SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd announced a major leadership change along with a financial update. Salila Pande was appointed as the next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of the company, effective April 1, 2025. She will replace Abhijit Chakravorty, who is set to retire on March 31, 2025.
Salila Pande has been associated with SBI since 1995, starting her career as a probationary officer. Over the years, she has handled key positions, including Vice President – Mid Office at SBI Singapore, Deputy General Manager (Business & Operations) in Delhi, and President & CEO of SBI California, a foreign subsidiary of SBI.
CCI Approves Amalgamation of Chaitanya India Fin Credit and Svatantra Holdings into Svatantra Microfin
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved amalgamation involving four entities within the Svatantra Group.
The proposed amalgamation involves Svatantra Holdings Pvt Ltd (SHPL), a core investment company focused on equity, preference shares, and securities, incorporated in 2018; Svatantra Microfin Pvt Ltd (SMPL), a Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institution (NBFC-MFI) providing microfinance and personal loans to rural and semi-urban low-income households; Chaitanya India Fin Credit Pvt Ltd (CIFCPL), another NBFC-MFI offering microfinance and personal loans to similar demographics, with operations registered in Maharashtra; and Svatantra Micro Housing Finance Corporation Limited (SMHFCL), a Housing Finance Company (NBFC-HFC) offering secured housing loans, loans against property, and construction project financing.
India and Nepal Strengthen Scientific Ties with New Agreement
India and Nepal took a major step toward advancing their scientific collaboration with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). The agreement, signed at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi, aims to deepen research and technological cooperation between the two nations. This MoU builds on a long-standing partnership and focuses on various domains, including biotechnology, environmental sciences, alternative energy, and material sciences.
The agreement covers a broad range of scientific and technological areas:
Research Collaboration: India and Nepal will work on joint research projects in fields like biological sciences, food science and technology, alternative energy, drug discovery, and environmental technologies.
Exchange Programs: Scientists and researchers from both countries will have opportunities to visit each other's institutions to share knowledge and resources.
Workshops and Training: Seminars and capacity-building programs will be organised to enhance skills and innovation.
Technology Access: Research facilities and scientific infrastructure will be shared to boost collaboration.
Institutional Partnerships: Universities and research institutions will engage in joint initiatives to promote scientific development.
Haryana Reigns Supreme at 23rd National Paralympic Athletics Championship
Haryana emerged as the overall champion of the 23rd National Paralympic Athletics Championship, securing an impressive tally of 49 gold, 32 silver, and 25 bronze medals.
Tamil Nadu, the host state, finished second with 17 gold, 18 silver, and 12 bronze, while Uttar Pradesh claimed the third position with 14 gold, 17 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
Rajasthan finished fourth with 13 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze while Maharashtra finished fifth with 11 gold 3 silver and 13 bronze. The championship, held in Tamil Nadu from February 18 to 20, 2025, witnessed exceptional performances by para-athletes from across the country.
The championship, organised by the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority and the Tamil Nadu Paralympic Sports Association, witnessed participation from 1,476 para-athletes representing 30 states and union territories, competing across 155 events.
Kerala Launches First-of-its-Kind Project for Unused, Expired Medicine Disposal
Kerala launched nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs), a first-of-its-kind initiative in India to collect and scientifically dispose of expired and unused medicines. Health Minister Veena George inaugurated the project in Kozhikode.
Initially rolled out in Ulliyeri panchayat under Kozhikode Corporation, the project will expand state-wide in phases. The project aims to tackle the lack of proper disposal systems, preventing environmental pollution, health hazards, and antimicrobial resistance.
PM Inaugurates First Edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. He also addressed the gathering on the occasion. Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay delivered the Keynote Address as the Guest of Honour.
The two day SOUL Leadership Conclave served as a premier platform where leaders from diverse domains like politics, sports, arts and media, the spiritual world, public policy, business and the social sector shared their inspiring life journeys and discussed aspects relating to leadership. The conclave fostered an ecosystem of collaboration and thought leadership, facilitating learning from both failures and successes, to inspire young audiences.
Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd Signs a Letter of Intent (L01) with AM General, USA
In a groundbreaking development for India's defence industry, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL), a 100% subsidiary of Bharat Forge Ltd, signed a Letter of Intent (L01) with AM General, USA, at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2025 in Abu Dhabi. The agreement paves the way for the supply of advanced artillery cannons manufactured in India to the United States, a historic first for an Indian defence company. This milestone underscores the deepening defence ties between India and the U.S. and highlights India's emergence as a credible player in the global defence manufacturing landscape.
The LOI marks a significant leap forward in bilateral defence collaboration, building on the momentum of recent India-U.S. strategic dialogues aimed at bolstering defence industrial cooperation. For the first time, an Indian firm will supply artillery cannons to the U.S., reversing the traditional flow of military hardware and showcasing the technological prowess of India's private sector.
This agreement follows a prior collaboration between KSSL and AM General, established in 2024, to co-develop a range of next-generation artillery systems.
World Thinking Day is an annual celebration observed on February 22 by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide. It is a day dedicated to promoting international friendship and harmony, sisterhood and raising awareness and empowering the Girl Scouts and Guides around the world and addressing the issues faced by young girls and women.
World Thinking Day was first celebrated in 1926 when representatives from Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations around the world gathered for the 4th World Conference at the Edith Macy Conference Centre in New York, USA. The date was selected in honour of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement, and Lady Olave Baden-Powell, the first World Chief Guide, as they both shared the same birthday.
The theme for World Thinking Day 2025 is 'Our Story.'
The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) collaborated with Emeritus and launched its Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics.
This 10-month-long programme is designed for early to mid-career professionals looking to elevate their expertise in operations management and supply chain analytics. It is also meant for professionals working in manufacturing, logistics, retail, e-commerce, and consulting, who seek to implement data-driven strategies for optimizing business operations and increasing profitability.
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