Recently, RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 39 lakh on Citibank for failing to provide credit information to Credit Information Companies(CIC).

About CIC

• About: They collect public data, credit transactions and payment histories of individuals and companies regarding loans, and credit cards, among others.
• Significance:Generate a credit score helping lenders and credit grantors to decide whether to accept or decline the applicant’s request for a loan.
• Licensing and Regulation: Licensed by RBI and regulated by the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

Government of Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam has granted official recognition to Bathouism in Religion Column.

About Bathouism

• Folk-religion of Bodos that is centred round worship of Bathoubwrai or Sibwrai. i. e. supreme god of Bodos. Hence, it is known as Bathou religion. 
• In Bodo language, Ba means five and thou means deep philosophical thought.
• These five elements are- Bar (Air), San (Sun), Ha (Earth), Or (Fire) and Okhrang (Sky).

Bodo Tribe

• Largest indigenous plains tribe in Assam. 
• Homeland has been on north bank of Brahmaputra, with foothills of Bhutan.
• Belong to Assam-Burma group of Tibeto-Burman speakers.

Prime Minister launched the Phase-2 of PMAY-G.

About PMAY-G

• Ministry: Launched by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in 2016.
• Objective: Provide affordable, pucca (solid) homes with basic amenities to rural poor, ensuring "Housing for All" in rural India.
• Target: 4.95 crore houses (originally 2.95 crore by 2023-24, extended with 2 crore more by 2024-29).
• Financial Assistance: Loan up to Rs. 70,000 is available to eligible beneficiaries at 3% reduced interest rate for construction of their permanent house.
• Beneficiaries: Identified through SECC 2011 and Awaas+ (2018) surveys; verified by Gram Sabhas.
• Eligibility Criteria: Houseless Households and Households with Kuccha Houses.

Indian Army Contingent departed for Joint Military Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' which is conducted in Japan.

About Dharma Guardian

• It is an annual event conducted alternatively in India and Japan.
• Aim: To enhance interoperability between two forces while undertaking joint urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under UN mandate.

Recently, five more cheetahs were released into Kuno National Park.

About Kuno National Park 

• Location: Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh and extended in Vindhyan Hills.
• It derives its name from Kuno River (tributary of Chambal River).
• It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1981 and National Park in 2018.
• It falls under northern tropical dry deciduous forest.
• Flora: Kardhai, Salai, Khair trees, etc.
• Fauna: Spotted deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Barking deer, etc.

Prime Minister of India to attend Jhumoir Binandini (Mega Jhumoir) 2025 in Guwahati, Assam which symbolises 200 years of Assam’s tea industry.

About Jhumoir (Jhumur) Dance

• Folk dance primarily performed by Assam Tea Tribe and Adivasi Communities of Assam during harvest season. It embodies spirit of inclusivity, unity and cultural pride. 
• Women are main dancers and singers, while men play traditional instruments like madal, dhol, or dhak (drums), cymbals, flutes, and shehnai. 
• Attire worn varies from community to community, although red and white sarees are particularly popular among women.

Recently, the survival of around 90 False Killer Whales was reported in a mass stranding incident on a remote beach in Tasmania.

False Killer Whales

• Habitat: Found globally in all tropical and subtropical oceans and generally in deep offshore waters. 
• Appearance: Dark gray, often appearing black except on a small part of their ventral (underside) surface.
  • Large and slender, and males are slightly larger than females. 
• Behaviour: Gregarious and form strong social bonds. 
  • Often found in relatively small subgroups of a single to a few individuals.
• Threats: Environmental Contamination, Hunting, Competition for prey, etc. 

As per recent reports, climate change is threatening Lake Ontario, part of the 5 great lakes of North America. 

About Great Lakes

• Names: Superior (largest and deepest), Michigan, Huron (longest shoreline), Erie (Shallowest), and Ontario (Smallest).
  • Together they are the largest freshwater system on Earth, and contain one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater. 
• Location: Lake Michigan lies completely within the United States. 
  • The other four form a natural border between Canada and the United States. 
• Flow: Water flows from Lake Superior, via Lake Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario into the Atlantic Ocean through Saint Lawrence River.