Introduction
The article Current Affairs One Liners January 2019 includes One Liners with an explanation, analysis and issues of current events, including political or industrial controversy or public policy issues in the month of January.
Jan 2019
1. International News
- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte along with UN representative has launched Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable development.
- In Britain, lawmakers voted in favor of an amendment in BREXIT plan seeking alternative arrangements to replace the Irish border arrangement known as the Irish backstop.
- The central banks of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched a common digital currency called "Aber", which will be used in financial settlements between the two countries through Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers technologies.
- Food regulator FSSAI issued a notification seeking a ban on the use of pins in tea bags by the food business operators (FBOs) by June 30.
- Nagaland has got its first Astro Turf Football Pitch at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima on the occasion of 100th Birth Anniversary of the legendary footballer, Dr. T. Ao.
- India’s Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan declared a “war against pollution” and launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
- An eight-member search panel formed to select members of anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal held its first meeting, nearly four months after it was announced by the Modi government.
- The new Campus of the National Museum Institute was inaugurated by Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. Four new courses that are Archaeology; Palaeography, Epigraphy and Numismatics; Structural Conservation and Cultural and Heritage Management, are expected to be commenced.
- In a major fillip to Punjab‘s persistent efforts for securing the waiver of Rs 31,000 crore food account, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission N K Singh formed a committee to find ways of settling the matter.
- The Reserve Bank of India said that it will inject Rs.37,500 crore into the system through purchase of government securities in February to increase liquidity through three auctions of Rs 125 billion each during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week.
- The government has imposed an anti-dumping duty on a chemical from China, used in photography and manufacturing of dyes, for five years to protect domestic producers of the chemical intermediate from cheap shipments.
- Revenue collection under Goods and Services Tax (GST) for January crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. Total collection for the month of January last year was Rs 89,825 crore, the Finance Ministry said.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a new framework for REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and InvITs (Infrastructure Investment Trusts).
- Chanda Kochhar, who had resigned as CEO and MD of ICICI Bank nearly four months back, was terminated and all her entitlements were revoked by the bank.
- In an effort to encourage entrepreneurs and small businesses in India, Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp announced the “Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge”.
- The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it has unveiled a Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru.
- The thirteenth and final round of the Masters’ segment of Tata Steel Chess saw Magnus Carlsen hold Anish Giri to a draw in a 30-move long game to clinch the title.
- The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved the names of 23 athletes, including shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, from badminton, cycling, para-athletics and para-shooting fields, to be included in the flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Paralympics and 2024 Olympics.
- Jason Holder has become the first West Indian since cricket great Garfield Sobers to be named as the world’s leading all-rounder following his superb display against England in Barbados.
- Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has been awarded the Carnot Prize for his contribution towards sustainable energy solutions by the University of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
- Rajiv Nath was conferred with the prestigious ‘Award of Appreciation’ by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare for his contribution to the Global Public Healthcare sector at The Award of Appreciation Ceremony.
- Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra assumed the appointment of Director General of NCC (DGNCC). Commissioned in the Madras Regiment in December 1980, Lt Gen Chopra is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
- Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, PVSM, AVSM, VSM took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command at Mumbai.
- Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey has been named as the member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
- Pakistan has appointed the country’s first ever Hindu female civil judge Suman Kumari, who hails from Qambar-Shahdadkot in Sindh province.
- Senior diplomat Sunjay Sudhir has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to the Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs announced.
- Former Ranji player and a Cricket coach, Amrik Singh Nagra, died of a cardiac arrest while training students on the ground at the Baba Ishar Singh School, Ludhiana.
1. Important News
- 30 January is celebrated as Martyr's Day or Shaeed Diwas every year in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and sacrifice of three revolutionaries of India.
- World Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January every year to focus on the target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children.
- Dubai International Airport said it has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for the fifth consecutive year in a row in 2018 with Indian travellers emerging as the largest source of traffic for the airport
- Remarks by Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats came as he and heads of other top American Intelligence Agencies appeared on Tuesday before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- A day after his meeting with the new Indian Envoy to the US, Harsh V Shringla, Republican senator John Cornyn said that the two countries can continue to work together toward advancing common interests on issues like trade and global security.
- May said that, after taking the votes into account and talking to the EU, her revised deal would be brought back to the Commons "as soon as possible" for a second "meaningful vote".
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi in Gujarat on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary on 30 January.
- Human Resources Development Ministry signed an agreement with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for India’s Participation in Programme for International Student Assessment- Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2021.
- India has improved its ranking on a Global Corruption Index in 2018, while its neighbour China lagged far behind, according to the annual index released by an anti-graft watchdog.
- Leading Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) associations of south India are coming together to organise the South India MSME Summit 2019 to be held at Bengaluru.
- K.J. Alphons, Union Minister for Tourism has inaugurated the first project under the Swadesh Darshan Project of the Union Ministry of Tourism at the Zero Point, Gangtok, Sikkim.
- Food Businesses need to comply with new packaging regulations that bar use of recycled plastics and newspapers to wrap food articles by July 1.
- Celebrating 50-years of formalization of diplomatic ties between India and Bhutan, a two-day international conference on 8th century Himalayan sage Guru Padmasambhava was held in New Delhi.
- The Maharashtra government launched a special scheme to curb infant deaths. Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde distributed baby-care kits to the children born in primary health centres and government hospitals.
- Free education will be provided to girls in state-run institutions in Rajasthan from July, Higher Education Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati said.
- The Reserve Bank of India said that it will inject Rs 37,500 crore into the system through purchase of government securities in February to increase liquidity.
- Foreign direct investment (FDI) during the previous fiscal grew 18 per cent to Rs 28.25 lakh crore. FDI increased by Rs 4,33,300 crore, including revaluation of past investments, during 2017-18 to reach Rs 28,24,600 crore in March 2018.
- Singapore has been rated as the most liveable location for Asian expatriates in 2019 for the 14th consecutive year, according to a survey by ECA International.
- Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng announced his retirement from the South Korean national team. The midfielder had hinted at retirement after the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but decided to compete in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
- French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede has won the round-the-world yacht race after 212 days alone at sea without modern instruments.
- Chencho smashed the second goal for Bengaluru in 71st minute after United striker Federico Gallego got the equaliser in the 60th minute.
- Neymar was injured while playing against Strasbourg last Wednesday in the French Cup, rolling his ankle as he fell to the ground following a couple of challenges.
- The Yatra, a cyclothon, which was appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address recently, saw the involvement of 10 lakh participants and reached to around 2.5 crore people across various States and UTs.
- Tamil Nadu has bagged the Best State Award for its active participation in the Swasth Bharat Yatra, a pan-India cyclothon.
- Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the name of 112 recipients of the Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards of the country on the eve of the country’s 70th Republic Day.
- Dilip Sadarangani has been appointed as Part Time Chairman of Federal Bank. The Bank obtained approval of Reserve Bank of India in this regard. He has been in the board of Federal Bank since 2013.
- Actress Deepika Padukone has replaced producer Kiran Rao as the chairperson of the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), which organises the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. space agency said that the Parker Solar Probe has begun its second orbit of the sun.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to transfer the technology for manufacturing Lithium-ion cells developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba.
1. International News
- Pakistan has appointed the country’s first ever Hindu female civil judge after she passed an examination for induction of judicial officers. Suman Kumari, who hails from Qambar-Shahdadkot in Sindh province, will serve in her native district.
- The Central Banks of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched a common digital currency called “Aber”, which will be used in financial settlements between the two countries through Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers technologies.
- India and China have signed the protocol for exports of Indian tobacco leaves to China.The protocol was signed during the recent visit of Commerce Secretary, Dr. Anup Wadhawan to Beijing.
- Dubai International Airport has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for the fifth consecutive year in a row in 2018.
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2. National News
- China Capital: Beijing
- Currency: Renminbi
- Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stated that GST on Haj has been reduced from 18% to 5% and this will significantly lower the airfare thus saving Haj pilgrims’ 113 crore rupees this year.
- The government of Uttarakhand has obtained the permission to develop the tulip garden over 50 hectares of forest land in Pithoragarh district at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
- Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated India’s 1st Geographical Indication store at Goa International Airport in Dabolim.
- Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced “Jiban Sampark” project in partnership with UNICEF India to generate awareness about the development and welfare initiatives of state government among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of the state.
- The Third bridge was inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The bridge has been named as ‘Atal Setu’ after former prime minister of India late Atal Bihari Bajpai.
- Andhra Pradesh government will provide 100 units free power to the Most Backward Classes (MBCs) The government give aid of up to Rs 15 lakhs for foreign education of BCs, also setting up a JyotibaPhule memorial centre with Rs 100 Crores
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3. Banking and Economy
- Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar
- Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
- Governor: Ganeshi Lal
- Uttarakhand State Governor: Baby Rani Maurya,
- CM: Trivendra Singh Rawat.
- India has replaced Japan as world’s second largest steel producing country, while China is the largest producer of crude steel accounting for more than 51 per cent of production, according to World Steel Association (worldsteel).
- Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd has raised Rs. 1,375 crore from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management P. Oaktree is a leading global alternative investment management firm with assets under management of about $124 billion.
- Kia Motors is eighth largest automotive company in the world, Kia Motors, the South Korean global automotive major, is all set to commence trial run of its $1 billion greenfield plant in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh
- Australian Open 2019 was a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in Melbourne Park, Australia. Here is the complete list of winners.
- The Indonesia Masters 2019 Title took place at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia. The BWF 2019 Indonesia Masters badminton tournament opens this week, with 267 shuttlers from 20 countries and regions to take part, event organizers said.
- India Golfer, Kartik Sharma won the New South Wales Men’s Amateur Golf Championship held in Australia by defeating Australia’s Nathan Barberie in the scheduled 36-hole final.
- India’s Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after the part-timer’s action was reported during the first ODI against Australia earlier this month.
- The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade has won the first prize for its Kisan Gandhi theme. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research tableau with the theme “Mishrit Kheti, Khushiyon Ki Kheti” portrayed Gandhi with goats and a cow and Kasturba engaged with charkha and caring animals.
- India received the Award of Excellence for ‘Best in Show’ at the New York Times Travel Show 2019, the largest travel show in North America.
- India has replaced Japan as the world’s 2nd largest steel producing country, while China is the largest producer of crude steel, accounting for more than 51% of production.
- The Southern Railway bagged number one position for cleanliness in the country in the survey conducted by Trains Cleanliness Survey conducted by IRCTC .
- Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh has been appointed Regional Director for World Health Organization South-East Asia, for a second five-year term.Her second term of office will begin on 1 February 2019.
- Former Defence Minister George Fernandes, long-time socialist and a trade unionist, who fought the Congress all his life passed away after prolonged illness. He was 88. His term was eventful as it witnessed the Kargil war and Pokhran test.
1. Important Days
- Data Privacy Day (known in Europe as Data Protection Day) is an international holiday that occurs every 28 January. The purpose of Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices.
- The Pakistan government declared sugarcane juice as the “national drink” of the country.They came at this decision after asking People’s opinion in twitter to choose one among orange ,carrot and sugarcane.
- China is the largest producer of crude steel and it accounts for more than 51 per cent of global production.
- Three key European Union nations are set to make good on a pledge to help their companies trade with Iran despite U.S. sanctions, a move that could help to salvage a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic Day.
- Australia celebrates 26th January as Australia Day which marks the landing of the Initial Fleet, a convoy of 11 ships carrying convicts, at Port Jackson in 1788. It also marks the founding of the colony New South Wales.
- The Russian city of St. Petersburg marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the devastating World War II siege by Nazi forces with a large military parade Sunday in the city’s sprawling Palace Square.
- People can watch the highlights of this year’s Republic Day parade at the Rajpath on a mobile application which has been launched by the Defence Ministry.
- In Assam, Railway Protection Force of Lumding Division has taken a significant step towards enhancing the security of women in the North East region.
- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, has developed an app Roshni that would help the Visually Impaired to recognise currency notes.
- A 5.1-km long cable-stayed “Atal Setu” on the Mandovi river in Goa, a third such bridge to connect the state capital with North Goa, was opened to public by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
- Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) of the Indian School of Business (ISB) has been ranked at 24 worldwide in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2019.
- SBI Card and Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, have joined hands to launch a travel specific Visa credit card for members and Indian travellers.
- Japan’s Naomi Osaka beat Czech Petra Kvitova in a thrilling Australian Open final to win back-to-back Grand Slams and become the new world number one.
- After winning all his previous six Australian Open finals, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic clinched a record-breaking seventh title by trouncing Spain’s Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in Melbourne.
- Australian T20 cricket team “Brisbane Heat” won their maiden Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) title by defeating Sydney Sixers in the final by three wickets at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney, Australia.
- Danish player Anders Antonsen won his first ever Indonesia Masters after defeating world number one Kento Momota of Japan to claim the 2019 title.
- India’s Kartik Sharma won the New South Wales men’s Amateur Golf Championship in Australia. Kartik notched up a magnificent win over Australia’s Nathan Barberie in the scheduled 36-hole final to emerge as champion.
- ‘Black Panther’, Rami Malek and Glenn Close were some of the biggest winners at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
- Assam government has conferred the Republic Day Journalism Award 2019 to veteran journalist and former editor Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty.
- The Tamil translation of Andrei Makine’s “La vie d’un homme inconnu” (The Life of an Unknown Man) was awarded the second Romain Rolland Prize for literary translation in Jaipur at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.
- Poonam Khetrapal Singh has been appointed Regional Director for World Health Organization South-East Asia, for a second five-year term.
- Medical products maker Ascent Meditech appointed Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan as the brand ambassador for its brand ‘Flamingo’
- Oscar-winning French composer Michel Legrand has passed away aged 86. During a career spanning more than half a century, Legrand won three Oscars.
1. Important Days
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an international memorial day on 27 January commemorating the tragedy of the Holocaust that occurred during the Second World War.
- India and South Africa will update their Strategic Partnership by agreeing on a comprehensive “roadmap” on the way ahead, as well as relaxing visa restrictions when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Republic Day.
- In Indonesia, floods and landslides have killed at least 59 people, in Sulawesi island the government said on Friday.
- Scientists in China have cloned five monkeys for human disease research. The research team edited genes of monkeys to induce several human diseases like Alzheimer's claiming that it would help in medical research.
- South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH), in the United Kingdom and South Asia that have secured £20 million (about Rs. 200 crore) from the U.K. government to assess and study the quantum and impact of “nitrogen pollution” in South Asia.
- In Pokhara, India and Nepal agreed to set up energy banking mechanism to make use of the surplus electricity in a essential and a useful way.
- Highlighting the success of Make in India and contribution of Indian workers, Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal, renamed India’s first indigenous semi-high speed train ‘Train 18’ as ‘Vande Bharat Express’.
- India’s Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been ranked third most-valued IT services brand globally in 2018-19, after Accenture and IBM, according to a report by Brand Finance.
- Karnataka State BJP president and former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa said that the victims of Sulwadi temple poisoning would receive Rs.2 lakh as compensation from the Centre.
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) set up a panel to identity domestically systemically important insurers (SII) and put in place an enhanced regulatory framework for them.
- The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) and Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), the premier training Institute in agri-business and rural management has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with special emphasis mentoring Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
- GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH India) said its merger deal with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has been approved by the fair trade regulator CCI.
- The World Economic Forum, WEF, annual meet began in Davos. World leaders from across the globe flocked to the ski resort town on the Swiss Alps for five days to discuss what’s ailing the world amid fears of the global economy sleepwalking into a crisis.
- Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal was crowned champion of the Indonesia Masters 2019 after her opponent Carolina Marin pulled out of the summit clash due to an injury.
- Surpassing master blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record, Nepal teenage batsman Rohit Paudel has become the youngest cricketer to score a half-century in international cricket at the age of 16 years and 146 days.
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) won the National Ice hockey tournament in Ladakh. The championship was organised by Ice Hockey Association of India.
- New Zealand pacer Ewen Chatfield, famously known as the Naenae Express, finally ran “out of steam” as he has announced his retirement from cricket at the age of 68.
- V J James’s ‘Nireeswaran’ has won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for the best novel of 2017. Veeran Kutty’s ‘Mindaprani’ has been selected as the best poem.
- ‘Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) awarded social impact award to Tetra Pak India, the world’s leading packaging and processing solutions provider under the category ‘Sustainable Environment category’.
- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, has developed an app Roshni that would help the Visually Impaired to recognise currency notes.
- Issue of neonatal sepsis gained importance as bugs of this infection haunted South-Asia, doctors from AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) stated.
- Bharat Fritz Werner Ltd (BFW), Bengaluru-based machining solution provider has entered into Partnership with Universal Robots, a Danish robot maker and a leader in collaborative robots, to co-create Robots for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs).
- Legrand won Oscar award three times.In 1969,he won the first award for the song “The Windmills of Your Mind” from the film “The Thomas Crown Affair”. In 1972,he won for the song “Summer of ’42” and “Yentl” in the year 1984.
1. Important Days
- The Nation is celebrating its 70th Republic Day in January 26, 2019. The main function was organized at Rajpath in the National Capital.
- International Customs Day, well known as the ICD, is celebrated by the custom organizations every year on 26th of January.
- China is poised to become the world’s top retail market in 2019, displacing the US. China’s retail sales this year will surpass that of the US by more than $100 billion, according to eMarketer’s latest worldwide retail and ecommerce forecast.
- South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade. He is the second President of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the parade.
- One of the biggest waterfalls, Niagara Falls frozen out due to extreme weather conditions. The winter storm that has blanketed the Midwest in snow and turned the Northeast into a deep freezer has now brought the falls' rushing waters to a halt in places.
- Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was elected as Malaysia’s new king by the members of the country’s royal families.
- India is on the way to becoming the fifth largest economy in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said recently. He was addressing the India-South Africa Business Forum organised jointly by Indian Industry Chambers CII, FICCI and Assocham.
- Public funding in India in the field of research and development for neglected diseases has increased significantly by Rs 135 crore since 2009, says a new report.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed out 10 global health threats for 2019, adding that millions of lives will be at risk if these threats are not addressed.
- On the occasion of Republic Day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced the launch of the ‘Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’ for youths from the economically weaker sections in urban areas.
- Oxford Dictionaries announced that ‘Nari Shakti’ as its Hindi Word of the Year for 2018 at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.
- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in collaboration with Indian Air Force (IAF) released a new standard for Aviation Turbine Fuels (ATF) which can be used as bio-jet fuel on all military and civilian aircraft.
- The SBI in-principal approved a loan of Rs.700 crore to the Machilipatnam Urban Development Authority (MUDA) with nearly 500 acres in the Machilipatnam Industrial Corridor as security, Andhra Pradesh.
- Research firm eMarket predicted that China will become world’s biggest retail market in 2019. According to the report, the sale boom is a result of China’s rising incomes and thriving e-commerce.
- Wasim Jaffer went past 1000 runs this season for Vidarbha a decade after scoring 1260 runs for Mumbai. He is the first batsman in Ranji Trophy history to score over 1000 runs in a season twice.
- Windies captain Jason Holder slammed 202*(229) in the second innings of the first Test against England, becoming only the third batsman in Test cricket history to score a double ton batting at number eight.
- Former South African all-rounder Johan Botha announced his immediate retirement from all forms of cricket because of his physical illness.
- Former US Open women’s singles winner Sam Stosur teamed up with Zhang Shuai to overcome defending champions TimeaBabos and Kristina Mladenovic to claim the Australian Open women’s doubles title.
- Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has been awarded the best miniratna PSU in strategic performance (financial category) at the Governance Now Sixth PSU awards.
- Vijayawada’s Krishna District Collector B. Lakshmikantham has been selected for the ‘Best Electoral Practices Award’ to be presented by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan during national voters’day celebrations in the city.
- The Government of India announced four Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushanand 94 Padma Shri Awards for 112 personalities.
- President Ram NathKovind awarded India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna to ex-President Pranab Mukherjee, late social activist Nanaji Deshmukh and late music maestro Bhupen Hazarika.
- Late actor-screenwriter Kader Khan was conferred with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour. The actor, who breathed his last on December 31, has been honoured for his contribution to cinema.
- State Bank of India had recently announced the launch of ‘YONO 20 Under Twenty’ awards to reward young achievers under the age of 20. Six of India’s brightest youngsters have now been shortlisted under the category ‘Promising game changers’.
- The Tamil Nadu State government bagged two awards for its performance pertaining to the Union government’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme at the National Girl Child Day celebrations in New Delhi.
- Private sector Lakshmi Vilas Bank has reappointed Parthasarathi Mukherjee as its managing director when the lender is struggling to raise Rs 2000 crore from investors.
- This time, the workhorse PSLV DL’s fourth stage, with a satellite built by school students strapped to its back, will continue orbiting the earth at a distance of 450km above it for six months, maybe more.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has planned 32 missions, including the prestigious Chandrayaan-2, during 2019.
- Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully launched Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR-SAM) jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries from INS Chennai off the coast of Odisha.
- Former ex Goa Governor and head of the Narsinghgarh Royal Family Bhanu Praksh Singh passed away due to physical illness in Indore.
1. Important Days
- 25 January is celebrated every year as National Voters Day to spread awareness about the necessity of voting and to encourage young generation towards the voting rights.
- The world’s longest 3D-printed concrete pedestrian bridge, which is 26.3 metre-long and 3.6-metre-wide, opened in China’s Shanghai.
- The Pakistan government declared sugarcane juice as the “national drink” of the country. The announcement came after the government conducted a Twitter poll where people were asked to decide on the country’s national drink with two other options orange and carrot besides sugarcane.
- India and Sri Lanka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide modern infrastructural facilities to Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies of Eastern University in Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka.
- India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) has successfully injected Microsat-R (Imaging Satellite) and Kalamsat-V2 satellites into their designated orbits.
- Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the newly built, 5.1 km long, four-lane, cable stayed bridge over river Mandovi in Goa.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana under which a group of Indian diaspora will be taken on a government-sponsored tour of religious places in India twice a year.
- Cabinet has approved the landmark amendment to Article 280 of the Constitution to increase powers of Autonomous Councils in Sixth Schedule areas of North East.
- The Supreme Court said it will be taking an “in-chamber” decision on the listing of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A.
- Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports (Independent Charge) Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore inaugurated the National Declamation Contest (24th& 25th January) organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
- The Tripura government has unveiled an official logo for the state’s tea to popularise the beverage and to promote the potentiality of tourism.
- Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries has received a go ahead from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire majority stakes in two of India’s largest cable operators – DEN Networks and Hathway Cable & Datacom for high speed broadband network under JioGigaFiber.
- As per the ‘SBI Ecowrap’ report, the government should opt for the unconditional cash transfer to farmers to alleviate agrarian distress rather than Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme.
- India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.4 per cent during 2018-19 and improve to 7.6 per cent in the next fiscal, said a UN report.
- The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 offers timely warnings about a range of macroeconomic challenges facing policymakers as they aim to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Nearly 65 per cent of Indian organisations are better prepared for the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), making the country the sixth leading nation globally in the GDPR readiness index
- England women’s cricketer Danielle Hazell has announced her retirement from the international cricket after serving the game for nine years.
- “No Presents Please”, originally written in Kannada by noted author Jayant Kaikini and translated into English by Tejaswini Niranjana, was announced as the winner of the prestigious $25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018.
- The government has instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. It will be announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- 96-year-old Karthyayani Amma from Kerala who made headlines after she became the oldest ever candidate to appear for the Kerala Literacy Mission’s Akshara Laksham (Million Letters) literacy exam has been selected as the Commonwealth of Learning Goodwill Ambassador.
- Burkinabe President Marc Christian Kaboré has appointed Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré as the new Prime Minister. It follows the resignation of Paul Kaba Thieba and his cabinet last week.
- President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has appointed Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire as Prime Minister.
- Russell Baker, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer who penned thousands of columns for The New York Times, and hosted the PBS television program “Masterpiece Theatre,” died at his home in Leesburg, Va. He was 93.
- Sahitya Akademi award winning Bengali writer Atin Bandyopadhyay passed aaway at a city hospital in Kolkata.
- Acclaimed Hindi fiction writer and essayist Krishna Sobti passed away in New Delhi at the age of 93 due to prolonged illness. She had won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1980 for her novel “Zindaginama“.
1. Important Days
- National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India on 24 January. Women and Child Development Ministry celebrated the National Girl Child Day 2019.
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted with consensus a resolution proclaiming 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.
- China is set to overtake the United States as the world’s biggest retail market in 2019. Research firm eMarketer in a report published predicted that China’s total retail sales will grow 7.5 percent to reach $5.636 trillion in 2019.
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that he is breaking off diplomatic ties with the United States after his American counterpart Donald Trump.
- The Union Cabinet approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the recruitment of domestic workers.
- Indian and Japanese Coast Guards started disaster, search and rescue exercises off the cost of Yokohama in Japan.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana under which a group of Indian diaspora will be taken on a government-sponsored tour of religious places in India twice a year.
- The 2nd World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019 on the Regulation of Homeopathic Medical Products held in Goa. AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik inaugurated the three day forum. 20 countries will participate in the event.
- The two-day Global Investors Summit, being organised by Tamil Nadu government, is underway in Chennai. It is being participated by about five thousand delegates from industries in India and abroad.
- With the aim to synergise humanitarian mine action and joint peace operations, the Indian Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX) will be held in Pune from March 18 to 27.
- Microsoft India launched a new e-commerce platform ‘re-weave.in’ under project ReWeave to aid handloom weavers.
- Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will commission the new Naval Air Base ‘INS Kohassa’ at Diglipur in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The airbase will be used to handle operations of helicopters and small aircraft like the Dornier.
- CEOs’ confidence in global economic growth has dipped dramatically by a record jump in pessimism but India has emerged as ‘the rising star’ by surpassing the UK to become fourth most attractive destination, a PwC survey said.
- The Adani Group and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) committed a total investment of over Rs.28,000 crore in the State, on the inaugural day of the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2019.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated two surveys namely, Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS), and Services and Infrastructure Outlook Survey(SIOS).
- South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha announced retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. Botha played a total of 78 one day matches, scoring 609 runs with an average of 19.03 and scalping 72 wickets with an economy rate of 4.57.
- Mohammed Shami succeeded the indian record holded by Irfan Pathan to became the fastest Indian bowler to claim 100 ODI wickets.
- Anurag Thakur, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, was bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for distinguished performance as a parliamentarian.
- Three Indian expats from the UAE are amongst those who won the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award the highest honour conferred on Indian diaspora which is being conferred by President Ram Nath Kovind on Girish Pant.
- YES Bank has appointed Deutsche Bank’s Ravneet Singh Gill as its MD and CEO, who will succeed Rana Kapoor.
- Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal has been assigned to temporarily hold the portfolios of Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs during the period of the indisposition of Arun Jaitley.
- Israel successfully tested the Arrow 3 missile system from Central Israel,it is done in collaboration with American Missile Defense Agency.
1. Important Days
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. He was one of the most prominent Indian freedom fighter. His army was known as Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj.
- India has signed 11 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Afghanistan for 26 projects worth 9.5 million dollars in the field of infrastructure, public services such as health clinics and governance-related projects.
- Social media giant Facebook announced that it will create an independent Institute for Ethics in Artificial intelligence (AI) with an initial investment of $7.5 million over a period of five years.
- The Edelman which is an independent global communications firm released its 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer report which placed India at the second place in the informed public category and third place in the general population category in the Trust Index.
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3. National News
- Afghanistan Capital: Kabul
- Currency: Afghan Afghani
- President: Ashraf Ghani
- The government, acting through the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, has decided to establish a committee under NITI Aayog, that will be tasked with recommending price controls and monitoring the prices of specific drugs and health products to ensure their affordability.
- Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate first inter-state bridge in jammu and kashmir. It was built at a cost of Rs 150 crore in a span of three and a half years linking areas of Katthua district with Punjab.
- Ten years after "26/11", the Indian Navy commenced the largest coastal defence exercise off the Indian coast.
- Omega Healthcare Management Services has signed a pact with IIIT-Bangalore for advanced use of the latest technology in providing healthcare solutions.
- The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier container port got listed amongst the top 30 container ports globally, as per the latest Lloyds Report. JNPT notched up five spots, to be 28th on the list, compared to its previous ranking.
- Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Pema Khandu declared Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) as the “State Festival” at Seijosa in East Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) is only conservation festival of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Andhra Pradesh cabinet has decided to cater 5% reservation each for Kapu community and the economically backward classes (EBCs) among the forward castes. The cabinet approved the decision of doubling the welfare pensions given under the NTR Bharosa Scheme.
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India organised an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Awareness Programme at Vadodara, Gujarat.
- India’s largest telecom operator by subscriber base Vodafone Idea announced that its board had approved a rights issue of Rs25,000 crore to existing eligible equity shareholders in line with the recommendations of a capital raising committee it had set up in November 2018.
- Jallikattu’ as a symbol of the valour and courage of the Tamil people.A grand “jallikattu” (bull-taming) event held in Pudukottai and this event entered the world record for the maximum number of bulls released into the sport arena .
- Rishabh Pant was named the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Emerging Player Of The Year following an impressive show in India's first-ever Test series win in Australia.
- Mohammed Shami became the fastest Indian bowler to claim 100 ODI wickets, during the first one-dayer against New Zealand at Napier. Shami reached the milestone in his 56th match, with the wicket of opener Martin Guptill.
- The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019. The awards were presented to 26 shortlisted awardees including one joint award for National Child Award (now renamed as Bal Shakti Puraskar)
- Noted Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashashchandra has been awarded Saraswati Samman, 2017, for his poetry collection in Gujarati named “Vakhar”.
- A Russia hawk, A. Wess Mitchell helped reassure U.S. allies worried about the president’s relationship with Putin.
- Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu launched the book ‘Universal Brotherhood Through Yoga’ in New Delhi.The book is compiled by Bharatiya Sanskrit Pitham
- Former India hockey player Raghbir Singh Bhola, a two-time Olympic medallist, has passed away aged 92.In 2000, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award for his achievements in hockey.
1. International News
- China's economy grew at 6.6% in 2018, its slowest rate in almost 3 decades. The world's 2nd biggest economy was grappling with the effects of the current trade war with the US and declining exports.
- The 4th Arab Economic and Social Development Summit took place in Lebanon’s capital Beirut in which the Arab leaders have agreed a 29-item economic agenda in addition to encouraging the safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
- Germany banned Iranian airline Mahan Air from its airports, in an escalation of sanctions adopted by the European Union (EU) against Tehran over attacks on opponents in the bloc.
- Nepal’s central bank has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation where Indian currency is widely used.
- The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- India and Sri Lanka signed an MoU to provide modern infrastructural facilities to Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies of Eastern University in Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka.
- India Steel 2019 Exhibition and Conference had begun in Mumbai. The three-day event organized by the Ministry of Steel helped chart out the future growth path of the steel industry.
- The Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet has decided to give 5% quota for Kapu community and another 5% to the Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) among the forward castes.
- Microsoft India has launched a new e-commerce platform re-weave.in for handloom weavers under its Project ReWeave, part of its philanthropic initiatives.
- China announced that its official economic growth came in at 6.6 percent in 2018 — the slowest pace since 1990.The world’s 2nd biggest economy was grappling with the effects of the current trade war with the US and declining exports.
- Dell organizes an interactive hackathon, as a part of its three-city PolicyHack series for teacher who are focused on their learning journey.
- The Khelo India Youth Games concluded at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune with the host Maharashtra leading the medals table by winning a mammoth 85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze for a total of 228 medals in the Games.
- World Championship bronze medallist Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain claimed the gold medal while Haryana boxer Manisha Moun had to settle with silver at the Women’s National Boxing Championships held at the JSW Sports’ Inspire Institute of Sports, Vijayanagara, Karnataka.
- Bhartiya Janta Party’s Lok Sabha Member from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, Anurag Thakur was presented the Sansad Ratna Award for his performance as a parliamentarian.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research announced that the Centre for Advanced Materials of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) chose Eminent Scientist and Bharat Ratna recipient CNR Rao for the first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research.
- The Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu presented the 2nd Chhatra Vishwakarma Awards to students and their mentors and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) Awards to institutions at an event organized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in New Delhi.
- Virat Kohli creates history by bagging three major ICC Awards for his contributions in 2018. Virat Kohli has become the first player in history to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of the Year awards following an extraordinary 2018.
- US Based Indian poet Ranjani Murali was awarded the “Woman’s Voice Award” on the last day of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF). The main Objective of the award is to recognize and encourage creative writing by women in India.
- Shri Indu Shekhar Jha was appointed the member of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and Shri Lalchharlian Pachuauwas appointed as a member of Joint Electricity Regulation Commission for Manipur and Mizoram by Power Ministry.
- Walmart backed E-Commerce giant Flipkart promoted its Fashion department head Rishi Vasudev to head Myntra – Jabong’s Fashion and lifestyle categories as an additional responsibility.
- The Constitutional court of Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed the President’s election victory of Felix Tshisekedi of UDPS party making path for the first peaceful, democratic transfer of Power since Congo’s Independence in 1960.He Succeeds the Outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
1. International News
- The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro has been named as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020 by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- Home Ministry has made Aadhaar cards valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and over 65 travelling to Nepal and Bhutan.
- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani formally registered as a candidate for Afghanistan’s delayed presidential election, setting up a rematch with Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah in the July ballot.
- The Karnataka State government approved the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to acquire land currently in possession of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE).
- Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh assured the representatives of the North East Students Organisation (NESO) that a clause will be inserted in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, on the protection of the indigenous peoples.
- Government announced that Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Libcoin are in dialogue to form a world-class consortium to initially build the first lithium Ion battery plant in India. The Initial capacity of the plant will be 1GWh and it will be scaled up to 30 GWh in due course.
- Odisha Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik announced the extension of free health services under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana(BSKY) to all medical colleges and hospitals of Odisha from 1st February 2019.
- Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 426 metres long Diffo Bridge over Chipu River in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. Border Roads Organization (BRO) constructed the bridge along Indo-China border.
- Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi launched the Country’s First National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai, Maharashtra, that seeks to portray over a century-old journey of movies in India.
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has estimated the credit requirement for priority sectors in Odisha at Rs 75,611.97 crore for 2019-20.
- Investments worth Rs 3,123 crore by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Defence public sector units and private sector companies like TVS group, Data Patterns, Alpha Designs and Aerospace Engineers, were announced as part of the launch of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor.
- The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.
- India's Ankita Raina has won the International Tennis Federation's 25,000-dollar Women's tournament in Singapore.
- Cosmas Lagat of Kenya and Worknesh Alemu of Ethiopia won the men's and women's crowns in the Tata Mumbai Marathon in Mumbai. Lagat, winner of the Sevilla Marathon in 2016.
- Himachal Pradesh MP Anurag Thakur has been bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for his distinguished performance as a parliamentarian under Jury Committee Special Award category.
- Aparna kumar , 2002 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh is the first serving officer to finish this daunting challenge
- The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has appointed Aqeel Ahmed as its new chairperson. The council also announced Sanjay Leekha as its new vice chairman.
- India is to train 45 countries in nano-satellite making through a new capacity building programme named Uni space Nano satellite Assembly and Training by ISRO (UNNATI).
- World’s oldest man Masazo Nonaka died due to natural causes in the Japan’s northern most island of Hokkaido at the age of 113.
1. International News
- India is likely to surpass the United Kingdom in the world’s largest economy rankings in 2019, to become world’s fifth largest economy, according to a report by global consultancy firm PwC.
- The United States has assured Pakistan that it does not support any group threatening the country’s territorial integrity, a traditional US position re-emphasised following a recent advertising campaign targeting Islamabad.
- May’s Plan B statement will also be subject to amendments before being put to a vote in the House of Commons on January 29.
- US president Donald Trump on Saturday sought to break the stalemate that has shut down the federal government partially for 30 days now with a proposals that was rejected by Democrats as a “non-starter” even before he had spelt it out in a speech he had teased the day before as a “major announcement” coming.
- In a bid to boost people-to-people ties and cultural exchanges, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen inaugurated a Danish Cultural Institute in New Delhi.
- Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth arrived in India for a week-long official state visit. Jugnauth is scheduled to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2019 in Varanasi.
- Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor in the Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu, with various private and public sector industries announcing an investment of around Rs 3100 crores.
- Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2019 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar concluded on 20th January. 75 member delegation of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council participated in this Summit.
- In a first, an exclusive and certified veterinary hospital operating 24×7 was inaugurated at Tiz Hazari, New Delhi. The hospital will focus on issues such as birth control of monkeys, sterilisation of stray dogs, and cow shelter home.
- The Tripura government has unveiled an official logo for the state’s tea to popularise the beverage and to promote the potentiality of tourism.
- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the state is making all-out efforts to attract investment and is holding a global investor summit in Dharamsala on June 10 and 11.
- Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar laid the foundation stone of “Haryana Bhawan” at the “Statue of Unity” complex in Kevadiya, Gujarat.
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has set up a 11-member working group under the Chairmanship of former SEBI chief UK Sinha to go into the concept of ‘Group Insolvency’ and suggest a suitable framework.
- Former Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), U.K. Sinha will head an 11-member working group constituted by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy board of India (IBBI) to study the concept of ‘Group Insolvency’ and suggest a suitable framework.
- Government announced that Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Libcoin are in dialogue to form a world class consortium to initially build the first lithium Ion battery plant in India.
- Buoyed by their record-breaking twin triumphs in Australia, India will now embark on a tour of New Zealand tour, where they will play five ODIs followed by three T20s
- The Spanish 17-time Grand Slam winner dismissed the unseeded Czech 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to tear into the last eight without dropping a tournament set.
- Maharashtra finished as the top team with 228 medals (85 gold, 62 silver, 81 bronze). Haryana with 178 medals (62 gold, 56 silver, 60 bronze) came second, followed by Delhi.
- Indian-American philanthropist and entrepreneur, Gurinder Singh Khalsa(45), has been presented with the prestigious Rosa Park Trailblazer award for his campaign that forced US authorities change their policy towards headgear of the Sikh community.
- Andry Rajoelina was sworn in as President of Madagascar. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by delegation from 35 countries and international organizations.
- Senior IPS officer Prabhat Singh has been appointed as Director General (Investigation) in the National Human Rights Commission, Singh is at present Special Director, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
- Sweden ended a four-month political vacuum when lawmakers elected 61 years old Swedish Social Democratic Party’s leader Stefan Lofven as the Prime Minister of Sweden for a second term.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of V Vaidyanathan as MD and CEO of IDFC First Bank for a period of three years. The Tenure of V Vaidyanathan started from 19th December 2019.
- Light combat helicopter (LCH),has successfully carried out air-to-air missile firing on a moving aerial target at the integrated test range in Chandipur on Odisha coast.
- Although it is a total eclipse, the moon will never go completely dark but rather take on a coppery red glow - called a blood moon. It is also a full moon that is especially close to Earth, called a supermoon.
- Indian National Lok Dal (INLD)’s senior leader and MLA Jasvinder Singh Sandhu passed away after Suffering from Cancer at the age of 63 in Haryana.
1. International News
- The Union Minister for Tourism, Shri. K. J. Alphons attended the Seventh Meeting of Tourism Ministers of ASEAN and India held in Ha Long City, Vietnam.
- The US city of Louisville in Kentucky state is set to rename its airport after hometown hero and boxing legend Muhammad Ali (name before conversion to Islam – Cassius Clay), who died in 2016.
- Palestine took over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China from Egypt at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Palestine is slated to lead the bloc for 2019.
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has launched Tokyo-based startup Star-ALE’s mini-satellite aimed to deliver the world’s first artificial meteor shower.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai. The development of the Museum was guided by the Museum Advisory Committee headed by Shyam Benegal.
- India will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) this year to address the issue of land degradation and desertification.
- Nashik in Maharashtra will be the site of the country’s second defence innovation hub after Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The defence innovation hub at Nashik will help local industries and entrepreneurs and further the Centre’s Make in India push in the country’s defence sector.
- Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched ‘School Fagat-Hansi’ mission, an initiative under the Government’s popular ‘Go to Village’ mission.
- The country’s first cremation ground for cows will be prepared in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal and the city’s municipal authorities are already on the lookout for a site for the purpose.
- Two commemorative coins in the denomination of Rs 100 and Rs 5 were released to mark the 102nd birth anniversary of late Tamil Nadu chief minister and ruling AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran which was celebrated across the state.
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Libcoin are in dialogue to form a world-class consortium to initially build 1GWh lithium-ion battery plant in India.
- HDFC Standard Life Insurance has changed its name to HDFC Life Insurance following the receipt of relevant approvals from regulatory authorities.
- India defeated Australia in the third ODI at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to win the ODI series by 2-1 and became the first Visiting team to win bilateral series across the three formats against Australia in Australian soil.
- The Hockey India announced that striker Rani Rampal will lead the 18-member Indian women’s team for the sesaon opener tournament in Spain starting 26 January 2019.
- The highest run-getter in the Ranji Trophy history, Wasim Jaffer, became the first Indian and the first Asian batsman to score two double centuries after turning 40 in first-class cricket.
- Eminent Indian scientist C.N.R. Rao of the Jawaharlal Nehru for Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, has been conferred with the first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research by the Centre for Advanced Materials of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- An Indian-American philanthropist and entrepreneur, Gurinder Singh Khalsa, has been presented with the prestigious Rosa Park Trailblazer award for his campaign that forced US authorities change their policy towards headgear of the Sikh community.
- Sweden’s parliament has elected Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to a second four-year term ending more than four months of political deadlock.
- Senior IPS officer Prabhat Singh has been appointed as Director General (Investigation) in the National Human Rights Commission.
- The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said P R Aqeel Ahmed has been appointed as its new chairman. The council is a trade promotion orgnisation of leather and leather products industry.
- The Reserve Bank has approved the appointment of V Vaidyanathan as MD and CEO of IDFC First Bank for a period of three years, according to a regulatory filing.
- Mary Oliver (American poet ), the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose rapturous odes to nature and animal life brought her critical acclaim and popular affection, has passed away. She was 83.
1. International News
- The world’s first human rights TV channel has been launched by the International Observatory of Human Rights (IOHR).
- The World Economic Forum released its 14th edition of annual Global Risk Report 2019 ahead of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.
- Second edition of the India-Myanmar bilateral army exercise, IMBEX 2018-19, commenced at Chandimandir Military Station, that houses the headquarters of the Western Command, Chandigarh.
- The Centre has taken a decision to make all new cars meet Euro 6 standards mandatory for initial launch from April 1, 2020.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical and Research in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 426.60 metre long Diffo Bridge over Chipu River in Lower Dibang Valley District in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the proposal of renaming the Mughalsarai tehsil as Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, the co-founder and president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath launched his government’s Rs 50,000-crore farm debt-waiver scheme named ‘Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana’.
- Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare and TRAI Chairman RS Sharma inaugurated the 25th International conference and exhibition on terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, BES EXPO 2019 in New Delhi.
- The second World Orange Festival has begun in Nagpur. The festival, while offering its famed oranges to the world, will also showcase and brand the exquisite fruit in order to boost its export.
- Minister of State in Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the UNNATI (Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training) programme organized by ISRO in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Literature, art and culture of China will be in focus at the 9th edition of the prestigious Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF), which has invited China as the guest of honour this year.
- A consortium of banks led by State Bank of India has agreed to provide finance for Nagpur-Mumbai ‘SamruddhiCorridor’ expressway project. SBI has agreed to lend the highest amount, 8,500 crorerupees.
- Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) has crossed the milestone of 1 crore beneficiaries as on January 14, 2019, according to a release by Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- In partnership with States, the Ministry of Rural Development has completed 1.37 crore Rural Homes since April 2014.
- The country’s economy is likely to grow a tad higher at 7.5 per cent in 2019-20 on account of steady improvement in major sectors — industry and services, said India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra)
- India defeated Australia in the third ODI today to clinch the three-match series 2-1. With this, India became the first visiting side to win a bilateral series (two or more matches) in all three formats in Australia.
- Stephen Constantine steps down as the head coach of the Indian Football team following the team’s exit from 2019 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Asian Cup.
- The Japan Prize Foundation announced India born professor Dr. Rattan Lal, University Professor of Soil Science at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A, as the recipient of the 2019 Japan Prize.
- Ace Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat has become the first Indian athlete to receive a nomination in the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
- President Ram Nath Kovind approved the elevation of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari to the Supreme Court. Justice Khanna is presently a judge of the Delhi High Court.
- Yohei Sasakawa was named to receive Gandhi Peace Prize for 2018,who is the Goodwill Ambassador of the World Health Organization for Leprosy Elimination.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) appointed Gopal Krishna Dwivedi as has Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect. Mr.Dwivedi will replace R. P. Sisodia.
- Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic lawmaker, has been appointed as a member of a Congressional committee on intelligence.
- world’s first television channel dedicated to human rights was launched in London by the International Observatory of Human Rights (IOHR).
- Scientists have found evidence of methane rainfall on the north pole of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, using data from the Cassini spacecraft.
- John C. Bogle, who founded the Vanguard Group of Investment Companies in 1974 and built it into a giant kingdom, with $4.9 trillion in assets under management, died at the age of 89.
1. International News
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to protect the interests of all 134 countries in the UN's Group of 77, as Palestine took the chairmanship of the group from Egypt for 2019.
- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will attend the Vibrant Gujarat international investment summit as a key guest in a first Central Asian country to participate as a country partner in the flagship investment summit of Gujarat.
- India and the United Kingdom are negotiating an agreement that will lead to recognition of year-long Master’s degree courses offered by British universities that are not considered legitimate.
- PM Narendra Modi has dedicated the Kollam Bypass on the National Highway-66 to the nation. It reduces travel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath launched his government's Rs 50,000-crore farm debt-waiver scheme named 'Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana'.
- A ministerial panel headed by Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will examine uniformity of taxation on lottery under GST or other issues arising out of it.
- The second edition of the India-Myanmar bilateral army exercise, IMBEX 2018-19, commenced at Chandimandir Military Station, that houses the headquarters of the Western Command, Chandigarh.
- Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta conquered Antartica's highest point, Mount Sidley. With this feat, he became the first Indian and youngest man to climb the 7 highest peaks and volcanic summits across all continents.
- The Union Cabinet has approved the recapitalization of EXIM Bank. Issuance of Recapitalization Bonds by the Government of India to the tune of Rs.6,000 crore for capital infusion in Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank).
- Finance Ministry asked the public sector banks to bring down the government’s equity to at least 52 per cent in the first phase.
- India has decided to purchase $5 billion worth of oil and gas from the US per annum and $18 billion worth for defence equipment. India-US bilateral trade has increased from $119 billion to $140 billion in past two years.
- First National Level Sports Meet for the students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) was inaugurated by Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs at G.M.C Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad.
- A 12 year old Tamil Nadu boy D Gukesh became the youngest Grand master in India and second in the world.
- Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech announced his retirement after having a career spanning 20 years in football.
- Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani who is also the Richest Indian, has been featured in the Top “Global Thinkers 2019”ranking released by the prestigious Foreign Policy publishing.
- Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari for their contribution in Rural Development, Education , Development of natural resources.
- software engineer and mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta, hailing from Haridevpur in South Kolkata, became the first Indian and youngest man to climb the seven highest peaks and volcanic summits across all continents.
- Jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to millions of children across India and Sulabh International for its contribution in improving the condition of sanitation in India and emancipation of manual scavengers.
- International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Manu Sawhney appointed as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
- Indian football team head coach Stephen Constantine stepped down after the team’s shock 0-1 defeat to Bahrain which led to its exit from the Asian Cup.
- Mohammed Ali Qamar, the man who won India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medal in boxing, has taken over as the chief coach for the country’s female boxers.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to protect the interests of all 134 countries in the UN's Group of 77, as Palestine took the chairmanship of the group from Egypt for 2019.
- Former president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Vishnu Hari Dalmia passed away at his Delhi residence .He was 91 years old.
1. International News
- Under the theme of international conference is ‘Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture’, the 9th International Micro Irrigation Conference (9IMIC) held in – Aurangabad (Maharashtra, India).
- China's Chang'e 4 lunar probe hit headlines earlier this month after it successfully landed on the far side of the moon in a world first.
- The Centre constituted a seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into Goods and Services Tax (GST)-related issues of the real estate sector
- The government set up an eight-member ministerial panel headed by Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to look into GST-related issues of lottery business.
- Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off SAKSHAM (Sanrakshan Kshmata Mahotsav) Vans to promote and create awareness among people on the need of oil and gas conservation for the future and the methods to do it.
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organised the three-day 6th ‘Women of India Organic Festival’ at Leisure Valley, Chandigarh, to celebrate and promote women farmers and entrepreneurs in the organic sector from the remotest parts of India.
- The 1st National Level Sports Meet for the students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) was inaugurated at G.M.C Balayogi Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad.
- Pongal is a three-day Hindu festival majorly celebrated in south India. It is celebrated in the winters when the sun reaches its southernmost point according to the Hindu calculations.
- The Union Cabinet approved capital infusion of Rs 6,000 crore in Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) through recapitalisation bonds to boost the bank’s capacity in export financing.
- Central Statistics Office (CSO), citing cooling food and fuel prices as the reasons, it stated that wholesale and retail inflation reduced to a multi month low with CPI falling to an 18-month low in December,2018.
- Stephen Constantine (from UK) has decided to step down as the head coach of the Indian football team following team’s exit from 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
- Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech (from Czech Republic) announced that he would be retiring from professional football at the end of the current season.
- Mr Yu Wensheng who is best known for suing the Beijing government over the city’s once chronic pollution, granted a human rights award by the French and German ambassadors to China at an event organised by the German embassy in Beijing.
- Two scientists are being recognized with the 2019 Japan Prize for original and outstanding achievements that not only contribute to the advancement of science and technology, but also promote peace and prosperity for all mankind.
- Veteran star Glenn Close is set to receive the Oscar Wilde Award, the US-Ireland Alliance has announced. Close, 71, will be receive the honour from Melissa McCarthy during the 14th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards.
- Ananth Narayanan, the chief executive officer of Myntra and Jabong, a unit of Walmart-owned Flipkart, quit the company to pursue external opportunities.
- The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of photo-messaging app Snapchat, Tim Stone, has called it quits after just eight months of being appointed at the post.
- Senior AGP leader and one of the signatories of the Assam Accord, Biraj Kumar Sarma, has passed away after suffering from chronic liver disease.
- Veteran journalist Rajendra Prabhu, who was at the forefront of media trade union movement, passed away after a brief illness.
1. Important Days
- Army Day is observed on January 15 in India. On this day in 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief.
- The Parliament of Macedonia has passed the resolution to amend the constitution of the country to rename it as the Republic of Northern Macedonia.
- Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first ever India-Central Asia Dialogue which was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- Government eMarketplace (GeM) has launched an initiative – Womaniya on GeM – to enable women entrepreneurs and self-help groups to sell different products at the platform.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bolangir-Bichhupali railway line in Balangir, Odisha. Furthermore, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a permanent building at the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Sonepur and inaugurated new Passport Sewa Kendras at Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapur, Puri, Phulbani, Bargarh and Balangir.
- Assam Government set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to recommend measures for protection of rights of existing tribal communities as well as to decide on the benefits to be given to new Scheduled Tribes.
- Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the Global Aviation Summit 2019 in Mumbai. The two-day summit, with a theme ‘Flying for all-especially the next 6 Billion’, is being organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation in association with FICCI.
- The National Wildlife Board after receiving recommendations from the state Wildlife Board, approved extraction of natural gas from Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary by state-owned ONGC Tripura Asset.
- Private sector ICICI Bank inducted former SBI Managing Director B Sriram and management consultant Rama Bijapurkar on its board as independent director.
- Mohammed Ali Qamar was the man who brought India her first Commonwealth Games gold medal in boxing in 2002.
- Asian Cup Gold medallist Shakil Amed has added one more feather to his cap when he set up a world record in indoor rowing by completing 1,00,000 (one lakh) metres in above-40 years category in Kolkata.
- The government extended the service of Finance Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha by a month till February-end. He was to retire on January 31.
- Ananth Narayanan has stepped down as CEO of Myntra and Jabong to pursue external opportunities. Amar Nagaram has been named as Head, Myntra and Jabong, reporting to Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO of Flipkart Group.
- The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the appointment of Manu Sawhney as its new Chief Executive Officer.
- Sir Michael Atiyah, a British mathematician who received the 1966 Fields Medal, also known as the 'Nobel for Mathematics,' passed away at the age of 89.
1. International News
- Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of United States Chamber of Commerce launched a new innovation strategy at Raisina Dialogue, 2019 in New Delhi.
- Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi will head the seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into the revenue shortfall being faced by states following the roll out of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- Gujarat has become the first state to implement the 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category. This comes a day after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bill.
- Puducherry government has imposed a ban on the sale and use of plastic products in the Union Territory from March 1.
- The Chennai Traffic Police inducted a road safety robot into its fold. Named ROADEO, the robot will make the pedestrians, especially children, feel safe while crossing the roads.
- The 38-year-old K Dhanya Sanal, a spokesperson for the Union Ministry of Defence, has become the first woman, who is trekking to Agasthyarkoodam peak, after the Kerala High Court lifted the ban on women’s trekking on December 9 last year.
- Private sector lender IDFC Bank said its name has been changed to IDFC First Bank Ltd with effect from Saturday from 12th January 2019.
- India have retained their number one spot in the updated ICC Test team rankings, released on 14th January 2019.
- Maharashtra topped the medal tally with 37 golds at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune. It has 111 medals in its kitty with 37 gold, 31 silver and 43 bronze.
- At the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune, ten year old Abhinav Shaw became the youngest gold medallist in shooting.
- Bengaluru Raptors have won their first ever Premier Badminton League title. In the title clash played at Bengaluru, Bengaluru edged out Mumbai Rockets, with a 4-3 win.
- The Hindu Prize 2018: Fiction And Non-Fiction And The Hindu Young World Goodbooks Awards was announced in the Hindu Litfest 2018 which is happening in Chennai.
- Writer Namita Gokhale has won the Sushila Devi Literature Award for her novel “Things to Leave Behind”. She was awarded in the ‘Best Book of Fiction Written by a Woman Author’ category at the inaugural edition of Bhopal Literature and Art Festival (BLF).
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award. The Award focuses on the triple-bottom-line of People, Profit and Planet.
- Dr. T.C.A Anant, former Chief Statistician of India & Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, took the Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Former Ranji Trophy cricketer of Goa, Rajesh Ghodge passed away during a local tournament at the Rajendra Prasad Stadium in Goa.
- Former India footballer Mohammed Zulfiqaruddin, who was part of the fourth place finishing team in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, passed away in Hyderabad.
1. International News
- Macedonia’s parliament on Friday passed an amendment to the constitution to rename the country Republic of North Macedonia, as agreed with Greece to put an end to a 27-year dispute.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released a commemorative coin of Rs 350 to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the ten preachers of the Sikh religion.
- Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd) launched the National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 in New Delhi, thereby beginning the celebration of the National Youth Day 2019.
- Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India is organizing the 9th International Micro Irrigation Conference on Modern Agriculture at Aurangabad in Maharashtra from January 16–18, 2019.
- The second India-Myanmar bilateral Army exercise ‘IMBEX 2018-19’ commenced at Chandimandir military station near Chandigarh.
- The global consulting firm PwC and industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) held a new survey of manufacturers and released a report titled “The India Manufacturing Barometer 2019”.
- Gurgaon’s 8-year-old Kartik Singh has won the under-8 category at the Kids’ Golf World Championship organised by US kids Golf in Malaysia, which makes him the youngest Indian to win the title.
- Team India’s Right-hand opener Rohit Sharma becomes the first Indian batsman to smash five hundreds in ODI cricket in Australia.
- Writer Namita Gokhale has won the Sushila Devi Literature Award for her novel “Things to Leave Behind”.
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award, in New Delhi.
- Senior bureaucrat Jaideep Govind has been appointed as Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission.
- Senior Indian Information Service officer Nitin Wakankar will be the new Chief Information Officer and spokesperson of the CBI, replacing Abhishek Dayal who has been transferred to the Publications Division.
- Former banker and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Meera Sanyal passed away after battling cancer for a brief period.
1. Important Days
- National Youth Day is celebrated on 12 January being the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. In 1984 the Government of India declared the day as National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year.
- The Foreign Minister of Guatemala Sandra Jovel notified the United Nations secretary-general about the Government’s decision to terminate the agreement which established the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
- India has slipped to 42nd place on an annual Global Democracy Index amid “rise of conservative religious ideologies” and increase in vigilantism and violence against minorities as well as other dissenting voices.
- President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army on Purna Chandra Thapa, the Chief of the Army Staff of Nepalese Army.
- External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj embarked on a two-day visit to Uzbekistan. Mrs. Swaraj will be in Samarkand for the First India-Central Asia Dialogue which she will co-chair with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.
- An agreement for Renukaji Dam Multipurpose Project was signed in New Delhi among the States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
- ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan has announced that the organization is well prepared to meet the targets of launching Gaganyaan manned mission to outer space by December 2021.
- Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, chaired the 4th meeting of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP) in New Delhi.
- The 32nd Meeting of GST Council was concluded in New Delhi. The Limit of annual turnover for composition scheme increased to 1.5 crore rupees effective from April 1, 2019.
- Albie Morkel, the South African all-rounder, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Morkel, who played for close to 20 years of professional cricket.
- According to World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report, fuelled by policy reforms and rebound in credit, India’s economy is forecast to expand by 7.5 per cent during the 2019-20
- The GST Council relaxed the tax exemption limit to Rs 40 lakh from the earlier cap of Rs 20 lakh during its 32nd meeting.
- National award-winning filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta will be handed the Lifetime Achievement Award by the West Bengal Film Journalists Association (WBFJA).
- Industrialist and Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej was conferred the ICSIs Lifetime Achievement Award for 'Translating Excellence in Corporate Governance into Reality'.
- The National Stock Exchange (NSE) Chairman Ashok Chawla stepped down from his position. Chawla, who has been the chairman of NSE since 2016, stepped down “in light of recent legal developments.”
- Yes Bank, India’s fourth-largest private sector bank, announced the appointment of Brahm Dutt as non-executive part-time chairman up till July 4, 2020.
- Ashok Chawla resigned as chairman of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) with immediate effect “in light of recent legal developments”.
- Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has appointed Su Tseng-chang as Prime Minister, during a Cabinet reshuffle following the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's heavy losses in local elections.
1. International News
- According to Henley Passport Index, which keeps in record and analyses of every country’s travel afford revealed a report of powerful passport holding country, in which Japan.
- Taiwanese President Sai Eng-Wen has appointed the former Prime Minister of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party as the new Prime Minister Suang-Chang
- Nicholas Maduro sworn in as the country's President for the second consecutive January 10, 2019 Venezuela
- India’s longest 300-meter single lane steel cable suspension bridge was inaugurated by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows
- The Environment Ministry launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aimed at reducing toxic particulate matter in 102 Indian cities by 2024.
- The 25th edition of Partnership Summit 2019, a global platform for dialogue, debate, deliberation and engagement among Indian and global leaders on economic policy and growth trends in India was held in Mumbai.
- The Indian Paint Association (IPA), the apex body of the country's paint industry announced that the 29th biennial Indian Paint Conference started in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
- Reserve bank of India has agreed to disburse Sri lanka’s loan amount of USD 400 million to boost the nation’s reserve.
- The Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari, on successful meeting with Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, announced that Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- January, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised the annual turnover for availing composition scheme to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 1 crore effective from April 1, 2019 to provide relief to small businesses under Goods and Services (GST) regime.
- The Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep, the Romanian tennis player, were named top seeds for next week’s Australian Open.
- Indian men's hockey coach Harendra Singh was removed from the position and offered the task of helming the junior squad by the national federation. Harendra Singh was brought in as men's coach in May 2018.
- 36 years old boxer, M C Mary Kom attained the first position in the latest ranking released by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in the Light Fly 45-48 kilograms category with 1700 points.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) pavilion received ‘Exhibitor of the Year Award’ at 106th Indian Science Congress held at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, Punjab.
- India skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri received the honorary membership of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for their contribution to the sport of cricket.
- The Indian Paint Association (IPA), the apex body of the country’s paint industry announced that the 29th biennial Indian Paint Conference would be held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh from 11th to 13th January 2019.
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro started a second term in office on January 10, 2019, amid the economic and humanitarian crisis faced by the Latin American country.
- Ajit Mohan officially took over as Facebook India’s new Vice President and MD. He succeeded Umang Bedi who left the post on October 2017.
- Narasimhan Ram, Chairman, the Publishing Private Limited, has been appointed President of the Alliance for Media Freedom (AFMF).
1. Important Days
- World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 every year, marking the anniversary of first World Hindi Conference which was held in 1975.It was first observed on January 10, 2006.
- UN office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a latest Global Report on “Trafficking in Persons”, which reveals that the number of human trafficking victims around the world is on the rise while armed groups and terrorists are trafficking women and children to generate funds and recruit.
- The first India-Central Asia Dialogue will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on January 12 and 13. The Dialogue will be co-chaired by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj and the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov.
- Nitin Gadkari has announced that the government has allowed an Iranian bank Pasargad Bank to open a branch in mumbai within the next three months. Alongside, India’s UCO Bank will open a branch in Iran.
- UGC decides to set up Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) to refine and strengthen research publication.</li.
- PM Modi, launched the four-laning of Solapur-Osmanabad section of NH-211, underground sewerage system and three sewage treatment plants.
- The Lok Sabha passed “The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019” by voice vote after a brief discussion.
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, has launched an online campaign, ‘#www: Web- WonderWomen’ to recognize the exceptional women who have been driving positive agenda of social change via social media.
- The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) proposed renaming of the Indian Forest Service as Indian Forest and Tribal Service.
- Union Cabinet has approved Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities of Assam. The communities that are proposed to be extended ST status include, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutiya, Matak, Moran and the tea tribes.</li.
- According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, islands in Andaman will soon be connected by seaplanes that can land on or take-off from the water.
- IRCTC- Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, the Railways’ subsidiary, will offer insurance of up to INR 50 lakh for free for air passengers who book their tickets through its portal.
- Sri Lanka Central Bank announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to provide $400 million under a swap arrangement to boost the island nation’s reserves.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that India has allowed an Iranian bank, Pasargad Bank, to open a branch in Mumbai.
- Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Railways’ subsidiary, will offer insurance of up to INR50 lakh for free for air passengers who book their tickets through its portal. IRCTC has tied up with Bharti-Axa for the offer.
- In order to strengthen its research function and enhance its linkage to policy making, SEBI has constituted a Research Advisory Committee headed by Dr. Sankar De and comprising of prominent financial economists and market practitioners as members.
- World Bank projected India’ GDP, expected to grow at 7.3% in the fiscal year 2018-19, and 7.5% in the following two years.
- Standard Chartered released its long term forecast which states that India will surpass the U.S to become the world’s second largest economy by 2030 while China will be at First Position.
- The Reserve Bank of India has allowed tokenization of debit, credit and prepaid card transactions to enhance the safety of the digital payments ecosystem in the country.
- Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been named African Footballer of the Year for the second time in a row. He received the award at a ceremony in Senegal.
- The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced USA Cricket as its 105th member. USA Cricket came into existence after USACA was expelled in June 2017 for lack of cooperation in terms of unifying the cricket community in the country.
- iverpool's Mohamed Salah has been named as the 2018 Confederation of African Football Player of the Year.
- World Economic Forum, India is poised to become the third-largest consumer market behind only the US and China.The report was titled as ‘Future of Consumption in Fast-Growth Consumer Market – India’.
- Nobel Peace Prize winner and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai pens a new book, titled 'We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World,'
1. Important Days
- Every year, India celebrates Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) on January 9 to mark the contribution of overseas Indian community in development of India.
- Over 150 people were killed in at least 6 terrorist attacks claimed by the terrorist group. However, Pakistan has repeatedly denied that ISIS has an organised peace in the country.
- North Korea agrees to participate in Winter Olympics in South Korea This comes as the two nations held their first official talks in more than two years.
- The US govt is not considering any proposal that could force deportation of H-1B visa holders. Up to 7.5 lakh Indian H-1B visa holders could have been deported if he govt had decided to go ahead with the proposal.
- The Union Government issued its nod for setting up the Centre for Classical Language at the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Tirur, Kerala.
- UIDAI blocks Aadhaar data access of 5,000 officials. The action came after a news report which claimed that demographic details of Aadhaar holders were available for Rs.500.
- Playing national anthem in cinema halls optional. The SC modified its order and said it’s not mandatory to play the anthem.
- The Reserve Bank of India constituted a 5-member high-level committee under Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani to suggest measures to strengthen the safety and security of digital payments in the country.
- The private sector Jana Small Finance Bank has launched a new Current Account with Auto-Sweep facility that will enable bank’s existing and potential new customers to auto sweep-in and sweep-out the idle funds in the current account to Sweep Fixed Deposit and earn high interest.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a High-Level Committee on Deepening of Digital Payments to encourage digitisation of payments and enhance financial inclusion.
- India’s GDP is expected to grow at 7.3% in the fiscal year 2018-19, and 7.5% in the following two years, the World Bank has forecast, attributing it to an upswing in consumption and investment.
- Indian Highways Management Company Ltd. (IHMCL), a company promoted by NHAI, has signed MOUs with state-run Oil Marketing Companies (IOCL, BPC, and HPC).
- Seven-time champions Egypt have won the hosting rights for the 2019 edition of the African Cup of Nations.
- Yusuf Pathan suspended by BCCI for doping. He has been handed a 5 month back dated suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
- Australian cities Sydney and Brisbane have been announced as the first two host locations for the newest team event in men’s tennis for the multi-million dollar ATP Cup from 2020.
- The second edition of Khelo India Youth Games has officially begun in Pune, Maharashtra. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended a virtual torch ceremony at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex.
- R.S. Puram Police station in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has been adjudged as the best police station in India in SMART Police Stations initiative of Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- The Matunga suburban station of Mumbai on the Central Railway (CR) appeared in the Limca Book of Records for comprising all-woman staff.
- India’s new ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, took charge of the post by replacing Gautam Bambawale. He reported to Hong Lei, Deputy Director General of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.
- The chairman of National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), Shri Pranav R Mehta, has taken over as the president of Global Solar Council (GSC) from January 1, 2019.
- Mysore-born Gita Gopinath joined International Monetary Fund (IMF) as its 11th chief economist, thus becoming the first woman to occupy the top IMF post.
- Dilip Asbe has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) and CEO of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- AR Rahman’s role as brand ambassador will be conducting campaigns for Sikkim to draw tourists and businesses. He will also brand Sikkim on international platforms.
1. International News
- Egypt opened West Asia’s largest cathedral in its New Administrative Capital, 45 kms away from its capital, Cairo.
- China passed law to make Islam compatible with socialism and ‘sinicize’ it within next five years. The law was passed after Chinese government officials met representatives from eight Islamic groups.
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved 10 % quota in jobs and educational institutions for economically weaker sections in general category.
- Central Statistics Office (CSO) stated that the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2018-19.
- The Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh created two Guinness world records for ‘pouring the highest amount of concrete’ and ‘largest continuous concrete pour in 24 hours’.
- The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Nepal’s central monetary authority, wrote to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to legalize Indian currency notes of denominations higher than Rs 100 in Nepal.
- The Group of States’ Finance Ministers (GoFM) led by Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi approved levy of 1%‘calamity cess’ by Kerala for a period of two years to fund rehabilitation work in the state of Kerala.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to transfer an interim dividend of up to Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore ($4.32 billion-$5.8 billion) to the government by March.
- 25 years old Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah finishes 2018 as the highest international wicket-taker of 2018 with 78 wickets after taking 9 wickets in the 3rd Test Match against Australia held in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.
- The Brisbane International 2019 was played on outdoor hard courts in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was the eleventh edition of the tournament and took place as part of the Australian Open Series in preparation for the first Grand Slam of the year.
- The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu conferred awards 17 persons for their outstanding contribution in different fields of textiles sector during the day long ‘National Conclave on Accomplishments and Way Forward for Textiles Sector’ in New Delhi.
- The Bimal Roy Memorial and Film Society announced that it would honour veteran actors Asha Parekh and Farooque Shaikhat in the event commemorating 52nd death anniversary of the renowned filmmaker.
- Malaysia’s King Muhammad V abdicated after two years on the throne, the first time a monarch has stepped down before completing their five-year tenure.
- Kumar Rajesh Chandra, an IPS officer of the 1985 batch was appointed as the Director General of the (DG) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
- The Supreme Court reinstated Alok Verma as the CBI director three months after the government stripped him of his powers.
- World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim has made the surprise announcement that he is stepping down after six years in the post.His resignation will take effect from 1 February.
- Vice-Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh launched Manohar Manoj`s book ‘A Crusade Against Corruption’ at the Press Club of India in New Delhi.
1. International News
- Iranian council known as the Expediency Council approved an anti-money laundering bill to ease trade. This bill will be in line with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
- Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed MoU with Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) for joint research programs in the field of Communication Navigation and Surveillance (CNS).
- The 125-year-old Old High Court Building in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and two Mughal-era monuments in Agra — Haveli of Agha Khan and Hathi Khana — are among the six monuments declared protected and of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2018.
- The chief minister also distributed financial assistance of Rs. 3,000 each to six lakh women self-help groups as part of the state government’s efforts to digitally empower women.
- The government has constituted a task force to look into the issues of suicides of the students in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has notified a High-level committee of nine members under the chairmanship of Shri M.P. Bezbarauah for implementation of Clause VI of the Assam Accord.
- Secunderabad Railway Station, in Hyderabad, became the first railway station of South Central Railway (SCR) zone to hoist a huge tricolour on a 100-foot tall pole.
- The nine-day long international kite festival which marks the Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti, the day when winter season starts changing to summer and farmers welcome the approaching harvest season, kicked off at Sabarmati River Front in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu unveiled various welfare scheme for the marginalized and economically backward Brahmins through AP Brahmin Welfare Corporation.
- A 10-day long Indian Panorama Film Festival began at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.The festival is being organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- The total value of BHIM-UPI transactions crossed 1 Lakh Crore Rupees mark in December 2018. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed via tweet that the app-based payments touched 1 lakh, two thousand five hundred and ninety-four crore rupees mark in December last year.
- The government has amalgamated three Regional Rural Banks - Punjab Gramin Bank, Malwa Gramin Bank and Sutlej Gramin Bank - into a single RRB.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a notification for all authorised non-bank Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuers in order to limit the liability of Customers in unauthorised electronic payment transactions in Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs)
- Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic captured the Hopman Cup title for a second year which was held in Perth, Western Australia, edging Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber .
- India scripted history after winning their first-ever Test series in Australia as the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) concluded in a draw.
- Lady head constable Rani of 5th Indian Reserve Battalion of Himachal Pradesh Police won a Gold medal in the Senior National Women’s Judo Championship at Visakhapatnam.
- Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic secured victory over Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev to win the Hopman Cup for the second year in a row.
- Veteran journalist Dinu Randive has been conferred with the lifetime achievement award by the Mantralaya and Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh, an association of journalists covering Maharashtra legislature and secretariat.
- The 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards were announced at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California, the USA. These annual awards honour the best in Motion Pictures and Television for the year 2018.
- Home Minister Rajnath Singh presented Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism awards in 18 categories across print, broadcast, and purely-digital for outstanding work done in 2017.
1. International News
- External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who is visiting Indonesia as part of her three-nation tour, co-chaired the fifth meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Commission with her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi.
- The Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 kicked off at Kathmandu, the capital Nepal. President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the exhibition.
- Iceland has become the first country in the world to legalise equal pay between men and women. In Iceland now it will be illegal to pay men more than women for the work.
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unveiled the official emblem of the state government, which was recently approved by the centre.
- The World Book Fair started in New Delhi. Environment issues like climate change, global warming, and water pollution will be the main theme for this year’s Fair.
- Defence Ministry has cleared contracts worth 2,420 crore rupees for Navy and Army which includes the procurement of P-8I Training Solution and Low-Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare System (LICEWS).
- Telangana Industrial Health Clinic Ltd (TIHCL), a State government initiative, has got RBI clearance to register and function as a non-banking finance company (NBFC).
- Paytm Payments Bank has partnered Induslnd Bank to introduce a facility to create a fixed deposit (FD) when the customer balance exceeds Rs. 1 lakh at the end of the day.
- The managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Ravi Menon, has been named the best central bank governor in Asia-Pacific for 2018 by UK-based magazine, The Banker.
1. International News
- The Pakistan Army has inducted an indigenously developed rocket, having over 100 km range, in Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) of its corps of artillery.
- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government of Pakistan has declared the ancient Hindu religious site of Panj Tirath (Peshawar) as National heritage.
- Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, launched the ‘Swachh Survekshan 2019’, the fourth edition of the annual nationwide cleanliness survey of urban India in New Delhi.
- On the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s one day visit to Imphal, Manipur, he inaugurated 12 projects worth over Rs. 1500 crore.
- The Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Parshottam Rupala informed that the Government had launched a Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- In the latest ranking of Singapore’s Asia Competitiveness Institute’s (ACI), Ease of Doing Business (EDB) index 2018.
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3. Banking and Economy
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister: N. Chandrababu Naidu
- Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan
- Capital: Amaravati
- ICICI Bank, in a first-of-its-kind programme, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Business FinCredit India Pvt. Ltd. (SBFC)
- According to the Reserve Bank of India’s Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2017-18, India witnessed a jumped of 159 per cent to almost ₹110 crore, from ₹42.3 crore in 2017-18.
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the market regulator has allowed custodial services in the commodity derivatives market enabling participation of institutional investors, including mutual funds, in the segment.
- The 80th National Table Tennis Championship began at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. As many as 35 teams, including 550 players from different parts of the country are participating in the mega championship.
- India’s wicket keeper Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicket keeper batsman to score a century in Test against Australia on Australian soil after hitting 159 runs on the 2nd day of 4th Test Match at Sydney, Australia.
- Manoj Das, an eminent English and Odia Litterateur received the “Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja National Award for Lifetime Achievement” in literature during 53rd Foundation day ceremony organized by the Berhampur University, Odisha.
- 5-year-old class IXth student, Wahengbam Lamnganba Singh, of Kumbi area in Manipur, has been selected by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) for receiving National Bravery Award.
- PayU India’s CEO Amrish Rau joined as the head of financial technology partnerships and investments for Naspers’ fintech business. Nasper is South African parent of PayU.
1. Important Days
- World Braille Day is annually celebrated on January 4, the birthday of Braille inventor, Louis Braille. The day recognizes the contributions of Louis Braille in helping blind and visually impaired people to read and write.
- Setting a first-of-its-kind record, Indian mountaineer 30-year-old Arunima Sinha became the first female amputee to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak of Antarctica.
- Thousands have been left stranded across tourist hotspots in Thailand as tropical storm ‘Pabuk’ made landfall in the country’s southern gulf coast.
- U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA), which passed the U.S. Senate earlier in December.
- Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the Prana Raksha web application developed by the Chittoor police at Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
- The Kerala State Cabinet decided to recommend the Governor to promulgate an Ordinance amending the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Act.
- Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) met under the chairmanship of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and approved 11 major projects, including the restoration of heritage sites, along the course of the river.
- The Indian Parliament passed the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018, following the approval of the Rajya Sabha.
- The Indian Parliament on January 3, 2018 passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that seeks to do away with the no-detention policy in schools.
- The Centre has released around Rs 185 crore since financial year 2015-2016 to bridge the gap between literacy levels of tribal girls and the general female population.
- Google has acquired a start-up named Superpod that built an app allowing users to post questions and receive answers from experts quickly — a move that will help boost Google Assistant’s ability to accurately answer users’ questions.
- ICICI Bank and Small Business FinCredit India Pvt Ltd (SBFC) will jointly provide loans worth up to Rs 1 crore to the small and medium enterprises.
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that food businesses need to comply with new packaging regulations that bar use of recycled plastics and newspapers to wrap food articles by July 1.
- Private sector insurer Bharti AXA Life Insurance started delivering policies and renewal premium receipt to customers via instant messaging platform WhatsApp as a part of its alternative service option to the policy holders.
- The ministry of finance announced that he government has cut import duties on crude and refined palm oil from Southeast Asian countries or ASEAN countries.
- The Reserve Bank set up an expert committee under former SEBI chairman U K Sinha to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME sector.
- Syndicate Bank and SBI Life Insurance signed a bancassurance pact aiming to offer a comprehensive financial planning solution to its customers.
- Markets regulator Sebi has allowed custodial services in the commodity derivatives market which would enable participation of institutional investors, including mutual funds, in the segment.
- Andhra Pradesh emerged on top of Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) (National University of Singapore), Singapore’s 2018 Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Index ABC rankings for economies of 21 states of India.
- 30 years old Indian cricket team captain, Virat Kohli beats Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar’s to become the fastest batsman to score 19000 international runs on the 1st day of 4th Test Match in Sydney against Australia.
- Justice Asif Saeed Khosa will take oath of his office a day after incumbent CJP Justice Saqib Nisar retires on January 17.
- Pentagon comptroller David Norquist was named acting deputy defence secretary. He has been the department’s chief financial officer and comptroller since May 2017.
- Chhabilendra Roul has assumed the charge of Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India.
- On the occasion of his 78th birthday, veteran actor-producer Sanjay Khan announced his second book, ‘Assalamalaikum Watan’.
- Eminent Bengali litterateur and Sahitya Akademi awardee Dibyendu Palit has passed away following old age complications. He was 79.
1. International News
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco on cooperation in the area of Cyber Security.
- US president has signed the ‘Asia Reassurance Initiative Act’. The law aims at countering the encroaching influence and growing threat from China, and to reinvigorate U.S. leadership in Asia.
- Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair has been declared as an authorized Immigration Check post for entry into/exit from India with valid travel documents for all classes of passengers.
- Five nations, namely, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa assumed the charge as the Non-Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
- The Union Home Ministry (MHA) approved the Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj.
- Government of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, banned the purchase of new vehicles and air conditioners (ACs) by the government departments due to huge debt of the state.
- Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik launches Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) Naveen Patnaik launched Rs 10,000 crore Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.
- The government gave out the 6-crore free cooking gas (LPG) connection as the scheme to make available cleaner fuel in every household kitchens under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
- The West Bengal government announced two welfare initiatives for farmers.Both initiatives, which are part of the ‘Krishi Krishak Bondhu’ scheme came into effect from January 1,2019.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 106th Indian Science Congress at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara near Jalandha,an annual congregation that witnesses deliberations by top scientific minds of the country.
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3. Banking and Economy
- WEST BENGAL Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
- Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi
- Capital: Kolkata
- ODISHA Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik.
- Governor: Prof. Ganeshi Lal.
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shri. Kamal Nath.
- Governor: Smt. Anandiben Patel.
- The cabinet has approved the merger of Vijaya Bank & Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. After this merger, Bank of Baroda will become the third biggest public sector bank.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted an expert committee, which will review the ‘current institutional framework in place to support MSMEs along with examining the factors affecting timely and adequate availability of finance to them.’
- HDFC Mutual Fund has piped ICICI Prudential MF to become the country’s largest asset management company after a gap of over two years.
- Sports ministry has earmarked Rs. 100 crore for funding the athletes under the (TOPS) Target Olympic Podium Scheme ahead of 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
- Dhruv Manoj, 12, who just finished primary school, memorised more than seven decks of shuffled cards in an hour; 1,155 binary numbers in half that time; and 87 names and faces in 15 minutes.
- IIT Roorkee professor Jayanta Kumar Ghosh was facilitated with the National Geospatial Award for Excellence -2017 (Life Time Achievement Award) by the Indian Society for Remote Sensing for his contribution towards the development of geospatial science and applications.
- A 12-year-old Indian-origin student Dhruv Manoj from Singapore has bagged two gold medals at the World Memory Championships held in Hong Kong.
- The players in France‘s Football Team which last year defeated Croatia to win the World Cup were awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award for “exceptional service” to the nation, in the New Year’s honours list.
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6. Appointments and Resignations
- FRANCE President: Emmanuel Macron
- Currency: Euro, CFP Franc
- Capital: Paris
- Private sector lender RBL Bank appointed Pankaj Sharma as its chief operations officer (COO). Prior to this, Sharma was heading retail operations of Axis Bank.
- President Ram Nath Kovind nominated Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri as Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
- P K Singh was appointed secretary of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Prior to this, he was adviser (law) to the competition watchdog.
- The Department of Financial Services announced appointment of Hemant Bhargava, Managing Director, Life Insurance Corporation of India, as the Acting Chairman.
- Saurabh Kumar took over as the Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in Kolkata.
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7. Obituaries
- Ordnance Factory Board Headquarters: Kolkata
- LIC Headquarters: Mumbai.
- CCI Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Chairperson: Shri. Ashok Kumar Gupta
- RBL Bank Headquarters: Mumbai.
- MD & CEO: Mr. Vishwavir Ahuja.
- Veteran Kannada actor C H Loknath passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was 91. Loknath ,popularly known as ‘Uncle’ in the industry has acted in about 650 movies and performed in over 1,000 plays in his career spanned almost six decades.
- Veteran cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar, who trained Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar and his friend Vinod Kambli, among others, passed away following a heart attack.
1. Important Days
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) celebrated its establishment day, the DRDO day, throughout its laboratories and facilities in the country.
- The United states of America (USA) and Israel officially quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) amid concerns that the organization fosters anti-Israel bias.
- Qatar has withdrawn its membership from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Qatar, which joined Opec in 1961 and is the first Middle East country to withdraw from the organisation.
- France has been pushing hard for a new so-called “GAFA tax” — named after Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon -to ensure the global giants pay a fair share of taxes on their massive business operations in Europe.
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3. National News
- UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France
- Director-General: Audrey Azoulay
- Qatar Capital: Doha
- Currency: Qatari riyal
- France President: Emmanuel Macron
- Capital: Paris
- Currency: Euro, CFP Franc
- Giriraj Singh, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) informed the parliament that the MSME ministry has established an Export Promotion Cell with an aim to create a sustainable ecosystem for entire MSME development.
- A government appointed panel headed by IIT- Hyderabad chairman B V R Mohan Reddy has suggested to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to stop setting up new engineering colleges from 2020.
- India achieved electrification in 100% households in 25 states at the end of 2018. Now, only about 10.48 lakh households are left to be electrified in 4 states Assam, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh.
- The government on January 2, 2019 gave out the 6-croreth free cooking gas (LPG) connection as the scheme to make available cleaner fuel in every household kitchens runs ahead of schedule.
- The government has constituted a committee to suggest recommendations to strengthen the real estate law RERA and to remove difficulties in its implementation.
- In a wonderful initiative to support gender equality and renaissance value, around 50 lakh women formed a 620-km-long ‘Women’s Wall’ in Kerala.
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4. Banking and Economy
- MSME Minister: Giriraj Singh
- Headquarters: Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi
- AICTE Chairman: Anil Sahasrabudhe
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- After almost six months of the ban, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed Paytm Payments Bank to restart opening new accounts for its consumers.
- The central bank of India, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released 18th Fiscal Stability Report of India. This report has been prepared by the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) on the risks to financial stability.
- State-run lender UCO bank, formerly United Commercial Bank, announced that Government of India has infused Rs 3076 crore of capital into it by the way of preferential allotment.
- The asset quality of banks showed improvement with Gross Non Performing Assets’ (GNPAs) ratio declining to 10.8 per cent in September 2018 from 11.5 per cent in March 2018.
- The balance sheet size of Non-Bank Financial Companies (NBFCs) grew by 17.2 per cent to Rs 26 trillion in September 2018 from Rs 22.2 trillion in September 2017,.
- In its ‘Growth Outlook for 2019’, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) stated that the GDP growth will be in the range of 7.5% in 2019.
- The direct tax-to-GDP ratio of 5.98 per cent achieved during 2017-18 fiscal is the best in the last 10 years, accoding to the finance ministry. It was 5.57 per cent in 2016-17 and 5.47 per cent in 2015-16.
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5. Sports
- Managing director and CEO: Satish Kumar Gupta
- RBI Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Mr. Shaktikanta Das
- UCO Bank Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
- MD & CEO: Shri Atul Kumar Goel
- India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has become the highest wicket-taker in international cricket in 2018 after picking up 9 wickets in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
- Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant became the country’s first keeper to complete twenty catches in a Test series, during the final day of the ‘Boxing Day Test’.
- A Dharwad-based paediatrician, Dr. Rajan Deshpande, received the Shankar Vaidya Shree Award at the 19th anniversary of the Dr. P.S. Shankar Pratishtan in Kalaburagi, Karnataka.
- Private sector lender Axis Bank Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shikha Sharma retired from the services of the bank and Amitabh Chaudhry will be the new MD and CEO of the Axis bank from 1st January 2019.
- VK Yadav took charge of the chairmanship of Railway Board.He succeeded Ashwani Lohani. He is an electrical engineer and belongs to the 1980 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers.
- Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
- The government has appointed Hemant Bhargava, Managing Director, Life Insurance Corporation of India, as the Acting Chairman.
- Jair Bolsonaro has been sworn in as the 42nd President of the Brazil. During a ceremony, organised in the capital Brasilia, Bolsonaro took charge of the office in the presence of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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- Brazil Capital: Brasilia
- Currency: Brazilian real.
- Telangana Capital: Hyderabad
- Chief Minister: K.Chandrashekhar Rao.
- Governor: E.S.L. Narasimhan.
- Ministry of Railways Union Minister: Shri. Piyush Goyal.
- Minister of State: Shri. Manoj Sinha, Shri. Rajen Gohain.
- AXIS BANK Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
1. International News
- German authorities gave their approval to an US$8 billion (6.30 billion pounds) rail and road tunnel linking Denmark and Germany, despite environmental objections.
- A 33-year-old man Colin O’Brady from the United States become the first person to complete a solo trek across Antarctica without any assistance.
- President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced 2019 as the ‘Year of Active Investment and Social Development’ in the backdrop of proposed investments from India to boost the economy of the Central Asian country, in his annual address to the Parliament.
- World’s largest science meet ‘Indian Science Congress (ISC)-2019’ is going to be held from 3rd to 7th January 2019, in Jalandhar, Punjab.
- Railways will build the country’s first vertical-lift bridge connecting Rameswaram in Arabian Sea to mainland India.
- Railway minister Piyush Goel announced that the Honey Bee plan in Assam that kept elephants away from the tracks will be expanded to other areas of the country. He said that the initiative was started on experiment basis last year.
- The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs headed by Minister of State Hardeep S. Puri, extended the Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for Middle Income Group (MIG) Scheme by another 12 months till March 31, 2020.
- Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin initiative in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- The Deen Dayal Veterinary University in Uttar Pradesh proposed to set up the first goat fertility lab in the state under Rastriya Krashi Vikas Yojna at the cost of Rs 22 crore.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. He dedicated the 6th International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) to the nation in Varanasi.
- Separate High Courts will start functioning for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from 1st January 2019. The High Court for Telangana is the 25th High Court in the country.
- MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre has become the first State-run hospital in Telangana to enter into Guinness Book of World Records.
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3. Banking and Economy
- ODISHA Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik.
- Governor: Prof. Ganeshi Lal.
- A ‘bancassurance’ pact was signed between State-owned Allahabad Bank and SBI Life Insurance to sell the policies of the insurer from over 3,200 branches of the Allahabad Bank.
- ESAF Small Finance Bank which received the first banking license in Kerala since independence has got RBI approval to operate as scheduled bank.
- State-owned Bank of India said the government has decided to infuse Rs 10,086 crore in the bank as part of Rs 28,615 crore capital infusion to be done in about half a dozen public sector lenders.
- State-run lender UCO Bank said the central government has infused Rs 3,076 crore of capital into it by way of preferential allotment.
- Banks have seen a significant improvement in recovery of stressed assets helped by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and amendments in the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interests (SARFAESI) Act
- 'Public sector banks’ provision coverage ratio which measures the provisioning for bad loans has gone up from less than 50 per cent in 2015 to 66.85 per cent as of September 2018
- The Reserve Bank of India has extended the relaxation offered to banks for offering liquidity support to NBFCs up to March 31.
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4. Sports
- Allahabad bank Headquarters: Kolkata
- ESAF Headquarters: Thrissur, Chennai
- MD and CEO: K Paul Thomas
- International Cricket Council announced the women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year with senior New Zealand all-rounder, Suzie Bates named ODI skipper while as Indian batting star, Harmanpreet Kaur nominated as the T20I captain.
- India’s Smriti Mandhana was crowned women’s cricketer of the year by the sport’s world governing body, capping off a prolific run-scoring season for the opener. The left-handed batswoman was also named ODI cricketer of the year.
- India retained their numero uno spot in the year-end International Cricket Council (ICC) Test team rankings.
- Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated defending champion Kevin Anderson of South Africa 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to win the Mubadala World Tennis Championship for the fourth time at Abu Dhabi International Tennis Centre, Abu Dhabi.
- The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was awarded Best Capital City in the Solid Waste Management in the Swachh Survekshan 2018 rankings.
- US-based Kathak dancer Anindita Neogy Anaam will be honoured with the National Nritya Shiromani award for promoting the dance form across the world.
- Three Indian-origin women scientists were among the 60 Superstars of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) list awarded by Australian government.
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6. Appointments and Resignations
- Australia Capital: Canberra.
- Currency: Australian dollar.
- Bhubaneshwar Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
- Governor: Ganeshi Lal
- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alliance won Bangladesh’s election with a thumping majority. It gave her a third straight term following a vote that the opposition rejected as rigged.
- The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of V K Yadav as Railway Board chairman on the superannuation of Ashwani Lohani on December 31.
- The government has appointed Sudhir Bhargava as the new Chief Information Commissioner. He has been a Commissioner since June 2015, and will take over as the ninth chief of the CIC.
- One of the early architects of the internet is no more. Larry Roberts who was the program manager for The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPAnet) (precursor to the internet), passed away.
- Celebrated veteran actor Kader Khan passed away at the age of 81, due to prolonged illness. He suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a degenerative disease that causes loss of balance, difficulty in walking and dementia.