Kerala launches ‘One School, One IAS’ Program to impart UPSC Civil Services free coaching for economically weak students

1. PM Modi flags off 8 trains connecting Statue of Unity with different regions

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flagged off eight trains connecting the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat with different regions of the country, on January 17, 2021, through video conferencing.
• PM Modi informed that it was the first time in history that so many trains from different locations were flagged off for a common destination.
• The eight trains flagged off will connect Kevadiya with Varanasi, Dadar, Ahmedabad, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Rewa, Chennai, and Pratapnagar.
• PM also inaugurated other railway projects in Kevadiya, including Dabhoi-Chandid gauge converted broad gauge rail line, Chandod-Kevadiya new broad gauge rail line, Pratapnagar-Kevadiya newly electrified section, and new station buildings of Dabhoi Junction, Chandod and Kevadiya.

2. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates National Road Safety Month 2021

• The first-ever National Road Safety Month was inaugurated by Union Minister for Defence Shri Rajnath Singh and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways & MSME Shri Nitin Gadkari on 18 January 2021.
• It is the inaugural edition of the National Road Safety Month and is being held in place of National Road Safety Week, which was being observed since past few years.
• The objective of the month-long programme is to build awareness about road safety and reduce road accidents in India. It will be held till 17 February 2021.
• During this period, nation-wide activities would be conducted throughout the country in association with State Govt./Union Territory administrations, NHAI, NHIDCL, OEMs and NGOs.
• Centre is also taking several measures to reduce road accidents by Restructuring and Strengthening 4E’s of Road safety, which are: • Engineering • Education • Enforcement • Emergency care Services.

3. Kerala launches ‘One School, One IAS’ Program to impart UPSC Civil Services free coaching for economically weak students

• The Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan officially launched the ‘One School One IAS’ program recently which aims to provide free coaching for UPSC Civil Services/ IAS Exams for poor meritorious students.
• The programme will be implemented by Vedhik Erudite Foundation with the support of sponsors.
• Under the scheme free coaching will be provided to 10,000 financially weak meritorious students across Kerala for civil services and other competitive examinations.
• This higher education platform will give the students a chance to completely redecorate their future plans and broaden their horizons.

4. 13-day Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sport & Youth festival 2021 begins in Ladakh

• In  Ladakh, the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sport & Youth Festival 2021 kicked off on 18th January 2021.
• The 13- Day Zanskar Winter Sports Festival aims to open new arena in Ladakh for adventure and Nature loving tourists and a boost for local Youth to hone up their skills in winter sports to represent India.
• A series of snow based activities will be held for the next 13 days to promote tourism and economic activities in the Snow bound, picturesque Zanskar.

5. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan chairs 148th session of WHO Executive Board

• Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally chaired the 148th session of WHO Executive Board, through Video Conference.
• The 148th session of the Executive Board has been organised from 18-26 January 2021.
• The meeting provides a platform to bring together all member states to set the directions and agenda and continue striving for the objective of Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
• Also, the WHO has declared the Year 2021 as the Year of Global Solidarity and Survival.

6. India and Japan inks MoC to promote movement of skilled workers from India to Japan

• On 18 January 2021, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation  (MoC) a Basic Framework for Partnership for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), to promote the movement of skilled workers from India to Japan.
• The MoC was signed between Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Ambassador of Japan to India Suzuki Satoshi.
• The MoC covers 14 categories of specified skills. The skilled workers from India who meet these skills requirement and Japanese language tests would be eligible for employment in Japan on a contractual basis.
• These workers would be granted the status of Specified Skilled Worker by Japan.
• The 14 specified industry fields include nursing care, building cleaning, material processing, industrial machinery manufacturing, electric and electronic information, construction, shipbuilding and ship-related industry, automobile maintenance, aviation, lodging, agriculture, fisheries, food and beverages manufacturing and food services industry.

7. Yoweri Museveni wins sixth term as Uganda’s President

• Uganda’s incumbent President Yoweri Museveni has been declared as the winner of the country’s presidential election for 2021.
• Museveni secured 58.64 percent of the total votes cast, to win the sixth term as the President.
• The 76-year-old leader is serving as the President of the Republic of Uganda since 1986, and is one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents.
• Uganda capital: Kampala; currency: Ugandan shilling.

8. Carolina Marin & Viktor Axelsen Clinch Singles Titles in Yonex Thailand Open badminton tournament 2021

• The Yonex Thailand Open Super 1000 badminton tournament was held from 12 January 2021 to 17 January 2021. It was the first badminton tournament of 2021 by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Winners List

1. Men’s Single –  Viktor Axelsen of Denmark
2. Women’s Single –  Carolina Marin of Spain
3. Men’s Double – Taiwan’s Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin
4. Women’s Double – Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu
5. Mixed Double – Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai

9. Padma Awardee Legendary musician, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan passes away at 90

• Legendary Indian classical musician, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan has passed away. He was 90 years old.
• Ghulam Mustafa Khan was known for the Hindustani classical genre of music.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, followed by Padma Bhushan in 2006 and Padma Vibhushan in 2018.
• Apart from this, he was bestowed with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2003.

10. Former Union Minister and Industrialist Kamal Morarka passes away at 74

• Former Union minister and noted industrialist Kamal Morarka has passed away following a brief illness. He was 74.
• Morarka served as the Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office under the Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar in 1990 to 1991.