• Henley and Partners Passport Index of 2021 has come out with a new ranking of the world's most powerful passports, and India ranks 85th on the new list.

• Last year, India held 84th position. Indian passport got a score of 58, which means Indian passport holders get to visit 58 countries without prior visa. India shared the rank with Tajikistan.

• Japan, once again topped the list with a visa-free score of 191. The nation has been holding the position for three consecutive years, either solely or jointly, with Singapore. This year, Singapore sits at the second position with 190 countries.

• Germany has topped the list of countries in terms of powerful passports, having a mobility score of 134.

• Sweden, Finland and Spain all ranked second, with a mobility score of 133. While all the passport holders of all the three countries require visas for 65 countries, the Swedish passport holders can go to 99 countries without requiring a visa, and to 34 countries on a visa-on-arrival arrangement.

• Passports of Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and New Zealand ranked at the third place, with all the countries having a mobility score of 132, requiring a visa for 66 countries.

• The index placed India at the 61st position, along with Philippines, Bhutan, Benin, Gabon, and Algeria, with all the six countries having a mobility score of 52. Holders of the Indian passport have visa-free access to 18 countries, and require a visa on arrival for 34 countries.

• Germany has topped the list of countries in terms of powerful passports, having a mobility score of 134.

• Sweden, Finland and Spain all ranked second, with a mobility score of 133. While all the passport holders of all the three countries require visas for 65 countries, the Swedish passport holders can go to 99 countries without requiring a visa, and to 34 countries on a visa-on-arrival arrangement.

• Passports of Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and New Zealand ranked at the third place, with all the countries having a mobility score of 132, requiring a visa for 66 countries.

• The index placed India at the 61st position, along with Philippines, Bhutan, Benin, Gabon, and Algeria, with all the six countries having a mobility score of 52. Holders of the Indian passport have visa-free access to 18 countries, and require a visa on arrival for 34 countries.

• Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan launched the Global Pravasi Rishta Portal & Mobile application to connect with 3.12 Crore Indian Diaspora across the world.

• The portal web interface will be used by Indian Missions whereas the mobile app will be used by diaspora & Indian nationals.

• The portal will be used by MEA for sharing information on Visa, Passport & other activities like consular services, conducting surveys and news about events organised by missions.

• It will also connect the Indian diaspora community to connect them to new & existing Government schemes.

• Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik virtually inaugurated India’s first ‘Fire Park’ at Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

• On that occasion CM Patnaik also launched the virtual platform ‘Agnishama Seva’ to provide through which 16 fire related services can be availed.

• The Fire Park is a first of its kind initiative to provide awareness on fire safety measures, mainly focusing on School and College students.

• It is located under the premises of the Odisha Fire and Disaster Academy in Bhubaneswar.

• The Fire Park will be open to the public on every Saturday from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

• Total 11 private Indian firms have made it to the list of 500 most valuable companies across the world, and the country is ranked 10th on the chart.

• The total value of these 11 companies grew 14 per cent and has been pegged at $805 billion or nearly a third of the Indian GDP.

• All these companies in the list of non-state enterprises have gained in value during 2020, which was hit by the pandemic, barring tobacco major ITC and second largest private sector lender ICICI Bank, as per the Hurun Global 500 report.

• Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries leads among the local enterprises with a 20.5 per cent jump in valuation to $168.8 billion as of December 1 and is ranked 54th globally, as per the list.

• In a major relief to the film industry and cinema halls in Kerala, the state government has decided to exempt entertainment tax for theatres in the state from January to March 2021.

• In 2019, the Kerala government had issued an order allowing local self-governing institutions to collect entertainment tax from cinema halls upto 8.5% from the sale of movie tickets.

• The order was issued in order to compensate for the loss of revenue incurred by the state due to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

• However, the decision turned controversial after the Film Exhibitors’ United Organisation of Kerala and the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce argued that this decision amounted to double taxation as cinema hall owners were already paying GST on movie tickets.

• Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh approved the ‘One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme for Recovery of Outstanding Dues – 2021’ for Traders to clear their Pending Arrears.

• The OTS will help Traders to settle their Pending arrears under the Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005 & Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.

• It will cost around INR 121.06 Crore to the Punjab Government.

• Will benefit Small & Medium Business Dealers/Traders who suffered due to COVID-19.

• Dealers who have filed assessments upto December 31, 2020 can apply under the scheme till April 30, 2021.

• Solar Energy firm, Oakridge Energy has signed agreements with Delhi Government and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to solarise schools in Delhi.

• The project will be developed by Oakridge and subsidised under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) capital subsidy scheme for Government Buildings.

• The installation of solar plants will help in making institutions energy independent, reduce their electricity bills and generate additional income through sale of surplus power.

• Oakridge has set a target to solarise 1, 000 schools & educational institutions by 2022.

• Jharkhand state government has launched the state’s own crop relief scheme ‘Kisan Fasal Rahat Yojana’ which will replace Government of India’s crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

• The new scheme is a compensation scheme which will provide security cover to farmers of Jharkhand in cases of crop damage due to natural hazards.

• Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Co-operative, Jharkhand will be the implementing agency of the scheme.

• The main objectives of the scheme are – Food Safety, Crop Diversification, rapid development in Agriculture & paving way for competition.