This year the theme is Cooperatives For Climate Action. It was chosen to address the threat of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming and to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on Climate Action. The main focus will be on the contribution of cooperatives to combating climate change.

Maldives separated from the Commonwealth about three years ago on the issue of human rights. The Maldives seceded from the Commonwealth due to its lack of progress on democratic reforms. The Maldives requested the Commonwealth to let them rejoin the group.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems, has approved part of the banks request to remove interchange fees on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay card transactions as long as the merchant discount rate (MDR) remains zero. In contrast, it still reviewing other fees like payments service provider (PSP) fee and switching fees as it is concerned that the decision will obstruct its revenues and PSPs like PhonePe & Google-Pay.

India observes Martyrs’ Day every year, to pay homage to honor the sacrifices made by Mahatma Gandhi and countless other brave Indians. This year India is observing the 72nd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

World Leprosy Day is observed internationally every year on the last Sunday of January to increase public awareness of the Leprosy. This year theme of World Leprosy Day 2020 is “Leprosy isn’t what you think”.