1. DakPay: India Post Payments Bank rolls out its digital payments’ services
The India Post payments Bank (IPPB) and the Department of Posts (DOP) virtually launched a new digital payment app ‘DakPay’. As per the official statement, the app has been launched as part of the ongoing efforts of providing Digital Financial Inclusion at the last mile across the country. While announcing the launch of ‘DakPay’, Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, stated that Indian Post has stood the test of times by serving the country through various postal services physically and digitally during the lockdown. The launch of DakPay adds up to India Post’s legacy, which is about reaching every household in the country.
2. High Security Registration Plate: significance, description, price; all you need to know
The transport department of Delhi has directed all the vehicle owners in the state to get a High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP) affixed on their vehicles. As per the notice by the state department, citizens must get HSRP on the vehicles owned by them ‘without any delay’, and failing to which, will attract a penalty under the Central Motor Vehicles Act. The direction by the Delhi government is in line with the order which was issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The order mandates all the vehicles in the country that are sold before April 1, 2019, to have HSRP and color-coded stickers. Even though the direction by the central ministry came into effect in 2019, it was not strictly enforced by the state governments because of various reasons, which also include the unavailability of HSRP.
3. UK PM Boris Johnson accepts PM Modi’s invitation to be Chief Guest at Republic Day 2021
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted the invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2021 in New Delhi. This was informed by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during his talks with Indian External Affairs Minister on December 15, 2020. Dominic Raab also informed that the UK PM has invited PM Narendra Modi to join the UK-hosted G7 summit next year also welcomed India’s return to UN Security Council. The UK Foreign Secretary is currently on a visit to India.
4. Ashraf Patel conferred Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2020
Ashraf Patel was awarded the social entrepreneur of the year award. The award was presented by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani at a virtual ceremony in November 2020. Ashraf Patel is the co-founder of two organizations –Pravah and ComMutiny Youth Collective, which train the youth for leadership roles. The award has been instituted by the Schwab Foundation and Jubilant Bhartia Foundation. The other finalists included Sujoy Santra of Kolkata-based organisation iKure, which works on primary healthcare, wellness and prevention services through innovative technology and Sandeep Patel of NEPRA, an Ahmedabad-based waste management solutions company.
5. COVID-19 Vaccination Drive in India: Guidelines issued by Centre; Registration Process @Co-WIN App-All you need to know
The Central Government on December 14, 2020 issued the detailed guidelines for mass COVID-19 vaccination drive in India. The vaccination drive will begin with the availability of the vaccine candidates for emergency use.
The government plans to vaccinate around 30 crore people in the Phase I of vaccination drive, including healthcare professionals and workers, people over 50 years of age and people under 50 years with comorbidities.
COVID-19 Vaccination Drive: Highlights
- The vaccination will be carried out by a team comprising five members.
- After getting vaccinated, people will be monitored for 30 minutes for any adverse event.
- A digitalised platform named Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system will help track the enlisted beneficiaries for vaccination and COVID-19 vaccines on a real-time basis.
