- National:
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India made it mandatory for all entities involved in M2M and WPAN/WLAN businesses to register through the SaralSanchar portal. This directive was issued on January 8, 2024, and entities are advised to complete the registration by March 31, 2024.
- Assam launched India’s first 100% Electric Bike Taxi Service, ‘Baayu’, on January 7, 2024. This initiative is a collaboration between the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and Bikozee Ecotech. It aims to provide 5,000 livelihood opportunities and save 29,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. The service is supported by NITI Aayog’s Shoonya Zero Pollution Mobility campaign.
- The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) successfully cast India’s first 31-metre U-girder on January 6, 2024. This is a significant milestone as only 28-metre-long U-girders were previously used in Metro projects. The 31-metre U-girders will be used to construct an elevated section of the BSRP. The use of a longer, single-span girder will reduce the number of piers and foundations, resulting in less time to complete work.
- The International Purple Fest 2024 is an inclusive festival in Goa, India, celebrating persons with disabilities. It started on 8th January 2024 and will run until 13th January 2024. The festival includes various events, talks, and discussions, aiming to empower individuals with disabilities and promote their equal participation in society.
- State-owned ONGC has started oil production from its long-awaited deep-sea project in the Krishna Godavari basin, which is expected to reverse declining output. The initial oil flow from the KG-DWN-98/2 block took place on January 7.
- International:
- India was announced as the leading source market for tourism in Sri Lanka for the year 2023 on January 8, 2024. Over 3 lakh Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2023, contributing to more than 20% of the total arrivals.
- Banking:
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued a dual tranche of 3-year and 10-year global benchmark United States dollar bonds worth $5.5 billion on January 4th, 2024. The proceeds will be used to support development in Asia and the Pacific.
- On January 9, 2024, Bandhan Bank clarified that the audit of its loan claims is being conducted by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC), not by the regulator. This audit is related to the bank’s loan claims under a guarantee scheme. Following the clarification, the bank’s stock price rose by 3.17%.
- Economy:
- The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) stood at 118.5 points in December 2023, which was 10.1% below its corresponding level one year ago. For 2023 as a whole, the index recorded 124.0 points, which was 13.7% lower than the average value in 2022. In 2022, the benchmark index averaged 143.7 points, which was up 18 points or 14.3% from 2021, and the highest since records started in 1990.
- Index & Ranking:
- According to a study by the Avtar Group, Chennai is the top Indian city for working women in 2023. This Study refers to Avtar & Seramount Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI). The study evaluated cities on three pillars: Social Inclusion Score (SIS), Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS), and Citizen Experience Score (CES). Chennai ranked first in SIS and second in IIS, trailing Bengaluru. Despite its reputation for crimes against women, Delhi ranked 8th. The study emphasized the importance of women’s workforce participation in achieving India’s economic goals.
- Sports:
- Indian shooters indeed had a successful outing at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Jakarta. The pair of Rudrankksh Patil and Mehuli Ghosh won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team competition. In the men’s 10m air pistol team event, Indian shooters Varun Tomar, Arjun Singh Cheema, and Ujjawal Malik secured a gold medal. Additionally, Varun Tomar and Esha Singh won gold medals in the men’s and women’s 10m air pistol events respectively, securing two more Paris 2024 Olympic quotas for India.
- Germany won the United Cup 2024 title by defeating Poland 2-1 in the finals on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund were the key players for Germany.
- Defence:
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an anti-drone system that is ready for production. This technology is designed to detect, deter, and destroy incoming drone threats. It works by detecting, tracking, and identifying drones through diverse sensors, and includes components such as radar, cameras, communication jamming, GPS interference, and laser weapons. The DRDO has asked Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Larsen and Toubro, and Adani Group to develop this anti-drone technology.
- On January 7, 2024, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted a night landing at the Kargil airstrip with a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft carrying Garud commandos. This marked the first time a fixed-wing aircraft has landed at this high-altitude airstrip during the night.
- Appointments:
- Ritesh Pai, former president of products and solutions at TerraPay, was appointed as the CEO of PhonePe’s International Payments business on January 5, 2024. He will be responsible for expanding PhonePe’s payment technology to an international audience.
- Awards & Honours:
- Former US President Barack Obama won the Outstanding Narrator award at the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards. He won this award for his narration in the Netflix documentary series, "Working: What We Do All Day". The awards were presented on January 6 and 7, 2024.
- Obituaries:
- Franz Beckenbauer, the legendary German footballer and World Cup-winning captain and manager, has passed away at the age of 78. Known as “Der Kaiser”, he led Germany to World Cup victories as a player in 1974 and a manager in 1990. He also had a successful club career with Bayern Munich.
- Mario Zagallo, a legendary figure in Brazilian football, passed away on January 5, 2024. He was the only person to have won four World Cups. His contributions to football tactics were significant.
Questions:
Q.1 Who won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team competition at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Jakarta?a. Varun Tomar and Esha Singh
b. Arjun Singh Cheema and Ujjawal Malik
c. Rudrankksh Patil and Mehuli Ghosh
d. Varun Tomar, Arjun Singh Cheema, and Ujjawal Malik
Q.2 Who collaborated with the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) to launch ‘Baayu’?
a. Bikozee Ecotech
b. NITI Aayog
c. Shoonya Zero Pollution Mobility
d. None of the above
