Current Affairs January 24th 2023| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

National Girl Child Day: 24th January 

• National Girl Child Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of January 2023.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India established National Girl Child Day in 2008, marking the beginning of the day’s history.
• Children who are girls regularly experience discrimination and injustice in Indian society.
• They are frequently denied the opportunity to further their education and are required to help out around the house starting at a very young age.
• The government aims to convey the urgent need to treat female children equally and give them the opportunities they rightfully deserve through Girl Child Day.

International Day of Education: 24th January

• International Day of Education 2023 is observed on the 24th of January 2023
• The International Day of Education was declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2018 to honor education and think about how crucial learning is to progress and peace.
• Each of us has a responsibility to advance high-quality education.
• Institutions are not the only ones that can impart knowledge.
• Access to education, which most of us probably take for granted, can help many people escape poverty and open the door to a bright future.
• Statistics provided by UNESCO indicate that an estimated 258 million youngsters are not enrolled in school.
• The situation is worse for marginalized groups, people who reside in more unequal regions, and citizens of developing nations.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

NGOs flag ‘generalized surveillance of citizens in Delhi High Court 

• The Center for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) flagged what they said was “generalized surveillance” of Indian citizens by the Government, in an ongoing case before the Delhi High Court.
• The Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) said that the government has ordered us to provide all the traffic which goes through the internet to their [Centralised] Monitoring System (CMS).“
• Bhushan was referring to a regulatory submission that was obtained from the Department of Telecommunications in November 2022, where the ISPAI admitted that broadband providers “are mandated to connect their systems to the CMS facility”, and that “law enforcement agencies are provided the facility for on-line and real-time monitoring of traffic.”
• This kind of centralized monitoring is taking place through these three systems: the Central Monitoring System, NETRA, and NATGRID, these are generalized surveillance, not on a case-to-case basis,” Mr. Bhushan said, referring to three communications interception systems the Government runs to intercept network and call traffic.
• The Government has insisted that it uses these systems with safeguards and due process.
• A two-judge bench of Delhi High Court chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Subramonium Prasad ordered the Government to file a reply in the case within six weeks.

Atal Pension Yojana logs 10 million enrolments in a calendar year 

• The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) targeted towards unorganized sector workers — saw the highest-ever takers in 2022 with enrolments rising 36 percent.
• The figure crossed 10 million for the first time in a calendar year, data released by the finance ministry showed.
• The number of enrolments in 2022 rose to 12.5 million from 9.2 million in 2021.
• The enrolments in 2022 grew by 81 percent compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, when 6.9 million subscribers had enrolled for the pension scheme. A Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) official said the high enrolment was because of the automation done for easy onboarding of APY subscribers.
• Aadhaar-enabled enrollment, paperless onboarding, and close working with other stakeholders have enabled PFRDA to achieve this number.
• PFRDA regularly holds consultations with public sector banks (PSBs), the department of financial services, state-level bankers committees, and lead district managers to review and improve the implementation of APY across the country

PM-KISAN handout to be raised to Rs 8,000; to cost Rs 22,000 cr extra :

• The Centre may enhance the income support to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme to `8,000 from `6,000/year, in the upcoming Budget as it seeks to provide a modicum of consumption booster, despite the budgetary focus on macroeconomic stability.
• An increase of Rs. 2,000 per farmer would entail an annual additional cost of around Rs. 22,000 crores to the government.
• The enhancement in the PM-KISAN amount could be for a year and be reviewed thereafter.
• Even though there were suggestions for doubling the amount, the government’s focus on curbing revenue expenditure and inflationary pressures could limit the increment
• Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) launched in February 2019, `6000 is annually transferred to each farmer’s direct benefit transfer (DBT)-linked bank account in three equal installments, irrespective of their land holdings.

PM Names 21 Largest Islands In Andaman And Nicobar After 21 Indian Heroes

• The number of beneficiaries has crossed 110 million from 31 million at the beginning of the scheme.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees in a ceremony on the occasion of Parakram Diwas.
• PM Modi also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, earlier known as Ross Islands.
• Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the ceremony in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The largest unnamed island was named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, Major Somnath Sharma, who lost his life in action on November 3, 1947, while fighting Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar Airport.
• These islands have been named after the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, viz. Major Somnath Sharma; Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM; 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane; Nayak Jadunath Singh; Company Havildar Major Piru Singh; Capt GS Salaria; Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa; Subedar Joginder Singh; Major Shaitan Singh; CQMH. Abdul Hamid; Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore; Lance Naik Albert Ekka; Major Hoshiar Singh; 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal; Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon; Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran; Naib Subedar Bana Singh; Captain Vikram Batra; Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey; Subedar Major (then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar; and Subedar Major Retd (Hony Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.
• The Government had declared January 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi To Be Chief Guest on Republic Day 2023

• President of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2023. 
• This is the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt will be the Chief Guest on our Republic Day.
• Also, this is the 1st first time India has invited a foreign dignitary to the event after the gap of the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• In 2020, Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who won the last elections to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October, was the chief guest.

Key Highlights :

• The year 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
• Egypt has been invited as a ‘Guest Country’ during India’s Presidency of G20 in 2022-23.

Ties between India and Egypt : 

• 5^th India – Egypt Joint Trade Committee meeting held in 2022 & the trade between India and Egypt increased by 75% in the past year.
• In April 2022, Egypt announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries which can supply wheat to Egypt, thus ending a long pending Non-Tariff Barrier.
• The first ever IAF-EAF Joint Tactical Air Exercise, Desert Warrior, was held in October 2021.
• The first ever Special Forces exercise “Cyclone 1” between India and Egypt planned in Jodhpur, Rajasthan in January 2022 stands postponed.
• Egypt agreed to import wheat from India in

About Egypt :

• President : Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
• Prime Minister: Moustafa Madbouly
• Capital: Cairo

Netherlands plans to shut Europe’s largest gas field in October 2023

• Currency: Egyptian pound
• The Netherlands plans to close Europe’s largest gas field, Groningen in October 2023 because it is “very dangerous” to continue to manage it.
• This was stated by Hans Vijlbrief, state secretary for mining, who is responsible for the earthquake-prone Groningen gas field.
• The Dutch government plans to close the earthquake-prone Groningen gas field by Oct. 1, 2023, but will monitor to see if there’s a gas shortage in Europe after this winter & if needed, it could remain operating until October 2024.
• The gasfield, located in Netherlands’ northeast region close to the German border, has only been producing a fraction of its capacity.

About Groningen gas field : 

• The Groningen gas field opened in 1963.
• With an estimated 2,740 billion cubic meters of recoverable natural gas, it is the largest natural gas field in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

About the Netherlands : 

• Prime Minister: Mark Rutte
• Capital: Amsterdam
• Currency: Euro

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Rajasthan govt to rent out drones to farmers

• The Government of Rajasthan will provide drones on rent to the low-income farmers of Rajasthan to help them in spraying fertilizers and pesticides.
• Around 1,500 drones will be made available at custom hiring centers by the state government in two years.
• In conventional agricultural practices, pesticides are sprayed either manually or with the help of tractor-mounted sprayers where high quantities of pesticides and water are used and where a sizable portion of spray goes waste in the environment.

Advantages of drones in Agriculture : 

• The drones will provide farmers with the facility of spraying chemicals in a large agricultural area in less time and at a limited cost, as well as monitor the crop.
• Drone-based spray requires less quantity of water, as well as pesticides, due to better application and bio-efficiency.
• 70 to 80% of water can be saved by spraying with drones as compared to conventional spraying.
• Through drones, deficiency of nutrients in the standing crop can be determined and replenished easily.

About Rajasthan : 

• Governor: Kalraj Mishra
• Chief Minister : Ashok Gehlot
• Rajasthan Agriculture Minister: Lalchand Kataria
• Capital: Jaipur

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI Introduces Information Database On Municipal Bonds

• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched an information database on municipal bonds.
• Ashwani Bhatia, a whole-time member, of SEBI, launched the database at a two-day outreach program on municipal bonds and municipal finance organized by the SEBI, in New Delhi as part of efforts to develop the bond markets.
• Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson, of SEBI, delivered the keynote speech at the event.

Participants : 

• Representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, municipal corporations, stock exchanges, credit rating agencies, merchant bankers, and debenture trustees.

About the information database : 

• The information database contains a wide range of information in the form of statistics and regulations, circulars, guidance notes, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) issued by SEBI in respect of municipal debt securities.
• The SEBI information database can also be accessed by way of a Quick Response Code (QR Code).
• SEBI introduced a regulatory framework for the issue, listing, and trading of municipal debt securities in 2015 & it was reviewed again by SEBI in 2019.

About Municipal Bonds : 

• Municipal bonds (“munis”) are debt securities issued by state and local governments
• It is a  good alternative source of finance to fund projects undertaken by Municipal Corporations.

Two Types of Municipal Bonds :

1. A general obligation bond (GO) is issued by governmental entities and not backed by revenue from a specific project, such as a toll road.
2. Revenue bond secures principal and interest payments through the issuer or via sales, fuel, hotel occupancy, or other taxes.

About SEBI :

• Established: on 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman: Madhabi Puri Buch

SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, GoI.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS 

Twitter has an ad-free subscription in the works, Musk announces

• The micro-blogging platform Twitter is planning to release a higher-priced subscription plan with no ads.
• The new Twitter ad-free subscription plan will be available in the coming weeks
• Ads are too frequent on Twitter and too big.
• Taking steps to address both in the coming weeks.
• Also, there will be a higher-priced subscription that allows zero ads
• Recently, Elon Musk-owned popular micro-blogging announced the price of a Twitter Blue subscription for Android.
• Twitter has increased the price of its Blue service for Android users, with individuals now having to pay $11 a month.
• Twitter Blue plan starts at $8/month or $84/year in available countries to get the blue checkmark in addition to early access to features.
• New subscriptions to Twitter Blue are currently available on the web, iOS, or Android only in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the UK, with plans to expand.
• Newly created Twitter accounts will not be able to subscribe to Twitter Blue for 90 days.
• Twitter Blue subscribers who joined for $7.99 on iOS will be notified by Apple that their subscription will be automatically renewed for $11/month (or your local pricing) unless they choose to cancel their subscription.

Exim data revised, trade deficit narrows by $10 billion

• Those who initially subscribed on iOS for $2.99 or $4.99/month will need to upgrade their subscription to $8/month or $84/year on the web or $11/month on iOS (or the local pricing) or lose their subscription.

• India’s foreign trade data for the first eight months of 2022-23 has been revised significantly higher than the initial estimates released by the commerce ministry, with each month raising the import bill by at least $2 billion or has been reduced.
• Total merchandise exports between April and November are now pegged at $298.3 billion, about $12 billion higher than the original monthly data suggested.
• The import bill in those eight months is now estimated at $493.5 billion, about $1.7 billion higher than the initial number.
• The trade deficit in the first eight months of the year is $10 billion less than indicated by adding up the monthly preliminary estimates.
• Economists said that such wide variations in data are unusual and make it difficult to formulate appropriate policies, especially when a critical focus area for the economy is managing the widening current account deficit, fuelled by rising imports and a feared slowdown in exports amid a global recession.

 FPIs pull out Rs 15,236 crore from equities in Jan as China reopens

• Foreign investors pulled out a net amount of Rs 15,236 crore this month so far on attractive Chinese markets and concerns about the US economy entering a recession.
• However, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have turned buyers in the last four trading sessions.
• The outflow in January came following a net inflow of Rs 11,119 crore in December and Rs 36,239 crore in November.
• Overall, FPIs pulled out Rs 1.21 trillion from the Indian equity markets in 2022 on aggressive rate hikes by the central banks globally, particularly the US Federal Reserve, volatile crude, rising commodity prices, and Russia and Ukraine conflict.
• The year 2022, which was the worst year for FPIs in terms of flow and withdrawal from equities, comes following a net investment in the preceding three years.
• According to the data with the depositories, FPIs have made a net withdrawal of Rs 15,236 crore this month (till January 20).
• The latest FPI sell-off was largely driven by the aggressive reopening of the Chinese markets after the lockdown.

iPhone Maker Apple Becomes First Company To Export Phones Worth $1 Billion In A Month

• iPhone maker Apple has become the first company from India to export smartphones worth $1 billion (₹8,100 crores) in a single month, meeting the milestone in December 2022.
• December was also a record month for the industry with mobile phone exports of over ₹10,000 crore
• Last year, tech giant Apple became the world’s first company to hit a $3 trillion market capitalization.
• Apple and Samsung have been the leading players in exporting mobile phones from India.
• As per government officials, Apple overtook Samsung to become the leading mobile phone exporter in November and achieved $1 billion in mobile phone exports in December.
• Through its three contract manufacturers, Apple is producing and exporting iPhone 12, 13, 14, and 14+ models from India.
• Apart from the three manufacturers, some small Indian exporters are also said to be exporting iPhones from India.
• Apple’s contract manufacturers – Foxconn Hon Hai and Pegatron, both located out of Tamil Nadu, and Wistron, which is in Karnataka – are participants in the government’s smartphone production linked incentive (PLI) scheme launched in April 2020.
• The government estimates India is likely to export mobile phones worth about $9 billion in FY23 (which ends on March 31, 2023), up from $5.8 billion in the year before, as manufacturers step up production and outward shipments.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT 

Fertiliser majors sign MoUs with Morocco’s OCP group for 1.7 MT import of soil nutrients

• To ensure stability in the supplies of soil nutrients four fertilizer firms – state-run National Fertilisers Limited and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd and Paradeep Phosphates Ltd from the private sector– have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Morocco’s OCP Group for annual imports of 1.75 million tonnes (MT) of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers.
• This will immensely benefit the farming community in India and contribute to ensuring food security
• As per the MoU, one MT of diammonium phosphate (DAP), 0.7 MT of triple superphosphate (TSP), and 0.05 MT of murate of potash (MOP) will be imported to meet the domestic requirements of the soil nutrients varieties for the next one year.
• The country imports about half of its requirement for DAP.
• Around 25% of urea and 15% of NPK fertilizer requirements are met through imports.
• The domestic MoP demand is met solely through imports (from Belarus, Canada, Jordan, etc).
• In October 2022, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd signed MoU with K Plus S Middle East FZE DMCC, a subsidiary of Germany’s K+S Minerals and Agriculture GmBH for the supply of around 0.1 MT of MOP annually till 2025 at a discounted India specific price.
• Coromandel International, Chambal Fertilizers, and Indian Potash Limited in September 2022 signed an MoU with Canpotex, Canada for the import of potash
• In August last year, India and Saudi Arabia signed a pact for an annual supply of 2.5 MT of ammonia and DAP, NPK fertilizers till 2025.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Mr. Chris Hipkins to be New Zealand’s next prime minister

• New Zealand’s ruling Labour Party selected Mr. Chris Hipkins(44) to replace Jacinda Ardern as its new leader and the 41st prime minister (PM) of New Zealand.
• Hipkins emerged as the only candidate to be nominated for the leadership of the ruling Labour party.

Other Appointments : 

• Grant Robertson, who is currently Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, is expected to hold onto the job of Finance Minister.
• The party has also selected Mr. Carmel Sepuloni as the deputy prime minister.

About Mr. Chris Hipkins :

• Christopher John Hipkins was born on 5 September 1978 in New Zealand.
• He started his career in the industrial training sector.
• He was first elected to parliament for the Labour Party in 2008.
• He became a prominent figure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, serving as health minister from July to November 2020 and minister for COVID-19 response from November 2020 to June 2022.
• Currently, he serves as minister of education, police, the Public Service, and leader of the House. 

About New Zealand : 

• Capital: Wellington
• Currency: New Zealand dollar

IAS officer Mr. Vikram Dev Dutt appointed as new director general of DGCA

• Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the next director general (DG) in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment.
• He will take over as the DG of the aviation regulator on February 28, 2023, upon the superannuation of incumbent DGCA chief Arun Kumar.

Other Appointments : 

• The ACC has approved the extension of the central deputation tenure of Ashutosh Jindal, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, for 1 year.
• The ACC also approved Arti Bhatnagar as Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry; Amardeep Singh Bhatia as Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce; Alok as Additional Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority; & Satinder Pal Singh as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

About Mr. Vikram Dev Dutt : 

• Dutt is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
• In April 2022 he was appointed as the CMD of AIAHL, a special-purpose vehicle formed by the government for the transfer of non-core assets of Air India.
• He also served as principal secretary for the health and family welfare department of the Delhi government.
• Currently, he is the chairman and managing director (CMD) of Air India Asset Holding Ltd (AIAHL).
• Dutt was the last government-appointed CMD of Air India.

About DGCA : 

• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
• DGCA is a statutory body of the Central government to regulate civil aviation in India, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• It became a statutory body under the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, of 2020.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy to commission fifth Kalvari class submarine ‘Vagir’

• The Indian Navy is set to commission the fifth of six French-designed Scorpone class submarines (Kalvari class) Vagir.
• The submarine was built in India by Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra in collaboration with France-based M/s Naval Group.
• The Chief of the Naval Staff Adm R Hari Kumar will be the Chief Guest for the ceremony.
• Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.

About Vagir : 

• The submarine inherits its name from INS Vagir (S41) which served in the Navy from 1973–2001.
• The commissioning of the submarine, built under Project-75, is set to bolster the Navy’s combat capability at a time when China has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
• Vagir will boost Indian Navy’s capabilities as it is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and surveillance missions.

About Project-75 : 

• Project 75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.
• Two submarine projects namely INS Kalvari & INS Khanderi were commissioned into the Indian Navy in Dec 2017 & Sep 2019.
• The 3rd submarine, Karanji is in the last phase of rigorous sea trials & the 4th scorpene, Vela has started sea trials.

About Indian Navy : 

• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral R. Hari Kumar

About Ministry of Defence : 

• Union Minister: Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary: Giridhar Aramane

Eastern Air Command to conduct annual Command-level exercise Poorvi Akash in Feb 2023

• The Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct an annual Command-level exercise, Poorvi Akash, in the eastern sector in the first week of February 2023.
• The air combat military drill is being conducted after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• The Eastern Air Command conducted a pre-planned exercise in its AOR on December 15 and 16, 2022

About the Exercise : 

• Exercise Poorvi Akash is set to test Eastern Air Command’s operational preparedness amid ongoing border tensions between India and China.
• The military drill will be conducted in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and other northeastern states amid tension in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control.
• The exercise will involve the activation of the Command’s fighter, helicopter and transport assets towards the routine practice of aerial drills, including joint exercises.
• It will encompass all eastern sector assets, including Rafales and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters flying from air bases including Hasimara, Tezpur, and Chabua.

Significance of the Exercise : 

• The exercise is a demonstration of India’s military readiness and strength, especially in the Eastern sector, where the country shares a long border with China.
• It will also help in maintaining and enhancing the combat readiness and joint manship of the IAF, especially in the Eastern sector.
• Meanwhile, IAF will also carry out Exercise Pralay involving all its major air bases in the northeast including the recently moved drone squadrons in the northeast amid the ongoing standoff with China
• The exercise also comes at a time when the IAF has deployed and activated the S-400 air defense squadron in the area which can take on any enemy aircraft or missile from a distance of up to 400 km.

About Eastern Air Command : 

• Founded: May 27, 1958
• Headquarters:  Shillong, Meghalaya
• The Eastern Air Command is one of the five operational commands of the Indian Air Force.

About IAF : 

• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari
• Motto: Touch the sky with Glory

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India’s 1st intranasal Covid vaccine to be launched on Republic Day 2023

• Homegrown vaccine maker Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) will launch its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine iNCOVACC (also known as BBV154), the first of its kind in India, on Republic Day January 26, 2023.
• This was announced by the chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech,  Krishna Ella while participating in the ‘Face-to-Face with New Frontiers in Science’ segment of the IISF, organized at the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT).
• Also, a homegrown vaccine for the lumpy skin disease in cattle, Lumpi-ProVacInd, is likely to be launched next month.
• The iNCOVACC was developed in partnership with the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, United States
• In December 2022 Bharat Biotech announced that it would sell the intranasal vaccine for Rs 325 per shot for procurement by the government and Rs 800 per shot for private vaccination centers.

About Bharat Biotech : 

• Founded: 1996
• Headquarters: Hyderabad
• Chairman & MD: Krishna Ella
• BBIL is an Indian multinational biotechnology company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora passed away

• Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora passed away at the age of 61 in New Delhi, India.

About Harjeet Singh Arora : 

• Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December 1981.
• He served as the former Vice Chief of the Air Staff from 1 October 2019 till 30 June 2021. 

Awards & Honors : 

• In his career of over 38 years, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2011 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2020.

Daily CA One Liner January 24:

• National Girl Child Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of January 2023.
• International Day of Education 2023 is observed on the 24th of January 2023
• The Center for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) flagged what they said was “generalized surveillance” of Indian citizens by the Government, in an ongoing case before the Delhi High Court.
• Homegrown vaccine maker Bharat Biotech will launch its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine iNCOVACC, the first of its kind in India, on January 26, the company’s chairman and managing director Krishna Ella.
• The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) targeted towards unorganized sector workers — saw the highest-ever takers in 2022 with enrolments rising 36 percent.
• The Centre may enhance the income support to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme to `8,000 from `6,000/year, in the upcoming Budget as it seeks to provide a modicum of consumption booster, despite the budgetary focus on macroeconomic stability.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees in a ceremony on the occasion of Parakram Diwas.
• The micro-blogging platform Twitter is planning to release a higher-priced subscription plan with no ads.
• India’s foreign trade data for the first eight months of 2022-23 has been revised significantly higher than the initial estimates released by the commerce ministry, with each month raising the import bill by at least $2 billion or has been reduced.
• Foreign investors pulled out a net amount of Rs 15,236 crore this month so far on attractive Chinese markets and concerns about the US economy entering a recession.
• iPhone maker Apple has become the first company from India to export smartphones worth $1 billion (₹8,100 crores) in a single month, meeting the milestone in December 2022.
• National Fertilisers Limited and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd and Paradeep Phosphates Ltd from the private sector– have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Morocco’s OCP Group for annual imports of 1.75 million tonnes (MT) of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers.
• President of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2023. 
• The Netherlands plans to close Europe’s largest gas field, Groningen in October 2023 because it is “very dangerous” to continue to manage it.
• The Government of Rajasthan will provide drones on rent to the low-income farmers of Rajasthan to help them in spraying fertilizers and pesticides.
• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched an information database on municipal bonds.
• New Zealand’s ruling Labour Party selected Mr. Chris Hipkins(44) to replace Jacinda Ardern as its new leader and the 41st prime minister (PM) of New Zealand.
• Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the next director general (DG) in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• The Indian Navy is set to commission the fifth of six French-designed Scorpone class submarines (Kalvari class) Vagir.
• The Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct an annual Command-level exercise, Poorvi Akash, in the eastern sector in the first week of February 2023.
• Homegrown vaccine maker Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) will launch its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine iNCOVACC (also known as BBV154), the first of its kind in India, on Republic Day January 26, 2023.
• Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora passed away at the age of 61 in New Delhi, India.