- National:
- GAIL (India) Limited and Vitol Asia Pte Ltd have indeed signed a long-term LNG supply deal on 5th January 2024. The deal is for the annual supply of approximately one million metric tons of LNG. The supply period is for approximately 10 years, starting from 2026. GAIL Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Sandeep Kumar Gupta, stated that this deal will contribute to bridging India’s demand and supply gap of natural gas.
- The 'National PACS Mega Conclave’ was chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah on January 8, 2024. The event was organized by the Ministry of Cooperation and the National Cooperative Development Corporation. The conclave focused on the recent initiative allowing Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to operate Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which provide affordable generic medicines to the public.
- On 8th January 2024, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the first-ever meeting of the ‘Inland Waterways Development Council’ in Kolkata. This meeting was hosted by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW). The day-long meeting took place on board the vessel MV Ganga Queen. The council discussed various aspects of inland waterways development with representatives from waterway states.
- Bablu, the oldest sloth bear in India, passed away at the age of 36 at Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal. He was rescued from a street performer in Rajasthan in 2006. His death was due to multi-organ failure.
- International:
- The Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has won the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh for the 5th term. Despite challenges and a boycott by the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Awami League secured over 50% of the seats. This victory strengthens Sheikh Hasina’s position as the longest-serving prime minister in Bangladesh’s history.
- Kyrgyzstan has officially declared the snow leopard as its national symbol. This decision underscores the country’s commitment to conservation and ecological balance. The snow leopard is not only a symbol of natural wealth and cultural prosperity, but also an indicator of the stability and health of the mountain ecosystem.
- Banking:
- 01 March 2024 is indeed the deadline for inclusion of e-invoices in B2B transactions for businesses with an annual aggregate turnover (AATO) exceeding Rs. 5 crore in India. After this date, generating e-way bills for inter-state movement of goods valued above Rs. 50,000 will require linking them to corresponding e-invoices.
- The World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) raised GBP 1.5 billion through a 5-year Sustainable Development Bond on January 4, 2024. The bond supports the financing of sustainable development initiatives and will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
- Economy:
- India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves rose by $2.759 billion to $623.20 billion, the highest in the last 21 months. The increase is mainly due to the rise in foreign currency assets and gold holdings. Since March-end 2023, the reserves have increased by $44.751 billion. Improved capital account flows and the RBI’s intervention in the forex market are expected to keep a lid on the rupee volatility.
- Defence:
- The Indian Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) is set to be upgraded to a National Maritime Domain Awareness (NDMA) centre in about three years, starting from January 3, 2024. The NDMA will be a multi-agency centre enhancing maritime safety. The upgrade is expected to be completed around early 2027.
- Important Days:
- The African National Congress Foundation Day is observed on January 8 every year. On this day, Africans fought for their rights against British and Boer colonisers. The African National Congress (ANC) considers this day as a struggle for freedom and justice. This organisation aimed to unite and bring all the black South Africans together to achieve their rights and freedoms.
- Earth’s Rotation Day is observed every year on January 8. This day commemorates the anniversary of French physicist Leon Foucault’s proof in 1851 that the Earth rotates on its axis. Earth’s Rotation Day aims to celebrate the discovery of the Earth’s rotation on its axis and to learn more about the French physicist, Leon Foucault, who demonstrated this phenomenon.
- Appointments:
- Senthil Pandian C, a 2002-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the Ambassador/Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of India to the WTO for three years. The appointment was approved by the ACC on January 5, 2024. He will assume charge after the tenure of Brajendra Navnit ends on March 31, 2024.
- Dr. M. Balaji, a 2005-batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Brussels, Belgium on January 6, 2024. His tenure will last for three years from this date.
- Parveen Kumar, an IRS officer of the 2004 batch, was appointed as Adviser to the Executive Director of the IMF in Washington DC, USA on 5th January 2024. This is a Joint Secretary level post under the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, India.
- Smita Sarangi, a 2008 batch IAS officer, was appointed as Adviser to the Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank in Manila on January 5, 2024. Her tenure is for three years.
- Kalyan Revella, a 2010-batch IRS officer, was appointed as Counsellor (Economic) at the Embassy of India in Beijing, China on January 5, 2024. His tenure is for a period of three years.
- Tanu Singh, a 2012-batch Indian Trade Service officer, was appointed as the First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of India to the WTO, Geneva on January 5, 2024.
- Books:
- “Four Stars of Destiny” is the autobiography of General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who served as India’s 28th Chief of Army Staff. The book provides insights into his life and career, from his childhood to his years in the Services and beyond. The book is set to be released around April 30, 2024.
Questions:
Q.1 Who chaired the 'National PACS Mega Conclave’ on January 8, 2024?a. Narendra Modi
b. Amit Shah
c. Rajnath Singh
d. Nirmala Sitharaman
Q.2 When is Earth’s Rotation Day observed?
a. January 8
b. January 1
c. December 31
d. December 25
