The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 5 released final guidelines and opened the window for applicants to approach the regulator at any point of time for 'on-tap' licensing of Small Finance Banks (SFBs).

The minimum paid-up voting equity capital or net worth requirement has been set at Rs 200 crore,  up from Rs 100 crore as set earlier.

For primary urban cooperative banks that intend to convert into SFB, RBI said that the initial requirement of net worth shall be at Rs 100 crore, which will have to be increased to Rs 200 crore within five years from the date of commencement of business.

Canada’s largest pension fund manager Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has committed to invest up to $600 million in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

The investment would be made through a $150 million commitment in the master fund of NIIF and co-investment rights of up to $450 million in future opportunities to invest alongside the master fund.

Post the funding, CPPIB will become a shareholder in NIIF’s investment management company.

“With this fourth close of the NIIF Master Fund, we are pleased that the fund has achieved its initial target size of $2.1 billion with domestic and international investors of the highest reputation and quality. We thank all our investors, and the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of External Affairs, for their strong support," said Sujoy Bose, managing director and chief executive officer of NIIF.

Union Home Ministry has sanctioned a sum 100 crore rupees from Nirbhaya Fund for setting up and strengthening of Women Help Desks in Police Stations.

This scheme would be implemented by the States and Union Territories.

The Help Desks would focus on making the Police Stations more women-friendly and approachable, as they would be the first and single point of contact for any woman walking into a police station.

Essentially, lady police officers would be deployed at these help desks.

The officials of Women Help Desk would be trained to be sensitive towards women.

Indian athletes continue their winning streak at 13th South Asian Games in Nepal, grabbing 54 medals comprising 28 gold, 19 silver and 7 bronze yesterday.

India dominated in Wushu, Weightlifting, Swimming, Shooting and Taekwondo.

On the fifth day of games, India further consolidated its top position in the medal tally with a total of 124 medals comprising 62 gold, 41 silver and 21 bronze.

President Ram Nath Kovind led the nation in paying tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his 64th Mahaparinirvan Diwas today.

He paid floral tributes at his Statue in Parliament House this morning.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in a series of tweets, said, humble tributes and respects to the architect of the Constitution.

He said Ambedkar was a champion of democracy, he was a staunch patriot, a nationalist and a humanist to whom upliftment of poor and downtrodden was an essential precondition to development.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today inaugurated a Sewage Treatment Plant in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand in the presence of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

Speaking on this occasion, the Swedish King said that Ganga is an important river in India. He said that the Central Government is doing good work in the direction of clean rivers.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Shekhawat said that 34 STP stations is to be set up in the state out of which the 23  plants are almost complete. He said that STPs of the capacity 127 MLD is the target under Namami Gange Yojna in the state. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that works under Namai Gange Yojna are in progress and will be completed soon.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the third edition of National Public Procurement Conclave in New Delhi today.

The two-day conclave has been organized by Government e-Marketplace, GeM in association with Confederation of Indian Industry.

In his inaugural address, Mr Goyal said, GeM epitomizes the speed, skill and scale which is essential in an e-marketplace platform. He further said that GeM rests on the three pillars of openness, fairness and inclusiveness and is a symbol of a truly transparent e-marketplace.

The Minister hoped that during this conclave, a road map for the future of GeM will be put in place that will unify all government procurement, across all Ministries and Departments.

Indian athletes continued their winning streak today at 13th South Asian Games in Nepal.

On the fifth day of games, India won a gold, four silvers and two bronzes in athletics.

India's Karthik Unnikri clinched gold and Mohammed Salahu won silver in men's triple jump. In the women's section, Bhairabi Roy won bronze.

In 400 meters race, Priya Habbathan won silver in women's, while Jeevan Priyanth begged bronze in men's category. In hurdles, Surendhar Jayak and Aparna Roy won silver each in men and women sections.

New Zealand cricket team have been awarded with the MCC’s Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award for 2019 for their sporting conduct in the aftermath of the World Cup final against England.

After losing to England in a thrilling final held on July 14 at the Lord’s -- regarded as one of the most exciting ODI matches of all time -- Kane Williamson’s team displayed an exceptional level of sportsmanship, humility and selflessness in defeat.

MCC President Kumar Sangakkara said: “The New Zealand team are worthy winners of this award. In the heat of battle they displayed a level of sportsmanship that was fitting for such a fantastic final, and indeed tournament.

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched the Fit India School Rating System at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Delhi Cantt here on Wednesday.

They also jointly inaugurated the newly constructed cricket stadium which has been constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 294.41 lakhs and will facilitate around 5,000 children every year.

“Fit India school rating system as per certain parameters will enhance the image of the schools. KVs are ahead of other schools in promoting culture and sports along with education. Only fit people can make the nation fit,” Rijiju said.