term compliance responsibility but offers long-term benefits through efficiency gains, innovation, and access to carbon finance.

Overall, the notification strengthens India’s climate commitments, supports industrial decarbonisation, and aligns environmental sustainability with economic growth.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Delivers Cancer Medicines To Afghanistan As Humanitarian Medical Aid

India delivered 7.5 tonnes of life-saving cancer medicines to Kabul, reinforcing its humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan, particularly in the health sector.

The assistance was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs and forms part of India’s ongoing humanitarian outreach to Afghanistan.

Cancer patients in Afghanistan face severe challenges due to shortages of medicines, weak healthcare infrastructure, and high treatment costs, making external medical support critical.

The consignment aims to ensure continuity of cancer treatment, prevent therapy interruptions, and save lives of vulnerable patients dependent on essential oncology drugs.

India reiterated its commitment to the Afghan people irrespective of political developments, focusing on health, food security, and essential humanitarian needs.

The medical aid reflects India’s “people-first diplomacy”, prioritising humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected and fragile regions.

Afghanistan’s healthcare system remains under strain due to prolonged conflict and economic difficulties, with cancer patients among the worst affected because of the need for specialised and long-term treatment.

India’s support helps bridge immediate gaps in medical supplies, providing relief to hospitals and healthcare providers in Kabul and surrounding regions.

 

BANKING

Indian fintech firm ZET Secures National Payments Corporation of India Nod to Enable UPI Payments through RuPay Credit Cards

Credit-focused Indian fintech firm ZET has received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP).

With this approval, ZET becomes eligible to offer UPI services, marking a major step in integrating credit card functionality with the UPI ecosystem.

After receiving NPCI approval, the company launched ZET UPI, enabling users to make UPI transactions using RuPay credit cards issued via the ZET platform.

ZET UPI service is supported through a banking partnership with RBL Bank (earlier known as Ratnakar Bank Limited).

The transaction processing infrastructure is powered by Juspay, a payments technology platform.

ZET credit card users with an active subscription plan will be eligible for cashback benefits on UPI transactions, in addition to existing credit card-linked rewards.

The move strengthens credit-based digital payments and expands RuPay credit card usage on UPI, aligning with India’s push for fintech-led financial inclusion.

Razorpay POS Obtains Reserve Bank of India Approval to Operate as Offline Payment Aggregator

Fintech major Razorpay’s offline payments arm, Razorpay POS, has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an offline payment aggregator (PA-P).

With this approval, Razorpay now holds all three key RBI licences: online payment aggregator, cross-border payment aggregator (granted in December 2025), and offline payment aggregator.

The PA-P (Offline) licence will enable Razorpay POS to expand in-store payment infrastructure and handle high-volume transactions across sectors such as large retail chains and SMEs.

Currently, Razorpay POS offers a hardware suite including Android Smart POS, mPOS (magnetic stripe POS), and Soundbox devices, supporting secure and compliant in-store payments.

Reserve Bank of India Gives In-Principle Nod to Payoneer India to Operate as Cross-Border Payment Aggregator

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to Payoneer India Private Limited to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB).

Payoneer India Private Limited is a subsidiary of USA-based Payoneer Global, strengthening its presence in India’s cross-border payments ecosystem.

The PA-CB approval allows Payoneer to facilitate end-to-end inward and outward cross-border payment transactions for Indian importers and exporters.

Under this approval, Indian exporters can receive overseas payments, while importers can make international payments through the Payoneer platform.

The key objective of RBI’s approval is to support Indian businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups, in accessing global markets and scaling international trade operations.

As per RBI’s PA-CB guidelines, non-bank entities must obtain RBI authorisation to operate as cross-border payment aggregators.

Net worth requirement for PA-CB entities: ₹15 crore initially, increasing to ₹25 crore by the end of the third year.

The per-transaction limit under PA-CB norms is capped at ₹25 lakh.

PA-CB entities must maintain separate accounts for import and export transactions, with no netting of balances

Bank of Baroda Enters Memorandum of Understanding with IIFCL

Bank of Baroda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) to facilitate joint lending and loan syndication for a wide range of infrastructure projects.

Under the agreement, IIFCL and Bank of Baroda will collaborate to jointly finance diverse infrastructure projects across both established and emerging sectors, leveraging their respective strengths and expertise.

IIFCL is a wholly-owned Government of India company, established in 2006 to provide long-term financial assistance to viable infrastructure projects.

Suryoday Small Finance Bank Collaborates with HyperVerge

Suryoday Small Finance Bank partnered with HyperVerge to deploy an AI-powered Video KYC (VKYC) solution for digital customer onboarding.

The VKYC solution will help the bank strengthen regulatory compliance, improve operational efficiency, and enhance digital onboarding.

The system ensures high-level data security, with customer personal data stored securely, accessible only by Suryoday Small Finance Bank.

The VKYC solution enables the bank to scale onboarding volumes without adding operational overhead, while maintaining a high-quality customer experience.

Each agent can complete nearly twice the number of agent-approved verification calls per day compared to previous workflows, improving conversions and productivity.

HyperVerge collaborated closely with the bank to deliver a solution that onboards customers faster, improves success rates, and ensures regulatory adherence.

The data privacy controls are strict, ensuring personal data security and reinforcing the bank’s regulatory commitments.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Tamil Nadu Announces Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a new annual state-sponsored literary award named “Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award)” during the valedictory ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair.

The award will have a national-level character and will recognise outstanding literary works in major Indian languages other than Hindi, highlighting India’s linguistic diversity and inclusive cultural policy.

Each selected language will carry a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, making it one of the highest-value state-backed literary honours in India.

In the first phase, the award will recognise best literary works in seven Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, and Marathi. The government has indicated that more languages may be included in future phases.

The initiative aims to strengthen multilingual literature, with the Chief Minister emphasising that language should act as a bridge, not a barrier, and that national unity is reinforced through linguistic diversity.

The award is designed as a structured annual honour, reflecting Tamil Nadu’s effort to institutionalise state support for literature, similar to support extended to sports, science, and innovation.

The announcement comes amid concerns over uncertainty surrounding Sahitya Akademi awards, with allegations of interference by the Union Culture Ministry in the cancellation of award announcements.

To ensure independence and transparency, the Tamil Nadu government will act only as a patron, not as a selector. Separate expert committees will be formed for each language, comprising reputed writers and literary experts, to select awardees.          

 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Vice President Releases Book on Ram Janmabhoomi Issue

Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book titled “Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response” at the Vice President’s Enclave, New Delhi.

The book is authored by Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri, a former Secretary to the Government of India.

The Vice President stated that the book presents the long and complex journey of reclaiming the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram in a balanced, factual, and scholarly manner, without exaggeration or bias.

He described the construction of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as a landmark moment in India’s civilisational history, where faith, history, law, and democracy converged peacefully.

The Vice President credited Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for guiding the revival of the sacred site in a manner consistent with democratic values and cultural confidence.

The event was attended by dignitaries including Shri Nripendra Mishra, Shri Vinod Rai, Shri Deepak Gupta, Shri Amit Khare, and Shri Ashish Gosain of Har Anand Publications, among others.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Education

International Day of Education 2026 is observed on 24 January worldwide.

The day was declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2018 to honour education and highlight its role in peace, development, and progress.

The day aims to advocate for universal access to quality education and to campaign for education reforms.

Millions of children around the world are still denied this basic human right, with UNESCO estimating 258 million children out of school.

Marginalized groups, people in unequal regions, and citizens of developing countries are the most affected.

International Day of Education calls on governments, civil society, institutions, and individuals to ensure primary and secondary education for all children.

The observance encourages the design of inclusive learning programs that cater to diverse populations, equipping children with the skills needed for employment and improved livelihoods.

The day reminds everyone that education is key to escaping poverty and building a better future, and that everyone has a role in promoting high-quality education.

National Girl Child Day

National Girl Child Day 2026 is observed on 24 January 2026 across India.

The day was established in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

The main objective is to highlight discrimination, inequality, and injustice faced by girl children in society.

It aims to promote awareness about the rights of the girl child, including education, health, dignity, and equal opportunities.

Girl children in India often face gender-based discrimination, are denied higher education, and are pushed into household responsibilities at an early age.

The observance emphasizes the urgent need for equal treatment of female children and ensuring they receive opportunities they rightfully deserve.

On this day, the government organizes awareness programmes and campaigns to encourage positive societal attitudes towards the girl child.

National Girl Child Day supports broader goals of gender equality, women empowerment, and inclusive social development.