Current Affairs Jan 19, 2024
National news
1) New Guidelines for Coaching Centres in India: Enhancing Standards and Student Welfare
- Minimum qualification of graduation required for teaching.
- Prohibition on false claims about ranks or marks.
- Enrollment is restricted to students above 16 years old.
- Admission allowed only for post-secondary school examinations.
- Addressing concerns about student welfare, unregulated growth, and rising incidents.
2) Union Fisheries Minister Inaugurates Artificial Reef Project to Boost Fish Production in Vizhinjam, Kerala
- Initiative aims to double fishermen’s income and promote sustainable fishing.
- Artificial reef project in Vizhinjam to enhance fish stocks and benefit local fishing community.
- Kerala State Coastal Development Corporation, with CMFRI’s assistance, oversees the project.
- 6,300 artificial reef units to be deployed across 42 fishing villages in Thiruvananthapuram district.
3) India Innovation Centre for Graphene and CoE in IIoT Sensors Inaugurated in Kerala
- MeitY Secretary S Krishnan inaugurates the India Innovation Centre for Graphene and CoE in IIoT Sensors.
- Digital University Kerala (DUK) and CMET, Thrissur, crucial technical partners in establishing the centers.
- CoE in IIoT Sensors at Makers Village Kochi, a collaborative effort of MeitY, Government of India, and Government of Kerala.
- Focus on boosting sensor development in Intelligent IoT systems for diverse applications.
4) Farsi (Persian) Declared a Classical Language of India Under New Education Policy
- Government of India, under the New Education Policy, includes Farsi as one of the nine classical languages.
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announces the decision during a visit to Iran, emphasizing cultural ties.
- Farsi, an Indo-Iranian language, holds historical and cultural significance with a rich literary heritage.
- Recognition aims to strengthen cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.
5) Japan’s SLIM Mission: Lunar Landing Set for January 20, 2024
- Japan is poised to join nations with successful Moon landings via the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM).
- Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), SLIM aims to touch the lunar surface on January 20, 2024.
- Represents a milestone in Japan’s space exploration, launched on September 6, 2023, aboard an H-IIA rocket.
- SLIM’s mission offers a unique opportunity to advance lunar science and showcases advancements in exploration technology.
6) Launch of e-SAKSHI App Revolutionizes MPLADS Administration in India
- Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) introduces e-SAKSHI mobile app for MPLADS administration.
- Aims to transform how Members of Parliament engage in and manage constituency development projects.
- MPLADS, established in 1993, is a fully funded central sector scheme allowing MPs to recommend local developmental projects.
- Each MP allocated Rs. 5 crores annually for projects including infrastructure and essential services.
- e-SAKSHI replaces the predominantly paper-based process, addressing administrative challenges.
STATE NEWS
1) Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival: Celebrating Culture, Conservation, and Community in Arunachal Pradesh
- Inaugurated in 2015, the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) highlights the Nyishi tribe’s role in hornbill conservation.
- Aims to promote cultural diversity, conservation efforts, and sustainable practices in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Beyond cultural festivities, the festival focuses on creating alternative income sources to discourage hunting and logging.
- Serves as a platform for national awareness about the biodiversity of the Pakke Tiger Reserve and its surroundings.
2) Andhra Pradesh Unveils World’s Tallest Statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Vijayawada
- Andhra Pradesh government unveils ‘Statue of Social Justice,’ the world’s tallest statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Vijayawada.
- Stands at an impressive height of 206 feet, making it one of the top 50 tallest statues globally.
- The statue itself is 125 feet tall, mounted on an 81-feet pedestal, symbolizing Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals of justice and equality.
- Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s ‘Statue of Unity’ holds the top spot for the world’s tallest statue.
BANKING NEWS
HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector lender, actively pursuing its inaugural branch in Singapore.
- Expansion follows a significant merger with Housing Development Finance Corp. last year, signaling global growth.
- Singapore’s substantial Indian diaspora of nearly 650,000 non-residents presents an opportunity for HDFC Bank.
- Strategic move to offer tailored financial products and services to meet the needs of the Indian community in Singapore.
2) ICICI Bank Canada Launches ‘Money2India (Canada)’ Mobile App for Seamless Fund Transfers
- ICICI Bank Canada introduces ‘Money2India (Canada)’ mobile app for 24/7 fund transfers to Indian banks.
- No need to open an account with ICICI Bank Canada; provides a seamless platform for Canadian customers.
- User-friendly interface across Canadian banks, enabling instant and flexible money transfers to any bank in India.
- Single transactions of up to CAD 30,000 supported, enhancing convenience for diverse transaction needs.
DEFENCE
Indian Army Collaborates with MeitY for Cutting-Edge Military Software Development
- Indian Army and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) collaborate for military-grade software.
- Focus areas include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and healthcare.
- Joint efforts result in AI-powered decision-making tools and predictive analytics.
- Operational software for interpreting Enemy’s Electronic Order of Battle (ORBAT) enhances battlefield decision-making.
IMPORTANT DAYS
Kokborok Day Celebrates 46th Anniversary of Official Language Recognition in Tripura
- Kokborok Day observed annually on January 19th in Tripura, India, marks the 46th anniversary of Kokborok’s official language recognition.
- Kokborok, native to the Tripuri community, is recognized alongside Bengali and English in Tripura.
- Belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family, closely related to Bodo, Dimasa, and Kachari languages.
- January 19, 1979, marked the official recognition of Kokborok as a state language, ending the sole official status of Bengali in Tripura.
- Kokborok Day emphasizes the preservation and promotion of Tripuri language and culture.
AGREEMENTS
Google India and NIPL Collaborate to Extend UPI Payments Globally
- Google India Digital Services partners with NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) to extend UPI payments internationally.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to revolutionize financial transactions for Indian travellers abroad.
- Objective is to enhance UPI payments’ usage outside India, providing convenience and seamlessness.
- Google Pay (GPay) serves as the conduit for this collaboration, departing from traditional reliance on cash or international gateways.
APPOINTMENTS NEWS
Hrithik Roshan Named Brand Ambassador for RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3
- Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan appointed as the brand ambassador for RuPay Prime Volleyball League (PVL) Season 3.
- PVL aims to enhance marketing and promotion efforts for its upcoming season.
- Hrithik Roshan, known for his commitment to fitness, chosen to represent the league.
- Season 3 scheduled to start on February 15, 2024, with live telecast on Sony Sports Network.
AWARD NEWS
FIFA President Gianni Infantino Honored with International Sports Personality of the Year Award
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino receives International Sports Personality of the Year award at Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards.
- The awards, established in 2009, expanded to include international recipients in 2012.
- Recognition signifies contributions to the development and fairness of sports on a global scale.
- The International Sports Personality of the Year is a prestigious accolade presented in a glittering ceremony.