Main Point :-   (i) The Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Government of Punjab, has been requested to issue an order for the winding up of the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank.

      (ii) On liquidation, each depositor is entitled to receive a deposit insurance claim up to Rs. 5 lakh under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act, 1961.

(iii) According to the data submitted by the bank to the RBI, 97.79% of depositors are entitled to receive the full amount of their deposits from DICGC. As of January 31, 2025, DICGC has already paid Rs. 541 crore of the total insured deposits.

Main Point :-   (i) The deposit schemes are specially designed for varied customer groups such as working professionals, women, armed forces personnel, farmers, NRIs, senior citizens, students, and the youth, catering to their unique financial needs.

      (ii) Among the digital solutions, notable introductions include a QR-code-based feedback mechanism, the intelligent live-chat assistant “Pihu,” and advanced internal banking tools aimed at elevating service standards for customers.

(iii) The event witnessed the presence of M Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF); along with Ashok Chandra, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PNB. He was joined by Executive Directors Kalyan Kumar, M. Paramasivam, Bibhu Prasad Mahapatra, and D. Surendran, among other senior officials.

      - According to official British records, 379 people were killed, but Indian sources and eyewitnesses suggest the actual death toll was in the thousands. The incident shocked the nation and intensified the demand for India’s independence from British rule.

Main Point :-   (i) The Rowlatt Act of 1919, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, was passed by the British based on the Sedition Committee led by Justice Rowlatt. It gave the colonial government the power to arrest and detain individuals without trial for up to two years, sparking widespread protests across the country.

      (ii) Following the massacre, the British government set up the Hunter Commission in 1919, officially called the Disorders Inquiry Committee, chaired by Lord William Hunter. The committee investigated the incident and questioned General Dyer, whose controversial testimony drew global criticism. His story was later documented in Nigel Collett’s book “The Butcher of Amritsar”.

(iii) In 1920, a trust was formed to build a memorial at the site. The memorial was inaugurated on April 13, 1961, by then-President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The design was created by Benjamin Polk, an American architect, and the site now stands as a symbol of the sacrifice and spirit of India’s freedom struggle.

Main Point :-   (i) Gurindervir Singh's previous personal best was 10.27 seconds, set in 2021. He made a strong comeback by winning gold at the 2024 Federation Cup with a wind-assisted 10.33 seconds and later clocked 10.32 seconds at the National Inter-State Championships in June 2024.

      (ii) His record-breaking performance not only establishes him as India's fastest man but also meets the entry standard of 10.25 seconds for the 26th Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled for May 2025 in Gumi, South Korea.

      - Key features of the drone include dual-safety mechanisms to prevent accidental detonation, a live feedback relay system for real-time payload updates, and a pilot-activated trigger via a radio controller for controlled deployment.

Main Point :-   (i) Developed by Major Cephas Chetan of IA and the TBRL team led by Dr. Raghvendra, each FPV drone costs ₹1.4 lakh. The Indian Army inducted an initial batch of five drones and plans to procure 95 more, totaling 100 units.

      (ii) The initiative, launched in August 2024, involved extensive trials in Pathankot under TBRL supervision, including explosive testing, aerial vehicle assessments, and trigger system evaluations.

(iii) The successful trials confirmed the drone's accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness in neutralizing targets, validating it as a cost-effective force multiplier for the Indian Army.

Main Point :-   (i) The agreement intends to offer customized credit solutions with attractive interest rates, focusing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to improve access to formal loans.

      (ii) Punjab & Sind Bank, with 1,575 branches, brings strong financial expertise, while Piramal Finance, with over 514 branches covering 13,000 pin codes, serves 4.5 million customers across 26 states.

(iii) Together, they combine solid underwriting practices with advanced credit evaluation tools to provide efficient credit solutions.

Main Point :-   (i) VIKRAM3201: India’s first fully ‘Make-in-India’ 32-bit microprocessor, specifically designed for the extreme environmental conditions of launch vehicles. It was fabricated at SCL’s 180-nanometer (nm) Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) semiconductor facility.

      (ii) KALPANA3201: A 32-bit microprocessor based on the SPARC V8 (Scalable Processor Architecture, version 8) Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) microprocessor, adhering to the IEEE 1754 Instruction Set Architecture.

      - He began his career as a Chartered Accountant (CA) at Allahabad Bank (now Indian Bank) in 1992 and progressed to various leadership roles in several banks, including UCO Bank and Union Bank of India.

Main Point :-   (i) Atul Kumar Goel has served as the Chairman of IBA for two terms (2021-22 and 2022-23) and has extensive experience in the banking sector.

      (ii) He was appointed MD and CEO of PNB in 2022 and successfully led the bank until his appointment as CE of IBA in March 2025.

(iii) He is also a member of the Governing Council & Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) and a member of the Governing Board of the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).

Main Point :-   (i) The project focuses on eliminating the fear women have that prevents them from reporting domestic violence, workplace harassment, or other forms of abuse.

      (ii) The Women Helpline (181) and Child Helpline (1098) will be available 24/7 under the Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya schemes, ensuring access to both emergency and non-emergency services. Emergency cases will be transferred directly to the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) for immediate action.

(iii) The program encourages collaboration between the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab Police, Women and Child Development, and Department of Social Security, ensuring quick rescue efforts, legal support, medical aid, and psychological and social care for victims.

      - Additionally, the agreement also provides coverage for death during operations, offering Rs. 10 lakhs, and covers the cost of imported medicines, including transportation, up to Rs. 10 lakhs. Furthermore, the ITBP personnel will also benefit from air ambulance costs of up to Rs. 10 lakhs.

Main Point :-   (i) PNB has extended its Rakshak Account benefits to ITBP pensioners receiving their pension from PNB, offering lifetime Personal Accidental Insurance (PAI) coverage of Rs. 50 lakhs and Air Accidental Insurance (AAI) coverage of Rs. 100 lakhs.

      (ii) PNB has demonstrated its commitment to supporting India’s armed forces, particularly the ‘Himveers’ (personnel) of ITBP, by providing specialized financial products and services.

      - The partnership also focuses on implementing best practices to optimize the water-energy-food nexus, fostering a sustainable and climate-neutral economy.

Main Point :-   (i) The collaboration between Fraunhofer IGB and IIT Ropar will focus on joint Research and Development (R&D), identifying technology gaps, and demonstrating technologies to address industry challenges under two national missions of the Government of India (GoI): Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).

      (ii) The strategic partnership will facilitate technology transfer and licensing agreements with industry stakeholders for large-scale adoption, while also providing training on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into water management systems.

(iii) Under the MoU, Fraunhofer's expertise in applied research will be combined with IIT Ropar's Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub (AWaDH) to drive innovations in water technology. This collaboration aims to establish a strong water innovation ecosystem, promoting sustainable resource management, smart water infrastructure, and climate-resilient solutions.

      - The app is connected to India's Account Aggregator (AA) framework, which has exceeded 100 million consents, ensuring secure and streamlined sharing of financial data.

Main Point :-   (i) Jumpp offers multilingual AI-driven assistance in English and Hindi, enabling voice-based interactions for users with limited digital literacy. It also features an AI-powered chatbot that provides personalized financial advice while incorporating advanced fraud prevention mechanisms.

      (ii) The app prioritizes data security, strictly complying with regulatory guidelines to protect user information and ensure privacy.

(iii) Finvasia aims to onboard one million users by January 2026, focusing on expanding digital financial services beyond metro cities to reach a wider audience.

      - She gave Odisha Warriors the lead in the 2nd quarter, but Penny Squibb (28') equalized for JSW Soorma Hockey Club.

Main Point :-   (i) The Other Awards at the tournament included Savita Punia (JSW Soorma Hockey Club) winning the Best Goalkeeper award, while Jyoti Rumavat (JSW Soorma Hockey Club) was named the Player of the Tournament.

      (ii) The Top Scorers of the Tournament were Yibbi Jansen (Odisha Warriors) and Charlotte Englebert (JSW Soorma Hockey Club).

Main Point :-   (i) The NCRP Integration Solution enhances fraud prevention through automation across various banking channels such as Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Debit Cards, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

      (ii) Key features include Real-Time Lien, First In, First Out (FIFO) Logic for faster complaint resolution, Intelligent Debit Freeze, and Whitelisting for account protection.

(iii) Bengaluru-based CustomerXPs Software Private Limited, founded in 2006, developed the Clari5 software for financial crime risk management.

      - The appointments were recommended by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), chaired by Bhanu Pratap Sharma.

Main Point :-   (i) Ashok Chandra holds a postgraduate degree in Economics, began his banking career in 1991 with Corporation Bank, and served as Executive Director (ED) at Canara Bank Limited.

      (ii) Binod Kumar holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Banking & Finance from NIBM, is a Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certified by GARP, USA, and previously served as ED at PNB.

(iii) Both leaders are Certified Associates of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB).

Main Point :-   (i) The focus of the hackathon will be on key areas like malware detection and removal powered by intelligence, real-time monitoring and mitigation of threats, ransomware protection solutions, next-generation antivirus tools, and managing attack surfaces.

      (ii) The competition is open to students, researchers, and academicians, either as individuals or in teams.

(iii) The winners will receive prizes worth up to Rs 11 lakhs and will also have the chance to implement their solutions in live environments with PNB.

Main Point :-   (i) Bahadur Singh Sagoo, a distinguished shot put athlete, is a one-time Asian Games gold medalist, winning at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, with a throw of 19.03 meters. He is also a two-time national champion and represented India in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

      (ii) In 2006, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, for his contributions to sports.

(iii) AFI (Athletics Federation of India) was established in 1946 in New Delhi. It is the national governing body for athletics in India and is responsible for organizing athletics competitions across the country.

Main Point :-   (i) This agreement is a major step in promoting innovation, upgrading agricultural infrastructure, and ensuring that farmers and agribusinesses have access to better storage and cold chain solutions.

      (ii) The development of modern storage facilities will transform Indian agriculture by improving cold storage, reducing post-harvest losses, and helping farmers get better prices for their produce. This will also contribute to the economic growth of rural areas.

(iii) FCAOI, founded in 1999, is a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that offers cold storage consulting services and operates cold storage rooms. Its headquarters is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Main Point :-   (i) Punjab implemented 15 major canal water projects in 1,706 villages, benefiting 25 lakh people and 4 lakh families, and achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status with 5.64 lakh household toilets and 1,340 community toilets.

      (ii) Waste management facilities were set up in 3,366 villages for solid waste, 9,909 villages for grey water, along with 23 plastic waste management units and 20 district-level biogas plants.

(iii) Har Ghar Jal (HGJ) is a flagship scheme launched in 2019 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aiming to provide 55 liters of tap water per person per day to every rural household in India.

      - The Har Ghar Jal (HCJ) Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in 2019, aims to provide 55 liters of tap water per person per day to every rural household.

Main Point :-   (i) To address water quality and scarcity issues, 15 major canal water projects are being implemented across 1,706 villages, with a total investment of Rs. 2,174 crore, benefiting approximately 25 lakh people and 4 lakh families.

      (ii) All villages in Punjab have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) - Rural.

(iii) Waste management facilities have been established in 3,366 villages for solid waste, 9,909 villages for grey water, 23 plastic waste units at the block level, and 20 biogas plants at the district level in partnership with PEDA for managing cow dung in shelters.

Main Point :-   (i) Dr. Singh served as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India (GoI) from 1972 to 1976. He was also the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance (MoF) from November 1976 to April 1980, and the Member Secretary of the Planning Commission from April 1980 to September 1982.

      (ii) Dr. Manmohan Singh also served as the 15th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from 1982 to 1985. Later, he became the Union Minister of Finance during the government of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in 1991, where he played a key role in shaping India's economic policy.

      - Kerala, Rajasthan, and Goa boost tourism and foreign exchange earnings. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh lead in infrastructure development. Rajasthan and Gujarat focus on renewable energy. Northeastern states improve connectivity, enhancing trade and tourism.

Main Point :-   (i) 25 states recorded over 7% GSDP growth in FY22 and FY23.

      (ii) 17 states achieved over 9% growth, including Gujarat and Kerala.

(iii) PHDCCI proposes a nine-pronged strategy for sustained growth.

Main Point :-   (I) The act mandates proper utilization of government funds by Sports Associations.

      - PNB disclosed its financed emissions in the Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) using the PCAF Standard.

Main Points:-   (i) The decision supports the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) draft framework on climate-related financial risk disclosures, effective from FY26 for all banks.

      (ii) As a PCAF signatory, PNB gains technical support, industry training, and India-specific emission data to improve its GHG management and reporting. It will also participate in international working groups and share knowledge through workshops and webinars on sustainable finance.

(iii) Union Bank of India was the first major Indian bank to sign the PCAF.

Main Points:-   The facility will significantly reduce the turnaround time (TAT) and serve as a game changer in curbing frauds and eliminating the inconveniences associated with the physical movement of documents.

Main Points:-   (i) In addition to winning the main title, she also won the Grand Pageants Choice Award 2024. She will now serve as the global ambassador for MGI, promoting peace and stability worldwide.

      (ii) With this win, she shares the record for the most global pageant crowns won by an Indian, along with former Miss Universe Lara Dutta.

(iii) In 2022, she won the title of "Miss Super Talent of the World" at the 15th edition of the pageant held in Paris, France.

Main Points:-   (i) The BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) policy, which focuses on biotechnology for the economy, employment, and the environment, highlights the government's commitment to nurturing a science sector with significant impact.

      (ii) The Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BioNEST) BRIC-NABI Incubation Center aims to empower local youth, women, and agriculture, food, and bioprocessing, and to accelerate the commercialization of agri-food innovations.