National News
Centre identifies 26 islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshawadeep for holistic development by promoting tourism
The Centre has identified 16 islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and 10 in Lakshadweep for holistic development by promoting tourism and offering facilities for export of seafood and coconut-based products. This was disclosed at the sixth meeting of the Island Development Agency, IDA chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
The Island Development Agency reviewed the progress made towards the programme holistic development of islands.
Statue of Unity finds place in ‘8 Wonders of SCO’
The statue was inaugurated in October 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 143rd birth anniversary.The ‘Statue of Unity’, the world’s tallest statue, is a monumental tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The 182-meter tall Statue of Unity in Gujarat has been included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s ‘8 Wonders of SCO’ list, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Monday.
M Venkaiah Naidu will be inaugurating “Classical Telugu Centre” in Nellore
M Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India inaugurate a new Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu on 21st January in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. The Centre govt. will facilitate to focus its activities for the development of this rich classical Telugu through Research, seminars, debates and various activities.
Indian Railways signs MoU with RailTel for Phase 2 of e-Office Execution
Indian Railways signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RailTel, a miniratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways for Phase 2 project of e-office execution. Under this project, RailTel will register 39,000 users over 34 divisions on National Informatics Centre (NIC) e-office platform by June 30, 2020.
Important Points:
- Founded- April 16, 1853
- Headquarters- New Delhi
- Minister of Railway- Piyush Goyal
- Chairman of Railway Board- Vinod Kumar Yadav
Parshuram Kund Mela started in North-Eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh
The famous Parshuram Kund Mela began yesterday in Arunachal Pradesh on the eve of Makar Sankranti. Devotees from across the country and Nepal visit the sacred place to take a holy dip in the Kund on the occasion of Makar Sankranti every year. According to Lohit District Administration under which the Parshuram Kund falls, more than 12,000 pilgrims have already visited the Mela this year. Last year, more than 40,000 pilgrims had visited the Mela.
Important Points about Arunachal Pradesh:
- Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
- Governor: B.D. Mishra
Captain Tania Shergil, the 1st woman Republic Day parade adjutant
Indian Army Officer Captain Tania Shergill will be the first woman parade adjutant for the Republic Day parade 2020. Tania Shergill commissioned in March 2017 from the Officer Training Academy, Chennai. She is an electronics and communications graduate.
Summits & Conference
Raisina Dialogue begins from 14 January
India’s flagship global conference on geopolitics and geo-economics Raisina Dialogue begins in New Delhi from 14 January 2020. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated session. This is the 5th edition of the Raisina Dialogue has organised by jointly the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation.
India-Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Ministers’ Meet 2020
The India-Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Ministers’ Meet 2020 was held in New Delhi. India’s Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar and Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad H Mahmud were representing their respective countries in the meet. The meeting was concluded with the signing of some MoU’s between the two countries.
Important Points:
- Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina
- Capital: Dhaka
- Currency: Taka.
Agreements
Infosys partners GEFCO to strengthen its Digital Transformation
Infosys has inked a deal for 5 years with GEFCO to digitally transform its worldwide operations. Infosys has partnered with the multimodal supply chain solutions provider, GEFCO to strenghthen its Digital Transformation. The digital services and consulting firm Infosys will help GEFCO to transfrom GEFCO’s next-generation business application management services.
Important Points:
- Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Infosys: Salil Parekh.
- Headquarters: Bengaluru.
Awards
Gadkari to present the National Highway Excellence Awards 2019
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari will present the ‘National Highways Excellence Awards’ to outstanding performers in NH sector.
The awards were instituted in the year 2018. The first cycle of awards in 2018 received wide participation from around the country. Following the success of the first cycle, the Ministry decided to make the National Highways Excellence Awards an annual feature.
British Indian yoga champion Ishwar Sharma wins Global Child Prodigy Award
Yoga Champion Ishwar Sharma,10 years old schoolboy (UK resident) originally from Mysore, under 11-yoga champion from the UK, has been honoured with the Global Child Prodigy Award 2020 for achievements in spiritual discipline yoga.
Global Prodigy Award honours child prodigies from across 45 countries under 30 different categories such as palaeontology, choreography, biking, fitness and martial arts etc.
Puri, Odisha recieves Swachhata Darpan Awards 2019
Puri, Odisha has been awarded for its initiatives for plastic waste management with the Swachhata Darpan Awards 2019. The award ceremony was held during the Open Defecation Free Sustainability Workshop held in New Delhi. The workshop was organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Swachhata Darpan Award 2019 was presented by Indian Bollywood actor Aamir Khan to Puri Municipality Additional Executive Officer Saroj Kumar Swain.
Important Points:
- Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik;
- Governor: Ganeshi Lal.
Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award to MS Swaminathan
Dr MS Swaminathan, a famous Agricultural Scientist was honoured as the first recipients ‘Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence’ for his distinguished contribution to the field of agriculture. Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs and a citation. Dr Swaminathan is the “Father of the Green Revolution in India and the Doyen of Agricultural Science”.
Appointments
Michael Debabrata Patra appointed as fourth Deputy Governor of RBI
Michael Debabrata Patra has been appointed as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). After the resignation of Viral V Acharya the post was lying vacant from July 2019. He will be the fourth Deputy Governor of the RBI appointed for a period of three years.
Important Points about RBI:
- Head Quarters– Mumbai
- Founded– 1stApril 1935, Kolkata
- Governor– Shaktikanta Das
A P Maheshwari appointed as the new DG of CRPF
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer A P Maheshwari appointed as Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He took the charge from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) DG Surjeet Singh Deswal who was given an additional charge as the head of CRPF after the retirement of DG Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar
Sports
Kento Momoto beats Axelsen to lift Malaysia Masters 2020 title
World number one Kento Momota won the Malaysia Masters after easily defeating Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen. The victory in Malaysia lends credence to Momota’s drive to win the gold in July’s Tokyo Olympics.The reigning world champion told reporters that he eyes more success in 2020.Momota currently the best player on the planet, won a record 11 titles last year.
India finish 2019 as number one shooting nation in world: ISSF
In 2019 according to International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), India is the top Shooting Nation in the World with 21 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze. India secured first position in all the Rifle-pistol World Cups and Finals in the year.
China is at the second position with 11 gold, 15 silver and 18 bronze.The United States (US) is at the third position with 6 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze.
Obituries
Filmmaker Manmohan Mohapatra demise
Veteran filmmaker Manmohan Mohapatra passed away at the age of 69 in Bhubneshwar. Manmohan Mohapatra was an Odia filmmaker considered as the ‘Father of New Wave Odia Cinema’ and won eight national awards consecutively for ‘Best Feature Odia film’.
Important Days
14th January celebrated as Armed Forces Veterans Day
Armed Forces Veterans Day is observed each year on 14th January as a mark of respect and recognition of the services rendered by Filed Marshal KM Cariappa – the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces who retired on 14 Jan 53. Commemoration of Armed Forces Veterans Day acknowledges and honours the selfless devotion and sacrifice of our veterans in the service of the nation.
15 January celebrated as Indian Army Day
January 15 celebrated as Indian Army Day every year. This year (2019) 72nd Army Day is being celebrated across the country. Army of India has the dedication to the motherland by being effective responders during calamities and through the contributions to wider nation-building.
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