Current Affair of January 2023

National

1. The Indian Railway Ministry has outlined a five-pronged plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030, as part of the country's commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The plan aims to reduce energy consumption through efficient operations and increase the use of renewable energy.

2. The Government of India has sponsored the proposal for the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023, which has been accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This has given the Indian Government the opportunity to celebrate the IYM and position India as the global hub for millets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also shared his vision for the IYM to become a "People's Movement".

3. Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has launched two initiatives ahead of the panchayat elections this year - 'Didir Suraksha Kawach' and 'Didir Doot'. The programme, 'Didir Suraksha Kawach', will see 3.5 lakh party leaders reach every block and cover 2 crore families in 60 days, with workers staying in villages to understand the problems faced by locals and promoting the TMC government's flagship programmes.

4. For the first time in nearly 45 years, Assam recorded zero poaching of endangered rhinos in 2022. These animals, known for their valuable horns, were poached 191 times in Assam between 2000 and 2021. The highest number of incidents occurred in 2013 and 2014, with 27 rhino deaths each reported. In 2020 and 2021, two rhinos were killed each year. The last time no poaching was reported in Assam was in 1977.

5. Recently, Acting Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Tashi Rabstan, launched the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS) in ten districts of the Union Territory. The system, which aims to provide quality legal services in criminal matters to eligible poor persons, will be extended to the remaining ten districts in the coming months.

6. The Gaan Ngai festival is a major event in the state of Manipur, celebrated by the Zeliarong community every year after the harvest season. On 4^th January, 2023, the community will come together to show their gratitude for a good harvest, pray for a prosperous year ahead and mark the beginning of the new year with the production of new fire. The festival is a celebration of culture, music, dance and spiritual rituals that brings the community together in unity and joy.

7. Rajasthan, a state in western India, is set to host the 18^th National Scout and Guide Jamboree after a 66-year gap. The event, which will take place at Rohat in the Pali district, is expected to attract over 35,000 scouts and guides from all over the country. The Jamboree, which will be a 7-day event, is sure to be a unique and memorable experience for all those who attend.

8. Despite opposition from Goa, Karnataka Water Resources minister Govind Karjol announced that the state will proceed with the Kalasa-Banduri project on the River Mahadayi. The project, which aims to divert water from the Mahadayi to provide drinking water for the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag, has been the subject of controversy for decades.

9. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India has established a High Powered Committee (HPC) to address issues related to the protection of Ladakh's culture, language, land and employment opportunities. The committee has been formed with the goal of promoting inclusive development and employment generation in the region, as well as empowering the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil.

10. President Droupadi Murmu virtually laid the foundation stone for the 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project on Tuesday in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The project is being implemented by state-owned energy firm SJVN Limited through its subsidiary, SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) and is being developed on 5,000 acres of outright purchased land near the village of Banderwala, district Bikaner in Rajasthan.

11. The Telangana government has recently made the decision to join the free rice scheme of the Central government under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This initiative aims to provide assistance to families in need by distributing free rice to those who are eligible under the NFSA. The Telangana government's decision to join this scheme demonstrates a commitment to addressing issues of food security and poverty in the state.

12. On 4^th January 2023, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights scheme (Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana) in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh. The scheme aims to provide free plots to poor rural families for building their homes.

13. A recent bird survey conducted at Silent Valley National Park in Kerala identified a total of 175 species, with 17 of those being newly recorded. The survey, which took place on 27^th to 29^th December, marked the 30^th anniversary of the first bird survey at Silent Valley. Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, a team of 30 birders and forest staff participated in the survey, which was held in association with the Kerala Natural History Society.

14. The industries department of the Kerala government has launched a new system for entrepreneurs to submit complaints or seek redressals using WhatsApp. This temporary solution will be in place until the statutory grievance settlement mechanism is put into effect. Complaint messages will be attended to within 10 minutes of submission.

15. The Government of Bihar planned to create a record of castes and communities residing in the state. For this, the Chief Minister of the State Nitish Kumar launched a survey on 7^th January, 2023. Recently, the state government completed the first phase of the survey. The entire survey is to be completed by May 2023.

16. After militants killed six people in two days in the Upper Dangri village of Jammu and Kashmir this Sunday and Monday, locals have demanded that they be provided weapons to take on attackers. Responding to the demands, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on 2^nd January assured the people that they would get a Village Defence Committee (VDC) on the lines of those in Doda district.

17. On 13^th January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off the world's longest river cruise, "Ganga Vilas", from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Bangladesh. The luxury vessel, which can accommodate 80 passengers, will take 50 days to complete its journey, covering 3200 km and passing through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh.

18. The decennial census, a comprehensive survey conducted by the government of India every 10 years, has been postponed until 30^th September, at least. This exercise is used to gather information on the size, distribution and various characteristics of the country's population, including socio-economic and demographic data.

19. Recently, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the world's largest dedicated hockey stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium (BMHS) was built at a cost of over Rs. 260 crore in a record 15 months and has the capacity to host over 20,000 spectators. The BMHS will host 20 of the 44 matches of the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup, which is set to begin on 13^th January. The remaining matches will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

20. The recently opened Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum in Thiruvananthapuram has added to the cultural and intellectual life of the state of Kerala. The museum, which is the world's first of its kind, contains 187 manuscripts and other artefacts related to the former Travancore kingdom from 650 AD until the end of the 19^th century. It also has documents from the regions of Kochi and Malabar.

21. Recently, a 122-foot-tall statue of a polo player astride a Manipur Pony was unveiled in Imphal, Manipur as part of Home Minister Amit Shah's programme in the state. The Marjing Polo Complex, which has been in the works for several years, aims to conserve the Manipur Pony breed, which is indigenous to the region and holds significant cultural importance for Manipuri society.

22. The government of Bihar, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to begin the first phase of a caste-based survey in the state on 7^th January, 2023. The survey, which is set to conclude on 31^st May, 2023, will be conducted in two phases. The first phase of the survey will involve counting and recording the number of all households in the state.

23. India's first-of-its-kind inclusivity festival, "Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity", kicked off with a grand ceremony on 6^th January, 2023 in Goa. The festival aims to bring people together and create a welcoming and inclusive world for all. Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, was present at the opening ceremony and visited an exhibition cum sale featuring products made by Divyangjans (people with disabilities).

24. The International Kite Festival 2023 officially started on 7^th January in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with a theme centered around the G20 countries. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the event, which runs from 8^th to 14^th January and marks the first time the festival has been held in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

25. The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a 100-day "UP Global City" campaign in advance of the Global Investors Summit and G20 summit. The campaign aims to bring urban areas in the state up to global standards, with a focus on improving urban facilities, air quality, cleanliness and beautification, as well as proper garbage disposal. The campaign will be implemented in all 762 urban bodies in the state.

26. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India has issued an advisory to television channels warning against reporting incidents of accidents, deaths and violence in a way that may compromise "good taste and decency". This advisory comes after several instances of lack of discretion by television channels were noticed by the ministry.

27. The National Health Authority (NHA) in India is introducing a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme, with the goal of shifting the focus of hospital performance measurement from the volume of services provided to the value of healthcare services. The new initiative will introduce the concept of "value-based care," where payment will be outcome-based and providers will be rewarded based on the quality of treatment they deliver.

28. Land subsidence in Joshimath (Uttarakhand), is a grave reminder of the harm that can be caused by reckless infrastructure development and the role of climate change in exacerbating the situation. Over 60 families living in uninhabitable houses have already been moved to temporary relief centers, with at least 90 more families set to be evacuated. Of the 4,500 buildings in Joshimath, 610 have developed large cracks and are no longer fit for habitation.

29. The Global Tamil Angels platform was launched on Monday at the "Global Startup Investors Summit," co-organized by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission and FeTNA International Tamil Entrepreneur Network. The platform, hosted by StartupTN, allows Tamil Nadu-based start-ups to connect with potential investors from the global Tamil diaspora.

30. The relationship between the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Chief Minister of the state has been fraught with tension in recent times, but things came to a head recently when the Governor walked out of the assembly in a huff. The cause of the altercation was a disagreement over a speech that had been given by the Governor, which led to the Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin, tabling a resolution against him.

31. Kerala has become the first state in India to enable digital banking in all eligible accounts. According to the State-Level Banker's Committee (SLBC), the state now has at least one product enabled digitally in 3.76 crore accounts. The state government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has implemented this move under the 'Expanding and Deepening of Digital Payments Ecosystem' scheme of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

32. The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha has seen an increase in its bird population this year, according to the Odisha forest department. The staff counted a total of 1,39,959 birds in the park, compared to 1,38,107 last year. While the number of birds has increased, the diversity of species has decreased compared to last year, with the park seeing 140 species of birds this year as opposed to 144 last year. However, many rare and endangered species were spotted during this year's count.

33. On 11^th January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the 7^th edition of 'Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investors Summit', a flagship event of the Madhya Pradesh state government. The theme of the two-day summit is 'Madhya Pradesh-The Future Ready State', showcasing the state's industrial ecosystem and promoting its policies to attract investment and spur growth. The virtual event will also feature addresses from leaders of Guyana and Suriname, as well as India's Union Commerce and Industry Minister.

34. Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh has approved a bill providing 30% horizontal reservation for domiciled women citizens of the state in public services and posts. The bill, known as the Uttarakhand Public Services (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Bill 2022, was passed by the Uttarakhand assembly during the winter session on 30^th November. This move is a significant step forward in ensuring gender equality and social justice in the state's government jobs.

35. The Kerala government's 'Year of Enterprises' project has been selected as a best practices model in the thrust on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) session during the recent Chief Secretaries National Conference held in the national capital. The project, which began in the current fiscal, aimed at creating one lakh enterprises in one year.

36. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Gujarat has surpassed all other Indian states in attracting new investments from both domestic and foreign corporations. Fresh investments worth Rs. 3.98 trillion were announced for Gujarat during the financial year (FY) 2022, representing a 273 percent increase over the FY 2021 figure of Rs. 2.91 trillion.

37. Astro tourism in India is set to take off with the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) in association with Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) organizing a sky gazing event at India Gate Lawns, Kartavya Path, Delhi. The event is part of the "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" celebrations and is designed to be interactive and practical to attract more people. The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal on 6^th January and will continue till 8^th January.

38. Chhattisgarh, recently celebrated the Cherchera festival at the Dudhadhari Math in Raipur. The festival, which takes place on the full moon night of the Paush Hindu calendar month, is a celebration of the happiness and joy brought about by the cultivation and harvesting of crops.

39. The Odisha government's State-level steering committee for the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has approved an annual plan of INR 1,086 crore for the 2023 - 2024 fiscal year, with a focus on reducing man-animal conflicts. The plan was approved during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S. C. Mohapatra on 11^th January, where various issues related to wildlife management and afforestation were discussed.

40. The National Remote Sensing Center (NSRC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has released satellite images of the city of Joshimath, Uttarakhand, which reveal a preliminary land subsidence analysis that indicates that the entire city is in danger of completely sinking. The images have been captured by the Cartosat-2S satellite and the NRSC, situated in Hyderabad, has published satellite photos of the sinking areas.

41. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has recently moved a resolution in the state assembly seeking the revival of the Sethusamudram Project, a proposed shipping canal project in India that would connect the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. The project, which has been controversial since its inception, was put on hold by the Government of India in 2007.

42. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified the identity standards for basmati rice. The comprehensive regulatory standards will be enforced from 1^st August, according to a statement from the Union Health Ministry. These standards apply to brown basmati rice, milled basmati rice, parboiled brown basmati rice and milled parboiled basmati rice and are intended to establish fair practices in the trade of basmati rice and protect consumer interest, both domestically and globally.

43. Lohri is a popular Indian festival that is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season for winter crops. Every year, during the month of Paush, a day before Makar Sankranti - usually on 13^th January, with much fanfare especially by the people of Punjab, Lohri is celebrated. The festival is also popular in other parts of the country such as Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Jammu. In 2023, Lohri is celebrated on 13^th January (Friday).

44. The Ministry of Culture in India recently organized a grand curtain raiser program called 'Sur Sarita - Symphony of Ganga' at the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, on the eve of the launch of the world's longest river cruise. The program was led by renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan and was attended by dignitaries and tourists who were set to embark on the Ganga Vilas Cruise. The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, flagged off the cruise the following day.

45. The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, recently announced that the Indian government has done away with the discretionary Haj quota for pilgrims, in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "resolve to end VIP culture" in the country. A new, exhaustive Haj policy has been formulated and will be announced soon, said Irani.

46. The Delhi government has suggested that the Centre can grant "migrated minority" status to Hindus who have moved to the national capital from places like Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh where they are a religious minority. The suggestion is part of a compilation of views collected by the Centre from 24 States on whether religious and linguistic minority communities should be identified and notified by the Union or the respective States.

47. Makar Sankranti is an important festival that marks the day the sun transits into Makara Rashi or Capricorn zodiac. As per the solar calendar, it falls on 14^th January every year. The festival also marks the end of winter and the beginning of a new harvest season. It has both seasonal and religious significance. It is considered one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar.

48. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will establish a Global South Centre of Excellence to undertake research on development solutions for developing countries. He also called for a human-centric globalisation to address the concerns of these countries. The announcement was made during his opening address at the concluding session of the Voice of Global South virtual summit.

49. Tripura government has launched a special education programme called 'Saharsh' in an effort to encourage social and emotional learning. The initiative was launched on a pilot basis in August last year in 40 schools in the state and from January 2023, it will be extended to all government and aided schools of the state. The programme is aimed at empowering children to learn with happiness and contribute to empathetic development.

50. The state of Rajasthan has made history by implementing the first-ever policy for blindness control in the country, with the objective of "Right to Sight". Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has taken an innovative initiative towards realizing the concept of "Nirogi Rajasthan" (Healthy Rajasthan) in the state.

51. Rajasthan has become the first state in India to implement a policy for blindness control with the objective of ensuring the "right to sight" for its citizens. The Medical & Health Department of the state government released the policy document over the weekend, outlining a massive drive to reduce the rate of blindness and bring light into the lives of over 3 lakh people suffering from visual impairment.

52. Recently, the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu, also known as 'Eru Thazhuvuthal' and 'Mancuvirattu', has begun in full swing in the Palamedu of Madurai district. This traditional event, which is a part of the Pongal celebrations and is held on the day of Mattu Pongal, is a sport where a bull is let loose among a crowd and participants attempt to take control of the bull by holding on to its hump for as long as they can.

53. India's first School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication was launched in Agartala. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Dr. Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura, jointly inaugurated the school. The school aims to enable the rich pool of talent in the region to become world-class experts in the transportation and logistics sector.

54. In a historic achievement, the Indian district of Kollam has become the country's first constitution literate district. The announcement was made by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The district's success is the result of a seven-month campaign launched by the Kollam district panchayat, District Planning Committee and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) to educate citizens about the country's laws and their rights.

55. The Bhopal Declaration was released after a two-day meeting of Think-20 under G20 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The Declaration was made by more than 300 intellectuals from India and abroad. The Think 20 (T20) is a forum of think tanks from G20 countries that provides policy recommendations to the leaders of the G20.

56. The Kerala Government recently introduced menstrual leave for girl students above the age of 18 years. The decision is a part of the gender-sensitive education reforms of the Kerala Government. The decision on menstrual and maternity leaves was made by the Higher Education Department. In accordance with the decision, a girl of age 18 years and above is eligible to avail of 60 days of menstrual leave in a year.

57. The Rajasthan Government is to provide drones to the farmers in the state to spray fertilizers and insecticides. The drones are to be provided to low-income group farmers and on rent. Around 1500 drones will be made available to the farmers to achieve this plan. The State Government is launching this initiative to save water. Most of Rajasthan is desert and using drones will save 80% of water.

58. Jaipur District Administration is hosting a three-day international summit on crafts. The main objective of the summit is to promote Odisha crafts in Rajasthan! Four United Nations Agencies and five UNESCO agencies are helping the administration in organizing the summit. The Odisha Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the summit via video conferencing. Arts and crafts enthusiasts and craftsmen attended the summit.

59. The Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa recently held a cabinet meeting. During the meeting, State Government decided to launch a massive drive against child marriages in the state. The Gram Panchayat Secretary was appointed as the Child Marriage Prevention Officer. The drive will encourage the public to lodge complaints at the nearby police stations. Child marriage is illegal under the POSCO and Prevention of Child Marriage Act.

60. The Uttar Pradesh state was formed on 24^th January, 1950. Under the order called United Provinces (Alteration of Name) Order 1950, the provinces in the region were grouped together to form the state of Uttar Pradesh. As India hadn't become a republic then, the order was passed by the Governor General of India. India became independent in 1947. However, the country took two years to frame its constitution and become a republic.

61. The Jammu and Kashmir government recently launched a food processing project of Rs. 879.75 crores. The main objective of the project is to revolutionize the food processing sector. It will increase farmer income, reduce losses incurred during harvest, improve the quality of food products and ultimately make the food products competitive in the world market.

62. Nagaland is celebrating the Orange Festival for two days. Nagaland Fruit Festival is being organized in the state to praise the hard work of orange growers. Revenue from oranges in the state almost doubled recently. Fruit festivals are famous all over the world. The most popular fruit festivals in the world are the Pineapple Festival of Thailand, the Pumpkin Festival in Germany, the Mango Festival of India, the Cranberry festival in Canada, the Marino Grape Festival of Italy, the Orange Festival of Amsterdam, etc.

63. Around 8.5 lakh migrants returned to their home state, Jharkhand, during the COVID crisis. To help these migrants with a good livelihood, the State Government of Jharkhand started the State and Responsible Migration Initiative in 2021. Creating a robust database of the migrants in the state is a part of this initiative. To achieve this, the Jharkhand Government recently launched the first survey of Migrants.

64. Indian Railway's Varanasi Cantt Railway Station has been awarded a 5-star "Eat Right Station" certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers. This certification is granted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to railway stations that adhere to standard food storage and hygiene practices.

65. The Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership is a non-profit organization. It is also called the RMP institute as it was founded in memory of Shri Rambhau Mhalgi, an Indian politician and former Member of Parliament. He is famous for running the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. ABVP is the student wing of RSS. The IIDL recently conducted the Model G - 20 Summit. The institute is known for conducting training and research.

66. In 2017, the President of India constituted a Commission under Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice G. Rohini. The main objective of the commission was to prepare a report examining the OBC subcategories in the country. The President formed the commission using his powers under Article 340. The commission was to submit its report within 12 weeks. The work is still pending and the commission recently got a 14^th extension.

67. The United Kingdom used the Beating Retreat Ceremony to call their patrolling units to the castle. India uses this ceremony to end its republic day celebrations. In India, Beating Retreat Ceremony is held on 29^th January. All three wings of the Indian Military participate in the ceremony. The bands of the three forces, that is, Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are the primary participants.

68. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been in constant discussions with private satellite television channel broadcasters. Based on the inputs provided by these TV channels, the ministry released an advisory on the Obligation of Public Service Broadcasting. According to the advisory, private satellite television channels should telecast public service broadcasting at least for 30 minutes.

69. The Kerala Government launched the Enterprises Campaign during its 2022 - 2023 budget. Also, the state government declared the financial year 2022 - 2023 as the Year of Enterprises. This was done to boost the development of the MSME sector in the state. The campaign was held in different parts of the state under the tagline "My Enterprises, Nations Pride". Because of the campaign the number of MSME companies in the state increased.

International

1. The Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), a voluntary export control regime that monitors the transfer of conventional weapons and dual-use goods, has announced that India will assume the chairmanship of its plenary for the next year. The 26^th annual plenary of the WA, held in Vienna on 30^th November to 1^st December, saw Ireland's ambassador Eoin O'Leary hand over the chairmanship to India's ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar.

2. The emergence of a new Covid-19 variant called XBB.1.5 has experts worried about the potential for a significant upsurge in cases globally. The first case of this new strain was found in India and it has already caused concern due to its ability to evade immune systems and its high level of contagion.

3. Croatia has taken two major steps towards further integration with the European Union (EU) by adopting the euro and joining the Schengen zone. The country officially became the 20^th member of the eurozone on 1^st January and the removal of land border controls with neighboring Slovenia and Hungary marks its inclusion in the Schengen zone.

4. As part of its efforts to facilitate the mobility of students, academics and researchers and promote migration for professional and economic reasons, India is set to sign a Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) with Austria during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Vienna. This follows similar agreements signed with other European countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland.

5. On 3^rd January, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland officially began their two-year term as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The flag installation ceremony, initiated by Kazakhstan in 2018, marked the start of their responsibilities and was presided over by Kazakhstan's permanent representative, Akan Rakhmetullin.

6. Europe experienced an unprecedented winter heat wave over the New Year's weekend, with at least seven countries recording their hottest January weather ever. Climatologists suggest that the heat dome forming over the region caused temperatures to surge to summer or springtime levels. This article explores what a heat dome is, the relationship between heat domes and the jet stream and the potential role of climate change in their formation.

7. The 36^th India-France Strategic Dialogue is set to take place on 5^th January, with a focus on addressing China's militarization of the Indo-Pacific region and ways in which the two nations can work together to counter it. In addition to the strategic talks, Diplomatic Advisor Bonne will also meet with India's Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister.

8. On 4^th January and Thursday 5^th January, Republicans in the House of Representatives failed to elect a leader, with a faction of holdouts, largely from the ultra-conservative, hard-right Freedom Caucus, refusing to vote for nominee Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). This marks the first time since 1923 that a nominee of the majority party in the House hasn't been able to win the first vote for the position of Speaker.

9. India is set to deploy a platoon of female peacekeepers to the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) on the border of Sudan and South Sudan on 6^th January. This marks the largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a UN mission since India deployed the first all-female contingent in Liberia in 2007. The deployment is part of India's efforts to increase the number of women in peacekeeping.

10. Christmas is a time of celebration and joy for many people around the world, but for Orthodox Christians, the date on which they celebrate this holiday can vary depending on which calendar they follow. While the majority of Western countries celebrate Christmas on 25^th December according to the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar and celebrate on 7^th January.

11. On 8^th January, 2023, thousands of supporters of Brazil's ousted former president, Jair Bolsonaro, ransacked Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices in a full-blown riot to protest what they alleged was a stolen election. More than 1,200 protesters were detained following the riots. In this article, we will take a closer look at the events that led to the uprising in the Brazilian capital on Sunday.

12. The governments of India and the UK marked Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on 9^th January, 2023 by launching the Young Professionals Scheme, which allows up to 3,000 degree-holding citizens aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in each other's countries for a period of two years. The scheme, which was announced in November at the G20 summit in Bali, is part of the India - UK Migration and Mobility Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2021.

13. The United States recently announced that it will extend COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions, known as Title 42, to expel migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti caught crossing the U.S. - Mexico border back to Mexico. The move would block more nationalities from seeking asylum in the United States and raises questions about the implications of this policy expansion and its legality.

14. India will host the virtual 'The Voice of Global South' Summit on 12^th to 13^th January, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The summit will bring together 120 countries from the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. India currently holds the presidency of the G20 group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated that priorities would be shaped in consultation with developing countries.

15. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will enforce a blanket ban on single-use plastic shopping bags starting 1^st January, 2024. The decision, made by a ministerial resolution, prohibits the import, production and circulation of single-use plastic shopping bags in the country. The move is aimed at protecting the environment from plastic pollution and reducing dependence on single-use plastic.

16. On 11^th January, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Uganda had successfully declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus. The country managed to end the outbreak in less than four months after the first case was confirmed in central Mubende district on 20^th September, 2022.

17. Over the past two weeks, California and other parts of the West Coast have been hit with a series of what meteorologists call atmospheric rivers. Forecasters have said that the rain arriving in California on 12^th January is being caused by a "true Pineapple Express" - a specific example of a common atmospheric phenomenon that resembles a conveyor belt for moisture. This article will examine the "Pineapple Express" phenomenon and its impact on California's recent storms.

18. America's airspace shut down for several hours Wednesday morning following a glitch in a computer system used to send alerts to pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that its Notice to Air Missions system, or NOTAM, had failed and was not processing new information. The system, which dates to the middle of the last century, gives pilots real-time updates on flight conditions.

19. Europe's largest deposit of rare earths, which are used in everything from mobile phones to missiles, has been found in Sweden. The discovery is being hailed as a way to reduce the European Union's (EU) dependence on China, which currently supplies 98% of the rare earths used in the EU. The discovery is also being seen as crucial for the green transition, given the expected increase in demand for electric vehicles and wind turbines.

20. Peru is currently facing its worst outbreak of violence in over 20 years, as clashes between security forces and protesters have left at least 40 people dead. The protests, which began in December 2022, have been sparked by calls for fresh elections and government accountability.

21. The World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting is set to begin in Davos on Monday, 16^th January, bringing together world leaders to discuss pressing issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, global inflation and climate change. The theme for this year's meeting is 'Cooperation in a Fragmented World' and will conclude on 20^th January.

22. Mexico has recently imposed one of the world's strictest anti-tobacco laws, setting in force a total ban on smoking in public places, including hotels, beaches and parks. The new law, which is part of the country's General Law for Tobacco Control reform, came into force on Sunday and will also see the total ban on the promotion, advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products. The sale and use of e-cigarettes and vapes are also due to face new restrictions.

23. The 53^rd edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Kicks Off in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting will continue from 15^th January to 20^th January. The WEF meeting provides a platform for global leaders to share their insights on the prevalent economic conditions across the globe and to discuss the challenges that the world is facing today. It is also an opportunity for leaders to discuss the future of the global economy.

24. The World Economic Forum, in partnership with over 45 organizations, has launched the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative. The goal of GAEA is to fund and grow new and existing public, private and philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) to unlock the $3 trillion of financing needed each year to reach net zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050.

25. Recently, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) welcomed the deployment of the single largest all-women platoon of peacekeepers from India. The all-women platoon will join forces serving in Abyei, reaffirming India's continued commitment to the implementation UN mandate in the region.

26. India sends financing assurances to IMF to back Sri Lanka's debt restructuring program. Sri Lanka's three largest bilateral lenders are China, Japan and India. India's backing is a critical step for Sri Lanka to receive a $2.9 billion package from IMF.

27. NASA and Boeing will partner in the development and flight test of a full-scale Transonic Truss-Braced Wing demonstrator aircraft under SFD project. The partnership aims to revolutionize the commercial aviation industry through a much more fuel-efficient design of narrowbody airliners. The project is one of the key components of the Sustainable Flight National Partnership.

28. The India - Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project, signed in 2018, will connect Siliguri in West Bengal in India and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. The Friendship pipeline from India will start supplying diesel to Bangladesh from June. The 131.5 kilometer long pipeline has been constructed for importing diesel from India, 126.5 km of which is in Bangladesh and 5 km in India. The IBFPL project aims to facilitate the transportation of imported fuel oil and reduce its transport costs for Bangladesh.

29. The United States Census Bureau World Population Clock recently released its "World Population Review" report. According to the report, the world's population (as of September 2022) was 7.9 billion. It is to reach 8 billion by November 2022. In 2015, the world population was 7.2 billion.

30. The India-UAE Partnership Summit is to be held in Dubai on 23^th to 25^th January, 2023. International Business Linkage Forum is to host the summit along with Dubai Chambers. The summit follows increasing trade ties between the countries due to the Golden Visa policy of UAE and The CEPA Agreement.

31. The World Economic Forum recently conducted the First Movers Coalition Leadership Meeting deliberating the need for clean energy technologies. India participated in the meeting. India pushed for increased European investments. The country highlighted the need for mutual partnership with European countries.

32. In the path of strengthening multilateral ties, South Africa, Russia and China are to hold naval drills in the Indian Ocean. It is to be held in the month of February 2023. During the exercise, the countries will exchange knowledge and operational skills. Relationships among the countries have been prosperous and the exercise will improve them further.

33. The United States Government recently launched a scheme called "Welcome Corps" to allow its citizens to offer sanctuaries to refugees. The scheme is aimed at expanding the capacity of the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and will help the public cover the costs of refugees arriving in the US.

34. Chris Kipkins of New Zealand is to succeed Jacinda Ardern as PM. He belongs to the Labour Party of NZ. He is to take charge by February 2023. Currently, Chris serves as the Education minister of the country. He played a big role as Health Minister during the pandemic. Many believe that his role as health minister during COVID earned him the ranking.

35. In 1987, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement to implement the 13^th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution. According to the agreement, the Sri Lankan Government will provide powers to the Tamil community in the country. Recently, External Affairs Minister Jai Shankar declared that India ponders the implementation of 13A "CRITICAL". According to India, 13A is essential for the Sri Lankan Government to reconcile with the Tamil community in the country.

36. NASA and Israel will soon sign an agreement on a space mission. Under the agreement, the United States will help Israel in its upcoming Astrophysics Mission called ULTRASAT. The mission is currently being developed by Israel Space Agency and Germany. ULTRASAT will operate in Geo Stationary orbit. It is to carry a UV telescope. The main objective of ULTRASAT is to look for UV signatures in space. Precisely it will look for UV emissions from mergers (collision of neutron stars) and supernova explosions.

37. More than 220 million Pakistanis were affected because of a huge power outage in the country. The country usually faces fuel shortages during winter. This mishap occurred as the National Grid went down for unknown reasons. The frequency of the power transmission system plunged down causing havoc. Pakistan uses 50 HZ alternating current just like India.

38. The B20 Inception Meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the sidelines of G20. The meeting was attended by G20 Sherpa, business delegates, CEO, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, etc. The meeting was headed by Mr. Chandrasekaran, Head of TATA sons. During the meeting, the bigshots formed two action groups and seven task forces. These groups will work and discuss on digital transformation, climate change, financial inclusion and sustainability. For the first time, Africa will receive a special task force.

39. Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India recently inaugurated an international conference. The conference was held under the theme "Use of Technology and Elections Integrity". More than 16 countries participated in the conference. ECI has planned to conduct three conferences prior to the Democracy Summit which is to be held in March 2023. This is the second conference in the series. The first conference was held on the theme "Role, Framework and Capacity of Election Management Bodies".

40. DARPA of the USA is working on nuclear fission-powered spacecraft along with NASA called the DRACO. DARPA is Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency. And DARPA is the research and development wing of the US military. Just like the DRDO of India. DARPA is to launch the DRACO Spacecraft. DRACO stands for Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations. DRACO is to run on nuclear fission reaction. This is considered a big leap in the space industry as no nuclear rockets have been launched till 2021.

41. Uganda has one of the largest oil reserves in the Saharan desert according to the International Monetary Fund. Oil was discovered in Uganda twenty years back. But the production was delayed due to a lack of funds and infrastructure. With the assistance of China, Uganda is now launching its first oil field in Lake Albert. Extraction is to be done in four phases and the first phase has been launched.

42. The Egyptian President Sisi has arrived in India. He is the Chief Guest of the 2023 Republic Day celebrations. The President met PM Modi and the leaders discussed bilateral trade and the global interests of the countries. President Sisi will also meet the Indian business communities. As a part of his visit to India, the countries will sign six agreements. However, the agreements are to be signed at diplomatic levels. This is Sisi's third visit to India as a President.

43. The Shanghai Cooperation Meet is to be held in August 2023 under India's chairmanship. 2023 is India's year as the country is hosting two major international meets the SCO and the G-20. The Global South looks up to these meetings. SCO members rotate the chairmanship amongst themselves. And in 2023, the rotating chair has come to India. As a responsible chairperson, India has invited Pakistan and China as they are also members of SCO along with Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

44. The Inter-Governmental Technical Working Group reviews the technical issues at the Food and Agriculture Organization and also advises the organizations on key decisions. India will hold the position of Vice Chairperson at the 12^th session of the group. The ITWG is to meet at Rome in January 2023 and discuss animal genetic resources. USA is the Chair of the session. Along with India, other countries will also hold the Vice Chair position. They are Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tonga and Brazil.

45. The Egyptian President Sisi, the Chief Guest of the 2023 Republic Day celebrations of India. During his visit, he met PM Modi and the leaders discussed on boosting the business ties between the countries. With the trade between the countries touching 12 billion USD in the last five years, the countries have now entered into Strategic Partnership. When two countries sign the strategic partnership agreement, they become close. They understand the nature of threats mutually and help each other in mitigating the threats.

46. The Sweden Government recently launched an international campaign to reduce the number of migrants to the country. The campaign is called International Information Campaign. The campaign will spread information about the migration policy of Sweden. During the campaign, the Government will create contact points in foreign countries.

47. India Stack is the collection of Application Peripheral Interfaces launched by the Government of India. This includes BHIM, Digilocker, UPI and several other applications. According to a recent report from the IT Ministry around seven countries are to join India Stack. Meaning they will sign agreements with the Indian Government to use these applications. India is to announce the names of these countries at the World Government Summit that is to be held in Dubai in February.

48. The UNESCO of the United Nations presents the tag of World Heritage in Danger. World Heritage Sites face several problems such as development in tourism, war, natural disasters, poaching, urbanization and pollution. To protect the sites from catastrophic damages, UNESCO designates them as World Heritage in Danger sites. Today, the list has 55 such sites. Recently, the ODESA of Ukraine was added to the list.

49. The Indus Water Treaty was signed between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan in 1960. World Bank negotiated the treaty. According to the treaty, the waters of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej are controlled by India and the waters of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab are controlled by Pakistan. All these rivers form the Indus Water system. India has 20% access to the water system and Pakistan has 80% access. According to India, Pakistan has been "INTRANSIGENCE" over the treaty.

50. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe set the ECE standards for helmets. The standard is being used in several countries. For the last 20 years, the ECE 22.05 standard was used. ECE 22.06 was introduced in 2020. ECE 22.06 includes a low-speed crash test, impact resistance test and lots more. The new Ignyte IGN - 7 helmets of Steelbird has become the first helmet in India to meet the ECE 22.06 standard.

51. To increase the use of Artificial Intelligence in health care, agriculture, emergency response, electric grid and weather forecasting, the United States and the European Union signed an agreement. The agreement will aid the government increase the use of Artificial Intelligence in their projects and collaborations. The application of the agreement is believed to be wide.

52. The concept of mandatory minimum sentences is common in American and Canadian legal systems. Recently, the Canadian Apex court announced that it is to stop pronouncing mandatory minimum sentences. Mandatory minimum sentences are judgments that do not leave discretion to the court. Meaning the punishment cannot be reduced in the future.

Defence

1. Defence minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, along with 27 other infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). These projects, costing a total of 724 crore rupees, will significantly improve India's border infrastructure, particularly along the Chinese border from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

2. The Indian Navy has recently announced a collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited for the development of armed autonomous boat swarms as part of the "SPRINT" initiative. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July of last year, SPRINT (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence) aims to promote the development and usage of indigenous defense technologies by domestic companies.

3. India successfully carried out a test launch of the tactical ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a test range off the Odisha coast on 10^th January. The missile successfully struck its target with "high accuracy", according to the Defence Ministry. The test validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile, which is an integral part of India's nuclear deterrence capabilities.

4. In an effort to test one's high-altitude endurance, a new challenge called "Soul of Steel" will be launched in India. Spearheaded by venture CLAW Global, which is run by veterans and supported by the Indian Army, the challenge will take place in the state of Uttarakhand and is similar to the "Ironman triathlon" long-distance triathlon challenge in Europe. The expedition will officially launch on 14^th January.

5. The 21^st edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France, Exercise Varuna, has begun on the Western Seaboard on 16^th January, 2023. The bilateral exercise, which was initiated in 1993, was named 'Varuna' in 2001 and has become a defining feature of the India-France strategic bilateral relationship.

6. The Indo-Russian joint venture for the manufacturing of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles is a testament to the strong partnership relations between the two countries. The move to manufacture these rifles in India through a joint venture not only lends greater firepower to the Indian armed forces but also serves as a significant step in strengthening military-technical cooperation between the two nations.

7. The Indian Army had ordered six Apache Helicopters with the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL). So far, six of these helicopters have been delivered and five more are being prepared. The order was placed under the GoI's Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative. The initiative aims to make India self-reliant. And therefore, GoI placed its order with the Hyderabad-based TBAL. The TBAL is a joint venture established to make India a global defense exporter.

8. The Indian and the Egyptian Armies are to conduct the first-ever joint exercise Cyclone-I. It is to be held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan for 14 days. The exercise is the first of its kind as it brings the special forces of the countries to a common platform. Cyclone-I would help the armies exchange their culture and ethos. Also, they will foster interoperability and aid in boosting the diplomatic relation between the nations.

9. The Indian Airforce is to conduct a massive military exercise near the Line of Actual Control. The Government of India conducts such military exercises on the border to control the infiltrations. Infiltrations are common in the Line of Control, India - Pakistan border and Line of Actual Control, India - China border. During these military exercises, there is a huge movement of artilleries and soldiers to the border.

10. India is to celebrate its 74^th republic day on 26^th January, 2023. Several anti-national elements try to cause trouble in the country during such nationwide celebrations. To put them under control and to increase security at the border, the BSF is conducting a seven-day long exercise called the "OPS ALERT".

11. The Indian Naval Ship Vagir is a Kalvari-class submarine. It was manufactured by the MDL of Mumbai. The diesel-electric attack submarine was recently commissioned into the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy placed an order for the submarine in 2005. The submarine is named after a Vela Class submarine (diesel driven). The Vela class Vagir submarine operated between 1973 and 2001. Vagir is a sandfish. The INS Vagir diesel-electric submarine was completely made in India.

12. All three defense forces of India, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force participated in AMPHEX recently. AMPHEX is a tri-service exercise and was held in Kakinada andhra Pradesh. Also, it is an amphibious exercise, meaning both land and sea forces will act together simultaneously. The 2023 AMPHEX is the largest of all the AMPHEX exercises held so far. The government of India is increasing its defense power and is keen on exhibiting its strength to the world.

13. The Defence Ministry has been organizing the Aero - India Show since 1996. Other organizations such as DRDO, the Indian Air Force, Civil Aviation and the Department of Space join the ministry to organize the show. The show is one of the largest air shows in Asia. Service providers of Indian aerospace and other manufacturers exhibit their products. Buyers from different countries participate in the show.

14. India celebrated its 74^th republic day on 26^th January, 2023. The President of India Draupadi Murmu hoisted the flag during the celebrations. This is the first republic day parade after the Raj Path was renamed as Kartavya Path. Egyptian President Sisi was the chief guest. A contingent of the Egyptian Army also participated in the parade.

15. The Government e-Marketplace was launched in 2016. It is an online platform used for procuring goods and services online. The main aim of GeM is to increase transparency, promote Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and support small and local sellers. Recently, the GeM tweeted that in 2022, Defence Ministry made the highest procurement from the MSME sellers.

Business, Economy & Banking

1. On the 30^th of December 2016, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, launched the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) payment app. Six years later, BHIM is still going strong, with a steadily increasing user base and a high volume of transactions being processed through the app. In this article, we take a look at what BHIM is, how it works and its impact on the Indian payment landscape.

Science & Technology

1. Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can effectively remove microplastics from water in just 10 seconds. The system uses a polymer that is relatively inexpensive and has excellent adsorption performance and good photothermal properties. The breakthrough technology requires lower levels of energy, making it suitable for solar-based use, particularly in developing countries where power supply is unreliable.

2. In his address at the 108^th Indian Science Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the significant progress India has made in the field of science and innovation. He stated that India is now ranked 40^th on the Global Innovation Index, up from 81^st in 2015 and is among the top three countries in terms of startups and PhD research works. The theme of this year's Science Congress is "Science Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment," and PM Modi emphasized the importance of women's involvement in scientific research.

3. NTPC Limited and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) have commissioned India's first green hydrogen blending project in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat. The project, which aims to supply H2-NG (natural gas) to households in the Kawas township, was made possible through the electrolysis of water using power from a 1 MW floating solar project. The first molecule of green hydrogen from the project was set in motion by P. Ram Prasad, head of the project Kawas, in the presence of other senior executives of NTPC Kawas and GGL.

4. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has released the Draft Rules for Online Gaming, which have been introduced as an amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These proposed rules aim to regulate the online gaming industry in India and ensure a safe and fair gaming ecosystem for users.

5. Ammonia synthesis is an important process for industries producing green energy or hydrogen. However, the electrochemical ammonia synthesis process has been limited by the poor solubility of nitrogen (N₂) in an aqueous electrolyte environment, as well as the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction.

6. As part of the Indian government's e-governance initiative, the Invitation Management Portal (www.aamantran.mod.gov.in) was launched on 6^th January, 2023 by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in New Delhi. This portal will allow for the extension of e-Invitations to dignitaries and guests, as well as the online sale of tickets to the general public for upcoming Republic and Independence Day events.

7. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, India have developed a unique molecular sponge-like material that can effectively clean polluted water. The material, called a macro/microporous ionic organic framework, is able to absorb and remove a wide range of toxic contaminants, including organic dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, iodides and oxo-pollutants such as perrhenate. These contaminants can pose a direct threat to human health and the environment and are commonly found in freshwater sources.

8. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody developed by Eisai and Biogen, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Lecanemab is the second drug to receive approval for the treatment of Alzheimer's and the first to slow cognitive decline in a clinical trial. However, the approval process has been controversial, with patient deaths and accusations that the FDA acted improperly when approving the first such drug, aducanumab, last year.

9. Fintech unicorn BharatPe recently announced that it has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator. The approval was granted to the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Resilient Innovations Private Ltd. This comes as a relief for BharatPe, which has been facing controversies and high-profile exits since last year, including a court battle with its former co-founder.

10. NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission has discovered a second Earth-sized, rocky planet within the habitable zone of its star - the range of distances where liquid water could occur on a planet's surface. The planet, named TOI 700 e, is one of only a few systems with multiple, small, habitable-zone planets that we know of. The discovery was made by a team led by Emily Gilbert, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

11. The Central drug regulatory authority, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), has given the green light for the market authorization of Serum Institute of India's Covid-19 vaccine, Covovax, as a heterologous booster dose for those who have already received two doses of Covishield or Covaxin. This is a significant development as it expands the options for individuals seeking to boost their immunity against the virus.

12. Startup firm IG Drones, which was born out of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) campus in Odisha's Sambalpur has developed a 5G-enabled drone that is capable of vertical take-off and landing. The drone, named Skyhawk, can be used in defence and medical applications, among other sectors.

13. The BharOS is an operating system used in mobile phones. It was developed by JandK Operations Private Limited. IIT Madras was the pioneer in developing the app. And IIT Madras developed it through its JandK organization. Basically, JandK is a non-profit private organization. The IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies launched this private organization along with others. It is funded by the Science and Technology department of the Government of India.

14. The European Union is to launch the JUICE Spacecraft in April 2023. The spacecraft is to explore the moons of Jupiter. Specifically, the mission is to study the three major moons of Jupiter namely Ganymede, Europe and Callisto. Out of the 80 moons of the planet, these three were selected for their large oceans. The satellite is to be launched from French Guiana. Ariane 5 will carry the satellite. JUICE is the first satellite from the earth to enter the orbit of Ganymede.

15. Immune imprinting is a phenomenon occurring in the human body. Scientists recently found that this phenomenon may make the COVID boosters less effective. Bivalent, Mono Valent, boosters and variant-specific boosters are to go powerless due to the immune imprinting phenomenon. Immune imprinting is the human body replicating its immune system. During immune imprinting, rather than producing new and more powerful antibodies (cells that fight viruses), the immune system creates "cross-reactive" antibodies. These cross-reactive antibodies are not effective.

16. The cervix is the lowermost part of the uterus. Tumour in the cervix is generally referred to as cervical cancer. A vaccine to cure cervical cancer was recently launched by the Serum Institute of India. The name of the vaccine is CERVAVAC. This is the first time India is producing a vaccine for cervical cancer. The vaccine was launched during National Girl Child Day. India celebrates National Girl Child Day on 24^th January.

17. The Indian Space Research Organization is working on a space project that will study the sun. The name of the project is Aditya L1. Recently, the ISRO chairman announced that the spacecraft is to be launched in June or July this year. The Aditya spacecraft will study solar magnetic storms and the impact of the solar atmosphere on the earth.

18. The IT Rules of 2021 say that Social Media Companies such as Facebook should compulsorily appoint Grievance officers. These officers should be from India. They will oversee the complaints made by social media users. Now the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is forming a committee to which these officers will report to. The committee will take "content moderation" decisions.

19. There are different methods of vaccine administration. Oral, Intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular. But the Bharat Biotech recently launched an intranasal vaccine to treat COVID-19. It is called iNCOVACC. Intra-nasal means the vaccine is administered through nose. India has approved the vaccine and it is to be administered as a booster dose.

20. The International Blue Flag tag is awarded to the beaches that are cleanest and eco-friendly. Kappad beach in Kerala is the only beach to receive the tag. Kappad is in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. A group of scientists will study the sea erosion at Kappad beach. The study is to be conducted across 3.5 km starting from Thuvvappara and ending in Valiyamangad.

21. The BAIDU is a Chinese-based technology company. It offers a popular search engine in China called BAIDU. (Major search engines like Google are banned in China) The company works on artificial intelligence and internet-related products. The headquarters of the company is in Beijing. The company is one of the largest AI companies in the world. The TECH giant is now planning to develop a chatbot similar to that of ChatGPT.

22. Hyderabad is the Cybercity of India. The Genome Valley, the first world-class Biotech cluster in India was established in the cyber city. Today, the State Government of Telangana, along with the Union Government and several other international organizations organize the BIO ASIA forum in the Genome Valley. The forum is one of the largest international biotech forums in the world. And several leading biotech companies look forward to it. In 2023, India joins hands with the UK government in hosting the forum. This year, the forum is to focus on the MSME sector.

Government Schemes

1. The Central Government of India recently announced the launch of a new integrated food security scheme, which will provide free food grains to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for the year 2023. The Cabinet has decided to implement this central sector scheme in order to fulfill the vision of "One Nation-One Price-One Ration" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has recently approved a large infrastructure development scheme for Prasar Bharati, the public broadcasting service in India that heads All India Radio and Doordarshan. The Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme, worth over Rs. 2,500 crore, will focus on expanding and upgrading the infrastructure of Prasar Bharati, as well as improving the digital content and distribution network.

3. The Union Cabinet, led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The mission aims to make India a global hub for the production, utilization and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. It will also help India become energy independent and decarbonize major sectors of the economy.

4. The Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), a new initiative aimed at improving the performance of blocks within districts lagging in various development parameters, is set to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7^th January. The ABP was announced by Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman in her 2022 - 2023 Budget speech as an extension of the Aspirational District Programme. The launch of the ABP will take place during the concluding session of the second National Conference of Chief Secretaries, with the program's introduction expected to be given by NITI Aayog CEO Parmeswaran Iyer.

5. The Centre has approved the continuation of schemes of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) with an outlay of Rs. 12,882 crore for the balance period of the 15^th Finance Commission (2022 - 2023 to 2025 - 2026). The extension will allow for better planning in terms of project selection and front-loading of projects during the scheme period.

6. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will be organizing the Startup India Innovation Week from 10^th January to 16^th January, 2023. This event is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and will take place in over 75 locations across the country.

7. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has announced that the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) will be held on 9^th January, 2023. The event will be held in 242 districts across states and union territories and is open to all individuals who are interested in pursuing apprenticeship training with local businesses.

8. As part of the Indian government's e-governance initiative, the Invitation Management Portal (www.aamantran.mod.gov.in) was launched on 6^th January, 2023 by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in New Delhi. This portal will allow for the extension of e-Invitations to dignitaries and guests, as well as the online sale of tickets to the general public for upcoming Republic and Independence Day events.

9. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of quality in India's development at the 76^th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in New Delhi. Goyal pointed out that developed nations that adopted a focus on quality in their early stages of development progressed faster and were able to engage with the world from a position of strength, leading to high quality products, goods and services and ultimately, a higher quality of life for their citizens.

10. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 4^th January, 2023, issued Draft Regulation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants Rules, 2022. These regulations aim to ensure that adequate upstream and downstream conveyance linkages/channels are in place for the proper carriage of effluent, as well as to provide guidelines for the management of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).

11. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) is an integrated food security scheme launched by the Central Government of India in January 2023. The scheme aims to provide free foodgrains to more than 80 crore poor people across the country.

12. The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given ex post facto approval for renaming the National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality in Joka, Kolkata, to the "Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation" (SPM-NIWAS). The Institute has been set up on 8.72 acres of land at Joka, Diamond Harbor Road, Kolkata, West Bengal.

13. Indian Railways has announced that it will be running its Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train on a route connecting pilgrimage sites of Ayodhya in India and Janakpur in Nepal next month. The initiative is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting cultural relations between the two countries. The tour, called 'Shri Ram-Janaki Yatra: Ayodhya to Janakpur' will start from Delhi on 17^th February.

14. The Centre is set to launch a five-year National Urban Technology Mission, which will infuse technological innovations in municipal services and infrastructure of 4,500 urban local bodies in the country. The mission, to be spearheaded by the ministry of housing and urban affairs, will have three major sub-heads and an outlay of Rs. 15,000 crore for five years.

15. The Indian government has recently announced plans to set up the country's first Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming in Shillong, Meghalaya by March 2023. The centre, which will be established under the Digital India Startup Hub through the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), is aimed at catalyzing start-ups and entrepreneurs from the entire North East Region to build the next generation of online gaming ecosystem.

16. In a move towards a greener future, the Indian government has announced the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with the goal of making India the global hub for green hydrogen production. The mission aims to achieve a production capacity of 5 million metric tons of hydrogen per year by 2030 and will be overseen by an Empowered Group, comprising of key government officials and industry experts.

17. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a disaster management plan (DMP) for the power sector, in order to evolve a proactive and integrated approach to strengthen disaster mitigation, preparedness, emergency response and recovery efforts. The power sector is one of the most critical infrastructures of the country and any disruption due to a disaster can create hardship for human beings as every aspect of human life is directly or indirectly associated with electricity.

18. The National Aquifer Mapping and Management programme, which aims to identify aquifers and water availability, is set to be completed in one year, according to G. Asok Kumar, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The announcement was made during a conference on 'Water Reclamation and Reuse' organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the International Water Association (IWA) in Chennai.

19. The Government e Marketplace (GeM) has launched a new initiative called "Womaniya on GeM" to empower women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups (WSHGs) to sell their products directly to various government ministries, departments and institutions. The initiative aims to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth.

20. The Government of India recently launched PARAKH to assess the performance of secondary and higher secondary students. Different states in the country are following different assessment procedures to evaluate their students. Because of the variations, students are facing difficulties during their college admissions. PARAKH will bring uniformity to the analysis procedures.

21. The Government of India is planning to develop the Nicobar Islands in terms of defense, commerce, logistics and industries. This is called the Mega Infrastructure Project. It is also referred to as the Great Nicobar Plan. The plan is to be implemented in the southernmost tip of India, that is, in the Great Nicobar Islands.

22. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently conducted a two-day Smart city CEO conference at Panaji, Goa. The conference was co-hosted by a private firm Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL). CEOs and Municipal commissioners of more than 100 smart cities participated in the conference. The main objective of the conference was an idea exchange. In this context, the CEOs of different smart cities presented their business plans for developing their cities and making them smart.

23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently applauded the Jal Jeevan Mission for achieving 11 crore tap water connections. The mission was announced by the PM in 2019. The main objective of the mission is to provide tap water connections to every household in India. And the target is to be achieved by 2024. For this mission, GoI allocated Rs. 3.5 trillion. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

24. The scheme will bring more than a thousand monuments under the private sector. The private sector will revamp the monuments. They will do this as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. Revamping means improving a structure or changing its appearance. The scheme is to be implemented by the Ministry of Culture. A thousand monuments selected under the scheme are now under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India.

25. CARE is an international organization fighting against poverty. Frito-Lay, Pepsi and Cola companies merged together and formed Pepsico in 1965. Today Pepsico is a food and beverage company with leading products such as Quaker, Lays, Pepsi, Cola etc. The philanthropic foundation of PEPSICO and CARE joined together and launched the "She Feeds the World" program in India. The program is to empower women in the agriculture sector.

26. Several healthcare authorities are finding it difficult to keep track of the next dose of the COVID vaccine and also facing missing vaccination cards, especially among pregnant women and children. To solve this problem, the Universal Immunisation Programme of India launched the U-WIN platform. The platform will register details of vaccination doses provided to pregnant women in the country.

27. The World Health Organization says that more than 65% of Indians are making out-of-pocket health expenditures. This means, they are paying for their health expenditures from their own pockets. Also, only 17% of the citizens have health insurance. To solve these two problems, health insurance and expenditure, the Aam Aadmi Party launched the Mohalla Clinics in 2015 when they formed the Government in Delhi. The clinic provides free medicines and diagnostics.

28. The Election Commission of India has planned to conduct the assembly elections of Chhattisgarh in November 2023. Ahead of the elections, the current CM of the state Bhupesh Baghel announced that his government is to provide unemployment allowance to the Chhattisgarh people in the 2023 - 2024 financial year. He made his announcement during his republic day speech.

29. The Atal Pension Yojana was launched in 2015. The main objective of the scheme is to provide income security to Indian citizens. The performance of the scheme was outstanding in 2022. It gained 1.25 crores of new subscribers in 2022. It is higher as compared to 2021. In 2021, the number was only 92 lakhs.

Awards & Honours

1. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honor conferred on overseas Indians during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, which will be held from 8^th to 10^th January in Indore this year. The award is presented by the President of India as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), or organizations established and run by NRIs or PIOs in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.

2. Savitribai Phule is a well-known figure in Indian history for her pioneering efforts in the fields of women's education, social reform and gender equality. She is considered the first female teacher in India and is often referred to as the "Mother of Indian Feminism." Along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai founded the first girls' school in Pune in 1848 and worked tirelessly to fight against gender and caste discrimination.

3. Rani Velu Nachiyar was an 18^th-century warrior queen who belonged to the Sivagangai estate in present-day Tamil Nadu. She was the only daughter of the royal couple of the Sethupathi dynasty and was trained in martial arts, archery and horseback riding. Rani Velu Nachiyar was also multilingual, with proficiency in languages such as French, English and Urdu.

4. The Assam government has recently announced the recipients of three prestigious awards: "Asom Baibhav," "Asom Sourav," and "Asom Gourav" for the year 2022 - 2023. These awards recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the state and its people.

5. Fay Weldon was an English author, essayist and playwright known for her work as a self-declared feminist. Throughout her 55-year career, she published 31 novels, including "The Life and Loves of a She-Devil," which was televised by the BBC in 1986.

6. India's former doubles World No. 1 champion, Sania Mirza, has announced that she will retire from professional tennis in February at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai. The 36-year-old has had a successful career, winning six Grand Slam doubles titles and becoming the first Indian to win a WTA singles title when she won the Hyderabad event in 2005.

7. Odisha has been recognized by the United Nations-Habitat (UN-Habitat) for its efforts to empower the lives of slum dwellers and create a slum-free state in India through its 5T initiative, Jaga Mission. According to an official statement, Jaga Mission is the world's largest land titling and slum upgrading program. It aims to upgrade all 2,919 slums in the state of Odisha, under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

8. Fatima Sheikh was an Indian educator and social reformer, who was a colleague of the social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. She was born on 9^th January 1831 and passed away on 9^th October 1900. Sheikh is widely considered to be India's first Muslim woman teacher. She is remembered for her pioneering role in educating and empowering women and marginalized communities during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

9. The 80^th Golden Globe Awards were held on Wednesday in Beverly Hills, California. Due to the ongoing pandemic and recent revelations about the lack of diversity and alleged ethical lapses among the award's organizers, the gala did not have its usual star-studded and raucous atmosphere that typically kicks off the annual movie awards season.

10. The Digital India Awards, instituted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), recognize and honor innovative digital solutions and exemplary initiatives by various government entities in the realm of digital governance. The awards aim to promote universal accessibility to digital resources, anytime anywhere access and collaboration in participative governance and digital literacy, leading to enhanced ease of living.

11. S. S. Rajamouli's RRR, an Indian film directed by S. S. Rajamouli and featuring Jr. NTR and Ram Charan in lead roles, took home two awards at the 28^th Annual Critic's Choice Award held on Sunday in Los Angeles. The film won the award for best feature film in a foreign language and the best song. The Critic's Choice awards mark the fourth major international award for the film that has scored big at the box office.

12. Retired director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, was recently appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser in National Security Council Secretariat for a period of two years. Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed on a re-employment contract.

13. Abdul Rehman Makki is a Pakistan-based terrorist who was recently listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under its ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. He has been sanctioned based on his links to the 2000 Red Fort attack and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Makki is the brother-in-law of Lashkar leader and founder Hafiz Saeed, who was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks.

14. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the establishment of a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Telangana) in Hyderabad. It will focus on healthcare and life sciences, with the goal of accelerating product development and delivery innovation within the Indian healthcare system.

15. Every republic day and independence day celebration, India invites chief guests from different countries. Earlier, that is, between the 1950s and 1970s, India invited chief guests from the Eastern Blocs and NAM. However, the trend has now changed. We are now inviting our close trade partners and allies to the celebrations. This year, in 2023, India invited the Egyptian President.

16. The Prime Minister National Award for Children is also known as the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. It is conferred by the President of India. In 2023, the president will present this award to 11 children (six boys and five girls) from 11 different states and union territories.

17. The Government of India presents Gallantry Awards to honor the brave acts of the army personnel in the Armed Forces. The awards are presented twice a year. These awards are announced on republic day celebrations and Independence Day celebrations. Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirthi Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are some of the gallantry awards. The President of India presents the Gallantry awards.

Sports

1. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on 1^st January that the Dexa bone density test will be mandatory for Indian players to be selected for the national team. The Yo-Yo Test will also return as part of the team's preparation for the 2023 ODI World Cup. This comes after a year of injuries for the Indian team, which saw them fail to reach the final of both the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

3. India has gained its 79^th Grandmaster with the title being awarded to 16-year-old Pranesh M. from Tamil Nadu. Pranesh achieved the required 2500 ELO rating and won the Rilton Cup in the final round of the competition, which featured 136 players representing 29 national federations. Pranesh finished in first place, while his compatriot and fellow Grandmaster, R. Raja Rithvik, finished in eighth place with six points.

4. The 15^th edition of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup is set to begin on 13^th January in India. The tournament, which is held every four years, will feature 16 teams from around the world competing for the coveted title. India, who is the host nation, will be looking to secure a podium finish after a 48-year hiatus. The tournament has a rich history, with Pakistan being the most successful team with four titles, followed by Netherlands and Australia with three titles each and Germany with two titles.

5. The Indian cricket team achieved a historic victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final match of the series at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India defeated Sri Lanka by 317 runs, breaking New Zealand's 15-year-old record for the largest victory margin in ODI cricket. The previous record was held by New Zealand, who achieved a win of 290 runs against Ireland in 2008. This victory not only secured a 3-0 series whitewash for India, but also solidified their position as a dominant force in the world of ODI cricket.

6. Laxman Rawat of PSPB emerged victorious in the 'Baulkline' NSCI All India Snooker Open, beating fellow PSPB challenger Aditya Mehta 9-6 in a best-of-17-frame final. This was a sweet victory for Rawat, who had finished as the runner-up in the previous edition of the tournament, losing to Sourav Kothari in the final. This win marked Rawat's first major title after 2-3 years and he was understandably happy with his performance.

7. The referees show red and yellow cards for foul play in Football. These cards have been in the game since the inception of the FIFA World Cup, that is, 1970. However, a white card was recently introduced. The Referee shall use the white card to recognize fair play. The first white card was used on 21^st January, 2023, in a match between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica (Football teams in Portuguese) in the city of Lisbon.

8. The Government of India conducts the Khelo India Youth Games every year to hunt talents from different parts of India. The sports event is seen as the best gateway for Indian athletes to enter international events and bring pride to the nations. The fifth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games is to start in January end. The State Government of Madhya Pradesh is to host the event. For the first time, Kayaking and Canoeing are introduced in the event.

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References:
jagranjosh.com
gktoday.in
business-standard.com