VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE TNPSC Current Affairs JANUARY - 2021

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1 HISTORY 01 . Important Days . Defence National Security and Terrorism . World Organisations – Pacts and Summits . Eminent Persons . Sports and Games . Books & Authors . Awards & Honours . Cultural Panaroma . India & its Neighbours . Latest Terminology . Appointments – Who is who? 32 2 POLITICAL SCIENCE

.Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility

35 3 GEOGRAPHY .Policy on Environment and Ecology

37 4 ECONOMICS .New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector 42 5 SCIENCE .Latest Inventions in Science & Technology . Latest Discoveries on Health Science . Mass Media & Communication

49 6 NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS

7 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

8 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS

84 9 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Important Days History

1.1 Important Days

Date Day Theme / Remark

To observe in the memory of late journalist Balshastri Jambhekar. Balshastri Jambhekar is also known as ‘The Father of Marathi Journalism’, for his efforts in starting journalism in Marathi language, in the form of first Journalist Day Observed 6-01-2021 Marathi newspaper and first Marathi in Maharashtra monthly. The first newspaper in the Marathi language named ‘Darpan’, was published on January 6, 1832, the date which also marks the birth anniversary of Balshastri Jambhekar.

NRI Day is celebrated every year on January 9 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India. The day is celebrated every year to mark the 09-01-2021 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India. The theme of 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2021 is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 1 Important Days Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

The World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on January 10 since 2006 to promote the language at the global stage. The day marks the anniversary of first World Hindi Conference which was inaugurated on January 10, 1975 by the 10-01-2021 World Hindi Day then prime minister Indira Gandhi. However, the celebration of first World Hindi Day was commenced on 10 January 2006 by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. It must be noted that the National Hindi Day is celebrated in India on September 14 every year.

National Youth Day is celebrated in India every year on 12 January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The day was declared by the Government of India in 1984 while the 12-01-2021 National Youth Day event was first celebrated in 1985. In 2021, we are observing 158th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand (12 January 1863). The theme for National Youth Day 2021 is ‘Channelizing Youth Power for Nation Building‘.

2 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Important Days

In India, the Armed Forces Veterans Day is observed each year on 14 January since 2017 to acknowledge and honour the selfless devotion and sacrifice of our veterans in the service of the nation. Armed Forces Veterans The day is observed as a mark of respect 14-01-2021 Day and recognition of the services rendered by Field Marshal KM Cariappa OBE, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces who retired on 14 January 1953. 2021 marks the 5th Armed Forces Veterans Day.

Army Day is observed on January 15 every year because it was this day in 15-01-2021 Indian Army Day 1949 when General KM Cariappa took over the charge of Indian Army from British General Sir Francis Butcher.

Tamil Nadu celebrates Thiruvalluvar Day on the 2nd day of the Thai month in honour of the Saint Poet Thiruvalluvar. Valluvar’s epic work, Thirukkural, Tamil Nadu celebrates which consists of 1330 kurals or 15-01-2021 Thiruvalluvar Day couplets is translated into many international and Indian languages. Russian Writer Leo Tolstoy was greatly inspired by Thirukkural and so was Mahatma Gandhi.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways observes the National Road 18-01-2021 Safety Week every year in the second National Road Safety to week of January. Month 17-02-2021 In 2021, Government has decided to observe National Road Safety Month instead of National Road Safety Week.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 3 Important Days Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will flag off Centre to flag off National 18-1-2021 National Road Safety Month. The Road Safety initiative aims to build awareness about road safety and reduce road accidents in the country. NDRF is an Indian specialized force under the National Disaster 19-1-2021 16th NDRF Raising Day: Management Authority, constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to carry out special response in situation of threatening disaster. 24-1-2021 National Girl Child Day The theme of NVD 2021 is, ‘Making Our 25-1-2021 National Voters’ Day Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed’.

National Tourism Day of 25-1-2021 India

Objective: to recognise the role of customs officials and agencies and focus on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs. Theme 2021: “Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience”. The day was instituted by the World International Customs 26-1-2021 Customs Organization (WCO) to Day commemorate the day in 1953 when the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was held in Brussels, Belgium. In 1994 the CCC was renamed World Customs Organization (WCO). World Customs Organization (WCO) headquarter- Brussels, Belgium

Theme 2021: “Beat Leprosy, End Stigma 30-1-2021 World Leprosy Day 2021 and advocate for Mental Wellbeing.”

4 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Defence, National Security and Terrorism 1.2 Defence, National Security MK IV class vessel ‘IN LCU L-58’ (Yard 2099) to the Indian Navy. and Terrorism LCU L-58 is the final ship in the series of 8 LCUs being manufactured by GRSE for Navy, DRDO conduct a maiden trial of the Indian Navy. air-dropped container ‘SAHAYAK-NG’ DRDO Biodigester Mk II technology Defence Research and Development in metro rail Organisation (DRDO) along with the Government of India’s premier Indian Navy conducted the successful research agency Defence Research and maiden test trial of ‘SAHAYAK-NG’ Development Organisation (DRDO) India’s first indigenously designed and will install its eco-friendly bio-digester developed Air Dropped Container from units across the facilities operated by IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy) off the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation coast of Goa. (MAHA–METRO), which help conserve The trial was conducted by the Indian water and protect the environment. Navy to enhance its operational DRDO will provide technical support logistics capabilities and provide critical for the implementation of its advanced engineering stores to ships that are bio-digester Mk-II technology for the deployed more than 2000 kilometres treatment of human waste (night soil) in from the coast. the metro rail network. SAHAYAK-NG is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I. Pan-India Coastal Defence exercise ‘SEA VIGIL-21’ from Jan 12 DRDO Celebrates 63rd Foundation Day on 1st January 2021 The second edition of the biennial pan- India coastal defence exercise ‘Sea The Defence Research and Development Vigil-21’ will be conducted between Organisation (DRDO) observed the 63rd January 12 and 13. Foundation Day of its establishment on The exercise, inaugural edition of which January 01, 2021. was conducted in January 2019: will be DRDO was established in 1958 with just undertaken along the entire 7516 km 10 laboratories to enhance the research coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone work in Defence sector. of India and will involve all the 13 coastal GRSE delivers 8th landing craft utility States and Union Territories along with ship to Indian Navy other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities. Kolkata-based Garden Reach Exercise ‘SEA VIGIL 21’ which is being Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has coordinated by the Indian Navy, will delivered the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) provide a realistic assessment of our

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 5 Defence, National Security and Terrorism Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

strengths and weaknesses and thus will DRDO, CRPF launches bike ambulance held in further strengthening maritime ‘RAKSHITA’ and national security. The Defence Research and Development The entire coastal security set up was Organisation (DRDO) and the Central reorganised after the 26/11 Terror attack Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on January at Mumbai which was launched via the 18, 2021 launched a specially developed sea route. bike ambulance ‘RAKSHITA’. The bike ambulance has been launched 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security to attend to urgent evacuation needs of Dialogue the security force personnel in the event of a medical emergency or battle injury in The 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security Naxal affected areas. Dialogue was held on 12 January 2021 in virtual format. Indian and French airforces to The virtual event was co-chaired by conduct Exercise Desert Knight-21 Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar along with Vietnamese Sr Lt Gen Nguyen Chi The Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air Vinh, Deputy Defence Minister, Socialist and Space Force are set to participate in Exercise Desert Knight-21. Republic of Vietnam. The bilateral air exercise will be held at DRDO develops India’s first Jodhpur Air Force station in Rajasthan, Indigenously-Developed 9mm India, from 20 to 24 January. Machine Pistol Exercise Desert Knight-21 aims to improve interoperability between the forces while India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine exchanging ‘ideas and best practices’ Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO gained from operational experience. and Indian Army. Platforms such as Rafale, Airbus A-330 Infantry School, Mhow and DRDO’s multi-role tanker transport (MRTT), Armament Research & Development A-400M tactical transport aircraft and Establishment (ARDE), Pune have about 175 personnel from the French designed and developed this weapon Air and Space Force will take part in the using their respective expertise in the military drill. complementary areas. The weapon has been developed in a ‘Chintan Baithak’ to be held at record time of four months. The weapon Dhordo, Kutch,Gujarat from 21st to is aptly named “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, 23rd January,2021 “Self-Respect” & “Hard Work”. Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of The Machine Pistol fires the in-service 9mm Ports, Shipping and Waterways (I/C) will ammunition and sports an upper receiver chair three-day Ports Review Meeting made from aircraft-grade Aluminium and named ‘Chintan Baithak’ at Dhordo, lower receiver from carbon fibre. Kutch,Gujarat.

6 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Defence, National Security and Terrorism India Ranked 4th in Global Firepower Indian Hawk-Mk132 of HAL off the ‘2021 Military Strength Ranking’, Odisha coast. USA Tops This was the ninth successful mission of SAAW conducted by DRDO till now. The In the ‘2021 Military Strength Ranking’ telemetry and tracking systems installed an annually updated list of 138 modern at Interim Test Range (ITR), Balasore military nations by a defence analytics captured all the mission events. website Global Firepower, India is ranked 4th with PwrIndx (Power Index) rating of SAAW is indigenously designed and 0.1214 where 0.0000 rating is considered as developed by DRDO’s Research Centre ‘perfect’. Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad. This is 125 Kg class smart weapon, capable of engaging The ranking has been topped by the United ground enemy airfield assets such as States of America (USA). radars, bunkers, taxi tracks, and runways About Military Strength Ranking: etc. up to a range of 100 kilometres. Since 2006, Global Firepower is roviding military strength ranking on the basis of IAF Will Receive Light Combat Model over 50 individual factors to determine a from March 2024 nation’s PowerIndex (‘PwrIndx’) score. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the decision will strengthen the Exercise Kavach: To be held under movement to create an ‘Aatmanirbhar Andaman and Nicobar Command Bharat’ (self-reliant India. The Indian Army is to conduct a large The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) scale joint military exercise Kavach in the chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. The Modi on January 13 approved the Rs exercise is to be held under the aegis of 48,000-crore deal to procure 83 Tejas Mk- Andaman and Nicobar Command. 1A variants and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer About the Exercise aircraft from the HAL to boost the Indian Air Force’s combat prowess. The Joint Military Exercise Kavach will involve Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian 122 soldiers of Bangladesh armed Air Force and Indian Coast Guard. forces depart for India to participate Kavach Exercise will also involve in Republic Day parade coordinated air and maritime strikes, synergized application of maritime When the 122 personnel of the Bangladesh surveillance assets, air defence and landing armed forces will be marching on Rajpath operations. alongside their Indian counterparts on January 26, they will not only feel proud DRDO successfully conducts captive to be participating in India’s 72nd Republic and release trial of SAAW Day parade for the first time but will also be “expressing gratitude and respects to DRDO successfully conducted captive and all those Indian military personnel who release trial of indigenously developed sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon SAAW from our country”.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 7 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Joint Tri-service Exercise AMPHEX – 1.3 World Organisations – 21 held in Andaman & Nicobar A large-scale tri-service joint amphibious Pacts and Summits exercise AMPHEX – 21 was held in Andaman & Nicobar group of islands FSCA becomes Associate Member of from 21 – 25 Jan 2021. IOSCO The exercise involved participation of The International Financial Services troops of Army, Navy as well as the Indian Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become Air Force. an Associate Member of the International The joint force executed multi-domain, Organization of Securities Commissions high intensity offensive and defensive (IOSCO). The Headquarter of IOSCO is manoeuvres in the Andaman Sea and Bay at Madrid, Spain. of Bengal. The IOSCO is the international The Ex KAVACH for defence of Andaman organization of the world’s securities & Nicobar Islands was also a part of AMPHEX – 21. regulators, covering more than 95% of the world’s securities markets, and is also the The exercise AMPHEX – 21 was aimed at validating India’s capabilities to safeguard global standard setter for the securities the territorial integrity of it’s island sector. territories, enhance operational synergy The body has its headquarter in and joint warfighting capabilities amongst Gandhinagar in Gujarat. the three Services. India set to begin tenure as non- India successfully test-fires new- permanent member of UN Security generation Akash missile Council India successfully test-fired the new- India is set to begin its two-year tenure as generation Akash missile from an a non-permanent member of the United integrated test range off the Odisha coast. Nations Security Council (UNSC). The The Akash Next Generation missile event will be marked by the installation system testing was concluded successfully of the Indian tricolour at the stakeout at a DRDO defence facility off the coast of during a special ceremony. Odisha. Apart from India, Norway, Kenya, Akash-NG is a new generation Surface- Ireland and Mexico are also poised to join to-Air Missile meant for use by IAF with the UNSC as non-permanent members. an aim of intercepting high manoeuvring Other non-permanent members of the key aerial threats. UN body include Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam. The UNSC has five permanent members, namely China, Russia, France, the UK and the US.

8 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits

Since the presidency of the UNSC is held India to chair 3 important committees by each of the members in turn for one of UNSC month, India will preside over the council India has been asked to chair three as UNSC President in August 2021 and important committees of the United again in 2022. Nations Security Council (UNSC). India began its eighth term as a non- WHO designates 2020 as the “Year of permanent member of the UNSC with the Nurse and Midwife” the stated objective of raising its voice World Health Organisation (WHO) against terrorism, speaking for the selected the year 2020 as the “Year of the developing world and bringing human- Nurse and Midwife”. centric inclusive solutions to matters of It was decided in the honor of 200th global peace and security. birthday of Florence Nightingale. WHO India will also chair the Counterterrorism said that nurses and midwives are the Committee in 2022, which coincides people who devote their lives to caring with the 75th Anniversary of India’s for children and mothers, looking after Independence. It was formed in senior citizens and giving lifesaving September 2001 soon after the tragic immunizations. terrorist attack of 9/11 in New York. World Health Organisation will also India had chaired this committee in the launch the world’s first State of the Security Council in 2011-12. World’s Nursing report in 2020. India to get UN tag of international WTO members commend India for disaster response force for NDRF improving trade, economic policies India could soon be a part of the United The members of the World Trade Nations (UN) mandated international Organization (WTO) have commended disaster rescue operations as the country’s India for the steps it has taken to improve federal contingency force, NDRF, is trade and economic policies to make expected to obtain a globally recognised more inclusive and sustainable. standardisation later this year. The members relayed the same during The authorisation will be done by the India’s seventh Trade Policy Review Switzerland-headquartered INSARAG (TPR) that was conducted at the WTO’s (or the International Search and Rescue headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Advisory Group) which is a network of The Indian delegation for the review more than 90 countries and organisations was headed by Commerce Secretary, Dr under the UN umbrella to deal with Anup Wadhawan. India’s last TPR took urban search and rescue related issues. place in 2015. The National Disaster Response Force was raised in 2006 to undertake specific tasks of relief and rescue during natural and

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 9 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 manmade disasters or life-threatening among the top world leaders to participate situations. It has 12 operational battalions in a five-day online Davos Agenda Summit comprising more than 15,000 personnel of the World Economic Forum (WEF). based across the country at present while Union ministers including Narendra Singh Tomar, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Piyush four more battalions are taking shape. Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan along UK PM Boris Johnson invites PM with top business leaders such as Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra will also be Narendra Modi to G7 summit a part of this event. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has The Geneva-based organisation is hosting invited PM Narendra Modi to participate an online event, named ‘Davos Agenda in-person for the G7 summit to be held in Summit’ from January 25-29. WEF will the Cornwall region from June 11 to 13. host its physical annual meeting in May in Johnson is expected to visit India ahead Singapore as against the regular venue of of the G7 summit, ANNOUNCED by the Swiss ski resort town of Davos. British High Commission. Padma Award winning Renowned Health Minister Harsh Vardhan chairs Oncologist Dr V Shanta passes away 148th session of WHO Executive Board at 93 Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Renowned oncologist Dr V Shanta has Health and Family Welfare digitally passed away, following chest pain. She chaired the 148th session of WHO Executive was 93. Board, through Video Conference. Dr Shanta was the chairperson of Adyar The 148th session of the Executive Board Cancer Institute in Chennai, which she has been organised from 18-26 January joined in 1954. The institute is known for 2021. providing state-of-the-art healthcare to all The meeting provides a platform to patients. bring together all member states to set She was a recipient of the prestigious the directions and agenda and continue Padma Shri (1986) and Padma Bhushan striving for the objective of Health as a state (2006) for her efforts for making quality of complete physical, mental and social and affordable cancer treatment accessible well-being and not merely the absence of to everyone. disease or infirmity. She was also awarded the Padma Also, the WHO has declared the Year Vibhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay 2021 as the Year of Global Solidarity and awards. Survival. Virtual Davos summit 2021 to begin PM Modi, Xi Jinping To Participate In from today 5-day Virtual ‘Davos Agenda Summit The six-day online Davos Agenda Summit 2021’ of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is Prime Minister Narendra Modi and set to begin. Prime Minister Narendra Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will be Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will 10 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Eminent Persons be among the top world leaders who will participate in the event. 1.4 Eminent Persons The WEF announced there would be Veteran broadcaster Indira Joseph 15 special addresses from G20 heads of state and government and international Venniyoor passes away at 94 organisations during the summit from Renowned broadcaster, Indira Joseph January 24-29. Venniyoor, has passed away. She was 94. The Kerala-based veteran was the first India pledges $150,000 for UN peace English news announcer of Travancore building as a token of engagement Radio, when its English service started in India has announced a pledge of $150,000 1949. to activities of the Peacebuilding Fund this She had a distinguished career with the year and announced that 2021 provides All India Radio (AIR). the international community with an opportunity to look at peacebuilding in Data firm puts Narendra Modi’s net a more focused manner, especially in the approval at 55% context of the Covid pandemic. A data firm tracking the approval ratings India’s Parliament Representative to the UN Ambassador. of world leaders has put the net approval for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a PM Modi to address WEF’s virtual high of 55%. Davos Dialogue today The similar figure for German Chancellor Angela Merkel is 24% while it is in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the World Economic Forum’s negative for U.K. Prime Minister Boris online Davos Agenda Summit January 28, Johnson as more people disapprove of his 2021 during which he will be speaking on work than those who approve it. a wide range of subjects, including India’s reform trajectory and increased usage of Writer Ilavenil passed away technology. The Davos Dialogues agenda Tamil director and writer Ilavenil passed marks the launch of the World Economic away in Chennai. He was in his 70s. Forum’s great reset initiative in the post- The director is known for his film Uliyin Covid-19 world. Osai, which was written by Karunanidhi, and produced by S.P.Murugesan. The film released on th4 July, 2008.

Ace mountaineer Colonel Narendra ‘Bull’ Kumar passes away at 87 Ace mountaineer Colonel Narendra ‘Bull’ Kumar, who played iconic role to help India secure the Siachen Glacier, has

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 11 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

passed away due to age-related illness. Burgess was a right-hand batsman and He was 87. left-arm spinner. He played overall 14 He is known as ‘Siachen saviour’ first-class games between 1940-41 and because it was he who first detected the 1951-52, of which 11 first-class matches cartographic aggression of Pakistan in were played for Canterbury. the Siachen glacier area. He was a tank driver in World War II. He was the first Indian to climb Mount Nanda Devi. Kamala Harris appoints Indian- He was nickname ‘Bull’ for relentlessly American as her press secretary charging into everything. Senator Kamala Harris has roped in Col Kumar was the recipient of various Indian-American Sabrina Singh, who awards such as the Kirti Chakra, Padma previously was the spokeswoman of two Shri, Arjun award and the McGregor Democratic presidential candidates, as medal. press secretary for her Democratic vice- Tamil writer A Madhavan passes presidential campaign. Singh, 32, previously headed the press away shop of two Democratic presidential Tamil writer and Kendra Sahitya candidates - New Jersey Senator Cory Akademi Award recipient A Madhavan, Booker and former New York mayor 87, passed away due to age-related Mike Bloomberg. ailments. Born to Chellammal and Avudainayagam, who belonged to Cholai Sundaraperumal passed away Kanyakumari district, Madhavan was Writer from Lower Tanjore District brought up in Thiruvananthapuram. Cholai Sundaraperumal passed away

He was selected for the Kendra Sahitya due to poor health. He was a left-wing Akademi award in 2015 for his collection creator who continued to write in order of essays Ilakkiya Chuvadukal. He was to establish the traditional genre of also a recipient of Kalai Mamani Award sedimentary literature in the area covering in 2009, the highest recognition bestowed the districts of Tanjore, Thiruvarur and on writers and artists by the Tamil Nadu Nagai, as well as the famous Karisal Government. literature in southern Tamil Nadu.

Oldest living first-class cricketer, Alan Ghulam Mustafa Khan passes away Burgess, of New Zealand and World War II veteran, passes away at 100 Indian classical musician Ghulam Mustafa Khan has passed away. He was 89. Khan Alan Burgess, the world’s oldest living received several awards in his lifetime, first-class cricketer, from New Zealand most notable being the Padma Shri and the has passed away in his sleep. Padma Bhushan. Born in Badayun, Uttar He was aged 100 years and 250 day. Pradesh.

12 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Eminent Persons Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan. He was to participate in the Republic Day parade awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, followed — one at Rajpath and the other over by Padma Bhusan in 2006 and Padma Rajpath. Vibhushan in 2018. In 2003 he was While Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi 28, became the first woman fighter pilot award, the highest Indian recognition to take part in the R-Day parade as she given to practicing artistes. was part of an IAF tableau that showcased mock-ups of an light combat aircraft, light Joe Biden’s speechwriter Vinay Reddy combat helicopter and a Sukhoi-30 fighter makes his village in Telangana proud plane, Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore got the honour to be the first woman to be part Indian-American Vinay Reddy, the speechwriter of US President-elect Joe of the flypast over Rajpath as she flew a Biden, has roots in a remote village of Mi-17 V5 helicopter in a formation of four Karimnagar district of Telangana. choppers. The sleepy village of Pothireddypeta is Rajendra Kumar Bhandari wins joyous over the international success of their ‘bidda’ (son). Reddy’s international Subhash Bose Aapda Prabandhan fame has made the villagers very proud Puraskar 2021 and they are fondly remembering the The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda family of Cholleti Vinay Reddy. Prabandhan Puraskar 2021 has been Narayana Reddy’s family hails from conferred upon Dr Rajendra Kumar Pothireddypeta village of Huzurabad. Bhandari in the Individual category and Vinay’s father Narayana Reddy, a medical Sustainable Environment and Ecological professional, migrated to the USA after Development Society (SEEDS) in commuting MBBS from the Osmania Institutional category. University of Hyderabad. The award carries a cash prize of Child rights panel takes cue from Rs 51 lakh and a certificate for Nayak, makes 19-year-old CM for a an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a day certificate in case of an individual. Twenty-year-old Shrishti Goswami from The Government of India announces Haridwar took charge as the chief minister the award every year on January 23, of Uttarakhand for one day. She gave the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash suggestions on three main points - safety Chandra Bose, to recognise and honour of children and girls, checking drug usage the invaluable contribution and selfless among youngsters and stopping hill service rendered by individuals and migration in the state. organisations in India in the field of disaster management. Two IAF women pilots break glass ceiling, script history at R-Day parade Two IAF women officers broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first women pilots

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 13 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 1995 Nobel Chemistry Prize Winner Sanjay Kapoor elected All India Chess Paul Crutzen passes away at 87 Federation president The Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul J. Sanjay Kapoor was elected president of Crutzen, has passed away. He was 87. the All India Chess Federation (AICF) Dr. Crutzen won the Nobel Prize in while Bharat Singh Chauhan retained the Chemistry in 1995, jointly with Mario J. secretary’s post. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland, for Kapoor, representing Uttar Pradesh their work in atmospheric chemistry, Chess Association, defeated incumbent particularly concerning the formation and PR Venketrama Raja in a close contest. decomposition of ozone Kapoor received 33 votes as against 31 He was known for his work on the of Raja. Chauhan beat Ravindra Dongre ozone layer and climate change and for 35-29. Apart from the president, secretary popularizing the term ‘Anthropocene’ to and treasurer, six vice-presidents and six describe a proposed new era when human actions have a drastic effect on the Earth. joint secretaries were also elected. World Cup winning hockey player 1.5 Sports and Games Michael Kindo passes away at 73 World Cup winner and Olympic Goa’s 14-year old Leon Mendonca medallist in Hockey, Michael Kondo has becomes India’s 67th Chess passed away due to age-related ailments. Grandmaster He was 73, 14-year-old Leon Mendonca from Goa Michael Kondo was the member of the became India’s 67th Chess Grandmaster Indian teams which won the 1975 hockey (GM) after winning his third & Final norm World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and 1972 at the Vergani Cup, Italy. Mendonca is Olympics bronze in Munich. only the 2nd GM from Goa. Khelo India Ice Hockey tournament He became the 29th Youngest GM in the begins in Chiktan, Kargil world. Sergey Karjakin of Russia holds the record for the World’s Youngest ever In Kargil Ladakh, Khelo India Ice GM having qualified for the title at the Hockey Tournament is being organised age of 12 years and 7 months (achieved at Chiktan by Zonal Physical Education the title in 2003). Officer Chiktan. The 1st GM form Goa is Ivana Maria For the first time the women team of Furtado, she achieved it in 2011. Chiktan also participated in the Khelo GM is a title awareded by FIDE India Games in Kargil district. There (International Chess Federation), it is the are 13 teams from different villages of highest title a chess player can obtain Chiktan participating in the tournament, apart from World Champion. which include 11 men’s teams and 2 women’s teams.

14 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Eminent Persons Oldest living Olympic champion Festival 2021 kicked off on 18th January Agnes Keleti turns 100 2021. The oldest surviving Olympic champion, The 13- Day Zanskar Winter Sports Festival aims to open new arena in Ladakh Ágnes Keleti, celebrates her 100th for adventure and Nature loving tourists birthday. She is one of her country’s most and a boost for local Youth to hone up their successful Olympians, having won 10 skills in winter sports to represent India. medals for Hungary in gymnastics, at the Olympic Games Helsinki 1952 and Women’s Asian Cup 2022 to be held Melbourne 1956. in India Her haul included five golds. Keleti The 2022 Women’s Asian Cup, to be hosted won the floor event in Finland before by India, will be held from January 20 to producing an astonishing display in February 6, 2021. This was announced Australia, winning four golds – in the by the Asian Football Confederation on uneven bars, balance beam, floor, and January 28, 2021. team event. At 35, she became the oldest The eight teams will qualify for the newly- female gymnast to win an Olympic title. introduced quarterfinals. The event will also serve as a qualification tournament for Odisha to host memorable 2023 the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hockey World Cup BCCI cancels Ranji Trophy 2020-21 Hockey India and the Odisha government are gearing up to host the FIH Men’s for first time in 87 years Hockey World Cup in 2023 for a record The Board of Control for Cricket in India fourth time since the inception of the (BCCI) has decided not to conduct the tournament in 1971. Ranji Trophy in 2020-21 . The 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup This will be first time in 87 years since its is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar inception in 1934-35, that India’s premier and Rourkela in Odisha from January 13- first-class cricket national championship will not be held in 2020-21 domestic season. 29, 2023. The hosting of the tournament in 2023 BCCI has decided to conduct the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over tournament and holds great significance, as India will be Senior Women’s One Day tournament completing 75 years of independence in after the completion of the Syed Mushtaq 2023. Ali Trophy T20 tournament. 13-day Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sport & Youth festival 2021 begins in Ladakh In Ladakh, the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sport & Youth

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 15 Books & Authors Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

1.6 Books & Authors The book revolves around murder and politics, wherein, a murderer eliminates Publication of the book ‘Wetlands of scientists right under the nose of the Tamil Nadu ‘ police and leaves forensics baffled. Chief Secretary K.Shanmugam released Book ‘India’s 71-Year Test: The a book titles “Wetlands of Tamil Nadu Journey to Triumph in Australia’ written by the Chief Forest Officer of released the Tamil Nadu Forest Department Former Indian all-rounder and current P.Thurairasu. head coach Ravi Shastri launched a new Kerala Governor releases book on book by the Bradman Museum called Sabarimala ‘India’s 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia’, at the Sydney Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Cricket Ground. released ”Sabarimala Vijnaanakosham,” The book, authored by cricket journalist a book written by KS Vijayanath. The R Kaushik, describes India’s first 12 tours Governor also presented a Limca Book to Australia, uncovering the shaping up of World Records certificate to Swami of the rivalry between the two nations Maheswaranandu for erecting a 111 which was majorly dominated by the feet Shiv Linga sthoopa at the Shiva hosts. Paravarthy temple premises at Chenkal in Thiruvananthapuram. Lt. Gen. Konsam Himalay Singh Authored a Book Titled ‘Making of a Pranab Mukherjee’s Book General – A Himalayan Echo’ In ‘The Presidential Years, 2012-2017’, Dr Najma Heptulla, Govermor of Pranab Mukherjee talks about seeing a Manipur released a book titled ‘Making lack of extraordinary leaders that reduced of a General – A Himalayan Echo’ the establishment to a “government of through a virtual mode at Durbar Hall of averages”. Raj Bhavan, Imphal, Manipur. The book Pranab Mukherjee, who passed away is authored by (Redt) Lt. Gen. Konsam in 2020 after a surgery and Covid-19 Himalay Singh and ispublished by complications, wrote the last book before Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd. his death. “Modi India Calling – 2021” Book RBI officer R. Giridharan authors Released debut novel ‘Right Under our Nose’ A coffee table book named “Modi India R Giridharan, a general manager at RBI Calling – 2021” has been released on the has come out with his debut novel titled occasion of 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. “Right Under our Nose”. The book contains various photographs

16 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Books & Authors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi assistant to the Sri Lankan art historian captured during his “107 overseas and Anil de Silva, and worked on two bilateral visits”. major Buddhist sites in Maijishan and The book is the idea of BJP leader Vijay Dunhuang. It was a period of deceptive Jolly and it was released by Adesh Gupta, calm in the country, just prior to traumatic the Delhi BJP president. events such as the Cultural Revolution The book has been published by Maneesh and the Great Leap Forward that churned Media and has 450 pages containing and transformed Chinese society. thousands of photographs of the PM Modi. Najma Heptulla Releases book titled Making of a General-A Himalayan Book titled “The Population Myth: Echo Islam, Family Planning and Politics in Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla India”, authored by former CEC ‘S Y released a book titled “Making of a Quraishi’ to hit stands on February 15 General-A Himalayan Echo” virtually on Former chief election commissioner January 8, 2021. (CEC) S Y Quraishi has come out with his The book has been authored by (Retd) book titled “The Population Myth: Islam, Lt General Konsam Himalay Singh, in Family Planning and Politics in India”. which he has conveyed his dreams and The book will hit the stands on February views as well as also highlighted about 15, 2021. It has been published by Manipur, the “Land of Emeralds”. HarperCollins India. The book evaluates India’s demographics ‘Unscripted’: Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod from a religious perspective and seeks to Chopra pens book on his life, role of demolish two basic myths that ‘Islam is cinema against family planning’ and ”Muslim Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra will rate of growth” is linked to capture come out with a book titled “Unscripted: political power. Conversations on Life and Cinema”. The book is scheduled to be released on “Gazing Eastwards: Of Buddhist January 25. Monks and Revolutionaries in China” The book provides a “glimpse into the Book by Romila Thapar mind, method and madness of one The book titled “Gazing Eastwards: Of of contemporary Hindi cinema’s best Buddhist Monks and Revolutionaries in filmmakers”. China” by renowned Indian historian Romila Thapar is set to be released soon. Vice President releases book Abdul Gazing Eastwards is a lively and arresting Kalam- Ninaivugalukku Maranamillai account of Romila Thapar’s first visit to The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah China in 1957. She went as a research Naidu releasing the book, “Abdul Kalam-

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 17 Books & Authors Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Ninaivugalukku Maranamillai” in Former V-P brings out autobiography Chennai. Mr. Ansari wrote in his autobiography, The book ‘Abdul Kalam-Ninaivugalukku By Many A Happy Accident, that this Maranamillai’ (immortal memories) subversion was “compounded by the has been penned by A P J M Nazema abdication or failure of other social and Maraikayar, the niece of the late President political forces to comprehend its true and by noted space scientist Y S Rajan. nature and the urgency to counter it”. Goa CM Pramod Sawant releases book Tamil translation of French novel ‘Manohar Parrikar – Off The Record’, wins Romain Rolland Book Prize at by author Shri Waman Subha Prabhu Kolkata The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant The Tamil translation of French novel recently released a book titled written by senior journalist Shri Waman Subha ‘Le mariage de plaisir’ won the Romain Prabhu. Rolland Book Prize at the three-day Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival in Through this book, the author narrates the Kolkata. multi-faceted personality of late Parrikar, based on the collection of memories held The winners of the prize are translator by Waman Prabhu who happened to be Dr S A Vengada Soupraya Nayagar with late Parrikar during the journey of his and publisher Amutharasan Paulraj life. of Thadagam Publishers for the Tamil translation of the book, authored by Tahar VP Venkaiah Naidu virtually released Ben Jelloun. the Book “A textbook of Urban The publisher and translator will be Planning and Geography” authored invited by the French Institute in India to by Dr.Sameer Sharma the Paris Book Fair 2021 (Livre Paris 2021) where India will be the guest of honour. Venkaiah Naidu, the Vice President of India virtually released the book “A textbook of Dominic Jeeva, the great writer of Urban Planning and Geography” authored Eelam, has passed away by Dr.Sammeer Sharma. The book is published by PHI Learning Dominic Jeeva (age 94), the oldest writer Private Limited. and publisher in Eelam, has passed away. Avirampillai was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka “India 2030: Rise of a Rajasic Nation” on June 27, 1927, the son of Joseph and by Gautam Chikermane Mariamma. His father was running a barber shop in Jaffna at that time. The book titled “India 2030: The Rise of a Rajasic Nation” is a collection of essays Dominic Jeeva entered the field of modern by the likes of Bibek Debroy, Vikram literature in Eelam in 1946. Sood, Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Ram Dominic Jeeva started Jasmine Magazine Madhav and David Frawley, among in 1966. Dominic Jeeva successfully ran others. The book has been authored by Jasmine Magazine as a modern Tamil Gautam Chikermane. literary magazine. Dominic Jeeva returned

18 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Awards & Honours to Moscow at the invitation of the Soviet the country, three belonged to Jammu Union. Dominic Jeeva has created countless and Kashmir -- one each from Samba, Tamil texts for this community. Ramgarh, and Bhadarwah.

MP’s novel gets award from literary 1.7 Awards & Honours forum in Malaysia

‘Art Sculptor’ Award for Painting and Noted author and Madurai MP’s novel ‘Veerayuga Nayagan Velpaari’ has Sculpture Award bagged the best international Tamil work The Government of Tamil Nadu has award constituted by Malaysia-based announced an increase of Rs. 1 lakh . Tan Sri K.R. Soma Language and Literary The order also said that the number of Foundation. awardees would be increased from 2 to 6. The biennial award carries a citation and In this regard, the Government of Tamil a purse of US$ 10,000. The novel, based Nadu on Thursday announced that the on Tamil Sangam literature, revolves Department of Arts and Culture of the around a tribal king, popularly known as State of Tamil Nadu will present an ‘Mullaikku Ther kodutha Paari.’ annual award to an artist in the traditional category and an artist in the modern Suriname President, Curacao PM, NZ style category in recognition of the rare minister among 30 Pravasi Bharatiya achievements of the renowned artists in Samman awardees the field of traditional and modern art The award is the highest honour in the fields of painting and sculpture in conferred by the President of India as Tamil Nadu. part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 65-year-old bedridden man’s house Conventions on a Non-Resident Indian in Jammu and Kashmir wins ‘best (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO), and organisation or institution established construction award’ under PMAY and run by NRIs or PIOs.

A 65-year-old man from Bhadarwah Suriname President Chandrikapersad in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district Santokhi, Curacao Prime Minister was among three residents of the Union Eugene Rhuggenaath and New Zealand Territory who recently received the ‘best minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan were construction award’ under the Pradhan among 30 NRIs, and Indian-origin people Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). and organisations who were conferred Modi proclaimed about the scheme that the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. started in June 2015 and the number of The first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was beneficiaries from poor and middle-class observed in 2003 and Pravasi Bharatiya families. Samman Award was given to those Out of total 88 beneficiaries selected overseas Indians who were contributing for the best construction award from

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 19 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 to the development of the country. Six Confederation (ABC) championships years later, the concept of Overseas continuously representing the national Citizen of India (OCI) was launched to squad. Anitha has a record of 30 Medals help which aims to allow people of Indian in National Championship. origin and their spouses to live and work in India indefinitely. Dr. Harsh Vardhan felicitates Kayakalp award to Public and Private Indian Railways bags 13 prizes at Health Facilities National Energy Conservation Awards Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of 2020 Health and family Welfare inaugurated The Indian Railways bagged 13 prizes the 5th National Kayakalp Awards along at the National Energy Conservation with Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey Awards, 2020, which are given by the through a video conference. Bureau of Energy Efficiency to those Dr Harsh Vardhan reminded “Swachh organisations that put in special efforts to Bharat Mission’s (SBM) foundation was reduce energy consumption. laid down on 2nd October 2014. Swachh The 13 prizes were awarded to multiple Bharat Mission in its eighth year of zones and workshops of the national implementation has become a National transporter. Movement which has been able to evoke In the ‘transport category’, the Western a sense of responsibility and pride in the Railway got the first prize, the Eastern citizens of country. Railway received the second prize, and the North Eastern Railway and the South Si.Pa.Adithyanar gets Dhinamani Central Railway received Certificate of Award Merit. The Government of Tamil Nadu has instituted various awards in the name of Lifetime Achievement Award for Tamil scholars and selfless leaders who Southern Railway Basketball Player have contributed to the development of She received a Life Time Achievement the Tamil language and literature and Award Received From Chief Minister of the upliftment of the Tamil community. Tamil Nadu in January 12, 2021. Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy Anitha Pauldurai (born 22 June 1985, has announced the winners of the Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian Thiruvalluvar Thirunal Awards and the basketball player who has been the Chithirai Tamil New Year Awards. captain of the Indian Women’s National Annal Ambedkar Award - Varakur A. basketball team. 18 years played for Indian Arunachal Pradesh, Women National team (2000 to 2017). Grandfather Anna Award - Mr. Amarar. Anitha is the first only Indian woman Kadampur MR Janarthanan to have played nine Asian Basketball Chief Kamarasar Award - Dr. Ch. Devaraj

20 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Awards & Honours

Mahakavi Bharathiar Award - Poet as well as in 2019 for becoming second Poovai Senkuttuvan cleanest hospital in the country among Bavender Bharathidasan Award - category B hospitals (less than 1000 beds) Arivumathi (A) Mathiyalakan and received Rs one crore as prize money. Thamizh Thendral Thiru .Vi.Ka Award - V.N. God Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to Muthamilk Police K.A.P. Viswanathan be honoured with SKOCH Challenger Award -Dr. Chethuramalingam Award Best Translator Award: Cho. Sesachalam, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda will Dr. Rama. Kurunathan, p. Gunasekar, be honoured with the SKOCH Challenger Dr. Padmavathi Vivekanandan, Award in a virtual ceremony on January Su. Jyotirlatha Kirija, Jr.; Ramki (A) 16, 2021. Ramakiruttinan, Swami Vimurthanandar, The award has been conferred to Meera Ravishankar, Thilagavathi, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Kiruttina Prasad. e-Governance, for its IT-led initiatives and other transformational initiatives that are Madurai, World Tamil Association Awards: leading to outcome-based performance Literary Award for 2020 - Dr. Alexis improvement. Thevarassenmark from France The Tribal Affairs Ministry has taken Grammar Award - Prof. Arunachalam up several transformational initiatives Shanmugadasu from Sri Lanka recently. Linguistics Award from Dr. Suba, There is also great transparency with the Singapore. tribal related data available in the public domain. AIIMS Bhubaneswar receives Kayakalp Award for 3rd time Biswajit Chatterjee conferred ‘Indian Personality of the Year’ award at IFFI The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar Union Minister for Information and has proved its mettle once again for Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar promoting cleanliness, hygiene and announced veteran actor, director and singer Biswajit Chatterjee as the recipient creating sustainable practices in public of the ‘Indian Personality of the Year’ health facilities by winning the Kayakalp award. Award Scheme. The 84-year-old actor is known for AIIMS Bhubaneswar will get an award featuring in films like “Bees Saal Baad”, of Rs 2 crore for the performance. The “Night In London” and “April Fool”. institute has been adjudged as the best Chatterjee started his career in the late central government hospital under 1950s and went on to work in films like B category for cleanliness for a third “Biwi Aur Makan”, “Sagaai”, “Kohra” consecutive year. among others. In 1975, he directed and It had earlier received the award in 2018 produced “Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja”,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 21 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 featuring himself along with Dharmendra, 32 Children Awarded Pradhan Mantri Hema Malini and Rekha. Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021

Southern Railway bags Silver in The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) for the year 2021 has SKOCH Awards been conferred to 32 children, hailing from Southern Railway has won SILVER in from 32 districts of 21 States/UTs.. the prestigious SKOCH Awards under The PMRBP award is given by the the category of Excellence in Response to Government of India to the children with COVID-19. exceptional abilities and outstanding Participation for the SKOCH award was accomplishments, in the fields of initiated by the Commercial branch of innovation, scholastic, sports, arts & Southern Railway. culture, social service and bravery. Distribution of 32 awards based on the st 51 International Film Festival of respective categories India ff • Art & Culture – 7 The 51st edition of International Film ff • Innovation – 9 Festival of India (IFFI) held its coveted ff • Scholastic achievements – 5 award ceremony on the closing day of the f festival on Sunday in Goa. While Danish f • Sports – 7 World War II drama Into the Darkness ff • Bravery – 3 won the Golden Peacock Award, Tzu- ff • Social Service 1 Chuan Liu and Zofia Stafiej won the top acting honours. City Police Chief gets President’s medal Philanthropist Ravi Gaikwad awarded “Nelson Mandela” World Chennai Police Commissioner Mahesh Humanitarian Award Kumar Aggarwal is among three police officers from Tamil Nadu chosen for the Ravi Gaikwad, a Philanthropist & Chief award of the President’s Police Medal for of Regional Transport Office, Thane & Distinguished Service. Konkan Region has been awarded the The 1994-batch IPS officer was earlier “Nelson Mandela” World Humanitarian been conferred with the Tamil Nadu Chief Award for his dedication & service to Minister’s Police Medal for Excellence in humanity. Public Service and also the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and Chief Minister’s Anna Award Medal for Outstanding Devotion to Duty. Anna Award for heroic deed to the driver Suresh who stopped the train without Padma Vibhushan for SPB, Shinzo colliding with the rocks Abe Those who have done heroic deeds in Tamil Nadu are given a check for Rs.1 Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Lakhs. Abe and late singer S P Balasubrahmanyam were named for the Padma Vibhushan, the

22 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Awards & Honours second-highest civilian award in India, Chennai. Born to Veeraraghavan, a farmer, while Singer K.S.Chithra will get the and Radhabai, Villupattu exponent Subbu Padma Bhushan. Arumugam, whose popular and energetic opening line ‘Thandhanathom endru Ten from T.N. chosen for Padma Shri solliye’ is remembered by his fans, is a native of Tirunelveli district. In a message Ten personalities from various fields from conveyed through his daughter Bharathi Tamil Nadu were among the 102 persons Thirumagan, who performs on stage with chosen for Padma Shri awards announced. him, he said, “It is all with the blessings of Legendary playback singer and musician Maha Periyava that this has been possible.” S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, who died in Solomon Pappaiah, 84, renowned September 2020, was chosen for Padma judge of ‘pattimandram’ (debates) and Vibhushan along with six others. No one a Tamil scholar, expressed joy on the from the State was among the 10 persons announcement. A native of Madurai, chosen for Padma Bhushan awards. he studied in American College and The following is the list of Padma Shri later worked in the same institution as a awardees and the field in which they have professor in the Department of Tamil. A been chosen: P. Subramanian (posthumous), recipient of Kalaimamani award from the trade and industry; Thiruvengadam Tamil Nadu government in 2000. Veeraraghavan (posthumous), medicine; K.C. Sivasankaran (posthumous), Empowering women art; Pappammal, agriculture; Subbu Arumugam, art; Solomon Pappaiah, Marachi Subburaman, 71, is the director literature and education-journalism; of the Tiruchi-based non-governmental Marachi Subburaman, social work; organisation, Society for Community Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, art; Sridhar Organisation and People’s Education Vembu, trade and industry, and P. Anitha, (SCOPE). Through the organisation, he has sports. taken up projects on women empowerment and livelihood, watershed development ‘Gear man’ and ecological sanitation, specialising in P. Subramanian, known as the “gear ‘urine diversion’ toilets and human waste man of Coimbatore”, who passed away composting. He has been involved in the in December 2020, started Shanthi Gears construction of a large number of leach pit in the 1970s and made gears for a wide toilets in Tiruchi and other districts. range of industries and even designed and developed machinery to make the Fireman to get President’s Medal gears. Apart from that, he is known for his philanthropy. “He was not a person who The President’s Fire Service Medal for liked recognition. gallantry has been announced for a fireman who lost his life while attempting to rescue Two-rupee doctor two labourers in Perambalur district. Dr. Thiruvengadam Veeraraghavan, R.Rajkumar, 36, died of suffocation while popularly known as “the two rupee rescuing two labourers trapped in a well doctor”, who died in August 2020 at the a Selliampalayam in Perambalur district age of 70, catered to patients from north

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 23 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 in July last. The government gave `10 lakh duty) and 134 Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), solatium to the family. including 13 COVID-19 warriors.

Galwan hero gets Maha Vir Chakra CBI bags 30 police medals this year honour The CBI has bagged 30 President’s Police Colonel B.Santhosh Babu, Commanding Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Officer of 16 Bihar regiment deployed in Medal for Meritorious Service awards this Galwan during Operation Snow Leopard, year. who lost his life along with 19 others in The President’s Police Medals for the violent clash with Chinese troops in Distinguished Service have been awarded June, has been posthumously selected for to six officials, while the Police Medals the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the Second have been conferred on 24. highest wartime gallantry award of India. Five other personnel deployed there Paswan, Gogoi to get Padma Bhushan have been named for the Vir Chakra Legendary singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, (VrC), which is the third highest wartime who died last year, will get the Padma gallantry award. Vibushan, the second highest civilian Vir Chakras award in the country, posthumously. Hav. Tejinder Singh from 2 Medium Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Regiment will get the Vir Chakra along Abe, Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin with four others posthumously-Nb Sub Khan, cardiologist B.M. Hegde and B.B. Nuduram Soren and Nk Deepak Singh Lal, the archaeologist who claimed to have discovered temple remains at Ayodhya, from 16 Bihar, Hav. K Palani from 81 Field will also get the Padma Vibhushan, the regiment and Sep. Gurutej Singh from Union Home Ministry announced on the 3 Punjab. In addition, the President has eve of Republic Day. Singer K.S. Chithra, announced one Kirti Chakra posthumously former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra and three Shaurya Chakras, one of which Mahajan, Nripendra Misra, former is posthumous. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister The President has approved award of 455 Narendra Modi, and former Chairman of gallantry and other defence decorations the National Commission for Minorities to the armed forces personnel and others Tarlochan Singh are among the 10 Padma on the eve of the 72nd Repoblic Day Bhushan recipients. celebrations. The Padma Bhushan will be conferred They are one MVC, five Kirti Chakras, five posthumously on former Assam Chief VrC, seven Shaurya Chakras, 134 Sena Minister Tarun Gogoi, former Union Medal (all gallantry), 30 Param Vishisht Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, former Seva Medal (PVSM, four Uttam Yudh Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and Shia cleric Kalbe Sadiq. Seva Medal (UYSM), 51 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (YSM), 46 Sena Medal (Devotion The 1971 Bangladesh war veteran Lt.Col. to Duty), including for two COVID-19 Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahid and Bangladeshi warriors, eight Nao Sena Medal (devotion artist Sanjida Khatun will get the Padma to duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medal (devotion to Shri.

24 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Awards & Honours Rajni Bector of Mrs Bector’s Food Kanagaraj (70), a tribal from Telangana’s Specialities, the Punjab-based company Kumarambim Asifabad district, has been that is known for its biscuits and bakery awarded the Padma Award. He is best products and whose initial public offering known for his peacock feathers, a tribal (IPO) was oversubscribed last year, has dance called Gussadi. been selected for Padma Shri. Guzzadi dances at the 1981 Republic Sangkhumi Bualchhuak from Mizoram Day celebrations in Delhi. Gussadi has will be given Padma Shri in the social produced hundreds of dancers. work category. Sindhutai Sapkal from Maharashtra, K. Kesavasamy receives Padmasree known to help orphans, will get Padma award for innovation in puppetry Shri. Professor C.L Sapru from Jammu The Central Government has announced and Kashmir, who died last year, will get the Padma Shri award for K. Kesavasamy, Padma Shri posthumously. a retired teacher and puppet artist from Karaikal . Over 900 police, CAPF staff will get The Central Government announced medals the Padma Awards for the year 2021. More than 900 police and Central Armed On the eve of Republic Day, the Padma Police Force (CAPF) personnel were Awards were presented to 119 people selected for medals, including 207 gallantry for their achievements in various fields, medals. including education, social service, public Assistant sub-inspector Mohan Lal of the administration, science and technology, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who literature and sports. Of these, 102 have was killed in the suicide bombing attack been awarded the Padma Shri in the in Pulwama on February 14, 2019, was country. K. Kesavasamy (78), a puppet selected for the President’s Police Medal for artist and retired teacher from Karaikal, Gallantry (PPMG) posthumously. Mr. Lal, Pondicherry Union Territory is one of who was on picket duty, tried to flag down them. the car and fired at the speeding vehicle but was killed along with 39 personnel on the CM gives away Anna gallantry medals bus when the bomb exploded. Sixty-eight A schoolteacher who risked her life to other CRPF personnel get bravery medals. save her students from an explosion, The Border Security Force won 20 Police a veterinary surgeon who rescued an Medals for Gallantry (PMG), five PPMDS elephant that plunged into a 60-ft-deep and 46 Police Medals for Meritorious well, a loco pilot who noticed boulders on Service (PMMS). railway tracks and saved his passengers and a cab driver who acted swiftly to Kanagaraj’s request to receive Padma save the life of an injured policeman were Shri award awarded the prestigious Anna Medal for Gallantry during the Republic Day The Central Government announced the celebrations. Padma Awards. Of these, Telangana has received only one award.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 25 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 The Anna Medal for Gallantry (given Repco Bank bags awards; MD as to government servants and the general Women leader of the year public) carries a cheque of `1 lakh, a medal worth `9,000 and a certificate. Chennai based Repco Bank Managing Director R S Isabella has won an award Param Vishist Seva Medal recipient from Women Leaders of the Year by the Frontiers in Co-operative Banking from coastal guard Awards-2020. The award is in the PACs/ Shri Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director Credit Society Category. General, Coast Guard has been conferred The FCBA (Frontiers in Cooperative the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Banking Awards) was set up in 2006 and it felicitates the selfless services rendered Uttar Pradesh wins best tableau by cooperatives and rural markets. The award awards are a mix of technology, strong Uttar Pradesh was adjudged the best vision and business acumen. tableau among the 32 tableaux, 17 from A.R.Rahman presentd ‘Alert Being States and Union Territories (UTs), nine from various Ministries, departments and Icon Award’ paramilitary forces and six from Defence From providing medication and nutritious Ministry, that participated in the Republic food to organizing a baby shower, Leo Day parade. Akash Raj has helped over 350 pregnant The tableau of Uttar Pradesh was based on HIV positive women, differently abled, the theme Ayodhya: Cultural Heritage of widows and those from the economically Uttar Pradesh. Minister of State for Youth weaker section. Affairs & Sports and MoS for Minority Oscar Awar-winning music director Affairs Kiren Rijiju gave away the awards A.R.Rahman was chosen for the “Alert to the participants. Being Icon Award”. The Alert Being Icon Tableau of Tripura and Uttrakhand were Award for an organization was presented adjudged the second and third place to the Biocon Foundation founded by respectively. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

26 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Cultural Panorama 1.8 Cultural Panorama marking the beginning of pink season in the district. Pt Satish Vyas conferred Tansen The Mao area of Senapati district in Samman at the World Music Festival Manipur is known for Cherry Blossom, a plant which is popularly known as In Madhya Pradesh, 96th Tansen Music Festival began in Gwalior with strict Sakura in Japan. COVID-19 guidelines in place. In the inaugural ceremony renowned santoor 12 Tamil literatures, including player, Pandit Satish Vyas was conferred Thirukkural, in 10 languages, upon the prestigious Tansen Samman. including Hindi Bhopal-based institution Abhinav The Central Institute of Classical Tamil Kala Parishad was honoured with Raja Studies, started by former chief minister Mansingh Tomar award. The festival Karunanidhi. pays tribute to Tansen, one of 9 gems in Professor Ira Chandrasekaran was Akbar’s court. appointed to this post last February after 13 years. Yet the Presidential Award and Discovery Of Sangam age Borewell Artist Award on behalf of the Classical Near Villupuram Institute have not been presented for A Sangam age cover well has been found many years. near Villupuram. The company has been paralyzed for Near Villupuram is the village of about 9 years without publishing editions Vedampattu. It was then discovered that of 12 Tamil literatures in 10 languages, there was a borehole in the area. This including Hindi and Telugu, and borehole is found with six layers. There Tolkappiyam and Silappathikaram. are also brick structures in the area. Villages near Villupuram, including Telangana celebrates festival of Viratikkuppam, Alathur, Nannadu cattle ‘Kanuma’ and Perumbakkam, are of historical In Telangana, people are celebrating significance. Historical traces from Kanuma, the festival of cattle, on the various periods beginning with the New third day of Sankranti festival. Stone Age have already been discovered. On the occasion, the people especially in The area pretended to be in that category rural areas, worship cattle and agriculture is now of historical significance. Many tools. Rural craftsmen and artisans who more historical traces may be available if help farmers in their daily chores are excavated in this area. specially honoured.

Cherry Blossom Mao Festival held in Tamil Nadu excavation Started Manipur The Tamil Nadu state archaeology In Manipur, the Cherry Blossom Mao department announced that the excavation Festival was held at Senapati district in the sixth phase, which was started on

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 27 India and its Neighbours Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 February 19 this year, would be extended to the villages of Keeladi, Manalur, 1.9 India and its Neighbours Konthagai and Agaram. U.S. Congress passes ‘Malala Ancient temple granary in Villupuram Yousafzai Scholarship Act’ for cries for attention Pakistani women The granary in the Ranganathaswamy On January 01, 2021, the U.S. Congress temple in Adhi Thiruvarangam in has passed the ‘Malala Yousafzai Villupuram district is in a state of neglect. Scholarship Act’ to increase the number It is one of the few granaries in the temples of scholarships for Pakistani women in Tamil Nadu. The other granaries are in in higher education under a merit and Srirangam temple, Jambukeswarar temple needs-based programme. in Tiruvanaikaval and Palaivananathar The bill requires the U.S. Agency for temple in Thirupalaivalam in Thanjavur district, which were restored recently. International Development (USAID) to award at least 50% of scholarships Known as Uthararangam, the main deity of the temple in reclining posture is made under a Pakistan-based higher education of medicinal herbs. The deity is bigger scholarship programme to Pakistani than the presiding deity of Srirangam women, from 2020 to 2022, across a range Ranganathaswamy. The granary was built of academic disciplines and in accordance during the reign of Vijayanagara kings with existing eligibility criteria. to store the paddy from the fields of the temple. India to gift ‘Covishield’ vaccines to Grants to termple Bangladesh Inscriptions in the temple testify to the India will gift 2 million doses of the grants given by the Vijayanagara kings ‘Covishield’ vaccine of Serum Institute of for the renovation of the temple tank and India (SII) to Bangladesh. In this regard, a lands for temple employees. special Indian flight carrying the vaccines will land at Bangladesh’s Shahjalal Pallava statue found near Uttiramerur International Airport on January 20, 2021. This Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will Statue of Muthadevi (Moodevi) found at be stored at the facilities of Directorate Uttiramerur. General of Health Services in Bangladesh. A statue of Pallava was found near Uttiramerur in Kanchipuram district . A gold treasure weighing 565 grams was found on December 13 at the Kulambeswarar temple in Uttiramerur. Knowing about this statue Uttiramerur Historical Study Center, doing research that went to the Pallava period moothadevi proclaimed that the jesta Statue.

28 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Appointments – Who is who? of reemployment of Sinha as deputy 1.11 Appointments – Who is election commissioner on contract who? basis for a period of six months beyond December 31, 2020.

Retired judge named to head SHRC Governor administers oath of office The State has named retired High Court to Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee judge S. Baskaran as the Chairperson Governor Banwarilal Purohit of the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights administered the oath of office to Madras Commission. High Court’s 42nd Chief Justice Sanjib The order from Governor Banwarilal Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan and handed Purohit said he would head the body for over a warrant of appointment issued by three years or till he attained 70 years of President Ram Nath Kovind. age. Hima Kohli Appointed as First Woman Sanjib Banerjee appointed for High Chief Justice of Telangana High Court Court of Madras The senior-most judge of Delhi High The Central Government has cleared the Court, Justice Hima Kohli has been appointment of three new Chief Justices appointed as the new Chief Justice of to helm the High Courts of Orissa, Telangana High Court. Telangana and Madras. She is the first woman to be sworn in as Justice Sanjib Banerjee, a judge of the CJ of Telangana HC. Calcutta High Court, has been appointed Justice Kohli was administered the oath as the next Chief Justice of Madras High of office by Telangana Governor Dr Court. Justice Banerjee enrolled as an Tamilisai Soundararajan on January 07, advocate in the year 1990 and practiced 2021. mainly in Calcutta High Court. He was She replaces CJ Raghvendra Singh appointed permanent judge of that High Chauhan, who has been appointed as the Court in 2006. CJ of Uttarakhand HC.

Umesh Sinha named deputy election Indian-American Raj Iyer takes commissioner charge as US Army’s first Chief Umesh Sinha has been named as the Information Officer deputy election commissioner in the Indian-American Dr Raj Iyer has been Election Commission of India. appointed as the first Chief Information

Sinha, a 1986-batch IAS officer (retired) is Officer (CIO) of the US Army, since the at present serving as secretary-general in creation of the position by the Pentagon the commission. in July 2020. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the extension in the term

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 29 Appointments – Who is who? Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

Iyer currently serves as the principal Indian-American Garima Verma advisor to the Secretary of the Army. named digital director in Office of the He will supervise an annual budget of First Lady USD 16 billion for the US Army’s IT Incoming First Lady, Jill Biden has named operations. Indian-American Garima Verma as her digital director and Michael LaRosa press Jay Shah named BCCI’s Official secretary, the Biden transition team has Representative on ICC Board announced. Jay Shah has been named as the official She served as audience development and representative of Board of Control content strategist on the Biden-Harris for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the campaign. International Cricket Council (ICC) Board Verma was a volunteer with the content meetings. team, designing graphics for distribution Shah is the Secretary of the Board of to Biden-Harris volunteers across the Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). country. He will replace BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who was currently representing TN appoints chairperson for TNSCPCR India at the ICC Board. The state has finally appointed a new chairperson to the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Council Elects Fiji’s Commission for Protection of Child Rights Nazhat Shameem Khan as its (TNSCPCR). Saraswathi Rangaswamy President for 2021 took charge earlier this week. This will be Saraswathi’s second stint at the Nazhat Shameem Khan, the Permanent commission as she had previously served Representative of Fiji to the United Nations in the same post between 2013-15. This Office at Geneva, has been elected by the time, she took charge from MP Nirmala UN Human Rights Council as its President who headed the commission for more than for 2021. two years since May, 2017. Ambassador Khan was elected during the Council’s 15th annual meeting on Jayati Ghosh appointed to UN 15 January 2021, through a secret ballot advisory panel process, where she won 29 votes from Indian development economist Jayati among 47 members council. Ghosh is among the 20 prominent She replaces Australian lawyer Elisabeth personalities appointed by the UN to a Tichy-Fisslberger, who was serving as the high-level advisory board that will provide President of the Geneva-based human recommendations for the Secretary- rights body for 2020. general to respond to the current and future socio-economic challenges in the post-COVID-19 world. Dr.Ghosh, 65, is currently a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

30 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Appointments – Who is who? R S Sharma appointed as new CEO of Ayushman Bharat Scheme The National Health Authority (NHA) has appointed RS Sharma as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of country’s flagship public health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat, also called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. He would replace Indu Bhushan, who is serving as the Chief Executive of the Ayushman Scheme since its inception in 2018. Ayushman Bharat Scheme Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out this health insurance scheme on 23 September 2018 to cover about 50 crore citizens in India and already has several success stories to its credit. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana of the Government of India to provide free access to healthcare for 40% of people in the country. People using the program access their own primary care services from a family doctor.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 31 Latest Court Verdicts Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 POLITICAL 2. SCIENCE

2.1 Latest Court Verdicts an aim to double farmers income. The program will cover all the farmers of all the assembly constituencies. Jharkhand launches crop relief scheme ‘Kisan Fasal Rahat Yojana’ Supreme Court okays Central Vista Jharkhand launches its own crop relief and new Parliament projects in two scheme to replace the Prime Minister’s to one majority insurance scheme. India’s supreme court has given approval It is a compensation scheme aimed at for a new parliament building that critics providing security cover to Jharkhand have called an “expensive vanity project” farmers in case of crop damage due to for the prime minister, Narendra Modi. natural calamity. It will cover both land Under the $3bn development project, owning and landless farmers. Delhi’s iconic central vista at the heart The Department of Agriculture, Animal of the capital, home to its parliament Husbandry and Co-operative will be the and the famous India Gate monument, implementing agency and it will work in will be transformed by a new triangular association with a project management parliament building, government and unit, which will be a consultancy firm that legislature offices and a new home for the will take care of technical requirements. prime minister. The government plans to have the new Prayas Scheme parliament building ready by India’s The central government has introduced 75th Independence Day in August 2022, a scheme called ‘Prayas’. Under this but was forced to halt c¬onstruction scheme, the Employees Provident in December after a legal challenge in Fund Scheme will be paid on the day India’s highest court over allegations it of retirement of the employees who are had violated environmental and land use members in 1995. laws. The vista is the only area in India designated Grade I heritage status. Uttar Pradesh to launch ‘Kisan Kalyan Mission’ The Uttar Pradesh Government will launch the ‘Kisan Kalyan Mission’ with

32 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Govt – Welfare oriented... 2.1 Govt – Welfare oriented Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches ‘PANKH Abhiyan’ Govt schemes, their for Girl Child In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj utility Singh Chouhan launched a new scheme ‘PANKH Abhiyan’ on 24 January, to mark Centre launches Pradhan Mantri the occasion of National Girl Child Day. Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0 in 600 The scheme has been launched under the districts ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme for the The Government of India launched the empowerment and growth of the girl child. third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal ‘PANKH Abhiyan’ is a year long Vikas Yojana on 15 January 2021. programme. The letter in the PANKH The scheme has been rolled out for the scheme stands for: current financial year, ending March 2021, ff • ‘P’ – protection and will be implemented by the Ministry of ff • ‘A’ – awareness of their rights Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. ff • ‘N’ – nutrition Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal ff • ‘K’ – knowledge Vikas Yojana-3.0, skills training would be f provided in 600 districts across all states, f • ‘H’ – health (except four states including Himachal Senior Citizen Savings Scheme Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal) to 8 lakh candidates over next three months The number of enrollees is increasing as with an outlay of Rs 948.90 crore with the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme is focus on Covid-related skills. restructured to maximize benefits. With 2.50 lakh beneficiaries, Tamil Nadu is in PM To Release 2,691 Crore to the 2nd place in the country. Beneficiaries Of Housing Scheme In UP The Central Government has introduced Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme to financial assistance of around 2,691 crore ensure that senior citizens are financially to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh secure during retirement. under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - The government has decided to keep the Gramin (PMAY-G) via video conferencing. interest rate on small savings schemes The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) the unchanged for the quarter January to assistance would include release of first March 2021. The interest rate on PPF installment to 5.3 lakh beneficiaries remains at 7.1 per cent per annum while and second installment to 80 thousand for the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme, the beneficiaries. interest rate is 7.4 per cent per annum. The 1-year time deposit, the rate of interest PM Modi has set a target of “housing for all stands at 5.5 per cent. by 2022”, for which a flagship programme of PMAY-G was launched in November The federal government last year revised 2016. the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, which

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 33 Govt – Welfare oriented... Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

began in 2004, and set new rules. People the Centre had launched more than two over the age of 60 can open a savings years ago to provide healthcare access to account under the scheme, which is most vulnerable sections, according to the implemented in post offices and banks. Economic Survey 2020-21. The minimum deposit is Rs.1,000 to a Across all the States, the proportion of maximum of Rs.15 lakh. hoseholds with health insurance increased by 54% for States that implemented PM- 2.5 lakh houses built by LIFE Mission: JAY while falling by 10% in States that did Pinarayi not. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan An analysis of claims under the scheme has said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) showed a long-tailed distribution that government will not wither under pressure peaks in the range of `10,000-15,000. tactics employed by political rivals to torpedo its development projects that are Articles Related to Assembly session in various stages of execution. Article 176(1) of the Constitution of India Announcing the completion of enjoins that the Governor shall Address construction of 2.5 lakh houses under the both the Houses assembled together at the LIFE mission housing project Mr.Vijayan commencement of the first Session after alleged that certain quarters sought to each general election to the Assembly and scuttle the State’s progress by propagating at the commencement of the first session of falsehoods and raking up controversies. each year and inform the Legislature of the As many as 2,50,547 houses have been causes of its Summons. constructed under the LIFE Mission thus Article 87 of the constitution provides two far, thereby enabling over 10 lakh people instances when the President specially in the State to lead dignified lives. In its addresses both Houses of Parliament. initial phase, the project provided 52,607 The President of India addresses both houses for people without both land and the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha at the a home. beginning of the first Session after each general election when the reconstituted Health outcomes in PM-JAY States lower house meets for the first time. better: Survey Article 152- 162 : The executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and shall be exercised by him either (PM-JAY) contributed to improvement directly or through officers subordinate to in many health outcomes in States that him in accordance with this Constitution. implemented the ambitious programmed

34 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Policy on Environment and Ecology 3. GEOGRAPHY 3.1 Policy on Environment and Ecology

India becomes co-chair of Asia pressing matter appears to have left Protected Areas Partnership (APAP), several states baffled as hundreds of a regional forum to conserve wildlife birds have died due to bird flu across the country. India has been chosen as the co-chair Bird flu, also called avian influenza, has of the IUCN-supported Asia Protected come as a double whammy for Kerala, Areas Partnership (APAP) for a period of Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, three years till November 2023. Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat that The APAP is chaired by IUCN ( are already fighting their biggest battle International Union for Conservation of against the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nature) Asia and co-chaired by an APAP The district administrations of Alappuzha nation member on rotational basis. and Kottayam have begun the culling of India will replace South Korea ,which poultry, a day after bird flu was detected held the post for 3 years until November, in certain parts of the districts. 2020. As a co-chair, India would be responsible 2020 was 8th warmest year in India to assist other Asian countries in managing their protected areas. on record since 1901: IMD The India Meteorological Department Highest rainfall Chennai received in (IMD) issued a statement on Indian last 100 years’ Climate during 2020. The IMD’s Climate Research and Services (CRS) revealed With the Northeast monsoon yet to that the 2020 was the eighth warmest withdraw, several parts of the State are year in India on record since 1901. The witnessing moderate to heavy rainfall, main contributors to this warming were which is unusual in January. the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. This is among the highest rainfall the city has experienced in the last 100 years, Bird Festival ‘Kalrav’ at Nagi-Nakti announced ‘Tamil Nadu Weatherman’ Pradeep John on his blog. The city bird sanctuary received 145 mm of rainfall in a 15-hour The Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar window. inaugurated the first-ever bird festival of the state, ‘Kalrav’, at Nagi-Nakti bird Bird flu outbreak: From Kerala to sanctuary, located in Jamui district. Rajasthan, list of affected states in The three-day bird festival was organised India from January 15 to 17, 2021. As India continues the downward trend The festival was organized by the state for fresh Covid-19 infections, another environment, forest and climate change

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 35 Policy on Environment and Ecology Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

department to create awareness among Sunderbans is home to 428 species of people about birds, especially the birds, says ZSI migratory birds. Indian Sunderbans, which is part of the Climate change may change rainfall largest mangrove forest in the world, patterns in south India, intensify is home to 428 species of birds, a recent publication of the Zoological Survey of floods: Study India (ZSI) States. Future climate change will cause an The publication, “Birds of the Sundarban uneven shifting of the tropical rain belt a Biosphere Reserve”, released earlier this narrow band of heavy precipitation near month by the ZSI, not only documents the Earth’s equator leading to increased the avifauna of the Sunderbans, but also flooding in parts of India, a new study serves as comprehensive photographic warns. The study, published in the field guide, with detailed distribution and journal Nature Climate Change, examined locality data for all the species from the computer simulations from 27 state-of- region. the-art climate models, and measured The Indian Sunderbans, which covers the tropical rain belt’s response to a 4,200 sq km, comprises of the Sunderban future scenario in which greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise through the end Tiger Reserve of 2,585 sq km — home to of the current century. about 96 Royal Bengal Tigers (as per last census in 2020 ) — is also a world heritage According to the research, a northward site and a Ramsar Site. The publication shift of the tropical rain belt over eastern has been compiled by three scientists — Africa and the Indian Ocean could result Kaliash Chandra, Director ZSI, Gopinathan in “intensified flooding in southern India,” Maheshwaran, head of the bird section of and may impact global biodiversity and the ZSI and Amitava Majumdar. food security by 2100. India has over 1,300 species of birds and if Maharashtra government renames 428 species of birds are from Sunderbans, Nagpur’s Gorewada International it means that one in every three birds in the country is found in the unique ecosystem. Zoo after Bal Thackeray The Maharashtra government has renamed Indonesia: 2,968-m Mount Merapi Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur volcano erupts as ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada Indonesia’s most active volcano has International Zoological Park’. erupted, sending a river of lava and searing The zoological park will come up on gas clouds flowing 3,000 metres (9,850ft) nearly 2,000 hectares forest land and down its slopes. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will It was Mount Merapi’s biggest lava flow inaugurate the Indian safari at the zoo. since authorities raised its danger level in Three special 40-seat capacity vehicles and November, said Hanik Humaida, the head an online ticket booking facility will be of the Volcanology and Geological Hazard made available to the people as soon after Mitigation Centre in the nearby city of the Indian safari is inaugurated. Yogyakarta.

36 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

4. ECONOMICS 4.1 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

GST collections at all-time high of World Bank approves $105 million over Rs 1.15 lakh cr in Dec loan to improve Waterways in West GST collections touched a record high Bengal of over Rs 1.15 lakh crore in December, The World Bank has signed a $105 million reflecting festive demand and reflating project with the Government of India economy. The gross GST revenue collected in the and the Government of West Bengal month of December 2020 is Rs 1,15,174 to improve the inland water transport crore and is the highest since the infrastructure in Kolkata, West Bengal. introduction of Goods and Services Tax The West Bengal Inland Water Transport, from July 1, 2017. Logistics and Spatial Development “This is the highest growth in monthly Project will improve passenger and revenues for the last 21 months. freight movement across the Hooghly Over Rs 70,000 crore economic loss river as well as improve accessibility in in Q3 due to farmers’ agitation the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, enhance the quality of life of its residents and The farmers’ agitation against new agri contribute to the growth of the state’s laws will lead to economic loss of over logistics sector. Rs 70,000 crore in the December quarter owing to supply chain disruptions, World Bank Projects Indian Economy particularly in Punjab, Haryana and to Contract By 9.6% in 2020-21; border areas of Delhi. The chamber’s global economy to expand by 4% in President Sanjay Aggarwal said “the 36 2021 days farm agitation so far will have more World Bank has projected the Indian than Rs 70,000 crore economic loss in economy to contract by 9.6 percent in the the Q3 FY 2020-21 due to disruption in fiscal year 2020-21, in its Global Economic supply chains and day-to-day economic Prospects report. activities particularly in the progressive World Bank estimates Growth to recover states of Punjab and Haryana and border to 5.4 percent in 2021. areas of National capital Delhi.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 37 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

The global economy is estimated to in the last quarter. The National Statistical expand by 4 percent in 2021 by World Organisation (NSO) predicted that the Bank. economy will contract 7.7 per cent in the According to the report, global growth current financial year ending in March, is projected to moderate to 3.8 percent in the worst performance in four decades. 2022. The Indian economy suffered a severe recession in 2020,”. National Statistical Office (NSO) The worst contraction occurred during the Projects India’s GDP to contract period from March until August, with the 7.7% in FY21 economy having shown a strong rebound The GDP of India is expected to contract by in economic activity since September. 7.7 percent in the current fiscal year 2020- The GDP contracted by a record 23.9 per 21, as per the first advanced estimates cent in the April-June quarter following a released by the National Statistical Office national lockdown to prevent the spread (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and of the coronavirus. The contraction came Programme Implementation (MOSPI). down to 7.5 per cent in the September The first advance estimates of GDP of quarter. a financial year are released before the Union Budget. This data helps in the Bandhan Bank unveils account for budget-making process. army personnel Private lender Bandhan Bank has signed Indian economy likely to rebound an agreement with the Indian Army to with 8.9% growth in FY22: IHS provide banking services to the personnel Markit of the force. London-based financial services company The bank got the mandate to maintain IHS Markit has projected the Indian and a Bank Shaurya Salary Account of the economy to rebound by 8.9 percent in the Army personnel. Bandhan Bank Shaurya fiscal year 2021-22, beginning April 2021. Salary Account will have a zero balance This upward estimate is based on the facility. The Shaurya Salary Account also backdrop of the significant improvement offers protection for self and assets. in domestic economic activity in the They will be offered other preferential fourth quarter of 2020 by India. services such as six per cent interest on balance over Rs one lakh, unlimited Indian economy to rebound with free ATM transactions across ATMs, 8.9% growth in FY22 waiver of issuance and annual charge on Indian economy is likely to rebound with Shaurya Visa Platinum Debit Card and an 8.9 per cent growth in the fiscal year unlimited free NEFT/RTGS/IMPS/DD beginning April 2021 after economic transactions. activity showed significant improvement

38 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector India’s 7th Trade Policy Review (TPR) and has been pegged at $805 billion or at WTO nearly a third of the Indian GDP. The list of 500 is led by consumer The second session of the 7th Trade Policy technology major Apple with a valuation Review (TPR) of India concluded at the of $2.1 trillion and is followed by World Trade Organization (WTO). Microsoft and Amazon at $1.6 trillion. This was the final session of the 7th trade The US accounted for nearly half of the policy review. Trade Policy Review is a enterprises with 242 of the 500 entries, key mechanism under the monitoring followed by China at 51 and Japan at 30 function of WTO. companies. As per the Hurun Global 500 First time in history, Union Budget report,Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance 2021 to be paperless Industries leads among the local Union Budget 2021, slated to be presented enterprises with a 20.5 per cent jump in on February 1, is going to be completely valuation to $168.8 billion as of December paperless in the wake of the ongoing 1 and is ranked 54th globally, as per the coronavirus pandemic. list. Tata Consultancy Services’ ranked rd This will be the first time since 73 globally and making it the second independence that the budget papers will most valuable Indian firm. not be printed. The Centre has received permission for the same from both houses Yes Bank Joins Hand with Aditya Birla of parliament. Financial Services to launch wellness- The decision has been taken as several themed credit cards people (approximately 100) would be required to stay at the printing press for Private sector lender YES BANK has around a fortnight amid the COVID-19 launched ‘YES BANK Wellness’ and ‘YES fear. BANK Wellness Plus’ credit cards in The budget papers are usually printed at partnership with Aditya Birla Wellness the ministry’s in-house printing press in Private Limited, for holistic health, self- the North Block. care and wellness of consumers. This year’s budget may reportedly The credit cardholders will be able to witness several conventions being broken enjoy the complimentary health benefits as the traditional ‘Halwa’ ceremony, by simply registering on the Aditya Birla which is a given every year is also not Multiply App. likely to take place, or a low-key function may be held. Government may unveil informal workers’ registry on 1 February 11 Indian companies find place Budget 2021-22 is likely to announce the among Hurun Global 500 for 2020 creation of a database of up to 250 million Total 11 private Indian firms have made it informal workers and migrants, with the to the list of 500 most valuable companies aim of ensuring that they get the benefits across the world, and the country is of the government’s welfare schemes. ranked 10th on the chart. The total value This comes in the wake of last year’s of these 11 companies grew 14 per cent lockdown-induced flight of migrants to their hometowns and villages.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 39 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 FDI in India rose by 13% in 2020 as Govt proposes ‘green tax’ for 15-year- inflows declined in major economies: old petrol, diesel vehicles UN People owning more than 15-year-old Foreign Direct Investment into India rose petrol and diesel cars or eight-year-old by 13 per cent in 2020, boosted by interest commercial vehicles may have to pay an in the digital sector, and while fund additional “green tax” across the country flows “declined most strongly” in major and the charges may be much more – economies such as the UK, the US and approximately 50% of the road tax - for Russia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, owning such vehicles in highly polluted India and China bucked the trend. cities such as Mumbai, Lucknow and An ‘investment trends monitor’ issued by Kanpur. the United Nations Conference on Trade Based on the principle of “polluters must and Development (UNCTAD) announced pay”, this charge would be levied when that global foreign direct investment (FDI) commercial vehicles go for obtaining fresh collapsed in 2020 by 42 per cent to an fitness certificate and private vehicles estimated USD 859 billion from USD 1.5 for seeking renewal of registration. The trillion in 2019. proposed policy guidelines have been Such a low level was last seen in the 1990s approved by Road Transport Minister and is more than 30 per cent below the Nitin Gadkari. investment trough that followed the 2008- 2009 global financial crisis. GDP to contract 8% in FY21, FICCI survey shows The decline in FDI inflows was concentrated in developed countries, where fund flows India’s GDP is expected to contract by 8% fell by 69 per cent to an estimated USD 229 in 2021-21, according to the latest round of billion. FICCI’s Economic outlook Survey. The annual median growth forecast by the Indian economy may contract by 9.6% industry body is based on responses from in 2020, grow at 7.3% in 2021: UN leading economists representing industry, India’s economy is projected to grow at banking and financial services sectors. The 7.3 per cent in 2021, even as it is estimated survey was conducted in January. to contract by 9.6 per cent in 2020 as The median growth forecast for agriculture lockdowns and other efforts to control and allied activities has been pegged at the Covid-19 pandemic slashed domestic 3.5% for 2020-21. consumption. The World Economic Situation and India set to grow 11.5% in 2021: IMF Prospects 2021, produced by the United The IMF projected an 11.5% growth rate for Nations Department of Economic and India in 2021, making the country the only Social Affairs (UN DESA), announced the major economy to register double-digit world economy was hit by a once-in-a- growth this year amidst the COVID-19 century crisis a Great Disruption unleashed pandemic. by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

40 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector The International Monetary Fund’s growth India’s gold demand fell to 25-year projections for India reflected a rebound low in 2020: WGC in the economy, which is estimated to have contracted by 8% in 2020 due to the Gold demand in India hit a 25-year low pandemic. at 446.4 tonnes in 2020, compared with 690.4 tonnes in 2019 due to the COVID-19 China is next with 8.1% growth in 2021 induced lockdown and on account of followed by Spain (5.9%) and France record high prices, the India office of the (5.5%). The IMF said that in 2021 China is World Gold Council. the only major country which registered a positive growth rate of 2.3%. Total investment demand for the calendar year was down by 11% at 130.4 tonnes Economic Survey to be tabled today in comparison with 145.8 tonnes in the previous year. Parliament’s Budget session kicks off beginning with the tabling of the Plug gaps in GST to raise fiscal Economic Survey for this year. The Union support Budget, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said will be ‘one like never India should propose a credible before’ in the midst of the COVID-19 privatisation plan for public sector firms, pandemic, will be presented. plug gaps in GST collections and cut A key factor in the fiscal calculations for wasteful expenditure from the Budget in 2021-22 will also be the governemnt’s order to contain borrowing costs while stance on the recommendations of the enhancing fiscal support for the economy, Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC). International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist Gita Gopinath. Reducing State’s share On the IMF’s forecast for India’s economy In its interim report for Fy21 presented last to grow by 11.5% in 2021-22. year, the FFC had proposed reducing the share of states in the divisible pool of taxes Economic Survey predicts 11% from 42% to 41%, citing the creation of the growth next fiscal union territories of Jammu and Kashmir. “Budget would be expansionary with the India’s economy is firmly in the middle higher-than-trend expenditure allocations of a V-shaped recovery and will bounce for infrastructure and welfare measures. back to record 11% growth in 2021-22 after an estimated 7.7% contraction this The theme would have to be ‘sustainable year, as per a “conservative” estimate in revival of the economy and employment the Economic Survey for 2020-21, which creation, through targeted tax incentives termed this a “lockdown dividend” from and higher spending on infrastructure the country’s stringent response to the while maintaining an eye on fiscal COVID-19 pandemic. consolidation.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 41 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 5. SCIENCE

5.1 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

ISRO Chairman K Sivan gets one year treatment of patients with ocular tumours extension up to January 14, 2022 in AIIMS-Delhi and the results of using Ruthenium 106 plaque for treatment of The Central Government has approved a patient with choroidal hemangioma the extension of the term of ISRO (benign tumour in blood vessels) have Chairman K Sivan, for a period of one been found to be satisfactory. year. Ruthenium plaque therapy involves He was due to retire on January 14, 2021. placing a radioactive source like Sivan will now continue as ISRO chairman Ruthenium-106 (a radioisotope) in and Secretary, Department of Space up to contact with the surface of the eyeball for January 14, 2022. cancer therapy. Ru-106 is recovered from radioactive Brian Pinker, 82, becomes first person waste and has a simple and slim design. to receive Oxford vaccine in UK One plaque can treat about 50 patients In the fight against the novel coronavirus and its usable life is one year. pandemic, Britain took another giant step on Monday, ramping up its immunisation WHO approves Pfizer/BioNTech programme by giving the first shots in vaccine in breakthrough for the world from the vaccine created by developing nations Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. The World Health Organization has Britain has become the first country to roll approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine out the low cost and easily transportable for emergency use, paving the way for AstraZeneca and Oxford University lower and middle-income countries to vaccine against the novel coronavirus, begin immunizing their populations another step forward in the global against Covid-19. response to the pandemic. The vaccine was first approved in the UK on December 8 for emergency use within BARC Develops India’s First the country, with the US, Canada and European Union following soon after. All Ruthenium 106 Plaque For Effective have begun their own vaccination drives. Eye Cancer Treatment Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)- developed eye cancer therapy has been successfully used for the first time for the

42 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

World’s first wooden satellite to be According to the Indian government’s launched by Japan in 2023 to reduce each dose of the vaccine has been priced space Junk at 200 rupees and a Goods and Services tax of 10 rupees will be added for a total Japan’s Sumitomo Forestry company price of 210 rupees. and Kyoto University of Japan is all set to launch the world’s first wood-based UK begins major trial for new inhaler- space satellite by 2023 to combat the problem of space junk. In this regard, based coronavirus treatment several wooden materials are being tested A new potentially life-saving inhaler- by the research team to find a suitable one based treatment which is hoped will for space missions. protect COVID-19 patients from According to the European Space Agency developing severe illness has begun a (ESA) statistical model, there are more major trial at UK hospitals. than 130 million pieces of anthropogenic It involves inhaling a protein called space debris due to human activities. ESA interferon beta-1a (SNG001), which is also planning to launch a mission to the body produces when it gets a viral collect space debris in 2025. infection, and the hope is it will stimulate The debris can travel at a speed of more the body’s immune system and prime than 22<300 mph and can impact other cells to be ready to fight off viruses. satellites. NASA targets final test of ‘world’s Pakistan Successfully Test Fires most powerful rocket’ Indigenously Developed Rocket System, Fatah-1 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking to carry The Pakistan Army successfully out the eighth and final test in its “Green conducted the test flight of an indigenously Run” test series. developed Guided Multi Launch Rocket This eighth stage termed “hot fire,” will System, Fatah-1, on January 07, 2021. bring to an end a series of tests which, Fatah-1 weapon system is capable NASA says, will gradually bring together of precisely delivering conventional the core stage of the Space Launch System warheads deep into “enemy territory.” (SLS) to life for the very first time. It can hit targets up to a range of 140 km. The core stage of the SLS will form the backbone of what NASA says will be the India places order for 11 million “most powerful rocket in the world” and Covishield doses with Serum Institute will power its next-generation human The Indian government placed an order Moon Missions. with Serum Institute of India (SII) to purchase the first tranche of 11 million India to procure 21 MiG-29 and 12 doses of the Covishield vaccine at 210 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft from rupees each. Russia The transportation of the first consignment of the vaccine, developed by The Government of India is set to procure Oxford University and British-Swedish 21 MiG-29 and 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. aircraft from Russia.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 43 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

Apart from this, the Centre will also SpaceX breaks ISRO’s Record by purchase the upgrades of the existing fleets launcheing 143 Satellites in a single of aircrafts from Russian state-run defence mission export arm Rosoboronexport. The new set of 21 MiG-29 will add to SpaceX successfully launched its ambitious existing 59 such jets already with the rideshare mission called Transporter-1, Indian Air Force (IAF) and the 12 Sukhoi- on 24 January 2021, carrying 143 small 30MKIs, on the other hand, will add to the satellites, and created a new record of existing fleet of 272 such fighter aircraft. launching many satellites from a single rocket. India’s first multi-wavelength space SpaceX broke the record set by ISRO in satellite Astrosat February 2017 for deploying 104 satellites onboard PSLV in a single mission. Astronomers, with the help of India’s first The SpaceX used two-stage Falcon 9 rocket multi-wavelength space satellite Astrosat, for the mission, from the Space Launch have spotted a massive intriguing globular Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space cluster in the Milky Way galaxy with rare Force Station in Florida. hot UV-bright stars in it, the Department of Science and Technology . The 143 satellites included 133 commercial and government satellites and 10 Starlink These stars whose inner core is almost satellites of SpaceX. exposed, making them very hot, exist in the late stages of evolution of a Sun-like Vaccines are safe for those who are star. It is not clear how these stars end their on blood thinners: ICMR lives as not many of them are detected in these fast-evolving phases, making their Both COVID-19 vaccines approved for study crucial. emergency use in India-Cavaxin and Covishield- are safe for people on blood ISRO to launch satellites built by thinners, Indian Council of Medical start-ups onboard PSLV-C51 Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargav. After India launched its latest communication satellite CMS-01 on At a Health Minister press conference, board the launch vehicle PSLV-C50, ISRO he announced manufacturers of both chairperson K Sivan announced that the vaccines had approached the Drugs the next mission would launch an earth Controller-General of India (DCGI) for observation satellite ‘ANAND’ that is revision of this contraindication on their fully built by a start-up as part of enabling fact sheets. private players in space exploration. The Health Ministry added that it was The next mission PSLV-C51 (polar satellite engaging with private stakeholders to launch vehicle) is special for us. It is special look at increasing the future coverage of for the entire country. COVID-19 vaccines.

44 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

Indo-Bangladesh sign MoU on joint To mark 50 years of India-Bangladesh student satellite ties and to motivate the next generation of scientific thinkers, the students of both nd On India’s 72 Republic Day, India and countries will be jointly developing a Bangladesh signed a memorandum of satellite. understanding to design, make, and The Satellite name would be named as launch a satellite fabricated by students from both countries. Bangla- Bharat. Team Spacekidz has requested ISRO to The Indian side was represented by the launch this satellite, which would be the Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI), first by Bangladesh, and help the children a private organization, which focusses in the neighbouring country learn the on encouraging students to study basics of satellites. The 1U cube satellite is science, technology, engineering, and expected to carry temperature sensors and mathematics, especially space science. radiation counters, besides a camera that The Bangladesh side was represented by the team is planning to install. Global Law Thinkers Society, a global youth organization.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 45 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 5.2 Latest Discoveries in J&K LG, Manoj Sinha launches Mobile Application ‘Satark Nagrik’ Health Science and Departmental Vigilance Officers Portal Preeti Pant Panel to study adverse Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant findings of NFHS-5 Governor, Manoj Sinha, launched The Health and Family Welfare Ministry Mobile Application ‘Satark Nagrik’ and has recently formed a technical expert Departmental Vigilance Officers (DVO) group to study the adverse findings from Portal of J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau the National Family Health Survey-5. (ACB) recently. The Ministry has set up the technical committee of medicine and nutrition Satark Nagrik App experts under the leadership of Joint This app has been developed to facilitate Secretary Preeti Pant. seamless flow of information about The committee will examine the findings corruption and enable citizens to submit of the National Family Health Survey-5 their grievances with ease and mobility. as well as suggest policies and courses of action to improve on indicators related CoWIN app to anaemia, malnutrition, C-section, and stunting. Two Covid-19 vaccines have been approved by the Drug Control General of India (DCGI)’s approval for restricted emergency use. Serum Institute of 5.3 Mass Media & India and Bharat Biotech are ready to supply vaccines for the first phase of the Communication vaccination which will include frontline Indian Air Force chief Bhadauria workers followed by people who are above 50 years old. For further vaccination launches e-governance portal process, the central government has Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria introduced an application named CoWIN launched an e-governance portal for (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work). the Indian Air Force (IAF) in order to promote a paperless office. MeitY collaborates with Amazon to set The launch of e-governance in IAF up India’s first quantum computing marks a paradigm shift from the current lab method of correspondence, filing and The Ministry of Electronics and Information documentation to a digital one. Technology (MeitY) has announced a The implementation undertaken as collaboration with Amazon Web Services part of Digital India and e-governance (AWS) to develop a Quantum Computing initiative will transform the entire Indian Applications Lab in the country. Air Force to a ‘paperless office’ workflow. The lab is meant to provide access to quantum computing development

46 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Mass Media & Communication

environment for the developer, scientific The minister also launched “ShramSaathi”, and academic communities. a training manual for migrant workers, Amazon will provide hosting with to ensure that the process of livelihood technical and programmatic support for migration is safe and productive. the lab. Apart from this, a dedicated Migration cell was also launched in Goa to facilitate Karnataka CM launches ‘Avolokana and support migrants who come from Software’ Transparent e-governance different States to Goa. This makes Goa tool first destination state of India to set up dedicated migration cell to address diverse Karnataka Chief Minister (CM), issues of migrant workers. B.S.Yediyurappa launched ‘Avolokana Software’ Transparent e-governance ‘Halwa’ ritual held, Budget app tool. The software will be used by the unveiled Government to monitor & access data on sanctions & expenditures incurred Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on 1800 programmes which have been Minister of State for Finance Anurag implemented by 39 Departments. Thakur and senior officials of the Finance Ministry participated in the Expenditures & Sanctions on Sustainable symbolic ‘Halwa ceremony’ that marks Development Goals, Scheduled Caste Sub- the beginning of compilation of budget Plan, Tribal Sub-Plan & Central Sponsored documents. Schemes will be the main areas of focus. The ceremony used to mark the launch of It will also provide Assembly Constituency- the printing exercise 101 the Budget. This wise information on Government grants will be the first time since independent and allocations under various development India’s first Budget on November 26, 1947, programmes. that the documents will not be physically printed. Union Minister Arjun Munda Virtually Launches “Shramshakti” Portal for The Finance Minister also launched the ‘Union Budget Mobile App’ for access Migrant Workers of Budget documents by Members of The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Parliament and the general public. Shri Arjun Munda launched a National The app facilitates access to 14 Budget Migration Support Portal “ShramShakti”, documents as prescribed by the during a virtual programme organised at Constitution. Panjim, Goa, on 22 January, 2021. The portal will help the government in Akshay Kumar launches mobile action smooth formulation of state and national game FAU-G level programs for migrant workers. On the 72nd Republic Day, Bollywood actor Government would also be able to link the Akshay Kumar took to social media to migrant population with existing Welfare announce the launch of mobile action game Scheme- under Atam Nirbhar Bharat. Fearless and United Guards (FAU-G).

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 47 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

Akshay took to Twitter and wrote, “Face in global top 10 for Venture Capital (VC) the enemy. Fight for your country. Protect investment. This list is topped by Beiging Our Flag. India’s most anticipated action and San Francisco, New York, Shanghai game, Fearless and United Guards: FAU-G and London. takes you to the frontlines and beyond! Start your mission today.” Reliance Jio is the fifth strongest brand globally Bengaluru Emerges as World’s Fastest Reliance Jio has been declared as the Growing Mature Tech Ecosystem: Report fifth strongest brand globally by Brand Dealroom.co data analysed by London Finance. The telecom company has ben & Partners (the Mayor of London’s ranked at 5 behind the likes of Coca Cola international trade and investment and Ferrari. In the list which has ranked agency) has revealed that Bengaluru, the brands based on their relative strength, Karnataka has emerged as the World’s the Chinese Mobile App WeChat is on the fastest growing mature tech ecosystem, top pushing Ferrari on the second position. with investment in it increased 5.4 times Russian Bank Saber is on 3rd position and from USD 1.3 billion in 2016 to USD 1.2 Coca Cola is on fourth. billion in 2020. Bengaluru secures 6th place

48 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event 6. NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT

India’s first Pollinator Park require large and early investments by the inaugurated in Haldwani, Uttarakhand government with a substantial gestation India’s first pollinator park has been period of outcomes and involve various developed at Haldwani in Nainital, of the kinds of risks. state of Uttarakhand. The new Pollinator Park was inaugurated Chhattisgarh signs MoU to set up on 29 December 2020 by renowned India’s 1st ethanol plant under PPP butterfly expert Peter Smetacek. model

The colourful park has been developed Chhattisgarh government signed by the research wing of the Uttarakhand a contract execution (MoU) for the Forest Department over four acres of country’s first ethanol plant to be set land. up in the state under the public-private

There are over 40 species of butterflies, partnership (PPP) model. honeybees, birds and insects in the park. The contract was signed by Bhoramdev Cooperative Sugar Factory Kawardha UNDP and Pimpri Chinchwad and Chhattisgarh Distillery Limited’s Municipal Corporation to co-create subsidiary NKJ Biofuel for a period of 30 India’s first Social Impact Bond years. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal The establishment of the ethanol plant will Corporation (PCMC) recently signed generate direct and indirect employment an MoU with UNDP India to co-create opportunities and will form the basis for India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB). economic prosperity in the region. This SIB will support the PCMC in improving healthcare services for its PM Modi lays foundation stone of citizens, especially with respect to the Light House projects (LHPs) across pandemic while incurring minimum six states investment risks. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid

This is the first time that a government the foundation stone of Light House body will act as the ‘Outcome Funder’ projects (LHPs) at six sites across six in a bond, whereas traditionally most States through video conference on 1st government-funded public projects January 2021.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 49 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

The LHPs will be implemented at PM Modi to lay foundation of IIM- Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot Sambalpur (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and the foundation stone of the permanent Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). campus of IIM Sambalpur, Odisha, via The project is being constructed under video conferencing. Global Housing Technology Challenge IIM Sambalpur is the first IIM to (GHTC)-India. It has been conceptualised implement the idea of ‘flipped by the Union Ministry of Housing and classrooms’, according to the PMO. Urban Affairs. The institute also romped ahead of all GHTC-India envisages to provide an other IIMs in terms of highest gender ecosystem for adoption of innovative diversity with 49% girl students in MBA technologies in the housing construction (2019-21) batch and 43% in MBA (2020- sector in a holistic manner. 22) batch. Under the programme, over 1,000 houses would be build in each of the six cities in Delhi government sets up Tamil 12 months along with allied infrastructure Academy facilities. An academy has been set up by the Delhi PM Modi lays foundation of Light government to promote Tamil language and culture. House Project The Tamil Academy under the the The foundation stone of Light House Department of Art, Culture and Projects under the Global Housing Language of the city government, under Technology Challenge-India (GHTC- the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister India) was laid by Prime Minister Manish Sisodia. Narendra Modi at six sites across six The Delhi government has appointed states. The GHTC-India is a programme former municipal councillor and current that seeks to construct over 1,000 houses member of Delhi Tamil Sangam N Raja as each in these cities in a span of 12 months. the vice-chairman of the academy. The project involves the construction of around 1,000 houses each with PM Modi to inaugurate Kochi- allied infrastructure facilities within Mangaluru natural gas pipeline a year using new-age alternate global Prime Minister Narendra Modi will technologies, materials, and processes dedicate the Kochi-Mangaluru natural in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot gas pipeline to the nation via video (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi conferencing. (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and The event will mark an important Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). milestone towards the creation of ‘one nation, one gas grid.

50 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event

The 450-km-long pipeline has been built organised by the Council of Scientific and by Gail (India) Ltd. Industrial Research-National Physical It has transportation capacity of 12 Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, to million metric standard cubic metres per mark its 75th year of inception. day and will carry natural gas from the PM Modi also dedicated ‘National liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification Atomic Timescale’, and ‘Bhartiya terminal in Kochi to Mangaluru, passing Nirdeshak Dravya’ to the nation, and through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, laid the foundation stone of the ‘National Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Environmental Standards Laboratory’. Kasaragod districts. Karnataka’s Hubballi railway station Oscar nominee ‘Another Round’ to be to get World Longest Railway opening movie at 51st IFFI Platform The 51st International Film Festival of Karnataka’s Hubballi Railway Station India (IFFI) will open on 16th January, officially Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji with the Indian premiere of the movie railway station is set to get the “world’s ‘Another Round’ by Thomas Vinterberg. longest railway platform” of 1500 plus The movie starring Cannes Best Actor meter’s length and 10 meters width. The Award winner Mads Mikkelsen is among platform will be inaugurated in March a star-studded line up of movies being 2021. showcased at IFFI. About the Project: The movie is also Denmark’s official The construction of the platform is done entry to the Oscars. The festival will with an expenditure of Rs.90 core for also witness the World Premiere of remodeling of wards, building work, ‘Mehrunisa’. The film by Sandeep Kumar signaling, third entrance construction, will premier mid-fest. electrical and other related works. The festival will close on 24th January with This project is a part of doubling between the India Premiere of the historical drama Hubbali and Bengaluru which is ‘Wife of a Spy’ by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. underway since November 2019. PM Modi inaugurates National Kerala to host 4th Global Ayurveda Metrology Conclave 2021 organised Festival 2021: March 12th to 19th by CSIR V Muraleedharan, Union Minister of State Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for External Affairs and the chairman of addressed the National Metrology Global Ayurveda Festival announced Conclave, via video conferencing. that the 4th Global Ayurveda Festival 2021 Theme: ‘Metrology for the Inclusive (GAF2021), world’s largest festival of Growth of the Nation’. Ayurveda community will be organized National Metrology Conclave 2021 was in a high end virtual space from 12th to

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 51 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

19th March 2021 in Kerala. The festival The biomethane powered train does is organized by Centre for Innovation not release any toxic fumes in the air in Science and Social Action (CISSA), like nitrogen dioxide. And even though the Ayurveda Medical Association of biomethane is known to be stinky, India (AMAI), the Ayurveda Hospital the fumes that are released are almost Management Association, in collaboration odourless. Moreover, The capacity of the with various departments of the central BioUltra car’s tanks will offer a maximum and state government. range of around 2,000 miles between refuelling stations. Delhi govt. sets up academy to promote Tamil culture Govt implementing Rs 320-cr project The Department of Art, Culture and for 5 ports to enable digital ecosystem Language of the Delhi government set The government is implementing a Rs up a Tamil academy to promote the 320-crore project for five major ports in South Indian language and culture in order to provide a digital port ecosystem, the Capital. It also appointed former according to the Ministry of Ports, municipal councillor and member of Shipping and Waterways. the Delhi Tamil Sangam N. Raja as vice- These ports are Mumbai, Chennai, chairman of the academy. Deendayal, Paradip and Kolkata The academy will introduce various (including Haldia). awards to promote and reward the works The system will adopt international best of people in Tamil language and culture. practices without losing its alignment to existing local needs. This Train Turns Methane From In addition, a centralised web-based Human Waste Into Electricity As Eco- port community system (PCS) has Friendly Fuel been operationalised across all major The newly developed railcar is called ports which enables seamless data flow BioUltra and it converts biomethane between various stakeholders through gas into electricity, which charges the common interface. batteries and helps it move. The novel railcar has been developed by engineers Bajaj, India becomes world’s most with the Worcester-based Ultra-Light valuable two-wheeler company Rail Partners. Indian multinational two-wheeler and The railcar originally is going to be three-wheeler manufacturing company, roughly 20 metres long with a top speed Bajaj Auto announced that it becomes the of 50 miles per hour. To showcase the first two-wheeler company globally to technology, engineers developed a demo cross a market capitalization of INR one train which was roughly 10 metres long, trillion. weighing around 12 tonnes.

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The share price of Bajaj Auto Ltd, closed 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to at INR 3,479 per share on NSE making its Antarctica flagged off from Mormugao market capitalization Rs 100,6.70 billion Port, Goa at this price. The 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica was flagged off on January 05, Toycathon-2021 and Toycathon 2021, from Mormugao Port, Goa. Portal jointly launched by Union The chartered ice-class vessel MV Education Minister and Union Minister Vasiliy Golovnin has been chosen for WCD the prestigious 40th Indian Scientific The Union Education Minister Shri Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) mission Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and journey and will reach Antarctica in 30 Union Minister WCD and Textiles Smt. days. Smriti Zubin Irani jointly launched The expedition journey has 43 members Toycathon-2021 and the Toycathon Portal onboard. on January 05, 2021. India’s major fuel supplier, Indian Oil Toycathon is being organized to develop Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has supplied Jet India as the global Toy manufacturing A1 fuel, lubes and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) hub. for the mission. Toycathon will provide a platform to conceptualize innovative toys based Centre constitutes high-level group on the Indian value system which will for South Asia energy security inculcate the positive behaviour and The Central Government has set up a good value among the children. high-level group to build a South Asia- The Toycathon will be based on nine focused energy security architecture themes: The high-level group, named the South Indian Culture, History, Knowledge of Asia Group for Energy (SAGE), will be India and Ethos; headed by former Union Power Secretary Learning, Education and Schooling; Ram Vinay Shahi. Social and human values; SAGE has been set up under the Ministry Occupations & specific fields; of External Affairs (MEA)-run think tank Environment; Research and Information System for Divyang ; Developing Countries (RIS). Fitness and sport; Madhya Pradesh Government Out of the box, creative and logical thinking and launches ‘Launch Pad Scheme’ to Rediscovering/redesigning traditional make youth self-reliant Indian toys. The government of Madhya Pradesh has launched a ‘Launch Pad Scheme’ for the boys and girls coming out of child care

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 53 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 institutions and having completed 18 World’s first Double Stack Long Haul years of age. Container Train This scheme has been launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the Women and Child Development dedicated to the nation the 306 km long Department of the state with the objective to provide a platform to these youth, New Rewari – New Madar Section of through which they will be able to become the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor self-reliant by continuing their education (WDFC), through video conference on and training. January 07, 2021. Under the scheme, the District The New Rewari-New Madar section of Administration will provide space to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor these youths for opening of coffee shops, is situated in Haryana and Rajasthan. stationery, photocopying, computer He also flagged off the Double Stack Long typing and DTP work. Haul Container Train on the same route. This 1.5 km long train is the first double Union Education Minister Shri stacked container freight train. It will Ramesh Pokhriyal to inaugurate run from New Ateli in Haryana to New ‘EDUCON-2020’ Kishanganj in Rajasthan, Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh The freight trains will rum at the Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will inaugurate the maximum speed of 100 km per hour as two-day Virtual International Akhand against the current maximum speed of 75 Conference ‘EDUCON 2020’ through a kmph on Indian Railway tracks. video the conferencing platform on 7th January, 2021. This two-day International Centre approves Rs 28,000-crore Conference is being organized by Central plan to draw industries in J&K University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) in The Centre on Wednesday approved collaboration with the Global Education a Rs 28,400-crore new industrial Research Association (GERA) under the developmental scheme, paving the path patronage of Prof. (Dr.) Raghavendra for attracting investments and creating P. Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, CUPB jobs for the youth in the militancy-hit & Padma Shri Dr. Mahendra Sodha Jammu and Kashmir. (Patron, GERA). The focal theme of

EDUCON-2020 is Envisioning education The Cabinet Committee on Economic for Transforming Youth to Restore Global Affairs (CCEA), headed by the Prime Peace. This International Conference will Minister, on Wednesday approved the commence with the Inaugural address proposal of Department for Promotion by Hon’ble Minister of Education Dr. of Industry and Internal Trade for Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. The Chief Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Guest of Valedictory Ceremony will be Development of Jammu & Kashmir. Prof. Dhirendra Pal Singh, Chairman, UGC, New Delhi.

54 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event Karnataka Government launches 10,000 Govt offices to be declared Krishi Sanjeevani Vans to test soil, green in Kerala on January 26 water & suggest remedies for pest A total of 10,000 state Government offices control and public sector undertakings in Kerala The Chief Minister of Karnataka , Shri will be declared “green” on January 26, B.S. Yediyurappa flagged off 40 Krishi the Republic Day. After the declaration, Sanjeevani vans in Bengaluru on January functions would be held in various offices 07, 2021. across the state in which the certificate These vans have been launched by state for the compliance of the green protocol Agriculture Department with Central would be submitted to its heads by the assistance under National Krishi Vikas chairpersons of the local self-government Yojana to take up this novel programme. institutions or jointly by the ward Objective: to take labs to the agriculture member/councillor and a member of the fields, study the conditions and address the needs of the farmers about pest green action force. control, fertility of the soil, weeds and PNB Collaborates with IIT Kanpur to suitable crops in the existing conditions, so that farmers get support for their set up Fintech Innovation Centre farming techniques. Punjab National Bank has partnered with IIT Kanpur and the Foundation Centre plans to form committee, for Innovation & Research in Science & headed by MoS for Home G Kishan Technology (FIRST) to set up a ‘Fintech Reddy, to protect language, culture & Innovation Centre (FIC)’ at the institute’s land of Ladakh campus. PNB and IIT Kanpur will jointly work The Central Government has decided to to set up this innovation centre as a form a committee to protect the unique vehicle for research and development of language, cultural identity and land of technological solutions, with the help of Ladakh. FIRST, to address challenges and explore The Committee will be headed by the opportunities in the BFSI space. Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy. World’s largest floating solar project This committee will also ensure citizen’s to start in MP by 2023: State Govt participation in the development of the Union Territory. The world’s largest floating 600 MW The other members of the committee solar energy project to be constructed at will include elected representatives Omkareshwar dam on Narmada river in from Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh will Hill Development Council, central begin power generation by year 2022-23. government, and the Ladakh The estimated investment in this project administration. stands at Rs 3,000 crore. The International Finance Corporation, World Bank and

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Power Grid have granted in-principle - Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) route. This consent for providing aid for the said covers the entire GQ-GD route over South project development. Central Railway, except Vijayawada - The project will have floating solar panels Duvvada section, where signaling up- of 600 MW power generation capacity in gradation work is in progress.

the backwaters of Omkareshwar dam. The enhanced speed limits could be achieved due to the systematic and Electricity will be produced in about planned strengthening of track & its 2000-hectare water area by installing infrastructure by removing bottlenecks in solar panels in the dam. Solar panels will these sections on a fast pace. float on the surface of the water in the This included heavier rails, laying of reservoir. 260 meters Long welded rail panels, improvement of curves and gradients High Level Committee for 125th birth among others anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose ccordingly, the South-Central Railway set up zone has received sanction to enhance Indian universities and colleges with the the maximum speed limits to 130 kmph Institutions of Eminence (IOEs) tag, which along the following routes: include several IITs, will now be able to Golden Diagonal (Grand Trunk) Route: set up campuses in foreign countries with 744 Route Km the University Grants Commission (UGC) ff Ballarshah to Kazipet – 234 Rkm issuing fresh guidelines on the same. ff Kazipet-Vijayawada-Gudur – 510 The Education Ministry had launched Rkm the IoE scheme in 2018 as per which 20 Golden Quadrilateral Route (Chennai institutions were to be selected -- 10 public -Mumbai section): 536 Route Km and 10 private ones -- that would enjoy ff Renigunta to Gooty - 281 Rkm complete academic and administrative ff Gooty to Wadi - 255Rkm autonomy. Already, the maximum speed limits Indian Institutes of Delhi, IIT Bombay in the High-Density Network (HDN) and the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute between Secunderabad – Kazipet (132 of Science (IISc) were awarded the IoE Kms distance) had been enhanced to 130 status in the public sector, and Manipal kmph. Academy of Higher Education and BITS Pilani in the private sector, while the Jio Two Made-In-India Covid Vaccines Institute by Reliance Foundation was Ready to Save Humanity: PM Modi given the tag in Greenfield category. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected upon India’s transformation from a Indian Railways enhances its country that till recently imported maximum speed to 130 kmph medical devices and equipment to one Indian Railways enhanced the maximum that is ready to “save humanity” with speed to 130 kmph for 1,280 km length two Made-In-India vaccines to fight out of 1,612 Km in Golden Quadrilateral coronavirus.

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And also he quotes a tirukkural GoI sanctions INR 37.8 Crores for “ Kedariyaa ketta idathum valamkundra Developing Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh Naadenba naatin thalai”for Indians living Government of India (GoI) has sanctioned in abroad INR 37.8 Crores for the Developing NIXI offers free Domain in local Parshuram Kund Pilgrimage Site at Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of Indian languages the most sacred places in India and is The National Internet Exchange of India, visited by a large number of pilgrims NIXI has announced that it will offer a during Makar Sankranti. free Internationalized Domain Name, Thousands of Devotees take holy dip in IDN in any of the preferred 22 official the Lohit River. Indian language along with every IN It is expected to boost the livelihood of domain booked by the registrant. the locals & socio-economic development Applicant will also get a free email of the area. in local language. This offer has been created to stimulate the adoption of भारत Manipur launches ‘COSFOM’ website IDN domain name and proliferation of for Community Forest Management local language content. Awangbow Newbai, Minister of Forest, This offer is valid for new .in users who Environment & Climate Change, Manipur register up to 31st of January. This offer launched a website for Community- is also extended to those existing in users based Sustainable Forest Management for who renew their domain in the month of Water Resource Conservation in Manipur January 2021. (COSFOM) – www.cosfom.mn.gov.in at Bureau of Indian Standards the Forest Headquarters, Sanjenthong, Manipur. Celebrates its Anniversary COSFOM is a component under Indo- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) German Programme ‘Climate Change celebrates its 74th anniversary. BIS Adaption in the Himalaya’. (Bureau of Indian Standards) is that It is a project of the Government of India the National Standards Body of India supported by the Federal Government established under the “Bureau of Indian of Germany through KfW, a German Standards Act” of 2016. development bank. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) : Manipur Forest Department is the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) is implementing agency and it is managed that the National Standards Body of by Community Forestry and Water India established under the “Bureau of Conservation Society-Manipur (CF & Indian Standards Act” of 2016, going to WCS). coordinate the event of standardization, marking and quality certification activities and related problems with commodities. Vetrii IAS Study Circle 57 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Labour Ministry likely to shape on January 26, 2021. President Santokhi National Employment Policy by was also the Chief Guest at the Pravasi December 2021 Bharatiya Divas Convention. Earlier, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was likely NEP would take a shape based on the to attend the event. However, the PM data inputs of these four surveys, says Johnson cancelled his visit to India. Director General of Labour Bureau The Ministry of Labour and Employment West Bengal CM Inaugurates 26th is likely to shape the National Kolkata International Film Festival Employment Policy (NEP) by December West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee this year following the implementation of has inaugurated the 26th Kolkata four labour codes and completion of four International Film Festival (KIFF). major surveys, including one one migrant The inaugural ceremony was also virtually workers. attended by Bollywood superstar and The NEP will draw a broad road map West Bengal’s brand ambassador Shah for improving job opportunities in the Rukh Khan from Mumbai. country, mainly by various initiatives like Legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s skill development, bringing investment classic ‘Apur Sansar’ will be the inaugural in employment intensive segments and film of the festival in which 131 movies other policy interventions. from 45 countries will be screened till January 13. PM Modi encourages youth to take part in Prarambh ‘ on January 15-16 Union Minister Harsh Vardhan inaugurates Coastal Research Vessel Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the youth of India on January 11, 2021 to be ‘Sagar Anveshika’ a part of the Start-Up India International The Union Science and Technology Summit ‘Prarambh’ on January 15-16. Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched The Prime Minister highlighted that state-of-the-art vessel ‘Sagar Avneshika’ virtual events have given a great on 9 January 2021, at Chennai Port Trust opportunity to the youth to be a part of in Chennai. many domestic and global forums and The vessel ‘Sagar Avneshika’ will enable one such opportunity is the Start-Up the scientists to launch deep ocean India International Summit. mission for ocean exploration. The summit seeks to bring together the The research ship ‘Sagar Avneshika’ has best minds from industry, investment, been developed by the Titagarh Marine academia, banking, finance and young Limited, Kolkata for the National Institute start-up leaders. of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai. The research vessel can accommodate Suriname President to be Republic Day about 15-20 scientists for research purposes 2021 Chief Guest and has advanced navigation systems as Indian-origin President of Suriname, well as well equipped laboratories with Chandrikapersad Santokhi will attend the research and exploration apparatus for Republic Day Parade 2021 as a chief guest taking up scientific explorations.

58 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event Heritage Conservation Committee by Khadi and Village Industries The Supreme Court recently cleared the Commission. Central Vista Project that covers a three The eco-friendly, non-toxic paint, called kilo metre stretch between the Rashtrapati “Khadi Prakritik Paint” is a first-of-its- Bhavan and India Gate. Following this, kind product, with anti-fungal, anti- the Heritage Conservation Committee bacterial properties. has approved the construction of a new Based on cow dung as its main ingredient, parliament. the paint is cost-effective and odourless The Heritage Conservation Committee and has been certified by the Bureau of is set up under the chairmanship of Indian Standards. Additional Secretary, Ministry of Urban Affairs under the provisions of Section 23 “Period Room” set up for women at a in Delhi Building Byelaws, 1983 to protect public toilet in Maharashtra heritage buildings. Only buildings in and around Delhi are governed by these laws. In a bid to help the women, residing Similar conservation committees are set in congested slums, during their up at state levels as well. menstruation days, a ‘period room’ The local authority should consult the has been set up at a public toilet in Heritage Conservation Committee Maharashtra’s Thane city. before granting permission. The Equipped with several basic facilities, the heritage buildings are graded by the period room aims to facilitate menstrual Heritage Conservation Committee for hygiene among women dwelling in developmental activities. slums. The much-needed facility has been set Arunachal Pradesh to be India’s up by the Thane Municipal Corporation prime Vanadium producer in collaboration with an NGO, at a slum in Shanti Nagar locality of Wagle Estate Arunachal Pradesh is expected to become area in Thane. the prime producer of Vanadium in India. Vanadium is a high-value metal that is India Ranks 85 in Henley Passport used to strengthen titanium and steel. During an exploration by the Geological Index 2021; Japan Tops Survey of India, Arunachal Pradesh was The Henley Passport Index 2021 has been placed on the vanadium map and it is released by Henley & Partners, based on likely that the geologists will soon find a the exclusive data from the International deposit. Air Transport Association (IATA). The index presents the original ranking Nitin Gadkari to launch “Khadi of the world’s most powerful passports, Prakritik Paint” developed by KVIC according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior Union Road Transport and Highways visa. Minister Nitin Gadkari will be launching As per the latest report, India has been an innovative new paint developed ranked 85th among 110 countries, in the

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 59 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Henley Passport Index for 2021, with a Naveen Patnaik inaugurates India’s visa-free score of 58. first ‘Fire Park’ in Bhubaneswar Japan has once again topped the list of The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen being the most powerful passport in Patnaik virtually inaugurated a first of the world, for third consecutive year. Japanese citizens can travel to as many as its kind ‘Fire Park’, to educate and bring 191 countries visa-free. awareness on basic fire safety measures Singapore is in second place (190) and among the people, particularly the South Korea ties with Germany in third students. place (189). The ‘Fire Park’ is located inside the Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are the premises of the Odisha Fire and Disaster countries with the worst passport, Academy in Bhubaneswar. with a passport score of 29, 28 and 26 The minister also launched an online respectively. portal, ‘AgnishamaSeva’ of Odisha Fire Service. India’s first ‘eco-friendly’ cow dung The fire park will facilitate demonstrations paint launched on use of first aid fire-fighting equipment, India has its own cow dung paint. rescue and disaster operations, visit to Among the country’s several innovative exhibition hall, screening of films and inventions, this unique paint certainly distribution of leaflets on fire safety. takes the cake. According to the Press Information Bureau, Nitin Gadkari, the Bhopal Issues ID Cards for Third Union Minister for Road Transport & Gender Highways and MSME, launched the new In a first for India, the local administration paint, the country’s first, on January 12. in Bhopal has started issuing ID cards The paint has been developed by the to people from the third gender to Khadi and Village Industries Commission help them avail the benefits of the state at his residence. government’s welfare schemes. Through the ID cards, the third gender would be First ever Ice climbing festival eligible for the schemes that are run by celebrated in Nubra valley the social justice department in the state. In Leh, the first ever Ice climbing festival was celebrated in Nubra valley. The 150-m cross-border tunnel detected Seven Day event was organized by Nubra by BSF along IB in JK Adventure Club. A 150-m tunnel constructed along the To promote winter tourism in Nubra International Border (IB) to facilitate valley, Nubra Adventure Club, with infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and the help of Social activist Dr. Nordan Kashmir from Pakistan was detected by Otzer, has organized the Seven Day Ice Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Climbing festival. Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.

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This is the third tunnel unearthed by alert The office, situated on Lavelle Road in border guards along the IB in the twin Bengaluru, is registered with a total paid- districts of Samba and Kathua in Jammu up capital of Rs 1,00,000 and authorised region over the past six months and ninth share capital of Rs 15 lakh. in the past decade.

“A nearly 150-m-long tunnel was Rajnath Singh unveils India’s first detected by a BSF patrol party during indigenously developed driverless an anti-tunnelling operation in Bobiyaan village of Hirnagar sector this morning,” metro car Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled N S Jamwal told reporters at the scene. the country’s first indigenously designed He along with other senior officers rushed and developed Driverless Metro Car to Bobiyaan soon after the detection of at the BEML manufacturing facility in the tunnel. Bengaluru. According to BEML, state-of-the-art Working Women Should Register driverless metro cars, being manufactured Themselves With Police at the company’s Bangalore Complex, are Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj made up of stainless-steel body with a Singh Chouhan has announced a new capacity of carrying 2280 passengers in system where a woman going out of home six-cars Metro train-set. for work will have to register herself at the police station, and the police will then Kerala becomes 8th State to complete track her for her safety. Inaugurating an ease of doing business reforms awareness programme on crime against Kerala has become the 8th State in the women called “Samman”, CM Chouhan country to successfully undertake “Ease of said that a helpline number will be given Doing Business” reform stipulated by the to these women, which will help them Department of Expenditure, Ministry of call for help when in distress. Finance. Kerala has become eligible to mobilise Tesla sets up India subsidiary in additional financial resources of Rs.2,373 Bengaluru crore through Open Market Borrowings. Permission for the same was issued by Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle the Department of Expenditure on 12th (EV) company Tesla has registered a January 2021. fully-owned subsidiary in Bengaluru, Kerala has now joined the seven Karnataka. other States namely, Andhra Pradesh,

Tesla, the world’s most valued carmaker Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, has incorporated a fully owned subsidiary Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, ahead as a first step to set up an R&D unit who have completed this reform. and a manufacturing plant for its electric vehicles in the country.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 61 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launches Himachal Pradesh: India’s first voter India’s First Indigenously Designed & votes in panchayat elections Developed Driverless Metro Car Knees, India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached his polling booth in Himachal unveiled India’s first ‘Driverless Metro Pradesh’s Kinnaur to exercise his franchise Car’ on 15 January 2021 during a function in the panchayat elections . held at BEML’s Bangalore Complex Negi, who is 103-year-old, cast his vote The indigenously designed & developed at the Kalpa polling booth, where he was given a warm welcome by laying a red state-of-the-art Driverless Metro trains are carpet by the district administration. being manufactured at BEML Bangaluru manufacturing facility, for Mumbai Kalpa went to polls in the first round of Metropolitan Region Development the three-phase panchayati elections in Authority (MMRDA). Himachal Pradesh. Union Education Minister honoured PM Modi launches Rs 1,000-crore by Canada’s Hindi Writers Guild ‘Startup India Seed Fund’ Union Education Minister Ramesh Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ was honoured by Rs 1,000-crore ‘Startup India Seed Fund’ the Hindi Writers Guild, Canada for his on 16 January 2021, while addressing the literary work on January 16, 2021. Nishank ‘Prarambh: Startup India International was conferred with the “Sahitya Gaurav Summit’ 2021. Samman” through a virtual programme. The Startup India Seed Fund would India’s High Commissioner in Canada support startups in need of initial capital Ajay Bisaria was also present on the to start and grow their business and help occasion. budding entrepreneurs pursue innovative ideas. Kerala: India’s first ‘Labour Movement This initiative will help in setting up new Museum’ to be set up in Alappuzha startups and promote their growth. The country’s first Labour Movement Museum, showcasing the history of world Kerala gets second public sector labour movement, would be launched bottled water plant in Alappuzha, Kerala. The museum will feature a huge repository of documents Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and exhibits that shaped the labour inaugurated the much-awaited bottled movements across the continents, state water plant at Aruvikkara the second such Tourism department on January 17, 2021. manufacturing unit to be set up in the public sector in the state. PM flags off 8 trains to boost The plant, envisaged to make the connectivity to Statue of Unity at government’s packaged drinking water Kevadia, Gujarat brand ‘Hilly Aqua’, was set up by the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January Corporation (KIDC). 17, 2021 flagged off eight trains connecting

62 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event different parts of the country to Kevadia in Kerala Governor launches ‘One School Gujarat, via video conferencing. Kevadia One IAS’ scheme is famous for world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan Patel, which Modi inaugurated in has inaugurated the ‘One School One October 2018. These trains will connect IAS’ scheme which has been rolled out Kevadia to Varanasi, Dadar, Ahmedabad, under the Vedhik Erudite Foundations Hazrat Nizamuddin, Rewa, Chennai and Scholarship Programme. Pratapnagar. The Ahmedabad-Kevadia The programme will be providing Jan Shatabdi Express, one of the eight free training to the students who trains, has been equipped with the ‘Vista- are economically backward but are dome tourist coach’ which offers large academically brilliant aspirants of civil viewing areas with rooftop glasses and service and other competitive exams. seats for passengers The scheme is supported by sponsors, which expects an enrollment of 10,000 ‘SAKSHAM’ Campaign launched by boys and girls across the state. Petroleum Ministry Bhawana Kanth to be first woman The Union Ministry of Petroleum & pilot to take part in Republic Day 2021 Natural Gas launched the ‘SAKSHAM’ campaign on January 16, 2021 with an aim Bhawana Kanth is likely to become the to raise awareness about the fossil fuels and first woman fighter pilot to participate in adverse impact of rising carbon footprints the Republic Day Parade this year. She among the customers. The motive is to will showcase mock-ups of Light Combat convince consumers to switch to the use of Aircraft (LAC), light combat helicopter cleaner fuels. and Sukhoi-30 fighter plane by being a part of Indian Air Force (IAF) tableau at India’s first COVID-19 Vaccine the parade. Bhawana is also among the recipient is Manish Kumar first women fighter pilots to join the IAF. Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker in Centre Declares Netaji’s birthday to Delhi, became the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in India after PM Modi be marked as ‘Parakram Diwas’ every flagged off the nationwide vaccination year drive on 16 January 2021. The Government of India has decided to Manish Kumar was given the injection celebrate the birthday of Netaji Subhas at AIIMS in Delhi while Union Health Chandra Bose, that falls on January 23 as Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was also ‘Parakram Diwas’ from now on every year. present. This day will be dedicated to honour and PM Modi launched the nationwide remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and vaccine drive via videoconferencing and selfless service to the nation. congratulated the people of India on 23rd January 2021 will mark the 125th birth getting two Made in India vaccines. anniversary year of Netaji.

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Kochi airport commissions one of the informed on January 19, 2021 that state biggest floating solar powerplants in government has decided to rename Dragon Kerala Fruit. Kamalam means Lotus in Sanskrit. He added saying that the name of dragon The Cochin International Airport Ltd fruit is associated with China and hence, (CIAL), the company which operates the the state has changed it. Dragon Fruit is a world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy commissioned one of the biggest tropical fruit with a unique look and taste. floating solar power plants in Kerala. India, Japan sign agreement on With this floating solar plant, which has a capacity of 452 KWh, the total installed movement of ‘skilled workers’ capacity of the airport has become 40 MWp India and Japan have signed a helping the airport to produce around Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) 1.60 lakh units of power a day as against on a basic partnership framework for its daily consumption stands around 1.30 operation of the ‘specified skilled worker’ lakh units. (SSW) system under which the Japanese government accepts foreign nationals who Amit Shah to launch Ayushman have a certain level of expertise and skill. healthcare scheme for CAPF SSW is a new status of residence created Union Home Minister Amit Shah is in Japan in April, 2019, to accept foreign expected to launch the Ayushman nationals who have a certain level of healthcare scheme for central paramilitary expertise and skill. Indian nationals with force personnel in Assam later this week. certain professional and language skills Shah will hand over the first Ayushman will be eligible to work under the SSW health cards to the chiefs, a sub-officer and system. a jawan of each of the central armed police forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF, BSF, CISF, Kiren Rijiju gets additional charge of ITBP and SSB apart from the NSG and Ayush Ministry the Assam Rifles that function under the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren command of his ministry on January 23. Rijiju has been temporarily assigned The CAPFs, with an estimated manpower the charge of the Ministry of AYUSH, of about 10 lakh personnel, are deployed according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan for rendering a variety of internal security communique issued. duties across the country, border guarding The move was necessitated as Shripad and VIP protection. Yesso Naik, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Gujarat Government renames dragon Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, fruit as ‘Kamalam’ Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) was The Gujarat state government has decided undergoing treatment at a hospital in Goa. to rename dragon fruit as “Kamalam”. The renaming has been done as the outer 15th India Digital Summit 2021 begins shape of the fruit resembles a lotus. The India Digital Summit, the flagship Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani event of the Internet and Mobile

64 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event Association of India (IAMAI) is one of the ‘Hunar Haat’ to be held in Lucknow biggest conferences for the digital industry. from January 22 th The summit, in its 15 year, will bring Hunar Haat, the minority affairs ministry’s thought leadership on various digital initiative to generate employment for initiatives that will cover Policies, master artisans, will be held in Uttar Business, Investment, Advertising, Pradesh’s capital Lucknow from January Digital Commerce, Start-ups Ecosystem, 22 to February 4 with the theme of ‘vocal Emerging Tech, and other Digital Trends. for local’. The theme for this year’s summit, which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi is being held virtually is ‘Aatmanirbhar Adityanath will formally inaugurate the Bharat – Start of New Decade’ in line with ‘Hunar Haat’ on January 23. the government’s ‘Make for the World’ Initiatives. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announced ‘Mukhyamantri Bagayat Vikas NITI Aayog Releases Second Edition Mission’ of India Innovation Index State Government of Gujarat is all set NITI Aayog released the second edition for the formation of ‘Mukhyamantri of the India Innovation Index on 20 Bagayat Vikas Mission’ or ‘Horticulture January 2021, along with the Institute for Development Mission’ to accelerate Competitiveness. agriculture, horticulture and promote The report examines the innovation farming of herbal plants in the state. It aims capabilities and performance of the states to double the income of farmers engaged and union territories. in medicinal and horticulture farming. The innovation index ranking is based on It was announced by Gujarat’s Chief five enabler parameters (‘Human Capital’, Minister (CM) Vijay Rupani during a press ‘Investment’, ‘Knowledge Workers’, conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. ‘Business Environment’, ‘Safety and Legal The mission will also create employment Environment’), and two performance opportunities along with increase in the parameters (‘Knowledge Output’ and export of such products. ‘Knowledge Diffusion’). CM Thakur launches HP’s first online In the ‘Major States’ category, Karnataka occupied the top position, followed by youth radio station Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu respectively. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has In UT and city states category, Delhi launched Himachal Pradesh’s first topped followed by Chandigarh. online youth radio station” Radio Hills- Youngistan Ka Dil”. Under the ‘North-Eastern/Hill States’ category, Himachal Pradesh emerged as The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts the top state. of young entrepreneurs. The developer of the online radio Karan, and Radio Jockeys Palak, Rahul and Nidhi were also present on the occasion.

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Cabinet approves ₹5,282-cr investment that such a large number of people will be for 850 MW Ratle project on Chenab given ‘patta’ in Assam in one go. river Serum Institute of India fire, The Union Cabinet has approved 850 Covishield vaccine production megawatt (MW) Ratle hydropower project unaffected worth a Rs. 5281.94 crore on Chenab river in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Five people were killed after a major fire Kashmir. engulfed the three upper floors of a newly- constructed six-storey building inside one The project is being implemented under of the campuses of Serum Institute of India the Centre’s plan to expedite strategically (SII), which is a key player in the global important hydropower projects in the supplies of vaccines against the novel union territory post its reorganization. coronavirus disease. It will be developed by a new joint venture SII CEO Adar Poonawalla told The Indian company between state run National Express that the fire had caused “lots of Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) damage”. Ltd and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Poonawalla, who is currently abroad, had Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC), earlier said the fire had not impacted the where NHPC will have a 51% stake in the production of Covishield, the Oxford- JV firm, while the balance will be held by AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine that Serum JKSPDC. is manufacturing under licence. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh was briefed about the proposed Film City The government has approved the in Sikkim by a team of senior State construction of over 1.68 lakh houses in officials urban areas under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, taking the total number of Union Minister of State (Independent houses sanctioned so far to 1.1 crore. Charge) Development of North Eastern The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Ministry said that the decision was taken Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic at a meeting of the Central Sanctioning Energy and Space. and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) where officials from 14 states and union PM to launch programme to allot territories participated. ‘patta’ to over 1 lakh indigenous people in Assam Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday to be celebrated as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will ‘Parakram Diwas’; PM Modi to visit launch a special programme of the Assam government to distribute land ‘patta’ or Bengal on Jan 23 land allotment certificates to over one lakh PM Narendra Modi may visit Bengal on landless indigenous people. January 23 to take part in Netaji’s birthday This is for the first time since independence celebrations at Victoria Memorial

66 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event Mamata Banerjee has asked the Modi govt than 650 members of World Economic to announce Netaji’s birthday as national Forum. holiday. The report was released before the upcoming Davos Agenda Summit of India’s longest Road Arch Bridge World Economic Forum. This year, in 2021, inaugurated in Meghalaya the World Economic Forum is to launch the Great Reset Initiative alongside Davos Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Agenda Summit. The main aim of the K.Sangma inaugurated India’s longest report is to prepare the Government and road arch bridge “Wahrew Bridge” at other international communities during Sohbar in East Khasi Hills district of the times of crisis. Meghalaya on 22 January 2021. The report describes that the top 3 risks by The arch bridge has been constructed at an likelihood are extreme weather, climate estimated cost of Rs 49.395 crore under the action failures and human environmental Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources damage. This is very likely to happen in the (NLCPR) of the Ministry of Development next 10 years. And the top 3 risks by impact of North East Region (DoNER). are infectious diseases, climate action The iconic structure is expected to boost failures and weapon of mass destruction, the tourism sector in the State. these are the amount of impact they are expected to create. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates 7th Edition of MASCRADE 2021 organized Tripura observed 42nd Kokborok day by FICCI with colourful events The 7th edition of ‘MASCRADE 2021 Tripura observed the 42nd anniversary of – Movement against Smuggled & the recognition of Kokborok dialect as an Counterfeit Trade’ was inaugurated by official language of the state with a series Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union Minister of of programs and colourful events. Health and Family welfare, on 21 January Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb 2021. delivered his speech during the event. The two-day programme was organized He announced that the state Cabinet has by FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against decided to rename Barmura hill range as Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities ‘Hathai Kotor’. Destroying the Economy), to combat illicit trade, especially in a post COVID era. CM to inaugurate first child-friendly police station of U’khand World Economic Forum releases the Global Risks for 2021 Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat will inaugurate the first child- The World Economic Forum (WEF) friendly police station of Uttarakhand, recently released the 16th edition of the which is meant to provide a friendly Global Risks Report, 2021. The report environment to children associated with was released based on the Global Risks crimes. Perception Survey undertaken by more The child-friendly police unit has been

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set up in the Dalanwala police station About 500 artisans, craftsmen and culinary with a budget of about Rs 5 lakhs on the experts from 31 states and Union territories, recommendation of the Child Protection including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Committee of Uttarakhand. Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Jammu and Kashmir, will participate in new 4-lane Thaltej-Shilaj-Rancharda the event. railway overbridge in Ahmedabad Mahatma Gandhi National Rural The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Employment Scheme Shah inaugurated the new 4-lane Thaltej- Shilaj-Rancharda railway overbridge in The Modi government acted swiftly to Ahmedabad city of Gujarat through video announce a Rs 20 lakh crore relief package, conferencing. the last tranche of which saw an allocation The new overbridge has been built at a of Rs 40,000 crore more to MGNREGA. cost of Rs 55 crore. The government relied on MGNREGA, the flagship rural job guarantee scheme of the Jharkhand Mine Mineral UPA government, to provide employment to hordes of labourers migrating back Koderma is one of the districts of to their villages as lockdowns halted Jharkhand which is blessed with abundant economic activity in urban areas. natural resources and rich mineral deposits throughout the district. Mahatma Gandhi Employment Giridih and Koderma districts of Jharkhand Guarantee Act 2005 (or, NREGA No 42, are rich in mica mineral. later renamed as the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee ‘Hunar Haat’ has given employment Act” or MGNREGA), is an Indian labour opportunities to over 5 lakh artisans law and social security measure that aims in 5 years to guarantee the ‘right to work’. This act was passed in September 2005 under the Employment opportunities have been UPA government of Prime Minister Dr. generated for over five lakh artisans, Manmohan Singh. craftsmen and people associated with them through the “Hunar Haat” initiative Pragati and Saksham of the government in the last five years, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar The All India Council of Technical Abbas Naqvi. Education (AICTE) has extended the last date for its scholarship initiatives Pragati, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi scheme for girls, and Saksham, scheme for Adityanath will inaugurate the 24th Hunar specially-abled students. The last date to Haat of indigenous products of artisans apply for the AICTE scholarship schemes and craftsmen in the state capital. Artisans is now 31 January 2021. and craftsmen from 31 states and Union territories will participate in the event.

68 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event PM Modi calls Netaji ‘true son of The centre, spread over 1.15 acre, would Mother India help in the training of over 2,000 persons annually. BJP and Centre have decided to observe January 23 as ‘Parakram Diwas’ to Book released commemorate the birth anniversary of The Chief Minister also released the first Bose, who was born on this day in 1897. copy of ‘Nurturing Music and Fine Arts- Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Ahistorical Perspective’ published by Banerjee has tweeted: Homage to Tamil Nadu Dr. J.Jayalalithaa Music and Deshnayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Fine Arts University. on his 125th birthday. He was a true leader & strongly believed in unity of all people. Set-up office for international affairs We are celebrating this day as Desh Nayak The University Grants Commission (UGC) Dibas. Govt of West Bengal has also set has asked the higher education institutes up a committee to conduct year-long across the country to establish an office celebrations till January 23, 2022. for international affairs. These offices, said UGC, will be an “integral part of National science conference 2021 internationalisation of higher education in The Scientific dissertation submitted India”. by two students, Vidathakumal Government School students Pa.Devaki UP becomes first Indian State to have and K.Kumarabarathi, near Narikkudi, 2 Expressway airstrips for landing & Tiruchirappalli district, has been selected take-off of fighter planes for the National Science Conference. In Uttar Pradesh, a new 3,300-metre- There is a Government High School in long airstrip has been constructed near Vidathakulam Vilalge near Narikkudi in Kurebhar on Purvanchal Expressway. Tiruchirappalli district in Virudhunagar district. With this new airstrip, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India having two CM unveils buildings for government airstrips on expressways. departments Uttar Pradesh also has an airstrip on Lucknow-Agra Expressway. Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami Airstrips on expressways are designed to has unveiled at Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur facilitate emergency landing and take-off district set up at a cost of `6.25 crore. of fighter planes. He also unveiled during the video conference meeting, new buildings for India Ranks 7th in Global Climate Labour and Employment Department Risk Index 2021 of Germanwatch; constructed at a cost of `3.34 crore. Mozambique Tops The skill development centre has been set up by a joint collaboration between Tamil India has been placed among the top Nadu Skill Development Corporation 10 most affected countries by climate and Central Footwear Training Institute. change, in the Global Climate Risk

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Index 2021 published by the Bonn-based technology which will allow electors to environmental think tank Germanwatch. vote from faraway cities without going India ranked as the seventh worst-hit to designated polling station of their country in terms of climate change in 2019. constituencies. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 is the Mock trials for remote voting facility for 16th edition of the annual report and has electors would begin soon, Chief Election taken into account the data available for Commissioner Sunil Arora has announced. 2019 and from 2000 to 2019. In his message to mark the 11th National Objective: The index analyses and ranks Voters’ Day, he proclaimed a research to what extent countries and regions have project on remote voting using cutting- been affected by impacts of climate related edge technology has already begun. extreme weather events (storms, floods, heatwaves etc.) e-EPIC programme For Voter ID cards Top 3 countries : Mozambique, Zimbabwe The Election Commission has made and Bahamas were the top three most additional arrangements for encouraging affected countries in 2019 respectively. online registration of eligible voters during Top 3 Countries most affected in past 20 the summary revision of electoral rolls. years: Between 2000-2019, Puerto Rico, Union Ministry for Law and Justice, Myanmar and Haiti were the countries Communications and Electronics and most affected by the impacts of such Information Technology will launch the weather events. e-EPIC programme and distribute e-EPICs The Global Climate Risk Index indicates and Elector Photo Identity Cards to five a level of exposure and vulnerability to new voters. e-EPIC, a digital version of extreme weather events, which countries the Elector Photo Identity Card can be should understand as warnings in order accessed through the Voter Helpline App to be prepared for more frequent and/or and websites. more severe events in the future. Indian Railways’ longest freight train Tsari Chu River ‘Vasuki’ sets a new record The village, built between November 2019 Indian Railways’ South Eastern Central and November 2020 and located a couple Railway (SECR) zone has created another of kilometres across the LAC, beyond record when it operated the longest freight what India sees as the border separating train on the Indian Railways network. Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet, on the banks of Tsari Chu river in Upper Subansiri SECR Raipur division for the first time district in Arunachal and it is at least 2 km amalgamated five rakes of freight coaches south of the McMahon Line. from Bhilai D Cabin till Korba which falls under the Bilaspur division. Mock Trials for Remote Voting Facility The total length of the freight train was to Begin Soon around 3.5 kilometers after joining the five rakes and it was named ‘Vasuki’. The Election Commission has collaborated The distance between Bhilai to Korba is with IIT-Madras to work on a new

70 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event 224 kilometers and the long-haul freight Director, Best Composer, and Best story train named ‘Vasuki’ covered the whole writer among other categories. distance with five rakes of a freight train. In a first, Kolkata gets boat library Bharat Parv 2021 being organised on A children’s library on a boat was launched a virtual platform in Kolkata on Republic Day, a first of a kind Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated initiative. Children will be able to choose the Bharat Parv-2021 in the presence of from a selection of 500 titles in English Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad and Bengali on the Young Readers’ Boat Patel. Library. This event will provide an opportunity The idea behind the boat library is that one to know and understand the art, culture, can read some good collection of books food, clothing and traditions of the 28 while appreciating the beauty of Kolkata, states and eight Union territories of the cruising on the Hooghly river. country. To celebrate the spirit of India, the annual Goa govt will give jobs to kin of event of ‘Bharat Parv’ will this year be freedom fighters conducted on a virtual platform from Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant January 26 to January 31. assured to fulfil the demand of government jobs to family members of freedom fighters Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar in the state. Islands flags off 14 electric buses The coastal state got liberated from the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Portuguese rule in December 1961. Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd) D K Joshi Family members of several people, flagged-off a fleet of 14 electric buses in the who fought for Goa’s liberation from union territory. Portuguese rule, have been sitting on Last year in March, state-owned power hunger strike since January 22 at the Azad producer NTPC had said it will deploy Maidan in Panaji over their demand for electric buses in Andaman and Nicobar government jobs. Islands and will also set up public charging infrastructure in the UT. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to launch virtual intelligence tool Soorarai Pottru Starring Suriya Goes Tejas rsprasad Into Oscar Race 2021 Electronics, Information Technology and Tamil film Soorarai Pottru starring Suriya Communications Minister Ravi Shankar has made its entry into the Oscar race. The Prasad will launch a virtual intelligence film is loosely based on the biography of tool Tejas. Captain Gopinath, founder of the low-cost This system will help in improving policy airline, Air Deccan. The fil is competing decisions and efficiency of government’s in the general category of Oscars and is in services along with ensuring delivery of the race for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best citizen centric services.

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India Secures 86th Rank in Corruption (ULB) reforms, which were stipulated Perception Index 2020; New Zealand by Expenditure Department under the and Denmark tops Finance Ministry. The state has also become eligible for India has been ranked 86th among 180 additional reform linked to borrowing. countries in Corruption Perception Index Accordingly, the State has been granted (CPI) 2020, released by Transparency permission by the Department of International (Headquarter – Berlin, Expenditure to mobilise additional Germany) on 28 January 2021. financial resources of Rs2,731 crore This year, India’s rank has slipped six through Open Market Borrowings. places compared to 2019, when it was ranked at 80th spot. Bare necessities gap between States The CPI score for India in 2020 is 40. has narrowed since 2012, survey CPI Index: The CPI index ranks 180 shows countries and territories by their perceived Poorer States have reduced the gap with levels of public sector corruption according wealthy States in relation to in providing to experts and business people. citizens with access to the basics of daily “AYU SAMVAD” campaign program life - housing, water, power, sanitation, cooking gas - according to a new ‘Bare organized by All India Institute of Necessities Index’ (BNI) within the Ayurveda New Delhi Economic Survey 2020-21. “AYU SAMVAD” (My Health My The index, which draws its name from Responsibility) is one of the largest Baloo the Bear’s song in the movie public awareness campaign program on adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle AYURVEDA and COVID 19 PANDEMIC, Book, uses existing National Statistical organized by All India Institute of Office survey data to show that between Ayurveda New Delhi, as envisioned & 2012 and 2018, serious gains were made supported by Ministry of AYUSH. in the area of sanitation although equity in More than 5 lac lectures will be organized housing access still lagged . across the nation by Ayurveda Physicians States such as Kerala, Punjab, Haryana for citizens of India. and Gujarat top the index, while eastern The main objective of the campaign is to Indian States of Odisha, Jharkhand, West create awareness through Lecture series Bengal and Tripura occupy the lowest to make common people aware about rungs. States which showed significant the theme “Ayurveda for COVID 19 improvement include Uttarkhand, Pandemic”. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Rajasthan becomes 5th State to Inter-State disparities in the access to ‘the complete Urban Local Bodies reforms bare necessities’ have declined in 2018 when compared to 2012 across rural and Rajasthan has become the fifth state in the urban areas. nation to complete Urban Local Bodies

72 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 National – Diary of Event PM Modi to address 125th Anniversary India’s First ‘Gender Park’ to be celebrations of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ inaugurated in Kozhikode, Kerala on Jan 31di The state government of Kerala will launch Prime Minister Narendra Modi will first of its kind three-storeyed ‘Gender address the 125th Anniversary celebrations Park’ in Kozhikode, to promote gender of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’. The event is being equality and empowerment in the state. organized by Advaita Ashrama situated at The overall cost of establishing the park is Mayavati Ashram in Uttarakhand. around Rs 300 crore. spread over 24 acre Prabuddha Bharata, a monthly journal land. of the Ramakrishna order started by This new Gender Park will be inaugurated Swami Vivekananda in 1896. The journal by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ has been an important the second edition of the International medium for spreading the message of Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE-II), India’s ancient spiritual wisdom. which will be held from February 11 to 13, Its publication was started from Chennai 2021. erstwhile Madras where it continued to be Along with the Gender Park, a Gender published for two years after which it was Museum, Gender Library, Convention published from Almora. Centre and an Amphitheatre will also be Later, in April 1899, the place of publication launched at the event. of the Journal was shifted to Advaita These facilities have been established Ashrama and it has been continuously under the Phase I of the gender park. published from there since then. Luminaries like Netaji Subhas Chandra Igloo Cafe becomes the new attraction Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sister Nivedita, for tourists at J-K’s Gulmarg Sri Aurobindo, Former President Sarvepalli Igloo Café at Kashmir’s Gulmarg has Radhakrishnan have contributed to the become the centre of attraction for the Journal over the years. people visit the Valley. The café built of The Advaita Ashrama is working towards snow is country’s first and Asia’s biggest making the entire ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ Igloo Cafe which is located at the ski resort archive available online on its website. here.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 73 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 7. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Vijay Shankar to be a judge in Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Supreme Court Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), Indian-origin advocate Vijay Shanker will the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455), become a judge in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic the US capital, Washington DC, after the Republic of the Congo (8,640). Senate approval of President Donald Trump’s decision. China holds third South Asia Trump has nominated advocate Vijay multilateral meet in new push Shankar as an associate judge in the China has held its third multilateral District Court of Appeals in Columbia. dialogue with countries from South His term will be for 15 years after Senate Asia to take forward closer cooperation approval on the appointment of Advocate on fighting COVID-19 and coordinating Vijay Shankar. Vijay Shankar will replace their economic agendas, reflecting a new the recently retired John R. Fisher. The approach in Beijing’s outreach to the District Court of Appeals of Columbia is region. the highest court in Washington DC. The third dialogue, held virtually on January 6, brought together every country 60,000! India records the highest in the region barring India, Bhutan and number of babies born on New Year’s the Maldives, and was aimed at “anti- Day epidemic cooperation and poverty More than 371,500 babies were born reduction cooperation. worldwide on New Year’s Day and India is estimated to have recorded the highest Air India’s All-Women Cockpit Crew number of births at around 60,000, Completes Historic 17-Hour Flight To according to the UN’s children’s agency. Bengaluru Fiji in the Pacific was projected to have An all-women cockpit crew operating welcomed 2021’s first baby while the Air India’s inaugural San Francisco- United States would welcome its last. Bengaluru flight arrived in Karnataka’s Globally, over half of these births are capital after flying over the North Pole estimated to have taken place in 10 and covering a distance of about 16,000 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), kilometres.

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The flight number AI176 left San to rising CO2 emissions and sea levels,” Francisco on Saturday at 8.30 PM (local said Mohammed bin Salman, Crown time) and arrived in Bengaluru at 3.45 Prince and NEOM’s Chairman. AM according to Air India sources. France hosts 4th One Planet Summit Bangladesh Declared as ‘Country in in cooperation with UN and World Focus’ for 51st IFFI Bank Bangladesh has been chosen as The Government of France organised the ‘Country in Focus’ for the 51st the fourth ‘One Planet Summit’ on 11 International Film Festival of India (IFFI). January 2021, through videoconferencing, The festival will be held at Goa from which aimed at protecting the world’s January 16 to January 24, 2021. biodiversity. The Country in Focus is a special segment The theme of the Summit was “Let’s act that recognizes the cinematic excellence together for nature!” and contributions of the country. This The Summit was organised in cooperation section at the 51st IFFI will showcase four with the United Nations and the World films from Bangladesh. Bank. It was inaugurated by the Secretary- Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund General of the United Nations António to invest in a city without cars Guterres, French President Emmanuel NEOM, part of Saudi Arabia’s public Macron, and President of the World Bank investment fund, will start construction Group David Malpass. of THE LINE, a 170km belt of hyper- connected future communities, without Archaeologists Find Oldest Painting cars and roads and built around nature, in Indonesian Cave Painted At least in Q1 of 2021. 4,500 Years Ago One of the largest sovereign wealth funds Archaeologists have discovered the in the world, NEOM, expects the project world’s oldest known cave art, a life-sized will create 380,000 jobs and contribute picture of a wild pig that was painted at SAR 180bn ($48bn) to GDP by 2030. least 45,500 years ago in Indonesia. Throughout history, cities were built to The cave painting uncovered in South protect their citizens. After the Industrial Sulawesi consists of a figurative depiction Revolution, cities prioritized machines, of a warty pig, a wild boar that is endemic cars and factories over people. In cities to this Indonesian island. that are viewed as the world’s most The Sulawesi warty pig painting, dated advanced, people spend years of their to at least 45,500 years ago, is part of a lives commuting. By 2050, commute rock art panel located above a high ledge durations will double. By 2050, one along the rear wall of Leang Tedongnge. billion people will have to relocate due

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 75 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

Donald Trump becomes the first U.S. Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala President to be impeached twice Harris on January 16, 2021. The art form, which is a traditional art President Donald Trump was impeached form from Tamil Nadu in South India, by the U.S. House for a historic second time on January 13, charged with “incitement of comprises geometric patterns consisting of insurrection” over the deadly mob siege of dots and lines as a symbol of welcome. the Capitol in a swift and stunning collapse The art form is generally drawn on the of his final days in office. floors outside houses using powered rice. He was first impeached in 2019 over his Thousands of such tiles were made as a Ukraine dealings. The House voted 232- tribute to the soon-to-be first female and 197 to impeach Mr Trump. first Indian-origin Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. India has largest diaspora in the Joe Biden takes oath as 46th US world: UN President while Kamala Harris as The Indian diaspora, one of the most 49th Vice President “vibrant and dynamic”, is the largest in the world, with 18 million people from the Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., famous as country living outside their homeland in Joe Biden, has been sworn in as the 46th 2020, UN said in it’s report, ‘International president of the United States. Migration 2020 Highlights’. Other The 78-year– old, Biden took the oath of countries with a large diaspora included the office on 20 January 2021, becoming the Mexico and Russia (11 million each), China oldest president in American history. (10 million) and Syria (8 million). Kamala Harris took oath as 49th Vice The report said India’s large diaspora President of the country, becoming the is distributed across a number of major first women to hold the post in the history countries of destination, with the UAE (3.5 of United States. million), the US (2.7 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.5 million) hosting the largest She is even the first Black American and numbers of migrants from India. first person of South Asian descent to hold the nation’s second highest office. Between 2000 and 2020, the size of the migrant population abroad grew for Special train tour to see UNESCO nearly all countries and areas of the world. India experienced the largest gain during heritage sites that period at nearly 10 million, followed IRCTC has organized a special train tour in order of magnitude by Syria, Venezuela, from Tamil Nadu to see the UNESCO China and the Philippines. heritage sites. The Bharat Darshan Tourist Train is Indian art form ‘Kolam’ part of Biden- operated by the Indian Railways Food Harris inauguration ceremony and Tourism Corporation (IOCTC). So far Kolam, an Indian art form was a part more than 370 special train services have of the virtual kick-off ceremony of the been operated. Following this, a special inauguration of US President-elect Joe train tour has been arranged to leave Tamil

76 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 International Affairs

Nadu and visit UNESCO heritage sites. Dubai and the unprecedented support of The special train will depart from Madurai CDA, Dubai Could have been done. on February 18 via Coimbatore, Botany, Erode, Salem, Chennai, Perambur., Halai Estonia’s first female PM sworn in as Dam, Bimbatka Cave in Bhopal and new government takes power Bhojpu Shiva Temple. Estonia’s new prime minister has promised to restore the Baltic nation’s reputation, India Africa Trade Council 2021 after two turbulent years in which a far- inaugurated in Chennai, India right party was part of the country’s The India Africa Trade Council 2021 government. was inaugurated in Hotel Crowne Plaza, The 43-year-old Kallas becomes the Chennai (Tamil Nadu) for building up country’s first female prime minister since business relations between India and Estonia regained independence in 1991. Africa. It was inaugurated by the Additional New Zealand tops COVID-19 Secretary (Africa) Ambassador Nagma performance ranking Mallick (IFS) Ministry of External Affairs New Zealand and Vietnam were ranked (MEA), Govt. of India and the Ambassador the best performing countries in their of Ethiopia in Indian Dr Tizita Mulugeta response to the pandemic, according Yimam. to a COVID-19 “performance index” Ramakrishan, Founder of Corporate Clinic put together by the Lowy Institute, an in Chennai was appointed as the Director Australian think tank, which sought to of the India Africa Trade Council during assess the impact of geography, political the ceremony in Chennai. systems and economic development in assessing outcomes. 75,000 square feet of grand temple in The index, which was based on six different Dubai indicators, including confirmed people A temple for Hindus in Dubai will and the scale of testing, sought “to gauge be launched by Diwali next year. The the relative performance of countries”, foundation stone of this temple was laid assessing 98 countries in the 36 weeks that during the epidemic in August last year. followed their hundredth case. The Sindhi Guru Durbar Temple is one U.S., Brazil worst of the oldest Hindu temples located here, India ranked 86 out of 98 countries, while which began in the 1950s. the U.S. stood at 94 and Brazil at the bottom This temple is a hallmark of open views of the index. Taiwan, Thailand and cypris and mentality of people in UAE and were in the top five. Sri Lanka was the best Dubai. This journey of being transformed faring nation in South Asia, ranking 10, from an old one room temple to a 70,000 while the Maldives was at 25, Pakistan at square foot temple and community center 69, Nepal at 70, and Bangladesh at 84. in the 1950s is not possible without the Population size was one factor. Smaller generosity and open views of the rulers of countries with fewer than 10 million

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 77 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

people “consistently outperformed their Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) larger counter parts throughout 2020”. It is the research and analysis division The level of economic development and of Economist Group. It provides the regime-type were less significant than forecasting and advisory services by expected, which it attributed to “the doing research and analysis. It provides- relatively ‘low-tech’ nature of the health five-year country economic forecasts, measures used to mitigate the spread of monthly country reports, country risk the virus” which “may have created a more service reports and industry reports. level playing field between developed to It has several offices across the world developing countries”. including two offices in China and one In general, countries with smaller in Hong Kong. populations, cohesive societies, and PHI capable institutions have a comparative advantage in dealing with a global The ‘Personalised Health Index’ ranks crisis such as a pandemic the think tank each of the country based on 27 different concluded. indicators of personalized health, with each grouped into four categories India ranks 10th in EIU’s Asia-Pacific called ‘Vital Signs’. These include Personalised Health Index Policy Context, Health Information, Personalised Technologies and Health India has been ranked 10th among 11 Asia Services Pacific countries in a newly-launched” Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index ‘by Country’s largest buddha statue The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Countrys largest reclining Buddha statue The index aims to measure the progress of which will be 100-feet long is being made each of the 11 countries towards adopting in Kolkata. It is expected to be installed on personalised healthcare, enabling the the occasion of Buddha Purnima this year right care to be made available to the right in Bodh Gaya. person at the right time. The work on the statue is on at the Nainan The 11 nations ranked in the index are Bandhab Samiti ground in Baranagar’s Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Ghospara area. The statue will be installed Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, in the temple of Buddha International Thailand and New Zealand. Welfare Mission in the Bihar holy town. Overall, Singapore has topped the index. It is followed by Taiwan (2nd), Japan (3rd) and Australia (4th). Indonesia was the last ranked country at 11th in the index.

78 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Tamilnadu Affairs 8. TAMILNADU AFFAIRS

Cauvery-Gundar river Amma Call Centre Cauvery-Gundar river linking project was Amma Call Centre 24/7 is a single fully implemented, Ramanathapuram window IT enabled facility of government would be the biggest beneficiary, with of Tamilnadu that acts as an intermediary about one lakh acres of land getting between citizens and governement to irrigated. The three-phase project enable expeditous disposal of grievances ` involved an outlay of 14,000 crore, and of Citizens through toll free number 1100. `700 had been allotted this year. Third Eye Project ‘P.H. Pandian’s legal battle in SC for ATGP AK Viswanathan the ‘Third Eye’ irrigation projects laudable surveillance camera project was only Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, possible with the full cooperation of the who inaugurated a memorial for former public . Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P.H. SurfShark surveyed 138 countries around Pandian at his native village Govindaperi the world for surveillance cameras. near Cheranmahadevi on his first death SurfShark can provide cyber security. anniversary on Monday, recalled The company was launched in 2018 to the development works executed in provide solutions for cyber privacy and Cheranmahadevi constituency at his security. The company is headquartered initiative. on the island of Tardola in the British Born on February 27, 1945, Pandian Virgin Islands off the Caribbean. The became the member of the AIADMK company has released a map of which immediately after it was founded by late cities in the world have the most CCTV M.G. Ramachandran. He was elected to surveillance. Tamil Nadu Assembly from erstwhile Chennai tops the list with 657 surveillance Cheranmahadevi constituency in 1977, cameras per square kilometer. Currently, 1980 and 1984, and served as the Speaker there are 2 lakh 80 thousand surveillance from 1985 to 1989. cameras in Chennai . Hyderabad is He was elected to the Lok Sabha from ranked 2nd with 480 cameras and Delhi Tirunelveli Parliamentary constituency is ranked 3rd with 289 cameras. in 1999.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 79 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

London, the only non-Asian city, is Community library opens in Trichy, ranked 4th with 399 cameras. The next first under govt scheme 6 places are occupied by cities in China. District collector S Sivarasu inaugurated The Chinese capital Beijing ranks 10th the state’s first community library on the list, but Beijing ranks first in the launched under the state government world with a total number of 11 lakh scheme announced last year, at Rohini surveillance cameras. Garden enclaves ‘C’ block. As the name suggests, it is managed by the community Tamil Nadu Government to provide and will be attached to the central library 2GB Data free to College students for in the district. 4 months for online classes Tamil Nadu Government would be NCM V Chairperson appreciates Tamil providing 2 GB free data per day to college Nadu for being pioneer in working for students from January 2021 to April 2021. uplift of minorities In order to enable the students as colleges In Tamil Nadu, The Vice Chairperson remain closed and largely depended on of National Commission for Minorities, online teaching, the government has Atif Rasheed has appreciated the state for announced the plan to provide free data being a pioneer in working for the uplift package for students. As many as 9.69 of minorities in educational, social and lakh students would benefit from the economic sectors. scheme. Speaking to media on his two day Students enrolled in government and visit to Chennai, he said that the State government aided arts and science Government had utilised 100 percent colleges, polytechnic colleges, engineering financial target for unique scholarship colleges as well as scholarship funded and had formed a dedicated IT cell private colleges are eligible for the to address issues being faced by the scheme. Under the same, a 2 GB per day minority students. limit would be applicable for the first four months of the year. CRS to inspect MRTS extension Colleges in Tamil Nadu had reopened project from December 2, 2020 for final year post- The Commissioner of Railway Safety graduate students. Medical Colleges for (CRS), Southern Circle, Bengaluru, is both undergraduate and postgraduate expected to inspect the MRTS extension students also reopened from December 7. project by the end of February. As per the notice, the college for final year The extension project, from Velachery to undergraduate degree courses would St. Thomas Mount, has been delayed for begin from February 1, 2021. several years due to an issue pertaining to the acquisition of land, for 500 m, between St. Thomas Mount and Adambakkam railway stations.

80 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Tamilnadu Affairs The Chennai division, having almost TN to showcase replica of Pallava completed all railway infrastructure works monuments at Republic Day parade at the Puzhuthivakkam and Adambakkam railway stations, will also be approaching Historic monuments from the Pallava CRS, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, for dynasty, which performed host to the conducting a track inspection, by the end casual summit between Prime Minister of February, for issuance of a completion Narendra Modi and Chinese President certificate. Xi Jinping in October 2019, will likely be in limelight but once more within the 6.26 crore voters in Tamil Nadu nationwide capital this month. Replicas of the traditional monuments will Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer likely be a part of Tamil Nadu’s tableau on Satyabrata Sahoo released the total the Republic Day parade in Delhi. electorate in Tamil Nadu. A total of 6,26,74,446 voters are in the state including 4 Bharathanatyam dancers will carry 3,18,28,727 women, 3,08,38,473 men and out conventional music with thavil and 7,246 third gender persons. nathasvaram for the well-known track by poet Bharathiyar ‘Parukulle Nalla Nadu.’ As per the final electoral rolls, the “There will be four musicians - two on Shozhinganllur assembly constituency nathaswaram and two on thavil on both located in the Chengalpet district continues sides of the tableau, marching on the to hold the highest number of electors. Rajpath on Republic Day.

Centre invested Rs 27,000 cr for MGR Community Development schemes relating to blue economy Research Center, University of Union Minister for Fisheries Dr. Giriraj Madras Singh has said that the Centre has Chief Minister K Palanisamy announced invested 27 thousand crore rupees for at the university function that the MGR schemes relating to blue economy. Laying Centenary Social Development Research the foundation stone for the Aquatic Center will be set up at the University of Quarantine facility at Aquatic Animal Chennai at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Quarantine Centre at Padappai. Those who have studied here have been Salem Town Police Station ranked working in various important fields best in State in India and abroad. According to the National Rankings, the University of The Salem Town Police Station has been Chennai is ranked 18th in the top 100 ranked the best in Tamil Nadu for the year universities. 2019. Following audits in various levels, the station scored 5,558 marks in the App for the emergency department of assessment. the fire department Stations across the State were being Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami assessed on about 20-25 areas and the launched a mobile app called Thee Salem Town Police Station with Inspector (Fire), developed by the State Fire and B. Kumar scored top marks in the State.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 81 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

Rescue Services Department, to help the Mr.Sundar will participate in events to be public approach the department during conducted in colleges as part of the OPEN fire accidents, floods, mishaps due to (online participation of electoral network) borewells, rescuing wild animals, leakage campaign by the Corporation. of chemical and poisonous gas and other emergency needs. This is a first-of-its-kind Setting up of NCLAT Chennai bench to initiative in the country. help cos, litigants in southern states

National Health Mission selects Tamil Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced setting up of a bench of Nadu’s mentoring concept as best the National Company Law Appellate practice Tribunal (NCLAT) will provide a major Tamil Nadu’s mentoring concept in relief to companies and litigants in the which obstetricians and gynaecologists southern states, and also help in reducing (OGs) were roped in for management pendency of cases. The Chennai bench of antenatal mothers was selected by the of the NCLAT was inaugurated by National Health Mission (NHM) as one of Sitharaman, who is in charge of finance as the best practices. Through this initiative, well as corporate affairs ministries. over 2.8 lakh high risk pregnant women The bench will have jurisdiction to hear were identified during the COVID-19 appeals against orders passed by the pandemic. benches of the National Company Law The mentoring concept - Management of Tribunal (NCLT) having jurisdiction of High Risk Antenatal (AN) Mothers during Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra COVID-19 pandemic - introduced by Pradesh, Lakshwadeep and Puducherry. NHM, Tamil Nadu was presented at the 7th National Summit on Good Replicable Selfie point on Marina beach Practices and Innovations in Public Health inaugurated Care Systems in India. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami The concept was Launched during in launched the Namma Chennai Selfie Point November - December 2019. on Marina beach. The artwork has been modelled on the Washington Sundar is election icon of structures at Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai Corporation Bengaluru. The Greater Chennai Corporation has The structure, estimated to have a budget nominated cricketer Washington Sundar of `24 lakh, has been designed to withstand as the Chennai District Election Icon for any cyclone and weighs 2.5 tonnes. the upcoming Assembly election. The project has been funded by the Smart Chennai Corporation Deputy City mission. Namma Chennai is part of Commissioner (Revenue and Finance) the development of an art district in the Meghanatha Reddy announced the city. cricketer would play a role in reaching out to first-time voters in the 16 Assembly constituencies of the city.

82 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Tamilnadu Affairs 3 private colleges under Health `52,257-cr. Investment proposals Department cleared The Higher Education Department has The Tamil Nadu Cabinet accorded issued an order transferring the Rajah approval for 34 major proposals for Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, investments to the tune of `52,257 crore in the Rani Meyyammai College of Nursing the State. and the Rajah Muthiah Dental College and The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Hospital to the Health Department. Minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami at the Secretariat, also cleared the Tamil Nadu Indian National Space Promotion and Industrial Policy 2021, which will be Authorisation Centre unveiled soon. The student community across the Sun Edison will invest `4,629 crore and country must become a part of the Indian employ over 5,000 people to produce solar Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) photo-voltaic modules. Ola Electric will family,announced its Chairman K. Sivan invest `2,354 crore and create employment during a virtual address from Bengaluru. for 2,182 persons in the SIPCOT park at Bargur, Kirshnagiri, for making electric The formation of the Indian National Space vehicles and batteries. The release said Promotion and Authorisation Centre in German company Eickhoff Wind Ltd. will June last by Prime Minister Narendra invest `621 Crore and employ 319 persons Modi inspired 12 students of the institute to make gearboxes for wind energy to collaborate with ISRO and develop production near Chennai. ‘SriShaktiSat. The satellites developed by these students will be a part of the UNITYSat, which will be launched into orbit on February 28 by ISRO’s PSLV C-51.

Tamil Studies Research Festival at World Tamil Research Institute on Feb 1st, 2021 Jayalalithaa’s birthday will be celebrated at the World Tamil Research Institute in Chennai from February 1 to March 8 as ‘Tamil Thai 73 – Tamil Studies Festival’.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 83 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 9. PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. India’s largest Hockey Stadium is planned to be setup in which state? (A) Punjab (B) New Delhi (C) Odisha (D) Maharashtra

2. Pallavan Era’s Mootha Devi Statue recently unveiled in ______. (A) Kanchipuram (B) Chengalpattu (C) Uttiramerur (D) Tiruvallur

3. What percentage contraction excepted on GDP in 2020-21 by Government of India? (A) 18% (B) 12% (C) 10.5% (D) 77%

4. Which of the following International organization closely association with New Development Bank? (A) ASEAN (B) WTO (C) BRICS (D) SCO

5. Which of the following company recently become 5th strongest brand around the world? (A) TATA (B) JIO (C) Mahindra (D) Adani

6. World Braille Day observed every year on ______. (A) January 10 (B) January 9 (C) January 8 (D) January 4

8. DRDO’s scientist of the year Award-2018” has been awarded to______. (A) Hemant Kumar Pandey (B) Tessy Thomas (C) Sudhir Kamath (D) Pravin Mehta

9. What is the accuracy of “National Atomic Timescale” which was recently launched? (A) 2.7 Ns (B) 2.8 Ns (C) 2.1 N (D) 2.0 Ns

10. Which country has passed the Malala yousuf zai scholarship Bill? (A) India (B) Pakistan (C) Afghanistan (D) USA

11. Which State’s tableau won first prize in recent Republic Day parade? (A) Tamil Nadu (B) Kerala (C) Uttar Pradesh (D) Madhya Pradesh

12. National film Development Corporation located in ______. (A) New Delhi (B) Chennai (C) Hyderabad (D) Mumbai

13. By Many A Happy Accident is a Biography of ______. (A) Jairam Ramesh (B) Pratibha Patil (C) Ansari (D) K.R. Narayanan

84 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Practice Questions 14. Who is the Chief Economist of International Monitory Fund? (A) Kristalina Georgiva (B) Sumanth Singh (C) Gita Gopinath (D) Rukmani Arundal

15. Fatah-1 Rocket system belongs to ______. (A) Japan (B) Russia (C) China (D) Pakistan

17. Mount Morapi Volcano recently seen in News which is located in ______. (A) Thailand (B) Myanmar (C) Malaysia (D) Indonesia

18. Where National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) bench has setup? (A) Kolkata (B) Mumbai (C) Chennai (D) Kochi

19. Which state recently opened the boat library for childrens? (A) Kerala (B) Uttar Pradesh (C) Tamil Nadu (D) West Bengal

21. 38th District of Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai was formed by dividing it from ______. (A) Tanjavur (B) Kumbakonam (C) Chidambaram (D) Nagapatinam

22. India signed an MoU with ______regarding specified skilled worker. (A) Russia (B) South Korea (C) Japan (D) USA

23. Which country launched the world’s first double stock long haul container train? (A) USA (B) India (C) Japan (D) France

24. Who has recently awarded Param Vishist Seva Medal from Coast Guard? (A) A.K.Kumar (B) Natarajan (C) Bhupendra Singh (D) Ragunath

25. Mc Mohan line is the boundary line between China? (A) Malaysia (B) Pakistan (C) Afghanistan (D) India

26. Who has been recently appointed as member of UN High level Advisory Board on economic? (A) Jayati Kumar (B) Jayati Ghosh (C) Githa Gopinath (D) Sukumari

27. Aakash missiles system were made by______. (A) ISRO (B) Rafael Aviation (C) DRDO (D) HAL

28. World Ease of Boing Business Report released by ______. (A) WTO (B) WHO (C) World Bank (D) IMF

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 85 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

29. According to Economic survey how much percentage India’s growth has been forecasted? (A) 10% (B) 9% (C) 13% (D) 11%

30. Which of the following company recently become 5th strongest brand around the world? (A) TATA (B) JIO (C) Mahindra (D) Adani

31. Which of the following Institution recently launched 143 satellites using single Rocket? (A) NASA (B) SpaceX (C) ISRO (D) JAXA

32. Governors special address in state legislation is mentioned in______of Indian constitution. (A) 89 (B) 87 (C) 176 (D) 186

33. Pong Dam is recently seen in news is located in ______. (A) Ladakh (B) Punjab (C) Himachal Pradesh (D) Sikkim

34. Who has been recently awarded Alert Being Icon Award? (A) Ilayaraja (B) A.R. Rahaman (C) Usha Uthup (D) Ravi Shankar

35. Who has been recently appointed as New CEO of Railway Board? (A) R.S.Mishra (B) Suneet Sharma (C) A.K.Antony (D) Pradeep Kumar

36. Which of the following is recently approved Rice import from India? (A) Indonesia (B) USA (C) Russai (D) Vietnam

37. India’s Highest meteorological centre located in______. (A) Tamil Nadu (B) Karnataka (C) Himahcal Pradesh (D) Ladakh

38. Which of the following Railway Zone recently operated Indian’s first 3.5 km goods train? (A) South Central Zone (B) North Central Zone (C) South West Central Zone (D) Sothwest Central Zone

39. Where Grizzled Squirrel wild life sanctuary is located in Tamil Nadu? (A) Tuticorin (B) Vedaranyam (C) Srivilliputhur (D) Tirunelveli

41. National Girl Child Day is being observed on ______. (A) January 24 (B) January 25 (C) January 26 (D) January 27

42. Which of the following Article in India constitution mentioned about Governors special Address in State legislation? (A) Article 176 (B) Article 87 (C) Article 88 (D) Article 172

86 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Practice Questions 44. Which ministry implementing PM-Awas Yojana? (A) Finance (B) Housing and Urban Development (C) Culture (D) Home

46. What is the projected percentage of India’s GDP growth for this financial year by IMF? (A) 7.3% (B) 11.5% (C) 8.2% (D) 10.1%

47. Bharat Parve Programme is being organized by the ministry of ______. (A) Defence (B) Home (C) Finance (D) Cultural and Tourism

48. Who is the current Asia’s richest person? (A) Mukesh Ambani (B) Ratan Tata (C) Zhong Shashan (D) Jackma

49. What is the Name of India’s longest freight Train recently operated? (A) Sesh Nag (B) Vasugi (C) Aadishesh (D) IND Train

50. Who receives Padmashri award for innovation in puppetry recently? (A) K. Kesavasamy (B) Munusamy (C) Rajiv Kumar (D) Kannadasan

51. The avian influenza also called ______.

(A) H2N2 (B) H1N5 (C) H5N1 (D) N1H5

52. Prime Minister recently inaugurated underground gas pipeline from ______to ______. (A) Kochi to Mangalore (B) Kochi to Ernakulam (C) Kochi to Bengaluru (D) Ernakulam to Mangalore

53. What will be the name of India’s New Parliament building? (A) Central Vista (B) Heart of India (C) Central Bhavan (D) India Bhavan

54. Gussadi Tribal Dance mainly performed in ______. (A) Kerala (B) Odisha (C) Telangana (D) Chattisgarh

55. Which country is to be focused at the 51st international film festival of India in Goa? (A) France (B) Russia (C) Bangladesh (D) Maldives

56. Sitabani Wildlife Sanctuary is recently seen in News which is located in ______. (A) Kerala (B) Karnataka (C) Uttarkhand (D) Bihar

57. Which of the following Police Station selected Tamilnadu’s best Police Station? (A) Coimbatore (B) Salem (C) Tirupur (D) Vellore

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 87 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

58. India’s longest Road Arch Bridge recently inaugurated in______. (A) Assam (B) Meghalaya (C) Sikkim (D) Nagaland

59. National Voters Day observed on ______. (A) January 28 (B) January 27 (C) January 26 (D) January 24

61. Tamil Nadu Government announced Anna Award to ______. (A) Suresh (B) Kamalakannan (C) Kumaresan (D) Kannagi

62. Amazonia-1 Satellite recently seen in News which is belongs to ______(A) Russia (B) Brazil (C) Argentina (D) USA

63. New Education Policy-2019 was recommended by ______. (A) Rangarajan (B) Kasturi rangan (C) Narasimman (D) Kumara Raja

64. Indian Government is going to setup world largest floating solar Park in the river of ______. (A) Narmadha (B) Godavari (C) Mahanadhi (D) Yamuna

66. Koderma Mica mining is recently seen in news which is located in ______. (A) Odisha (B) Rajasthan (C) Maharashtra (D) Jharkhand

67. Which sports person recently honoured with UK’s knightwood award? (A) Vishwanathan Anand (B) Rafael Nadal (C) Lewis Hamilton (D) Valantino

68. Corringa wild life sanctuary is located in ______. (A) Tamilnadu (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Kerala (D) Karnataka

69. K-9 Journal is associated with which field? (A) Medicine (B) Political (C) Robotics (D) Policing

70. Which of the following Ministry associated with Bala Purashkar award? (A) Ministry of Home (B) Ministry Sports and Youth Wellfare (C) Ministry of Finance (D) Ministry of Women and Child Development

71. School Bag Policy is recently seen in News Associated with ______. (A) Andhra Pradesh (B) Madhya Pradesh (C) New Delhi (D) Tamilnadu

88 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Practice Questions 72. Which institution launched Digital Payments Index? (A) RBI (B) SBI (C) IMF (D) WTO

73. Which type of Ethanol produced from sugarcane? (A) 1G (B) 2G (C) 3G (D) Clean Ethanol

75. Leaf Nosed Bat is found in ______. (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) Uttarkhand (C) Bihar (D) Karnataka

76. What is the rate fixed for serum institute’s Covidshield vaccine? (A) Free of cost (B) 210 Rs (C) 310 Rs (D) 410 Rs

77. C-Vigil is a ______. (A) Army Exercise (B) Naval Exercise (C) Air Force Exercise (D) Coastal Guard Exercise

78. Geological survey of Indian has found vanadium in ______region. (A) Assam (B) Nagaland (C) Megalaya (D) Arunachal Pradesh

80. Mars probe named “Mole” is belongs to ______. (A) Israel (B) Japan (C) UAE (D) USA

81. Nord stream 2 pipeline recently seen in News it passes through ______sea. (A) Caspian (B) Red (C) Baltic (D) East China

82. Headquarters of the National AIDS control Organisation (NACA) is located in ______. (A) Chennai (B) Chandigar (C) New Delhi (D) Kolkata

83. Who is the present Chief Economic Advisor of India? (A) Aravind Subramaniyan (B) Krishnamoorthy Subramaniyan (C) Raguram Rajan (D) Sakthi Kantha Das

84. How many ministries have participating the Toycathon initiative? (A) 5 (B) 6 (C) 10 (D) 12

85. Avian Influenza has found in crows in which state? (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) Rajasthan (C) Tamilnadu (D) Kerala

86. Which of the following Bank Provide Finance Scheme to MSME in rooftop solar Programme? (A) SBI (B) Indian Bank (C) SIDBI (D) ICICI

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 89 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021

87. India’s first pollinator park has been established in ______.. (A) Sikkim (B) Kerala (C) Uttarkhand (D) Haryana

88. Indian Navy’s mission SAGAR-III is for______. (A) Madagascar (B) Phillipines (C) Combodia (D) Laos

89. Indian Government recently approved the export of ______missile. (A) Agni-IV (B) Agni-III (C) Akash (D) Nag

90. Which country recently approved two sun-exploration heliophysics Mission? (A) China (B) France (C) India (D) USA

91. India’s first hot air balloon wild life safari has been launched in ______. (A) Kerala (B) Tamil Nad (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Gujarat

92. PRADAN Portal is associated with ______. (A) NITI Aayog (B) ISRO (C) BSNL (D) UPSC

93. Highways Ministry recently extended the validity of vehicle Documents up to______. (A) March 1, 2021 (B) March 31, 2021 (C) April 1, 2021 (D) April 30, 2021

94. What is the name of the application launched by Ministry of earth science for Ocean Data Management? (A) Digital Ocean (B) Ocean Digital (C) Ocean Data (D) Data Ocean

95. Dulango coal mine, recently seen in news which is located in ______. (A) West Bengal (B) Jharkhand (C) Odisha (D) Telangana

96. The Indian Railways Operated Mission Sheeghra in ______. (A) Rajasthan (B) Haryana (C) Maharashtra (D) Uttar Pradesh

97. “Freight Business Development Portal’ was launched by the Ministry of ______. (A) Finance (B) Home (C) Railways (D) MSME

98. According to recent “States of Leopard in India-2018” which state has the highest number of leopards?? (A) Kerala (B) Maharashtra (C) Tamilnadu (D) Madhya Pradesh

99. India’s First Driver less metro train operated in ______. (A) Mumbai (B) Bengaluru (C) Kolkata (D) New Delhi

100. Asian Waterbird census-2021 is to be conducted in which state? (A) Kerala (B) Tamilnadu (C) Andhra Pradesh (D) Gujarat

90 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, January - 2021 Practice Questions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C C D C D D B A B D 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 C D C C D C D C D D 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 D C B B D B C C D B 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 B C C B B D D D C B 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 A A C B B B B C B A 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 C A A C C C B B D A 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 A B B A D D C B D D 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 C A A C D B D D D D 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 D C B B B C C C C D 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 C B B A C D C D D C

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