- BANKS TO PAY SAME INTEREST RATES: RBI
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Banks are required to pay uniform interest rates across all branches and customers.
- Uniform Interest Rates: Commercial banks are required to pay uniform interest rates on deposits (excluding current account deposits) across all their branches, ensuring consistency.
- There should be no discrimination in the interest rates between deposits of similar amounts, accepted on the same date, across different branches.
- Transparency: The interest rates cannot be negotiated between depositors and banks.They must be reasonable, consistent, and transparent.
- Banks must make these rates available for supervisory review as required.
2. XI JINPING CALLS FOR ELEPHANT DRAGON DUET ON 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIES BETWEEN INDIA, CHINA
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Diplomatic Anniversary: 75 years of India-China ties, emphasizing mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
- Cooperation: Focus on trade, development, and global South leadership.
- Continue strengthening ties through strategic dialogue and economic cooperation, particularly on multilateral issues.
3. CHINA – INDIA TIES ACROSS THE PAST AND INTO THE FUTURE
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- India was first non-socialist country to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1950.
- Key Cooperation Areas: Trade ($3B in 2000 to $135B in 2022), culture, education, tourism.
- Strategic Dialogue: Dialogue frameworks like SCO, BRICS, and RIC to manage the border issue and foster cooperation.
- Future: Strengthening bilateral ties while focusing on peaceful resolution of boundary issues.
4. WHY INDIA NEEDS TO CLEAN ITS AIR
SUBJECT: ENVIRONEMENT
- Chronic issue influenced by urban sprawl, economic disparity, weak governance.
- Challenges: Poor real-time tracking ○ Fragmented responsibilities ○ Lack of localized data
- Recommendations: Shift to micro-level emission tracking
- Integrate air quality goals into urban planning
- Avoid “Western trap”of elite-centric solutions
5. THE RADICAL AND ENDURING LEGACY OF SHIVAJI
SUBJECT: HISTORY
- Shivaji’s military genius, including his use of guerrilla tactics (ganimi kawa), led to the creation of the Maratha Empire.
- Reforms: Abolished the “vatandari” system ○ Implemented the “Ryotwari” system
- Opposed slavery
- Historical Significance: Known for his role in resisting Mughal expansion and for reforms that strengthened Indian society