India 8th Most Affected Country in the World due to Terrorism in 2019; Afghanistan tops the List - 8th Edition of GTI 2020

• According to the 8th Edition of Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2020: Measuring the Impact of Terrorism' released by Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), India with a score of 7.353 is the 8th Most Affected Country in the World due to Terrorism in 2019. Afghanistan (9.592), Iraq (8.682) & Nigeria (8.314) are top 3 countries which are the most affected by Terrorism.

• Qatar (0.014) took the 133rd Rank followed by Uzbekistan (0.010) in the 134th Rank and around 29 Countries (score of 0.000) took the 135th Rank which means they are Least Affected Countries or Face No Impact due to Terrorism.

• GTI is a complete analysis of impact of terrorism for 163 countries covering 99.7% of the World's Population.

• India recorded 277 Deaths, 439 Injuries & 558 Incidents due to Terrorism in 2019.

• Jammu and Kashmir was the most affected Region due to terrorism, it reported 165 attacks and 103 deaths.

• Burkina Faso recorded the largest increase in terrorism in 2019 the deaths increased by 593, it was followed by Sri Lanka where the terrorism deaths increased to 266 in 2019 from 1 in 2018.

• Global Economic impact of Terrorism in 2019 amounted to USD 26.4 Billion, Afghanistan recorded highest economic impact on Economy due to Terrorism (16.7% of GDP).

About Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP):

• Founder & Executive Chairman - Steve Killelea AM Headquarters - Sydney, Australia

Southern & Eastern India witnessing higher rise in Pollution Levels than IGP: CPCB-IITD Survey

• According to a survey conducted by CPCB-IITD (Central Pollution Control Board Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi). Southern India & Eastern India recorded a higher rate of increase in pollution levels than the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The study was conducted based on Satellite Data from 2000-2019, which is the First-of-its Kind survey to look at air pollution spatially.

• They survey has also found that Air Pollution in Rural India has increased at par with Urban India. The states of Kerala (Urban 24.2%, Rural 21.9%), Goa (Urban 36.4%, Rural 37.3%), Andhra Pradesh (Urban 20.15, Rural 18.9%) recorded the highest levels of pollution during the period

• The study has been commissioned by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

• The author of the study is Professor Sagnik Dey of IIT, Delhi.

Odisha hosts 9th International Sand Art festival and 31st Konark Dance festival

• Odisha government's tourism department has organised the 9th edition of International Sand Art festival at Chandrabhaga Beach in Odisha's Puri district and parallely the 31st edition of Konark dance festival following the COVID-19 protocols.

• The sand art festival displays spectacular sand arts sculpted by skillful artists from India and around the world.

• World recognised sand artists from Mexico, Spain, Singapore, France, Norway, Germany, Netherland and USA have participated over the years.

• Conducted at the golden beach of Chandrabhaga, Odisha.

• Theme of 2020 event-'environment" and "COVID-19".

• India's renowned sand artist and Padma Shri Awardee, Sudarsan Pattnaik, is the Chief Curator of the event.

• The five-day long festival is conducted every year from December 1-5.

• The 13th century Sun Temple at Konark is dedicated to Hindu sun god "Surya". The temple is attributed to King Narasingha Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

India, Suriname hold 7th Joint Commission Meeting virtually

• The 7th India-Suriname Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held virtually. The meeting was Co- Chaired by the Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan & Albert R. Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname.

• Both Countries agreed to give importance to the Business & Investment sector to improve the Bilateral Relations and also to strengthen people to people ties.

• They also agreed to enhance cooperation for the establishment of creative industries, Health, Traditional System of Medicine, Agriculture, Mining, Energy, Defense, Culture & Education, Consular Cooperation and Development Partnership.

• The next JCM Meeting is set to be held at Paramaribo, Capital of Suriname in 2022 on a date to be decided by both countries.

• About Ministry of External Affairs (MEA):

• Union Minister - Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Minister of State - V. Muraleedharan

About Suriname:

• President – Chan Santokhi
• Capital - Paramaribo
• Currency - Surinamese Dollar (SRD)

Dr Harsh Vardhan Chaired "Health Talks", Annual Conference under Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week

• 13th Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week 2020, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) chaired the inaugural session of "Health Talks", an annual conference of the India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre.

• During the conference it was announced that the Innovation Centre is also in the process of setting up a Centre of Excellence at AIIMS Jodhpur on Cancer Care to help patients to better understand and manage their disease.

• The India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre is a tripartite collaboration between the Swedish Trade Commissioner's Office, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS Delhi), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur (AIIMS Jodhpur) for developing innovative solutions for healthcare problems in India.

• The Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week was instituted in the memory of Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel and celebrates his biggest contributions viz. innovations, entrepreneurship and creativity.

• An event, titled "SHE STEM: Women Leading the Way", is being organised in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). It focuses on the importance of encouraging girls and young women to study science.

• The Sweden India Nobel Memorial Quiz (SINMQ) 2020 will also be organized by the Embassy of Sweden and the Consulate General of Sweden in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The winner will get Rs 1 Lakh along with a diploma.

• The India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre announced the 14 winning healthtech solutions which are aimed at improving the healthcare ecosystem in the country under Innovation Challenge.

Winners:

• Dr Aakash Kohli from AIIMS Jodhpur, Delhi-based Aarogya Al innovations, Chennai-based Adiuvo Diagnostics, Dr Amit Goyal from AllMS Jodhpur, Dr Bharat Choudhary from AIIMS Jodhpur, Bengaluru-based Biofi Medical Healthcare India, Kundapura-based Blackfrog Technologies, Bengaluru-based Dozee, Dr Gautam Ram Choudhary from AIIMS Jodhpur, Bengaluru-based Janitri Innovations, Pune-based Jeevtronics, Singapore- based Qritive, Mumbai-based Qure-artificial intelligence Technologies, and Sweden-based ThermaiScan Technology AB as the winners of the innovation challenge.

• The winning start-ups will now work with the India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre platform which will provide them access to cross-country mentorship, guidance on funding among others.

About Sweden:

• Capital- Stockholm
• Currency-Swedish krona
• Prime Minister-Stefan Löfven

6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020 Opening Ceremony held in Ulyanovsk, Russia

• 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020 opening ceremony and a meeting of BRICS Ministers was held in Ulyanovsk, Russia. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju virtually addressed the 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020 on behalf of India,

• Theme for 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020- "BRICS: Challenges of the Time for young People".

• The Summit and the BRICS Ministerial meeting are organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and the Government of the Ulyanovsk Region, Russia.

India to host BRICS Games in 2021

• On the occasion of India's annual sports competitions along with the Khelo India Games, BRICS member countries will be invited to showcase their traditional indigenous games in the inaugural or closing ceremony of Khelo India 2021, at Panchkula, Haryana.

About BRICS:

• Formed in 2009, among the five major world economies, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

• Russia hosted the 12th BRICS summit.

Inaugural Meeting of US-India Counter Narcotics Working Group held Virtually

• The inaugural meeting of the United States (US)-India Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) was held virtually where India was represented by Sachin Jain, Deputy Director General, Narcotics Control Board (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

• This meeting will be continued in the spring of 2021.

• Both sides committed to strengthening their cooperation in curtailing the illegal production, manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of pharmaceutical and illicit drugs, as well as the precursor chemicals used to manufacture them.

About Narcotics Control Board (NCB):

• Director General- Rakesh Asthana
• Headquarter- New Delhi

• NPCI Allowed Payment Banks and Fintechs in its Shareholding upto 0.44%

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has completed private placement of 4.63% of its equity shares worth Rs 81.64 crores. This placement has enabled small finance and payment banks, as well as fintechs. Each firm can hold upto 0.44% share of the NPCI.

• With this placement, now the total shareholder entities for NPCI stand at 67.

• The small finance and payment banks that have joined NPCI's shareholding include AU Small Finance Bank Ltd., India Post Payments Bank Ltd., and digital payment fintechs including BillDesk, Amazon Pay, PayU India, PhonePe, Pine Labs and Mobikwik.

• It also added Standard Chartered Bank Ltd., Dhanlaxmi Bank Ltd. and IDFC First Bank Ltd, as its shareholders. Currently, government-owned banks such as State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank own more than 40% stake in NPCI's shareholding.

• NPCI had made an offer for the private placement to 131 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulated entities, of which 19 showed interest and were allotted shares in NPCI.

• This was done on the instruction of RBI to broad its shareholdings representing larger segment of participants. The Watal Committee, headed by former finance secretary Ratan Watal had also recommended this expansion in December 2016.

Paytm Partners with Suryoday Small Finance Bank to Offer Instant Digital Loans to MSMEs

• Paytm partnered with Suryoday Small Finance Bank(SFB) Ltd to offer collateral-free instant digital loans to MSMEs(Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises). This will empower the MSMEs. This is the first lending partnership for Paytm with a small finance bank to help merchants to avail loans seamlessly.

About Paytm:

• Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh

• Founder & CEO(Chief Executive Officer) Vijay Shekhar Sharma

• Founded- August 2010

• Paytm's lending business CEO- Bhavesh Gupta

• About Suryoday Small Finance Bank Ltd:

• Launched-January 23rd 2017

• Managing Director(MD) and CEO- Baskar Babu Ramachandran

• Tagline- A Bank of Smiles
• Headquarters- Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

NABARD Signs MoU with SBI to Take up Joint Intervention Projects in Karnataka

• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), Karnataka Regional Office Bengaluru, Karnataka has signed MoU with SBI LHO, Bengaluru to provide concessional refinance facility to the beneficiaries of watershed development and tribal development projects.

The 2 institutions to take up joint intervention projects in the State.

• This consequently aids the beneficiaries of Tribal Development Fund (TDF), Watershed Development Fund (WDF), Farmer Producer Organisation (FPOs), Self-Help Group (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)

• This MoU enables SBI to act as an Implementing Agency for digitizing NABARD's SHGS and to on board NABARD's E-Shakti portal across Karnataka

• About National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD):
• Chairman- Dr. Govinda Rajulu(G.R.) Chintala

• Headquarters, Mumbai, Maharashtra

• About SBI(State Bank of India);

• Headquarters, Mumbai, Maharashtra

• Chairman- Dinesh Kumar Khara

IFSCA Became Member of International Association of Insurance Supervisors International Financial Services Centre Authority obtained membership of International Association of Insurance Supervisors

• Now, IFSCA can access IIs global network and would be able to exchange ideas and information relating to insurance with other global regulators.

• This membership will aid in developing a global Insurance hub in International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), from current 17 entities, at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT).

About International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS:

• Established in 1994, it is a voluntary membership organization of insurance supervisors and regulators from more than 200 jurisdictions, constituting 97% of the world's insurance premiums.

• It is the international standard-setting body responsible for developing and assisting in the supervision of the insurance sector.

• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is also a member of IAIS.

• Headquarters-Switzerland

Razorpay and PayPal Partnered to Enable Seamless International Payments for Indian MSMEs and Freelancers

• Razorpay and PayPal partnered to enable Indian MSMES(Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) and Freelancers to seamlessly accept international payments.

About Razorpay:

• Chief Executive Officer(CEO) & Co-Founder- Harshil Mathur

• HeadQuarters- Bengaluru( Bangalore), Karnataka

About PayPal:

• Headquarters - San Jose, California
• President and CEO- Dan Schulman

Finin Becomes India's first full-fledged Consumer Neobank in Partnership with SBM Bank India

• Bengaluru-based fintech, Finin was launched as India's first full-fledged consumer 'neobank'. Finin has launched Hyper personalised SmartBanking platform in partnership with SBM Bank India(.e. SBM Bank India has become Banking Partner for Finin). The platform helps the users to manage, save and invest their money in a smarter, secured and simpler way.

• Finin has associated with SBM Bank India to issue a savings account that can be opened in under 2 minutes and a VISA powered debit card equipped with smart card management features, has associated with SBM Bank India.

• The platform is designed to empower working professionals, millennials and students alike.

• It enables customers to get instant Personalised Savings Account with a VISA Debit Card.

• About SBM Bank (India) Limited (SBM Bank India):
• Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra

• Managing Director(MD) and Chief executive Officer(CEO)- Sidharth Rath Commenced Operations-1st December 2018

About Finin:

• Founded in 2019

• Founder & CEO- Suman Gandham

• Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer(COO)- Sudheer Maram Headquarters- Bangalore, Karnataka