NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled
world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine: Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh
Mandaviya has unveiled the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine
"iNNCOVACC" in New Delhi.It is developed by Bharat Biotech
International Limited (BBIL) in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance. According to the statement of the ministry, the
intranasal COVID-19 vaccine is to receive approval for the primary 2-dose
schedule and as a heterologous booster dose.
2. National Child Science Congress
begins in Ahmedabad, Gujarat: The 30th National Child Science Congress started
at Ahmedabad in Gujarat on 27th January 2023. It is being organized
at Science City and will conclude on 31st January 2023. Focal theme: the
Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, the Gujarat Council of Science City,
and SAL Education is hosting Understanding Ecosystem for Mental and Wellbeing
The program. More than 1400 delegates including child scientists and
government officials will attend the congress.
3. Central Govt sanctions Rs 2,600
crore to Uttarakhand under RDS Scheme: The Central Government has sanctioned
2,600 crore rupees to Uttarakhand under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme
(RDSS). Reason: For the construction of new power lines, sub-stations, and
underground power lines Aim: To strengthen the power supply system, the
capacity of sub-stations will be increased in several districts including
Dehradun All power lines in Haldwani will be underground The State's project
has been approved in the Regional Power Committee meeting
4. Visakhapatnam railway station gets
‘Green Railway Station Certification’: Visakhapatnam railway station of East Coast
Railway has been awarded the ‘Green Railway Station Certification
with the highest rating of Platinum'. The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
presented the award. Reason: For adopting green concepts and reducing the
adverse environmental impact. Visakhapatnam is one of the few railway
stations to get this prestigious certificate. It has secured 82 out of 100
points in six environmental categories.
5. Delhi host first-ever India Stack
Developer Conference: The first-ever India Stack
Developer Conference was organized in New Delhi. Delegates from G20
countries and G20 Secretariat have also been invited to the conference. India
Stack is a multi-layer cluster of digital solutions such as Aadhaar, UPI, Digi
Locker, Co-Win, GeM, and GSTN, and has played a key role in India’s digital
transformation. The conference will provide a platform for the Industry and
developer community to explore ways to develop a robust start-up and innovation
ecosystem within the country and also take India stack products to other
countries. India Stack will be one of the focus areas at the World Government
Summit 2023 which will be held at Abu Dhabi next month.
6. Annual Orange festival 2023
celebrated in Nagaland: Nagaland has
celebrated the 3rd edition of the annual Orange festival 2023 at
Rusoma village, under Kohima district. The department of Horticulture,
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Resources and Kohima Smart City is
organizing the Festival. The Festival is conceptualized to recognize the hard
work of orange growers while facilitating them the market linkages to sell
their produce.
7. Andhra Pradesh CM launched 165
veterinary ambulances: Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched Phase 2 of India’s
first government-run veterinary ambulance network by flagging off an
additional 165 veterinary ambulance units from Tadepalli. With this, the
government will be providing quality medical services with a total of 340
veterinary ambulances. CM Jagan flagged off 175 ambulance units as part of the
first batch of ‘Dr YSR Sanchara Pasu Aarogya Seva’ (Veterinary Ambulances) with
state-of-the-art facilities, in May 2021. Each ambulance will have one doctor,
a qualified Assistant and a driver-cum assistant. A small lab equipped with a
microscope to perform 20 types of manure tests and 15 types of blood tests. The
ambulances are also designed to perform minor surgery on bovine animals, sheep,
goats, and pets.
8. 25 January – Himachal Pradesh
Statehood Day: Himachal Pradesh celebrated its 53rd Statehood
Day on January 25. It was on this day in 1971 that Himachal Pradesh became the
18th state of India. After India’s independence, Himachal Pradesh was formed on
15 April 1948, by uniting 30 hill princely states of the region. It was granted
the status of a Union Territory on November 1, 1956. After this, in the year
1966, the hilly areas of Punjab were included in Himachal Pradesh. On 18
December 1970, the Parliament passed the Himachal Pradesh Act, and on 25
January 1971, Himachal Pradesh came into existence as a full-fledged state and
became the 18th state of India.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. International Holocaust Remembrance
Day 2023: 27 January: The United Nations
designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Reason: In
honour of six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and millions of other Nazism
victims under the Hitler regime between 1933 and 1945. Theme 2023: Home and
Belonging The day commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January
1945 from Nazi control The UN in its 42nd plenary session declared January 27
as International Holocaust Remembrance Day on November 1, 2005.
2. UNESCO designates Ukraine's Odesa a
World Heritage in Danger site: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had designated
the historic center of Odesa, a strategic port city on Ukraine’s Black Sea
coast as a World Heritage in Danger site.
A UNESCO
panel meeting in Paris awarded the status. This status will help to
protect Odesa’s cultural heritage, which has been under threat since
Russia’s invasion and enable access to financial and technical international
aid.
3. JUICE Space Mission of Europe to be
launched in April 2023: The European Space
Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will be launched
from the agency’s spaceport in French Guiana in April 2023. Objective – To
explore the large, frigid worlds that orbit Jupiter, Ganymede, Callisto, and
Europa Out of the 80 moons of the planet, these three were selected for their
large oceans. The satellite is to be launched from French Guiana. Ariane 5 will
carry the satellite. JUICE is the first satellite from the earth to enter the
orbit of Ganymede. If launched in April 2023, the satellite is expected to
enter Jupiter orbit by 2034 and will be deorbited in 2035.
4. 26 January – International Customs
Day: International Customs Day is celebrated every year
on 26 January globally. Objective – To bring light to the challenges and
working conditions of customs administrators. Theme 2023 – Nurturing the next
generation: promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and professional pride in
Customs The Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) currently known as the World
Customs Organization (WCO) was established on January 26, 1953. They formally
announced the observance of ICD in an inaugural session that was conducted in
Brussels, Belgium. The event was attended by renowned representatives from 17
European countries. To mark the establishment of WCO, International Customs Day
is observed on the day of its conception. The World Customs Organization works
on matters related to custom reinforcement, security of supply chain, and
facilitation of international trade among others. Currently, the WCO comprises
182 member states from all parts of the world.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Women's IPL garners bids worth Rs
4,670 cr: BCCI secretary, Jay Shah has
confirmed that the total bids received from the winners were worth Rs
4,669.99 crore (USD 572.78 million).
Mumbai
Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Adani Group, and Capri
Global won the bid for the inaugural edition. The teams will be based
in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow respectively. The Ahmedabad
team was sold for the highest price INR 1289 crore, followed by Mumbai,
Bengaluru, Delhi, and Lucknow.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. UN slashes India's economic growth
forecast to 5.8% for 2023: The United
Nations has slashed India’s growth forecast by 20 basis points to 5.8
percent for the 2023 calendar year.
Reason: Higher
interest rates and recession risks in the developed world weighing on
investment and exports. The report has projected that global trade will
contract 0.4 percent and the world economy will grow at 1.9 percent
in 2023. For the fiscal year 2023-24, the agency kept its growth forecast
unchanged for India at 6 percent.
2. Stressed Assets Securitisation
Framework for Quicker Resolution: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a discussion paper
on the securitization of stressed assets. Stressed Assets: NPA,
written-off assets, and restructured loans Aim: To provide an alternative
mechanism for the sale of bad loans, in addition to the existing asset
reconstruction route. In September 2022, RBI announced that it
will introduce a framework for the securitization of stressed assets The
discussion paper broadly covers nine relevant areas of the framework
3. AU Bank launched credit card
offering platform SwipeUp: India’s largest Small
Finance Bank, AU Small Finance Bank has launched the SwipeUp platform.
The platform will provide an opportunity to other bank credit cardholders to
upgrade their card to one of AU credit cards. The bank has provided a platform
to compare existing credit cards of customers within seconds. Thereafter,
within minutes they can upgrade credit limit, cashback, reward point etc. The
cards issued in SwipeUp platform are different from current credit cards
offered by AU Small Finance Bank. While the new range of cards offer high value
proposition to customers, the card plastic is biodegradable which is another
step towards a better environment.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. President Murmu approved 412
Gallantry Awards to Armed Forces personnel: President Droupadi Murmu has approved 412
Gallantry awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces
personnel and others. These include six Kirti Chakras, including four
posthumous, and 15 Shaurya Chakras including two posthumous. These include one
Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 92 Sena Medals, including four posthumous, one
Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), seven Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 29 Param
Vishisht Seva Medals. President has also awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal
and Tatrakshak Medal to Indian Coast Guard Personnel for their act of
conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty, and distinguished service.
OBITUARIES
1. Popular Mexican comedian Polo Polo passes away: Mexican comedian Leopoldo Roberto Garcia Pelaez Benitez passed away He is also known as “Polo Polo”. He was born in 1944 in Leon, Guanajuato, and is regarded as the “father” of the Stand-Up comedy genre. He hosted a program called Con Ganas in the 1990s. His most recent film role was in Cronicas Chilangas, which was released in 2009.
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