- National:
- The year 2023 was the warmest on record, with global temperatures about 2.1°F (1.2°C) above the 1951-1980 average. Each month from June through December set a record for that month, with July being the hottest month ever recorded. The warming is primarily due to fossil fuel emissions, leading to extreme weather events and indicating a climate crisis.
- Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan inaugurated the prestigious ninth chapter of ‘Capsule on Science, Technology and Applied Research’ (CAPSTAR) at Military Institute of Technology (MILIT), Pune on 17 January 2024. The theme of this chapter was ‘Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Warfare’.
- The ‘Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa’ or Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project was indeed inaugurated on 17th January 2024. This project, valued at Rs 800 crore, was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The project is designed to enhance the visual connection between devotees and the shrine.
- The 9th India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 is being held in Faridabad, Haryana from January 17th-20th, 2024. The event is taking place at the Campus of Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) of the Department of Biotechnology. The theme of this edition is 'Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal’.
- The Indian government has imposed a 50% duty on molasses exports starting from January 18. This move is aimed at increasing the availability of molasses for ethanol production. It’s also a response to concerns over the fall in sugarcane and sugar production, particularly in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, has stated that road safety is the top-most priority of the Government, with a target to reduce accident deaths by 50% by 2030. He emphasized the importance of changing social behavior and strengthening the ‘4Es of Road Safety’ - Engineering (Road & Vehicle Engineering), Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Service.
- International:
- The Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) was launched by Denmark in partnership with India on January 8, 2024. The initiative aims to promote the green fuels sector, including green hydrogen and is part of the Green Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries in 2020. Nine Danish organizations, including Maersk, have committed to GFAI.
- Banking:
- On January 16, 2024, Yes Bank became the first Indian bank to execute an export finance transaction on RXIL’s International Trade Financing Services Platform (ITFS). This move is aimed at digitalising and promoting cross-border business.
- Jio Financial Services launched a rental service for tech devices, including laptops, phones, and airfiber, on January 17, 2024. This service, known as Device as a Service (DaaS), allows companies to lease devices instead of buying them.
- Economy:
- UBS Securities has forecasted that the Indian economy will grow at a rate of 6.2% in FY25. This positive outlook is attributed to a combination of favorable factors, including neutral policy settings, positive credit momentum, and manageable macroeconomic conditions. They also expect bank credit to sustain double-digit growth of 13-14% YoY in FY25.
- Science & Technology:
- Researchers from Mizoram University discovered a new species of coral snake, Sinomicrurus Gorei, on 16th January 2024. This species is unique in its habitat and egg-laying capacity compared to its close relative, Sinomicrurus Macclellandi.
- A rare Tibetan Brown Bear has indeed been spotted in Sikkim. This is a groundbreaking discovery as it’s the first time this rare subspecies of bear has been sighted in India. The bear was sighted in the high altitudes of North Sikkim.
- Sports:
- Sumit Nagal made tennis history for India on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, by becoming the first player from the country in 35 years to defeat a seeded opponent in a Grand Slam. He delivered a remarkable straight-set victory, stunning the 27th-ranked Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) to advance to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
- On January 17, 2024, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa became India’s No.1 chess player, surpassing Viswanathan Anand, after defeating World Champion Ding Liren at the 2024 Tata Steel Chess tournament.
- Aman Sehrawat, the reigning Asian champion, won the gold medal in the men’s 57kg category at the Zagreb Open 2024 wrestling tournament. He defeated Zou Wanhao of the People’s Republic of China via technical superiority (10-0) to win India’s first medal in this edition of the Ranking Series.
- Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy won the silver medal in the women’s event at the 2023 World Rapid Chess Championships held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Humpy had a strong performance throughout the tournament, finishing at the top position after 11 rounds with 8.5 points, along with Russia’s Anastasia Bodnaruk.
- Kenyan long-distance runner Beatrice Chebet indeed broke the women’s world 5km record at the Cursa dels Nassos, a World Athletics Label road race, in Barcelona. She completed the race in a time of 14 minutes and 13 seconds.
- Rhythm Sangwan, a 20-year-old Indian shooter, secured an Olympic quota for India on January 11, 2024, by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships. This is India’s 16th quota in shooting for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Reports:
- The IEA’s Renewables 2023 report, released on 11th January 2024, revealed that global renewable electricity capacity additions in 2023 reached an estimated 507 GW, a 50% increase from 2022. This growth was primarily driven by China’s solar PV and wind market expansion. However, the report emphasized the need for more aggressive policy support and improved economics for renewable energy projects to meet global targets.
- Defence:
- The Indian Army launched an end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem called SAMBHAV on January 15, 2024. It operates on 5G technology, uses 5G-ready handsets with multi-tier encryption, and provides secure communication with instant connectivity. The initial rollout plans to deploy 35,000 sets. This is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Index & Ranking:
- Gujarat, Kerala, and Karnataka have indeed emerged as the best-performing states in developing the startup ecosystem for budding entrepreneurs, according to the ranking of States and Union Territories (UTs) by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The DPIIT’s rankings are based on the initiatives taken by States to develop the startup ecosystem and promote entrepreneurs. Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana are also categorised as top performers.
- Important days:
- Benjamin Franklin Day is celebrated on January 17 every year to pay tribute to one of the greatest Founding Fathers of the U.S. on the anniversary of his birth. Benjamin Franklin was a notable polymath of his time. He was a poet, politician, scientist, writer, diplomat, statesman, political philosopher, printer, publisher, and inventor. He is best known for co-drafting the Declaration of Independence.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th year of establishment on 15th January 2024. The Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar, graced the occasion as Chief Guest in the inaugural ceremony celebration. Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Earth Sciences, was the Guest of Honour. The theme for the 150th year of establishing the India Meteorological Department was "Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam".
- Awards & Honours:
- REC Limited, a Maharatna Public Sector Unit and a leading NBFC under the Ministry of Power, has been awarded the ‘Plaque’ under the ‘Financial Services Sector (Other than Banking and Insurance)’ category at the ICAI Awards for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the financial year 2022-23.
- Lionel Messi won The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2023 award on 15th January 2024. This is his eighth individual award in total. He was recognized for his exceptional performance in the men’s game from 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023.
- Appointments:
- Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty assumed the position of Commandant at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala on January 15, 2024. He has a distinguished career in the Indian Navy, with experience in various roles including commanding several naval vessels, staff assignments, and strategic planning.
- Mr. Maheshwar Rao, a 1995-batch IAS officer, was appointed as the Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on 11th January 2024. He assumed his charge on January 12, 2024.
- Books:
- The book “Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns” by M.J. Akbar and K Natwar Singh, focuses on three pivotal mass campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi: the non-cooperation movement in 1920, the salt satyagraha in 1930, and the ‘Quit India’ call in 1942. These campaigns played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence.
- The book “An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy” was released. It was written by acclaimed Indo-American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The book sheds light on the lesser-known chapters of philanthropist-author Sudha Murty and multibillionaire Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s early life and career.
Questions:
Q.1 Who inaugurated the ‘Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa project?a. Prime Minister of India
b. President of India
c. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
d. Mayor of Puri
Q.2 Who did Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa defeat at the 2024 Tata Steel Chess tournament?
a. Viswanathan Anand
b. Ding Liren
c. Magnus Carlsen
d. Hikaru Nakamura
