- National:
- On January 13, 2024, the Supreme Court refused to stay a new law on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs). The law excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, which now includes the Prime Minister, a cabinet minister, and the Leader of the Opposition. The court will examine the validity of this law.
- The foundation stone of the permanent campus of the Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy and Integrated Ayush Wellness Centre was laid at Azara, Guwahati on 12th January 2024. The Union Ayush Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, officiated the ceremony. A total amount of Rs. 53.89 crore has been sanctioned for this project.
- Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Malkangiri Airport on 9th January 2024. The airport was constructed on 233 acres of land at a cost of ₹70 crore. In the initial phase, nine-seater aircraft are likely to operate between Malkangiri and Bhubaneswar.
- Lohri is a winter folk festival celebrated primarily in Northern India. It marks the end of winter and the arrival of longer days. The festival involves bonfires, songs, dances, and traditional meals. In 2024, Lohri will be celebrated on the 13th of January.
- Mous:
- The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) was signed on January 11, 2024 in Delhi. This partnership aims to offer financial inclusion services to beneficiaries of HZL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in Rajasthan.
- Science & Technology:
- The Chinese company Orienspace launched its first rocket, Gravity-1, from the Defu-15002 mobile sea platform in the Yellow Sea. Gravity-1 is an all-solid launch vehicle that can lift around 6,500 kilograms of payload to low Earth orbit. The mission carried three satellites, Yunyao-1 (18-20), into orbit for global weather forecasting. Orienspace plans two further Gravity-1 launches for 2024.
- Index & Ranking:
- Dun & Bradstreet and Jupiter Wagons unveiled the Indian Railway Freight Activity (IRFA) Index during the 15th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE 2023) in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from 12th to 14th October 2023. This index is a first-of-its-kind tool for monitoring and understanding the intricacies of Indian railway freight activity. The IRFA Index is a quarterly report providing a comprehensive and data-driven assessment of the dynamics of Indian Railway freight activity.
- Reports:
- Byrnihat in Meghalaya was indeed reported as the most polluted city in India in 2023. The report, released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) on January 11, 2024, showed that Byrnihat had the highest annual average PM10 concentration at 301 microgrammes per cubic metre. This was closely followed by Begusarai in Bihar and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, Delhi, which is known for its persistently high air pollution levels, especially during winter, ranked as the eighth most polluted city.
- Apps & Portal:
- NSPAAD launches Mobile app 'Report Fish Disease' to monitor fish diseases across the country. The Mobile app aims to empower fish farmers with a convenient and efficient platform to report diseases on their farms.
- Defence:
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a flight test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on January 12, 2024. The missile system successfully intercepted and destroyed a high-speed unmanned aerial target. This successful test has paved the way for user trials.
- Awards & Honours:
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino received the International Sports Personality of the Year award at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards in Dubai on January 10, 2024. This award is the highest international honor, acknowledging innovators who develop sport and increase fair competition.
- Appointments:
- Manish Jain, with over 25 years of experience in the financial services and technology sectors, was appointed as the Country Managing Director for Experian India on January 10, 2024. He will lead the company’s strategic initiatives and drive business growth.
- Books:
- On January 9, 2024, Union Minister Giriraj Singh released a handbook titled “Panchayats Free From Gender-Based Violence (GBV) – A Handbook for Elected Representatives”. This was part of a National Workshop on the Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Addressing GBV. The workshop aimed to raise awareness and promote economic empowerment to tackle GBV.
- Obituaries:
- German actor Christian Oliver, his daughters Annik and Madita Klepser, and the plane’s pilot Robert Sachs died in a plane crash off a Caribbean island on Thursday, January 4, 2024. The plane experienced difficulties moments after taking off from Bequia, an island of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and was en route to St Lucia.
Questions:
Q.1 Who was appointed as the Country Managing Director for Experian India on January 10, 2024?a. Ramesh Kumar
b. Manish Jain
c. Suresh Singh
d. Anil Sharma
Q.2 Which city was reported as the most polluted city in India in 2023?
a. Delhi
b. Greater Noida
c. Byrnihat
d. Begusarai
