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Germany Defeats Spain to Win FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 in ChennaiThe 14th edition of the International Hockey Federation or Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 was held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), and Madurai International Hockey Stadium in Madurai, TN, from 28 Nov – 10 Dec 2025.Germany clinched its eighth FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup by defeating Spain 3–2 in a shoot-out after a 1–1 draw in regulation time in the final held in Chennai, TN.India secured bronze medal by overturning a 0-2 deficit to defeat Argentina 4-2.What? FIH Men’s Junior Hockey Junior World Cup 2025Edition: 14th EditionWhen? 28 Nov – 10 Dec 2025Where? Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai (TN) and Madurai International Hockey Stadium in Madurai (TN)Organiser: International Hockey Federation (FIH)Winner: Germany – Gold (eighth title)Runner-up: Spain – SilverThird Place: India won Bronze by defeating Argentina (4-2)About 2025 FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup:Medal Outcome: Germany won the gold medal, while Spain secured the silver.India Score: All four goals came in the final quarter from Ankit Pal (49′), Manmeet Singh (52′), Sharda Nand Tiwari (57′), and Anmol Ekka (58′)Previous Golds of India: India won the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup gold medals in 2001 and 2016.Fifth Place: Belgium defeated the Netherlands 4-3 in a shoot-out after a 3-3 draw in regulation, led by Hugo Labouchere’s hat-trick in the 18th, 30th, and 58th minutes.Rewards: In recognition of the historic victory, Hockey India announced Rs. 5 lakh for each player and Rs. 2.5 lakh to each member of the support staff.Background: The FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup, started in 1979, is a biennial under-21 world championship organized by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), held every two years since 2021 (previously every four years from 1985).About International Hockey Federation or Fédération Internationale de Hockey(FIH):President – Tayyab IkramHeadquarters – Lausanne, SwitzerlandEstablished – 1924
Germany Defeats Spain to Win FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 in ChennaiThe 14th edition of the International Hockey Federation or Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 was held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), and Madurai International Hockey Stadium in Madurai, TN, from 28 Nov – 10 Dec 2025.Germany clinched its eighth FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup by defeating Spain 3–2 in a shoot-out after a 1–1 draw in regulation time in the final held in Chennai, TN.India secured bronze medal by overturning a 0-2 deficit to defeat Argentina 4-2.What? FIH Men’s Junior Hockey Junior World Cup 2025Edition: 14th EditionWhen? 28 Nov – 10 Dec 2025Where? Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai (TN) and Madurai International Hockey Stadium in Madurai (TN)Organiser: International Hockey Federation (FIH)Winner: Germany – Gold (eighth title)Runner-up: Spain – SilverThird Place: India won Bronze by defeating Argentina (4-2)About 2025 FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup:Medal Outcome: Germany won the gold medal, while Spain secured the silver.India Score: All four goals came in the final quarter from Ankit Pal (49′), Manmeet Singh (52′), Sharda Nand Tiwari (57′), and Anmol Ekka (58′)Previous Golds of India: India won the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup gold medals in 2001 and 2016.Fifth Place: Belgium defeated the Netherlands 4-3 in a shoot-out after a 3-3 draw in regulation, led by Hugo Labouchere’s hat-trick in the 18th, 30th, and 58th minutes.Rewards: In recognition of the historic victory, Hockey India announced Rs. 5 lakh for each player and Rs. 2.5 lakh to each member of the support staff.Background: The FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup, started in 1979, is a biennial under-21 world championship organized by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), held every two years since 2021 (previously every four years from 1985).About International Hockey Federation or Fédération Internationale de Hockey(FIH):President – Tayyab IkramHeadquarters – Lausanne, SwitzerlandEstablished – 1924
Germany Defeats Spain to Win FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 in ChennaiThe 14th edition of the International Hockey Federation or Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 was held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan ...
ZSI Discovered Two New Jumping Spider Species in MeghalayaIn December 2025, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new species of jumping spiders Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar in Meghalaya, highlighting the ecological significance of Northeast India as part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.The findings were published in Zootaxa, a major international journal for animal taxonomy, which is published by Magnolia Press in Auckland, New Zealand.What? Discovery of two new jumping spider speciesSpecies: Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwarFamily: Salticidae (Jumping spiders)Where? Meghalaya, Northeast IndiaSignificance: Highlights ecological richness of Northeast India and underexplored biodiversityAbout the New Species:Family: Both species belong to the Salticidae family, known for stalking and pouncing on prey instead of spinning webs.Asemonea dentis:Genus: Only the third species of the genus Asemonea reported in India.Etymology: Named dentis (Latin for “tooth”) due to a tooth-like projection on the male’s palpal femur.Male: Males are greenish-brown with a V-shaped pale-yellow abdominal mark.Female: Females are creamy-white with black patterns.Colyttus nongwar:Genus: Only the second Indian species of the Oriental genus Colyttus.Etymology: Named after Nongwar village in the Khasi Hills where it was discovered.Appearance: Both sexes have an oval reddish-brown carapace and a light-brown abdomen with a creamy band and five chevron-shaped patches.New Spider Records from Meghalaya: The discoveries add to a growing list of recent spider records from Meghalaya, including Irura meghalaya (new species, May 2025) and the first Indian record of Thiania abdominalis, showing that arachnid diversity in the region is far from fully documented.About Meghalaya:Chief Minister (CM) – Conrad Kongkal SangmaGovernor – Chandrashekhar H. VijayashankarCapital – ShillongWildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Baghmara Pitcher Plant WLS, Nongkhyllem WLS
ZSI Discovered Two New Jumping Spider Species in MeghalayaIn December 2025, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new species of jumping spiders Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar in Meghalaya, highlighting the ecological significance of Northeast India as part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.The findings were published in Zootaxa, a major international journal for animal taxonomy, which is published by Magnolia Press in Auckland, New Zealand.What? Discovery of two new jumping spider speciesSpecies: Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwarFamily: Salticidae (Jumping spiders)Where? Meghalaya, Northeast IndiaSignificance: Highlights ecological richness of Northeast India and underexplored biodiversityAbout the New Species:Family: Both species belong to the Salticidae family, known for stalking and pouncing on prey instead of spinning webs.Asemonea dentis:Genus: Only the third species of the genus Asemonea reported in India.Etymology: Named dentis (Latin for “tooth”) due to a tooth-like projection on the male’s palpal femur.Male: Males are greenish-brown with a V-shaped pale-yellow abdominal mark.Female: Females are creamy-white with black patterns.Colyttus nongwar:Genus: Only the second Indian species of the Oriental genus Colyttus.Etymology: Named after Nongwar village in the Khasi Hills where it was discovered.Appearance: Both sexes have an oval reddish-brown carapace and a light-brown abdomen with a creamy band and five chevron-shaped patches.New Spider Records from Meghalaya: The discoveries add to a growing list of recent spider records from Meghalaya, including Irura meghalaya (new species, May 2025) and the first Indian record of Thiania abdominalis, showing that arachnid diversity in the region is far from fully documented.About Meghalaya:Chief Minister (CM) – Conrad Kongkal SangmaGovernor – Chandrashekhar H. VijayashankarCapital – ShillongWildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Baghmara Pitcher Plant WLS, Nongkhyllem WLS
ZSI Discovered Two New Jumping Spider Species in MeghalayaIn December 2025, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new species of jumping spiders Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar in Meghalaya, highlighting the ecologi...
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Indian-origin Arkin Gupta Featured in 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in FinanceIn December 2025,United State of America(USA) based Indian-origin financial innovator Arkin Gupta was featured in the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2026 in the Finance category, published by Forbes magazine in recognition of his impactful contributions to financial innovation, including the development of data-driven investment frameworks and early-stage investment strategies.What? Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 listWho? Arkin Gupta (Indian-origin fintech innovator)Recognition For: Pioneering work in financial innovation and data-driven investment.Key Focus: Developing scalable financial products and democratizing access to investment tools.Career Highlights:Current Role: Trader at global hedge fund Citadel, based in Miami, Florida(USA) where he works on quantitative trading and central risk strategies.Previous Key Role: Vice President(VP) & Head of the Central Risk Desk at Morgan Stanley, New York(USA), responsible for quantitative portfolio management and risk for the central risk book before moving to Citadel.About the Forbes Recognition: Recognition & Contributions – Forbes honoured Arkin Gupta for his data-driven investment models, scalable financial products, and analytics-based frameworks that advance financial inclusion.Focus – His work integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and behavioural insights to simplify finance and support first-time investors.Forbes 30 Under 30: An annual Forbes list recognising 600 young innovators across 20 industries, including AI, Finance, Healthcare, Media, Retail & E-commerce, Social Impact, Transportation & Aerospace, and more.
Indian-origin Arkin Gupta Featured in 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in FinanceIn December 2025,United State of America(USA) based Indian-origin financial innovator Arkin Gupta was featured in the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2026 in the Finance category, published by Forbes magazine in recognition of his impactful contributions to financial innovation, including the development of data-driven investment frameworks and early-stage investment strategies.What? Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 listWho? Arkin Gupta (Indian-origin fintech innovator)Recognition For: Pioneering work in financial innovation and data-driven investment.Key Focus: Developing scalable financial products and democratizing access to investment tools.Career Highlights:Current Role: Trader at global hedge fund Citadel, based in Miami, Florida(USA) where he works on quantitative trading and central risk strategies.Previous Key Role: Vice President(VP) & Head of the Central Risk Desk at Morgan Stanley, New York(USA), responsible for quantitative portfolio management and risk for the central risk book before moving to Citadel.About the Forbes Recognition: Recognition & Contributions – Forbes honoured Arkin Gupta for his data-driven investment models, scalable financial products, and analytics-based frameworks that advance financial inclusion.Focus – His work integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and behavioural insights to simplify finance and support first-time investors.Forbes 30 Under 30: An annual Forbes list recognising 600 young innovators across 20 industries, including AI, Finance, Healthcare, Media, Retail & E-commerce, Social Impact, Transportation & Aerospace, and more.
Indian-origin Arkin Gupta Featured in 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in FinanceIn December 2025,United State of America(USA) based Indian-origin financial innovator Arkin Gupta was featured in the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2026 in the Finance ...
DBS Named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The BankerIn December 2025, Singapore-based DBS Bank was named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a publication of Financial Times, during its annual Bank of the Year Awards 2025 held in London, the United Kingdom(UK).This is DBS’s third global win in the category after 2018 and 2021.What? DBS Bank named Global Bank of the Year 2025By Whom? The Banker (Financial Times Group)Other Awards: Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, Investment Bank of the Year – Financial Institutions GroupSignificance: Third win (2018, 2021, 2025)DBS Standing: Holds two concurrent global best bank titles from Euromoney and The BankerAbout DBS’s Recognition :Selection: DBS was selected from 294 participating banks worldwide, with the 2025 awards spanning 132 countries across diverse banking categories.Additional Honours: Along with the Global Bank of the Year 2025 title, DBS also clinched multiple regional and category awards, including Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, and the first-ever Investment Bank of the Year.Global Recognition: With this achievement, DBS now holds Best Bank titles from both ‘The Banker’ and ‘Euromoney’ in 2025, further solidifying its strong and distinguished global standing.This recognition marks DBS’ ninth global Best Bank award from a major financial publication since its first win in 2018.
DBS Named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The BankerIn December 2025, Singapore-based DBS Bank was named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a publication of Financial Times, during its annual Bank of the Year Awards 2025 held in London, the United Kingdom(UK).This is DBS’s third global win in the category after 2018 and 2021.What? DBS Bank named Global Bank of the Year 2025By Whom? The Banker (Financial Times Group)Other Awards: Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, Investment Bank of the Year – Financial Institutions GroupSignificance: Third win (2018, 2021, 2025)DBS Standing: Holds two concurrent global best bank titles from Euromoney and The BankerAbout DBS’s Recognition :Selection: DBS was selected from 294 participating banks worldwide, with the 2025 awards spanning 132 countries across diverse banking categories.Additional Honours: Along with the Global Bank of the Year 2025 title, DBS also clinched multiple regional and category awards, including Asia Bank of the Year, Singapore Bank of the Year, Investment Bank of the Year – Asia, and the first-ever Investment Bank of the Year.Global Recognition: With this achievement, DBS now holds Best Bank titles from both ‘The Banker’ and ‘Euromoney’ in 2025, further solidifying its strong and distinguished global standing.This recognition marks DBS’ ninth global Best Bank award from a major financial publication since its first win in 2018.
DBS Named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The BankerIn December 2025, Singapore-based DBS Bank was named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a publication of Financial Times, during its annual Bank of the Year Awards 2025 held in London, the ...
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Amazon to Invest USD 35 billion in India by 2030On December 10, 2025, Amazon, an American multinational technology company, announced that it will invest over USD 35 billion in India by 2030 during the Amazon Smbhav Summit in New Delhi, Delhi.During the summit, Amazon also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), under the Ministry of Railways(MoR), to collaborate on education, research, and skill development initiatives.Key Details:Areas of Investment: Amazon aims to expand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools for businesses and education, boost India-enabled exports from USD 20 billion to USD 80 billion by 2030 by supporting Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).It also aims to create a total of 3.8 million jobs in India, including about 1 million new jobs.Areas of Cooperation: Under the MoU, Amazon will share its expertise with GSV faculty and provide students with industry insights.The partnership will also co-develop courses on AI, automation, and logistics, and collaborate on research in transportation, digital freight, drone operations, and sustainable mobility, offering internships andAbout Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV): University Chancellor – Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (MoR)Headquarters – Vadodara (Gujarat)Establishment – 2022
Amazon to Invest USD 35 billion in India by 2030On December 10, 2025, Amazon, an American multinational technology company, announced that it will invest over USD 35 billion in India by 2030 during the Amazon Smbhav Summit in New Delhi, Delhi.During the summit, Amazon also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), under the Ministry of Railways(MoR), to collaborate on education, research, and skill development initiatives.Key Details:Areas of Investment: Amazon aims to expand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools for businesses and education, boost India-enabled exports from USD 20 billion to USD 80 billion by 2030 by supporting Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).It also aims to create a total of 3.8 million jobs in India, including about 1 million new jobs.Areas of Cooperation: Under the MoU, Amazon will share its expertise with GSV faculty and provide students with industry insights.The partnership will also co-develop courses on AI, automation, and logistics, and collaborate on research in transportation, digital freight, drone operations, and sustainable mobility, offering internships andAbout Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV): University Chancellor – Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (MoR)Headquarters – Vadodara (Gujarat)Establishment – 2022
Amazon to Invest USD 35 billion in India by 2030On December 10, 2025, Amazon, an American multinational technology company, announced that it will invest over USD 35 billion in India by 2030 during the Amazon Smbhav Summit in New Delhi, Delhi.During ...
ADB Raised India’s Growth Forecast to 7.2% for FY26In December 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released the latest edition of Asian Development Outlook (ADO) titled ‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) December 2025: Growth Steadies But Uncertainty Lingers ’. The report has raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast by 70 basis points (bps) i.e. to 7.2% for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) compared to its previous estimate of 6.5%.This upward projection in India’s growth rate was due to the country’s stronger-than-expected growth in the second quarter (Q2: July to September) of FY26 i.e. 8.2%, driven by the robust domestic consumption supported by Goods and Services Tax (GST) reformsHowever, it has retained India’s GDP growth projection for FY27 at 6.5%.What? Release of ADO December 2025Released by: ADBIndia’s GDP Forecast: 7.2% for FY26 (+70 bps) and 6.5% for FY27 (unchanged)India’s Inflation Projection: 2.6% (FY26) and 4.2% (FY27)Developing Asia Growth Forecast: 5.1% (CY25) and 4.6% (CY26)Inflation in Developing Asia: 1.6% (CY25) and 2.1% (CY26)Key Projections:India’s Inflation: The latest outlook has also revised down its projection for India’s inflation to 2.6% for FY26, from its previous estimate of 3.1%.The report cited that this downward forecast was due to GST reductions and food rice inflation for a second successive month, supported by strong agricultural output and favorable weather conditions.The report projected that inflation will increase to 4.2% (in FY27), nearer to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) inflation target.Developing Asia Growth Rate: The report has also upgraded its growth forecast for economies in developing Asia and the Pacific (developing Asia) for Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) by 0.3 percentage points or 30 bps, from 4.8% (projected in ADO September 2025) to 5.1%.Similarly, the report has raised the region’s growth outlook for CY26 by 0.1 percentage points or 10 bps i.e. to 4.6%Inflation in Developing Asia: As per the report, inflation in developing Asia is projected to decline in CY25, from 1.7% (projected in September 2025 edition) to 1.6%, mainly reflecting lower than food inflation in India.However, the report has kept the region’s inflation forecast for CY26 unchanged i.e. at 2.1%.About Asian Development Bank(ADB):President- Masato Kanda (Japan)Headquarters-Manila, the PhilippinesMembers Nations- 69 (49 members nations are from Asia-Pacific region)Established- 1966
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SBI, BoB Received RBI’s Approval to Set Up Fraud Detection PlatformIn December 2025, State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), aimed at developing a digital payments intelligence platform.It aims to detect and curb fraudulent digital transactions across all Public Sector Banks(PSBs).What? Received RBI’s Approval to set up IDPICBy Whom: SBI and BoBPurpose: To develop a digital intelligence platformLegal Structure: Section 8 Company under Companies Act, 2013Capital: Authorised capital Rs.500 crore, paid-up capital Rs.200 croreShareholding Exemption: PSBs allowed to hold >30% stake in IDPICAbout IDPIC:Legal Structure: The proposed company IDPIC will be established as a Section 8 Company (a special type of non-profit organisation) under the Companies Act, 2013.Capital: The proposed company will be set with an authorised capital of Rs 500 crore and paid-up capital of Rs 200 crore.Shareholding: The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF) granted exemption to both PSBs from a Section 19(2) of the Banking Regulation(BR) Act, 1949, thereby allowing them to hold more than 30% stake in IDPIC till October 2026.
SBI, BoB Received RBI’s Approval to Set Up Fraud Detection PlatformIn December 2025, State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), aimed at developing a digital payments intelligence platform.It aims to detect and curb fraudulent digital transactions across all Public Sector Banks(PSBs).What? Received RBI’s Approval to set up IDPICBy Whom: SBI and BoBPurpose: To develop a digital intelligence platformLegal Structure: Section 8 Company under Companies Act, 2013Capital: Authorised capital Rs.500 crore, paid-up capital Rs.200 croreShareholding Exemption: PSBs allowed to hold >30% stake in IDPICAbout IDPIC:Legal Structure: The proposed company IDPIC will be established as a Section 8 Company (a special type of non-profit organisation) under the Companies Act, 2013.Capital: The proposed company will be set with an authorised capital of Rs 500 crore and paid-up capital of Rs 200 crore.Shareholding: The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF) granted exemption to both PSBs from a Section 19(2) of the Banking Regulation(BR) Act, 1949, thereby allowing them to hold more than 30% stake in IDPIC till October 2026.
SBI, BoB Received RBI’s Approval to Set Up Fraud Detection PlatformIn December 2025, State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corpo...
IndusInd Bank, Jio-bp Launch ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card’On December 10, 2025, IndusInd Bank Limited, a private sector bank in India and Jio-bp, a Joint Venture (JV) between Jio and British Petroleum (bp), launched ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card’, a co-branded fuel and lifestyle Credit Card, operating on the RuPay network.This is IndusInd Bank’s first fuel-centric credit card and Jio-bp’s inaugural co-branded card product.What? Launch of Co-Branded credit cardWho? IndusInd Bank and Jio-bpName of Card: IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit CardNetwork: RuPayKey Feature: UPI-enabled payments for fuel, dining, groceries, and cafe spendsCost: Rs 499 joining feeAbout IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card:Key Feature: The card supports Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-enabled payments and is designed to benefit frequent vehicle users who refuel at Jio-bp stations and spend on groceries, dining, and cafe purchases.Rewards: The card offers a 400 Smiles welcome bonus on the first fuel transaction, 12 Smiles per Rs.100 on fuel, convenience stores, and Wildbean Cafe at Jio-bp, monthly and annual milestone bonuses, 5 Smiles per Rs.100 on dining, groceries, and supermarkets, and a Rs.200 Wildbean Cafe voucher on the first cafe transaction.Perks: The cardholders benefit from a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at Jio-bp, 24×7 roadside assistance in select cities, and the convenience of UPI payments while earning rewards.Costs: The card has a joining fee of Rs.499 with Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is waived if Rs.10,000 is spent in the first 30 days, and a 3.5% foreign transaction fee for international expenditure.
IndusInd Bank, Jio-bp Launch ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card’On December 10, 2025, IndusInd Bank Limited, a private sector bank in India and Jio-bp, a Joint Venture (JV) between Jio and British Petroleum (bp), launched ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card’, a co-branded fuel and lifestyle Credit Card, operating on the RuPay network.This is IndusInd Bank’s first fuel-centric credit card and Jio-bp’s inaugural co-branded card product.What? Launch of Co-Branded credit cardWho? IndusInd Bank and Jio-bpName of Card: IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit CardNetwork: RuPayKey Feature: UPI-enabled payments for fuel, dining, groceries, and cafe spendsCost: Rs 499 joining feeAbout IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card:Key Feature: The card supports Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-enabled payments and is designed to benefit frequent vehicle users who refuel at Jio-bp stations and spend on groceries, dining, and cafe purchases.Rewards: The card offers a 400 Smiles welcome bonus on the first fuel transaction, 12 Smiles per Rs.100 on fuel, convenience stores, and Wildbean Cafe at Jio-bp, monthly and annual milestone bonuses, 5 Smiles per Rs.100 on dining, groceries, and supermarkets, and a Rs.200 Wildbean Cafe voucher on the first cafe transaction.Perks: The cardholders benefit from a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at Jio-bp, 24×7 roadside assistance in select cities, and the convenience of UPI payments while earning rewards.Costs: The card has a joining fee of Rs.499 with Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is waived if Rs.10,000 is spent in the first 30 days, and a 3.5% foreign transaction fee for international expenditure.
IndusInd Bank, Jio-bp Launch ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-bp Mobility+ Credit Card’On December 10, 2025, IndusInd Bank Limited, a private sector bank in India and Jio-bp, a Joint Venture (JV) between Jio and British Petroleum (bp), launched ‘IndusInd Bank Jio-...
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CITES CoP20: Global South Drives Critical Changes and Shapes Global Wildlife Trade PoliciesThe 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) was held successfully from November 24 to December 05, 2025, at Silkroad Samarkand Expo Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking the 50th anniversary of the convention.During the 12-day long meeting, member states adopted 353 decisions, held around 46 rounds of voting and reviewed 50 listing proposals that resulted in the addition of 77 species to CITES Appendices, with Global South playing an instrumental role in shaping wildlife trade policies.Hosted by the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)What? COP20 CITESHeld From: November 24, 2025 to December 05, 2025Venue: Silkroad Samarkand Expo Center (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)Host: National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with UNDPSignificance: 50th anniversary of CITESKey Result: Addition of 77 species to CITES AppendicesOther Key Approval: To increase the CITES budget by 6.98% for 2026-28Proposed by: Brazil, Senegal and MexicoKey Changes in Appendix Status:New Additions in Appendix-I: Species like: oceanic whitetip shark, whale shark, and all manta and devil ray, were added in Appendix-I, the highest-level of protection by CITES.Also, Ecuador’s proposal to place all 3 species of Galapagos land iguana to Appendix-I was successfully adopted at the meeting.Species from Appendix-II to Appendix-I: Ecuador also succeeded in uplisting the Galapagos marine iguana from Appendix-II to Appendix-I.Similarly, Cameroon efforts resulted in moving Home’s hinge-back tortoise from Appendix-II to Appendix-I.Species Downlisted to Appendix-II: Kazakhstan’s saiga antelope and South Africa’s bontebok were removed from Appendix-II.Mexico succeeded in changing the protection status of Guadlupe fur seal and Parlatore’s podocarp from Appendix-I to Appendix-II due to improvements in their conservation status.Other Keyhighlights:India’s Opposition to EU Proposal: At COP20 CITES, India successfully opposed a European Union (EU) proposal to place guggul (Commiphora wightii) in Appendix-II.CITES Budget: The convention successfully approved the combined proposal of Brazil, Senegal and Mexico to increase the CITES budget by 6.98% for 2026-28, aimed to fund the secretariat’s work programme.About Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):Secretary-General (SG)- Ivonne HigueroHeadquarters- Geneva, SwitzerlandMember States- 185 including 184 countries and the European Union (EU) Established- 1973
NITI Aayog’s AIM and HUL Partner to Launch Start-up Acceleration ProgrammeIn December 2025, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), partnered with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) to launch a nationwide start-up acceleration programme designed to accelerate India’s transition to a circular economy.What? Announcement of Start-up Acceleration ProgrammeLaunched by: NITI Aayog’s AIM and HULAim: To drive India’s transition to a Circular EconomyUnder: HUL’s Circular Bharat projectSelection Process: 50 high potential startups in circular economy (next 3 years)About Start-up Acceleration Programme:Framework: The programme will be implemented under Circular Bharat, a flagship project of HUL.Target: This new programme will identify and support 50 high-potential circular economy start-ups over the next 3 years.Priority Areas: The programme will prioritize startups providing innovative solutions in plastic recycling, reuse and refill models, and next-generation packaging materials.Start-up Support: Selected start-ups will receive mentorship, grant funding, and pilot opportunities for market validation.
NITI Aayog’s AIM and HUL Partner to Launch Start-up Acceleration ProgrammeIn December 2025, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), partnered with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) to launch a nationwide start-up acceleration programme designed to accelerate India’s transition to a circular economy.What? Announcement of Start-up Acceleration ProgrammeLaunched by: NITI Aayog’s AIM and HULAim: To drive India’s transition to a Circular EconomyUnder: HUL’s Circular Bharat projectSelection Process: 50 high potential startups in circular economy (next 3 years)About Start-up Acceleration Programme:Framework: The programme will be implemented under Circular Bharat, a flagship project of HUL.Target: This new programme will identify and support 50 high-potential circular economy start-ups over the next 3 years.Priority Areas: The programme will prioritize startups providing innovative solutions in plastic recycling, reuse and refill models, and next-generation packaging materials.Start-up Support: Selected start-ups will receive mentorship, grant funding, and pilot opportunities for market validation.
NITI Aayog’s AIM and HUL Partner to Launch Start-up Acceleration ProgrammeIn December 2025, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), partnered with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) to launch a nationwi...
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