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India’s AYUSH System Recognised in Bilateral Agreements with Oman, New ZealandIn January 2026, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) announced India’s traditional medical system Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy(AYUSH), formally recognised in bilateral agreements, including India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).The announcement was made during the AYUSH Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL)’s 4th establishment anniversary celebrations held in New Delhi, Delhi.What? Announcement of Formal Recognition of India’s AYUSH System in Bilateral AgreementsAnnounced by: MoC&IOccasion: 4th establishment anniversary of AYUSHEXCILBilateral Agreements with: Oman and New ZealandExports Growth: AYUSH & herbal products rose from USD 649.2 million (2023‑24) to USD 688.89 million (2024‑25)Other Key Details: Anchoring Agency: The AYUSHEXCIL has been tasked with implementing the ‘Ayush Quality Mark programme’, launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at the 2nd WHO Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.Growth in Exports : The exports of AYUSH and herbal products increased from USD 649.2 million in 2023-24 to USD 688.89 million in 2024-25, registering a growth of 6.11%.About AYUSHEXCIL: On January 4, 2022, AYUSHEXCIL was registered as a Section 8 company with the Registrar of Companies (Delhi).It was formally launched in April 2022 by PM Narendra Modi during the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
India’s AYUSH System Recognised in Bilateral Agreements with Oman, New ZealandIn January 2026, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) announced India’s traditional medical system Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy(AYUSH), formally recognised in bilateral agreements, including India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).The announcement was made during the AYUSH Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL)’s 4th establishment anniversary celebrations held in New Delhi, Delhi.What? Announcement of Formal Recognition of India’s AYUSH System in Bilateral AgreementsAnnounced by: MoC&IOccasion: 4th establishment anniversary of AYUSHEXCILBilateral Agreements with: Oman and New ZealandExports Growth: AYUSH & herbal products rose from USD 649.2 million (2023‑24) to USD 688.89 million (2024‑25)Other Key Details: Anchoring Agency: The AYUSHEXCIL has been tasked with implementing the ‘Ayush Quality Mark programme’, launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at the 2nd WHO Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.Growth in Exports : The exports of AYUSH and herbal products increased from USD 649.2 million in 2023-24 to USD 688.89 million in 2024-25, registering a growth of 6.11%.About AYUSHEXCIL: On January 4, 2022, AYUSHEXCIL was registered as a Section 8 company with the Registrar of Companies (Delhi).It was formally launched in April 2022 by PM Narendra Modi during the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
India’s AYUSH System Recognised in Bilateral Agreements with Oman, New ZealandIn January 2026, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) announced India’s traditional medical system Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy(AYUSH)...
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Inaugurates SGA Farm and Research Institute & RAS facility in Hyderabad, TelanganaOn January 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), inaugurated the Smart Green Aquaculture (SGA) Farm and Research Institute, India’s first commercial-scale tropical trout farm and a state-of-the-art Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) facility in Hyderabad, Telangana.About SGA Farm and Research Institute:Background: SGA Limited has set up the tropical RAS-based Rainbow Trout farm and research institute at Kandukur Mandal, in Ranga Reddy, Telangana.Skill Development: The project also serves as a live training and demonstration centre, providing hands-on learning to youths in advanced aquaculture systems, automation and monitoring, and biosecurity practices.About Rainbow Trout: It is a cold-water fish species that normally thrives in cool, well-oxygenated waters such as Himalayan rivers and hill streams in places including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh (HP), and Sikkim.Prior to the inauguration, Trout farming in India was mostly limited to those cold regions, because high temperatures tend to stress the fish and reduce their survival and growth.About Telangana:Chief Minister (CM) – A Revanth ReddyGovernor – Jishnu Dev VarmaCapital – HyderabadWildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Kinnerasani WLS, Pakhal WLS
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Inaugurates SGA Farm and Research Institute & RAS facility in Hyderabad, TelanganaOn January 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), inaugurated the Smart Green Aquaculture (SGA) Farm and Research Institute, India’s first commercial-scale tropical trout farm and a state-of-the-art Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) facility in Hyderabad, Telangana.About SGA Farm and Research Institute:Background: SGA Limited has set up the tropical RAS-based Rainbow Trout farm and research institute at Kandukur Mandal, in Ranga Reddy, Telangana.Skill Development: The project also serves as a live training and demonstration centre, providing hands-on learning to youths in advanced aquaculture systems, automation and monitoring, and biosecurity practices.About Rainbow Trout: It is a cold-water fish species that normally thrives in cool, well-oxygenated waters such as Himalayan rivers and hill streams in places including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh (HP), and Sikkim.Prior to the inauguration, Trout farming in India was mostly limited to those cold regions, because high temperatures tend to stress the fish and reduce their survival and growth.About Telangana:Chief Minister (CM) – A Revanth ReddyGovernor – Jishnu Dev VarmaCapital – HyderabadWildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Kinnerasani WLS, Pakhal WLS
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Inaugurates SGA Farm and Research Institute & RAS facility in Hyderabad, TelanganaOn January 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) and Ministry of P...
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42nd Foundation Day of DSIR: Relaxes 3-Year Eligibility Norm for Deep-Tech StartupsOn January 4, 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), announced the removal of the mandatory 3-year existence condition for deep-tech startups to avail financial assistance of maximum Rs 1 crore under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)’s Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program (IRDPP)The announcement was made during the 42nd Foundation Day celebrations of DSIR, which works under MoS&T.Highlights of 42nd Foundation Day of DSIR:Launch of 4 New Initiatives: During the event, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh also launched 4 new initiatives:The DSIR Guidelines for Recognition of In-House Research & Development (R&D) Centres of Deep-tech startups which includes the relaxation of the 3-year existence condition.Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs(PRISM) Network Platform-‘(TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centre)TOCIC Innovator Pulse,’ aimed to strengthen innovation pipelines.Creative India 2025 was launched under the PRISM scheme aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.DSIR Disaster Management Plan which reinforces preparedness and resilience.MoUs and Agreements: The event also witnessed the exchange of several key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.An Agreement was signed under the Technology Development and Utilisation Programme for Women (TDUPW) to set up a Skill Satellite Centre at Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, in partnership with National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur.Also, Transfer of Technology (ToT) Agreements were signed for the technologies developed under the Common Research and Technology Development Hubs (CRTDH) Programme supported to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani(Rajasthan), aimed to strengthen MSME-focused R&D infrastructure across the country.
42nd Foundation Day of DSIR: Relaxes 3-Year Eligibility Norm for Deep-Tech StartupsOn January 4, 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), announced the removal of the mandatory 3-year existence condition for deep-tech startups to avail financial assistance of maximum Rs 1 crore under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)’s Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program (IRDPP)The announcement was made during the 42nd Foundation Day celebrations of DSIR, which works under MoS&T.Highlights of 42nd Foundation Day of DSIR:Launch of 4 New Initiatives: During the event, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh also launched 4 new initiatives:The DSIR Guidelines for Recognition of In-House Research & Development (R&D) Centres of Deep-tech startups which includes the relaxation of the 3-year existence condition.Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs(PRISM) Network Platform-‘(TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centre)TOCIC Innovator Pulse,’ aimed to strengthen innovation pipelines.Creative India 2025 was launched under the PRISM scheme aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.DSIR Disaster Management Plan which reinforces preparedness and resilience.MoUs and Agreements: The event also witnessed the exchange of several key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.An Agreement was signed under the Technology Development and Utilisation Programme for Women (TDUPW) to set up a Skill Satellite Centre at Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, in partnership with National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur.Also, Transfer of Technology (ToT) Agreements were signed for the technologies developed under the Common Research and Technology Development Hubs (CRTDH) Programme supported to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani(Rajasthan), aimed to strengthen MSME-focused R&D infrastructure across the country.
42nd Foundation Day of DSIR: Relaxes 3-Year Eligibility Norm for Deep-Tech StartupsOn January 4, 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), announced the removal of the m...
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Unveils 184 New Crop Varieties across 25 Crops in New DelhiOn January 4, 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), released 184 newly developed crop varieties across 25 different crops at an event held in New Delhi, Delhi.During the event, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighted that in the 2024–25 crop year, India became the world’s largest rice producer, achieving 150.18 million tonnes (MT), surpassing China’s 145.28 MT.About 184 New Crop Varieties:Developer: The 184 improved crop varieties were developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under MoAFW-60 varieties, state and central agricultural universities- 62 varieties, and private seed companies – 62 varieties.New Crop Varieties:Cereals: It includes 122 cereal varieties: 60 rice, 50 maize, 4 sorghum, 5 pearl millet, and 1 each of ragi, small millet, and proso millet, covering key staples and nutritious millets important for climate resilience.Cotton: It includes 24 varieties, of which 22 are Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton approved for commercial cultivation.Oilseeds: 13 improved varieties, including 3 mustard, 4 safflower, 2 sesame, and 1 each of til, groundnut, gobhi sarson, and castor.Fodder Crops: 11 improved varieties, comprising 2 oats, 2 fodder sorghum, 1 fodder maize, and 6 fodder pearl millet.Pulses: 6 varieties such as 1 pigeon pea (arhar), 2 green gram (moong), and 3 black gram (urd) to enhance protein availability.Sugarcane: 6 high-yield and better-quality varietiesJute & Tobacco: One new improved variety each of jute and tobacco.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Unveils 184 New Crop Varieties across 25 Crops in New DelhiOn January 4, 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), released 184 newly developed crop varieties across 25 different crops at an event held in New Delhi, Delhi.During the event, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighted that in the 2024–25 crop year, India became the world’s largest rice producer, achieving 150.18 million tonnes (MT), surpassing China’s 145.28 MT.About 184 New Crop Varieties:Developer: The 184 improved crop varieties were developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under MoAFW-60 varieties, state and central agricultural universities- 62 varieties, and private seed companies – 62 varieties.New Crop Varieties:Cereals: It includes 122 cereal varieties: 60 rice, 50 maize, 4 sorghum, 5 pearl millet, and 1 each of ragi, small millet, and proso millet, covering key staples and nutritious millets important for climate resilience.Cotton: It includes 24 varieties, of which 22 are Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton approved for commercial cultivation.Oilseeds: 13 improved varieties, including 3 mustard, 4 safflower, 2 sesame, and 1 each of til, groundnut, gobhi sarson, and castor.Fodder Crops: 11 improved varieties, comprising 2 oats, 2 fodder sorghum, 1 fodder maize, and 6 fodder pearl millet.Pulses: 6 varieties such as 1 pigeon pea (arhar), 2 green gram (moong), and 3 black gram (urd) to enhance protein availability.Sugarcane: 6 high-yield and better-quality varietiesJute & Tobacco: One new improved variety each of jute and tobacco.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Unveils 184 New Crop Varieties across 25 Crops in New DelhiOn January 4, 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), re...
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PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics in DelhiOn January 3, 2026, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi, Delhi.What? Inauguration of Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa RelicsBy: PM Narendra ModiTitle: ‘The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One’Where? Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New DelhiOrganised by: Ministry of CultureTheme: Reunification and display of Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha (after 127 years)Repatriation Partner: Godrej Industries Group (PPP model)About Piprahwa Relics Exposition:Organiser: The exposition is organised by the Ministry of Culture under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the exposition showcases the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha, marking their historic reunification after 127 years.Dignitaries: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture; Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MPA); Union Minister of State (MoS) Ramdas Athawale, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE); Union MoS Rao Inderjit Singh, Ministry of Culture and Lieutenant (Lt) Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena were present at the event.Repatriation: The repatriation of the Peppé family’s Piprahwa Buddhist relics was finalized on July 30, 2025, after the Ministry of Culture halted an auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong and secured their return through a first-of-its-kind Public–Private Partnership(PPP) with the Godrej Industries Group, supported by global Buddhist communities.Event Highlights:Collection: It presents over 80 artefacts from the 6th century BCE (Before Common Era) to the present, including sculptures, manuscripts, thangkas, gem relics, reliquaries, ritual objects, and the original monolithic stone coffer.Curation: The exhibition is thematically organised with immersive audio-visuals, digital reconstructions, and a reconstructed interpretive model inspired by the Sanchi Stupa.Reunification: For the first time since 1898, relics from the 1898 Kapilavastu excavation, the 1971–75 excavations, and the repatriated Peppé family collection are displayed together.Discovery: The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé at an ancient stupa identified with Kapilavastu, where Lord Buddha spent his early life and were subsequently distributed among the King of Siam, England, and the Indian Museum, Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).About Ministry of Culture:Union Minister – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Constituency- Jodhpur, Rajasthan)Minister of State (MoS)– Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency-Gurugram, Haryana)
Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak Appointed as CJ of Jharkhand HCOn 2nd January 2026, the Department of Justice (DoJ), Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J), announced that the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, approved the appointment of Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, a judge of the Bombay High Court (HC), as the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Jharkhand High Court (HC) under Article 217(1) of the Constitution of India (CoI), in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak Appointed as CJ of Jharkhand HCOn 2nd January 2026, the Department of Justice (DoJ), Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J), announced that the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, approved the appointment of Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, a judge of the Bombay High Court (HC), as the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Jharkhand High Court (HC) under Article 217(1) of the Constitution of India (CoI), in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak Appointed as CJ of Jharkhand HCOn 2nd January 2026, the Department of Justice (DoJ), Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J), announced that the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, approved the appointment of Justice Ma...
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World Braille Day 2026 – January 4The United Nations (UN’s) World Braille Day is observed annually across the globe on 4th January to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille and underscores the importance of the Braille system for the visually impaired.January 4, 2026, marks the observance of the 8th World Braille Day and the 217th birth anniversary of Louis Braille.What? World Braille Day 2026When? January 4, 2026Why? To promote Braille literacy and accessibility for the blind and visually impairedSignificance: Marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille system.First Observed: January 4, 2019Background: Establishment: World Braille Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 17, 2018, through the adoption of resolution A/RES/73/161.Tribute: The day honors the pioneering work of Louis Braille, who created the Braille system at the age of 15 in 1824.First Observance: The first World Braille Day was observed on January 4, 2019.About Louis Braille: Early Life: Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France, and lost his eyesight completely by the age of 5 following an eye injury sustained at 3.Invention: Inspired at age 12 by Charles Barbier’s “night writing,” he developed the Braille system, which he first published in 1829 in his book Method of Writing Words, Music, and Plain Songs by Means of Dots for the blind.Death: He passed away at the age of 43 on January 6, 1852.About Braille:Definition: It is a touch-based writing system that uses six-dot (3×2) cells to help blind and partially sighted people read letters, numbers, and symbols by touch.History: Before Braille, visually impaired individuals used the Haüy system, which embossed Latin letters on thick paper, but Louis Braille simplified this into an easier-to-use system requiring less training.UN’s Role in Promoting Braille: Convention: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) recognizes Braille as essential for communication, education, and freedom of expression for visually impaired individuals.Standardization: UNESCO initiated efforts in 1949 to standardize Braille and helped universalize the Braille alphabet by 1950.Recognition: In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially declared Braille to be as legitimate a language as any other.World Blind Union: World Blind Union (WBU) promotes and supports Braille literacy initiatives worldwide.
SpaceX Launches Italy’s COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation SatelliteOn January 2, 2026, SpaceX launched the Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observation (COSMO-SkyMed) Second Generation-Flight Model 3 (CSG-FM3), the Earth Observation Satellite(EOS) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Italian Ministry of Defence, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States of America (USA), marking the third in the Second-Generation series.The launch marks the first SpaceX mission of 2026 and first orbital rocket launch globally in 2026.What? Launch of Italy’s COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation SatelliteWhere? Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USARocket: SpaceX Falcon 9Significance: First SpaceX mission in 2026, First orbital rocket launch in 2026 globallyDevelopers: Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Italy’s Ministry of DefenceDual-Use: Supports civilian & defense applications, 24/7, all-weatherAbout Satellite Launch:Falcon 9: It is a reusable first-stage booster, which can carry satellites to Low Earth Orbit,(LEO) and beyond and supports commercial, scientific, and government missions worldwide.Satellite Deployment: The Falcon 9 lifted off successfully, and its upper stage deployed the COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation satellite into a sun-synchronous LEO at around 620 kilometre (km) altitude.Constellation Role: The satellite belongs to the COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation constellation, developed by Italy to strengthen global radar imaging capabilities.About COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation: Dual-Use Capability: The system was designed from the start as a dual-use constellation, it supports both civilian and defense applications 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions.Second-Generation Component: The second generation CSG satellite, ~2,205 kilogram(kg), are upgraded versions of the original COSMO-SkyMed satellites, with more advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors and improved imaging capabilitiesEnvironment Monitoring: The satellite tracks natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires in real-time, monitors glacier movement, and assess forest health, crop conditions, and soil-moisture.It provides high-resolution radar maps for cartography, urban planning, land use, and infrastructure monitoring. It supports national security, maritime surveillance, border monitoring, and strategic planning.About COSMO-SkyMed: Overview: COSMO-SkyMed, managed by ASI, Italian Space Agency, and Italy’s Ministry of Defence, is operated by Telespazio . It can capture high-resolution images day and night, in all weather conditions.First Generation: The first COSMO‑SkyMed constellation, launched with 4 satellites from 2007–2010, offered all-weather, day‑and‑night imaging for disaster monitoring, environment, agriculture, and defense over the Mediterranean.About SpaceX:Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Elon MuskHeadquarters – Texas, United States of America (USA)Establishment – 2002
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ESAF SFB Appoints Karthikeyan Manickam as ChairmanIn January 2026, ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB) has appointed Karthikeyan Manickam, former Executive Director (ED) of Bank of India (BOI), as its new Chairman, effective from January 2, 2026.He succeeds Ravimohan Periyakavil Ramakrishnan, Part‑Time Chairman of ESAF SFB, who stepped down on December 20, 2025.What? Appointment of New Chairman of ESAF SFBWho? Karthikeyan Manickam,Predecessor: Ravimohan Periyakavil RamakrishnanPrevious Roles: Served as ED of BOI; and Chairman of SUD LifeAbout Karthikeyan Manickam:Experience: He has extensive experience of more than 36 years in public sector banking.Expertise: He is widely recognized for his robust domain expertise across various banking verticals such as: operations, risk management, regulatory compliance, human resources, credit monitoring and recovery, financial inclusion, and customer-centric banking.Leadership Roles: He held various senior leadership roles at Indian Bank; served on the boards of Tamil Nadu Grama Bank(TNGB) and BOI STAR Investment Managers Private Limited.; and served as Chairman of Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Limited (SUD Life).
ESAF SFB Appoints Karthikeyan Manickam as ChairmanIn January 2026, ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB) has appointed Karthikeyan Manickam, former Executive Director (ED) of Bank of India (BOI), as its new Chairman, effective from January 2, 2026.He succeeds Ravimohan Periyakavil Ramakrishnan, Part‑Time Chairman of ESAF SFB, who stepped down on December 20, 2025.What? Appointment of New Chairman of ESAF SFBWho? Karthikeyan Manickam,Predecessor: Ravimohan Periyakavil RamakrishnanPrevious Roles: Served as ED of BOI; and Chairman of SUD LifeAbout Karthikeyan Manickam:Experience: He has extensive experience of more than 36 years in public sector banking.Expertise: He is widely recognized for his robust domain expertise across various banking verticals such as: operations, risk management, regulatory compliance, human resources, credit monitoring and recovery, financial inclusion, and customer-centric banking.Leadership Roles: He held various senior leadership roles at Indian Bank; served on the boards of Tamil Nadu Grama Bank(TNGB) and BOI STAR Investment Managers Private Limited.; and served as Chairman of Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Limited (SUD Life).
ESAF SFB Appoints Karthikeyan Manickam as ChairmanIn January 2026, ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB) has appointed Karthikeyan Manickam, former Executive Director (ED) of Bank of India (BOI), as its new Chairman, effective from January 2, 2026.He s...
ICICI Bank Launches CGAS for Tax-Exempt Deposits from 1 January 2026On January 1, 2026, ICICI Bank Limited launched the Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS), 1988, under the Income Tax (IT) Act, 1961, allowing taxpayers to deposit un-invested long-term capital gains from specified assets, earn interest, and avail tax exemptions for up to three years, effective from 1 January 2026.What? Launch of Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS)By Whom? ICICI BankEffective Date: January 1, 2026Eligibility: Resident individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs); non-individuals and NRIs soonPurpose: Park un-invested long-term capital gains before reinvestment to retain Income Tax exemptionsInterest: Comparable to savings accounts or fixed depositsAccount Types: Type A (Savings Account), Type B (Term Deposit Account)About Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS):Deposits: Un-invested long-term capital gains or sale proceeds can be deposited before the Income Tax Return (ITR) due date to claim tax exemptions.Parking: Funds can remain in the account for up to three years while earning interest at rates similar to savings or term deposits.Reinvestment Options: Proceeds can be invested in property, agricultural land, or new capital assets of industrial undertakings in non-urban areas or Special Economic Zones (SEZs), depending on account typeWithdrawal: Withdrawals require proof of fund usage, with Form C for the first, Form D for subsequent withdrawals, and any unutilized funds after three years become taxable.Types of Accounts:Type A: A savings account (SA) with flexible withdrawals permitted only for approved reinvestment purposes and without cheque book or debit card facilities.Type B: A fixed-tenure term deposit (FD) available in cumulative or non-cumulative formats, requiring a minimum deposit of Rs.10,000 and offering interest rates comparable to regular fixed deposits.Eligibility & Access: The scheme is available to resident individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), with plans to extend it to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and non-individual entities, and accounts can be opened at ICICI Bank branches across India, excluding rural locations as per CGAS norms.Note: Several other banks, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank and others, are also authorised to provide similar CGAS services at their non-rural branches.About ICICI Bank Limited:Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sandeep BakhshiHeadquarters -Mumbai, MaharashtraIncorporated– 1994
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