1. Jan Dhan Yojna – enters into Guinness World Records
i. Financial inclusion initiative Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna has
entered into the Guinness Book of World Records, with the opening of nearly
11.50 crore bank accounts in the shortest period of time.
ii. The Guinness Book of World Records
has also recognised the achievements made under PMJDY and has given a
certificate stating that the most bank accounts opened in one week as part of
the financial inclusion campaign is 1.8 crore.
iii. Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said ” Now most of India is included in
the banking system”.
iv. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulate all the state governments,
banks & the finance ministry for the great success of the Jan Dhan Yojana.
2. World Economic Forum – Annual Meeting begins today
i. The World Economic Forum’s
five-day annual Summit began today in Davos, Switzerland.
ii. The Annual Meeting of WEF is
being attended by 40 heads of states or governments, including German
Chancellor Angel Merkel, France’s President Francois Hollande, China’s Prime
Minister Li Keqiang, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Swiss
President Simonetta Sommaruga.
iii. Heads of different nations
gathers to discuss rise and fall in global economy and a time of renewed terror
threats after recent strikes in France and other parts of globe.
3. Uttarakhand becomes No. 2 in tiger population
i. Uttarakhand has ranked
second among Indian states in terms of tiger population after Karnataka in
India.
ii. Uttrakhand has registered
340 tigers rise of 113 tigers since the last census (227) becoming the second
state in the country.
iii. Karnataka with 406 tigers
became the first state with highest number of tigers in the country.
iv. There was a time when
Madhya Pradesh had the highest tiger population in the country.
4. Bibek Debroy
appointed as a member of NITI Aayog
i. Bibek Debroy professor of Centre for Policy
Research in New Delhi has been appointed as a member of Niti Aayog.
ii. He has previously worked as Director of the
Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies and as a Consultant in Finance
Ministry in various capacities.
Note: National Institution for Transforming India
(Niti) Aayog has replaced Planning Commission recently.
II. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman
of Niti Aayog.
5. Netherland
& Thailand to help Sikkim in development of floriculture
i. Sikkim has signed an Memorandum of
Understanding with Netherlands and Thailand for development of floriculture in
the state.
ii. Both countries will provide expertise and
technology in the development of Cymbidium and others floriculture.