Maharashtra to train over 3 lakh youth in banking related services

India Post Payments Bank and LIC Housing Finance Limited on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership for providing home loan products to over 4.50 crore customers of India Post Payments Bank.Ministry of Communications in a statement said, through its robust and extensive network of 650 branches and more than 1.36 lakh banking access points, India Post Payments Bank, IPPB will make home loan products accessible to its customers pan-India.The Ministry said, the alliance with LIC Housing Finance Limited is part of IPPB’s strategy to expand its range of products and services, and to cater to the banking and financial needs of diverse customers across the country.

-Considering the increasing need for GST and tax experts, Maharashtra’s Skill Development Minister Nawab Malik has announced that over three lakh youngsters will be trained in banking, finance, trade taxation and insurance related services over the next three years.He was speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday on the sidelines of an event to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the state skill development department and The Institute of Cost Accountants of India.The 350 hour course will be free of charge and candidates will be taught usage of Tally and E-filing.Eligible candidates will include those in final year of graduation and also those who were unable to pursue further education after clearing 12th boards.The institute will effectively implement the programme at district level.

-Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said so far 257 persons have been identified to have come into contact with the boy, who died due to Nipah virus infection in Kozhikode on Sunday.Briefing media persons in Kozhikode Tuesday evening, the minister said 17 persons have developed mild symptoms, but their condition is stable. Among those identified, 44 are health care workers. 51 persons have been admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.The institutional route map with minute details containing the deceased boy's treatment protocol has been prepared.House to house survey, which began today was completed in 3307 households in the region. The survey will be expanded to cover more households. She said people tested negative will still remain in isolation, till the incubation period of the virus is over. The minister appealed to the public to inform health workers if they come across carcasses of bats and avoid coming into contact with them.

-Ministry of Finance has said  that electronic records submitted through registered account of taxpayers in the income tax portal shall be deemed to have been authenticated by the taxpayer by electronic verification code (EVC).The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has  amended the  income tax rules to ease authentication of electronic records in faceless assessment proceedings. It said,where a person submits an electronic record by logging into his registered account in designated portal of the Income-tax Department, it shall be deemed that the electronic record has been authenticated by EVC.The ministry said this simplified process would also be available to companies, or tax audit cases and they are mandatorily required to authenticate the electronic records by digital signature.

-Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday dedicated the first functional Smog Tower in India at Anand Vihar, Delhi. He expressed hope that the pilot smog tower project will yield fruitful results and supplement the air quality improvement efforts. Yadav asked all stakeholders including the citizens to sincerely and earnestly contribute to achieve cleaner air and healthier lives for all.He said, Central Government has launched several initiatives to improve air quality in the entire country in view of the goal set for holistic improvement in air quality in more than 100 cities.The Minister said, 86 cities showed better air quality in 2019 in comparison to 2018, which increased to 104 cities in 2020.