1 Guidelines issued for advertisements making environmental/green claims
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has introduced guidelines to prevent misleading environmental claims , known as greenwashing , which are often seen across sectors. Effective February 15, 2024 , these mandate that green claims in advertisements must be credible, verifiable, and transparent. The guidelines require brands to provide strong supporting data or credible certification for any eco-friendly claims about their products or services. This enables consumers to make environmentally conscious purchasing choices. The guidelines aim to prevent greenwashing. ASCI classifies greenwashing as a violation of its code emphasizing honest advertising. Consumers pay a premium for genuine green products and deserve factual information in choosing them.
2 2024 Global Firepower Ranking released
America tops the military power ranking , followed by Russia and China at second and third place. India remained at fourth position for the second consecutive year . Pakistan is at 9th position and Italy is at 10th position . Other countries in the top 10 include South Korea, Britain, Japan and Turkey . The Global Firepower Ranking rates each country on factors such as military resources, industry, geography, manpower and technology level. This allows smaller but more advanced countries to compete with larger, less developed powers. India has retained its position as the fourth most powerful military globally in the latest 2024 Global Firepower Rankings. India scored a power index of 0.1023 on a scale where 0.0000 is a “perfect” score. With over 1.4 million active personnel, India has the second largest military force globally. However, its defense budget of $76.6 billion lags far behind the US ($714 billion) and China ($209 billion). India imports 70% of its arms but is accelerating domestic production.
3 Ayodhya: Shankaracharya in Ram temple Pran Pratishtha
The decision of the four Shankaracharyas to not attend the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya has attracted a lot of attention. Shankaracharya (teacher of the path of Shankara), is a religious title used by the heads of four major mathas or pithas , believed to be founded by Adi Shankaracharya (circa 788 AD-820 AD). I went. According to tradition, he is a religious teacher belonging to a line of teachers going back to Adi Shankara himself, although historical evidence about this before the 14th century AD is scarce. These four monasteries are in Dwarka (Gujarat) , Joshimath ( Uttarakhand ), Puri (Odisha) and Shringeri ( Karnataka ). They function as religious pilgrimage sites, temples, libraries and residences. They play an important role in preserving and propagating the tradition of Shankara. There is little historical evidence of the existence of these monasteries before the 14th century, when the Vijayanagara Empire began patronizing the Sringeri Monastery. Adi Shankaracharya was an 8th-century Indian philosopher and theologian who is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Hinduism. It is believed that he was born in Kalady village in Kerala . The ‘ Statue of Oneness ‘ dedicated to Adi Shankaracharya, located at a height of 108 feet on Mandhata mountain in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, was unveiled.
4 Cape Verde declared malaria-free country
Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Cape Verde as a malaria free country . Cape Verde is currently the third country in the African region to be certified malaria-free by WHO, along with Mauritius and Algeria . A country is certified as malaria-free by WHO when it demonstrates prevention of malaria transmission throughout the country for at least 3 years and has a strategy to prevent re-introduction of indigenous transmission. There is a functional monitoring and response system. Maldives (2015) and Sri Lanka (2016) have been certified malaria free by WHO. India has not been certified malaria-free . Currently WHO has granted ‘malaria-free’ certification to 43 countries and 1 territory . Malaria is a deadly mosquito-borne blood disease caused by Plasmodium parasites.
5 9th Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival held in Arunachal Pradesh
The 9th Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) was held in Arunachal Pradesh from January 18-20, 2024 . Declared a state festival, it focuses on wildlife conservation . There are four hornbill species in the reserve – Oriental pied, Great Indian, Rufous-necked and the endangered Verthead hornbill . This week-long event creates awareness about the conservation of these iconic birds. The PPHF has also highlighted the role of the indigenous Nyishi tribes in protecting the hornbills after they first hunted them. It establishes relationships between forests, wildlife and local communities. The Nyishi are the largest tribal group in Arunachal Pradesh. The Nyishi tribe traditionally hunted hornbills and used their distinctive bills to make ethnic headgear. However, over time Nyishi turned into a champion defending those same hornbills.
6 Former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi awarded Assam Vaibhav Award
The Assam government has announced that it will honor Member of Parliament and former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi with the state’s highest civilian honour, the Assam Vaibhav Award . He has been credited with playing a role in the establishment of the Ram temple in Ayodhya through the apex court verdict given under his leadership as CJI. Ranjan Gogoi served as the 46th Chief Justice of India . During his tenure as CJI, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the long-pending Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in 2019 . Subsequently, Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by then President Ram Nath Kovind in March 2020. As the first Chief Justice of India to come from the Northeast, Gogoi paved the way for greater regional representation in the highest echelons of the judiciary. Through speedy adjudication of pending cases, he enhanced the reach and efficiency of the justice system during his CJI tenure.
7 Royal Navy warship HMS Spy visits Kochi
HMS Spy , an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Royal Navy is on a goodwill visit to Kochi from 17 to 27 January 2024 . On arrival the warship was warmly welcomed with fanfare by the Indian Naval Band. During the port call at Kochi, field and group level interactions and sports activities were organized between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy. Royal Navy personnel visited INS Sunaina and shared best practices towards enhancing coordination and interoperability between the two navies.
8 Union AYUSH Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of the state-of-the-art ‘AYUSH DIKSHA’ center in Bhubaneswar.
Union Minister for AYUSH and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of ‘ AYUSH DIKSHA ‘ , the first of its kind center for human resource development for future AYUSH professionals here . This state-of-the-art center will be developed on the campus of Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Bhubaneswar . Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said that AYUSH campaign has gained immense popularity in the last 10 years and we are moving towards an integrated medical approach where a strong AYUSH medical system will be used along with the modern medical system.
9 China’s population to decline again in 2023
China’s population will decline for the second consecutive year, falling by 2.75 million to 1.409 billion in 2023 as a decline in the birth rate and deaths from Covid-19 accelerate a recession with profound economic consequences . The 2023 population decline is greater than the 2022 decline, which ended six decades of growth since the Great Famine under Mao Zedong . The sudden removal of strict zero-Covid restrictions in late 2022 led to a dramatic viral resurgence, leading to a surge in deaths. China’s birth rate has declined over the years due to the former one-child policy and rapid urbanization. As families moved to cities, the cost of raising children increased, leading to a decline in growth rates.
10 RBI released State of the Economy Report
According to RBI ‘s State of the Economy Report , India is set to maintain the economic momentum of 2023 in 2024. But according to its latest report, taming inflation and boosting rural and consumption growth are actually key to an inclusive expansion. While economic activity continues to strengthen, inflation needs to be in line with the 4% target by Q2 2024 to enable sustained 7%+ GDP growth in 2024-25 . Anchoring expectations will promote progress on a broad basis. The emphasis on government infrastructure has led to an increase in private capital expenditure along with consumption. With investment complementing spending, 2023 ended strongly despite headwinds.
11 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today released the book ‘Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Barphukan’ in Guwahati, Assam.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah released Arup Kumar Dutta ‘s book ‘ Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Barphukan ‘ in Guwahati , Assam . Many dignitaries including Assam Chief Minister Shri Hemant Biswa Sarma were present on this occasion. Shri Shah said that Lachit Barphukan is a national hero not only of Assam but of entire India. This book has been published by the state government in English language which is being translated into 24 languages of the country.
12 2023 ASER Survey
The 2023 ASER survey focused on 14 to 18-year-olds in rural areas , particularly on their ability to apply reading and mathematics skills in everyday situations. It also took information on their access to digital technology and whether they had the skills to use it. This age group was chosen because from 2005–2014, annual surveys focused on the learning abilities of young children. The objective of this survey was to measure four broad areas – activity, aspiration, general awareness and capability . It is based on a 2017 survey of the same age group that examined reading and arithmetic skills. New components mapped readiness for everyday tasks and digital skills such as using a cellphone. About 30% of respondents already work, often for parents, but do not wish to continue this work when they grow up. It throws light on the diverse roles of children.
13 Oxfam releases Inequality Inc Report
Global inequality between the rich and the poor has worsened significantly for the first time in 25 years , according to Oxfam ‘s recent “ Inequality Inc ” report published on January 15, 2024 . This trend is being exacerbated by the effects of climate change, driven primarily by billionaires and corporations. According to the current trajectory, the world may see its first trillionaire within 10 years . However, it will take 229 years to completely eliminate poverty . This startling contradiction highlights the rapidly growing wealth divide. The combined wealth of the world’s five richest billionaires has increased from $405 billion in 2020 to more than $869 billion today, adding up to $14 million in wealth every hour. Nearly five billion people have become poor during the same period . In 2023 alone, billionaires are set to gain $3.3 trillion, a 34% increase from 2020.
14 Global Hydrogen Price Index
The International Financial Services Center (IFSC) at GIFT City in Gandhinagar announced a new collaboration with the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) . It aims to jointly develop a global hydrogen price index . GSPC, together with IGX, will create a platform to enable global institutions to trade hydrogen contracts and derivatives within the GIFT City Special Economic Zone. GIFT City is an International Financial Services Center (IFSC) in India, with existing capabilities in banking, capital markets and other financial sectors. The Global Hydrogen Price Index is a benchmark that will enable price discovery and provide key market information to support the growing green hydrogen industry in India.
15 Sumit Nagal defeats seeded player in Australian Open
Sumit Nagal became the first Indian since 1989 to defeat a seeded player at a Grand Slam by defeating Kazakhstan ‘s Alexander Bublik in the opening round of the Australian Open , followed by Ramesh Krishnan’s win over Mats Wilander at the Australian Open. But three years later he broke 11 major records when he defeated Alex Molkan to earn Indian representation in the Australian Open singles main draw. Grand Slam tournaments, also known as major tournaments, are one of the four most important annual tennis tournaments. The Grand Slam schedule includes the Australian Open in mid-January, the French Open from late May to early June, Wimbledon in June–July, and the US Open in August–September. The Australian and US Open tournaments are played on hard courts, the French tournaments on clay and Wimbledon on grass.
