The 4th edition of India- Malaysia Joint Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI commenced, at Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia. The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 2nd to 15th December 2024.
Indian contingent comprising of 78 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of MAHAR Regiment.
The Malaysian contingent is being represented by 123 personnel from The Royal Malaysian Regiment. Joint Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Malaysia. Last edition was conducted in Nov 2023 at Umroi Cantonment in Meghalaya, India.
Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter insurgency operations in jungle terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The exercise will focus on operations in the jungle environment.
President elect Donald Trump has nominated Kash Patel as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), marking him as the highest-ranking Indian American in Trump’s incoming administration.
“Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel is an exceptional lawyer and investigator who embodies the ‘America First’ vision,” Trump stated.
Patel, 44, a close confidante of Trump, gained prominence for his role in exposing what Trump referred to as the “Russia Hoax.” Previously, Patel served as Chief of Staff to the Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense and held other senior positions in intelligence and counterterrorism during Trump’s first term.
Giving a boost to market linkages for agri-horti producers of Arunachal Pradesh, the state government launched 'Mission Arun Himveer' with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), North East Frontier, in presence of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Under the MoU signed, the state government will supply fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry products to the ITBP procured from local farmers, Self Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations and farmer cooperatives, through the APAMB.
This follows the first such understanding made between the state government and the Indian Army in August 2022.
Till date, around 400 tons of fruits and vegetables worth Rs 72 lakhs were lifted by LAMPS from indigenous farmers for supply to the Indian Army.
The Mission aims to achieve the short-term goals of the Marketing Board in providing ready-made markets from far-flung villages and circles with low marketable surplus and,
circles with low marketable surplus and creating a vibrant economy besides solving employment issues across the state.
The Mission will also cater to the prevailing demand for marketing of Agri-Horti produces from the border districts under the Vibrant Village Programme.
As per the agreement, ITBP can procure directly from farmers and payment would be made by APAMB out of the revolving fund of Rs 4 crore granted by the state government on behalf of ITBP. The amount will be then reimbursed to the Board after reconciliation by ITBP.
Under the Mission, 100% of the funds will go directly to the farmers and APAMB envisages that more than Rs 10 crore of business will be done in a year.
The MoU was signed by APAMB CEO Okit Palling and ITBP NE Frontier Inspector General, Akun Sabharwal.
The Indian government announced that it has abolished the windfall tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF), crude oil, petrol, and diesel, effective immediately. This move marks the end of a levy introduced in July 2022 and aims to provide relief to oil producers and refiners.
The decision is expected to benefit major oil players like Reliance Industries and ONGC by boosting their gross refining margins—a measure of profitability in refining crude oil.
Additionally, the government has removed the Road and Infrastructure Cess (RIC) on petrol and diesel exports, further alleviating financial pressure on the oil sector.
A windfall tax is an additional levy imposed on extraordinary or unexpected profits made by companies or industries. India introduced the windfall tax on domestic crude oil production in July 2022, following a sharp rise in global crude oil prices. The tax aimed to capture excess revenue generated from these unexpected gains.
The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference (AOMSUC-14) is being held from December 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi, India. The conference is hosted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences, and will feature high-quality oral and poster presentations, panel discussions,
and a training workshop focused on applying current satellite data for meteorological and climatological applications.
The conference aims to:
Promote the importance of satellite observations.
Advance satellite remotes ensuring science.
The first AOMSUC was held in Beijing, China, in 2010. Since then, the conference has been hosted annually in various locations across Asia-Oceania. The AOMSUC has become a premier event for meteorologists, earth scientists, satellite operators, and students from across the region and the globe.
The 1st edition of Joint Table Top Exercise, CINBAX, between the Indian Army and the Cambodian Army commenced at Foreign Training Node, Pune. The exercise will be conducted from 1st to 8th December 2024. The Cambodian Army contingent will comprise 20 personnel and the Indian Army contingent is also comprising 20 personnel from an Infantry Brigade.
Exercise CINBAX is a planning exercise aimed to wargame conduct of joint Counter Terrorism (CT) operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on discussions pertaining to establishment of Joint Training Task Force for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance besides planning of operations in CT environment.
The exercise will be conducted in three phases. Phase-I will focus on preparations and orientation of participants for CT operations during UN peace keeping missions. Phase-II will involve conduct of the Table Top exercises and Phase-III will involve finalisation of plans and summing up.
World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1 since 1988, serves as a global platform to unite people in raising awareness about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) /AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and demonstrating solidarity against the pandemic.
The theme for World AIDS Day 2024, “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” emphasizes the importance of healthcare access and the empowerment of individuals in managing their health. It underscores the need to address systemic inequalities that prevent vulnerable populations from receiving essential HIV prevention and treatment services.
Foreign direct investment in India rose by 45 percent year-on-year to USD 29.79 billion in April-September this fiscal on healthy inflows in services, computer, telecom, and pharma sectors, according to government data. FDI inflows were at USD 20.5 billion in April-September 2023-24.
In the July-September quarter, the inflows grew by about 43 percent year-on-year to USD 13.6 billion against USD 9.52 billion in the same quarter last fiscal.
The foreign direct investment in India was up 47.8 percent to USD 16.17 billion in the April-June quarter.
Total FDI, which includes equity inflows, reinvested earnings and other capital, grew by 28 per cent to USD 42.1 billion during the first half of this fiscal from USD 33.12 billion in April-September 2023-24, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) data showed.
Razorpay, India’s leading omnichannel payments and banking platform, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to enhance the security of the country’s burgeoning digital payments ecosystem.
This partnership comes as India contributes 46% of the global digital payment volume, underscoring the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard businesses and consumers.
As part of the collaboration, Razorpay will drive nationwide awareness campaigns to educate businesses and consumers on cybersecurity best practices.
Initiatives include:
Direct Engagement with Law Enforcement: Establishing connections with over 1,600 cybercrime stations across 25 states and union territories to bolster communication and collaborative efforts.
In October 2024, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) hit a historic milestone by processing 16.58 billion financial transactions worth Rs. 23.49 Lakh Crores in a single month. Since its launch in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI has transformed India’s payment ecosystem, integrating multiple bank accounts into a single app and,
enabling seamless fund transfers, merchant payments, and peer-to-peer transactions. This landmark achievement underlines UPI’s pivotal role in advancing India’s digital transformation.
UPI’s success lies in its simplicity, security, and versatility. It has not only made financial transactions swift and secure but also empowered small businesses, merchants, and individuals,
to transition toward a cashless economy.
Its digital revolution is now crossing borders, operational in seven countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius. Its foray into France marks a significant step into Europe, facilitating seamless transactions for Indian consumers abroad.
State Bank of India (SBI) has initiated a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of reactivating inoperative accounts. Accounts are deemed inoperative if no transactions occur for over two years, and reactivation requires a Re-KYC process.
The campaign emphasises the necessity of maintaining regular transactions to avoid accounts being categorised as inoperative.
Ahead of the campaign launch, SBI conducted a one-day workshop in Gurugram for its national business correspondents, focusing on the activation of inoperative accounts and the significance of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts.
The workshop also introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) model for categorising Customer Service Points (CSPs) based on risk profiles. This technological innovation underscores SBI’s commitment to enhancing risk management, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance while improving customer service.
The initiative also highlights SBI’s continued efforts to launch new products and improve customer services, making its channels more robust and customer-centric.
Through this campaign, SBI reinforces its dedication to empowering citizens with seamless banking experiences while driving financial inclusion across the country.
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).
The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
