Diplomacy

News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.

“At 87%, India has the Highest FinTech Adoption Rate in the World Against the Global Average of 64%”: Shri Piyush Goyal

The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal has said India is poised to become one of the largest digital markets in the world. Addressing the 2nd Global Fintech Fest-2021 through video conferencing today, he said, “At 87%, India has the highest FinTech adoption rate in the world against the global average of 64%.”

New Auto Debit Rules of RBI

On December 4, the RBI issued a directive to all banks, including RRBs, NBFCs, and payment gateways, stating that the processing of recurring transactions (domestic or cross-border) using cards, Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), or the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) under non-AFA arrangements/practices would be discontinued after March 31, 2021.

PM Modi, Biden Cement Plan to Jointly Monitor Space Objects

Though Isro and Nasa have been cooperating on separate missions like synthetic aperture radar satellite NISAR project and Chandrayaan-1, this is the first time both the countries have decided to jointly work on a framework for SSA, which involves tracking space objects both natural like meteors and man-made such as satellites. SSA involves collating data on orbiting satellites, rocket parts and space debris and monitoring threats to a country’s space assets from any hostile satellite and analysing such data to convert them into actionable information to deal with such threats.

Signing of Terms Of Reference For The Conduct Of Navy To Navy Talks Between The Indian Navy And The Australian Navy

Consequent to the signing of ‘Joint Guidance for the India – Australia Navy to Navy Relationship’ document by the Chiefs of the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 18 August 2021, the ‘Terms of Reference for the Conduct of Navy-to-Navy Talks between the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy’ was signed on 29 Sep 2021. The signing ceremony was held virtually between Rear Admiral Jaswinder Singh, ACNS (FCI), IN and Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, DCNS, RAN. 

Government Approves Continuation of the National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) Scheme and Infusion of INR. 1,650 Crore Grant-in-Aid Over 5 Years

Government under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken a series of measures to provide a boost to the exports sector. In line with this, the Government has today approved capital infusion of has approved contribution of Grant-in-aid (Corpus) of ₹1,650 Crore to National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) over a period of five years, i.e. from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025-2026.

Country’s First Pan-India Helpline for Senior Citizens: Elder Line (Toll Free No- 14567)

India is expected to have nearly 20% elderly population i.e. over 300 million senior citizens by 2050. It is significant; as many countries have a population less than this number. This age group faces various mental, emotional, financial, legal and physical challenges, and the pandemic has further exacerbated it. What is more important to understand is that, this age group is a basket of wisdom and untapped resource for the overall economic and social growth of the country.

Union Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar Launches ‘Amul Honey’

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched ‘Amul Honey- a product of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF)’ under active cooperation with ‘National Bee Board (NBB)’ today virtually in the presence of Union Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala. Addressing the launching event, Shri Tomar emphasized the importance of National Beekeeping and Honey Mission in increasing the income of small farmers, which is being implemented in the country for doubling income of farmers/beekeepers through beekeeping with the budgetary allocation of Rs. 500 crores.