Toycathon-2021 and Toycathon Portal jointly launched by Union Education Minister and Union Minister WCD

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1. PM Modi dedicates Kochi – Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline to the Nation

  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modidedicated Kochi – Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline to the Nation on January 05, 2021 through video conferencing.
  • The pipeline is a step forward towards the Centre’s ambitious ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’ programme.
  • The Kochi – Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline would improve the ease of living in Kerala and Karnataka, and reduce the expenses of the poor, middle class and entrepreneurs of both the states.

Key features of Kochi – Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline

  • The 450-kilometrelong pipeline has been built by GAIL (India) Ltd.
  • The estimated cost of the project is Rs 3,000-crore.
  • Through this project, natural gas would be carried from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal at Kochi to Mangaluru.
  • The pipeline has the transportation capacity of 12 million metric standard cubic metres per day.

2. Toycathon-2021 and Toycathon Portal jointly launched by Union Education Minister and Union Minister WCD

  • The Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Union Minister WCD and Textiles Smt. Smriti Zubin Iranijointly launched Toycathon-2021 and the Toycathon Portal on January 05, 2021.
  • Toycathon is being organized to develop India as the global Toy manufacturing hub. 
  • Toycathon will provide a platform to conceptualize innovative toys based on the Indian value system which will inculcate the positive behaviour and good value among the children.
  1. The Toycathon will be based on nine themes:
  2. Indian Culture, History, Knowledge of India and Ethos;
  3. Learning, Education and Schooling;
  4. Social and human values;
  5. Occupations & specific fields;
  6. Environment;
  7. Divyang ;
  8. Fitness and sport;
  9. Out of the box, creative and logical thinking and

Rediscovering/redesigning traditional Indian toys

  • It will have 3 variants of tracks which are Junior Level, Senior Level and Start up Level

3. 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica flagged off from Mormugao Port, Goa

  • The 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarcticawas flagged off on January 05, 2021, from Mormugao Port, Goa.
  • The chartered ice-class vessel MV Vasiliy Golovninhas been chosen for the prestigious 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) mission journey and will reach Antarctica in 30 days.
  • The expedition journey has 43 members onboard.
  • India’s major fuel supplier,Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has supplied Jet A1 fuel, lubes and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) for the mission.
  • Apart from its scientific mission, this expedition shall carry out the humanitarian responsibility of bringing back the 48-strong winter crew from their 15-month tenure, and resupply the bases with food, fuel, provisions and spares for operations and maintenance of life support systems.

4. Madhya Pradesh Government launches ‘Launch Pad Scheme’ to make youth self-reliant

  • The government of Madhya Pradeshhas launched a ‘Launch Pad Scheme’ for the boys and girls coming out of child care institutions and having completed 18 years of age.
  • This scheme has been launched by the Women and Child Development Departmentof the state with the objective to provide a platform to these youth, through which they will be able to become self-reliant by continuing their education and training.
  • Under the scheme, the District Administration will provide space to these youths for opening of coffee shops, stationery, photocopying, computer typing and DTP work.
  • All the 52 districts of the state have been divided into 5 clusterswith headquarters at Indore, Sagar, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Bhopal.
  • An amount of Rs 6 lakhwill be provided by the Women and Child Development Department for the installation of each launch pad. These launch pads will be operated through non-governmental organizations.

5. Centre constitutes high-level group for South Asia energy security; Head – Ram Vinay Shahi

  • The Central Government has set up a high-level groupto build a South Asia-focused energy security architecture
  • The high-level group, named theSouth Asia Group for Energy (SAGE), will be headed by former Union Power Secretary Ram Vinay Shahi.
  • SAGE has been set up under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)-run think tank Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).
  • Objective:to achieve a balanced and optimal development of energy infrastructure through mutual understanding and cooperation, by promoting, initiating and facilitating effective policy dialogue and capacity building on bilateral, sub-regional and regional basis for energy and related issues, among South Asian countries.

6. World Bank approves $105 million loan to improve Waterways in West Bengal

  • TheWorld Bank has signed a $105 million project with the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal to improve the inland water transport infrastructure in Kolkata, West Bengal.
  • The West Bengal Inland Water Transport, Logistics and Spatial Development Projectwill improve passenger and freight movement across the Hooghly river as well as improve accessibility in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, enhance the quality of life of its residents and contribute to the growth of the state’s logistics sector.

7. Journalist Day Observed in Maharashtra on January 6

  • The Journalist Dayis observed by Maharashtra state government on 6th January every year in the memory of late journalist Balshastri Jambhekar.
  • Balshastri Jambhekar is also known as ‘The Father of Marathi Journalism’,for his efforts in starting journalism in Marathi language,  in the form of first Marathi newspaper and first Marathi monthly.
  • The first newspaper in the Marathi language named ‘Darpan’, was published on January 6, 1832, the date which also marks the birth anniversary of Balshastri Jambhekar.