1 President Draupadi Murmu presented Swachh Survekshan Awards
Indore and Surat were awarded the Clean Cities Award in the Cleanliness Survey 2023 in the category of cities with population more than one lakh . Indore has received this award for the seventh consecutive time . Navi Mumbai got third place in this category . President Draupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan 2023 Awards in the presence of Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other officials at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi . In the category with population less than one lakh, Saswad in Maharashtra , Patan in Chhattisgarh and Lonavala in Maharashtra secured the top three positions among the cleanest cities. Meanwhile, Maharashtra was given the first prize for cleanliness in the states category, Madhya Pradesh was given the second prize and Chhattisgarh was given the third clean state award. Varanasi and Prayagraj from Uttar Pradesh took the top two positions among clean Ganga cities . New Delhi Municipal Council – NDMC secured 7th position as the cleanest city in the country in the cleanliness survey. NDMC has achieved 7th position this year by increasing two places as compared to last year’s 9th position. NDMC also received the award of 5 Star, Garbage Free City and Cleanest City within the Union Territory at the awards ceremony of the survey.
2 India will host UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee for the first time
India will chair and host the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the first time in history in July this year . The country is going to host the UNESCO World Heritage Site for the first time from July 21 to 31 . Vishal V Verma, India’s permanent representative to UNESCO, has given this information. The World Heritage Committee organizes a World Heritage Conference once every year. India has been selected to host the 46th session of the Committee. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency within the United Nations. The World Heritage Committee, consisting of representatives from 21 Member States, meets annually to deliberate on matters relating to the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of cultural and natural heritage sites.
3 India is participating as an important partner in the SteelFab 2024 exhibition held in UAE
India is participating as a key partner in the SteelFab 2024 exhibition organized by Expo Center Sharjah in collaboration with Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry – SCCI in UAE . With 35 exhibitors , the Indian pavilion has emerged as a powerhouse. In this, major companies and brands of iron and steel sector have been displayed. Confederation of Indian Industry -CII , the India Pavilion is a testament to the latest innovations and cutting-edge technologies in steel and metallurgy.
4 Sheikh Hasina took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fifth time
In Bangladesh , Awami League President Sheikh Hasina took oath as the Prime Minister of the country for the fifth time . President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and members of the new cabinet at Bangabhavan in Dhaka . This will be Ms Hasina’s fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister . Ms Sheikh Hasina, 76, is the 12th Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived the violence on August 15, 1975 . But his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and most of the family members were assassinated. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister were in Germany at the time of the incident. These two sisters, the only survivors of Sheikh Mujib’s family, spent six years in exile in India. Sheikh Hasina was elected President of the Awami League at the age of 34 while living in exile. She returned to Bangladesh on May 17, 1981 and began a campaign against the rule of military ruler Ziaur Rahman for the restoration of democracy. The Awami League, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, won the June 1996 parliamentary elections and Sheikh Hasina became Prime Minister.
5 In Assam, the state government decided to provide benefits of government schemes to small families to control population.
In Assam , the state government has decided to provide benefits of government schemes to small families to control population . Chief Minister Hemant Biswa Sarma gave this information in Guwahati . She launched the Mahila Entrepreneurship Achhoni Scheme for women . Shri Sarma told the media that under this scheme, 39 lakh women of self-help groups in the state will be given financial assistance in three phases within three years with certain conditions to do business under the scheme. For this, 145 business models have been identified and selected. Shri Sarma said that only women belonging to General and Other Backward Class categories with three children will be given the benefit. Apart from this, benefits under this scheme will also be given to Moran, Motak, tea garden working tribes and women of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes having four children. Ten thousand rupees will be given in the first year, Rs 12,500 in the second year and Rs 12,500 will be given in the third year also. Chief Minister Sarma said that a pledge will also be taken from the beneficiaries that they will not give birth to more than two children and will send their daughter to school.
6 Singapore’s Changi Airport named world’s best airport for 2023
Singapore ‘s Changi Airport has once again been crowned the World’s Best Airport for the year 2023 , according to the prestigious awards presented by air transport research firm, Skytrax . After losing the title to Qatar ‘s Hamad International Airport the previous two years , Changi Airport reclaimed its position as the best in the world, marking the twelfth time the airport has received this prestigious accolade. The annual Skytrax Awards are an important benchmark in the aviation industry, recognizing excellence in airport services and facilities. These awards are based on customer satisfaction surveys of international air travelers, making them a true reflection of the passenger experience.
7 DRDO’s indigenous assault rifle ‘Ugram’ launched
Assault rifle ‘ Ugram ‘ jointly developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and private firm has been launched. DRDO’s Pune -based lab Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with Hyderabad -based Dwipa Armor India Private Limited has developed the 7.62 x 51 mm. A state-of-the-art assault rifle of caliber has been developed. The rifle has an effective range of 500 meters and weighs less than four kilograms. The first operational prototype of the rifle has been named ‘Ugram’.
8 State of emergency declared in Papua New Guinea
A state of emergency was declared in Papua New Guinea . Police and public sector employees went on strike yesterday after their salaries were cut. Government and police officials have been suspended after 16 people were killed in riots against pay cuts. Officials have alleged that the pay cuts were due to an administrative error. Thousands of people took to the streets in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea .
9 India Post Payments Bank signs MoU with Hindustan Zinc to provide financial inclusion services to its CSR beneficiaries
In an unprecedented alliance set to transform the financial landscape of rural Rajasthan , India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL – a subsidiary of Vedanta Group) have entered into an agreement to pioneer inclusive financial solutions . This collaboration will ensure to make a lasting impact on the lives of community beneficiaries around Hindustan Zinc’s operational areas. The MoU between IPPB and HZL was signed by Mr. Gursharan Rai Bansal, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, IPPB and Mr. Arun Mishra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been set up under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications with 100 per cent equity owned by the Government of India. IPPB was launched on September 1, 2018. Hindustan Zinc is a Vedanta group company in the zinc-lead and silver business. It is the world’s 2nd largest integrated zinc producer and 5th largest silver producer.
10 ISRO awarded “Indian of the Year Award” in the ‘Outstanding Achievement’ category for the year 2023
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has honored Team ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) in the ‘Outstanding Achievement’ category for the year 2023. Presented with ” Indian of the Year Award “. The award, launched by a national TV channel, was presented by ISRO Chairman S. Somnath and Chandrayaan 3 Project Director Dr. P. Veeramuthuvel . The award citation reads, “The year 2023 will undoubtedly go down in the history books as a period when India’s space agency demonstrated unparalleled acumen and resilience in the face of challenges. “The culmination of ISRO’s achievements in 2023 was the first successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the unexplored south polar region of the Moon.”
11 Prime Minister Scheduled Caste Abhyudaya Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Caste Abhyudaya Yojana (PM-AJAY ) is a merger of special central assistance to 03 centrally sponsored schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) , Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCA to SCSP) and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatravas Yojana (BJRCY). The scheme aims to reduce poverty of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities by creating additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generation schemes and other initiatives and improving socio-economic development indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and required services. Has been implemented from 2021-22 with the aim of.
12 Nanoplastic contamination in bottled water
A worrying reality about bottled water has been revealed by the latest study from the United States , highlighting the presence of hundreds of thousands of nanoplastic particles, underscoring potential health risks . One liter of bottled water contains 110,000 to 370,000 nanoplastic particles. About 90% of these particles are of nano size, which pose a greater threat to human health. Nanoplastics are even smaller than microplastics, measuring less than 1 micrometer in size. Unlike microplastics (between 5 millimeters and 1 micrometer), nanoplastics can pass directly through the intestines and lungs into the bloodstream before reaching the heart and brain. The study found that common plastics in bottled water such as polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can play an important role in the interaction of micro-nano plastics with bottled water. PET used in disposable beverage bottles can dissolve in water when exposed to heat or when squeezed.
13 High Court approval: Yakshagana fair resumes for all night
Over a century old Yakshagana fair , Kateel Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Yakshagana Troupe in Dakshina Kannada , after being permitted by the Karnataka High Court subject to the observance of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, will stage an all-night show from January 14, 2024 . Will start again . Yakshagana is a unique dance-drama performance of Karnataka. It traditionally shows men playing all the roles. But, women are now a part of these circles. Key elements include relevant stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana or the Mahabharata. Musical instruments like Chande, Harmonium, Madel, Taal and flute accompany these performances. Various famous troupes like Saligrama Mela, Dharmasthala Mela and Mandarathi Mela perform Yakshagana throughout the year.
14 Microsoft launches AI Odyssey program to skill 100,000 Indian developers
Microsoft has unveiled an ambitious new initiative called AI Odyssey that aims to provide advanced skills training in artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to 100,000 software developers across India. The free month-long online program allows anyone interested in AI to access learning content to help them build expertise in applying Microsoft Azure cloud services to build AI solutions. Microsoft AI Odyssey represents a major investment in empowering India’s technology talent to lead innovation in one of the most important emerging areas of computer science. The country is well-positioned to become an AI powerhouse given its broad base of skilled developers and abundance of potential applications ranging from healthcare to agriculture. Providing targeted guidance on mastering AI can accelerate this transformation.
15 Denmark launches Green Fuels Alliance with India
The Danish Government has announced the launch of the Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) , a strategic initiative that aims to advance cooperation between Denmark and India in the sustainable energy solutions sector. This new partnership seeks to promote the development of green fuels such as clean hydrogen , while also helping both countries advance their shared goal of reaching carbon neutrality. GFAI is led by the Danish Embassy and Consulate General in India. This is in line with the sustainability objectives under the 2020 Green Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries. The alliance comes as India aggressively pursues its target of net-zero emissions by 2070. Denmark is already leading the world in climate action and already intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
16 First advance estimates of India’s GDP for 2023-24 released
According to the first advance estimates of national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation , India’s real GDP growth in 2023-24 is estimated at 7.3% , up from 7.2% a year ago, which is estimated to have helped the economy Will perform better. 7% growth has been recently estimated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Published in the first week of January in each financial year, the advance estimates offer the earliest snapshot of national income growth trends based on data from the earlier months. This allows policy makers to finalize the next year’s budget accounting for the latest estimates.
17 Odisha’s Red Aunt Chutney gets Geographical Indication (GI) tag
Kai Chutney of Odisha , also known as Red Ant Chutney , has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag due to its unique taste and texture. Insects and insects have been consumed since ancient times in India and other parts of the world for their innumerable health benefits. This rare delicacy is made from red weaver ants and comes from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, where it has been a quintessential part of their culinary culture.
18 IndusInd Bank introduces ‘Samman Rupay Credit Card’ for government employees
IndusInd Bank has launched this credit card by the name of Samman RuPay Credit Card . The bank has introduced it keeping in mind the needs and usage of government employees . A special thing about this card is that it is also UPI enabled. For this, the bank has recently partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
19 Rhythm Sangwan gets bronze in 25m sports pistol in Asian Qualifiers in Jakarta.
By winning the bronze medal in 25m sports pistol at the Asian Qualifiers in Jakarta , Rhythm Sangwan has become the 16th Indian shooter to secure a quota for the Paris Olympics . With this, India has achieved the highest quota for shooting in the Paris Olympics to be held in July-August. Earlier, 15 shooters from India had participated in Tokyo Olympics 2020. This is India’s third Olympic quota in the Asian Qualifiers. Isha Singh and Varun Tomar have already secured quota in the women’s and men’s 10m air pistol categories. Rhythm finished third in the final with 28 points but this was enough to get them a quota for the Paris Olympics. This is Rhythm’s second bronze medal in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers. He also secured third place in 10 meter air pistol.
