Kapil Kathpal

Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes

Banking &
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Annual Financial
Awareness
Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the period
April 01, 2021 – March 31, 2022 .

• With the year also marking the launch of Reserve Bank

– Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS)
on November 12, 2021 the Annual Report covers the
activities under the erstwhile Ombudsman Schemes
i.e., Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006 (BOS), the
Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial
Companies, 2018 (OSNBFC), and the Ombudsman
Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019 (OSDT) upto
November 11, 2021, along with the activities under RB-
IOS, 2021 since November 12, 2021.
 Kapil Kathpal
• The volume of complaints received under the Ombudsman Schemes/
Consumer Education and Protection Cells during the year 2021-22
increased by 9.39 per cent over the previous year and stood at 4,18,184 Banking &
during the reported period. Financial
Awareness
• Of these, 3,04,496 complaints were handled by the 22 Offices of RBI
Ombudsman (ORBIOs), including the complaints received under the
three erstwhile Ombudsman Schemes till November 11, 2021.

• Since establishment of Centralised Receipt and Processing Center

(CRPC) under the RB-IOS, 2021, of the 1,49,419 complaints handled at
the CRPC, 1,43,552 complaints had been disposed as at the end of
March 31, 2022.

• Complaints relating to the digital modes of payment and transactions

were the highest in number, constituting 42.12 per cent of the total
complaints received during the year.

• The rate of disposal of complaints by RBIOs improved to 97.97 per cent

in 2021-22 from 96.59 per cent in 2020-21.

• Majority (63.63 per cent) of the maintainable complaints were resolved

through mutual settlement /conciliation /mediation.
 Kapil Kathpal
• During the year, Consumer Education and Protection Department (CEPD)
undertook the following initiatives for strengthening the grievance redress
system: Banking &
Financial
• The RB-IOS, 2021 was launched on November 12, 2021, by Hon’ble Prime Awareness
Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The ambit of RB-IOS, 2021 was extended to
include non-scheduled Urban Cooperative Banks with deposits of ₹50 Crore
and above.

• Under the RB-IOS, 2021, a CRPC was established at RBI, Chandigarh to

receive complaints through email/physical mode from across the country and
handle the initial scrutiny and processing of these complaints before assigning
the maintainable ones to ORBIOs for further redressal. A Contact Center to
assist complainants in lodging their complaints, providing them information
regarding redressal mechanism at RBI and awareness messages related to
safe banking practices in ten regional languages (Assamese, Bengali,
Gujarati, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu)
apart from Hindi and English, was also setup.

• A Nationwide Intensive Awareness Programme was launched on the World

Consumer Rights Day on March 15, 2022, to strengthen the on-going financial
awareness and education by the department and Ombudsman Offices. The
RBIOs also conducted 29 town-hall events and 175 awareness programmes
during the year.
 Kapil Kathpal
RBI lifts restrictions on
Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services
• Reserve Bank of India lifted restrictions on Mahindra & Mahindra
Financial Services Limited on recovery operations via third party
collection agents.

• In September 2022, RBI, in exercise of its powers under section

45L(1)(b) of the RBI Act, 1934, bars Mahindra & Mahindra
Financial Services Ltd. from carrying out any recovery or
repossession activity through outsourcing arrangements.

• This regulatory action follows the incident of the 27-year-old

pregnant woman who was crushed to death on September 15,
2022 in Jharkhand, by a tractor being driven by a recovery agent
acting on behalf of MMFSL
 Kapil Kathpal
World’s first Palm-leaf Manuscript Museum in Kerala
• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated the Palm leaf Manuscript National News
Museum with modern audio-visual technology in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• The Museum, promoted as “World’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum” was set
up by the Archives Department in association with the Kerala Museum of History
and Heritage at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

• The museum is a repository of curious nuggets of administrative, socio-cultural and

economic facets of the Travancore kingdom which lasted for 650 years till the end
of the 19th century.

• It had been the Central Vernacular Records Office since 1887 before becoming a
museum.

• The museum has 8 theme-based galleries in the museum representing segments

like, “History of Writing,” “Land and People,” “Administration,” “War and Peace,”
“Education and Health,” “Economy,” “Art and Culture,” and “Mathilakam Records.”

• The museum stores 187 manuscripts at Central Archives and the department’s
regional officers in Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The manuscripts span 6 centuries
From 1249 CE to 1896.
 Kapil Kathpal
Ghaziabad-Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay section becomes
the longest fully ABS section of Indian Railways
National News
• Ghaziabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay section (762 KM) becomes
the longest fully automatic block signalling section of Indian
Railways.

• In order to increase line capacity to run more trains on existing

High Density Routes of Indian Railways, Automatic Block
Signalling (ABS) is a cost effective solution.

• As on 31.12.2022, ABS has been provided on 3706 Route km over

IR.

• Electronic Interlocking systems have been provided at 347

stations during 2022-23.

• So far 2888 stations have been provided with Electronic

Interlocking up to 31.12.2022 covering 45.5% of IR.
 Kapil Kathpal
First G-20 Meeting to Take
Place in Puducherry on Jan 31
National News
• Puducherry Lieutenant governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said
that the first G-20 meeting will be held in Puducherry on 31st
January.

• The G20 logo for the meeting was released

• These programs will be organised in different parts of the country

in different segments. Kolkata will host the first meeting on the
Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.

• Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai will host a meeting on education,

while Guwahati will host the first sustainable financial meeting
and Chandigarh will host the first financial architecture meeting.
 Kapil Kathpal
Odisha CM Patnaik inaugurates
Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium
National News
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
inaugurated one of the largest hockey stadiums
in India in Rourkela ahead of the Men’s Hockey
World Cup 2023.

• Built at an estimated cost of ₹261 crore, the

stadium, located in Sundargarh district, has
been christened as Birsa Munda Hockey
Stadium Complex.
 Kapil Kathpal
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates
National Genome Editing & Training Centre
National News
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated “National Genome
Editing & Training Centre” at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute
Mohali, Punjab.

• The Minister also inaugurated a 4-day International Conference on Food

and Nutritional Security 2023: – iFANS

• “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” (NGETC) is a one-roof

state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a national platform to cater to the
regional needs to adapt different genome editing methods

• It will also empower young researchers by providing them with training

and guidance about its know-how and application in crops.

• The International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security (iFANS-

2023) will be jointly organized by the National Agri-Food Biotechnology
Institute (NABI), Centre for Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB),
National Institute of Plant Biotechnology (NIPB), and International Centre
for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) at NABI, Mohali.
 Kapil Kathpal
Water Vision@2047
• Ministry of Jal Shakti organized the “1st All India Annual State National News
Minister Conference on Water” with the theme of “Water
Vision@2027” in Bhopal

• The primary objective of the 2-day conference was to gather

inputs for India@2027 and the 5P vision from the different water
stakeholders of the state, water being a state subject, and improve
engagement and partnership with states.

• The government is deliberating on the preparation of the Action

Plan and Vision Document of India@2027 according to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a developed Nation
in 2027.

• The Prime minister has proclaimed the 5P mantras which include

Political will, Public Financing, Partnerships, Public Participation,
and Persuasion for sustainability.
 Kapil Kathpal
Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has National News
announced that the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela
will be held on January 9th, 2023.

• The event will be held in 242 districts across states and union
territories, and is open to all individuals who are interested in
pursuing apprenticeship training with local businesses.

• Registration for PMNAM is now open on the official website,

apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.

• To be eligible for PMNAM, candidates must have successfully

cleared class 5 to class 12 and must have skill training certificates,
or ITI diploma holders or graduates
 Kapil Kathpal
CCEA Approves Rs. 2,614.51 Crores for Sunni
Dam Hydro Power Project in HP National News

• The CCEA, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the

investment for the 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydroelectric Project in
Himachal Pradesh by state-owned SJVN Limited

• The project is estimated to cost Rs. 2614.51 crore

• Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project (HEP) is a run-of-river project on

the Satluj in the districts of Shimla and Mandi in HP

SJVN Limited (formerly known as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd):

• Chairman & Managing Director– Nand Lal Sharma

• Headquarters – Shimla
 Kapil Kathpal
Launch of National Campaign on “RISE-Rising
India through Spiritual Empowerment” National News

• Droupadi Murmu participated in the event to launch the

National Campaign on “RISE- Rising India through
Spiritual Empowerment”, organized by Brahma
Kumaris at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

• She also virtually inaugurated the Brahma Kumaris

Silence Retreat Centre in Secunderabad, Telangana
and laid the foundation stone for Brahma Kumaris
Auditorium and Spiritual Art Gallery at Indore, Madhya
Pradesh.

• She also visited the memorial of Dadi Hridayamohini,

Former Chief of Brahma Kumaris, called Avyakt Lok.
 Kapil Kathpal
ISRO and Microsoft Signed MoU
MOU
• Indian Space Research Organization and Microsoft
signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help Indian
Space tech start-ups with technology tools, go-to-
market support, and mentoring to help them scale and
become business ready.

• Through this MoU, the space tech startups identified by

ISRO will be onboarded onto the Microsoft for Startups
Founders Hub.
 Kapil Kathpal
India Deploys Its “Largest Single
Unit Of UN Women Peacekeepers’’
International
• India will deploy a platoon of women peacekeepers to UN Mission News
in Sudan.

• This will be India’s largest single unit of women Peacekeepers in a

UN Mission since it deployed the first-ever all-women contingent in
Liberia in 2007.

• The Indian contingent, comprising two officers and 25 Other

Ranks, will form part of an Engagement platoon

• As of October 31 2022, India is the second largest contributor to

UN peacekeeping missions with 5,887 troops and personnel
deployed across 12 missions, after Bangladesh (7,017).
 Kapil Kathpal
US Approves World’s First Vaccine
for Declining Honey Bees
International
• US has approved the first-ever vaccine for honey bees News

which will confer protection from the American

foulbrood disease

• American foulbrood is an infectious disease caused by

the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae that can weaken
and kill honey bee colonies.

• According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural

Organization, bees, along with bats and birds, are
responsible for about a third of the world’s crop
production.
 Kapil Kathpal
Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council
elects Saiyam Mehra as chairman
Appointments
• The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic
Council its members have elected Saiyam
Mehra as Chairman and Rajesh Rokde as Vice
Chairman of the industry body for a period of
two years (2023-24).
 Kapil Kathpal
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli appointed
as Chairman & MD of NLC India Ltd
Appointments
• Prasanna Kumar Motupalli appointed as
Chairman and Managing Director of NLC India
Ltd (NLCIL)

• Prior to this appointment, Prasanna Kumar

Motupalli, Executive Director of NTPC Limited
was working as the Managing Director of
Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited on
a deputation basis.
 Kapil Kathpal
Belinda Clark becomes first women cricketer
to have statue cast at Sydney Cricket Ground
Sports
• Australia’s Belinda Clark has become the first female
cricketer to have a statue cast in her honour, a bronze
sculpture unveiled outside Sydney Cricket Ground.

• Clark played 15 tests and over 100 limited overs

matches between 1991-2005, and became the first
cricketer to score a double-hundred in one-day
internationals when she made an unbeaten 229
against Denmark in 1997.

• The 52-year-old’s statue stands alongside Richie

Benaud, Fred Spofforth, Stan McCabe and Steve
Waugh as cricketers honoured with sculptures in the
SCG precinct. at the ground.
 Kapil Kathpal
Jaydev Unadkat hat-trick makes Ranji Trophy history
• Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat becoming the first bowler Sports
to take a hat-trick in the opening over IN Ranji Trophy

• No one had managed a first-over hat-trick in the 89-

year history of the premier domestic competition.

• The previous record of the fastest Ranji hat-trick

belonged to Karnataka pacer Vinay Kumar, who
achieved the feat in the 2017-18 quarter-final against
Mumbai.

• Kumar’s effort was spread across the first and third

overs of the match.
Pranesh M became India’s 79th Grandmaster Kapil Kathpal

• Tamil Nadu player M Pranesh clinched the title Sports

in the Rilton Cup, the first tournament of the
FIDE Circuit, here to become India’s 79th
chess Grandmaster.

• The 16-year-old Pranesh crossed the 2500-

rating threshold and became a GM, having
completed his three norms before the Rilton
Cup.

• To become a GM, a player has to secure three

GM norms and cross the live rating of 2,500
Elo points.
 Kapil Kathpal
2023 Hyderabad E-Prix
Sports
• Hyderabad is set to host the 2023 Hyderabad E-Prix, India’s 1st
ever ABB FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) Formula
E World Championship race

• The 2023 Hyderabad E-Prix is round 4 of the 17 races for the 9th
Season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

• The race will be held at the new Hyderabad Street Circuit

alongside Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad, Telangana.

• Formula E is a showcase for the world’s most advanced e-mobility

technologies that drive towards a more sustainable future. The
championship is the first Net Zero Sport since its inception.

• The first 3 races will be held in Mexico City (1st) and Riyadh (2nd
& 3rd).
 Kapil Kathpal
Book ‘Human Anatomy’ by Dr AK Dwivedi
Books
• A Medical book ‘Human Anatomy’ in Hindi
Manav sharir Rachna Vigyan was released
written by Dr AK Dwivedi.

• Dr AK Dwivedi is Homeopathic Doctor of Indore

Professor & HOD Physiology SKRP Gujarati
Homeopathic Medical College Indore and
member of Scientific Advisory Board in the
Central Council for Research in Homeopathy,
Ministry of AYUSH
 Kapil Kathpal
World Day of War Orphans 2023: 6th January
Important Days
• The World Day of War Orphans is observed on
January 6 every year with an aim to raise
awareness about children orphaned in wars.