India opens its first Mahatma Gandhi convention centre in Niger

1.Cabinet gives approval to EC to enter into MoU with Election Commissions of Tunisia and Papua New Guinea

The Cabinet gave approval to the Election Commission of India to enter into MoU with the Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia and the Papua New Guinea Election Commission.The MoU has been signed for elections for cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for the four agreements between India and Brazil in the field of oil and natural gas, Geology and Mineral Resources, mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and cooperation in the field of early childhood care.

2.ISRO’s Gaganyaan to carry lady robot ‘Vyomamitra’ to space!

Before the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sends a man into space next year in its first manned-mission Gaganyaan, it will send two unmanned missions to space in December this year and June next year.The first unmanned mission will, however, have a half humanoid called ‘Vyomamitra’, a ‘lady’ robot.

The robot was the highlight at the ‘Human Spaceflight and Exploration – Present Challenges and Future Trends’ symposium.

The robot Vyomamitra can monitor through module parameters, perform life support operations and switch panel operations

3.Jaipur Literature Festival to begin

The Jaipur Literature Festival will begin on 23 Jan 2020.About 500 speakers of different fields are participating in the festival, which is currently in its 13th edition.

The five-day event will see more than 200 sessions and will be attended by 500 speakers from 20 countries.

Out of them, 120 are award-winning speakers.

The festival will have a range of speakers including Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee, Booker award-winning British novelist Howard Jacobson and Auther Elizabeth Gilbert.

4.Nation pays homage to Subhas Chandra Bose on his 123rd birth anniversary

Nation pays homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 123rd birth anniversary on 23 January.

A number of functions have been organised across the country to mark the occasion.He was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha.

He started the newspaper ‘Swaraj’.

Subhash Chandra Bose was twice elected President of the Indian National Congress, (1938-Haripur and 1939-Tripuri)

His act of hoisting the Tricolour for the first time in Port Blair in 1943 and declaration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as first Indian territory to be freed from British rule continues to inspire every Indian.

5.India opens its first Mahatma Gandhi convention centre in Niger

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou jointly inaugurated the first convention centre established in Africa by India to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the establishment of the Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) is a landmark for India-Niger friendship, as also a symbol of India’s firm commitment towards Africa.

It is the first centre to be established in Africa by India to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi whose 150th Birth Anniversary was observed last year.

The convention centre has been designed as a spacious, modern and eco-friendly facility, including a 2,000 capacity Plenary Hall.

6.Mumbai malls, shops, eateries can stay open 24X7 from January 27

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a proposal to allow malls, multiplexes, shops and eateries to remain open round the clock.The decision will come into force from 27th January and will be implemented only in non-residential areas like Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point.

In another decision, the cabinet has made the film “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior” tax-free in the state.

The film is based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s trusted lieutenant Tanaji Malusare who had played a pivotal role in capturing the Sinhagad Fort.

7.IIM Indore to train Uttar Pradesh cops on communication skills, mob management

The Indian Institute of Management Indore in Madhya Pradesh will teach lessons on crowd management and effective communication to Uttar Pradesh (UP) police.A memorandum of understanding for this project was signed by UP Director General of Police OP Singh and IIM Indore Director Professor Himanshu Rai in Lucknow.

He said training sessions would be held to teach officers effective ways to negotiate and communicate with the mob.

Under the agreement, police will be trained in traffic management, data analysis, use of artificial intelligence, social media management among other aspects.

The MoU comes at a time when UP, as well as other states, are seeing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, several of which have turned violent.

8.Bharti Airtel approves up to 100% in FDI

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approved a 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) limit for Bharti Airtel.Earlier, the limit was 49 per cent.

The telecom operator also has the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that allowed foreign investors to hold up to 74 percent stake in the company.

9.President Kovind confers Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awards to children

President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2020 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.The Bal Puraskar is given by the government every year to recognize exceptional achievements of children in various fields.

These fields are innovation, scholastic achievements, social service, arts and culture, sports and bravery.

The 22 children who were selected for National Bravery Awards also received the awards from the President.

10.Maharashtra retains Khelo India Youth Games champions trophy

Maharashtra retained first place in the Khelo India Youth Games champions trophy with a rich collection of 256 medals, including 78 gold.Haryana came second with 200 medals (68 gold, 60 silver, 72 bronze), followed by Delhi at third with 122 medals (39 gold, 36 silver, 47 bronze).

After 13 days of intense competition, Maharashtra won its second Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) trophy in a row.