Key Highlights of Filmfare OTT Awards 2024 Category Award Winner

Category Award Winner Best

Sylvester Fonseca (Amar
Cinematographer
Series Singh Chamkila)
Best Series The Railway Men (Web Original Film)
Category
Best Director Sameer Saxena and Amit Best Production
Suzanne Caplan Merwanji
Series Golani (Kaala Paani) Design (Web
(The Archies)
Best Actor, Series Rajkummar Rao (Guns & Original Film)
(Male): Comedy Gulaabs) Best Editing (Web Aarti Bajaj (Amar Singh
Best Actor, Series Gagan Dev Riar (Scam 2003 Original Film) Chamkila)
(Male): Drama – The Telgi Story) Best Background
A R RAHMAN (Amar Singh
Best Actor, Series Geetanjali Kulkarni (Gullak Music (Web
Chamkila)
(Female): Comedy Season 4) Original Film)
Manisha Koirala Zoya Akhtar, Arjun Varain
Best Actor, Series Best Story (Web
(Heeramandi: The Diamond Singh, Reema Kagti (Kho
(Female): Drama Original Film)
Bazzar) Gaye Hum Kahan)
Best Supporting Best Music Album, A R RAHMAN (Amar Singh
Nidhi Bisht (Maamla Legal
Actor, Series Film Chamkila)
Hai)
(Female): Comedy Best Debut Arjun Varain Singh (Kho
Best Supporting Director, Film Gaye Hum Kahan)
Mona Singh (Made In
Actor, Series Best Debut Male,
Heaven Season 2) Vedang Raina
(Female): Drama Film
Best Original Story, Biswapati Sarkar (Kaala Critics
Series Paani) Best Series, Critics Guns & Gulaabs
Category
Best Comedy Best Director,
Maamla Legal Hai Mumbai Diaries Season 2
(Series/Specials) Critics
Best (Non-Fiction) Best Actor, Series
Original The Hunt For Veerappan Kay Kay Menon (Bambai
(Male), Critics:
(Series/Special) Meri Jaan)
Drama
Best Dialogue, Sumita Arora (Guns & Best Actor, Series
Series Gulaabs) Huma Qureshi (Maharani
(Female), Critics:
Subrata Chakraborty and S03)
Best Production Drama
Amit Ray (Heeramandi: The
Design, Series Best Film, Critics Jaane Jaan
Diamond Bazaar)
Best Debut Shiv Rawail (The Railway Best Actor (Male),
Jaideep Ahlawat
Director, Series Men) Critics – Film
Films Best Film, Web Best Actor
Amar Singh Chamkila
Category Original (Female), Critics – Ananya Panday
Best Director, Web Imtiaz Ali (Amar Singh Film
Original Film Chamkila) Special Arjun Varain Singh (Kho
Best Actor, Web Recognition Gaye Hum Kahan)
Diljit Dosanjh (Amar Singh
Original Film
Chamkila)
(Male) Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 Set To Introduce in
Best Actor, Web the Lok Sabha
Kareena Kapoor (Jaane
Original Film
Jaan) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to
(Female)
Best Supporting introduce the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the
Actor, Web Lok Sabha on 2nd December, 2024. The bill aims to amend
Jaideep Ahlawat (Maharaj) several key banking-related legislations, including the Reserve
Original Film
(Male) Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949,
Best Supporting the State Bank of India Act, 1955, and the Banking
Actor, Web Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts
Wamiqa Gabbi (Khufiya)
Original Film of 1970 and 1980. The amendments are expected to enhance
(Female) the functioning and regulation of the banking sector, and the
Best Dialogue Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali bill will be considered for debate and passage in the lower
(Web Original Film) (Amar Singh Chamkila) house of Parliament.

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Key Amendments in the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, Impact
2024 • This change is expected to relax restrictions on
shareholding, particularly benefiting larger investors and
1. Definition of Fortnight for Cash Reserves
corporate entities.
Current Definition
• The RBI Act defines a “fortnight” as the period from 5. Nomination for Deposits and Bank Products
Saturday to the second following Friday (including both Current Rule
days) to calculate the average daily balance held by • The Banking Regulation Act allows depositors to appoint
scheduled banks as cash reserves. a single nominee for their deposits, articles, or lockers.
Proposed Amendment Proposed Amendment
The Bill changes the definition of a “fortnight” to: The Bill allows up to four nominees for,
• The period from the 1st day to the 15th day of each • Deposits (either simultaneously or successively).
month, and • Other items like articles and lockers (successively).
• The period from the 16th day to the last day of each Impact
month. • The Bill outlines that in case of simultaneous
Impact nominations, the distribution will be according to a
• This change also applies under the Banking Regulation declared proportion. For successive nominations, the
Act, where non-scheduled banks are required to maintain person listed first in the order of nomination will have
cash reserves. priority.
Outcome
2. Tenure of Directors of Co-operative Banks
• This will facilitate the distribution of assets and clarify the
Current Rule
rights of multiple nominees.
• Directors of co-operative banks (except the chairman or
whole-time directors) cannot hold office for more than 6. Settlement of Unclaimed Amounts
eight consecutive years. Current Rule
Proposed Amendment • Under the State Bank of India Act and the Banking
• The Bill seeks to increase the tenure for directors of co- Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings)
operative banks to 10 consecutive years. Acts of 1970 and 1980, unpaid or unclaimed dividends
Impact are transferred to an unpaid dividend account, and after
• This extension is expected to provide stability in the seven years, they are moved to the Investor Education
governance of co-operative banks. and Protection Fund (IEPF).
Proposed Amendment
3. Prohibition on Common Directors in Co-operative Banks
• The Bill widens the scope of funds that can be transferred
Current Rule
to the IEPF, now including:
• The Banking Regulation Act prohibits a director from
• Shares for which dividends have not been claimed for
serving on the boards of more than one bank, with
seven consecutive years.
exceptions for directors appointed by the RBI.
• Interest or redemption amounts for bonds that remain
Proposed Amendment
unpaid/unclaimed for seven years.
• The Bill extends this exemption to the directors of central
Impact
co-operative banks, allowing them to serve on the board
• Individuals can claim unclaimed funds that have been
of a state co-operative bank in which they are a
transferred to the IEPF, helping to resolve outstanding
member.
claims and promote financial transparency.
Impact
• This aims to enhance coordination and strengthen the 7. Remuneration of Auditors
leadership within the co-operative banking system. Current Rule
• The remuneration for auditors of banks is decided by the
4. Substantial Interest in a Company
RBI in consultation with the central government.
Current Rule
Proposed Amendment
• The Banking Regulation Act defines “substantial interest”
• The Bill empowers banks to determine the remuneration
as holding shares worth more than ₹5 lakh or 10% of the
for their auditors independently.
paid-up capital, whichever is less.
Impact
Proposed Amendment
• This amendment is expected to streamline the process
• The Bill increases this threshold to ₹2 crore, allowing
and reduce bureaucratic involvement in the auditing
individuals and their families (spouse or minor children)
procedures of banks.
to hold a larger stake before it is considered substantial.

115
India Highlights Green Initiatives at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh RBI Monetary
India joins 197 nations at the 16th Conference of the Parties Policy Meeting Dec 2024: Key Highlights
(COP) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Repo Rate Unchanged at 6.5%
Desertification (UNCCD), which commenced on December 2, The MPC decided by a 4-2 majority to maintain the repo rate
2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the convention’s first- at 6.5%. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate and the
ever session in West Asia. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate were also retained at
and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini lead India’s
6.25% and 6.75%, respectively. This cautious approach
delegation, presenting the ambitious Aravalli Green Wall
Project and showcasing India’s commitment to combating reflects the central bank’s focus on balancing inflation and
desertification. growth.

Key Highlights of UNCCD COP16 GDP Growth Forecast Lowered for FY25
Theme and Focus: The 16th COP centers on the theme “Our The RBI revised the GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.6%,
Land. Our Future,” emphasizing sustainable land down from the earlier projection of 7.2%. Governor Das
management to reverse desertification and land degradation attributed the adjustment to weaker-than-expected Q2
globally. growth and specific challenges in the manufacturing sector.
Historic Context: The UNCCD, one of the three agreements Despite this, high-frequency indicators suggest potential
from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, entered into force in 1996 stabilization ahead.
and includes 197 parties. The conference occurs biennially,
with COP15 held in May 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Inflation Projections for FY25
The RBI forecasted an inflation rate of 4.8% for FY25. Food
India’s Role at COP16
inflation is expected to persist during Q3 but may ease from
“Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” Initiative: Minister Yadav planted a
Q4 onward. Quarterly projections are as follows:
sapling at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh under India’s “Ek Ped
Maa Ke Naam” campaign, advocating for eco-consciousness. • Q3 FY25: 5.7%
Mission LiFE Engagement: He encouraged Indian students to • Q4 FY25: 4.5%
adopt sustainable practices through Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for • Q1 FY26: 4.6%
Environment). • Q2 FY26: 4.0%
Aravalli Green Wall Project: India is presenting this flagship
initiative aimed at restoring 1.15 million hectares of degraded Support for the Agricultural Sector
land across four states, signaling its proactive stance on In a significant move, the RBI increased the collateral limit for
environmental restoration. agricultural loans from Rs 1.6 lakh crore per borrower to Rs 2
lakh crore. This aims to enhance financial support for farmers
Significance of the UNCCD and boost credit availability in the sector.
Global Goals: The UNCCD aims to achieve land degradation
neutrality (LDN) under the Changwon Initiative launched in Introduction of SORR Benchmark
2011, with over 120 countries committing to LDN targets. The RBI proposed a new benchmark, the Secured Overnight
Scientific Approach: The convention promotes reclaiming Rupee Rate (SORR), to strengthen market-based pricing
degraded lands using innovative scientific methods. mechanisms and enhance transparency in monetary
Connections with Other Environmental Summits of 2024 operations.
UNFCCC COP29: Held in Baku, Azerbaijan (November 11-22),
focusing on global warming and the Paris Agreement targets. New Communication Initiative: RBI Podcasts
CBD COP16: The biodiversity summit started in Cali, The RBI plans to launch podcasts as a communication tool to
Colombia, but was postponed due to quorum issues and will improve public engagement and transparency. This initiative
resume in Rome in February 2025. reflects the central bank’s commitment to leveraging
technology for better outreach.
Monetary Policy Meeting Dec 2024
Measures to Attract Foreign Capital
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted its latest bi- To boost foreign investments, the RBI raised interest rate
monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in ceilings on FCNR-B deposits and increased FCNR deposit
December 2024. Governor Shaktikanta Das announced
rates. These measures aim to attract higher foreign portfolio
several crucial measures and projections to address current
inflows, which have totaled $9.3 billion so far in FY25.
economic challenges while maintaining stability. Here’s a
detailed breakdown: Addressing Unclaimed Deposits
CRR Cut by 50 Basis Points to 4% The RBI directed banks to segregate unclaimed deposit
To tackle liquidity concerns, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) accounts using Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). This step aims
was reduced by 50 basis points to 4%. This move aligns with to ensure transparency and efficiency in beneficiary
the RBI’s neutral policy stance, aimed at ensuring economic identification while facilitating the seamless flow of DBT
stability without disruptive interventions. funds.

116
Challenges in Domestic Consumption Rank
2025 2024
Private consumption growth slowed to 6% in the September in Change Institution
Ranking Ranking
quarter from 7.5% earlier, reflecting a decline in urban India
demand. Fixed investment growth also dipped to 5.4%. Indian Institute of
However, government consumption rebounded by 4.4%, 2 202 349 147 Technology
driven by election-related activities. Kharagpur (IIT-KGP)
Indian Institute of
Key Members of the MPC 3 234 303 69 Technology Bombay
The Monetary Policy Committee comprises six members: (IITB)
1. Shaktikanta Das (Governor, RBI) Indian Institute of
2. Michael Debabrata Patra (Deputy Governor, RBI) 4 245 522 277 Technology Kanpur
3. Rajiv Ranjan (Executive Director, RBI) (IITK)
4. Ram Singh (Director, Delhi School of Economics) Indian Institute of
5. Saugata Bhattacharya (Economist) 5 277 344 67 Technology Madras
6. Nagesh Kumar (Director, ISID) (IITM)
6 299 220 -79 University of Delhi
These measures and insights reflect the RBI’s balanced
Indian Institute of
approach to addressing economic challenges while fostering 7 376 505 129
Science
growth and stability. The central bank continues to monitor
Vellore Institute of
developments closely, ensuring proactive and effective 8 396 449 53
Technology (VIT)
policymaking. Manipal Academy of
Higher Education –
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025 9 401 576 175
Manipal University
In a groundbreaking update to the global higher education (MAHE)
scene, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, renowned for its expertise 10 412 496 84 Anna University
in university rankings, has released the third edition of the
‘QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025’. This IIT Madras Completes 410-Meter Hyperloop Test Track
prestigious ranking evaluates universities based on their In a significant development for India’s transportation future,
sustainability initiatives, considering factors like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has
environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance. successfully completed a 410-meter-long Hyperloop test
The 2025 edition has brought notable improvements for track. This groundbreaking achievement was officially
Indian institutions, especially the Indian Institutes of announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and
Technology (IITs), with IIT Delhi securing a top spot. marks a major milestone in the country’s pursuit of high-
speed transportation technology. The project, which
IIT Delhi Leads with Exceptional Growth represents the first of its kind in India, is being developed as
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) has emerged as part of a collaboration between the Indian Railways, IIT
the top Indian university in the QS Sustainability Rankings Madras’ Avishkar Hyperloop team, and TuTr, an innovative
2025, placing at 171st globally. This represents an impressive startup incubated at IIT Madras.
improvement of 255 ranks from last year’s global position of What is Hyperloop Technology?
426th. IIT Delhi’s remarkable rise is attributed to its continued • Hyperloop is an advanced transportation system that
commitment to sustainability through green campus was originally proposed by Elon Musk in 2012. The
initiatives, innovative research, and collaborative projects system is designed to provide high-speed travel through
focused on sustainable development. low-pressure tubes, enabling vacuum-sealed
The institution has long been a leader in environmental environments that significantly reduce air resistance and
research, with numerous projects dedicated to reducing friction, which are typically encountered in traditional
carbon footprints and promoting clean energy. IIT Delhi’s transport methods. The goal of the Hyperloop is to offer
improvement is a testament to its unwavering focus on faster, energy-efficient, and sustainable transportation
integrating sustainable practices into its academic and over long distances. With speeds potentially reaching
over 1,000 kilometers per hour, Hyperloop could redefine
operational frameworks.
travel, cutting down journey times significantly.
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025 • The technology aims to combine high speed with low
energy consumption, making it an environmentally
Rank friendly alternative to conventional transportation
2025 2024
in Change Institution modes. The design allows for low operating costs and
Ranking Ranking
India faster travel times, making it an ideal solution for the
Indian Institute of growing demand for efficient and quick travel in
1 171 426 255 Technology Delhi congested urban areas and along busy transportation
(IITD) corridors.

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