1. PM addresses first All India Annual Conference of State Ministers on water conservation through video message
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the first All India Annual Conference of State Ministers on the subject of water conservation through video message . The theme of the conference is ‘ Water Vision @ 2047 ‘ and the objective of the forum is to bring together key policy makers to discuss ways to harness water resources for sustainable development and human development. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organizing the first All India Water Conference of State Ministers in Bhopal , Madhya Pradesh .
2. Himachal Pradesh government started the Chief Minister’s Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu launched the Chief Minister Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh on 1 January 2023 with an outlay of Rs 101 crore . All ministers and Congress MLAs will contribute their first salary to the fund. The Congress party has 40 MLAs in the 68-member Himachal assembly. The Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government was sworn in on 11 December 2022. The objective of this scheme is to provide higher education facilities to needy children and destitute women. The state government will bear the expenditure on skill development education, higher education and vocational training of such children. They will also be given financial assistance as per their requirement so that they can lead a respectable life.
3. Election Commission made Maithili Thakur the ‘state icon’ of Bihar
The Election Commission of India has made Bihar ‘s folk singer Maithili Thakur its state icon . The Election Commission has issued an order in this regard. The proposal to make Maithili Thakur an icon was given by the State Election Office. Maithili Thakur will conduct an awareness campaign among voters before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Let us inform that earlier in the year 2019, Maithili and her two brothers were made the brand ambassadors of Madhubani by the Election Commission.
4. Uttarakhand government decided to abolish revenue police system
Uttarakhand government has decided to abolish the revenue police system in the state. The Pushkar Singh Dhami government has also announced to bring revenue villages under regular policing. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, law and order in 1,800 revenue villages of Uttarakhand will now be handled by the state police. Ankita Bhandari in September 2022During the investigation of the murder, the demand for change in the revenue police system in Uttarakhand gained momentum. The area was under the jurisdiction of the Revenue Police. The revenue police were also accused of not registering complaints in time and of favoring the accused. In response to these allegations, the Uttarakhand government has decided to abolish the revenue police system. The government has announced that the law and order in 1800 revenue villages of Uttarakhand will now be handled by the regular police. The government has abolished the system of revenue police and notified these villages to be brought under regular police. In the first phase, the border of 52 police stations and 19 police posts will be expanded. Uttarakhand is the only state in the country, where even today the employees and officers of the Revenue Department like Patwari, Lekhpal, Kanungo and Naib Tehsildar etc. do the work of the police.
5. 36th meeting on important issues between India and France
The 36th meeting on important issues between India and France began in New Delhi . In this, the Indian delegation was led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the French delegation was led by Emmanuel Bon , Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron . India and France discussed a wide range of issues, including the current situation in Ukraine and Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, defense cooperation between India and Pacific countries, and cyber security. Regarding the tweet of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Jammu and Kashmir, the Spokesperson said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. He said that Article 370 and the Constitution is an internal matter of independent India.
6. Center bans all tourism activities at Jain pilgrimage site Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand
The central government has banned all tourism activities in Sammed Shikharji , the holy place of Jainism in Jharkhand .Have applied. The Environment Ministry has directed the Jharkhand government to take all steps immediately to preserve the sanctity of the site. Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav met members of the Jain community in New Delhi. The Jain community had requested to preserve the sanctity of Sammed Shikharji. The Environment Ministry had received several representations from various organizations of the Jain community regarding certain activities in the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary. In these memorandums, the Jharkhand government had wrongly implemented the provisions of the notification of eco-sensitive zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary. The state government has been asked to strictly implement the provisions for the protection of wild life and flora in the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Bringing pets into the area in accordance with these provisions, Several other acts are prohibited, including the playing of loud music and the sale of liquor. Apart from this, strict instructions have been given to stop the use and sale of non-vegetarian food and liquor on Parasnath mountain.
7. Kuldeep Singh Pathania unanimously elected Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Assembly
In Himachal Pradesh , senior Congress leader and five-time MLA Kuldeep Singh Pathania was unanimously elected as the speaker of the state assembly . On the second day of the winter session of the 14th Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh in Dharamshala, three proposals were received to make Kuldeep Singh Pathania the Speaker. During this, Acting Speaker Chandra Kumar conducted the proceedings of the House. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu proposed the name of Kuldeep Singh Pathania. On behalf of the BJP Legislature Party, Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur seconded the proposal.
8. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs inaugurates the 3rd National Conference of Heads of Investigative Agencies in Jaipur
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai inaugurated the 3rd National Conference of Heads of Investigative Agencies in Jaipur . Speaking on the occasion, Shri Nityanand Rai said that due to the changing nature of crime, it has become necessary for the police to use modern technology. He said that now there is a need to strengthen the police as a smart force. Shri Rai said that the Central Government is continuously making efforts for the modernization of the police. He informed that for this purpose the government has approved schemes worth Rs 26 thousand crores for the year 2021 to 2026. The two-day conference has been organized by the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
9. Dr. Tapan Saikia will get Assam’s highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’
The Assam government has decided to confer the state’s highest civilian award, ‘ Assam Vaibhav ‘, on Dr Tapan Saikia for his distinguished contribution in the field of cancer care in the state . In Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the second highest civilian award ‘ Assam Sourav ‘ to five people . The award will be given to Krishna Roy, the famous producer of Abahan Theatre, football player Gilbertson Sangma, lawn ball player Nayanmoni Saikia, scientist Dr. Binoi Kumar Saikia and Dr. Shashidhar Phukan.
10. France announces provision of AMX-10 RC lightly armed combat vehicles to Ukraine
France has announced the provision of AMX-10 RC lightly armed combat vehicles to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia . The announcement came after the meeting of French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Armored vehicles are being supplied for the first time to assist the Ukrainian army. The AMX-10 vehicle moves at high speed in the combat zone and can accommodate up to four personnel.
11. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Purushottam Rupala inaugurates 29 Mobile Veterinary Units and Centralized Call Center in Thiruvananthapuram
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Purshottam Rupala inaugurated 29 Mobile Veterinary Units and Centralized Call Center in Thiruvananthapuram , a remarkable initiative for the benefit of the livestock farmers of Kerala . Uniform helpline number 1962 for these MVUsWill be operated by a centralized call center with In this, calls will be received from the animal husbandry/livestock owners and the veterinary doctor will prioritize the cases based on the emergency and send them to the nearest MVU to reach the farmer’s home. 50 MVUs are being opened in different districts of Kerala. Fully equipped veterinary facilities will be available just a call away by dialing 1962. These vehicles will be equipped with disease diagnosis treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, minor surgical intervention, audio-visual aid and essential medicines.
12. Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station awarded ‘Eat Right Station’ with 5-Star rating certification by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station of Indian Railways awarded ‘ Eat Right Station ‘ with 5-Star rating for providing high quality nutritious food to passengers’ has been awarded the certification. This certification is provided by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to railway stations for following standard food storage and hygiene practices. The ‘Eat Right Station’ certification by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is awarded to railway stations that set benchmarks in providing safe and nutritious food to passengers. The 5-star rating indicates full compliance by the station in providing safe and hygienic food to the passengers. Other railway stations with star certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi); Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai); Mumbai Central Railway Station, (Mumbai); Vadodara Railway Station, Chandigarh Railway Station and Bhopal Railway Station are included.
13. Indian Railways aims to introduce hydrogen-powered trains on heritage lines
Beginning in the new year 2023 , the Indian Railways aims to modernize its heritage lines with the latest technology. To achieve this, the Ministry of Railways has announced plans to introduce hydrogen-powered trains on its heritage lines in the second half of the year. Hydrogen for HeritageThe scheme aims to not only update the appearance and operation system of trains, but also promote the use of green energy in public transport. Hydrogen powered trains will be implemented on both narrow gauge and meter gauge lines. Eight heritage routes have been identified for the introduction of these trains: Matheran Hill Railway (Length: 19.97 Km) of Central Railway, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Length: 88.6 Km) of North Frontier Railway, Kalka Shimla Railway (Length: 96.5 Km) ) Km), Kangra Valley Railway (Length: 164 Km) of Northern Railway, Bilmora Waghai Route (Length: 62.7 Km) of Western Railway, Mhow Patalpani Route (Length: 58 Km) of Western Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Route Southern Railway (Length: 62.7 Km) : 46 km), and Marwar Deogarh Madria Route (Length: 52 km) of North Western Railway.
14. China becomes the first country in Asia to launch hydrogen powered train
China has become the first country in Asia and the second country in the world to launch hydrogen-powered urban trains . Germany was the first country in the world to introduce hydrogen-powered trains in September 2022 . Chinese company CRRC Corporation Limited has made such a train which has a maximum speed of 160 km per hour and can run up to 600 km without refueling. The German Coradia iLint serial train developed by the French company Alstom has covered a distance of 1175 kilometers without refueling. According to Chinese officials, operation of the train will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 tons per year compared to diesel traction.
15. 141 species of birds identified in Silent Valley National Park
Last month , 141 species of birds were identified in Silent Valley National Park , out of which 17 were new species of birds . A total of 175 species of birds have been observed in Silent Valley . The bird survey was conducted in Silent Valley on 27, 28 and 29 December 2022 to mark the 30th anniversary of the first bird survey in Silent Valley. The bird survey was first conducted in the last week of December 1990, however, due to Covid-19, the anniversary could not be celebrated in December 2020.
16. Ghaziabad – Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya section (762 km) has become the longest fully automatic block signaling section of Indian Railways
To increase line capacity to run more trains on existing high density routes of Indian Railways , Automatic Block Signaling (ABS) is a cost effective solution. Indian Railways is introducing Automatic Block Signaling on mission mode. ABS has been authorized on 268 RKM during 2022-23. By December 31, 2022, the facility of ABS has been provided on 3706 route kms of Indian Railways. Implementation of Automatic Signaling will increase the capacity resulting in more train services. Recently, with the introduction of automatic signaling system in the Satanraini-Rundhi-Faizullapur station section with Prayagraj division, the 762-km Ghaziabad-Pt. The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya section has become fully automated and has also become the longest automated block signaling section of Indian Railways.
17. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the National Genome Editing and Training Center (NGETC) in Mohali, Punjab
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the “ National Genome Editing and Training Center (NGETC) ” at National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali, Punjab . The Minister also inaugurated the 4-day International Conference on Food and Nutrition Security – IFANS 2023 . National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), a national institute under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), focuses research activities at the interface of agriculture, food and nutritional biotechnology.
18. Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnav launches high-speed 5G telecom services in Odisha
Union Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Railways Ashwini Vaishnav launched high speed 5G services in Odisha . Speaking on the occasion, he said that by August 2024, 5G services would be made available in entire Odisha and fiber internet would reach every village. Reliance Jio and Airtel have set up 500 centers in different cities to provide 5G services to the consumers in the state. On this occasion, Reliance Jio and Airtel demonstrated the use of 5G technology at the University of Education and Research, Bhubaneswar.
19. Guidelines issued for technical textile degree programs in undergraduate and postgraduate
Technical Textile Degree Programs in Under Graduate and Post Graduate with the approval of Ministry of TextilesGuidelines have been issued for This will help in modernizing the existing degree programs with new technical textile degree programs and new fellowships. Through these guidelines, the Ministry seeks to develop an eco system not only in technical textiles but also in engineering fields like civil mechanical and electronic. A scholarship of Rs 20,000 per month per student will be given to companies and public and private institutions providing internships to B.Tech students. This scholarship will be given under the technical textile, GIST guidelines. To modernize the equipment of the laboratories under the guidelines, Financial facility has to be made available for training of their personnel and for training of faculty members to gain expertise. These institutions also include institutions receiving funding from the government and private institutions under the NIRF ie National Institutional Ranking Framework. Assistance up to Rs 20 crore for PG courses and up to Rs 10 crore at UG level can be given for starting a full course in technical textiles.
20. NGEL, HPCL sign an agreement to develop green energy projects
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) has signed an agreement with HPCL for development of renewable energy based power projects for the refineries of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and its other business units. The agreement was signed by Shri Neeraj Sharma, Head of Finance, NGEL and Shri Shubhendu Gupta, Executive Director- Biofuels & Renewables, HPCL on 3 January 2023 in New Delhi. Under the agreement, NGEL, which is a subsidiary of NTPC, will supply 400 MW of renewable power to HPCL.
21. HDFC Bank partnered with Microsoft
HDFC Bank has partnered with Microsoft for the next phase of transformation of its digital services . The tie-up has been done to modernize the application portfolio and data landscape of the bank. Also, the purpose of this agreement is to make its services more secure with the use of Microsoft Cloud . By adopting banking systems built on Microsoft Azure Stack , the bank will be able to democratize and monetize its operations. These solutions will be powered by integrated architecture, collaborative engineering environment, industry-leading security and AI/ML based ecosystem.
22. Zeliangrong community celebrates Gaan-Ngai festival in Manipur
In Manipur , the Gaan Ngai festival of the Zeliangrong community was celebrated on January 4, 2023. Gan Ngai festival is one of the major festivals of Manipur which is celebrated every year after the harvesting of crops. This festival also marks the end of the year when the farmers have stored their food grains in their granaries. During the festival, the Zeliangrong community shows their gratitude to the almighty by offering them a good harvest and praying for a better and prosperous life in the coming year.
23. Jason Moo appointed CEO of Bank of Singapore
Bank of Singapore (BoS) , the private banking arm of Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) , announced that it has appointed Jason Moo as its new CEO.
24. ONGC Top Profit Making Public Sector Enterprise in 2021-22
According to the Government of India’s Public Enterprises Survey 2021-22 , ONGC was the highest profit making company among Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in 2021-22 . After ONGC, the other CPSEs making the highest profit are Indian Oil Corporation, Power Grid, NTPC and SAIL.
25. 50 electric buses launched in Delhi under FAME India Phase II scheme
Government to launch 50 electric buses in Delhi on 3 January 2022 with the support of Ministry of Heavy Industry ‘s FAME India Phase II schemewere done. In the year 2019, the government sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore for a period of three years. Out of the total budgetary support, about 86 per cent of the funds have been allocated for incentives to generate demand for electric vehicles. Union Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said that the government has placed an order for 3,538 electric buses. Of these, a total of 1,716 buses have been deployed so far. The Union Territory of Delhi had sanctioned 400 electric buses – 300 to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for intra-city operations and 100 to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for last-mile connectivity – in August 2019. A total of 250 buses have already been deployed by DTC and now the remaining 50 buses have been launched fulfilling MHI’s commitment of providing 300 electric buses to DTC.
26. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Bureau of India launches Jan Aushadhi Chyawanprash Special
A new product Jan Aushadhi Special Chyawanprash was launched in New Delhi under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) . The new product was launched by Mr. Ravi Dadhich , Chief Executive Officer, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Bureau of India (PMBI) . Chyawanprash Special will now be available at all Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country at a reasonable price. Chyawanprash Special is a powerful antioxidant paste, prepared from a combination of around 50 herbs and spices.
27. The Center has launched The Resistance Front- T.R.F. declared a terrorist organization
The Central Government has declared The Resistance Front-TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act -UAPA . The Home Ministry said that The Resistance Front is recruiting youth through online medium to carry out terrorist activities. The Resistance Front came into existence in 2019 as a proxy faction of the outlawed terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. The ministry said in a notification that this organization is involved in spreading terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, recruiting terrorists, infiltrating them and smuggling arms and drugs from Pakistan. Government designates Ahmed Ahangir alias Abu Usman al- Kashmiri as a terrorist has been declared. Born in Srinagar, this terrorist is currently in Afghanistan. Abu Usman al-Kashmiri is planning to resume Islamic State activities in India. The government has declared him a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
