India’s longest Road Arch Bridge inaugurated in Meghalaya

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1. RBI Retains SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has retained State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) or banks that are considered as “too big to fail”.
  • The updated list is based on the data collected from banks as on March 31, 2020.
  • These banks have been identified under the same bucketing structure as in the 2018.
  1. DRDO Successfully Test Flights indigenously developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)

  • The DRDO successfully conducted captive and release trial of indigenously developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from Hawk-I aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) off the Odisha coast on 21 January 2021.
  • The 125 Kg class smart weapon SAAW was successfully test fired from Indian Hawk-Mk132 of HAL.
  • This was the 9th successful mission of SAAW conducted by DRDO till now and first test conducted from the Hawk-i aircraft.
  • SAAW is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad.
  • It is capable of engaging ground enemy airfield assets such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks, and runways among others, up to a range of 100 kms.
  1. Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) to conduct joint military exercise ‘Kavach’ in Andaman Sea & Bay of Bengal

  • Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), the only Joint Forces Command of India, will conduct a large scale Joint Military exercise ‘Exercise Kavach’ in the coming week, in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
  • The exercise will involve assets of Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard.
  • The joint force would conduct multi domain, high intensity offensive and defensive manoeuvres, amphibious landing operations, air landed operation, helicopters-borne insertion of Special Forces from sea culminating in tactical follow-on operations on land.
  • The tri-services exercise aims to further strengthen the joint war-fighting capabilities and SOPs towards enhancing operational synergy.
  1. Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates new 4-lane Thaltej-Shilaj-Rancharda railway overbridge in Ahmedabad

  • On 21, January 2021, the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the new 4-lane Thaltej-Shilaj-Rancharda railway overbridge in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat through video conferencing.
  • The new overbridge has been built at a cost of Rs 55 crore.
  1. India’s longest Road Arch Bridge inaugurated in Meghalaya

  • Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated India’s longest road arch bridge “Wahrew Bridge” at Sohbar in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya on 22 January 2021.
  • The arch bridge has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 49.395 crore under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) of the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER).
  • The iconic structure is expected to boost the tourism sector in the State.
  1. Union Minister Arjun Munda Virtually Launches “Shramshakti” Portal for Migrant Workers

  • The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda launched a National Migration Support Portal “ShramShakti”, during a virtual programme organised at Panjim, Goa, on 22 January, 2021.
  • The portal will help the government in smooth formulation of state and national level programs for migrant workers.
  • Shram Shakti portal will address the data gap and empower migrant workers who generally migrate in search of employment and income generation.
  • Government would also be able to link the migrant population with existing Welfare Scheme- under Atam Nirbhar Bharat.
  • The minister also launched “ShramSaathi”, a training manual for migrant workers, to ensure that the process of livelihood migration is safe and productive.
  • apart from this, a dedicated Migration cell was also launched in Goa to facilitate and support migrants who come from different States to Goa. This makes Goa first destination state of India to set up dedicated migration cell to address diverse issues of migrant workers.
  1. Karnataka CM Yediyurappa launches Avalokana Software

  • The Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa has launched a software called ‘Avolokana’ that will enable the state government to access data on sanctions and expenditures incurred by the state departments on various programmes implemented by them.
  • The Avalokana software is a transparent e-governance tool to help the state Government have hold over resources.

Key features

  • Data about all the 1,800 programmes implemented by 39 departments of the state will be provided
  • Assembly constituency-wise release of Government grants and allocations under different development programmes.
  • Government can take decision on releasing funds depending on the expenditure incurred by the department.
  • Focus on Sustainable Development goals, Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, Tribal Sub-plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
  1. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates 7th Edition of MASCRADE 2021 organized by FICCI

  • The 7th edition of ‘MASCRADE 2021 – Movement against Smuggled & Counterfeit Trade’ was inaugurated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union Minister of Health and Family welfare, on 21 January 2021.
  • The two-day programme was organized by FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy), to combat illicit trade, especially in a post COVID era.
  • The event provided a platform to deliberate and discuss actionable, innovative policy solutions that can reverse the rising incidences of counterfeit, smuggled and spurious products, causing significant damage to the economy of the nation, health and safety of people worldwide.
  1. World Economic Forum Releases 16th Global Risks Report

  • The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released the 16th edition of the Global Risks Report, since its inception in 2006.
  • The report shares the results of the latest Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS), completed by over 650 members of the World Economic Forum’s diverse leadership communities.
  • It provides current expectations of future risks, uncertainties and other factors (known and unknown), based on certain assumption.
  • The WEF’s Global Risks Report has been produced in partnership with Marsh McLennan, SK Group and Zurich Insurance Group.
  1. Popular Bhajan Singer, Narendra Chanchal, passes away at 80

  • The iconic Indian Bhajan singer Narendra Chanchal, who specialized in religious songs and hymns, has passed away. He was 80.
  • Some of his ever popular bhajans include Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai, Tune Mujhe Bulaya Sherawaliye, Ambe Tu Hai Jagadambe Kali, Hanuman Chalisa, Sankat Mochan Naam Tiharo, Ram Se Bada Ram Ka Naam among others.
  • Besides several bhajans, Chanchal had also given voice in several Hindi films as well.
  • He sang a Bollywood song Beshak Mandir Masjid for the 1973 film Bobby and won Filmfare Best Male Playback Award.