NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
GOI merges eternal flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti with National War Memorial flame: The government of
India has merged the flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti at Delhi’s India Gate with
the flame at the adjoining National War Memorial on January 21, 2022, ahead of
Republic Day. The ceremony was led by the Integrated Defence Staff chief, Air
Marshal Balabadhra Radha Krishna.
This decision was taken because: The decision to
merge the two flames was taken keeping in mind that flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti
payed homage to the martyrs of 1971 but none of their names are present there,
while names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars, including 1971 and wars
before and after it are housed at the National War Memorial. So housing the
flame at the same place along with the names will serve as a true tribute to
martyrs. This will also do away with upkeeping two flames for the same purpose.
This means that after 50 years of continuous lightning, the flame at Amar Jawan
Jyoti will no longer be present there.
About Amar Jawan Jyoti: The Amar Jawan
Jyoti was inaugurated on the Republic Day of 1972 by the then Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi. The eternal flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti was lit in memory of
soldiers who laid their lives during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war.
About National War Memorial: The National War
Memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25, 2019.
The eternal torch of this memorial burns at the heart of the Smarak Stambh, the
main pillar of the memorial, inside the Amar Chakra. The names of 25,942
soldiers have been inscribed in golden letters on granite tablets.
2.
‘Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ki Ore’ programme launched by PM Modi:
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated ‘Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim
Bharat Ki Ore’ programme via video conferencing. The national-level program
includes seven yearlong initiatives dedicated to the celebration of Azadi Ka
Amrit Mahotsav by the Brahma Kumaris. More than 30 campaigns and over 15000
programs and events will be conducted under these initiatives by the Brahma
Kumaris. Brahma Kumaris is organising the event on the occasion of the 53rd
Ascension Anniversary of Pitashree Prajapita Brahma, Founding Father of Brahma
Kumaris. The seven initiatives of Brahma Kumaris include: (a) My India Healthy
India; (b) Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self Reliant Farmers; (c) Women: Flag Bearers
of India; (d) Power of Peace Bus Campaign; (e) Andekha Bharat Cycle Rally; (f)
United India Motor Bike Campaign; (g) Green initiatives under Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan
3.
Tripura celebrated 44th Kokborok Day: Kokborok Day, also known as the Tripuri
Language Day is annually celebrated across the Indian State of Tripura on 19th
January with an aim to develop the Kokborok Language. The day commemorates the
initial recognition of Kokborok as the official language in 1979. 19th January
2022 marks the observance of the 44th Kokborok Day. The Kokborok language, the
official language of Tripura, is also known as Tripuri or Tiprakok. In 1979,
Kokborok, along with Bengali and English, was declared an official language of
the state of Tripura, India by the state government.
Note: Chief Minister of Tripura: Biplab
Kumar Deb; Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.
4.
Centre appoints Vikram Dev Dutt as new CMD of Air India: Senior bureaucrat
Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the chairman and managing director (CMD)
of Air India Ltd. Dutt is a 1993-batch IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh,
Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre. He has been appointed as the Air India
chief in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary, an order issued by the
Personnel Ministry. Prior to this, he was the Principal Secretary (Tourism) in
Delhi government. The Centre had in October last year accepted Tata Son’s bid
of Rs 18,000 crore to acquire 100 per cent of the debt-laden state-run carrier.
The takeover has not been completed yet. Talace Pvt Ltd, a unit of the holding
company of the salt-to-software conglomerate, had made the winning bid of Rs
2,700 crore cash and Rs 15,300 crore debt takeover.
Note: Air India Ltd Founded: 1932, Mumbai;
Air India Ltd Headquarters: New Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
1st BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 held under Chinese chairship: The first BRICS
Sherpas meeting of 2022 was held virtually on January 18-19 2022, with the
members thanking India for its BRICS chairship in 2021. China has taken on the
rotating chairmanship of BRICS in 2022. BRICS is a grouping of five major emerging
economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Meanwhile, Sanjay
Bhattacharyya India’s BRICS Sherpa said that Last year we saw a significant
achievement that our foreign ministers brought about in terms of the document
on the strengthening and reform of the multilateral systems. These issues of
global governance, particularly the UN systems and other institutions, are
extremely important. And I’m happy that we shall continue to attach high
importance to its continued relevance.
2. Israel
Completed A Successful Flight Test Of The Arrow-3: Israel has
completed a successful flight test of the Arrow-3 which is designed to
intercept ballistic missiles outside of the earth’s atmosphere. The test was
performed at a test site in central Israel, and led by Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI). It was developed in a joint project between the Defense
Ministry’s Missile Defense Organization and the American Missile Defense
Agency. The Arrow 3 was first tested successfully in February 2018, after months
of delays and technical problems. It is considered one of the most powerful
weapons of its kind in the world and has been in development since 2008.
Note: ISRAEL Capital: Jerusalem; ISRAEL
Currency: Israeli New Shekel; ISRAEL Prime Minister: Naftali Bennett; ISRAEL
President: Isaac Herzog
3.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma named as ambassador of Internet panel on languages UASG: Paytm founder Vijay
Shekhar Sharma has been roped in as the Ambassador of Universal Acceptance
Steering Group (UASG), a community-based team of industry leaders supported by
global internet body ICANN. UASG works on developing and recommending standards
for languages script that are not currently used to access the internet. The
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) aims to help ensure
a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. Its headquarter is based at
California, United States.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Pakistani Skipper Babar Azam Named Captain of ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year: Pakistani skipper
Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the ICC Men’s T20I team of the year
for 2021. The ICC Team of the Year recognises the 11 best players in men’s
cricket who have impressed one and all with their performances in a calendar
year, either with the bat, ball or their all-round performance. No Indian male
player has found a place in the team of 11. However, in ICC Women’s T20I Team
of the Year for 2021, Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian women player named in
the 11 member team. Smriti has made in the list for third time in the T20I team
of the year after 2018 (opener) and 2019 (number three). England’s Nat Sciver
has been made the captain of ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2021.
2.
India Tennis Star Sania Mirza To Retire After 2022 Season: Sania Mirza, the
most successful woman in Indian tennis history, has decided that she is bidding
adieu to the sports at the end of 2022. The 35-year-old had already bowed out
of singles competitions in 2013. Sania has six Grand Slam titles in women’s
doubles and mixed doubles to her name. Her last headline-grabbing win came with
Chinese partner Shuai Zhang in women’s doubles at the Ostrava Open on September
26, 2021. Sania’s career in numbers: Titles: 43
Career-high doubles ranking: 1
Career-high singles ranking: 27
Grand Slam wins: 6 (women’s doubles 3,
mixed doubles 3)
Women’s doubles: Australian Open (2016),
Wimbledon and US Open (2015)
Mixed doubles: Australian Open (2009),
French Open (2012), US Open (2014)
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Ind-Ra Projects India’s GDP Growth Rate at 7.6% in FY23: India Ratings and
Research (Ind-Ra) has projected the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth
rate of the Indian economy to grow at 7.6 per cent year-on-year in 2022-23
(FY23). Ind-Ra is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fitch Group. The economic
recovery was encouraging, he said, and restrictions put in place by many states
to contain the current wave of Covid-19 were not as severe as the second wave.
Nonetheless, there are risks to the ongoing recovery, the rating agency warned.
It pointed to the latest FY22 GDP advance estimates, which show that private
final consumption expenditure (PFCE) — the largest component of GDP (58.6 per
cent) from the demand side and a proxy for consumption demand — is projected to
grow only 6.9 per cent YoY in the current year, despite a low base and sales
data of many consumer durables showing robust growth.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Axis Bank & CRMNEXT won IBSi Innovation Awards 2021: Axis Bank &
CRMNEXT Solution won the IBS Intelligence (IBSi) Global FinTech Innovation
Awards 2021 for the “Best CRM (Customer Relationship Management) System
Implementation”. It is one of the most prominent awards for global bankers and
IT (Information Technology) consultants across the world. The Axis Bank
implemented CRMNEXT for sales and service modernisation and it also enables
smarter lead processing, automated routing, complete tracking, and visibility.
It identified and honoured technology players and banks for their excellence in
banking technology implementations and innovations using emerging technologies.
Note: Axis Bank Founded: 3 December 1993;
Axis Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; Axis Bank MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhary; Axis
Bank Chairperson: Shri Rakesh Makhija; Axis Bank Tagline: Badhti Ka Naam
Zindagi.
2.
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021 announced: The Best FIFA
Football Awards 2021 ceremony was held virtually in Zurich, Switzerland to
crown outstanding players for excellent achievement in football. Spain
midfielder Alexia Putellas and Poland/Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski
were awarded the Best FIFA Players in women’s and men’s football respectively.
Lewandowski won the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award for the second straight year,
after getting the first one in 2020.
Here is the Complete List of Winners:
|
Category |
Winner |
|
Best FIFA Men’s Player |
Robert Lewandowski
(Bayern Munich, Poland) |
|
Best FIFA Women’s
Player |
Alexia Putellas
(Barcelona, Spain) |
|
Best FIFA Men’s
Goalkeeper |
Édouard Mendy
(Chelsea, Senegal) |
|
Best FIFA Women’s
Goalkeeper |
Christiane Endler
(Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, Chile) |
|
Best FIFA Men’s Coach |
Thomas Tuchel
(Chelsea, Germany) |
|
Best FIFA Women’s
Coach |
Emma Hayes (Chelsea,
England) |
|
FIFA Fair Play Award |
Denmark national
football team and medical staff |
|
FIFA Special Award for
an Outstanding Career Achievement |
Christine Sinclair
(Female) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Male) |
DEFENCE
1.
India & Japan conducted Maritime Partnership Exercise in Bay of Bengal: A Maritime
Partnership Exercise was held between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defence
Force (JMSDF) in the Bay of Bengal in a non-contact mode amid COVID-19. The
Indian side was represented by Indian Naval Ships (INS) Shivalik and INS
Kadmatt while JMSDF Ships Uraga and Hirado participated from the Japanese side.
Strengthening bilateral relations, promoting defence cooperation, enhancing
mutual understanding and interoperability, and sharing best practices between
IN and JMSDF.
2. Lt
Gen Manoj Pande Appointed As Next Army Vice Chief: The Government
approved the proposal for appointment of Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant
General Manoj Pande as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff. General Pande would
be the successor to Lt Gen CP Mohanty who is scheduled to superannuate on
January 31. General Pande was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (The
Bombay Sappers) in December 1982. He was Director-General at Army Headquarters
dealing with subjects of discipline, ceremonial and welfare.
Note: Indian Army Founded: 1 April 1895;
Indian Army Headquarters: New Delhi; Indian Army Chief: Manoj Mukund Naravane;
Indian Army Motto: Service Before Self
OBITUARIES
1.
Professional Mountaineer Major Hari Pal Singh Ahluwalia Passed Away: The well-known
Professional mountaineer Major Hari Pal Singh Ahluwalia passed away recently.
Major Hari Pal Singh Ahluwalia was the recipient of Arjuna Award-1965 Padma
Shri-1965 Padma Bhushan-2002 and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for
lifetime achievement in 2009. He has written over 13 books including his
autobiography “Higher Than Everest”. Major Ahluwalia has also been a former
president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Delhi Mountaineering
Association.
2. World’s oldest living man, Saturnino de la Fuente, passes away at 112: Guinness World Records holder for the oldest person living (male), Saturnino de la Fuente García (Spain) has passed away at the age of 112 years and 341 days. Saturnino claimed the record as the oldest person living (male) in September 2021 when he was exactly 112 years and 211 days. He was born on February 11, 1909, in the Puente Castro neighbourhood of León in Spain.
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