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SBI lowers India's FY25 GDP growth forecast to 6.3%, below NSO's 6.4%.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has revised its forecast for India’s GDP growth in the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) to 6.3 percent, down from the National Statistical Office’s (NSO) projection of 6.4 percent. The bank attributed the downgrade to multiple economic challenges, including a slowdown in lending and manufacturing,

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SBI lowers India's FY25 GDP growth forecast to 6.3%, below NSO's 6.4%.

shortly after the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released its gross domestic product (GDP) projections.

SBI’s revision reflects concerns over a slowdown in lending and manufacturing, coupled with the effects of a large base effect from the previous year.

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

Singapore has reclaimed its place at the top of a quarterly ranking of the world’s most powerful passports. Holders of this passport enjoy visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide, according to the Henley Passport Index.

Japan is second in the ranking, with an open door to 193 destinations,

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

having secured the silver medal by regaining visa-free access to neighboring China for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdowns. The EU member states of France, Germany, Italy and Spain are at No. 3, along with Finland and South Korea, with access to 192 destinations with no prior visa needed.

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

The most powerful passports for 2025

1. Singapore (195 destinations)

2. Japan (193)

3. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, South Korea (192)

4. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway (191)

5. Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190)

6. Greece, Australia (189)

7. Canada, Poland, Malta (188)

8. Hungary, Czechia (187)

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

9. Estonia, United States (186)

10. Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (185)

Based on unique Timatic data from the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), backed up by in-house research, Henley & Partners ranks all 199 of the world’s most powerful passports based on,

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

how many of 227 global travel destinations they grant visa-free access to.

India ranking:

India emerged as 85th on the list, which means Indian passport holders can travel visa free to 57 nations of the world. 80th in 2024 and projected to be 85th in 2025.

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

Afghanistan, unsurprisingly, remains firmly entrenched at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, having lost visa-free access to a further two destinations over the past year, creating the largest mobility gap in the index’s 19-year history, with Singaporeans able to travel to 169 more destinations visa-free than Afghan passport holders.

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

UAE, is the first and only Arab state to ever make it into the upper echelons of the rankings. The UAE is one of the biggest climbers on the index over the past decade, having secured access to an additional 72 destinations since 2015, enabling it to climb 32 places to 10th spot with visa-free access to 185 destinations worldwide.

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Singapore leads in 2025's most powerful passports; India drops to 85th.

Only 22 of the world’s 199 passports have fallen down the Henley Passport Index ranking over the past decade. Surprisingly, the US is the second-biggest faller between 2015 and 2025 after Venezuela.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin- Chairman of international investment migration advisory firm Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept.

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Mirae Asset launches smallcap fund, targets India's high-growth segment.

Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd. has launched its new Mirae Asset smallcap fund, an open-ended equity scheme focusing predominantly on smallcap stocks. The fund, to be managed by senior Fund Manager Varun Goel, will be benchmarked against the Nifty smallcap 250 Total Return Index (TRI).

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Mirae Asset launches smallcap fund, targets India's high-growth segment.

The New Fund Offer (NFO) opens for subscription on January 10, and closes on January 24, with a minimum initial investment requirement of Rs 5,000. Regular trading will commence on February 3, with subsequent investments accepted in multiples of Re 1.

The launch comes at a time when small cap companies have shown significant compounding trends over the past two decades,

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Mirae Asset launches smallcap fund, targets India's high-growth segment.

according to the Nifty smallcap 100 Index factsheet, highlighting the potential for long-term growth in this segment of the market.

The fund's strategy involves investing at least 65 per cent of its portfolio in smallcap stocks, with the flexibility to allocate up to 35 per cent in mid and largecap stocks.

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Mirae Asset launches smallcap fund, targets India's high-growth segment.

It will target quality stocks characterised by sustainable high earnings growth, strong capital efficiency, and sound corporate governance practices.

The fund is designed for investors with a high-risk appetite, particularly targeting young, dynamic investors seeking high-growth opportunities and experienced risk-takers looking to enhance portfolio returns.

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NZ batter Martin Guptill retires from international cricket.

New Zealand batter Martin Guptill announced his retirement from international cricket, though the 38-year-old will continue to play in the T20 leagues around the world.

Currently, Guptill, who last played for New Zealand in 2022, is leading the Auckland Aces in this season's Super Smash.

Guptill has played 47 Tests but the white ball format was his calling card.

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NZ batter Martin Guptill retires from international cricket.

He scored 7346 runs from 198 matches with 18 hundreds and 39 fifties.

The right-hander also appeared in 122 T20I for the Blackcaps, making 3531 runs with two hundreds and 20 fifties.

Guptill is the first Kiwi player to score a hundred on ODI debut and he also became the first New Zealander to score an ODI double-century during the ICC World Cup 2015 when he smashed 237,

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NZ batter Martin Guptill retires from international cricket.

in the quarter-final win over the West Indies at Wellington.

New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham said Guptill was a true match winner.

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Indo-Pak war veteran Havaldar Baldev Singh passes away in Rajouri at 93.

Veteran soldier Havaldar (retd) Baldev Singh, who fought four wars against Pakistan, passed away at his residence in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday. He was 93.

Born on September 27, 1931, at Naunihal village, Singh was just 16 when he volunteered to join the Bal Sena Force under the leadership of Brigadier Usman,

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Indo-Pak war veteran Havaldar Baldev Singh passes away in Rajouri at 93.

Commander of the 50 Para Brigade, during the battle of Naushera and Jhangar in 1947-48.

The Bal Sena, a group of local boys aged 12 to 16, served as despatch runners for the Indian Army in the critical moments of these battles.

In recognition of their bravery, the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru honoured the Bal Sainiks,

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Indo-Pak war veteran Havaldar Baldev Singh passes away in Rajouri at 93.

presenting them with gramophones, watches, and the opportunity to join the Army.

Singh enlisted in the Army on November 14, 1950, and served the force with dedication and valour for nearly three decades, the spokesman said.

His service spanned multiple wars, including the 1961, 1962, and 1965 India-Pakistan wars.

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WEP of NITI Aayog Partners With India’s Largest Convenience Retail Chain New Shop to Empower Women Retail Business Owners.

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog, launched EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan in partnership with New Shop, India’s largest 24/7 convenience retail chain under its Award to Reward (ATR) program. This initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to succeed in the organized retail sector.

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WEP of NITI Aayog Partners With India’s Largest Convenience Retail Chain New Shop to Empower Women Retail Business Owners.

EmpowHER Biz will offer mentorship and comprehensive training, covering retail management, digital tools, financial literacy and business development to aspiring women entrepreneurs. Through this collaboration with New Shop, WEP aims to create a robust retail ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs and drives sustainable growth in the sector.

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WEP of NITI Aayog Partners With India’s Largest Convenience Retail Chain New Shop to Empower Women Retail Business Owners.

Under the initiative, fifty participants aged 18–35, will be selected through an online application process based on specific criteria. Top twenty of these participants will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees, empowering them to own and operate their retail businesses with significantly reduced barriers to entry.

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WEP of NITI Aayog Partners With India’s Largest Convenience Retail Chain New Shop to Empower Women Retail Business Owners.

The program is being launched for women from Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

WEP, incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018 as an aggregator platform, transitioned into a public-private partnership in 2022.

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WEP of NITI Aayog Partners With India’s Largest Convenience Retail Chain New Shop to Empower Women Retail Business Owners.

Since 2023, the ‘Award to Reward’ initiative under WEP offers a plug and play framework for stakeholders to develop impactful programs.

“EmpowHER Biz is our largest Award to Reward (ATR) collaboration to date. Aspiring women entrepreneurs often face multiple challenges, including societal biases, limited access to financing, credible networks, and mentorship,

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WEP of NITI Aayog Partners With India’s Largest Convenience Retail Chain New Shop to Empower Women Retail Business Owners.

all of which hinder their potential in business. Through this partnership with New Shop, we aim to help women overcome these obstacles and build a strong foundation for their entrepreneurial journey”, said Ms. Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog and Mission Director, WEP.

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KredX Receives RBI’s Final Nod to Launch TReDS Platform, DTX.

KredX, India’s largest supply chain finance platform, has secured the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) final approval to commercially launch its Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform under the brand name DTX (Domestic Trade Exchange). This milestone positions KredX as the fifth RBI-regulated TReDS platform in the country,

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KredX Receives RBI’s Final Nod to Launch TReDS Platform, DTX.

further advancing its mission to transform supply chain financing.

The TReDS platform is a government-mandated initiative designed to address the persistent challenges of delayed payments and working capital gaps in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector.

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KredX Receives RBI’s Final Nod to Launch TReDS Platform, DTX.

Through DTX, MSMEs will benefit from transparent, timely payment processes and improved liquidity by leveraging an electronic trade receivables discounting system.

DTX builds on KredX’s advanced technology infrastructure, offering a seamless experience tailored to the needs of MSMEs.

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KredX Receives RBI’s Final Nod to Launch TReDS Platform, DTX.

Founded in 2015, KredX has been a pioneer in supply chain finance, working with over 70,000 MSME suppliers and large corporations. Its regulatory approval to launch DTX adds to a growing list of achievements, including being one of the first firms to secure an International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA),

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KredX Receives RBI’s Final Nod to Launch TReDS Platform, DTX.

license for cross-border trade finance through its global platform, GTX. With both domestic (DTX) and global (GTX) platforms, KredX has established itself as a “Full Stack Trade Finance Platform” that seamlessly integrates technology and regulatory compliance.

Manish Kumar- CEO & Co-founder of KredX.

Anurag Jain- Co-founder & Executive Director at KredX.

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India, U.S. to jointly manufacture interoperable sonobuoys for Navy.

In a significant development, India and the U.S. announced cooperation on co-production of U.S. sonobuoys for Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy, a high-end technology that allows tracking submarines in the deep seas and oceans.

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India, U.S. to jointly manufacture interoperable sonobuoys for Navy.

This is the latest in a series of cooperation measures between the two countries as both grow wary of the rapid expansion of Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

In line with the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) launched in May 2022, the Ultra Maritime and BDL teams will also pursue new sonobuoy technologies to optimize,

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India, U.S. to jointly manufacture interoperable sonobuoys for Navy.

their acoustic performance in the unique environment of the Indian Ocean, enabling wide area search through bespoke multi-static active solutions,” Ultra Marine, a U.S.-based world-leader in the design and production of undersea warfare capabilities.

They will jointly supply and manufacture sonobuoys for the Indian Navy as per U.S. Navy standards,

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India, U.S. to jointly manufacture interoperable sonobuoys for Navy.

They will jointly supply and manufacture sonobuoys for the Indian Navy as per U.S. Navy standards, with production split across the U.S. and India, in accordance with ‘Make in India’ principles.

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Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed revenue secretary; Arunish Chawla takes over as DIPAM secretary.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been appointed as Secretary Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

He is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). Meanwhile, Pandey will continue to hold the designation of Finance Secretary.

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Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed revenue secretary; Arunish Chawla takes over as DIPAM secretary.

In a corresponding move, Arunish Chawla, presently the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), succeeding Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

Additionally, Chawla has been given the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, and

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Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed revenue secretary; Arunish Chawla takes over as DIPAM secretary.

Secretary, Ministry of Culture. This arrangement will remain in place until the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders.

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Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and NALSAR University Sign MoU to Train Animal Welfare Representatives, in Hyderabad.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NALSAR University of Law, in Hyderabad.

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Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and NALSAR University Sign MoU to Train Animal Welfare Representatives, in Hyderabad.

The MoU formalized a strategic partnership aimed at providing high-quality, professional legal training to civil society members who support District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) and State Animal Welfare Boards in their efforts to assist animals.

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Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and NALSAR University Sign MoU to Train Animal Welfare Representatives, in Hyderabad.

This collaboration between AWBI and NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad will help in providing specialized training and education to the applicants of Honorary Animal Welfare Representatives (HAWRs) with AWBI wherein participants will be equipped with essential knowledge in animal welfare laws, procedures, investigative techniques, and related subjects.

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Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and NALSAR University Sign MoU to Train Animal Welfare Representatives, in Hyderabad.

The training will be conducted in batches, with a maximum of 25 participants per session and will span a minimum of 3 days. Upon successful completion of training, AWBI will issue Honorary Animal Welfare Representative (HAWR) certifications based on assessments conducted by NALSAR.

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Consistent Infosystems Launches Gold Series CCTV SMPS: Advanced Power Solutions for Surveillance Systems.

Consistent Infosystems, one of India’s fastest-growing IT and surveillance brands, has unveiled its latest innovation—the Gold Series CCTV SMPS. Designed to meet the power demands of modern surveillance systems, the Gold Series offers reliable, efficient, and secure power solutions for both residential and commercial applications.

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Consistent Infosystems Launches Gold Series CCTV SMPS: Advanced Power Solutions for Surveillance Systems.

This cutting-edge product is equipped with advanced features such as a multi-output power supply, high efficiency, and low power consumption. Its built-in surge protection, stabilized output with low ripple, and safeguards like short-circuit and overload protection ensure uninterrupted performance, making it a dependable choice for critical surveillance setups.

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Consistent Infosystems Launches Gold Series CCTV SMPS: Advanced Power Solutions for Surveillance Systems.

The Gold Series boasts impressive technical specifications, including:

Input Voltage Range: AC150-275V

Input Frequency: 50Hz

Efficiency: 85% at full load @ 230V AV

Output Voltage: 12V DC ±5%

Line and Load Regulation: <1%

Compact and lightweight, the device measures 155mm x 65mm x 40mm and weighs just 355g, facilitating easy installation across diverse environments.

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In a first, CRPF launches public adoption of retired force dogs.

The CRPF has launched a first-ever online service that allows common people to adopt retired sniffer and assault dogs from the country's largest paramilitary force to give these four-legged soldiers a comfortable second life. This is probably the first time that any security force has decided to offer their trained dogs for public adoption,

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In a first, CRPF launches public adoption of retired force dogs.

as this move was always fraught with the dangers of misuse of these highly-skilled and motivated dogs by anti-national elements.

Till now, the central forces and state police were handing over their retired dogs to registered NGOs or reputed organisations for their care.

More than 30 canines from four breeds -- Belgian Shepherd Malinois, German Shepherd, Labrador and,

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In a first, CRPF launches public adoption of retired force dogs.

the indigenous Mudhol Hound -- can now be adopted through a rigorous process that will be monitored by the CRPF's specialised Dog Breeding and Training School (DBTS) near Bengaluru.

With about 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the leading internal security force of the country which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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PhonePe, ICICI launch Rs 59 insurance plan for train and bus travellers, Rs 99 for flights.

PhonePe in partnership with ICICI Lombard on Thursday announced the launch of insurance coverage, designed for travellers attending the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela from January 13 to February 26, 2025, in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

The insurance plan is available in two variants, catering to the needs of a broad spectrum of travellers:

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PhonePe, ICICI launch Rs 59 insurance plan for train and bus travellers, Rs 99 for flights.

Rs 59 per traveler for individuals traveling by train or bus and Rs 99 per traveler for individuals traveling by domestic flights.

The launch aims to provide devotees with extensive coverage for various risks, including hospitalization, doctor consultation, outpatient treatment, personal accident cover, loss of checked-in baggage, trip cancellation cover,

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PhonePe, ICICI launch Rs 59 insurance plan for train and bus travellers, Rs 99 for flights.

missed connecting flight cover, and repatriation of remains.

The North Central Railway has devised a plan to ensure a smooth and safe experience for the pilgrims. The uni-directional movement to prevent chaos and congestion, the movement of people will be kept uni-directional, avoiding criss-cross movements.

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Goa govt launches 'Bima Sakhi Yojana'.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the 'Bima Sakhi Yojana' in the state with the aim of providing "insurance for all".

With this, Goa became the second state after Haryana to launch this flagship scheme envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a government release said.

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Goa govt launches 'Bima Sakhi Yojana'.

As per the central government's portal, the Bima Sakhi Yojana initiative of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is designed to empower women aged 18-70 years, who are Class X pass. They will receive specialised training and a stipend for the first three years to promote financial literacy and insurance awareness.

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Goa govt launches 'Bima Sakhi Yojana'.

After training, they can serve as LIC agents and the graduate Bima Sakhis will have the opportunity to qualify for being considered for development officer roles in LIC.

In the beginning, the Bima Sakhis will be trained and get a Stipend of Rs 7,000 per month in the first year, Rs 6,000 per month in the second and Rs 5,000 in the third year.

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Goa govt launches 'Bima Sakhi Yojana'.

Altogether, these Bima Sakhis will get Rs 2.16 lakh during the period of three years.

The special scheme does not only focus on women empowerment, but also aims to enhance life insurance coverage at the grass root level.

Goa Chief Minister- Pramod Sawant.

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