IDBI Bank launches repo-linked home, auto loans

1. September month to be celebrated as ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah’

The entire month of September will be celebrated as the Rashtriya Poshan Maah.This year the theme is ‘Complementary Feeding’.POSHAN Abhiyaan is a multi- ministerial convergence mission with the vision to address malnutrition with a targeted approach by 2022.Under the Poshan Abhiyaan, the government has set a target to reduce the stunting rate in children from 35 per cent to 25 per cent.The programme aims at achieving improvement in the nutritional status of children up to six years of age, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

2. Centre approves Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced the approval for the new Gorewada International Zoo to be inaugurated in Nagpur district of Maharashtra.The Zoo will have attractions like Bio Park, Indian Safari, African Safari, Night Safari, Research, Education and Training, facilities for tourists, etc.The Government of Maharashtra has accorded permission for establishing the International Zoo, through Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM. Ltd.), Nagpur.

3. Mumbai ranked 45th, Delhi 52nd on world’s safe cities list

According to a report by Economist Intelligence Unit, Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th safest city on the Safe Cities Index (SCI), while Delhi stood at the 52nd position.Cities in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region made up six of the top-10 safest cities with Tokyo taking the top spot.Singapore and Osaka came second and third, while Sydney and Melbourne also made it to the top-10 cities list.

4. Google Doodle honours Amrita Pritam on 100th birth anniversary

The 100th birth anniversary of Indian novelist, essayist and poet Amrita Pritam was celebrated with a Google Doodle.Google has honoured the day with a doodle, which is a reference to her autobiography Kala Gulab, which revealed many details of her personal life.Amrita Pritam, considered the greatest 20th-century Punjabi poet, has published 28 novels including Pinjar, a tale set during the time of partition, which was also adapted into a movie.She is the first woman recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956 and also won the Jnanpith Award and the Padma Vibhushan.

5. IDBI Bank launches repo-linked home, auto loans

LIC owned IDBI Bank has launched a home and auto loan product linked to the repo rate.It has also introduced bulk deposits linked to the repo rate in select buckets.The lender is offering home loan for up to Rs 75 lakh with a tenor of up to 35 years.The interest rate on home loan will be from 8.30 per cent per annum onwards.The bank’s customers will have the twin option of selecting either the MCLR linked product or the newly launched repo rate linked product.

6. Google signs a pact with IT ministry for ‘Build for Digital India’

Tech giant Google has signed a statement of intent with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) for rolling out ‘Build for Digital India’ programme.The programme will offer a platform for engineering students to develop market-ready, technology-based solutions that address key social problems.As part of the program, engineering students across the country will be invited to present their ideas and solutions in areas like healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure, women safety, smart mobility and transportation, environment, accessibility and disability and digital literacy.Google will also offer mentorship sessions in product design, strategy and technology to the most promising products and prototypes.

7. Government announces mega-merger of public sector banks

The government has announced the merger of ten public sector banks into four banks.United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce will be merged with Punjab National Bank, making the proposed entity the second largest public sector bank (PSB).Syndicate Bank will be merged with Canara Bank, while Allahabad Bank will be amalgamated with Indian Bank.Similarly, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank will be consolidated with Union Bank of India.The Finance Minister said, after the merger of banks, the country will now have 12 public sector banks instead of 27.

8. DAY-NULM conferred the prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), a flagship mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award.The award was given for its Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA).Launched in November 2018, PAiSA is a centralized IT platform which simplifies and streamlines the release of interest subvention under the Mission.It offers end to end online solution for processing, payment, monitoring and tracking of interest subvention claims from banks on a monthly basis.The portal has been designed and developed through the Allahabad Bank.