NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi inaugurated projects in
Karnataka, Maharashtra: PM Modi has laid the foundation stone and
inaugurated several projects in the northern districts of Yadgiri, and
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), and Maharashtra. Developmental projects in Yadgiri
district: Related to irrigation, drinking water, and NH development
project Kalaburagi district: Distribution of title deeds to the eligible
beneficiaries of newly declared revenue villages. Maharashtra: Inaugurated
and laid the foundation stone of projects worth around ₹38,800 crores
2. Tourism Ministry to organize 1st
Global Tourism Investors Summit: The Ministry of
Tourism will organize the first Global Tourism Investors Summit from
10th to 12th April 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Aim: To bring
together global policymakers and business leaders to understand and explore
Tourism Business opportunities in India In this regard, Tourism Ministry has
organized a Roadshow for the Northern region, Chandigarh. Focus: Promoting
India as an investment destination for travel, tourism, and hospitality
3. Army organised ‘Sainya Ranakshetram
2.0’ Seminar-cum-workshop: The second edition of “SAINYA RANAKSHETRAM
2.0” was organized by the Indian Army under the aegis of HQ Army
Training Command from October 2022 to January 2023. Aim: To provide a
platform to identify indigenous talent in niche domains and enhance the
standard of training in domains of Cyber Deterrence, Security Software Coding,
Electro Magnetic Spectrum Operations. Gen Manoj Pande (Chief of the Army Staff)
felicitated the winners of the event.
4. Adani, Ashok Leyland to develop
Asia's first hydrogen-mining truck: Adani Enterprises, Ashok Leyland, and Ballard
Power have signed a deal to develop Asia's first hydrogen Fuel
Cell Electric Truck (FCET) for mining logistics and transportation. The FCET is
scheduled to be launched in India in 2023. Adani Enterprises Limited will lead
the demonstration project. Ballard will supply the FCmoveTM fuel cell
engine for the hydrogen truck. Ashok Leyland will provide the vehicle
platform and technical support.
5. Uttar Pradesh tops charts for mobile
gaming destination in India: Uttar Pradesh has
emerged as the top destination for mobile gamers, followed by Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal, according to India Mobile Gaming Report 2022
by gaming platform Mobile Premier League. Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu,
Puducherry, and Himachal Pradesh have seen the highest increase in mobile
gamers in 2022 compared to 2021. In terms of games, Ludo Dice, Snakes and
Ladders, Carrom, Fruit Dart, Block Puzzle and Poker were some of the top games
played by gamers across different Indian cities. In Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow,
Kanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, and Allahabad have the highest share of gamers. Thirty-six
percent of the total gamers in UP hail from these cities. India’s gaming market
was worth $SD 2.6 billion in the financial year 2022 and it will reach $8.6
billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27 percent.
6. Pankaj Kumar Singh appointed as
Deputy NSA: Former Director General
of the Border Security Force (BSF), Pankaj Kumar Singh has been
appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) in National
Security Council Secretariat for two years. He is a 1988-batch IPS officer of
the Rajasthan cadre. He retired as the BSF chief on December 31, 2022. He had
earlier served as inspector General of CRPF in Chhattisgarh and IG (Operations)
at CRPF Headquarters in Delhi. He has also served in the Rajasthan Police and
CBI. National Security Adviser -Ajit Doval
7. ISRO ‘Shukrayaan I’ mission to
planet Venus reportedly shifted to 2031: According
to a report, P. Sreekumar, the Satish Dhawan Professor at the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) and advisor to its space science programme, stated
in a talk that the organization has not yet received approval from the Indian
government for the Venus mission ‘Shukrayaan I’ and that, as a
result, the mission may be delayed until 2031 The mission was scheduled to
launch in December 2024. The concept was conceived in 2012; five years later,
after the Department of Space got a 23% increase in the 2017–2018 budget, ISRO
started preliminary investigations. In April 2017, the organization requested
payload proposals from research institutions. The best time to launch from
Earth to Venus is once every 19 months or thereabouts. In case it misses the
2024 window, ISRO has “backup” launch dates in 2026 and 2028. But every eight
years, new better windows present themselves that further cut down on the
quantity of fuel needed for takeoff. The VERITAS and EnVision missions of the
American and European space agencies, respectively, both have Venus missions
scheduled for 2031, but China might go anytime: 2026, 2027, whenever they want
to go.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NASA awards 425 million to Boeing
for fuel-efficient airliner research: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded $ 425 million
to Boeing for the agency's sustainable flight demonstrator project. Boeing
and NASA will work together to build, test, and fly a full-scale
demonstrator aircraft. They will also validate technologies, that aimed to
lower emissions.
NASA will invest $425 million and the Boeing and its partners will
contribute the remaining amount of the agreement funding (estimated at 725
million dollars).
2. India announces 100 million
Maldivian Rufiyaa for development projects: During the visit to
Maldives, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar announced an additional grant of 100
Million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects in Maldives. He
also witnessed an MoU between Maldivian National University and Kochi
University of Science & Technology. He has also announced that India has
handed over two sea ambulances to help the Maldives National Defence Force
(MNDF). India has completed 23 out of 45 impactful community development
projects.
3. Vedanta's Cairn Oil & Gas
appoints Nick Walker as new CEO: Vedanta's Cairn Oil & Gas has selected Nick Walker as the new
chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, with effect from January 5,
2023. Prior to this post, he served as the president and CEO at Lundin
Energy. He has also worked in various companies like BP, Talisman Energy, and
Africa Oil. He has over 30 years of diverse international experience in
technical, commercial, and executive leadership roles.
4. Shah Rukh Khan ranks third on
world’s richest actors list: Shah Rukh Khan has
been ranked fourth in a list of 8 richest actors in the world, released by
World of Statistics. SRK’s net worth is 770 million dollars. Shah
Rukh Khan is the only Indian on the list. The actor is ranked above Hollywood
star Tom Cruise. The list is led by Seinfeld star Jerry Seinfeld and Tyler
Perry with $1 billion. Dwayne Johnson follows them, with $800 million. Richest
actors in the world
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Shubman Gill broke records of Virat
Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar: Shubman Gill (23) has become the fifth Indian player to score a
double-hundred in the One Day International (ODI) match against New
Zealand. With this feat, he has broken several records including
the fastest Indian to score 1,000 runs in ODI cricket (19 ODI innings). He
has also broken the records of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, who
complete 1,000 runs in 24 innings. He also broke Tendulkar's
record of the highest individual score against New Zealand in an ODI.
2. Laxman Rawat clinched NSCI Snooker
Open Crown: Laxman Rawat of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) has defeated
Aditya Mehta (his fellow PSPB challenger) by 9-6 to win the final of the
‘Baulkline’ NSCI All India Snooker Open 2023. Cash prize: Rs 3 lakh
(winner); Rs 1.5 lakh (Runner-up) NSCI Snooker Open Crown is a snooker
tournament, organized by the National Sports Club of India (NSCI). This is open
to players from all over India and features a best-of-17-frame final.
3. Rohit Sharma breaks MS Dhoni’s
record of most sixes in ODIs in India: Indian captain Rohit
Sharma has shattered a long-standing record held by MS Dhoni to
become India’s most prolific six-hitter in the history of ODI
cricket at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad. Rohit achieved this
remarkable feat during the first ODI between India and New Zealand. Rohit and
Dhoni are the only two Indians with more than 100 sixes in the 50-over format,
with Yuvraj Singh a distant third in the list. His effort in the series opener
was a testament to his prowess as a batsman, and a reminder of the legacy he is
creating in the world of cricket. Most Sixes in ODI in India
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Mastercard expands programme to
promote STEM studies among girl students: Mastercard has launched the new phase of its
flagship programme 'Girls4Tech' in India. This programme is supported
by the Mastercard Impact Fund and American India Foundation. Aim: To reach
female students across the country by 2024 to encourage them to take up STEM
education. STEM refers to Science, Technology, engineering and
mathematics. STEM courses will be offered to girls aged 8 to 14. In
2020-21, the programme reached 17,820 girls across three districts in TN.
2. South Indian Bank partnered with
SAIL for financing dealers: South Indian Bank has
partnered with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to
provide financial assistance to the dealers of SAIL across the
country. With the vast network of the bank, they will be able to serve the MSME
and corporate customers of SAIL located in different geographies. SAIL has a
vast network of dealers who ensure the availability of quality steel in virtually
all districts of the country. MD & CEO of South Indian Bank – Murali
Ramakrishnan
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Tamilnad Mercantile Bank won Best
Small Bank Award 2022: Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) was awarded the Best Small Bank
Award 2022 in the 'Best Banks Survey for the year 2022’, conducted by
Business Today-KPMG (BT-KPMG Best banks survey). Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari
to S.Krishnan (TMB MD and CEO), presented the award. TMB was awarded under
the category of banks with a book size of less than ₹1 lakh crore. BT-KPMG: It is conducting
BT-KPMG Best banks survey and awarding the best banks with 37 parameters.
2. ‘Naanera’ bags ‘Golden Kailasha’
award in Ajanta-Ellora film festival: “Naanera”, a Rajasthani film has bagged the
‘Golden Kailasha’ award for the best movie at the 8th Ajanta-Ellora film
festival, organised in Aurangabad from January 11 to 15. It was directed
by Deepankar Prakash.
It has also bagged awards for best director, best screenplay, and best
editor. Best Actress: Akshatha Pandavapura Best Actor: Jeetu Kamal (Bengali
film: Aparajito) As many as 55 films were screened in this five day film
festival.
OBITUARIES
1. World’s oldest person Lucile Randon dies at the age of 118: The world’s oldest person, French nun Lucile Randon has died aged 118. Randon – who assumed the name Sister André when she took holy orders in 1944 – died in her sleep at her nursing home in Toulon, France. She was born on 11 February 1904 in Southern France. In the year 2022, the world’s oldest person Ken Tanaka of Japan died. He was 119 years old. After Tanaka’s death, 118-year-old Sister Lucille Randon became the oldest person in the world. Guinness World Records had officially recognized her status in April 2022. The record for oldest confirmed age reached by a human belongs to Jeanne Calment, also of southern France, who died in 1997 at the age of 122.
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