Current Affairs January 19th 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Virendra Kumar to launch first bi-monthly E-Newsletter of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities:

• Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar will launch the first bi-monthly E-Newsletter of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
• The E-Newsletter will be launched during the inauguration of the main building of Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities virtually.
• The function is being organized at CRC Campus at Chevayur, Kozhikode in Kerala.
• E-Newsletter will be helpful in continuity of flow of information and to bridge the gap with the target audience and it will be a gateway to know the department’s activities.
• It will also keep track of the performance of the different Schemes of the Ministry.

University Grants Commission organises online workshop for Universities and Colleges on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR):

• University Grants Commission has organised online workshop for Universities and Colleges on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) under the iconic week of Ministry of Education.
• Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri Rajendra Ratnoo, Joint Secretary, DPIIT & CGPDTM, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Prof. Rajnish Jain, Secretary, UGC addressed the Inaugural session.
• The Government’s initiative in the areas like the KAPILA programme launched for IP literacy and awareness in October 2020, the reduction in the fee for filing the patent.

MeitY organises 26th CISO Deep Dive Training program under Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative:

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is organising 26th CISO Deep Dive Training program under Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative.
• The training is aimed to equip participants with better understanding of emerging cyber threat landscape, understand best practices in cyber security.
• The program which began on 17^th January will continue till 22nd of January.
• It will cover topics such as Governance Risk and Compliance and Data Privacy, Network Security, End Point Security, Application and Data Security, Cloud Security, Mobile Security, Cryptography, Cyber Security related provisions in IT Act.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Abu Dhabi Airport Drone Attack:

• Three persons including two Indian nationals were killed in an explosion at Mussafah in United Arab Emirates (UAE) near Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC’s storage tanks.
• The fuel tank explosion was triggered by a drone attack carried out by Yemen’s Huthi rebels.
• Three petrol tanks exploded near a storage facility, while a fire also engulfed a construction area at Abu Dhabi airport.
• The United Arab Emirates is part of a Saudi-led military coalition that supports Yemen’s government against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.
• While Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said that the sinful targeting will not go unpunished.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Telangana to introduce English medium in all govt schools from next academic year:

• The Telangana State cabinet has decided to introduce English medium in all government schools across the State from the next academic year.
• Along with it, several key decisions have been taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao.
• The cabinet also gave nod to set-up a Forest University and a Women’s University in the State.
• The cabinet also decided to bring a new law to regulate the fees in private schools, junior and degree colleges.
• A sub-committee will also be set up on introducing English medium and regulation of fees.
• The government also decided to strengthen government schools by providing better infrastructure under ‘Mana Ooru-Mana Badi’ programme and allocated 7,289 crore rupees.

Meghalaya govt to implement Bharat series registration of private vehicles:

• Meghalaya Government has decided to implement the Bharat (BH) series registration of private vehicles.
• Following a Cabinet meeting at Shillong, the decision was taken and Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told media that vehicle bearing a BH series registration mark will not require assignment of a new registration mark when the owner shifts from one State to another.
• The Cabinet has also approved the Early Childhood Development Mission which will be jointly implemented by the Social Welfare, Health, Education departments.
• This mission aims to provide benefits of healthcare, education in the State.
• The home minister informed that there are over 1,500 villages that do not come under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program.
• By implementing this mission, the Government hopes to cater to the need of children who needs care at an early stage.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND ECONOMY

MobiKwik launches ‘ClickPay’ in collaboration with NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd:

• MobiKwik has launched ‘ClickPay’ in collaboration with NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) whereby its customers can pay recurring online bills such as mobile, gas, water, electricity, DTH, insurance, and loan EMIs with ease by eliminating the need to remember individual bill details and due dates.
• ClickPay is a two-step payment feature wherein the billers generate a unique payment link within the bill-pay message, allowing customers to make payments directly on the payment page.
• MobiKwik is one of the largest Mobile Wallet and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Fintech companies in India.
• NBBL is the wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Rakesh Anand Appointed Chef de Mission for CWG, Bhupender Singh Bajwa for Asian Games 2022

• The Indian Olympic Federation appointed Rakesh Anand, Vice President of the Indian Olympic Federation, as Chief of the Country Contingent at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
• The appointment of president of Wushu Association of India Bhupender Singh Bajwa as India’s Chef de Mission for the Asian Games 2022.

About Commonwealth Games 2022 :

• The 2022 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Birmingham 2022 to take place between 28 July and 8 August 2022.
• It is an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that is scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England.

About Asian Games 2022 :

• The 2022 Asian Games also known as XIX Asiad will be a multi-sport event celebrated in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China from 10 to 25 September 2022.

About Indian Olympic Federation :

• President: Narinder Batra
• Founded: 1927
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Secretary General: Rajeev Mehta
• Founders: Harry Buck, Arthur Noehren

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

India and Japan undertake maritime partnership exercise in Bay of Bengal

• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt undertook maritime partnership exercises with Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Uraga and Hirado in the Bay of Bengal conducted in a non-contact mode, thereby adhering to  COVID  safety norms.

Aim of the exercise :

• At strengthening bilateral relations, promoting defence cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding and inter-operability between the two navies and sharing best practices.
• Both JMSDF ships are part of Minesweeper Division One and are on deployment to the Indian Ocean Region with Captain Noguchi Yasushi, Commander Minesweeper Division One embarked on-board JS Uraga.
• A wide range of flying missions, replenishment approaches, and tactical manoeuvres were part of the exercise.
• The complicated maritime exercises will allow the two navies to expand their existing extensive strategic collaboration and, where necessary, jointly secure their maritime interests while ensuring regional peace, security, and stability.
• The Maritime Partnership Exercise included a wide range of maritime operations viz. Flying Operations, Replenishment Approaches and Tactical Manoeuvres.

Note :

• In October 2021, the fifth edition of India – Japan Maritime Bilateral Exercise, JIMEX, between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), was held in the Arabian Sea.

About Japan :

• Prime minister: Fumio Kishida
• Capital: Tokyo
• Currency: Japanese yen

INS Kochi undertakes PASSEX with Russia’s Admiral Tributs in Arabian Sea

• Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer, INS Kochi, exercised with Russian Federation Navy’s RFS Admiral Tributs in the Arabian Sea.
• The exercise showcased cohesiveness and interoperability between the two navies and included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck helicopter operations and seamanship activities.
• Meanwhile, the Russian Federation Navy’s ship, Admiral Tributs was accompanied by two other ships including missile cruiser Varyag and Russian tanker Boris Butoma.
• Apart from the exercise, various professional interactions were also planned between both the navies during the two-day visit.
• Notably, India and Russia continue to engage annually in naval exercises such as the Indra Navy which is a joint millennial military exercise conducted between both countries since 2003.

About INS Kochi :

• The indigenously designed second ship of the Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyers was built under the code name of Project 15A for the Indian Navy.
• It was constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and was later commissioned to the Indian Navy services on September 30, 2015, after undergoing extensive sea trials.
• INS Kochi has a displacement of 7,500 tons and is 164 meters in length and 17 meters at the beam.

About Indian Navy :

• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Headquarters : New Delhi
• Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
• Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee : General Manoj Mukund Naravane
• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R. Hari Kumar
• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff : Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade
• Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff : Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh

About Russia :

• President: Vladimir Putin
• Capital: Moscow
• Currency: Russian ruble

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & PORTALS

Defence Minister launches Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal

• On the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans’ Day, the Defence Ministry has set up an online portal Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal to resolve pension-related grievances of ex-servicemen (ESM) and their dependents.

About the Portal :

• The portal will allow them to lodge grievances directly with the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW).
• It will help existing and future military pensioners.
• The Portal is dedicated to resolving pension, including family pension, and related grievances of Ex-Servicemen and their descendants in a timely and efficient manner.
• The minister also announced that the DESW has allotted ₹320 crore (will benefit 1,66,471 ESMs) to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) to clear all backlog of pending applications for welfare schemes, especially education and marriage grants for widows or dependent children of ESM.
• The Minister also stated that the Directorate General of Resettlement has issued 22,278 job letters including 7,898 job letters to freshly retired/first-time entrants to civil life ESMs in government sector/PSUs/banks and private sector during the year April 2021-December 2021.

About Ministry of Defence :

• Defence Minister : Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary : Dr. Ajay Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

South Africa launches first satellite constellation – MDASat

• Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Dr Blade Nzimande has announced the launch of three locally-produced nanosatellites from Cape Canaveral in the United States as part of South Africa’s new Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite (MDASat) constellation.
• The MDASat will be an operational constellation of nine cube satellites that will detect, identify and monitor vessels in near real-time, in support of South African maritime domain awareness.
• Transporter-3, SpaceX’s third dedicated rideshare mission, carried a total of 105 spacecraft for various organizations and governments, including CubeSats, microsats, Pocket Cubes and orbital transfer vehicles.
• The funding and support of South Africa’s satellite construction industry by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).
• The launch of the first three satellites (MDASat-1) follows three years after the launch of the most advanced South African nanosatellite to date, ZACube-2, which was developed as a technology demonstrator for the MDASat constellation.
• Since its launch in 2018, ZACube-2 has been providing cutting-edge very high frequency (VHF) data exchange communication systems to the country’s maritime industry, as a contribution to Operation Phakisa.

About South Africa :

• Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein
• Currency: South African rand
• President: Cyril Ramaphos

Iran Launches ‘cost-efficient’ Solid-fuel Satellite Carrier Rocket Into Space

• Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched a solid-fuel satellite carrier rocket into space.
• It marked the first time Iran used a solid-fuel rocket rather than a liquid-fuel one.
• Iran will produce lighter rocket engines in further space projects.
• The satellite carrier was made of a composite material instead of metal – “cost-efficient.”
• The recent launches coincide with talks in Vienna aimed at reviving Iran’s shattered nuclear agreement -the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – with Western powers.
• Satellite carriers usually use liquid fuel but solid-fuel rockets can be adapted for mobile launchers that can be driven anywhere on a major road or rail system.
• The launches come against the backdrop of negotiations in Vienna trying to revive Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

About Iran :

• President: Ebrahim Raisi
• Capital: Tehran
• Currency: Iranian rial
• Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

Biography of Subhas Chandra Bose Titled Bose: The Untold Story of an Inconvenient Nationalist                   

• A new biography of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose titled ‘Bose: The Untold Story of An Inconvenient Nationalist authored by researcher and founder of ‘Mission Netaji’ Chandrachur Ghose and published by Penguin Random House India under its Viking imprint.
• The Book is all set to release in February 2022.

About the Book :

• The biography attempts to bring new perspectives on Netaji’s thoughts on independent India’s development, the problem of communalism, geopolitics, his political ideology,
• Also it deals with how he negotiated with the political parties, revolutionary societies, and the government.
• The book throws light on Bose’s intense political activities around the revolutionary groups in Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, and the United Provinces & his efforts to bridge the increasing communal divide and his influence among the splintered political landscape.

About Chandrachur Ghose :

• Ghose is one of the founders of the pressure group Mission Netaji.
• He is an author, researcher and commentator on history, economics and environment.
• He has co-authored Conundrum: Subhas Bose’s Life After Death.

About Subhas Chandra Bose :

• Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha.
• His most famous quote was “Give me blood and I will give you freedom” & other famous quote was Dilli Chalo (“On to Delhi)!”.
• During this operation, On 6 July 1944, in a speech broadcast by the Azad Hind Radio from Singapore, Bose addressed Mahatma Gandhi as the “Father of the Nation”.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

India withdraws from Asian Under-22 boxing championship amid Covid threat

• The Boxing Federation of India has decided to pull out of the Asian Under-22 Championships for men and women in Tashkent, Uzbekistan due to the global surge in COVID-19 cases.
• BFI is willing to participate if the tournament is rescheduled to a time when the pandemic subsides.
• The event was scheduled to be held from January 20 to 30, 2022.
• Boxers born in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are eligible to compete in the event that is being held for the first time in the continent.
• The competition was to be held in 12 women’s and 13 men’s weight categories.

About Boxing Federation of India :

• President: Ajay Singh
• Headquarters : New Delhi
• Indian Boxing Federation is the Indian national governing body for Olympic boxing and is India’s member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA).
• It is also known as All India boxing association (AIBA).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Padma Shri And Social Activist Shanti Devi Passes Away

• Eminent social activist and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Devi passed away at the age of 88.

About Shanti Devi :

• Shanti Devi born on April 18, 1934 in Balasore district of Odisha.
• Initially, Shanti Devi started her social work by founding an ashram at Gobarapalli locality in Rayagada.
• She served the poor for six decades in the Maoist-dominated Rayagada district.
• Subsequently, she shifted to Gunupur and founded her now-famous ashram in 1964 to provide education to tribal girls.
• She met Gandhian follower Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1955-56 & inspired by his ideology, she started working for the development of tribals, destitute women and orphaned girls and took part in his Bhoodan Movement.
• Devi started social work by founding an ashram at Gobarapalli in Rayagada district and worked for the development and education of tribal girls.
• Later, she shifted to Gunupur and founded the Seva Samaj ashram in 1964 to provide education to tribal girls.
• She is also known for the eradication of Yaws, a chronic bacterial infection.

Awards & Honors :

• Recently Shanti Devi was conferred with India’s third highest civilian honor, Padma Shri, by President Ram Nath Kovind for her six decades of service among poor and marginalized sections and upliftment of tribal girls.
• She was felicitated with the Jamunalal Bazaz Award and Radhanath Rath Peace Award.

Legendary Kathak Dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj Passes Away

• On Jan 17, 2022, Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away at the age of 83.

About Pandit Birju Maharaj :

• Maharaj was born as Brij Mohan Nath Mishra into a well-known family of Kathak artistes on February 4, 1937.
• He composed the music, and sang, for two dance sequences in Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj ke Khilari, and choreographed the song Kaahe Chhed Mohe from the 2002 film version of novella Devdas.
• He was also a singer par excellence, having command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazal.

Awards & Honors :

• Pty Birju Maharaj was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honor in India, in 1986 for his contributions to the field of performing arts.
• In 1986, Maharaj was honored Kalidas Samman the prestigious award is presented annually by the government of Madhya Pradesh in India to personalities who have made a notable contribution in the field of arts.
• In 2012, he won the National Award for Best Choreography for his work in Unnai Kaanadhu Naan in Vishwaroopam.
• In 2016, he won the Filmfare award for Best Choreography for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Mohe Rang Do Laal song in Bajirao Mastani.

Eminent theater personality Saoli Mitra passes away

• On Jan 16, 2022, Saoli Mitra, eminent theater personality and daughter of legendary actor Sombhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra Passed away.

About Saoli Mitra :

• Shaoli Mitra born in 1948 in West Bengal, India.
• She was an Indian Bengali theater and film actress, director, and playwright.
• Shaoli Mitra’s solo performance as Draupadi in Naathvati Anaathbat (which she also wrote and directed), and as Sita in Sita Katha or Bitata Bitangso.
• She acted as Bangabala in Ritwik Ghatak‘s avante garde film Jukti Takko Aar Gappo (Reason, Debate and a Story).
• After spending years in ‘Bahurupi’, a famous theatre group, founded by Sambhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra, where she had immortalised the character of Amal in Tagore’s Dakghar, Saoli founded ‘Pancham Baidik’ which established a trail blazer repertoire by introducing widely acclaimed plays on women’s emancipation.
• Some of her famous plays are- Bitata Bitangsha, Nathabati Anathabat, Putulkhela, Ekti Rajnaitik Hotya, Hajabaralo, Katha Amritasaman, Lankadahan, Chandali, Pagla ghorha, Pakhi, Galileo r Jeeban, Daakghar, and Jodi Aar ek Baar.
• She also wrote a number of books on Bengali theatre, including Five Lords, Yet None a Protector & Words Sweet & Timeless, Lakshmi Jakhan Asbe, and Gononatya, Nobonatya, Sotnatya O Sombhu Mitra.

Awards & Honors :

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2003 for acting in Bengali theater
• Banga Bibhushan in 2012 for lifetime achievement in theater
• Padma Shri in 2009 in Arts.

About Banga Bibhushan :

• Banga Bibhushan Samman is a title instituted by the West Bengal government to honor the services of personalities in various fields.
• It is the State Civilian award.

Former president of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Passes away

• Mali’s former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta Passed away at the age of 76.

About Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta :

• Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta born on 29 January 1945 in Koutiala, French Sudan (Mali).
• He served as the president of Mali from September 2013 to August 2020.
• Mr Keïta was involved in politics for more than three decades, serving as a socialist prime minister from 1994 to 2000.
• He served as president of the National Assembly of Mali from September 2002 to September 2007.
• He went on to be elected in 2013 on a promise to “bring peace and security“, winning by a landslide.
• Ethnic killings and armed forces’ abuses had become a defining feature of Keita’s presidency, despite thousands of French and international troops deployed to contain the armed groups.
• Mali has struggled to regain stability since 2012, when ethnic Tuareg rebels.

About Mali :

• Capital: Bamako
• Currency: West African CFA franc
• Continent: Africa
• President : Assimi Goïta
• PM : Choguel Kokalla Maïga

Daily CA On Jan 19^th:

• Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar will launch the first bi-monthly E-Newsletter of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
• University Grants Commission has organised online workshop for Universities and Colleges on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) under the iconic week of Ministry of Education.
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is organising 26th CISO Deep Dive Training program under Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative.
• Three persons including two Indian nationals were killed in an explosion at Mussafah in United Arab Emirates (UAE) near Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC’s storage tanks.
• The Telangana State cabinet has decided to introduce English medium in all government schools across the State from the next academic year.
• Meghalaya Government has decided to implement the Bharat (BH) series registration of private vehicles.
• MobiKwik has launched ‘ClickPay’ in collaboration with NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) whereby its customers can pay recurring online bills such as mobile, gas, water, electricity, DTH, insurance, and loan EMIs with ease by eliminating the need to remember individual bill details and due dates.
• The Indian Olympic Federation appointed Rakesh Anand, Vice President of the Indian Olympic Federation, as Chief of the Country Contingent at the Commonwealth Games 2022 & the appointment of president of Wushu Association of India Bhupender Singh Bajwa as India’s Chef de Mission for the Asian Games 2022.
• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt undertook maritime partnership exercises with Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Uraga and Hirado in the Bay of Bengal conducted in a non-contact mode, thereby adhering to COVID  safety norms.
• Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer, INS Kochi, exercised with Russian Federation Navy’s RFS Admiral Tributs in the Arabian Sea.
• On the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans’ Day, the Defence Ministry has set up an online portal Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal to resolve pension-related grievances of ex-servicemen (ESM) and their dependents.
• Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Dr Blade Nzimande has announced the launch of three locally-produced nanosatellites from Cape Canaveral in the United States as part of South Africa’s new Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite (MDASat) constellation.
• Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched a solid-fuel satellite carrier rocket into space.
• A new biography of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose titled ‘Bose: The Untold Story of An Inconvenient Nationalist authored by researcher and founder of ‘Mission Netaji’ Chandrachur Ghose and published by Penguin Random House India under its Viking imprint.
• The Boxing Federation of India has decided to pull out of the Asian Under-22 Championships for men and women in Tashkent, Uzbekistan due to the global surge in COVID-19 cases.
• Eminent social activist and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Devi passed away at the age of 88.
• On Jan 17, 2022, Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away at the age of 83.
• On Jan 16, 2022, Saoli Mitra, eminent theater personality and daughter of legendary actor Sombhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra Passed away.
• Mali’s former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta Passed away at the age of 76.