NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
Modi inaugurates National Metrology Conclave 2021: Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi has addressed the National Metrology Conclave, via
video conferencing on January 04, 2021. National Metrology
Conclave 2021 was organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, to mark its 75th
year of inception. This year theme: ‘Metrology for the Inclusive Growth of the
Nation’. As a part of this conclave, PM Modi also
dedicated ‘National Atomic Timescale’ and ‘Bhartiya Nirdeshak Dravya’ to the
nation, and laid the foundation stone of the ‘National Environmental Standards
Laboratory’.
2. ADB
approves $100 million loan to upgrade power distribution system in Bengaluru: The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) will provide a USD 100 million (around Rs 730 crore)
loan to modernise and upgrade the power distribution system in Bengaluru
city.Besides the USD 100 million sovereign loans, ADB will provide a USD 90
million loan without sovereign guarantee for the project to Bangalore
Electricity Supply Company Ltd (BESCOM), one of the five state-owned
distribution utilities in Karnataka. About
the Project:
(1)
In parallel to underground distribution cables, over 2,800 km of fibre optical
cables will be installed to strengthen communication network. Moving about
7,200 km of distribution lines underground will help reduce technical and
commercial losses by about 30 per cent.
(2)
The fibre optical cables will be used for smart metering systems, distribution
automation system (DAS) in the distribution grid, and other communication
networks.
(3)
The project will install 1,700 automated ring main units adapted with a DAS to
monitor and control the distribution line switch gears from the control centre
(4)
The loan will strengthen the capacity of BESCOM in operation and maintenance of
underground cabling, environment and social safeguards, financial management
and commercial financing. Improved financial management capability will help
BESCOM access domestic and international commercial financing market.
Note:
Chief
Minister of Karnataka: B.S. Yediyurappa; Governor: Vajubhai Vala.
President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila, Philippines; ADB Established: 9
December 1966.
3.
Pankaj Mithal sworn in as CJ of J&K, Ladakh Court: Justice Pankaj
Mithal has been appointed as the new Chief Justice (CJ) of the Common High
Court for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of
Ladakh in Jammu on January 04, 2021. Chief justice
Mithal has been appointed in view of the retirement of chief justice Gita
Mittal recently. Chief Justice Mithal was administered the oath of office by
Lieutenant Governor of J&k, Manoj Sinha.
4. GJC
elects Ashish Pethe as New Chairman: The All India Gem and Jewellery
Domestic Council (GJC), the national apex body of the gems and jewellery
industry, has announced the appointment of Ashish Pethe as chairman and Saiyam
Mehra as vice chairman for a period of two years.
Pethe
has been closely associated with GJC and was the Zonal Chairman West, which he
will continue even after this new position. The entire e-Voting
election process was conducted by an authorised independent person (Chief
Election Authority), and the voting platform was created by a digital agency,
both appointed by GJC.
About
All India Gem And Jewellery Domestic Council:
All India Gem And Jewellery Domestic Council is a national trade federation for
the promotion and growth of trade in gems and jewellery across India. GJC
represents over 6,00,000 players comprising manufacturers, wholesalers,
retailers, distributors, laboratories, gemologists, designers, and allied
services to the domestic gems and jewellery industry.
Note:
All
India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council
HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra; All
India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council Founded: 2005.
5.
Argentine filmmaker Pablo Cesar to head 51st IFFI”s International Jury: The International
Jury for 51st edition of International Film Festival of India has been
announced with eminent filmmakers from across the world. According
to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Jury will comprise Pablo
Cesar of Argentina as Chairman, Prasanna Vithanage of Sri Lanka, Abu Bakr
Shawky of Austria, Priyadarshan of India and Rubaiyat Hossain of Bangladesh. Pablo
Cesar is an Argentine filmmaker. He has contributed to the African cinema by
making the critically acclaimed films, Equinox, the Garden of the Roses, Los
dioses de agua and Aphrodite, the Garden of the Perfumes.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
U.S. Congress passes ‘Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act’: The U.S. Congress has passed the ‘Malala Yousafzai
Scholarship Act’ to increase the number of scholarships for Pakistani women in
higher education under merit and needs-based programme. The bill was passed by
the United States Senate by a voice vote on January 1. The bill now heads to
the White House for U.S. President Donald Trump to sign into law.
About
the bill: The bill requires the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) to award at least 50% of scholarships
under a Pakistan-based higher education scholarship programme to Pakistani
women, from 2020 to 2022, across a range of academic disciplines and in
accordance with existing eligibility criteria. The bill also requires USAID to
consult with and leverage investments by the Pakistani private sector and
Pakistani diaspora in the United States to improve and expand access to
education programmes in Pakistan.
About
Malala Yousafzai: In October 2012, Malala was shot in the head by Pakistani
Taliban on her way home from school. In late 2008, she began making the case
for access to education for women and girls despite objections from the
Pakistani Taliban. On October 10, 2014, Malala shared the Nobel Peace Prize
with Indian children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi for her “struggle
against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all
children to education”.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Sanjay Kapoor elected All India Chess Federation president: Sanjay Kapoor was
elected president of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) while Bharat Singh
Chauhan retained the secretary’s post. Kapoor,
representing Uttar Pradesh Chess Association, defeated incumbent PR Venketrama
Raja in a close contest. Kapoor received 33 votes as against 31 of
Raja. Chauhan beat Ravindra Dongre 35-29. Apart from the president, secretary
and treasurer, six vice-presidents and six joint secretaries were also elected.
Note:
All India
Chess Federation Headquarters:
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; Chennai;
All
India Chess Federation Founded: 1951.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
IDBI Bank launches video KYC facility for opening savings bank accounts: IDBI Bank announced
the launch of video KYC account opening (VAO) facility for savings bank
accounts. Through the facility, a customer can open a savings account with the
lender from the convenience of his/her home or office as there are no physical
forms to be filled or visits to be made to the branch.
Video KYC is a quick and easy way to open a
savings account from the comforts of your home. It ensures that the online
journey for opening savings account remains safe, simple, and fast eliminating
the need to visit the branch for KYC.
Note:
IDBI Bank CEO: Rakesh Sharma; IDBI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Bajaj Auto becomes world’s most valuable two-wheeler company: Indian
multinational two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturing company, Bajaj Auto
has become the most valuable two-wheeler company in the world, after it crossed
a market capitalization of more than Rs. 1 lakh crore, on January 01, 2021. Bajaj’s
share price on NSE closed at Rs. 3,479 per share on the first day of 2021,
leading to a market capitalization of more than Rs 1,00,670.76 crore. Thus,
Bajaj Auto is not only the most valued company in the two-wheeler segment but
also the first-ever two-wheeler company in the world to have reached this
market cap milestone.
Note:
Headquarter
of Bajaj Auto: Pune, Maharashtra; Managing Director
of Bajaj Auto: Rajiv Bajaj.
DEFENCE
1.
Indian Army inks pact with Goa Shipyard to get 12 fast patrol boats:
Indian Army has inked a contract
with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) to procure 12 Fast Patrol Boats for
surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies, including those in high
altitude areas like Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh. Pangong Tso’s 134-km length is
divided into eight ‘fingers’, military parlance for mountain spurs jutting into
the water body that is contested by both sides. The lake is frozen with the
onset of winters, and the Army plans to deploy around two dozen such boats by
next summer.
About
the deal: The indigenously-built boats will
be delivered by May 2021 by Defence sector Public Sector Undertaking (PSU),
GSL. The GSL will also carry out maintenance of these boats for four years. The
need for these new high-speed boats to patrol the Pangong Tso lake was felt in
the wake of the military tussle between the Indian and the Chinese troops, leading
to the tense situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Note:
Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
OBITUARIES
1. Former Maharashtra Minister Vilas Patil Undalkar passes away: Former Maharashtra cabinet minister and seven-time Congress MLA Vilas Patil Undalkar has passed away. The veteran Congressman, Undalkar, who was popularly known as ‘kaka’, was elected seven times from Karad-South Assembly constituency for a record 35 consecutive years, from 1980 to 2014. Undalkar held the Cooperation and Law and Justice portfolios in the State Cabinets during the previous Congress-led state governments.
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