NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Prime Minister Modi to Chair High
Level Committee constituted to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: To
commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a High
Level Committee (HLC) has been constituted. This HLC will be headed by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The High Level Committee will decide about
the various activities for a one year long commemoration, which shall begin
from 23 January 2021. The
commemoration activities will be held in Delhi, Kolkata and other places
associated with Netaji and Azad Hind Fauj, both in India as well as overseas.
There are 85 members in this committee including ministers, distinguished
citizens, historians, authors, experts, family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose, as well as eminent persons associated with Azad Hind Fauj.
2. Punjab CM launches scheme for
free sanitary pads to schoolgirls, dedicates month to girl child: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced a slew of
welfare schemes, including free sanitary pads for girls studying in high school
and colleges in the state. The CM dedicated the month of January to the girl child
and paved the way for the distribution of 2,500 sports kits among youngsters.
He also launched a programme to give property rights to slum dwellers and
rolled out an over Rs 75-crore smart metering project besides an e-Daakhil
portal for consumer complaints.
3. First ever Ice climbing festival
celebrated in Nubra valley: In
Leh, the first-ever Ice climbing festival was celebrated in Nubra valley. The
Seven Day event was organized by Nubra Adventure Club. Ice climbing is a
popular winter sport abroad. To promote winter tourism in Nubra valley, Nubra
Adventure Club, with the help of Social activist Dr Nordan Otzer, has organized
the Seven Day Ice Climbing Festival. Trainer Rigzin Tsewang said that Nubra has
the potential to be the ice climbing capital in the Himalayas.
18
participants across Nubra valley including 4 women have taken part in Ice
climbing. All were trained in basic ice climbing skills during the festival at
three locations, Pudong Cake at Panamik, Artificial Glacier at Ayee Village and
first ascent at ” Nubra Adventure Club Crag” located near Warshi Village. Three
trainers Rigzin tsewang, Tsewang Namgyal and Kran Kowshik imparted ice climbing
skills. Participants were awarded certificates as well.
4. Centre approves new National
Highway projects worth Rs 5,801 cr for Maharashtra: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin
Gandkari said that the Centre has approved new National Highway projects worth
Rs 5,801 crore rupees for Maharashtra under the Annual Plan. The project
includes improving and developing 1035 km of National Highways in the State. In
addition, Rs 1,800 crore projects under the Central Road Fund scheme has also
been sanctioned. The Minister also informed that 1 lakh Crore Greenfield
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be extended till JNPT, to facilitate container
traffic.
5. A book titled “The Population
Myth: Islam, Family Planning and Politics in India” by Ex-CEC: Former chief election commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi has
come out with his book titled “The Population Myth: Islam, Family Planning and
Politics in India”. The book will hit the stands on February 15, 2021. It has
been published by HarperCollins India.
The
essence of the book: The book evaluates India’s demographics from a religious
perspective and seeks to demolish two basic myths that ‘Islam is against family
planning’ and ”Muslim rate of growth” is linked to capture political power. The
book is a detailed analysis of the ‘Muslim rate of growth’ in the light of
population data and national and international reports.
The
book examines the crucial and urgent question of the politicisation of
demography in India.
6. Indian Army Day: 15th January: The Army Day in India is celebrated on 15 January every
year, to salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the
country and its citizens. This year marks the 73rd Indian Army Day. The Army
Day is celebrated at all Army Command headquarters to honour our country’s
soldiers who set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood, and
above all, love for the country.
History
of Army Day in India: The day is marked to commemorate
the day when General (later Field Marshal) KM Carriappa took over the command
of Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in
1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence.
Note:
28th Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Bharat Biotech inks pact with
Precisa Med to supply Covaxin to Brazil:
Bharat Biotech has announced that it has signed an agreement with Precisa
Medicamentos for the supply of its indigenously manufactured Covid-19 vaccine
‘Covaxin’ to Brazil. The supplies of Covaxin will be prioritized for the public
market, through direct procurement by Brazil government.
A
team from Precisa Medicamentos had visited the Bharat Biotech facility in
Genome Valley near here last week to discuss export of COVAXIN, India’s first
indigenous vaccine for Covid-19.
Note:
Bharat Biotech Founded: 1996; Bharat Biotech Headquarters location: Hyderabad;
Bharat Biotech Executive director: Dr V Krishna Mohan.
2. India Provides 30.66 Cr Rupees to
Nepal as Part of Post-quake Aid to Build Educational Institutions: India provided a grant assistance of 30.66 crore Nepalese
Rupees (nearly INR 19.21 crore) to Nepal as part of its commitment towards
reconstruction of educational institutions damaged during the 2015 earthquake.
With this, India has reimbursed an amount of NRs 819.8 million (NRs 81.98
crore/INR 51.37 crore) to Nepal towards educational sector reconstruction
projects.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI slaps Rs 2 crore fine on
Deutsche Bank for non-compliance: The
Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of Rs 2 crore on Deutsche Bank AG for
non-compliance with certain provisions of directions concerning interest rate
on deposits. The central bank said the statutory inspection of Deutsche Bank’s
financial position as on March 31, 2019, and the Risk Assessment Report
revealed non-compliance with the ‘Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on
Deposits) Directions, 2016’. The action was based on the deficiencies in
regulatory compliance and was not intended to pronounce upon the validity of
any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.
Note:
Deutsche Bank CEO: Christian Sewing; Deutsche Bank Headquarters: Frankfurt,
Germany; Deutsche Bank Founded: 10 March 1870.
2. BoB inks pact with SIDBI to help
MSME revamp loans: Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Small Industries Development Bank of
India (SIDBI) to support MSME enterprises through a web-based platform called
‘Asset Restructuring Module for MSMEs (ARM-MSME)’ for submission of their loan
restructuring proposal. Through this automated / Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
web-portal, MSMEs can self-create their restructuring proposal with financial
viability projections and relief options. This initiative is the
‘first-of-its-kind’ to help MSMEs prepare their restructuring proposals by
keying in only the most essential data of their past and projected financials.
3. PhonePe ties up with ICICI
Prudential Life Insurance, launches term plans: PhonePe, India’s leading digital payments platform,
announced the launch of Term Life Insurance plans on its platform, in
association with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance. With this launch, millions of
PhonePe users can now protect their families from financial turmoil in the
event of an untimely demise. The premiums begin from as little as Rs 149 each
year. This coverage will be availed immediately on the PhonePe app with none
well being check-ups and paperwork by way of an all-digital buyer expertise.
PhonePe’s customers aged 18 to 50 years and incomes Rs 1 lakh each year or
above can avail this coverage immediately on the platform.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. Flipkart signs MoU to set up
Centre of Excellence in logistics skill:
Flipkart, e-commerce Marketplace Company, has signed an memorandum of
understanding with the Logistics Skill Sector Council (LSC), an organisation
set up by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through
National Skill Development Corporation of India (NSDC) and Karnataka Skill
Development Centre (KSDC). As part of the MoU, Flipkart has launched an
industry-first Centre of Excellence to build a skilled and trained workforce
for the fast-growing e-commerce industry in India. Upon successful completion
of the training, candidates will be awarded certification under the National
Skill Qualification Framework which is equivalent to an undergraduate degree.
2. Dell Technologies collaborates
With MoHFW and Tata Trusts to launch new Mobile App for Non-Communicable
Diseases Across India: Dell
Technologies in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW) and Tata Trusts announced they have developed a mobile application for
the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the government primary
health centres (PHCs) across the country. The mobile app will strengthen the
existing NCD IT system’s suite of six applications for accredited social health
activists (ASHAs), auxiliary nurse midwifes (ANMs), doctors, programme managers
and health officials in the government.
OBITUARIES
1. Legendary tennis coach Bob Brett
passes away: Bob Brett, a tennis coach whose
players included Grand Slam champions Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic and Marin
Cilic, has died at the age of 67. Brett received the ATP’s Tim Gullickson
Career Coach award in November. In
addition to his work with Becker, Ivanisevic, Cilic and other individual
players, Brett coached for national tennis associations in Britain, Japan and
Canada. He also opened a private tennis academy in San Remo, Italy.
2. Congress Leader and Former Kerala Minister Ramachandran passes away: Veteran Congress leader and former state minister of Kerala, K K Ramachandran has passed away following a heart attack. He was 84. Popularly known as Ramachandran Master, he had represented the party as an MLA six times, which included three times from Kalpetta and thrice from Sultan Bathery Assembly constituency. Ramachandran was Minister for Food & Civil Supplies in the A K Antony Government from 1995 and Health Minister in the Oommen Chandy Government from 2004. He resigned in 2006 and later in 2011, following differences of opinion with the party, he was ousted from Congress party.
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