Today's Current Affairs 28th January 2024

 INTERNATIONAL

Krutrim, founded by Ola's founder, emerges as India's first AI unicorn

• Krutrim, an AI startup founded by Ola's Bhavish Aggarwal, announces a funding round that values the company at $1 billion.
• The startup, founded last year, is the fastest to become a unicorn in India, it claimed in a press statement.
• It’s also the first Indian AI startup to become a unicorn, it stated.

 NATIONAL

The RBI grants approval for LIC to acquire a stake of up to 9.99% in HDFC Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India has granted permission to Life Insurance Corp. of India to acquire up to 9.99 percent of HDFC Bank, as disclosed by the country's largest private lender to stock exchanges on January 25.
• LIC owns a 5.19 percent stake in the bank, according to the lender's shareholding pattern as of December 31.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das 

Bank of Baroda plans to issue Rs 5,000 crore worth of 10-year infrastructure bonds

• On January 24, state-owned Bank of Baroda issued infrastructure bonds worth Rs 5,000 crore with a maturity of 10 years, as reported by sources familiar with the matter.
• The bonds have a base issue of Rs 1,000 crore, with retain oversubscription of Rs 4,000 crore as greenshoe option. 

SPORTS

Rohan Bopanna, the oldest Grand Slam winner, claimed victory at the 2024 Australian Open

• India's tennis ace Rohan Bopanna, alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden, secured the Grand Slam title at the Australian Open 2024 by defeating Italy's Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the men's doubles final at Melbourne Park.
• The 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna, who recently became World No. 1 in the ATP men's doubles rankings is now the oldest grand slam winner.

 Important Days

28 January- Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai 

• Lala Lajpat Rai was born on 28 January, 1865 in Punjab. He was a prominent nationalist leader who played an important role in India’s struggle for freedom. He also earned the title of 'Punjab Kesari' or 'the Lion of Punjab'. He initiated the foundation of the Punjab National Bank. He died on 17 November 1928, due to serious injuries. The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Hisar, Haryana is named after Lala Lajpat Rai.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

ICRA upgrades its bank credit growth forecast for FY24 to 15% from 13%. 

• ICRA has upgraded its forecast for bank credit growth in the current fiscal year (FY24) to 14.9-15.3%, up from the previous estimate of 12.8-13.0%, citing robust demand in the retail segment and from non-banking finance companies (NBFCs).
• Anil Gupta, Senior Vice President at ICRA, said the retail credit and bank lending to NBFCs have been strong in the nine months ended December 2023, which has led to the revision.