The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday released guidelines for banks to open digital banking units (DBUs), in a bid to enhance the spread of digital modes of banking in India’s interiors. The guidelines follow an announcement in the FY23 Budget for setting up of 75 DBUs in 75 districts, and lay down the basic minimum services that a DBU must provide.

gIn recent times, digital banking has emerged as the preferred banking service delivery channel along with ‘brick and mortar’ banking outlets. Reserve Bank has been taking progressive measures to improve availability of digital infrastructure for banking services. In furtherance of this objective and as a part of efforts to accelerate and widen the reach of digital banking services, the concept of ‘Digital Banking Units’ (DBUs) is being introduced by the Reserve Bank,” the central bank said in a notification.

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released India’s contribution of 72,124 Dollars to UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping in Sport in 2022. It is a considerably enhanced contribution of twice the assessed value. As per the resolution of 7COP held at Paris in September 2019, the State Parties had agreed for one percent of the contribution of the regular budget of respective nation to UNESCO towards the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport.

Pursuant to the commitment and Resolution Government of India has released an enhanced contribution of India to UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping in Sport. UNESCO has conveyed its thanks and appreciated the Government of India’s ongoing contribution towards the Fund and commitment to the fight against doping in sport, notably playing a key role in the Convention’s governance as member of the Fund’s Approval Committee for 2022-2023. 

Army Ordnance Corps is celebrating its 247th raising day today. The Corps came into existence with the establishment of ‘Board of Ordnance’ on 8th April 1775. The Corps is entrusted with the onerous task of managing a large and complex inventory and providing logistic support to the Army.

In an exclusive message on All Indian Radio on the occasion, Lt Gen RKS Kushwaha, Director General Ordnance Services and Sr Colonel Commandant said that the Corps has taken a quantum jump in the modernization and technological advancements in recent times.

Talking about the major achievements of the Corps, the Lieutenant General emphasized that AOS proved its mettle on the Northern Borders recently.  

Today is the 7th anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, PMMY. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8th April 2015, for providing loans up to 10 Lakh rupees to the non-corporate, non-farm small, or micro-enterprises.

AIR correspondent reports that more than 34 crore 42 lakh loans for an amount of 18.60 lakh crore rupees have been sanctioned since launch of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. Around 68 percent loans of the total number of loans have been sanctioned to Women Entrepreneurs. Almost 22 percent of the loans have been given to New Entrepreneurs.

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the weapons of Mass destruction and their delivery systems (prohibition of unlawful activities) amendment Bill, 2022 with a voice vote.

The Bill moved by External affairs minister S. Jaishankar amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.  The 2005 Act prohibits unlawful activities (such as manufacturing, transport, or transfer) related to weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery. 

Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. The present Bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. To prevent persons from financing such activities, the central government may freeze, seize or attach their funds, financial assets, or economic resources (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly).

Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with Rajya Sabha approving it on Wednesday. Lok Sabha had already passed the Bill. The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tripura. It includes the Darlong community as a sub-tribe of the Kuki tribe in the list of STs in Tripura.  

Replying to the debate on the Bill in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh Saruta said Tripura has 19 chief tribes and Darlong community is a sub tribe of Kuki tribe. She said the Narendra Modi government is doing a lot of work for the development of Scheduled Tribes in the country.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lauded India's food subsidy program which prevented the increased prevalence of extreme poverty in the country during Covid-19.  

In a report the IMF has said, the expansion of food transfers and subsidies make it an important instrument for poverty alleviation. Appreciating the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, the report demonstrated that the program provided insurance to the poor and prevented an increase in the prevalence of extreme poverty in the country.

It stated that doubling of entitlements in 2020 during pandemic helped maintain extreme poverty at the low 0.8 percent level. It also said, without any food subsidies, extreme poverty in the pandemic years would have increased by 1.05 per cent.

Ayush Ministry will celebrate Yoga Mahotsav on World Health Day at Red Fort in New Delhi tomorrow. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and several Union Ministers will demonstrate Common Yoga Protocol on 75th day of the countdown of the International Day of Yoga.

During the event, Members of the Parliament, Ambassadors of various countries, prominent Sports Celebrities and Yoga Gurus will participate.

The Ministry with its various stakeholders has chalked out a 100 days’ countdown programme of 8th International Day of Yoga wherein 100 organizations are promoting yoga in one hundred cities.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday launched the Digital Dashboard for District Ganga Committees Performance Monitoring System. In his address, Mr. Shekhawat stated that the Digital Dashboard launched will help the District Ganga Committees DGCs in enhancing people-river connect. Pointing out that some DGCs are not conducting regular meeting, he urged the District Magistrates to make sure that Ganga cleaning becomes a priority and under the chairmanship of District Magistrates cleanliness in River Ganga is ensured.

The Minister added that cleaning of Ganga means cleaning of all its tributaries and it is important that the district officials take ownership of the assets created under Namami Gange Programme in the Ganga Basin and ensure their smooth functioning.

Parliament has passed the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 with the Rajya Sabha approving it on Wednesday. The House also rejected the amendments moved by the opposition to refer the bill to the Select Committee. As many as 59 members voted in the favour of the amendments while 97 against it. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill. The Bill seeks to authorise taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records.  It provides for legal sanction for taking appropriate body measurements of persons who are required to give such measurements which include finger-impressions, palm-print and foot-print impressions, photographs, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples and their analysis among others.

The legislation also empowers the National Crime Records Bureau of India to collect, store and preserve the record of measurements and for sharing, dissemination, destruction and disposal of records.  The Bill provides for empowering police or prison officers to take measurements of any person who resists or refuses to give measurements. The new legislation also  replaces the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920