HDFC Bank has introduced GIGA, a financial suite designed for gig workers and freelancers. The programme aims to address the financial needs of India's burgeoning gig economy.

The gig economy is estimated to employ 30-50 million workers: Fom management consultants and software programmers to delivery partners. GIGA will cater to this diverse group's financial requirements.

“We are delighted to launch a comprehensive suite of financial products designed to meet the manifold needs of various freelancer segments. Our products include a specialised savings account, current account, debit cards, credit cards with very specialised offers, health insurance for as little as Rs 20 per day, and flexible investment products where they could “invest when they can and how much they can” instead of a traditional SIP, and custom retail asset products,” said Sunali Rohra, head of gig banking, start-ups and government & institutional business at HDFC Bank.

Artists, entrepreneurs and social leaders all came together at the recently held Young Leaders Awards by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi.

Bollywood superstar Ayushmann Khurrana and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra were awarded the FICCI Young Leader’s Youth Icon by Shashwat Goenka, Chairman, FICCI Young Leaders Forum & Vice Chairman, RP - Sanjiv Goenka Group Co-Chair along with Aishwarya Bansal, Chair, FICCI Young Leaders Delhi NCR Chapter. FICCI recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary contributions of young leaders who have excelled in their respective fields and demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change in society. Giving inspiration to millions of people across the world and standing up for the right causes, Ayushmann’s reputation of a spotless artist precedes him as he adds another feather to his hat by being the only Bollywood actor to receive this award this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday (September 3, 2024) said he was looking forward to strong ties with Brunei, especially in boosting commercial and cultural linkages, as he arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, on the first leg of his two-nation trip during which he will hold talks with the country’s top leadership.

Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit, said he was looking forward to his meetings with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other members of the royal family to advance the historical relationship to new heights.

Malabar Group, one of the world's largest jewelry conglomerates, has been honored with the prestigious CSR Times Award 2024 for its transformative 'Hunger Free World' project. The CSR Times Award is a national recognition given to corporate organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to social responsibility, with a focus on the welfare of the people.

The award ceremony, organized in collaboration with the Government of Goa, featured Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant as the chief guest. Fanzeem, Head of Retail Expansion & Regional Head - West India, Malabar Gold & Diamonds; Shabeer P.K., Head of CSR, Malabar Group; and Milind Umate, Business Head - Corporate Gifting, accepted the award on behalf of Malabar Group. The event also saw the participation of distinguished guests, including Rt. Air Marshal V.P.S. Rana, Delhi CSR Times Editor Harish Chandra, Goa CSR Authority Joint CEO Vijay Saxena, and Goa CSR Authority Principal Adviser Dr. M.B. Gururaj, among others.

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the AgriSURE Fund and Krishi Nivesh Portal in New Delhi today. Mr Chouhan will also confer the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund – AIF Excellence Awards to the top-performing banks and states under various categories to recognize and appreciate their efforts. Ministers of State and representatives from various States and Banks will be present on the occasion.

The Ministry said, the Award Ceremony will inspire other Banks to enhance their performance and contribute to the overall success of the scheme. The AIF was launched in 2022 to create post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

To boost India's agricultural sector, the Union Cabinet approved seven major projects with a combined investment of Rs 13,966 crore on Monday. The announcement was made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a press briefing, where he outlined the government's commitment to advancing agricultural research, digital farming, and sustainable practices.

This announcement comes a week after Vaishnaw revealed the approval of 12 industrial smart cities across 10 states worth Rs 28,602 crore.

Crop Science for Food and Nutritional Security: Rs 3,979 crore

The government has earmarked Rs 3,979 crore for crop science for food and nutritional security. This project will focus on five areas:

• Research and education: Enhancing academic and research capabilities in agriculture.
• Plant genetic resource management: Conserving and utilising genetic resources for crop improvement.
• Genetic improvement for food and fodder crops: Focusing on pulses, oilseeds, and commercial crops.
• Research on insects, microbes, pollinators, etc.: Addressing issues that impact crop health and productivity.

The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN, which is designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence pensioners, veterans, and their families. Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, and the President of the Army Wives Welfare Association, Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, were present at the launching event. Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized the importance of the project in ensuring that veterans and their families receive the care and support they deserve. In the first phase of Project NAMAN, 14 Common Services Centres have been established at key locations across India, including New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Saugor, Guntur, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore. The project is set to expand significantly and aims to establish approximately 200 centres nationwide over the next 2 to 3 years.

In its first-ever European deployment, the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft touched down in France to take part in the ‘Varuna’ bilateral exercise with the French Navy. This comes 63 years after the Alizé aircraft, operating from the erstwhile INS Vikrant, last flew at the Hyères airbase.

According to an official statement by the Indian Navy, the P-8I aircraft landed at the Airbase 125 Istres-Le Tubé in France, marking its first-ever deployment in Europe. The aircraft will be a part of ‘Exercise Varuna’ with the French Navy, it said.

The INS Tabar, which earlier arrived in Toulon, will also be taking part in the bilateral military exercise. The navy said the 2024 edition of the bilateral naval exercise ‘Varuna’ between the two countries is scheduled from September 2 to 4 in the Mediterranean Sea. It will include advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and interoperability between the two navies, it said.

India has recorded trade surplus with as many as 151 countries such as the US and Netherlands, while the country has a trade deficit with 75 nations including China and Russia during the first half of this year, according to think tank GTRI.

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that India does not need to worry about the trade deficit from importing crude oil and coal, however, it must focus on reducing the industrial goods imports, especially from countries like China, as these threaten India’s economic sovereignty.

“Between January and June 2024, India had a trade surplus with 151 countries, representing 55.8 percent of its exports and 16.5 percent of its imports, totalling $72.1 billion,” GTRI said in a report. The biggest surpluses were with the USA ($21 billion) and the Netherlands ($11.6 billion) during January-June this year.

“India had a trade deficit with 75 countries, which accounted for 44.2 percent of its exports and 83.5 percent of its imports, resulting in a $185.4 billion deficit, much larger than India's overall trade deficit,” it said, adding this situation highlights the need to reduce reliance on specific imports and strengthen domestic production.

The Centre on Monday approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission for the creation of digital public infrastructure in the farm sector by building AgriStack to provide solutions like an Aadhaar-like unique ID for farmers, a crop sown registry and geo-referenced village maps, and implementing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES).

A proposal of this effect was approved by the Union cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The mission will be launched as part of the agriculture ministry’s activities planned for the first 100 days of Modi 3.0.

A budgetary allocation of Rs 2,817 crore has been made for the mission, and Rs 1,940 crore of it will be provided by the Centre. The mission will be rolled out nationally over the next two years (till 2025-26). It was initially planned to be launched in the financial year 2021-22 but could not be rolled out because of the Covid outbreak, said a source. Later, the Government announced the building of digital public infrastructure for agriculture in the Union Budgets 2023-24 and 2024-25.