- National:
- India’s first National Highway Steel Slag Road section was inaugurated on the NH-66 Mumbai-Goa National Highway on January 13, 2024. The road was developed by CSIR-CRRI and constructed by JSW Steel. The inauguration was done by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI AAYOG.
- On 15th January 2024, The government decided to remove the requirement of a license to operate and maintain dedicated transmission lines by power-generating companies. This decision was announced by the Union Power Minister RK Singh while briefing reporters on Electricity (Amendment) Rules 2024.
- Banking:
- On January 16, 2024, over 8,600 bank accounts suspected to be linked to cybercriminals were frozen in Jharkhand, India. These accounts were allegedly used for phishing activities. The operation was part of a larger crackdown on cybercrime in the region.
- IndusInd Bank has indeed partnered with EazyDiner to launch a credit card on 16th January 2024. It offers benefits like bonus EazyPoints, a complimentary EazyDiner Prime membership, guaranteed discounts at partner restaurants, and reward points on dining, shopping, and entertainment.
- Yes Bank launched an end-to-end digital supply chain finance platform called SmartFin on January 15, 2024. This platform, powered by Veefin Solutions, aims to support MSMEs by driving operational and financial efficiencies.
- Economy:
- The data for India’s exports in December 2023 was released on 15th January 2024. The merchandise exports registered a growth of 0.96% at USD 38.45 Billion over USD 38.08 Billion in December 2022. A 1% increase in exports indicates positive growth in the economy.
- The Indian manufacturing sector is seeking an extension to the sunset period for the concessional tax rate of 15% for Greenfield manufacturing units, currently set to end on March 31, 2024. There are speculations that the interim Budget may extend this date to March 31, 2025.
- Sports:
- Madhya Pradesh won the inaugural Beach Games 2024 held at Ghoghla Beach in Diu, securing 18 medals, including 7 golds. The event, which was India’s first multi-sports beach games, took place from January 4-11 and saw participation from 1404 athletes across 28 states and Union Territories. This achievement is indeed remarkable for a landlocked state like Madhya Pradesh.
- Defence:
- The Indian Navy Ships Cheetah, Guldar, and Kumbhir were decommissioned on January 12, 2024, after 40 years of service. They were built in Poland and commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1984-1986. They served as amphibian platforms of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), conducting over 1300 Beaching Operations. The decommissioning event was conducted at Port Blair.
- The ‘Shaurya Sankalan’ project is an initiative by the Indian Army to digitally archive its rich and glorious military history. The project aims to preserve the Army’s history for future generations. As part of this project, nearly 700 hours of audio-visual content and 11 lakh pages of ‘declassified records’ have been archived.
- Science & Technology:
- The University of Oxford launched the first human trials for a Nipah virus vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 NipahB, on 11th January 2024. The trial is being led by the Oxford Vaccine Group and involves 51 participants aged between 18 to 55. This is a significant step towards addressing the global health challenge posed by the Nipah virus, which can be fatal in up to 75% of cases.
- Important Days:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed on January 15. This day honors the achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister who advocated for the use of nonviolent means to end racial segregation. The theme for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2024 was "Shifting the Cultural Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence".
- Appointments:
- Vice Admiral AN Pramod assumed charge as the Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO) on 15th January 2024. He is an alumnus of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course, Naval Academy, Goa, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1990. He has held several important afloat and staff appointments throughout his career.
- William Lai, also known as Lai Ching-te, won the 2024 presidential election in Taiwan. He is the current vice president and will assume office as the president on 20 May 2024.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Praveen Achuthan Kutty as the Managing Director and CEO of DCB Bank. The appointment is effective from April 29, 2024, and is for three years.
- Awards & Honours:
- Deepa Bhandare, associated with the Shri Datta Cooperative Sugar Factory, made history by becoming the first woman to receive the Best Environment Officer Award from the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) in Pune on January 12, 2024.
- Madison Marsh, an active-duty US Air Force officer and a graduate student at Harvard University, was crowned Miss America 2024 on January 14, 2024. She is the first active-duty Air Force officer to win the title and was representing the state of Colorado in the competition. She is also an activist for pancreatic cancer awareness and prevention.
- Obituaries:
- Renowned Hindustani vocalist Dr. Prabha Atre passed away at the age of 92. She was a great elder of the Kirana gharana. She passed away after a heart attack at her residence in Pune.
Questions:
Q.1 What was the growth of India’s merchandise exports in December 2023?a. 0.86%
b. 0.96%
c. 1.06%
d. 1.16%
Q.2 Where were the inaugural Beach Games 2024 held?
a. Goa Beach, Goa
b. Marina Beach, Chennai
c. Ghoghla Beach, Diu
d. Juhu Beach, Mumbai
