India, Singapore commit to elevate security partnership at 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Ranked 72nd on Global List with Average Monthly Wage of Rs 32,800, Switzerland Tops

• Picodi.com, has prepared the global ranking of average wages in which India has ranked 72^nd in the list among 106 countries with an average monthly wage of Rs 32,800.
• Picodi.com is an international e-commerce platform, providing discount coupons for online stores.
• The ranking has been topped by Switzerland, where the average wage converted into rupees amounts to Rs 4, 49,000 (USD 5,989).
• Followed by Luxemburg and United States with the average monthly wage of Rs 3,00,900 (USD 4,014) and Rs 2,64,900 (USD 3,534) respectively.
• Cuba ranked lowest in the list with the average monthly wage of Rs 2,700 (USD 36).

Fact: Headquarters of Picodi – Poland.

India granted 4th Tranche of US$5mn to Myanmar for India-Myanmar Border Area Development

• India has granted the 4th tranche of $5 million to Myanmar for the development of the India-Myanmar Border Area.
• This funding is on the lines of the  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by ex-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2012 according to which India would grant a total of $25 million to Myanmar, for projects on India-Myanmar border.
• The Myanmar-India Border Area Development Programmes include providing infrastructure and socio-economic development in Chin State and Naga Self-Administered Region.

Fact: President of Myanmar – Win Myint

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Virtually Attended the 8th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM)

• The 8th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM) was held virtually which was attended by Economic Ministers of the ten ASEAN Member States.
• From Indian side Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry attended it.
• During the meet discussions were held to accelerate economic growth, maintain supply chains and market stability, and strengthen the economic resilience of the EAS region post COVID-19.
• The Ministers welcomed regional initiatives to mitigate the impact of the pandemic including the establishment of the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund.
• Also discussed the work towards the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and the Standard Operating Procedures for Public Health Emergencies Response.

Fact: ASEAN member countries - Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States.

          Headquartered at - Jakarta, Indonesia

          Chairman– Nguyen Xuan Phuc

India co-sponsors UN Security Council resolution on women peacekeepers

• India has co-sponsored a Security Council resolution that calls for full, effective and meaningful participation of women personnel in peacekeeping operations.
• India is one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.
• India is the fifth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN peacekeeping forces.
• In June, India was elected non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.

India, Singapore commit to elevate security partnership at 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue

• India and Singapore committed to take a review of their defence ties at the virtual meet of the 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD).
• The DPD was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Permanent Secretary (Defence), Singapore Mr Chan Heng Kee.
• During the DPD, the Implementing Arrangement on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) was signed between the two countries.
• Both the countries decided to boost their defence and security partnership with focus to boost bilateral maritime security cooperation.

Fact: Prime Minister of Singapore – Lee Hsien Loong

NATIONAL NEWS

Kerala to set up India’s First International Women Trade Centre

• Kerala will set up India’s First International Women Trade Centre (IWTC) in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations at Angamaly, Kochi, in Kerala.
• This announcement was made during the webinar on “Scaling up Opportunities for MSME women Entrepreneurs in Kerala” organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Kerala State Council.
• The main aim is to accelerate women entrepreneurship and secure gender parity while providing them a safe place to start new businesses, set up or expand, and get their products marketed globally.
• The IWTC will serve as a facilitator to launch the own ventures of the women entrepreneurs and will enable them to participate in the international trade and gain economic benefits.

CISF launched ‘Pensioners Corner’ Mobile App for its Pensioners

• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has created & launched an in-house mobile app, ‘Pensioners Corner’ to get in touch with the pensioners and to bring them to the digital platform as a one-stop solution.
• It is a part of its ‘e-karyalay’, an electronic office app launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Through Pensioners Corner app, the pensioners will be connected to the CISF units across the country.
• The app will have an SMS invitation system, which will notify the pensioners on important events happening at their nearest CISF unit.
• The e-karyalay was launched to tackle the unforeseen COVID-19 situation and to ensure continuous functions in the office.

Fact: Director General of CISF – Rajesh Ranjan

BANKING NEWS

SBI to Receive Human Capital Management Excellence Award 2020

• State Bank of India (SBI) to receive Brandon Human Capital Management (HCM) Excellence Award for the year 2020.
• The award is given to SBI for its HR initiative,”Nayi Disha”.
• The award is also known as the Academy Awards of Learning & Development.
• The award winners will be honored at Brandon Hall Group’s annual HCM Excellence Conference, January 26-28, 2021.
• Nayi Disha was launched in 2019, i.e., has been over 1.5 years and has made over 2.40 lakh employees to remain highly motivated and ready to take on future challenges.

Fact: Chairman of SBI – Rajnish Kumar

          Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra

Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance & Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank collaborated to offer Life Insurance

• Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) Life Insurance Company Limited and Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank (APGB) have entered into a strategic tie up virtually to sell life insurance, health and pension products at all the branches of APGB.
• Further, the alliance will strengthen the insurance penetration in Tier 2 and 3 markets of Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh.
• This collaboration will initiate many ways for Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance to scale up their business in the Rural and Regional Banks (RRBs).