DRDO develops India’s first Indigenously-Developed 9mm Machine Pistol

1. Donald Trump becomes the first U.S. President to be impeached twice

• President Donald Trumpwas impeached by the U.S. House for a historic second time on January 13, charged with “incitement of insurrection” over the deadly mob siege of the Capitol in a swift and stunning collapse of his final days in office.
• He was first impeached in 2019over his Ukraine dealings. The House voted 232-197 to impeach Mr Trump.
• The proceedings moved at lightning speed, with lawmakers voting just one week after violent pro-Mr. Trump loyalists stormed the U.S. Capitol, urged on by the President’s calls for them to “fight like hell”against the election results.

2. Kerala becomes 8th State to complete ease of doing business reforms

• Keralahas become the 8th State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• Kerala has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of 2,373 crorethrough Open Market Borrowings. Permission for the same was issued by the Department of Expenditure on 12th January 2021.
• Kerala has now joined the seven other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana,who have completed this reform.
• On completion of reforms facilitating ease of doing business, these eight States have been granted additional borrowing permission of23,149 crore.

3. Dushyant Dave resigns as SC Bar Association (SCBA) President

• Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)president, Dushyant Dave has resigned from his post with immediate effect, he has forfeited his right to continue.
• Acting SCBA Secretary Rohit Pandayconfirmed the development that the senior advocate has resigned with immediate effect.
• The SCBA is an Indian bar association, comprising the practising lawyers of the Supreme Court of India.
• The SCBA has been in the vanguard of the movement for upholding, maintaining and consolidation of the constitutional values of democracy, rule of law and independence of Judiciary. In its meeting dated 4th May 1951.
• The Committee in its resolution observed that no attempt should be made to abridge or limit the Fundamental Rights.
• The Committee further pointed out that the Constitution was in operation only for a short period of sixteen months and the Supreme Court had no occasion to pronounce on the validity of various State laws.

4. Intel appoints Pat Gelsinger as new CEO

• Intelhas appointed Pat Gelsinger as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Feb. 15, 2021. Gelsinger will also join the Intel board of directors upon assuming the role.
• He will succeed Bob Swan,who will remain CEO until Feb. 15.
• Gelsinger is an industry veteran with more than four decades of technology and leadership experience, including 30 years at Intel where he began his career.
• Pat is a proven technology leader with a distinguished track record of innovation, talent development, and deep knowledge of Intel.
• He will continue a values-based cultural leadership approach with a hyper-focus on operational execution.

5. FSS and IPPB join hands to promote financial inclusion

• Financial Software and Systems (FSS),a leading payment processor and provider of integrated payment products, has partnered with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to promote financial inclusion among underserved and unbanked segments.
• IPPB will use FSS’ Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS)to deliver interoperable and affordable doorstep banking services to customers across India.
• Customers of any bank can access their Aadhaar-linked bank account by simply using their fingerprint for cash withdrawal, balance enquiry and transfer of funds into an operating IPPB account, right at their doorstep.
• This strategic partnership offers significant opportunities to bring millions of unbanked customers into the financial mainstream. Currently, there are nearly 410 millionJan Dhan accounts in India.

6. Fitch Ratings Projects GDP of India at -9.4% in FY21

• The Fitch Ratingsexpect the gross domestic product (GDP) of India to contract by 4 per cent in FY21 (April 2020 to March 2021).
• Fitch further projects the GDP to expand by11 per cent in FY22 (April 2021 to March 2022).

7. Indian Army inks $20 mn contract to buy SWITCH drones

• The Indian Armyhas recently signed a contract with Mumbai-based drone manufacturing company, ideaForge, to procure high-altitude variant of SWITCH unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The total cost of the deal is approximately USD 20 million.
• However, the quantity of UAVs to be procured is not disclosed. These UAVs will be delivered to the Indian Army over a period of one year.
• SWITCH UAV is an indigenous system built to cater for the most demanding surveillance operations of the Indian Forces.
• This Fixed-Wing VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) UAV can be deployed at high altitude and harsh environments for day and night surveillance in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
• It is man-portable and has the highest time on target compared to any other UAV in its class.

8. DRDO develops India’s first Indigenously-Developed 9mm Machine Pistol

• India’s first indigenous9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army.
• Infantry School, Mhow and DRDO’sArmament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune have designed and developed this weapon using their respective expertise in the complementary areas.
• The weapon has been developed in a record time of four months. The weapon is aptly named “Asmi”meaning “Pride”, “Self-Respect” & “Hard Work”. 
• The Machine Pistol fires the in-service 9mm ammunition and sports an upper receiver made from aircraft-grade Aluminium and lower receiver from carbon fibre.
• The 3D Printing processhas been used in designing and prototyping of various parts including trigger components made by metal 3D printing.
• The weapon has huge potential in Armed forces as a personal weapon for heavy weapon detachments, commanders, tank and aircraft crews, drivers/dispatch riders, radio/radar operators, Closed Quarter Battle, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations etc.

9. Indian Army Day: 15 January

• The Army Day in Indiais celebrated on 15 January every year, to salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country and its citizens. This year marks the 73rd Indian Army Day. 
• The Army Day is celebrated at all Army Command headquarters to honour our country’s soldiers who set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood, and above all, love for the country.
• The day is marked to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) KM Carriappatook over the command of Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence.

10. IFFI 2021 to celebrate the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray

• The 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI)will be celebrating the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray by screening five of his classics.
• As part of the tribute, the festival will showcase Ray’s acclaimed “Pather Panchali”,the first film of his The Apu Trilogy, 1964 romantic drama “Charulata”, “Sonar Kella”, his 1977 Hindi directorial debut “Shatranj Ke Khilari” and “Ghare Baire” (1984). 12 films for Festival Kaleidoscope & 50 films for World Panorama section were unveiled too.