- National:
- The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) conducted a training program at Chilika Lake under the Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme on 6th January 2024. The scheme aims to develop local communities around Ramsar sites and provide them with alternative livelihoods. Two 15-day training programs were conducted, and 60 participants were certified as nature-guides.
- The Union Health Ministry of India notified revised rules under Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 on January 6, 2024. The revisions aim to ensure quality control for pharmaceutical products and align India’s Good Manufacturing Practices with global standards. Manufacturers have 6-12 months to comply, depending on their annual turnover.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) on January 8, 2024. The key changes include: Increase in weekly rest periods from 36 hours to 48 hours. Amendment of night duty definition to cover midnight to 6 am. Restriction of maximum landings by pilots to two. These changes aim to reduce pilot fatigue and enhance flight safety. Compliance is required by June 1, 2024.
- Punjab has indeed become the first state in India to map all accident-prone sites on the Mappls App, a navigation system developed by MapMyIndia. This initiative is part of the preparations for the launch of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s flagship project, the 'Sadak Suraksha Force’.
- The Animal Husbandry Department in Haryana issued an advisory on January 11, 2024, to protect animals from the cold wave. The advisory includes guidelines for proper diet, shelter, and care for animals during extreme cold conditions.
- On January 12, 2024, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs 30,500 crore. These include the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, the Kharkopar-Uran stretch, the Digha Gaon railway line, and the Namo Mahila Shashaktikaran Abhiyaan. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, or Atal Setu, is India’s longest sea bridge. It connects South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.
- International:
- On January 11, 2024, the Maldives and China committed to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. They signed 20 key agreements on January 10, 2024, covering various sectors. This move is seen as a significant shift in Malé’s strategic policy.
- Banking:
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of the remaining 30% equity stake in Signet Excipients Private Limited by IMCD India Private Limited on January 9, 2024. This acquisition will result in IMCD India Private Limited holding a 100% stake in Signet Excipients Private Limited.
- Mous:
- On January 8, 2024, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Coast Guard Headquarters. The MoU aims to increase the use of indigenous marine-grade steel in shipbuilding, aligning with the vision of self-reliance in the defense sector.
- Science & Technology:
- The ‘Einstein Probe’ is a satellite launched by China on January 9, 2024. It aims to explore the transient and variable X-ray sky, capturing bursts of high-energy light from cosmic phenomena like merging neutron stars and black holes.
- The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru announced the development of a heat-tolerant vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 on January 10, 2024. The vaccine, known as the RS2 antigen, can be stored at room temperature for a month and has shown to trigger a strong immune response.
- Govt. Schemes:
- The ANUBHAV Awards Scheme, 2024 is a program launched by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DOPPW) of the Government of India. The scheme recognizes the contributions made by retired officials to nation-building while working in the government and aims to document the administrative history of India through written narratives. The last date for submission under the ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024 is March 31, 2024. All the Anubhav write-ups published on the Anubhav Portal from July 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, will be considered for 5 Anubhav Awards and 10 Jury Certificates.
- Reports:
- The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report, which includes the global growth forecast for 2024 and India’s growth forecast for FY25, was released on January 9, 2024. The World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report indicates that the global economy is set for the slowest half-decade of GDP growth in 30 years. Global growth is projected to slow for the third consecutive year, from 2.6% last year to 2.4% in 2024. This is almost three-quarters of a percentage point below the average of the 2010s. As for India, the World Bank has retained its economic growth forecast at 6.3% for the current financial year, and 6.4% for the next fiscal year (FY24/25).
- Appointments:
- Sheel Vardhan Singh, a former Director General of the CISF, was appointed as a member of the UPSC on January 11, 2024. His tenure will commence from the date he enters upon the office.
- Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, an Anti-Submarine Warfare specialist, took charge as the Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command on January 9, 2024. He is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1991.
- Important Days:
- National Road Safety Week 2024 in India is celebrated from January 11 to January 17. The event is organized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to promote road safety practices. The theme for 2024 is “Be a road safety hero”, emphasizing everyone’s role in ensuring safer journeys.
- Books:
- Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched a book titled “Modi: Energising A Green Future” on January 8, 2024. The book is about India’s journey towards sustainable development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. This book was authored by R.K. Pachnanda, Bibek Debroy, Anirban Ganguly, and Uttam Kumar Sinha.
Questions:
Q.1 On which date did PM Modi inaugurate projects worth over Rs 30,500 crore in Maharashtra?a. January 10, 2023
b. January 12, 2024
c. February 14, 2025
d. December 25, 2022
Q.2 Who organizes the National Road Safety Week in India?
a. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
b. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
c. Ministry of Home Affairs
d. Ministry of Human Resource Development
