JANUARY MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2022

JANUARY  MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2022: Monthly Current Affairs are very important for every competitive exam and as we all know, in the upcoming months, many government exams.

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches ‘Padhe Bharat’, a 100-days reading campaign
• Uttarakhand: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami launches Free Mobile Tablet scheme for class 10 and 12 students of state government schools
• PM releases 10th instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM- KISAN) scheme
• FCRA registration of 6,000 NGOs ceases to operate from January 1
• Food aggregators like Swiggy, Zomato to collect 5% GST beginning Jan 1
• Centre sticks to 8 lakh annual income criteria for reservation to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates
• SC-appointed panel urges citizens with Pegasus-infected devices to contact it by Jan 7
• Parliamentary panel on marriage age raising bill from 18 to 21 years headed by BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
• Pakistan: Pilgrims pray at renovated century-old temple of Maharaja Paramhans Ji in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
• Sudan’s PM Abdalla Hamdok announces resignation amid political deadlock
• Richard Leakey, Kenyan conservationist who campaigned against ivory trade, dies at 77
• PM inaugurates and lays the foundation stone of various developmental projects in Imphal,Manipur

• PM inaugurates the New Integrated Terminal Building at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala
• Jitendra Singh launches Web Portal for PM’s Excellence Award, says prize money doubled to 20 lakh rupees for awarded District or Organization
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh releases Special Postage Stamp commemorating 75th Platinum Jubilee year of CSIR-National Physical Lab
• Ladakh: BRO (Border Roads Organisation) creates history, Zoji-La pass opens to vehicles for the first time ever in January
• Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to discontinue as Chancellor of Universities
• Indian Navy’s 1971 war veteran Vice Admiral H. Sarma dies at 100
• SBI, ICICI, HDFC Bank continue to remain Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs): RBI
• Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister K. Singh dedicates AGC (Automatic Generation Control) to the nation, aims to achieve government’s target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel-based generation capacity by 2030
• ICMR approves India-made kit to detect Omicron; manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics and is named OmiSure
• PM Modi cancels Ferozepur visit after major security breach in Punjab
• ‘Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for Sustainable Future’ announced as theme of National Science Day 2022 to be celebrated on February 28
• CDS Gen Bipin Rawat chopper crash of Dec 8: No technical snag or sabotage, bad weather identified as prime reason
• India’s TS Tirumurti assumes new chair of UN Counter-Terrorism Committee
• UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) scheme completes 7 years; Over 36 crore 70 lakh LEDs distributed across the country so far
• Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras launches 6 brands under One District-One Product (ODOP)
• Smart Cities Mission launches “Smart cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR)” program
• Cabinet approves MoU between India and Nepal for construction of bridge over Mahakali River at Dharchula (India) – Dharchula (Nepal)
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates India’s first Open Rock Museum in Hyderabad

• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh releases Earthquake Risk Maps of Lucknow and Dehradun Cities
• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurates, lays foundation stones for 29 development works worth Rs 2,450 crore in Manipur
• Drinking Water Supply Schemes worth 6,872 crores approved for Rajasthan under Jal Jeevan Mission
• Russia-led military alliance CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) to send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan after call for help by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
• Afghanistan’s Taliban regime not to allow any fencing along Durand Line by Pakistan
• Veteran Chinese diplomat Zhang Ming takes over as new Secretary-General of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization)
• Oldest US veteran of WWII, Lawrence Brooks, dies at 112
• UP ranked best state in water conservation efforts by Jal Shakti Ministry; Rajasthan 2nd
• Expenditure limit for Lok Sabha, Assembly candidates revised
• MHA forms 3-member panel headed by Sudhir Kumar Saxena to enquire into security lapses during PM’s visit to Punjab on Jan 5
• Union Tourism Minister Kishan Reddy virtually inaugurates PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) projects at Govardhan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
• NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test–Postgraduate) medical admissions: Supreme Court upholds 27% OBC, 10% EWS quota
• Foreign exchange reserves decline by USD 466 billion to USD 633.614 billion
• India GDP: Govt forecasts FY22 economic growth at 2%
• Centre establishes help desks to ensure supplies of delivery of goods and essential commodities continue without any restrictions during Covid times
• External Affairs Ministry (MEA) signs agreement for second phase of Passport Seva Programme with Tata Consultancy Services Limited
• DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) of Ministry of Commerce and Industry organising Startup India Innovation Week from January 10 to 16
• US to start exports of Alfalfa hay and cherries from April 2022 to Indian market
• FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) licence of Missionaries of Charity restored, can receive foreign funds
• Assam govt partners with NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) to set up Rs 2,000-cr dairy joint venture
• India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant begins another phase of sea trials; built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
• ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ to be observed on December 26 as tribute to Guru Gobind Singh’s sons
• Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas celebrated on January 9
• Pakistani fishing trawler named ‘Yaseen’ caught by Indian Coast Guard off Gujarat coast
• India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant begins another phase of sea trials; built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
• ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ to be observed on December 26 as tribute to Guru Gobind Singh’s sons
• Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas celebrated on January 9
• Pakistani fishing trawler named ‘Yaseen’ caught by Indian Coast Guard off Gujarat coast
• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reaches major milestone as ‘Mirror Unfolds’
• China’s Chang’e 5 lunar probe finds first on-site evidence of water on moon’s surface
• Marilyn Bergman, Oscar-winning composer, dies at 93
• Canada wins ATP Cup tennis with 2-0 win over Spain in Sydney
• Bopanna & Ramanathan win men’s doubles title at Adelaide International tennis
• Spain’s Rafael Nadal wins Melbourne Summer Set 1 ATP 250 tennis title
• ICMR issues an advisory on purposive testing strategy for Covid-19 in India
• Visually challenged students will soon have access to Braille Maps, enabling them for ease of use: Govt
• Punjab Lok Congress party of Ex-CM Captain Amarinder Singh allotted hockey stick, ball as election symbol
• Sri Lanka launches Jaffna-Colombo luxury train service with India’s assistance
• Kazakhstan: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev says coup d’etat averted
• Golden Globe Awards: “The Power of the Dog” wins best drama film award; “West Side Story” wins best musical/comedy film award
• ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) sever relations with Mali in response to its “unacceptable” delay in holding elections
• New York City apartment building fire kills 19, including 9 children
• DRDO tests advanced “Sea to Sea” variant of BrahMos missile from INS Visakhapatnam
• DRDO tests Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
• Rafale maritime fighter aircraft demonstrates operational capability at INS Hansa naval facility in Goa
• UNESCO agrees to publish Hindi descriptions of India’s World Heritage Sites on its website; World Hindi Day celebrated on January 10
• First Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Workshop hosted by India’s National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)
• No complete ban on cannabis, medical use allowed: Centre to Delhi HC
• Raghuvendra Tanwar appointed Chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi
• India Digital Summit 2022 organised by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)
• Swajal Water Private Limited, an Artificial Intelligence-driven Start-Up by IIT alumni for water purification, launched by Jitendra Singh
• Shriram Transport Finance raises $475 million through social bonds
• Govt to own 8% in Vodafone Idea after converting dues, says company
• Madras High Court dismisses SpiceJet’s appeal against winding up order; airline has time till Jan 28 to move SC
• European Parliament President David Sassoli dies aged 65 in Italy
• European Parliament is headquartered in in Strasbourg, France
• US: Michael Lang, co-creator and promoter 1969 Woodstock music festival, dies at 77
• Poet Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman to feature on US coin
• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav releases ‘India State Of Forest Report 2021’; total forest and tree cover in India is 9 million hectares in 2021 which is 24.6% of the geographical area of the country
• Five killed, several injured as Guwahati Bikaner Express derails near Maynaguri in West Bengal
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal meets UK Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan for launch of India-UK Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
• Classic Legends re-launches Yezdi motorcycle at prices starting from Rs 98 lakh
• Govt asks BARC (Broadcasters Audience and Research Council) to release news ratings with immediate effect; one year after suspension of television news ratings
• RBI Governor-headed FSDC (Financial Stability and Development Council) sub-committee reviews economic situation
• Armed Forces Veterans Day celebrated on Jan 14
• Defence Ministry allots 320 crores to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for the welfare of veterans and their families
• Defence Ministry launches Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal designed to speedily redress pension issues
• Tamil Nadu: On the occasion of Pongal, Jallikattu bull taming event begins in Madurai
• 10th century idol discovered in England, returned to India; goat-headed Yogini went missing from Lokhari (UP) in the 1980s
• Merchandise exports: India had trade deficit of USD 44 billion in April-December 2021-22
• Bilateral trade between India and China at USD 66 billion in 2021; $69 billion in favour of China
• India extends USD900 mn aid to Sri Lanka; includes a USD 400 mn currency swap and deferred payment of USD 500 mn
• Indian economy to grow at 9% in FY22 and 7% in FY23: UN
• Philippines becomes first country to buy India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system in a contract worth $374.96 million
• RBI proposes new norms for the classification and valuation of the investment portfolio of banks
• Ukraine hit by massive cyber attack warning its citizens to “be afraid and expect the worst”
• No breakthrough over Ukraine as NATO-Russia Council talks end in Brussels
• PM Imran Khan launches Pakistan’s first-ever National Security Policy
• China’s global trade surplus surges to record $676.4 billion in 2021
• In 63 years, DRDO has transformed the landscape of defence research and development in DRDO also played a significant role in fighting against COVID-19 pandemic. It set up around 850 oxygen plants and Covid hospitals with the help from PM CARES Fund.
• It also developed a medicine named 2DG, to fight covid-19.
• Synergy with the defence industry with respect to development and production has reached to new heights in India, with more than 175 transfers of technologies happened in 2021
• Padhe Bharat Campaign was launched to improve learning levels of
• It marks a significant step to improve learning levels because it develops creativity, critical thinking, vocabulary as well as ability to express in writing & verbal
• DRDO is the premier agency, working under the Department of Defence Research & Development in Ministry of It is charged with the military’s research and development. The organisation is headquartered in Delhi.
• DRDO was established on January 1, 1958 after merging Directorate of Technical Development & Production of Indian Ordnance Factories and Technical Development Establishment, with Defence Science In 1979, Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) was set up as a service of Group ‘A’ Officers / Scientists.
• DRDO has a network of 52 laboratories. These laboratories are engaged in developing defence technologies covering fields such as aeronautics, electronics, armaments, life sciences, land combat engineering, naval systems, materials and
• DRDO is the largest and most diverse research organisation in India. It comprises of about 5,000 scientists belonging to the DRDS and around 25,000 other subordinate scientific, technical and supporting
• On January 1, 2022, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a 100-day Reading Campaign called ‘Padhe Bharat’.
• It will help children in relating to their surroundings and real-life situation.
• Children studying in Balvatika to class 8 will be covered under the
• Padhe Bharat campaign started on January 1, It will be organised for 100 days or 14 weeks. It will conclude on April 10, 2022.
• The campaign will also focus on Indian languages like mother tongue, local language or regional In line with this goal, the campaign has also been integrated with the “International Mother Tongue Day” which is observed on February 21. The day will be celebrated with “Kahani Padho Apni Bhasa Main” activity in India, by encouraging children to read in their mother tongue or local language.
• Currently, India has a total inter-regional transmission capacity of about 1,12,250 It is likely to enhance to about 1,18,740 MW by 2022.
• • PM Modi to host first India-Central Asia Summit virtually on January 27
  • Three Navy personnel killed in explosion onboard INS Ranvir in Mumbai
  • Rajasthan: BSF to conduct ‘Operation Sard Hawa’ along Pak border from Jan 23 to 28
  • Eleven cities selected as the winners of the Streets for People Challenge by the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
  • Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry announces winners of Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge
  • Cabinet approves extension of tenure of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis for three years
  • Internet panel on languages ropes in Vijay Shekhar Sharma as ambassador
  • Cabinet approves Scheme for grant of ex-gratia payment of difference between compound interest and simple interest for six months to borrowers in specified loan accounts
    • Synchronisation of all regional grids will help in utilizing the natural resources optimally, by transferring Power from Resource centric regions to Load centric regions. It will also lead to the establishment of vibrant Electricity market facilitating trading of power in

     

    • Power Grid is an Indian statutory corporation, working under the parent head of Ministry of Power. It is headquartered in Gurugram. The organisation engages mainly in transmission of bulk power across India. Power Grid transmits around 50% of the total power generated in

     

  • Resignation of Hamdok is another blow to fragile attempts by Sudan in transitioning to democratic rule, following a popular uprising which led to the overthrow of long-term authoritarian President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
  • Sudan’s army had staged a coup on October 25, 2021. This coup had placed Prime Minister Hamdok under house arrest initially. Following this, the civilian and military leaders had signed a power-sharing agreement.
    • Prime Minister Hamdok had reached to power-sharing agreement with Army in November 2021. Under the agreement, reinstated prime minister was supposed to lead the cabinet of technocrats until new elections were held. However, it was not clear that how much power the new civilian government would have. While, protesters showed distrust towards the military
    • On January 1, 2021, A special committee has submitted report to the Supreme Court on reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

     

    • In a report, the panel has suggested to implement the recommendations only from the next admission cycle and not from the ongoing
    • This is so, because sudden change will cause major disruption across educational institutes as well as create complications for authorities and
    • Special committee was created to review the eligibility criteria of 10% reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government institutes and jobs. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, to challenge the income criteria for EWS quota in NEET exam, which determines admissions to medical While hearing the petition, court asked the central government on how it arrived at Rs 8 lakh income limit.
    • Earlier in December 2021, freezing of boundaries of districts, sub-districts, talukas, tehsils, police stations has been postponed till June 2022.
    • Freezing of boundary limits of administrative units is a pre-requisite to conduct the It is done at least three months prior.
    • Finalisation of administrative units call for covering all jurisdictional changes in an administrative area between two consecutive
    • As per provisional data compiled by the Registrar General of India (RGI) till June 2021, number of districts has increased from 640 in 2011 to
    • The sub-districts have increased from 5,925 in 2011 to 6,754 in 2021, census towns from 3,892 to 5,050 and statutory towns from 4,041 to 4,657.
    • However, villages have decreased from 6,40,934 to 6,39,083, for the same
    • First phase of Census 2021, involving House listing, Housing Census and updating the NPR, was scheduled to be held from April-September, However, it was postponed indefinitely amid COVID-19 pandemic.
    • The second and main phase of the census, involving population enumeration, was scheduled to be concluded by March 5, But it could not happen since States were banned to create new administrative units from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

     

    • NPR is a list of all the people residing in India. It includes both citizens and non-citizens. NPR was first compiled in 2010. It was updated in 2015. It has already compiled a database of 119 crore residents. NPR was to be updated along with the first phase of 2020

    This service is likely to provide connectivity between Domestic Cruise Terminal at Ferry Wharf and terminals at Belapur & Nerul.

    Government has allotted following routes to several operators:

    1. International Cruise Terminal to Elephanta
    2. Domestic Cruise Terminal (DCT) to Karanjade, Rewas,
    3. DCT to Belapur, Vashi, Nerul, Airoli, Khanderi Islands & JNPT
    4. DCT to JNPT and Navi Mumbai, will be the most significant

    Water Taxi Service is expected to be inaugurated in first week of January 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Presently, there are three operators ready. Fourth operator will join after their catamaran is certified fit.

    The Gateway of India was earlier connected to Navi Mumbai and Girgaum was connected to Juhu by catamaran. But the services were shut down in 1994. Currently, there are speedboats, catamarans, and launches, running on the Mumbai-Mandwa route. Launches also connect Mumbai with Uran, Rewas, Mora, Mandwa and Elephanta Caves.

     

    Natural gas shortage in Pakistan is impacting its most important export industry and is putting more stress on its economy, which is already struggling with weak currency and high inflation. Shortfall in supply is due to the inability of energy ministry to arrange supply.

     

     

    Work on the Water Taxi Services project was accelerated after Nitin Gadkari assumed charges as Shipping Minister.

     

    The Water Taxi Service project is a joint initiative of Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), Maharashtra Maritime Board and City & Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).

     

    Fares from DTC to Navi Mumbai will be around Rs 1200 to 1500 per passenger, while fares from DTC to JNPT will be around Rs 750. The fares are high at present. Rates will be decreased once operators get a large catamaran.

    • In December 2021, around $250 million of textiles exports were lost, when mills in Punjab were forced to shut for 15
    • Factories in Punjab province are dependent on imports of liquefied natural gas, while its domestic supply is being diverted to other
    • Pakistan has emerged as a fast-growing import market for LNG, in the backdrop of subsidence of local supply and diminishing local gas sources over the last few The competition for the fuel has increased due to global shortages. This competition is sending princes to level which Pakistan cannot afford. In Pakistan, fuel is used as an electricity feedstock and for heating and cooking. Energy crisis is worsening due to increasing cost of LNG.
    • Textile industry in Pakistan is one of its few economic bright The industry supplies products ranging from denim jeans to hats to buyers in the U.S. and Europe.
    • Its production has increased almost 6 per cent in 9 months through March This sector accounted for 60 per cent of total exports.
    • On January 2, 2022 India donated 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Afghanistan and will further send another 500,000 doses in coming days as a part of humanitarian aid to
    • Doses were donated to the Indira Gandhi children’s hospital in
    • Vaccines were sent via a flight of Iran’s Mahan Air, since there are no direct flights between India and Afghanistan,
    • India had also sent 6 tonnes of life-saving medicines to Kabul hospital, on December 11, 2021. These medicines were routed through the World Health Organization.
    • India had also offered to provide 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via land routes in Pakistan. However, it has been held up because of conditions provided by On December 3, Pakistan stated to allow wheat and medicines supply via Wagah land border crossing in Afghan trucks. But modalities have not yet finalised.
    • As per World Food Programme, around 98% of Afghans are starving in the country, because of a worsening economic crisis, conflict and This figure has increased by 17% since August 2021.
    • Assistant professor Subodh G of Kerala University and research scholar Vidhya Lalan have developed fifth- generation (5G) microwave
    • Development of 5G microwave absorbers could act as an effective shield against electromagnetic
    • Threat of electromagnetic pollution and radiation is inevitable because of ever-increasing quest for smarter and advanced electronic devices

     

    The new shielding material is a ‘mayenite electride’. It is chemically stable. The material has shown exceptional microwave absorption ability in high frequency region, particularly in the 5G band.

    The presence of anionic electrons provides this compound a high conductivity, which is responsible for its high electromagnetic wave attenuation.

    Apart from conductivity, mayenite electride is also highly porous and consists of a coating of graphene.

    Presence of macropores and graphene interface in this material force the electromagnetic waves to undergo reflections and subsequent absorption, repeatedly.

    The material has the property of microwave attenuation in extreme high frequency region. It highlights the potentiality of material for futuristic devices designed for 5G applications

     

     

    The research on mayenite electride was undertaken as part of ‘Microwave Materials Laboratory scheme’, which is funded by Kerala University.

     

    EMI is a disturbance generated by an external source, affecting an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, conduction or electrostatic coupling. This disturbance may disturb the performance of circuit or even stop it from working. EMI could be cause by man-made as well as natural sources generating changing electrical currents and voltages.

     

    The QuantumScape Corp, a battery start-up backed by Volkswagen AG is working on a technology called “Iron-Air Battery”.

     

    This technology could make car batteries cheaper, more reliable and suitable for quicker recharge. Shareholders of California-based QuantumScape Corp have approved a multibillion-dollar pay package for Chief Executive Officer Jagdeep Singh, for achieving some performance milestones.

     

    Iron–air rechargeable batteries are an attractive technology, having the potential of grid-scale energy storage. Main raw-material of this technology is iron oxide (rust), which is non-toxic, abundant, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Most of the iron- batteries are currently being developed using iron oxide for generating or storing hydrogen through a redox reaction.

     

    Power in the iron-air batteries comes from interaction of iron with oxygen. The steel oxidizes in the same manner as it would during its corrosion phase in that procedure. Necessary oxygen for the reaction can be taken from ambient air. Thus, it eliminates the requirement of cell to store it. Iron-air batteries save more energy as compared to lithium-ion batteries with 600wh/kg.

     

    Iron-air batteries are significance because, both ferrous and sodium are highly abundant. They are the

    building blocks of alkali solutions. They have a high potential to grow. They have a life span of around 30 years. Iron-oxygen batteries are also resilient to overcurrent, overcharging, and partial discharge. A rechargeable iron-oxygen battery could supply 100 hours of energy at operating cost as compared to traditional power stations. It is less than a tenth as compared to price of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries have gained interest due to their energy density, reversibility and environmental acceptability.

     

    The committee will focus on increasing green hydrogen production in the country. This has been prioritised of all the other functions of the committee. Also, the committee will focus on creating a strong value chain for green hydrogen. The committee’s plan towards Green Hydrogen will help India’s National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) largely. The mission was announced during 2021-22 Budget. The NHM aims to produce hydrogen from renewable sources. It had put green hydrogen at the centre of India’s climate change plans and energy security measures.

    Other major Transition plans

    The committee will create transition plans for oil companies. It will help the transport sector to move towards clean energy.

     

    During the Leader’s Summit on Climate, India announced to achieve net zero emission target by 2070. In order to achieve this, the oil companies were directed to create plans focusing on improving their clean energy portfolio. The committee is to review these plans. It will also suggest alternatives. Also, the committee will provide suggestions in creating the plans.

    The committee will guide the oil companies in launching their transition plans. For instance, Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum recently announced to set up 22,000 charging stations jointly.

     

    Ministry of Civil Aviation released the draft “National Air Sports Policy (NASP)” on January 3, 2021 for public feedback.

     

    The draft policy is available on Ministry’s website, for which suggestions can be sent by January 31, 2022.

     

    The NASP seeks to leverage India’s potential for air sports. It places a strong focus to ensure international best practices in safety. It has been prepared with the vision of brining India among top air sports nations by 2030. Key Features of the policy are as follows:

    1. It covers sports such as aeromodelling, aerobatics, amateur-built & experimental aircraft, gliding, hang gliding & paragliding, ballooning, drones, micro lighting & paramotoring; skydiving and vintage
    2. Under it, an apex governing body called Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) will be
    3. Air sports associations will be accountable to ASFI with respect to regulatory
    4. ASFI will represent India at FAI and other global platforms associated with the air
    5. Domestic design, development and manufacturing of air sports equipment will be promoted in accordance with the Atmanirbhar Bharat
    6. Inability to enforce safety standards by an air sports association will attract penal action by ASFI against such It will include financial penalties, suspension or dismissal.
    7. All persons and entities that are providing air sports services will be required to register as members of respective air sports

     

    Establishment of air sports hubs in India will also bring in air sports professionals and tourists from worldwide.

    Thus, Indian government seeks to promote India’s air sports sector, in order to make it safe, accessible, affordable, enjoyable and sustainable.

     

    Union Environment Ministry has extended measures to conserve the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. It will be delayed by another six months. Deadline to notify new rules have been extended till June 30, 2022.

     

    Earlier deadlines were set to expire on December 31, 2021.

    On December 31, environment ministry issued a notification to amend Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. In rule 5 (3) (d), December 31, 2021, will be substituted by June 30, 2022.

    This clause is applicable to prohibition or restrictions imposed by government on the location of industries or carrying the processes and operations in an area.

    • Electromagnetic interference (EMI) affects the high-end devices as well as they are detrimental to the health of living
    • The problems generated by EMI requires immediate attention in this era of 5G technology and Internet of Things (IoT). This is because it has become difficult to undertake routine chores without using electronic devices and internet, which work around electromagnetic waves. Thus, the development of 5H microwave absorbers is significant for high frequently

     

    • The new shielding material is a ‘mayenite electride’. It is chemically The material has shown exceptional microwave absorption ability in high frequency region, particularly in the 5G band.
    • The presence of anionic electrons provides this compound a high conductivity, which is responsible for its high electromagnetic wave
    • Apart from conductivity, mayenite electride is also highly porous and consists of a coating of
    • The QuantumScape Corp, a battery start-up backed by Volkswagen AG is working on a technology called “Iron-Air Battery”.
    • This technology could make car batteries cheaper, more reliable and suitable for quicker recharge. Shareholders of California-based QuantumScape Corp have approved a multibillion-dollar pay package for Chief Executive Officer Jagdeep Singh, for achieving some performance
    • Iron–air rechargeable batteries are an attractive technology, having the potential of grid-scale energy Main raw-material of this technology is iron oxide (rust), which is non-toxic, abundant, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Most of the iron- batteries are currently being developed using iron oxide for generating or storing hydrogen through a redox reaction.
    • Power in the iron-air batteries comes from interaction of iron with oxygen. The steel oxidizes in the same manner as it would during its corrosion phase in that procedure. Necessary oxygen for the reaction can be taken from ambient air. Thus, it eliminates the requirement of cell to store it. Iron-air batteries save more energy as compared to lithium-ion batteries with 600wh/kg.
    • Iron-air batteries are significance because, both ferrous and sodium are highly They are the
    • building blocks of alkali solutions. They have a high potential to grow. They have a life span of around 30 Iron-oxygen batteries are also resilient to overcurrent, overcharging, and partial discharge. A rechargeable iron-oxygen battery could supply 100 hours of energy at operating cost as compared to traditional power stations. It is less than a tenth as compared to price of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries have gained interest due to their energy density, reversibility and environmental acceptability.
    • The committee will primarily focus on biofuel and green hydrogen of all the clean energies. It will create plans to improve their supply

     

    • The bio fuel plans will focus on creating sustainable biomass supply chain. Also, it will focus on increasing the biofuel infrastructure in the country. India is currently planning to set up 5,000 biogas plants. These measures are being adopted because India is primarily looking for options to increase domestic production of And this can be achieved only by increasing biofuel production.

     

    • The committee will focus on increasing green hydrogen production in the country. This has been prioritised of all the other functions of the committee. Also, the committee will focus on creating a strong value chain for green hydrogen. The committee’s plan towards Green Hydrogen will help India’s National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) largely. The mission was announced during 2021-22 Budget. The NHM aims to produce hydrogen from renewable sources. It had put green hydrogen at the centre of India’s climate change plans and energy security

     

    • The committee will create transition plans for oil companies. It will help the transport sector to move towards clean
    • During the Leader’s Summit on Climate, India announced to achieve net zero emission target by In order to achieve this, the oil companies were directed to create plans focusing on improving their clean energy portfolio. The committee is to review these plans. It will also suggest alternatives. Also, the committee will provide suggestions in creating the plans.

    Ministry of Civil Aviation released the draft “National Air Sports Policy (NASP)” on January 3, 2021 for public feedback.

     

    The draft policy is available on Ministry’s website, for which suggestions can be sent by January 31, 2022.

     

    The NASP seeks to leverage India’s potential for air sports. It places a strong focus to ensure international best practices in safety. It has been prepared with the vision of brining India among top air sports nations by 2030. Key Features of the policy are as follows:

    • It covers sports such as aeromodelling, aerobatics, amateur-built & experimental aircraft, gliding, hang gliding & paragliding, ballooning, drones, micro lighting & paramotoring; skydiving and vintage
    • Under it, an apex governing body called Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) will be
    • Air sports associations will be accountable to ASFI with respect to regulatory
    • ASFI will represent India at FAI and other global platforms associated with the air
    • Domestic design, development and manufacturing of air sports equipment will be promoted in accordance with the Atmanirbhar Bharat
    • Western Ghats is a mountain range, covering an area of 160,000 km2 in a stretch of 1,600 km parallel to western coast of Indian peninsula. It covers the states of Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one among the eight biodiversity hotspots of the world. As per UNESCO, Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas.

    According to World Bank’s Sri Lanka Development Update (SLDU), Sri Lanka is facing an acute economic crisis because of job & earning losses, and high food inflation.

     

    Inflation has been increased due to printing of money by government to pay off foreign bons and domestic loans.

    As per World Bank, share of people living under poverty line is expected to increase by 11.7 per cent since the onset of covid-19 pandemic.

    Its impact was disproportionately large among people working in more urbanised areas like Western province, due to impact on industry.

    Highly rural districts like Kandy and Ratnapura also account for a large share of new poor after COVID-19 pandemic.

    Vulnerability among the workforce was very high on weak safety and high informality nets.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has not impacted all the economic sectors equally. As per sectoral GDP data and discussion in Chapter 1, industries have been affected more than services and agriculture. But subsectors witnessed large variations. Weak external demand has impacted export-oriented subsectors. Among industrial subsectors, textile manufacturing and construction suffered the largest decline because these sectors are sensitive to demand shocks and require workers to be physically present.

     

    Because of financial crisis, rating agencies such as Moody’s, S&P and Fitch have downgraded their sovereign ratings for Sri Lanka. Moody’s downgraded its rating by two notches to Caa1, on the other hand, S&P downgraded its rating down to B- in September and CCC+ in December.

     

    World Bank has suggested to focus on four priorities for Sri Lanka to transform its economy, achieve a sustainable trajectory and create more jobs in order to reduce poverty and recover from the impact of covid-19. The four priorities are:

    1. Increase agricultural productivity & earnings by transitioning farmers towards higher-value, export-

    oriented crop mixes.

    2. Address the constraints for accessing remunerative non-farm jobs in rural This is because they are important and potentially productive source of livelihoods.
    3. Support broader reforms for increasing labour productivity and create jobs, in order to improve the quality of
    4. Promote spatial transformation and strengthen

    It is a new species recently discovered in India. Along with Monoceromyia flavoscutata, researchers also found Monoceromyia nigra. These newly discovered species were classified as a new type Syrphid flies.

     

    The species were discovered by scientists of a research museum in Germany. They are wasp like flower flies or syrphid flies.

    Monoceromyia flavoscutata was discovered in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Monoceromyia nigra was discovered in Bastar district of Arunachal Pradesh. The species are found in western ghats and north eastern India.

    They were named so because of their black colored thorax and yellowing in their body.

    The Monoceromyia genus is generally referred to as syrphid fly. They are generally found in Australasian, Afrotropical, Neotropical and Oriental regions. Afrotropical includes Africa, Arabian Peninsula, south of Sahara Desert, southern Iran, Madagascar, islands of western Indian Ocean and extreme south west Pakistan. The oriental region refers to East, South and Central Asia. Neotropical region includes South America, Caribbean and Central America.

    On January 3, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a framework for small-value offline transactions in digital mode.

     

    As per framework, offline payments can be made using any channel or instrument such as wallets, mobile devices or cards. However, they shall be made in proximity, or in face-to-face mode only.

    Authorised payment system operators (PSOs) and payment system participants (PSPs) including banks and non-banks, which wants to offer payments in offline mode will require to comply with the requirements under the prescribed framework.

    Offline payment transactions can be offered without additional factor of authentication (AFA). Payment instruments shall be enabled for offline transactions on the basis of explicit consent of the customer. Such transactions through cards shall be allowed without the need of switching on contactless transaction channel.

     

    In the last two months, it has been observed that China is constructing a bridge connecting the north and

    south banks of the Pangong Lake.

    Construction of the bridge is taking place on the Chinese side. However, it is 25-30 km away from India’s claim of Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    The bridge still connects the north and south banks of the Pangong Lake, allowing the Chinese army quick access to both sides.

     

    In August 2020, India had occupied key heights on Kailash range on the southern bank. It provided troops a strategic advantage as they overlooked the Chinese Moldo garrison. India had pulled back from the height following a “mutual pullback plan” for easing the tensions.

     

    Construction of the bridge is significant, as it bridge will facilitate quick induction since it will reduce the distance and time to reach the contested areas at the Pangong Lake. It will connect the two banks and thus allow Chinese forces easy access on either side to combat any threat.

     

    On January 1, 2021, China implemented its new border law. The new law calls to strengthen its border defence, infrastructure near the borders and development of villages.

    It also lays down conditions, under which emergency measures can be imposed across the border areas.

     

    They are listed as endangered in the western ghats and north eastern India.

    The species feed on nectar and pollen grains. Their larvae feed on decaying plants and animal matter, aphids and other plant sucking insects. Aphids are crop pests. As these bees or flies, help in pollination and their larvae control pest population, they are the best friends of farmers. Sometimes, gardeners and farmers cultivate companion plants to attract these flies.

     

    The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) recently released the unemployment status report of India for the month of December, 2021. According to the report, the unemployment rate in the country was 7.91% in December. It was 7% in November.

     

    Highest unemployment rate was reported in Haryana. Around 34.1% were unemployed in the state. Rajasthan had the second highest unemployment rate. It was 24.1% in the state. Following Rajasthan, Jharkhand (17.3%), Bihar (16%) and Jammu and Kashmir (15%) were in second, third and fourth places respectively.

    The December unemployment rate was the highest in the past four months. The previous high was reported in August, 2021 (8.32%).

    The urban unemployment rate of the country was 9.3%. It was 8.21% in November. The rural unemployment rate was 7.28%. It was 6.44% in November.

     

    The lowest unemployment rate was recorded in Karnataka (1.4%). Karnataka was followed by Gujarat and Odisha with an unemployment rate of 1.6%, Chhattisgarh (2.1%), Telangana (2.2%).

     

    The states were forced to impose restrictions due to increasing Omicron cases in the country. For instance, the capital closed gyms, schools and cinemas. States such as Haryana and West Bengal restricted public gatherings and imposed other similar curbs. This hit the economic activities very badly and increased the unemployment rate. The pandemic is shutting down the labour markets all over the world. This has huge impact in India where one million enter the job market every month.

     

    The report is used by researchers and economists as the most reliable data. This is because India lacks nationwide official unemployment data. CMIE is a business information company. It was established in 1976. It creates business and economic databases. Also, it delivers specialised analytical tools to its customers.

     

    It is measured as the percentage of number of unemployed (X) among the total number in labour force (Y). Mathematically, it is expressed as X/Y * 100. The total labour force is the number of unemployed and employed.

     

    The Quadrantid meteor shower occurs in January every year. The radiant of the shower lies in the Bootes constellation.

     

    The meteor showers are caused due to debris or trail of dust left by a comet. When the earth moves through the left-over dust particles, they catch fire. How do they fire up? Earth revolves around the sun at a speed of 1,00,000 km/sec! When the dust particles encounter such huge speeds, large amounts of frictional forces are generated. These frictional forces produce the heat energy and fire the particles. Just like a match stick! Match stick is the earth and match box is the particle (not considering the weight).

     

    The Geminids meteor shower occurs in December. The Perseids meteor shower occurs in August. The Quadrantid meteor shower is not as bright as the Geminids and Perseids. This is because the duration of peak occurrence is comparatively less. It lasts only for hours. Also, the meteors are faint. Their magnitudes are between 3 and 6. The magnitude of meteor storm is around 1000. Meteor storms occur during Perseids and Geminids. But is rare during Quadrantid.

     

    The meteor shower is short because of its thin stream of particles. More the number of particles, heavier and longer the shower. Also, earth crosses the particles at right angles. This generates less frictional force against the particles. Thus there is no enough heat energy generated to fire the particles for longer time.

     

    The radiant point is the celestial point from where the meteors originate. Bootes constellation is located in the northern sky. It has the fourth brightest star known to humans, orange giant Arcturus.

     

    Tillage is land preparation. Tilling of land means agitating the soil particles by overturning, digging and stirring. This is done to kill weeds, crop residues and to aerate the soil. However, tilling destroys natural structure of the soil. If greater soil area is exposed to sunlight (which usually happens while tilling with the help of tractors), the moisture retaining capacity of soil is lost. On the other hand, zero tillage skips the tilling process. Here the crop seed is sown without land preparation. And the seeds are drilled into the soil.

     

    It reduces crop duration. Thus, early cropping is obtained. It aids in getting higher yields. It reduces inputs of land preparation. It utilizes residual moisture in the soil reducing the need for external irrigation. It decreases greenhouse effect due to increase in carbon sequestration. It prevents soil erosion, water loss by runoff. Also, it reduces soil compaction. It slows evaporation. This leads to better rainwater absorption. Ultimately land yield increases.

     

    In India, Zero Tillage is followed in Indo – Gangetic plains. Here, wheat is planted immediately after harvesting paddy. The major challenges faced by Indian farmers in following the method is that, in due course, the land yield decreases. This is mainly because of long time gap between the successive crops. The land should not be left barren for more than ten days before sowing the next crop. Most of the farmers fail to stick to the time gap strictly.

     

    If the level of tilling is reduced, it is called conservation tillage. Here tilling is not avoided. It is only reduced. This is also called strip – tillage. If the tilling is done once in two years (or alternate year), it is called rotational tillage.

     

     

     

    The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory is to get a district – level Good Governance Index. The index is modelled on Good Governance Index 2021.

     

    The index will assess the governance in different districts of Jammu and Kashmir. It is to be calculated considering 58 indicators in ten different sectors. The Centre for Good Governance (CGG) provided the technical support to create the framework of the index. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) is to prepare the index.

     

    The index is to be calculated based on the performance of the districts in 10 sectors such as citizen centric governance, public safety and judiciary, welfare and development, economic governance, public infrastructure and utilities, public health, human resource development, commerce and industry and agriculture and allied sector.

     

    The index will help Jammu and Kashmir increase its district governance to the level of other best administered districts in the country. The next step is to take good governance to block levels and tehsil

    levels. The index aims to change the work culture in government organizations. It will help the Union Territory march towards “Maximum governance and minimum government”. Also, the index will help in time bound disposal of office files, Increased citizen participation, increased accountability and transparency.

     

    It was first announced at the regional conference organised by DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances) in Uttar Pradesh. The DARPG operates under the Ministry of Personnel, public grievances and pension. It is the nodal agency for administrative reforms and public grievance redressal.

     

    It was released by DARPG on Good Governance Day (December 25). Gujarat topped the ranking and was followed by Maharashtra and Goa. It is essential to release these indices in order to assess the governance in the state.

    The satellite aims to map the surface temperature of land. It is jointly developed by India and France. TRISHNA will also monitor water use. Similar India – France operations include Megha – Tropiques and SARAL – AltiKa. SARAL mission will study the ocean from space using ARGOS. ARGOS is a data collecting system. Megha – Tropiques will study the energy exchanges in the tropical region and water cycle. It will also study the natural resources using thermal infrared imaging. Currently, the earth temperature from space is obtained at a resolution of 100 metres. TRISHNA aims to increase the resolution to 57 metres. With this, scientists can understand the physical, biological and climatic phenomena of water cycle.

     

    It is joint mission of NASA and ISRO. NISAR means NASA – ISRO – SAR. SAR is Synthetic Aperture Radar. The radar is to be used to measure the changes occurring on the earth surface. NISAR will carry the largest reflector antenna (designed by NASA). The main objective of NISAR Mission is to scan the earth every 12 days for three years. It will send images of sea ice and ice sheets.

     

    DISHA is a twin satellite system. It will study the aeronomy of the earth. That is, the uppermost layer of the earth atmosphere.

     

    Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced to develop and launch a Climate Change Awareness Campaign and a National Photography Competition.

     

    Both the events will be held in Surat, Gujarat on February 4th and 5th 2022. Events will be held as a part of ministry’s preparatory activities under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

    Both the campaign and the competition will be organised with the aim of raising concerns regarding climate change, advance climate action in cities and inform the participants of alternative approaches.

    Bye-bye campaigns will be led by municipal Commissioners, top heads of urban local bodies, and Smart City CEOs, in a bid to bring the attention of young minds towards the challenges and solutions arising from Urban Climate Change and Sustainable solutions across their municipalities.

     

    During the campaign, city officials will create awareness in academic institutions on Climate Change and Sustainable actions.

    City officials will also carry out a social media awareness campaign in which City leaders such as Mayors, Municipal Commissioners or Smart City CEOs will talk about climate actions, which can be implemented in their city.

    issues that will be taken up for discussion include plantation drive, cleaning of water bodies, promoting the adoption of solar energy, recycling of e-waste, or other such initiatives which promotes climate adaptation or mitigation actions.

    NEAT is an initiative for providing the use of best-developed technological solutions in education sector for enhancing the employability of youth on a single platform for the convenience of learners. These solutions make use of artificial intelligence for a customised and personalised experience for better learning outcomes and skill development across niche areas.

     

    NEAT will play a significant role in bridging the digital divide, particularly among the economically disadvantaged students. It will also help in fulfilling the knowledge-based requirement of India as well as world.

     

    Currently, 58 global and Indian start-up ed-tech companies are onboard NEAT. They are offering 100 courses and e-resources for a better learning outcome, for developing employable skills as well as overcoming learning loss.

    According to education minister, AICTE should integrate courses in NEAT with skill India in order to tap opportunities in emerging areas of skill for boosting employability and prepare youth for future. AICTE and ed-tech companies should offer e-resources at minimum possible cost.

     

  • Under NEAT 3.0, more than 12 lakhs socially and economically disadvantaged students have been provided free ed-tech course coupons worth over Rs 253 crore.
  • NEAT scheme was launched by Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) to use technology for better learning outcomes in Higher Education. It was launched with the aim of using Artificial Intelligence to make learning customized and personalized for learner. It also seeks to recognize the development of technologies in Adaptive Learning and bring them on a single platform.
  • It also proposes to create a National Alliance with technology developing EdTech Companies in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Under the scheme, a National NEAT platform was created for providing one-stop access to Adaptive Learning Solutions.
  • All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the implementing agency for NEAT scheme.The Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently released the monthly goods export report of the country. According to the report, in December 2021, India exported 37.29 billion USD of goods.
  • The export demand for goods such as petroleum items, engineering products and gems and jewellery were the highest in December 2021. Between April and December, the exports grew by 48.9%. The cumulative services exports have reached 179 billion USD in the first nine months (Apr to Dec). It is to reach 230 billion USD by the end of the fiscal year. The main reason behind the increase in exports is expansion of export baskets.
  • The merchandise exports of the country between April and December 2021 were 300 billion USD. This was 26% higher than the same period in 2019. At this rate, the export of India will touch 400 billion USD in 2021-22. In 2020-21, the exports of the country were 290 billion USD.
  • On January 3, 2022, the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched a web portal for the PM Excellence Award registration.
  • The selection process of the award has undergone several changes since 2014. In 2022, the award is institutionalized based on performance of the district and not on the performance of the collector. Output and results are prioritized. Also, the award is to be institutionalized based on the scale of implementation of schemes.
  • The total number of Prime Minister Awards for Excellence in Public Administration is 18. Basically, the award acknowledges, and recognizes the innovative works done by central and state government officers. The evaluation parameters of the award are changed every year. The award is presented by the Prime Minister.
  • In 2022, the prize money of the PM Excellence Award has been doubled. It has been increased from 10 lakh rupees to 20 lakh rupees. The prize money shall be utilized to bridge resource gaps and implement projects. Apart from prize money. the award will also consist of a scroll and a trophy. Also, a certificate of recognition will be placed in APAR of the collector. APAR is the Annual Performance Assessment Report.
  • In 2022, all district collectors should register for the award compulsorily. The award is to recognize the contribution of civil servants in innovation, end – to – end delivery of services, holistic development in one– district – one – product scheme, good governance in PM SVANidhi scheme, digital payments, promoting wellness through Khelo India and promoting people participation in Poshan Abhiyan.
  • Short listing by the screening committee, expert committee evaluation and recommendation by an empowered committee. The Prime Minister shall then approve the name based on the recommendations made by the empowered committee. 1st April 2019 to December 31, 2021
  • Quality control, Outcomes, governance and activities covering the production stage.The French Government recently approved a bill on Health Pass. The pass is a stricter COVID-19 vaccine pass.
  • Under the bill, people more than 12 years of age should prove that they have been vaccinated to enter cultural venues, restaurants, bars or other public transport.
  • Earlier a COVID negative test was sufficient to access public places in France. The pass is to be produced in public transport as well.
  • The French Vaccine Pass is very much similar to the 2G rules of Germany. Vaccinated and recovered persons in Germany are referred to as 2G. Only 2G persons can access theatres, swimming pool, museums, hairdressing, beauty salons, dance studios, fitness centres, etc.
  • The Italian Government has made COVID-19 vaccines compulsory for those aged above 50 years. They will have to face sanctions if they fail to stick to the rules.
  • The European countries were using health pass to travel across borders. The health pass was provided to those (a) who were fully vaccinated, (b) to those who showed proof of negative COVID-19 test, (c) who had recovered from COVID-19. The COVID-19 recovery provides immunity for three months. The recovered patients should be vaccinated after that. For the travellers,
  • EU has opened the option of EU Digital COVID Certificate. The health pass in digital format is the EU Digital COVID certificate. It can be obtained free of cost, in national language, comes with QR code and is valid in all the EU Countries.
  • The COVID vaccine is being made compulsory in many countries. This culture mainly developed after the upturn of Delta variant. The countries are Austria, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Micronesia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Czech Republic, Greece, Malaysia, Russia, etc. In India such measures are yet to come in.
  • China recently took an experiment on ‘Artificial Sun’ at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science China’s eastern province of Anhui. The experiment lays a solid scientific and experimental foundation for running of a fusion reactor.
  • More than 10,000Chinese and foreign scientific researchers took part in this $948-million project called Experiential Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST).
  • EAST is a fusion reactor, that ran successfully for around 20 minutes at 70 million degrees Celsius in the recent test. It was five times hotter than Sun.
  • As per new study on Children Asthma, traffic-related air pollutants accounts for around 2 million new cases of paediatric asthma, from Mumbai to Los Angeles. Asthma is a chronic illness, causing inflammation of the lung’s airways.
  • Researchers studied ground concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is a pollutant coming from tailpipe vehicle emissions, industrial sites and power plants. They tracked new cases of asthma in children from 2000 to 2019 across 13,000 cities.
  • As per study, nitrogen dioxide puts children at risk of developing asthma. This problem is especially acute in urban areas.
  • Study suggest that clean air must be a critical part of strategies that are aimed at keeping children healthy.
  • Out of 1.85 million new paediatric asthma cases due to NO2 globally in 2019, two-thirds were from urban areas.
  • Despite the improvements in air quality in Europe and the US, dirty air or NO2 pollution, has been rising in South Asia, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Paediatric asthma cases, associated with the NO2 pollution, represent a large public health burden for Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
  • As per study, in 2019 alone, 1.8 million excess deaths can be linked to urban air pollution. 86 per cent of adults and children in cities worldwide are exposed to a level of fine particulate matter, which exceeds the guidelines set by the World Health Organisation.
  • Reduction in fossil fuel-powered transportation can help adults and children breathe easier and lead to fewer cases of paediatric asthma & deaths. It will also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The instrument called ASIM (Atmosphere Space Interaction Monitor) shed light on generation of terrestrial gamma rays. It accompanies lightning and is highly energetic. It also made new discovery on Blue Jets. Blue jets are lightning bursts that shoot upwards. They are generated by charged particles on the top of the clouds. ASIM recently found that the blue color of the nitrogen ions can shoot up to 50 kilometres per second.
  • The experiment called MICS created cement in space. MICS is Microgravity Investigation of Cement Solidification. The experiment proved that cement making is possible in space.
  • The mineral called Colemanite is capable of protecting the astronauts from space radiation. It is boron rich mineral.
  • The reason for the collapse of Maya Civilization is till date debated. Some researches believe that draught was the cause of collapse. Some others are against this belief. Recently, a study revealed that the even during extreme draught conditions Maya Civilization had 500 edible species of plants.
  • The plant physiologist Louis Santiago and Archaeologist Scott Fedick recently published a research analysis on Maya Civilization. According to their research, the residents of Maya Civilization had more than 500 edible plants. Many of these plants were drought resistant. Of these, 59 species are available even today.
  • According to the researchers, the drought resistant species that exist even today are cassava, Chaya and palm. Chaya is a shrub and is even consumed by the descendants even today. It is rich in potassium, iron and Calcium.
  • The researchers are still not able to find the cause of collapse of Maya civilization. Majority of them including these scientists believe that drought was not the cause of collapse.
  • It is a Meso American Civilization. It existed in the 9th Century BC in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. The Mayans began their journey as nomadic farmers. They then transitioned to a settled life practicing agriculture.
  • Today Mayas are found in southern Meso America. Their population is around 8 million. Their language is Mayan. It is taught in schools and colleges even today. Their culture gains attraction mainly for their traditional medicines. Their medicines and treatments have cure for cancer, diabetes and AIDS.
  • It is a traditional intercropping system followed by the Mayans. Milpa system includes intercropping, slash and burn, rotational cropping. It follows two years of cultivation and eight years of fallow. This helped in natural regeneration of the soil.
  • The Bombay High Court recently pronounced that whether to announce public holiday or not is government decision. And public holiday is not a fundamental right.
  • Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a Union Territory. It was completely liberated from the Portugal rule on August 2, 1954. And therefore, the UT celebrates its Liberation Day on this day. Recently, the administrator of the UT submitted a petition seeking to establish August 2 as a public holiday. According to the administrator, August 2nd remained public holiday between 1954 and 2020. This practice was discontinued in 2021.
  • The High Court pronounced that India has too many public holidays. It is important to reduce them. The court also referred to a previous judgement made on the UT. Which is, Good Friday in the territory is a restricted holiday and not a gazette holiday. Restricted holiday is an optional holiday. The person can opt to take leave or work.
  • The public and private working bodies should compulsorily remain closed on a gazette holiday. A gazette holiday means the schools, banks and every other working body in the country should remain closed. This term is used in countries that were colonized by the British. It is used in India, Singapore, Australia and Pakistan.
  • The National Water Awards is presented annually by Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The third round of the awards, for the year 2020 was recently announced.
  • Uttar Pradesh was awarded the first prize. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu were awarded the second and third prizes.
  • The Bombay High Court recently pronounced that whether to announce public holiday or not is government decision. And public holiday is not a fundamental right.
  • Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a Union Territory. It was completely liberated from the Portugal rule on August 2, 1954. And therefore, the UT celebrates its Liberation Day on this day. Recently, the administrator of the UT submitted a petition seeking to establish August 2 as a public holiday. According to the administrator, August 2nd remained public holiday between 1954 and 2020. This practice was discontinued in 2021.
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is going to organise “Start-up India Innovation Week” during January 10-16, 2022.
  • Start-up India Innovation Week is a virtual innovation celebration, to be organised with the aim of commemorating the 75th year of India’s independence.
  • It has been designed to showcase the spread and depth of entrepreneurship in India.
  • The programme is likely to bring together top policy makers, industry, investors, academia, all ecosystem enablers and start-ups from
  • Start-up India campaign was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2015 at Red Fort. The campaign was introduced as an initiative of developing more than 75 start-up support hubs across India.
  • Start-up India scheme was launched on January 16, 2016 with the aim of promoting and supporting the start-ups in India by providing bank finances. Scheme was inaugurated by the former finance minister, Arun Jaitley. It is organised by the Department for promotion of industry & internal trade. Scheme was started with the objective of discarding restrictive States Government policies including License Raj, Foreign Investment Proposals, Land Permissions and Environmental Clearances.The Assam Government recently signed an agreement with the National Dairy Development Board. Under the agreement, the signatories agreed to establish Rs 2000 crore joint venture.The joint venture to be established can process ten lakh litres of milk. Around six new units will be established. The units are to be established in seven years. The processing unit will collect milk from more than 4,100 dairy cooperative societies. This is to benefit more than 1,75,000 farmers.In addition, two manufacturing units are to be established. They are cattle feed manufacturing unit and organic manure manufacturing unit.The e-passports comprise of a microchip with secure biometric data. Chip of an e-passport usually contain biometric information of the holder. The biometric information is printed on the data page of document and a biometric identifier. Such passports are digitally secured, in a bid to prevent unauthorised reading of data stored on the chip. 

    Under the second phase, new data centre will be created. Apart from that, it envisages to create a disaster recovery centre and Government Secure Repository linked to all Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), passport offices, Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSKs), and Indian missions abroad.

     

    Under the second phase, an electronic file system for processing passport across the passport issuance ecosystem; Security Operation Centre (SOC) and monitoring & supervision through a Network Operation Centre (NOC) will also be created.

     

    India’s largest software exporter, TCS, is likely to bring in technology for e-passports. However, authority to grant and print passports will remain with the government. All security aspects, including strategic assets like database, data centres, and application software will also be owned by government. The e-passports will also comply with the guidelines of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

     

    National Informatics Centre and Indian Security Press in Nashik are involved in designing security features for the e-passport.

    Limits on campaign expenditure seeks to provide a level-playing field for candidates contesting the elections. It ensures that, winning probability of a candidate is independent of financial conditions. The 255th Report of the Law Commission on electoral reforms also is of the view that, unregulated or under- regulated election financing might lead to “lobbying and capture” in the elections.

     

    The Competition Commission of India recently ordered an investigation against Google for its dominance in news. Most of the online traffic of news websites come from Google. The accusations made are as follows:

     

    The Section 4 of Competition Act, 2002, deals with abuse of dominant position. That is no individual business man or entity should misuse its domination in the field. Google is using its dominance in the news genre to intervene advertising plans of the news channels.

     

    According to CCI, Google is protecting its position by mishandling its dominance. Several news channels are dependent on Google for their traffic. This makes Google an indispensable trade partner.

     

    The Clouded Leopard are locally called “Khephak”. It was captured in a camera trap. The forests where the leopard was found is managed and owned by local communities of Nagaland.

     

    They are found in the region between foothills of Himalayas and the mainland Southeast Asia. And also, till the southeast Asian region.

     

    It has irregular spots and dusky grey blotches. It hunts during night and rests on the tree during day. Its fur is dark grey in color. They have rotating ankles and sharp, powerful legs. The legs and ankle help them in climbing up fast and also hanging upside down.

     

    The clouded leopard is locally extinct in Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Hainan Island. It is highly threatened due to poaching and deforestation.

     

     

     

    United Kingdom has reported the first human case of Avian flu. A 79-year-old man named Alan Gosling is the first UK resident to catch the H5N1 strain of bird flu. He kept pet ducks at his home in England.

     

    Avian influenza is also known as avian flu or bird flu. It is a type of influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds. The type with greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It is similar to swine flu, horse flu, dog flu, and human flu, because illness caused by strains of influenza viruses in all the flu adapts to a specific host.

     

    Out of the three types of influenza viruses namely A, B, and C, influenza A virus is a zoonotic infection. It is having a natural reservoir almost entirely in birds. For most purposes, Avian influenza refers to the influenza A virus. Influenza A is adapted to birds, but it can also stably adapt and sustain person-to-person

     

    transmission.

    • Navies of India and Russia conduct passing exercise in Arabian Sea
    • Bollywood lyricist Ibrahim Ashk, known for penning songs for films like “Kaho Na Pyaar Hai” and “Koi… Mil Gaya”, dies at 70 in Mumbai
    • N. will install statue of Col. Pennycuick in UK for constructing Mullaperiyar reservoir in 1895: CM M. K. Stalin

     

    • Applications invited under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme from domestic semiconductor

    chip design firms

    • MeitY invites applications under the Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme from academia, R&D organisations, startups and MSMEs
    • PSU Oil India Ltd (OIL) exits from US shale oil venture, selling its 20% stake to its venture partner for $25 million
    • MEIL (Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited) completes 5-km-long tunnelling work as part of the 18-km-long all-weather Zojila Tunnel that is envisaged to ensure connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh throughout the year
    • ATF (aviation turbine fuel) price hiked by 2 per cent; no change in petrol and diesel prices
    • Wealth of 98 richest Indians same as bottom 552 million, says Oxfam India report titled ‘Inequality Kills’

     

    • Mali’s former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies at 76
    • Yonex-Sunrise India Open Badminton in New Delhi: India’s Lakshya Sen (men’s), Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrunghphan (women’s) win singles titles

     

     

     

    • Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj dies aged 83 in Delhi; won Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1964) and Padma Vibhushan (1986)
    • Social worker and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Devi dies in Odisha at 88
    • Theatre personality Shaoli Mitra dies in Kolkata at 74; awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2003 & Padma Shri in 2009

     

    • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducting Open Data Week from January 17 to 21; aims to

    show the benefits of open data such as increased efficiency & transparency

    • MeitY organises 26th CISO Deep Dive Training program under Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative
    • Narendra Goenka takes over as new Chairman of AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council)
    • PM Modi delivers State of the World special address at World Economic Forum’s Davos Agenda
    • 2 Indians among 3 killed in drone attack on oil storage facility in Abu Dhabi (UAE); Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim responsibility
    • Credit Suisse Chairman resigns for having violated COVID-19 quarantine rules
    • Greek painter Alekos Fassianos dies in Athens at the age of 86

     

    • World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos Agenda 2022: PM Modi introduces ‘P3 (Pro-Planet People) movement’ for climate change commitments
    • Padma Shri awardee Bengali cartoonist Narayan Debnath dies at 97 in Kolkata; created comic characters ‘Bantul The Great’, ‘Handa Bhonda’, ‘Bahadur Beral’ and ‘Nonte Phonte’

     

    • Indian Army signs contract worth Rs 96 crore with Anadron Systems Pvt Ltd under Make-II for

    Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Target

    • Bureaucrat Vikram Dev Dutt appointed new CMD of Air India
    • Microsoft to buy video game company Activision Blizzard in $68.7-bn deal

     

    Football: Robert Lewandowski of Poland & Bayern Munich wins Best FIFA Men’s Player Award

  • Cabinet approves infusion of 1,500 crore in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)
  • SEBI launches mobile App — Saa?thi– to create awareness among investors about basic concepts of securities
  • HAL signs contract with Mauritius for export of advanced light helicopter (ALH)
  • Experts deliberate on widening scope of India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund
  • Dileep Sanghani elected as Chairman of IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative)
  • DGCA extends ban on international flights till February 28
  • Indonesia passes law to relocate capital to remote Borneo
  • French senators vote to ban headscarves in sports competitions
  • Pfizer chief Albert Bourla wins $1 mn Genesis Prize for vaccine development
  • Roberta Metsola of Malta becomes EU Parliament’s new president
  • Saturnino de la Fuente of Spain, said to be world’s oldest man, dies at 112
  • Pakistan’s Babar Azam named as the captain of ICC Men’s T20I team of the year
  • PM inaugurates launch of ‘Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ki Ore’
  • Amar Jawan Jyoti to be merged with flame at National War Memorial in New Delhi on Jan 21
  • PM to unveil 216-foot statue of Ramanujacharya in Hyderabad on Feb 5
  • Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches Mobile COVID testing facility for Northeast, beginning with Mizoram
  • Bihar: 3 drowned after boat capsizes in Gandak river in West Champaran district
  • FDI flows in India decline 26% in 2021: UNCTAD Investment Trends Monitor report
  • Giriraj Singh releases revised RADPFI (Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation) Guidelines prepared by Ministry of Panchayati Raj
  • Sweden’s Saab wins contract for AT4 anti-armour weapon from Indian Army
  • Toyota Kirloskar Motor launches SUV model Hilux
  • Global unemployment to reach 207 million in 2022, says ILO report
  • Booster gives antibody protection against Omicron variant: Lancet
  • Israel signs $3.4 billion submarines deal with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp
  • ICC Test Team of the Year – NZ’s Kane Williamson captain; 3 Indians included: Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant & Ravichandran Ashwin
  • ICC’s ODI Team of the Year – Pakistan’s Babar Azam captain; no Indians
  • Daughters of a male Hindu, dying intestate entitled to inherit fathers’ properties, get preference: SC
  • Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with eternal flame at National War Memorial in New Delhi
  • Centre launches revamped Central Government Health Scheme website; mobile app called “MyCGHS”
  • India, Israel launch commemorative logo to mark 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties
  • Piyush Goyal interacts with eight Girl Innovators on National Girl Child
  • Ministry of Culture organizes Rangoli Utsav ‘Umang’ to celebrate National Girl Child Day under Azadi ka Amrit
  • Gujarat: Under-bridge in Rajkot named after General Bipin Rawat
  • Archaeologist & epigraphist Nagaswamy passes away at 92 in Chennai
  • Electronics & IT Ministry releases 5-year roadmap and Vision Document for Electronics sector
  • Engineering exports up 54% to $82 bn in Apr-Dec: Commerce ministry
  • Tamil film Koozhangal (Pebbles) gets Best Film award at Dhaka International Film Festival
  • Armenia: President Serzh Sargsyan resigns
  • Thierry Mugler, French fashion icon known for sculpted designs, dies at 73
  • Burkina Faso: President Roch Marc Christian Kabore held by mutinous soldiers
  • UAE shoots down 2 ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over Abu Dhabi
  • International Day of Education observed on Jan 24; theme: “Changing Course, Transforming Education”

   

  • South Africa defeat India by 4 runs in 3rd ODI at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town to

  complete 3-0 whitewash

  • Pakistan skipper Babar Azam named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021
  • England captain Root named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2021
  • Smriti Mandhana named ICC women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021
  • Lucknow IPL team to be called Lucknow Super Giants
  • President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day
  • President approves conferment of Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards-2021
  • 29 officers and staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs get Presidential Awards on eve of Republic Day
  • Tokyo Olympics men’s javelin throw gold medalist Neeraj Chopra awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal by 4 Rajputana Rifles
  • Decommissioned INS Khukri to be handed over to Diu administration; will be developed as museum
  • Assam and Nagaland opt for out-of-court settlement in decades-old border dispute
  • National Tourism Day celebrated on Jan 25; theme: ‘Rural and Community Centric Tourism’
  • 12th National Voters’ Day celebrated on Jan 25; theme: ‘Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative’
  • Himachal Pradesh celebrates Statehood Day on January 25
  • Dr S. Somanath, new Chairman, ISRO calls on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and discusses status of “Gaganyaan” and other future Space missions
  • IMF cuts India’s economic growth forecast to 9% from 5% for 2021-22 in its latest update of

  World Economic Outlook

  • Reserve Bank of India conducts variable repo rate auction of Rs 75,000 cr
  • AK 203 deal: Initial batch of 70,000 rifles delivered to armed forces by Russia
  • Govt imposes curbs on export of human hair
  • India 85th most corrupt country in the world: 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of Berlin, Germany-based non-governmental organisation Transparency International
  • India pays $29.9 million in UN regular budget assessments for 2022
  • Iran, Guinea and Vanuatu regain UN assembly voting rights after paying pending dues
  • James Webb telescope reaches final stable position 1 mn miles from Earth
  • 2022 Padma Awards announced; 4 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri
  • 4 Padma Vibhushan awardees: Prabha Atre (Art, Maharashtra), Radheyshyam Khemka (Posthumous; Literature & Education, UP), General Bipin Rawat (Posthumous; Civil Service, Uttarakhand and Kalyan Singh (Posthumous; Public Affairs, UP)
  • Nation celebrates 73rd Republic Day
  • Former West Bengal CM & CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan award
  • Maritime exercise Paschim Lehar conducted by Indian Navy off the West Coast
  • Noted Kathakali dancer Milena Salvini dies; awarded Padma Shri in 2019
  • Govt notifies drone certification scheme to boost indigenous manufacturing
  • Pushp Kumar Joshi to be new chairman and managing director of HPCL
  • Kurdish-led forces say they have retaken Syrian prison seized by IS
  • Saudi Arabia and Thailand end 30-year row over a scandal involving stolen jewels; restore diplomatic ties
  • First India-Central Asia Summit hosted by PM Modi in virtual format; attended by five presidents

  — Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan’s Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and Kyrgyz Republic’s Sadyr Japarov

  • MoS Culture Meenakshi Lekhi releases pictorial comic book ‘India’s Women Unsung Heroes’
  • Parliament launches Digital Sansad App to make live proceedings accessible to citizens
  • Covid curbs extended till February 28 as positivity rate in 407 districts still above 10%, says MHA
  • Renowned writer-physician, de-addiction activist Anil Awachat dies in Pune at 78
  • China hands over missing Arunachal Pradesh teenager Miram Taron
  • Air India transferred to Tata Group
  • India’s electronic goods exports grew 49% in April-December 2021 at $11 billion
  • Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) grants regular market approval for Covishield, Covaxin for use in adult population

   

  • Bangladesh: Rural hospital wins prestigious RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) prize for

  most transformative building of the world

  • International Customs Day celebrated on Jan 26; theme: “Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’’
  • International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust observed on Jan 27

   

  • 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China to include cricket in T20 format
  • Captain of India’s 1964 Tokyo Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team, Charanjit Singh, dies at 90

   

  • Indian Navy participates in multinational Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Exercise Sea Dragon-22 at Guam (US): Jan 5-20
  • Statehood Day of Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura celebrated on Jan 21; were formed in 1972 with the enactment of North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971
  • India-Sri Lanka extend science and technology cooperation for 3 more years
  • PM Modi inaugurates new Circuit House near Somnath Temple in Gujarat
  • Actress, singer Prajakta Koli becomes UNDP India’s first youth climate champion
  • NITI Aayog, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and RMI India release ‘Banking on Electric Vehicles in India’ report
  • India’s foreign exchange reserves grew by USD 229 billion to USD 634.965 billion in the week ended January 14
  • Railway Ministry approves Board Member Rahul Jain’s voluntary retirement
  • Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav delivers India’s statement at the Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation
  • Coal Ministry launches Koyla Darpan Portal to share sector’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • Russia and China block new UN sanctions on 5 North Koreans
  • UN General Assembly approves resolution condemning Holocaust denial
  • EU Parliament agrees on proposal to take on S. tech giants
  • Austrian Parliament votes to introduce mandatory vaccination from February
  • Ayesha Malik becomes first woman judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan
  • Barbados: PM Mia Mottley sworn in for 2nd term after election win
  • Jon Stewart to be honoured with Mark Twain lifetime achievement award in comedy US: ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ singer Meat Loaf dies at 74
  • South Africa (288/3) defeat India (287/6) by 7 wickets in the second ODI played at Boland Park, Paarl to win the 3-match series 2-0.

   

  • Experts from India and US discuss challenges, opportunities to combat climate change through technology-led Carbon Capture and Utilisation solutions (CCUS)
  • Six people can register on one number on CoWIN portal for COVID-19 vaccination
  • Haryana and Himachal Pradesh governments plan to revive Saraswati River
  • PM Modi asks districts to set time-bound targets for programmes to increase ease of living
  • to promote Drone use in Agriculture for precision farming in country
  • Canada: University of British Columbia researchers unveil world’s first molecular-level analysis of Omicron
  • Thich Nhat Hanh, influential Zen Buddhist monk, dies at 95 in Vietnam
  • IMF, ECB leaders voice concern over global economic outlook at WEF “Davos Agenda 2022” virtual event
  • World Economic Forum’s annual meeting rescheduled to May 22-26 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland; theme: ‘Working Together, Restoring Trust’
  • Energy major Shell sheds ‘Royal Dutch’ from name amid major overhaul plans
  • Former India footballer and coach Subhas Bhowmick dies in Kolkata at 72; won bronze medal in 1970 Asian Games
  • announces winners of Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar; Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) won in Institutional category & Vinod Sharma, Vice Chairman of Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, won in Individual category
  • Former PM of Japan Shinzo Abe honoured with Netaji Award 2022 by Netaji Research Bureau
  • PM unveils Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate in New Delhi on his 125th birth anniversary
  • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Culture Ministry to organize Rangoli Utsav ‘Umang’ on National Girl Child Day on Jan 24
  • Covid: Omicron in community transmission stage in India, says INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics)
  • Beating Retreat ceremony: 1000 ‘Made in India’ drones illuminate the sky at Vijay Chowk
  • Telugu short film ‘Street Student’ by Akula Sandeep wins first prize in the Short Film Award Competition organised by NHRC (National Human Rights Commission)
  • India delivers 3 tonnes of medical assistance to Afghanistan
  • RBI imposes restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd, Lucknow; withdrawals capped at Rs 1 lakh
  • SBI suspends circular on recruitment of pregnant women
  • India, United Kingdom conclude round 1 of free trade agreement talks
  • India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 approved at 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting
  • International Monetary Fund urges El Salvador to scale back Bitcoin push
  • Kazakhstan: Ruling Nur Otan party elects President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as its Chairman
  • Australian Open tennis in Melbourne: Australia’s Ashleigh Barty wins women’s singles title
  • Women’s Asia Cup hockey in Muscat (Oman): Japan win gold by beating South Korea 4-2 in final; India gets bronze
  • Israel and India celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations Founder of Akal Academies and Padma Shri awardee Baba Iqbal Singh dies at 96
  • Anti-Leprosy Day observed in India on Jan 30
  • Manipur gets freight train connectivity for the first time in 75 years
  • India (100.3 MT) is world’s 2nd largest steel producing nation in 2021 behind China (1064.7 MT)
  • Exports of marine products jump 35% to $6.1 bn during Apr-Dec 2021
  • Italy: Sergio Mattarella (80) re-elected as President with wide majority
  • Australian Open tennis in Melbourne: Spain’s Rafael Nadal wins Men’s Singles title
  • Australian Open tennis in Melbourne: Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova clinch women’s doubles title

   

• Home Minister Amit Shah virtually releases country’s 1st District Good Governance Index in Jammu
• Every year the National Startup Day is celebrated on January 16. PM Modi has announced that Startups are the backbone of India. This is why it is essential to celebrate the day. Also India is celebrating Startup India Innovation Week between January 10, 2022 and January 16, 2022. The week celebrations are organized by Department of Promotion Industry and Industrial Trade. This is the first time, India is celebrating the day.
• In 2022, the National Startup Day is celebrated on six themes. They are sustainable development, technology of future, from local to global, building champions in manufacturing, nudging the DNA and growing from roots.
• The National Startup Day, 2022 focused on data collection mechanism in agriculture, healthcare through use of technology, creating agricultural business hubs, tackling issues related to mental health, improving health care related technologies, space sector and job identification.
• In 2013, only four thousand patents were approved. However, in 2020-21, more than 28,000 patents have been registered. In 2013-14, 70,000 trademarks were registered. However, in 2020-21 more than 2.5 lakh trademarks were registered.India reached 46th spot in Global Innovation Index from 81st rank.
• Defence manufacturing, EV charging, infrastructure, chip manufacturing and drone sector. The new drone policy of Indian Government focuses on defence startups. The Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have placed five hundred crore rupees worth order to the drone startups.
• The Government of India had introduced Standup India, Startup India and Make in India to encourage the young and new entrepreneurs. The Government of India solved the issues around Angel Tax. Also, the tax procedures have been simplified. GoI now allows self-certification and has removed more than 25,000 compliances.
• Lack of availability of financial resources. Lack of access to supporting infrastructure. Regulations related to intellectual property rights, labour laws and dispute resolution.Scientists have recently discovered a new group of metals. The newly discovered metal group is called as “New Strange group of metals”. The characteristics of metals like copper or iron are predictable.
• That is, their melting point, reaction nature, malleability, ductility are known to human. The characteristics of this new group of metals are yet to be deciphered. They still remain a puzzle. Thus, these metals have been classified as strange metals.
• PM Modi and PM of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurate the Social Housing Units Project in Mauritius and virtually lay the foundation stone for the Civil Service College and 8 MW Solar PV Farm project in Mauritius
• The strange metals are also called non – Fermi liquids. They do not follow the traditional rules of metals. Their behavior was first discovered in cuprates, that is, copper oxides. These cuprates are high temperature super conductors.
• These metals do not follow the electrical conductance as that of the metals. It is expected that these metals might help scientists understand the phenomena such as high – temperature super conductivity.The strange metals do not conduct electricity as that of metals. In metals, the electrical charge is carried by electrons. In strange metals, the electrical charge is carried by “Cooper pairs”. These cooper pairs take the charge in wave like pattern. Electrons belong to fermion. The cooper pairs act as bosons.
• Unlike Fermions, the bosons share the same quantum state.The strange metals were discovered before 30 years. They belong to a class of materials called Cuprates. They are copper oxide materials. They act as high temperature superconductors, that is, they conduct electricity with zero resistance. In metals, the resistance increases with increase in temperature. After the metals are heated to a certain point, the resistance becomes constant.
• Scientists are yet to find why the resistances of strange metals become zero after a certain temperature. However, they have found out that this phenomenon is related to energy produced in thermal motion and Planck’s constant. The Planck’s constant relates mass and frequency
• The Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Culture have joined together to organize Kala Kumbh Art during the 2022 republic day celebrations.
• The Kala Kumbh paintings are drawn on gigantic scrolls. These scrolls are to be displayed on Raj Path during republic day celebrations. Each scroll is 750 metres in length approximately. They will display the courageous stories of unsung independence struggle heroes of India.
• The Kala Kumbh is organized under azadi ka amrit mahotsav. It will reflect unity in diversity in the country. More than 600 artists will participate in creating the scrolls. The artists are predominantly from Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
• The scrolls will also carry message of Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat. It aims to interact and promote the mutual understanding between different states and people. It includes language, traditions, culture, music, cuisine, best practices, etc.
• The National Gallery of Modern Art located in Delhi has organized the workshops for the artists. The workshops amalgamated different art forms in the country. Also, it unified contemporary and indigenous arts of the country.
• The gigantic scroll embodies the progressing socio – cultural identity in the country. It includes the indigenous art forms and disappearing traditions in India. Nandalal Bose and his team are to focus on indigenous art forms. It is to signify the Constitution of India by making illustration about it. It will showcase rich heritage of the country.
• The Unit in Diversity is to form the major theme of Kala Kumbh. Religious tolerance is a special feature of the country. This is why multiple religions co – exist here. Article 301 of the constitution provides economic integration. It secures the freedom of trade and commerce within the Indian land. Such constitutional features are to be highlighted.
• The Government of India is working on creating a digital stack of agricultural data. That is storing data related to farmers. Apart from farmer details, the digital agristack also holds all information about which seeds to buy, weather updates, what manures and fertilizers to use, insurance, best agricultural practices to maximize the yield.
• Agristack has unique number for every farmer in the country. This numbered file will hold personal information of the farmer. This includes his financial data as well. Apart from farmer details, agri stack will also hold information about weather, agricultural commodity prices in the country and abroad, new science and research techniques, agricultural regulation and permissions.
• First agristack will create farmer database. Next, the database is linked with the data with the programmes and schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Sinchayee Yojana, Soil Health Card, Fasal Bhima yojana, etc.
• Every farmer will hold an ID in the system. This ID will be linked to his or her Aadhaar. The land holdings of the farmers are to be incorporated to this ID.So far, the agristack scheme has collected details of five crore farmers.
• Several people including experts and farmers believe that the centralized stack will hold farmer personal information. Holding such vital information without proper data protection law is dangerous. Also, the land details are not yet updated completely. Therefore, the system will use old inaccurate land records. So what is the use of creating the database, when the base data is itself wrong.
• The agristack will help farmers take informed decisions on which seeds to buy, what to grow, when to grow, how to maximize the yield. Apart from farmers, the other stakeholders such as suppliers and transporters can learn about new technology. According to NABARD, Digital Agristack is a game changer. NABARD is National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
• The agristack is to be finalized by the India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture, called IDEA. IDEA will lay down the architecture of Agristack. It will create a foundation to develop agriculture focused technologies. This will eventually improve the efficiency of agriculture sector.
• Around five companies have signed MoUs with government of India to implement agristack. Microsoft will create a Unified Farmer Interface.
• The Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) as well as Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority’s Vice Chairman Vinod Sharma received the “Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2022”.
• In the men category, no match was conducted.In the men’s doubles category Man Wei Chong & Kai Wun Tee won the title. The runners in the category were Krishna Prasad & Vishnuvardhan Goud.
• In women’s single, P. V. Sindhu won the title. Malvika Bansod was the runner. In women’s doubles, Anna Ching Yik Cheong & Teoh Mei Xing won the title. The runners were Treesa Jolly & P. Gayatri. In the Mixed doubles category, Ishan Bhatnagar & Tanisha Crasto won the title. The runners were Nagendra Babu & G. Srivedya.
• This international tournament is held in India annually. In 2009, it was converted into a BWF tournament. BWF is Badminton World Federation. The tournament was inaugurated by the Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association.
• The tournament was inaugurated in 2003 as a national tournament. In 2004, it was conducted as an international tournament. Later the tournament was cancelled between 2005 and 2008 due to the frictions between state and central governments.
• It has been named after Syed Modi. Syed Modi is an Indian Badminton player. He has won the National Badminton championship eight times. He has also won the Australian international tournament, European International tournament and the USSR international tournament. He was born in Uttar Pradesh.
• Currently the Syed Modi international tournament is organised by BWF. It was founded in 1934. The founding members were Ireland, Denmark, England, Canada, France, Scotland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Wales. It was founded as the International Badminton Federation, IBF. In 1981, the IBF merged with the World Badminton Federation to form the Badminton World Federation.
• The Spice Board of India recently launched the Spice Exchange Portal. The portal will act as a meeting point between the Indian spice exporters and the buyers all over the world. This platform is first of its kind in the country. The platform was launched by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The portal uses Artificial Intelligence to connect the buyers and sellers. It will add value to government efforts of increasing spice exports. It will increase the ease of doing business in the country.
• Spices contribute 41 percentage of total horticultural exports. Spices rank fourth in Indian agricultural commodities. The first three ranks are held by marine products, non basmati rice and basmati rice.
• India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world. All the states in India grow one to two spices. This is mainly because of India’s diverse climatic conditions. Certain spices have highest value in national and international market. For example, Kashmiri Saffron. It received GI tag recently.
• The spice board was established under the Spices Board Act, 1986. The board operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The Indian spices are used for varied purposes such as medicines, dyes, seasoning and food preservatives.
• The spices are obtained from roots, barks, leaves, seeds and also from other parts of the plants. The exports of Indian spices such as turmeric, cumin, ginger have been growing recently for their medicinal values, especially after COVID. Their values are mainly increasing in European and American countries. For instance, the Indian “Rasam” recipe gained popularity for its medicinal value during COVID times. Indian spices have been leading the world markets since ancient times.
• India is called the Spice Bowl of the World. India has a major share in the world spice Market. India currently exports more than 225 spices to 180 different countries. The platform will aid in increasing the spice business of the country. It will create new opportunities for the spice exporters.
• The Common Service Centre operating under the Ministry of Electronics and IT recently launched the Yogyata Mobile Application. The main objective of the application is to provide skill development opportunities to the youths in the rural areas.
• The app will offer courses in 3D printing, CAD, cybersecurity and several other IT tools. The app will provide industrial based training and make the learners job ready. The courses offered are in accordance to the current market needs of the country.
• According to the International Labour Organization, the rural youths are to suffer 40 percent more than the urban youths. The vocational training provided in the country mismatches the needs of casual workers. These casual workers contribute 90 percent of the total work force in the country.
• The CSCs are statutory bodies. They were established under the Companies Act. The CSCs connect the local population with government enterprises, banks, insurance companies, private establishments and educational establishments.
• Today majority of the construction workers are from rural parts of the country. The construction sector creates six times the jobs of the IT sector. But still the government prioritises IT sector over construction sector when it comes to skill development.
• Skill gap in the country is increasing. According to National Skill Development Corporation of India, more than 12 crore skilled man power is required in India.
• Perception towards vocational training should be changed. Students and parents are of the mind set that only engineering and medicine are prestigious courses with high value. The quality of trainers in the country is bad. There is lack of industrial initiatives. The complexity and multiplicity of labour laws is inhibiting skill development. The quality of course is bad and also there is lack of infrastructure.
• Government of Assam conferred its highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’ on Ratan Tata, on January 24, 2022.
• However, Ratan Tata did not attend the event personally because of Covid-19 situation. Award was received by his representative during a programme held in Guwahati.
• Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on January 23 to confer Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav Awards, for the year 2021.
• Assam Saurav award was conferred on Professor Dipak Chand Jain, Lovlina Borgohain, Professor Kamalendu Deb Krori, Dr Lakshmanan S, and Neel Pawan Baruah.
• Assam Gaurav award was conferred on Manoj Kumar Basumatary, Munindra Nath Ngatey, Dharanidhar Boro, Hemoprabha Chutia, Dr Basanta Hazarika, Kaushik Baruah, Khorsing Terang, Akash Jyoti Gogoi, Namita Kalita, Dr Asif Iqbal, Kalpana Boro, Boby Hazarika, and Bormita Momin.
• It is the highest civilian award in State of Assam. This award was officially declared by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 2, 2021. It was declared on the occasion of “Asom diwas” (Assam Day). The Award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. Furthermore, the recipient can avail medical treatment at government expense, throughout his life. Obverse of the award has an image of Jaapi and words “Assam Baibhav” has been inscribed in Assamese script, on the leaf of Hollong tree.
• He is a philanthropist, Indian industrialist, and former chairman of Tata Sons. From 1990 to 2012, he was also the chairman of Tata Group as well as an interim chairman, from October 2016 to February 2017. He has received Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and Padma Bhushan in 2000.
• Union government has changed spending norms for Contingency Fund of India. It has allowed 40 per cent of total corpus to be placed at disposal of expenditure secretary.
• Budget 2021-22 had proposed to enhance the Contingency Fund of India to Rs 30,000 crore from Rs 500 crore, through Finance Bill.
• As per new norm, an amount equivalent to 40 per cent of the Fund corpus has to be placed at the disposal of the secretary, ministry of finance, to meet the unforeseen expenditure.
• Beyond this limit, all other Contingency Fund releases has to be made with approval of secretary, department of economic affairs, after the approval of secretary, department of expenditure.
• The contingency fund of India is held by the department of economic affairs on behalf of President of India. It can be operated by executive action. The fund is used in case of disasters and related unforeseen expenditures. Fund can be increased through a Finance Bill, during session of the Parliament.
• It can also be increased through Ordinance, if the House is not in session and situation warrants. Funds can be withdrawn, after approval of the secretary of department of economic affairs, in accordance with Contingency Fund of India Act, 1950.
• Finance Bill is a Money Bill. Through this bill, government seeks to levy new taxes, make proposals for continuance of present tax structure beyond original approval period or make alterations in the current tax structure. This bill is approved by Parliament for one fiscal year. After getting approval, Finance Bill becomes the Finance Act.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its World Economic Outlook on January 25, 2022.
• As per report, Global economic growth will decrease by half a percentage point less than it was forecasted earlier.
• The growth will decrease from 5.9% in 2021 to 4.4% in 2022. It will further reduce to 3.8% in 2023.
• According to IMF forecast, India will grow at 9% in 2021-2022. In October 2021 estimate, IMF had estimated India’s growth prospects at 9.5% for the year. IMF now projects 9% growth for India’s economy in 2022-23. In October assessment, growth was forecasted at 8.5% in 2022-23 and 7.1% in 2023-24.
• India’s prospects for 2023 is estimated based on expected improvements to credit growth. Furthermore, investment and consumption are building on better performance of the financial sector.
• As per IMF, amid emergence of Omicron Covid-19 variant, countries have reimposed mobility restrictions. Increasing energy prices and supply disruptions have resulted in higher and more broad-based inflation than it was expected, in United States and other developing economies & emerging market. Ongoing retrenchment of real estate sector in China and slower recovery of private consumption have also limited growth prospects.
• Recently, the World Bank also had predicted a slowdown in a global growth, keeping it at 4.1% in 2022.
• As per IMF, the decrease in projections for global growth are largely driven by the IMF’s assessment of economic prospects in China and the US.
• In US, removal of Build Back Better policy of Joe Biden from the baseline, earlier withdrawal of monetary accommodation, and supply shortages resulted into downward revision of 1.2 percentage points for growth in 2022.
• In China, disruptions related to zero-tolerance Covid policy and protracted financial stress among property developers induced a downward revision of 0.8 percentage point.
• Recently, 61 winners of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2021 and 2022 got digital certificates, that use blockchain-driven technology.
• The blockchain-driven technology has been developed under the “National Blockchain Project”, by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur).
• On the occasion, Director of IIT Kanpur Abhay Karandikar noted that, this technology can also be used to grant all certificates and degrees in the future.
• The digital certificates, provided using blockchain technology, will be stored on digital wallets installed on mobile devices of the recipients. Certificates cannot be forged and are verifiable worldwide, selectively disclosable as well as sensitive to user content.
• On December 28, 2021, PM Modi had launched the blockchain-based digital degrees at IIT Kanpur, during a convocation ceremony.
• The digital technology is being implemented by CRUBN. CRUBN is a firm that offers blockchain solutions. It was founded by 4 IITians namely,
  1. Nilesh Vasita, IIT Kanpur
  2. Ras Dwivedi, IIT Kanpur,
  3. Tanmay Yadav, IIT Kanpur and
  4. Mukul Verma, IIT

   

• The technology was developed under the mentorship of Padma Shri Prof. Manindra Agrawal and Prof. Sandeep K Shukla, who are the joint coordinators of National Blockchain Project under National Security Council Secretariat.
• The National Blockchain Project is being funded by National Security Council Secretariat for developing e- governance solutions using blockchain technology. The project involves a three-month feasibility study to decide on use of blockchain technology and outline its research & validation as well as incubation plan. Under the first phase, two e-governance applications were identified, to demonstrate the utility of blockchain.
• It was proposed by Ministry of Electronics and IT in December 2021. It has adopted multi – institutional approach. The strategy involves National Informatics Centre (NIC), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C – DAC) and National Informatics Centre services Inc (NICSI) to offer blockchain as service. It seeks to provide trusted digital platform for providing e – governance services by means of blockchain technology.
• As a part of larger contract to manufacture AK 203 assault rifles in India, the armed forces received first batch of 70,000 rifles from Russia.
• The first batch has been delivered at a fast pace, on request by India, amid Covid-19 pandemic. First batch is likely to be used by the air force.
• Rifles to be manufactured at Amethi factory will be delivered to the army. Indian army is the main customer for rifles, with a requirement of more than 600,000 AK 203s.
• The AK rifles are being manufactured under a complete technology transfer clause. This clause will also enable the exports of rifles to friendly foreign nations in future. Rifles will be manufactured by the Indo
• Russian Rifles Private Limited Joint Venture between Russian Rosboronexport and Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Ltd (erstwhile OFB).
• The deal for AK 203 rifles was signed in December 2021. The deal of worth Rs 5,124-crore is the biggest defence deal between both the countries in recent years. Under the deal, Russian side gave an assurance to manufacture with technology transfer within two to three years. Furthermore, Russia has been sending technical teams to assist Indian partners.
• Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is a rifle-manufacturing facility, established at Korwa in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh. It will manufacture the AK-200 variant of Kalashnikov family of rifles. The factory is a joint-venture of Ordnance Factory Board of India and Kalashnikov Concern of Russia. In it, Rosoboronexport holds a minority stake.
• The factory will produce 750,000 AK-203. The factory is also being upgraded with modern production line, in a bid to manufacture latest version of the Kalashnikov rifles. A small arms range has also been set up at the factory, to conduct acceptance trials by the armed forces before taking delivery.
• AK-203 rifles are a magazine-fed, gas-operated, select fire assault rifle. It has been designed to chamber 7.62×39mm cartridge. It is one of the latest iterations of AK series of assault rifles. It was originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov.
• On January 25, 2022, the Government imposed restriction on export of human hair. This ban was imposed with the aim of curbing alleged smuggling of products from India.
• With this decision, exporters would now require permission or licence from Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to send shipments of hair outside India.
• Export policy of human hair has put the ‘unworked, whether washed or not or scoured, waste of human hair or other form of raw human hair’ under restricted category.
• Hair exporters welcomed this decision. It was a long pending demand. This labour-intensive industry was facing a challenge of smuggling of raw human hair to countries like China and Myanmar, which in turn is hurting local industries and exports. With the implementation of new norms, only genuine exporters will be able to export the product.
• West Bengal is the major hub of raw hair industry in India. Apart from West Bengal, industries are there in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Major competitors of India include Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Myanmar.
• In India, raw human hair is mainly collected from households and temples across the mentioned states. collection of hair primarily caters to the beauty market globally. In India, two types of hair are collected:
  1. Remy Hair– Remy hair is the best It is collected from temples since pilgrims donate their hair as part of a religious vow. This quality of hair is mainly used to make wigs and hairpieces.
  2. Non-Remy hair– non-Remy hair is a household It is collected by small groups of people in cities and villages and cities. The hair is then segregate and are sold to dealers.

   

   

• During April-November in Fiscal year 2021-2022, hair exports stood at USD 144.26 million. In 2020-21, the export was USD 15.28 million.Government of Serbia revoked the licenses for lithium mining to Rio Tinto, after protests for around two months. Rio Tinto is an Anglo-Australian multinational mining organisation.
• Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic have fulfilled all the demands from environmental protests and have put an end to Rio Tinto in the country.
• All the licences linked to lithium project had been declared invalid and it was an end for the project.
• Serbians have been protesting against the Rio Tinto’s plan to mine lithium, in Jadar Valley near Lozinca town in Serbia. People are taking to the streets, blocking main roads and bridges and halting traffic.
• Rio Tinto had discovered lithium deposits in 2006, in Serbia and had bought land in Lozinca area. The company had been planning to invest USD 2.4 billion in the project. If completed, the project would be one of the biggest investment projects in the country.
• The mine would have produced enough lithium, for operating one million electric vehicles along with sodium sulphate and boric acid. Once it is fully functional, mine would have created 58,000 tonnes of refined battery-grade lithium carbonate, annually. This would have made the mine, Europe’s most lithium-producing mine.
• Though, Rio Tinto said to be fulfilling all Serbia’s and European Union’s environmental standards. But protestors have been highlighting that, lithium mining in USD 2.4-billion mine project would irrevocably pollute the drinking water. They are also protesting against President Aleksandar Vucic, who called China to be a “saviour” for its copper mining projects in Serbia.
• Serbia has been ranked as Europe’s fifth and world’s 32nd most polluted country among 98 countries. As per 2019 report of Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, Serbia is one among top ten countries with most deaths due to pollution, accounting for 175 deaths per 100,000.
• Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and former General Secretary late EMS Namboodirpad are among the two personalities who refused the Padma Awards, from state.Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is not the first Marxist leader to refuse the national honour.
• Former General Secretary late EMS Namboodirpad was the first among CPI(M) leaders to refuse the Padma Award.
• As a policy, both the CPI(M) leaders, do not accept awards from the State. CPI(M) policy has been consistent in declining such awards from West Bengal.
• EMS was selected for Padma Vibhushan award in 1992, along with BJP’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee by the then Congress government, headed by PV Narasimha Rao.
• While Vajpayee received the award, Marxist veteran refused to accept it.
• EMS was not alone while refusing to accept the Padma Vibhushan. There were at least two more people who refused to accept it. Bureaucrat PN Haksar also felt that “accepting an award for work done causes an inexplicable discomfort”. Swami Ranganathananda also refused to accept it, as itwas conferred to him as an individual.
• In 2020, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also returned the Padma Vibhushan, to extend his support to farmers’ protests.
• Family of politician Lakshmi Chand Jain also refused to accept the posthumous honour, because he was against accepting state honours.
• Padma Awards were instituted in 1954. It is awarded to citizens of India, to recognise their distinguished contribution in several spheres of activity including education, arts, literature, industry, acting, science, social service, medicine, and public affairs. It has also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who were not citizens but contributed in multiple ways to India.
• The selection criteria for the award have been criticised in some quarters, claiming that highly deserving artists have been left out to favour certain individuals. Following the criticism, India has created an online nomination platform for common citizens for recommending nomination for the awards.
• On January 25, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that, government has notified a draft scheme for amalgamation of Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank with Unity Small Finance Bank (SFB).
• Final scheme envisages to start pay-outs for depositors with around Rs 5 lakh in balance within one year, as opposed to two years in the draft scheme.
• Furthermore, final scheme says Unity SFB must use recoveries made from loans given to Housing Development & Infrastructure (HDIL) Group, above & over the principal amount for buying back perpetual non-cumulative preference shares (PNCPS), that are issued to institutional depositors.
• The amalgamation came into force with effect from date of the notification of the scheme, that is January 25, 2022. All the branches of PMC Bank will function as branches of Unity SFB, from this date.
• Unity SFB is promoted by Centrum Financial Services, in which BharatPe owner Resilient Innovation is a joint investor.
• Unity SFB is required to transfer the amount received from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) to all eligible depositors of PMC Bank, within 90-day period. Amount will be equal to the balance in their deposit accounts, up to Rs 5 lakh.For Unity SFB with more than Rs 5 lakh in deposits, payout will be made in a staggered manner.For every other liability of PMC Bank, Unity SFB will pay only principal amounts within a period of five years.
• SFBs are a specific segment of banking, created by RBI, to undertake basic banking activities to underserved and un-served sections. Draft guidelines to license small banks in private sector were formulated and released in 2014, by RBI. SFBs were set up with the objectives of increasing financial inclusion.
• PMC is a multi-state co-operative bank, starting operating in 1983. It has 137 branches, with 100 branches in Maharashtra. It is regulated by Reserve Bank of India. PMC has been registered under Cooperative Societies Act.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology recently released a five year road map for the electronics sector. The ministry also released a vision document called “300 billion USD Sustainable Electronics Manufacturing and Exports by 2026”.
• This the second part of the document. The first part was released in November 2021. It was called “Increasing India’s Electronics Exports and Share in GVCs”.
• This vision document gives predictions about the products that will transform Indian manufacturing sector into a 300 billion USD. The current trade value of the manufacturing sector is 75 billion USD. The product lists certain products that will lead the growth of electronics manufacturing sector. They are consumer electronics, IT hardware, mobile phones, auto electronics, telecom equipment, hearable electronic accessories, wearable electronic accessories, LED lighting, industrial electronics.
• According to the document, the mobile sector is to contribute 40% of the growth of the sector.
• The ministry aims to increase the annual production of the sector to 100 billion USD. Currently, the production is 30 billion USD.
• The second document focuses on new customers and new markets. The electronics manufacturing sector is to play a major role in the Global Value Chain.
• The growth in the electronics manufacturing is to be governed by two factors namely growth and diversification of global value chains and growth of digital consumption.
• The domestic electronics market in the country is to increase to 180 billion USD in the next five years. Currently it is at 65 billion USD. With this, the electronics manufacturing sector is to rank second or third in terms of exports by 2026.
• The current electronics exports are 15 billion USD. Of the 300 billion USD, the exports alone are expected to increase to 120 billion by 2026.
• Every year the National Tourism Day is celebrated on January 25. The day is celebrated to create awareness about the growth aspects of tourism sector. Also, the day aims to spread the impact of tourism sector on the economic development of the country.
• The Sudan security forces recently killed three protestors. This has re-kindled the Sudan unrest. In the early January 2022, the Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned. This led to civilian unrest in the country.
• In October 2021, the Prime Minister of Sudan Abdalla Hamdok was sacked by the Sudanese military. He then resigned from power as a part of a deal. Hamdok had signed a deal to share the power with the military. He then stepped down because the anti – military protests increased in the country following the deal. The deal signed by Hamdok was opposed by the pro – democratic supporters. They wanted the military generals to hand over the power to the civilians.
• Sudan was governed by an Arab elite in Sudan with occasional breaks. The wealth of the country was largely looted under the Arab’s rule.
• Kleptocracy is a Greek word. It is a government run by the corrupt leaders. In Kleptocracy, the corrupt leaders use political power to loot the wealth of the country. It is basically misappropriation of government funds.
• Basically, the issue is all around OIL. South Sudan is rich in oil and holds 75% of Sudan’s oil. General Omar al – Bashir ruled Sudan for more than thirty years. In 2011, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan. This was a part of the referendum signed between General Omar al – Bashir and the South Sudanese rebels. The rebels were fighting for independence for more than 21 years.
• In 1993, the US government added the Bashir’s government in Sudan to its list of terrorism sponsors. Also, US imposed sanctions on Sudan in 2018. Following the sanctions, Sudan faced economic collapse. In 2019, Bashir was overthrown by a military coup. There were country wide protests due to increasing food costs and other essentials.
• After overthrowing Bashir, a sovereignty council was formed. The council was made of eleven members. Itincluded civilian and military leaders. The council appointed Hamdok as the Prime Minister.
• CHIRU is a naval drill recently conducted by China, Russia and Iran in Gulf of Oman. China sent Urumqi, missile destroyer to take part in the exercise. The countries are now looking for opportunities to deepen their military cooperation. Russia sent its Pacific Fleet task force to participate in the exercise. This included the anti – submarine warfare ship Admiral Tributs and Nakhimov missile cruiser.
• The countries conducted military artillery fire against the sea targets. Also, they took part in tactical maneuvering. The countries also conducted anti – piracy drills during the exercise.
• The Russian government had earlier announced that it would conduct drills in different parts of the world including all areas of its responsibility. Russia had also announced that it will conduct military exercise in the Mediterranean waters, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Okhotsk seas. More than 60 aircrafts and 140 warships are kept ready to take part in such exercises.
• Russia had already conducted naval drills with Belarus amidst the Ukraine tensions. Russia is also holding talks with the US over the Ukraine issues. The latest naval drills are increasing the tensions.
• Uruqmi is a Chinese missile destroyer. She was commissioned in 2018. Uruqmi is Type 052D destroyer. It uses canister type vertical launching system. It uses combined diesel or gas propulsion. It is designed to carry helicopters. It has AESA, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. It is a contemporary to the US Aegis Combat System. Apart from Uruqmi, China also sent its supply ship Taihu, forty marines and ship borne helicopters.
• Varyag of Russia participated in the drills. Varyag is a missile cruiser. It is a Slava class of guided missile cruiser. It was designed and built by the Soviet Union. It is a anti – ship rocket cruiser. Russia also sent its Boris Butoma.
• On January 24, 2022, Guatemala Court ruled that, five former paramilitary patrolmen were guilty of sexually abusing and raping the Indigenous women during the war. This ruling has been welcomed by survivors of Guatemala’s decades-long armed conflict.
• Judges Gelvi Sical and Yassmin Barrios ruled that 36 Indigenous Maya Achi women were subjected to rape, sexual violence and domestic slavery, during 36-year conflict, which pitted military of Guatemala against leftist forces from 1960 to 1996.
• Court pronounced 30 years imprisonment to five former members of “Civil Self-Defence Patrols” paramilitary group, for crimes that took place in 1980s.
• The issue is related to Indigenous Mayan Achi women plaintiffs from villages in Rabinal municipality in Baja Verapaz department. It is located around 176 km from capital Guatemala City.
• These women were demanding justice for crimes committed during the conflict, in which Guatemalan government and military mobilised paramilitaries in fight against leftist fighters in rural communities.
• In Guatemala, the Achi are a Maya people. Their indigenous language is also called Achi. It is closely related to K’iche.
• The Maya are an indigenous people of Central America and Mexico. They have continuously inhabited the lands comprising if modern-day Yucatan, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, & Chiapas in Mexico as well as Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and Honduras.
• Maya civilization originated in Yucatan Peninsula. It is known for its monumental architecture as well as advanced understanding of astronomy & mathematics. Rise of the Maya started around 250 CE and lasted until 900 CE.
• Guatemala is a country in Central America. It is bordered by Mexico, Belize, Caribbean, Honduras, El Salvador and Pacific Ocean. The country has an estimated population of around 17.2 million. It is the most populous country in Central America. Guatemala is a representative democracy. Guatemala City is the largest as well as capital city of Guatemala.
• Data Privacy Day is celebrated on January 28, every year, with the objective of spreading awareness on Privacy. Observance of the day is “an international effort of creating awareness on importance of respecting privacy, enabling trust and safeguarding data”.
• Privacy is a means of ensuring online safety for all individuals.It has become an important topic of discussion in digitally connected world, specifically at the time of covid-19 pandemic as more people are forced to spend time in virtual world.
• Failure in safeguarding one’s privacy could result in exploitation as well as criminal offences against internet users.
• People are more concern about protecting their data, with the proliferation of instant messaging mobile applications like WhatsApp and Telegram.
• To ensure data privacy, companies have rolled out many security features on mobile application, such as “end-to-end encryption”. This feature ensure that exchange of information is not visible to anyone and it remain restricted to two people involved in particular conversation. WhatsApp and Telegram are providing this feature.
• Governments from different companies have been putting pressure on these companies to allow them to access these conversations. They want tech companies to create “back doors” for law enforcement in a bid to access encrypted platforms. As per government, this will create a safe space for citizens because government will clamp down on bad actors and mischief-makers, by preventing the spread of viral misinformation.
• Every year, the National Voters Day is celebrated on January 25. The day is celebrated to increase the enrolment of new voters in the country.
• Making elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative Every year, the National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices are conferred at state and district level on the National Voters Day. The awards are presented for election management, security management, IT initiatives and accessible elections. Also, the awards are presented for Election Commission of India icons, media groups and other important stakeholders. The awards are presented by the Election Commission of India.
• “My Voter is my Future – power of one vote” programme was launched. It is an awareness contest on social media. The contest reiterated the importance of voting. The contest is conducted in terms of quiz, video making, song composition and poster designs.
• The National Voters Day is being celebrated in the country since 2011. The then broadcasting minister Ambika Soni (during Manmohan Singh government) announced that the participation of youths reaching the eligible age of 18 years were showing less interest towards electoral rolls. The day was launched to increase their interest. Thus, the day targets the young population.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established on January 25, 1950. The National Voters Day is observed on this day to mark the creation of ECI.
• The main purpose of celebrating the day is to create new voters, maximize enrolment of voters and to encourage voting. The day is used to promote voter participation in electoral process.
• The Election Commission of India recently decided that the new voters will be provided with the EPIC. EPIC is Elector Photo Identity Card. The EPIC will be delivered along with a voter guidebook and personalized letter of the voters.
• On National Voters Day, 2022, a book called “Pledging to Vote – A Decadal Journey of the National Voters Day in India” was published.
• Smriti Manadhana of India has won the ICC Women Cricketer of the year 2021. She is the second woman player to win the award in the world. Ellyse Perry of Australia was the first woman player to win the award.
• The ICC Women Cricketer of the year is presented as a part of the ICC Awards ceremony. The award was renamed as the Rachael Heyhoe Flint in 2017. Rachael Heyhoe Flint is a woman cricketer. She was the captain of the British cricket team between 1966 and 1978.
• The award was introduced in 2006. It adjudges the best international cricketer based on their twelve month period performances. Between 2006 and 2011, the award was presented in a single category called “Women’s Player of the Year”. In 2017, separate categories were introduced for One Day and T20 cricket.
• Smriti plays for the Indian cricket team. In 2018, she won the Rachael Heyhoe award for the best female cricketer. She was born in 1996 in a Marwari family. Her father and brother played cricket. She picked up her interest towards cricket from them. Mandhana entered the national team in 2017. She played for the world cup in 2017. In 2019, Smriti became the captain of the team. In 2019, she won the CEAT International Woman Cricketer award. She was the third fastest cricketer to score 2000 runs in WODI.
• Lizelle Lee of South Africa was named as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the year, 2021. Lee’s average is
• 90.28. She had scored 632 runs in eleven matches. In March 2021, Lee played a crucial role in South Africa’s win against India. During the test series, Lee hit 288 runs that led the team to win against India. Lee was named as the Player of the series.
• Deccahorns are private firms whose value exceeded over ten billion USD. Recently Swiggy has become the fourth Indian company to earn the tag. The other three companies that hold the tag already are Paytm, a FinTech, Oyo (a hotel aggregator) and Byjus (an Edtech).
• Facebook was the first Deccahorn. It earned the tag in 2007. Facebook became a Deccahorn after Microsoft invested 240 million USD in Facebook. Alibaba of China was the second Deccahorn. It achieved the status in 2009.
• The Deccahorns are startup companies. They are valued for their potential growth and not for their financial perormances. A company that is acquired by other company cannot be called as Deccahorn. For instance, the value of Flipkart is more than 10 billion USD. However, Walmart has acquired Flipkart. So Flipkart cannot be called as Deccahorn. Also, a government company cannot be called as Deccahorn. After Facebook, more than 84 deccahorns were created. Of these 33 lost their tags. This leaves around 51 deccahorns in the world currently.
• In 2021, many companies earned the tag. The numbers were double in 2021 as compared to 2020. Most of these deccahorns are startup companies. Their numbers increased with the increase in rise of consumer technologies.
• Mostly Deccahorns operate in the following industries:On – Demand, Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, transportation, e – commerce, marketplace, big data, consumer electronics, social, gaming, blockchain, hardware, internet software, hardware, computer hardware, biotechnology
• The Padma Awards 2022 is to be conferred to vaccine makers to semiconductor market rulers. This time, the Padma awards are being presented to a diversified list of recipients. Around 128 people are to receive the award in 2022. The awards will be presented by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• The late CDS, Bipin Rawat and Kalyan Singh are to be presented with Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
• The former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is presented with Padma Bhushan. But Buddhadeb is to decline the award. He is a CPI (M) leader. The congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad, alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will also receive the award. Gurmeet Bawa, the late folk singer of Punjab, Rajiv Mehrishi, the union home secretary are to be presented with Padma Bhushan.Sonu Nigam, the play back singer of Bollywood will receive Padma Shri.
• A total of six sports persons are to receive the Padma awards 2022. Paralympian Devendra Jhajharia is to receive Padma Bhushan. Hockey player Vandana Katariya and Paralympians Pramod Bhagat, Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil are to receive Padma Shri. Neeraj Chopra, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist will also receive Padma Shri.
• Cyrus Poonawala, the founder of SII (Serum Institute of India) will receive Padma Bhushan. He is the man behind the popular “COVISHIELD”. The chairman of Bharat Biotech Krishna Ellla and the co-founder of Bharat Biotech Suchitra Ella will also receive Padma Bhushan.
• In 2022, the President Ram Nath Kovind approved 107 padma shri awards, 17 padma bhushan and 4 padma vibhushan awards. In all 128 padma awards. Of this one Padma award is a duo case. In duo cases, the award is considered as one. This time 34 recipients are women. Also, there are ten foreigners or NRI or OCI in the list. 13 are posthumous awardees.
• ISRO is likely to launch “Aditya-L1 mission” to study the sun, in year 2022.
• The Aditya-L1 mission will be placed into a point called L1 Lagrange point.
• This mission will be ISRO’s 2nd space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat. AstroSat was launched in 2015.
• Aditya-L1 was earlier named as Aditya 1 and was meant to observe only the solar corona.
• Solar probe, Aditya L1 will be launched on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL, carrying 7 payloads or instruments on board.
• Aditya L1 mission will be launched to study Sun’s corona (Visible and Near infrared rays), chromosphere (Ultra Violet), Sun’s photosphere (soft and hard X-ray), solar winds & flares, solar emissions, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). It will also carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
• The biggest challenge associated with Aditya L1 mission is distance of Sun from Earth, which is approximately 15 crore kms.
• Because of several risks, payloads in previous ISRO missions have largely remained stationary in space. But Aditya L1 comprise of some moving components which increases the risks of collision.
• Other issues include super-hot temperatures and radiation coming from solar atmosphere. Though, Aditya L1 will stay much farther away.
• This mission is significant because, it is important to study the Sun in light that, evolution of planets and exoplanets beyond the Solar System is governed by the Sun. Solar weather and environment affect the weather of entire system.
• It will help in studying the Effects of Variation in Solar Weather System. Variations in this weather can change orbits of satellites or even shorten their lives.
• It will help in learning about and tracking Earth-directed storms.
• Lagrange Points has been named after Italian-French mathematician Josephy-Louis Lagrange. These points are positioned in space, where gravitational forces of a two-body system produce enhanced regions of repulsion and attraction.
• An Artificial Intelligence (AI) based chest X-Ray technique was recently developed by researchers from Indian Institutes of Technology Jodhpur (IIT-J). This chest X-Ray technique will be used for Covid-19A screening.
• Team of researchers have proposed a deep learning-based algorithm called COMiT-Net.
• This algorithm will learn the abnormalities present in chest X-Ray images for differentiating non-covid affected lung from Covid affected lung.
• Experiment for developing the technology was performed with more than 2,500 chest X-Ray images. It achieved about 96.80 per cent sensitivity.
• AI solution used in this research is explainable from both medical as well as algorithmic points of view.
• Countries have faced challenges with limited availability of processing centres in remote areas and testing kits, amid increasing number of Covid-19 cases across multiple waves worldwide. Limited availability motivated the researchers to develop alternative, reliable, faster and easily accessible methods of testing.
• Scottish researchers also developed an AI-based X-Ray technique, recently. This technique can replace the currently used PCR tests to detect Covid infections. This technology was found to be capable of accurately diagnosing Covid-19 in just few minutes. It was far quicker than a PCR test, which usually takes around 2 hours and having 98 per cent accuracy.
• AI-based X-Ray technique cannot completely replace PCR tests because, Covid-19 symptoms are not visible in X-rays at early stages of infection. However, it will play a significant role in curtailing the spread of viruses spread.
• RT-PCR is a laboratory technique, that combines reverse transcription of RNA into DNA. It also amplifies specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique is primarily used for measuring the amount of specific RNA. It is achieved by monitoring amplification reaction using fluorescence.
• A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Nageswara Rao, was hearing the case.
• As per bench, states are obligated for collecting data on inadequacy of representation of SCs and STs.
• Court also maintained that, collection of information on inadequacy of representation of SCs or STs cannot be with reference to entire class or service. But it should be relatable to category or grade of posts to which promotion is sought
• The study conducted by the mission says that if all the Greenland ice melts, then the global ocean level will increase by 7.4 metres.
• The ice in Greenland is melting five times faster than they were 25 years ago.
• There are more than 220 glaciers in Greenland. The ocean waters are melting them at faster rate.
• The top layer of the oceans in Greenland is extremely cold. Also, it is not salty. More of the top layer water are from the Arctic. On the other hand, the bottom layers are warmer. These waters in the bottom are melting the glaciers four to five times faster. Greater the depth greater and faster is the melting. Also, water in greater depths are more saltier.