Current Affairs 3 January 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
3 January, 2025

International Affairs

1. India EFTA Trade Pact

Context:

The implementation process of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the four nation European bloc EFTA is progressing fast and is expected to come into force before the end of this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said.

India-EFTA Trade Pact

2. H1B Visa Rules

Context:

The contentious debate in the US on stiffening H1B visa rules, if implemented, will adversely impact US technology (tech) giants and India´s three leading information technology (IT) companies — Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and HCLTech — more than other homegrown tech players.

What is H1B Visa?

National Affairs

1. Ladki Bahin Scheme

Context:

The Maharashtra government has decided to take action based on complaints about bogus beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, and sought information from the Income Tax Department and Transport Department for their verification.

Ladki Behna Yojana: Maharashtra

Ladki Behna Yojana in Maharashtra: This scheme gives the state, from an economic standpoint, hope and a prospect to improve and transform the lot of women here, especially for economically weaker classes.

• Objective
  • Provides financial support for girls and women from young age till adulthood in terms of education, health, and empowering themselves.
  • Furthermore, reduces gender bias and encourages the promotion of education while empowering women to play their rightful role in society.

Some Important Schemes Related to Women Empowerment and Child Development:

Scheme Name	Launch Date	Ministry	Definition
PM CARES for Children Scheme	May 2021	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides support to children who lost their parents due to COVID-19, covering education, health, and personal needs.
Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan	October 2021	Ministry of Finance	An integrated infrastructure development plan that enhances connectivity and promotes economic growth, benefiting rural women and children.
Poshan 2.0 (National Nutrition Mission)	2021	Ministry of Women and Child Development	A revamped version of the Poshan Abhiyaan, targeting malnutrition, stunting, and improving child and maternal health.
Mission Shakti	2020-2021	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Empowers women through safety, security, economic empowerment, and improved decision-making opportunities.
SAMBAL	2020	Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment	Aimed at providing financial assistance and schemes for marginalized communities, including women, for their upliftment.
Poshan Abhiyaan	2018	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Aimed at reducing malnutrition levels among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through improved nutritional practices.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)	2017	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides direct cash transfers to pregnant women for their nutritional needs and improving maternal health.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)	2015	Ministry of Women and Child Development	A national initiative aimed at improving the welfare of the girl child, promoting education, and preventing gender-based discrimination.
One Stop Centre Scheme (OSC)	2015	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides support to women affected by violence by offering legal, medical, and psychological assistance.
Swadhar Greh Scheme	2015	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides shelter, food, and rehabilitation to women in distress, including those who are victims of violence, trafficking, and more.
Ujjwala Yojana	2016	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides financial assistance to women to prevent trafficking and provide shelter and rehabilitation.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)	2009	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Aims to provide a safe and secure environment for children, promoting their welfare through protection and care services.
Skill Development Scheme for Women	2013	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Focuses on enhancing the skills of women, enabling them to participate in the workforce and improve their livelihood options.
National Creche Scheme	2006	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides day-care facilities for children of working mothers to ensure their health, education, and overall development.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)	1993	Ministry of Women and Child Development	Provides micro-financing to women, enabling them to become self-reliant through small-scale entrepreneurship.

2. Right to Property

Context:

Right to property is a human right, the Supreme Court in a judgment on Thursday directed that compensation to people, who lost their land for the over 20,000-acre Bengaluru-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project.

Right to Property

The Right to Property is a constitutional right in India, which is guaranteed under Article 300-A of the Constitution.

• Authority
  • A person cannot be deprived of their property without the authority of law. That means property can only be taken away through an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, and not by executive order. 
• Compensation
  • The Property of any citizen shouldn’t be taken without given them adequate compensation in accordance with the law. 
• Legislative power
  • The State can only curtail, abridge, or modify property rights through its legislative power. 
• Background
  • The right to property was previously a fundamental right, but later got removed though the 44th Amendment in 1978. But, it is still a constitutional right and a human right in a welfare state.

3. The PS4-Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)

Context:

Bellatrix Aerospace has announced that it has achieved the desired results from the Rudra High-Performance Green Propulsion System, which was onboard the POEM-4 in the recently launched PSLV C-60 mission.

The PS4-Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)

The PS4-Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) is a platform for the scientific community to perform in-orbit micro-gravity experiments for up to three months. It should be able to validate different proof-of-concept and enabling technologies for future missions but without generating space debris and endangering the primary payloads.

PSLV C-60 Mission

4. National Testing Agency (NTA)

Context:

The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that all recommendations made by the seven-member expert panel on exam reforms will be implemented, following a review of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) conduct of NEET-UG last year.

National Testing Agency (NTA)

5. Suicide Case in India

Context:

In India, the issue has escalated over the years, as evidenced by the NCRB data. All India suicide rates rose from 9.9 per lakh population in 2017 to 12.4 per lakh in 2022, as per NCRB Report — accidental deaths and suicides in India, 2022.

World Suicide Report

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes the report on World Suicide Report.

• Lesotho, is home to the world’s highest suicide rate. 
• India is in 41 Position
  • As per WHO report, India’s Suicide Rate is: 12.9 per 100,000.

National Crime Records Bureau

National Crime Records Bureau, it is a government agency under the Indian Government that collects and analyzes crime data under the Indian Penal Code and Special and Local Laws.

• Director
  • Vivek Gogia

6. EPFO 3.0

Context:

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Labour Minister, told journalists on Thursday that the EPFO would launch its new software system EPFO 3.0 by June this year. He said that the new system would be at par with banking systems in the country, and the site would be user-friendly.

Features

• ATM Cards:
  • Direct withdrawals from ATMs using special cards.
• Digital Processes:
  • Reduced paperwork and manual interventions.
• Enhanced User Experience:
  • Upgraded website and mobile app.
  • Easy tracking of contributions and account management.
• Increase in Contribution Limits:
  • Option to contribute more than the mandatory 12%.
• Centralized Pension Payment System:
  • Pension receipt from any bank branch in India.

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Summary

7. Advanced Injectable Hydrogel for Localised Cancer Treatment

Context:

Researchers from IIT-G and Bose Institute, Kolkata have developed an injectable hydrogel for localised cancer treatment.

Key Findings:

• Hydrogels serve as a stable drug reservoir that controlledly releases the anti-cancer drugs, with healthy cells remaining spared.
• Injectable Hydrogel
  • An injectable hydrogel is a material that can be injected into the body as a liquid and then forms a gel state. They are used in a number of biomedical applications, such as Cancer treatment, Wound healing and Tissue engineering.
• Recent Update
  • Russia has developed a cancer vaccine that is expected to be available to patients for free in early 2025.
  • Type of Medicine
    • mRNA vaccine
• What is a Cancer?
  • Cancer is a group of diseases that occur when abnormal cells grow out of control and spread to other parts of the body.

8. School Infrastructure in India

Context:

10.17 lakh government-run schools have 9.12 lakh schools with electricity, and 1.52 lakh schools do not have electricity, as per latest report.

School Infrastructure

School infrastructure in India includes a variety of components, such as classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and sports facilities. Many schools in India lack the necessary infrastructure to provide a quality education.

The National Education Policy 2020

The National Education Policy of 2020 seeks to help in transforming the society of India into a knowledge-based society and also ensure all quality education across India. It relies on five key pillars such as access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability.

• Aim
  • To strengthen Anganwadi centers with high quality infrastructure, play equipment, and well-trained teachers. 
• Right To Education
  • The right to education in India is guaranteed by Article 21A of the Constitution of India, added in the constitution by the 86th Amendment Act in 2002.
  • Right to education provides quality education to each and every child, for it is a Fundamental human Rights. In India, the RTE Act brought up in 2009 ascertains such rights for free and compulsory education to all children of age 6-14 years.

9. Revised list of National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL)

Context:

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has proposed a revised version of the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL), which enumerates the minimum number of tests that should be available at various levels of healthcare facilities in the country.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), one of the oldest and largest organizations of medical research in the world. It is financed by the Department of Health Research and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

• Established
  • 1911

Banking/Finance

1. SEBI to Continue Probe in ZEE Listing Norm ‘Violation’

Context:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) plans to issue a fresh show cause notice on ZEEL founder-chairman Subhash Chandra and his son Punit Goenka, citing alleged listing norm violations.

What measures has Sebi introduced?

2. Central Government Securities

Context:

States will have to pay additional premium over Central government securities to meet the record high borrowing target for three months through March, which could further pressure banking liquidity, investors said.

Central Government Securities

Central government securities, also known as G-Secs, are debt instruments issued by the central government to raise capital. Generally, G-Secs are considered as risk-free gilt-edged instruments, as there is almost no possibility of default.

• In India, the Central Government issues treasury bills and dated securities while the State Governments issue only dated securities, which are known as the State Development Loans (SDLs).
• How are G-Sec issued?
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) manages the issuance of G-Sec, conducting auctions every Friday on behalf of the center. 
• Types of G-Sec
  • G-Sec can be short-term or long-term. Short-term G-Sec are called treasury bills and have a maturity of less than one year. Long-term G-Sec are called government bonds or dated securities and have a maturity of one year or more. 

Treasury Bills Treasury Bond

3. K – Shaped

Context:

Nomura economists have noted that household stress in India has now become K-shaped with the increase in retail debt due to consumption borrowing.

K-shaped Recovery

• An economic situation where a part of the economy recovers at a different rate, time, speed, or magnitude from other regions.
• This restructuring of the economy or society is characterized by deep changes in economic outcomes and relations before and after the recession.
• Causes
  • Existing inequalities or a recession that affected populations and groups differently.
  • An industry and related technologies develop to destroy creative, old industries in the recessionary phase.
  • Monetary and fiscal policies of governments to combat the recession can indeed cause K-type recovery.
  • Recessions can have this peculiar effect upon different parts of the economy with negative real shocks.
• Instance
  • In the K-shaped recovery that North America witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, richer individuals and industries recovered more rapidly than poorer ones.

4. SEBI bans Ketan Parekh & 21 others

Context:

The Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has unearthed a front-running scam in the securities market and debarred 22 entities, including stock brokers Singapore-based Rohit Salgaocar and Ketan Parekh, for alleged involvement and impounded ₹66 crore as ‘wrongful gains.’

What measures has Sebi introduced?

5. Bharat Connect

Context:

National Payments Corporation of India´s (NPCI´s) billaggregation platform Bharat Connect is expected to roll out its Bharat BillPay for Business offering by March, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

• Formerly known as Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
• Service
  • Payments can be made through cash, transfer cheques, and electronic modes.
  • Integrated with UPI for instant payments through UPI-enabled smartphones.
• Founded
  • 2013

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

National Payments Corporation of India

6. PLI Scheme

Context:

Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has approved incentive claims of ₹ 246 crore submitted by Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors under the ₹ 25,938 crore PLI scheme for the automobile and auto components industry, officials said.

PLI Scheme

7. SARFAESI Act

The FIDC is a collective voice of the NBFC sector and has made some significant requests for reforms for ease of doing business and enhancing liquidity. In the request by the council, they have proposed the reduction in the loan amount threshold for invoking security interest under the SARFAESI Act from ₹20 lakh to ₹1 lakh.

Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC)

Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) is a Representative Body of Asset and Loan Financing of the NBFCs registered with the Reserve Bank of India.

The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act)

The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, is a kind of legislation through which banks recover loans taken by debtors through the sale of their movable or immovable properties through an auction process. In other words, the act aims to reduce NPAs through multiple recovery and reconstruction processes.

• Seizing property:
  • Financial institutions can seize the borrower’s property without a court proceeding, except for agricultural land.
• Notice period:
  • Borrowers must cure default within 60 days of notice.
• Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs): 
  • The RBI supervises ARCs with respect to acquiring assets.
• Central Register: 
  • It keeps an electronic and non-electronic transaction register for securitization and reconstruction of financial assets

RBI Guidelines For Asset Reconstruction Companies

8. RBI’s Liquidity Management Tools

Some lenders have asked the Reserve Bank of (RBI) to inject liquidity using foreign exchange swaps as short term currency financing costs surged to a four year high, according to people familiar with the matter.

RBI’s Liquidity Management Tools

• Open Market Operations (OMO):
  • Through OMO, RBI purchases and sells government securities to drain off or infuse liquidity in the banking system. This will result in regulating money supply and hence short-term interest rates.
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR):
  • RBI determines the cash holding of banks which increases or decreases, depending on their lending capacity with the change in CRR. Higher CRR reduces liquidity; lower CRR increases liquidity.
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR):
  • RBI can control the credit growth of the economy through SLR. An increase in SLR reduces liquidity by reducing the amount of credit that banks can create, whereas a decrease in SLR increases liquidity.
• Repo Rate and Reverse Repo Rate:
  • The RBI controls the cost of borrowing and the return on lending by changing the repo and reverse repo rates. Lower repo rates encourage borrowing and increase liquidity, while higher reverse repo rates encourage banks to park surplus funds with the RBI.
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF):
  • The RBI provides a higher rate than the repo rate for banks to borrow money, and this serves as an emergency liquidity mechanism in case of sudden liquidity shortfalls.
• Currency and Gold Reserve (CGR) Management:
  • The RBI manages foreign exchange reserves, including gold reserves, to manage liquidity in the market.
• Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF):
  • LAF is the repo and reverse repo operations that the RBI uses to manage short-term liquidity in the banking system.
• Term Repo and Term Reverse Repo:
  • These are operations that allow banks to manage liquidity over a more extended period and ensure market stability.
• Market Stabilization Scheme (MSS):
  • The RBI issues government securities to absorb excess liquidity from the banking system.
• Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO):
  • Provides long-term funding to banks for specific sectors like MSMEs, NBFCs, and others.

Banking Liquidity Deficit

Economy

1. Wholesale Price Index

Context:

The Centre on Thursday announced the formation of an expert panel to revise the constituents of the country’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in light of the structural changes in the economy that have occurred between 2011-12, the current base year for the critical price gauge, and 2022-23 that would be the new base year.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) & Consumer Price Index (CPI)

2. Work Demand under MGNREGA

Context:

Work demand in December 2024 under the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was 8.3 per cent higher than the corresponding period in 2023.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA

3. Fiscal Manangement

Context:

Key measures from the Union Budget 2025-26 related to controlling government finances.

• Fiscal Deficit Management:
  • Fiscal deficit remains targeted at 4.4% of GDP for 2025-26, with a decreasing trajectory planned from 2026-27, emphasizing better medium-term fiscal discipline.
• Debt Reduction Strategy:
  • The Centre aims to lower its debt levels, with plans to reduce overall government debt relative to GDP, improving fiscal health in the long run.
• Increased Capital Spending:
  • The government is supporting economic recovery post-pandemic through higher capital expenditure, promoting infrastructure and economic growth.
• Encouraging Private Sector Investment:
  • Focus on creating room for private sector investment, with an emphasis on minimizing external financing and avoiding a heavy reliance on public borrowing.
• Reforms in Taxation:
  • The government is working on overhauling the GST system and re-examining Customs duties and the Income Tax Act to improve the tax structure.
• GST Reforms:
  • The GST rate is significantly lower than the revenue-neutral rate, and the Union government is pushing for changes to fix this imbalance and ensure proper revenue flow.
• State Government Debt Management:
  • The debt of states is under review, with steps aimed at improving their fiscal health and aligning with national debt targets.
• Course Corrections for Fiscal Balance:
  • Corrective measures will be implemented to help balance debt management and ensure the government’s ability to meet its fiscal targets.

Capital Expenditure CapEx Fiscal deficit

Agriculture

1. Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

Context:

Under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, rules guiding the selection process of genetic engineering appraisal committee have been amended.

Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

Genetically modified (GM) crops are plants that have been genetically engineered to have modified DNA for agricultural purposes.

• GM modifies an organism’s genome by introduction of DNA into the organism with an intention to give new features or to make some changes.
• The four most cultivated GM crops in the world are cotton, soybeans, maize, and canola and are conferred with herbicide tolerance and insect resistance.
• About 90% of GM area cultivated in the world is concentrated in the above countries:
  • USA, Brazil, Argentina, India, and Canada.

• Background
  • GM crops are first developed in the USA in 1994, and their ripening process slows down and also prevents them from rotting.
  • Improving some of these features aims at less reliance on pesticides/herbicides, attaining resistance against some plant viruses, and decreasing the tillage to control weeds.

• Bt Genes
  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces cytolytic (Cyt) and crystal (Cry) toxins, and these have been engineered into plant crops to produce these toxins.

• Methods
  • Direct approach:
    • Gene of interest is cloned into a plant DNA vector that is then transferred into the plant by gene gun method, electroporation, microinjection, etc.
  • A tumefaciens mediated gene transfer:
    • The bacterium is a soil bacterium, A.tumefaciens, causes crown gall disease in many plants because of its transferring tumors causing DNA into the plant genome.

• Advantages
  • GM is the most innovating technique for creating pest-resistant crops like Bt crops.
  • Pest resistance:
    • Its Bt genes kill most of the pests and therefore eliminate the need for needlessly applied surfactants.
  • Virus resistant plants:
    • Such traits may be transferred to non-resistant plants.
  • Plants that are drought resistant:
    • Plants can be engineered to have drought tolerance, thus minimizing groundwater usage.
  • Herbicide tolerance:
    • Genetic modification involves engineering GM crops to withstand herbicides that control weeds.
  • Sustainable farming practice:
    • Sustainable agricultural management with GM crops was made possible by these technologies.
  • Increased nutritional value:
    • Announcing the possibility of increasing food crop nutrient concentrations through genetic modification.

• Disadvantages
  • Horizontal gene transfer of pesticide, herbicide or antibiotic resistance may disturb the ecological balance.
  • Herbicide tolerance can lead to ecological imbalances as herbicide-resistant crops may develop.
  • Genetic erosion from crop varieties could occur due to GM crops.
  • Crossbreeding between herbicide-resistant weeds and herbicide-tolerant crops could occur.
• Applications of GM Crops
  • Bioskilling:
    • Genetic manipulation to amplify the micronutrient content.
  • Edible Vaccines:
    • Genotoxified plant products with cheaper energy intake and reduced side effects.
  • Indeed biofuels:
    • Fourth-generation biofuel crops developed from genetically modified algae and cyanobacteria.
  • Phytoremediation:
    • Using genetic manipulation to clean up soil and water pollutants.

• India and GM Crops
  • Among the leading growers of GM crops in the world.
  • Regulator Framework:
    • Strong law regarding threats to animal and human health and biodiversity.
    • The statutory boards involved in GM crop regulation include the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, and Genetic E.

Government Schemes Related to GM Crops

Scheme Name	Launch Date	Ministry	Description
Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network)	2017	Department of Biotechnology (DBT)	Aimed at increasing the adoption of agricultural biotechnology, including GM crops, in farmers’ fields to improve yields and income.
Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill (Proposed)	2021 (Bill Draft)	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change	A proposed bill to establish an independent regulatory authority for the commercialization of GM crops and their environmental safety.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) Approvals	Ongoing (since 1990s)	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change	Committee responsible for evaluating and granting approvals for the release of GM crops in India.

2. Integrated Horticulture Development Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the Beej Gram Programme

Context:

In a letter to Delhi CM, Agriculture Minister of India said the AAP government has failed to implement major central initiatives, including the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and the Beej Gram programme.

Integrated Horticulture Development Mission

The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a national program sponsored by the central government to promote the horticulture sector in the country. The scheme covers almost all crops such as fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, among others.

• Ministry
  •  Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Launch Date
  • 2014

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) was launched with the aim of achieving 4% annual growth in the agricultural sector. Under this scheme, states encourage and also incentivize to increase public investment in agriculture and allied sectors.

• Ministry
  • Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture, and Government of India
• Launch Date
  • 2007-2008

The Beej Gram Yojana

The Beej Gram Yojana, also known as the Sub Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP), is a program that provides financial assistance to farmers for the distribution of certified seeds: 

• Features
  • The program offers a 50% subsidy on cereal seeds and a 60% subsidy on pulses, oilseeds, fodder, and green manure crops. The subsidy is available for up to one acre per farmer.
• Ministry
  • Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Launch Date
  • April 1, 2014

Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL)

3. Crop Insurance Schemes

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme till 2025-26 with a total budget of ₹69,515.71 crore: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

• Key initiatives
  • Yield Estimation System using Technology (YES-TECH) and Weather Information and Network Data System (WINDS).
    • This yield estimation system based on technology, YES-TECH, uses remote sensing technology such that at least 30 percent cubic meters in total for yield estimates is technology based.
    • The Weather Information and Network Data System (WINDS) is a program launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) in July 2023 to improve weather data infrastructure and provide weather data for decision-making.
  • Extension of one-time special package on diammonium phosphate (DAP) till December 31, 2025 to ensure affordability for farmers.

Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme

• Objective
  • Reducing the hardships of insured farmers against the likelihood of financial loss due to unexpected crop loss owing to adverse weather calamities such as rainfall, temperatures, wind, humidity, etc.
• Features
  • RWBCIS uses weather parameters as “proxies” for crop yields for compensating farmers for imagined crop losses. Payout structures are determined to the level of losses deemed to have been incurred using the weather triggers.

Facts to Remember

1. Rajendra Arlekar sworn in as 23rd Kerala Governor

• Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was sworn in as the 23rd Governor of Kerala on Thursday.

2. Arif Mohammed Khan sworn in as Governor of Bihar

• Arif Mohammed Khan was sworn in as the 42^nd Governor of Bihar on Thursday, succeeding Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar who has been appointed Kerala Governor in his place.