Unique IAS Academy TNPSC January Current Affairs - 2017 Unique IAS Academy 1st Street Gandhipuram Coimbatore-12 IAS/IPS, TNPSC, BANKING, TET, etc., 0422 4204182, 9884267599, 9843167599 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- British-Indian Shankar Balasubramanian knighted for his work on DNA sequencing 02-Jan-17 An Indian-origin British professor of chemistry and DNA expert at Cambridge University Shankar Balasubramanian received Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for their contributions. He was recognised for his work as a co-inventor of Next Generation DNA sequencing (also known as Solexa sequencing), described as the most transformational advance in biology and medicine for decades. Shraddha, Ghyansham Kumar Devansh chosen for 2016 Bharatiya Jananpith Navlekhan award 02-Jan-17 Two new Hindi writers Shraddha and Ghyansham Kumar Devansh have been chosen for Bharatiya Jnanpith Navlekhan Award for the year 2016 About Bharatiya Jananpith Navlekhan award The award is given to young authors in Hindi for their first creations. It was instituted in 2006 by Bharatiya Jnanpith trust. It consists of a statue of Goddess Saraswati, a citation and a cash prize each. Besides Jnanpith publishing their works Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa takes charge as new Air Force chief 02-Jan-17 Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa took charge as the 22nd Chief of the Air Staff (CoAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He succeeded Arup Raha who retires from the service. He is the third person from Sikh community to head the IAF after Arjan Singh and Dilbag Singh. Prior to this appointment he was Vice-Chief of IAF. General Bipin Rawat takes over as next Chief of Army Staff 02-Jan-17 General Bipin Rawat took charge as the new 27th Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of India. He succeed General Dalbir Singh Suhag who retired from the service. ICBM Agni-IV successfully test-fired off Odisha coast 02-Jan-17 India successfully test-fired its home-grown long range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-IV from the Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The test was aimed at revalidating new technologies incorporated in Agni-IV system and checking the readiness of armed forces to launch the missile on its own. About Agni-IV missile Agni-IV is two-stage surface-to-surface nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile. It has been designed and developed indigenously by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Feature: It is 20 metres long and weighs 17 tonnes. It has many cutting-edge technologies which can meet global standards including Pershing missile of US Andhra Pradesh Government launches NTR Arogya Raksha Scheme 03-Jan-17 Andhra Pradesh Government has launched NTR Arogya Raksha Scheme to provide the medical treatment to the people below Above Poverty Line (APL) at Rs. 1200 premium per annum. It was About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Unique IAS Academy, 1st street, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, 98842 67599 Page 1 Unique IAS Academy TNPSC January Current Affairs - 2017 UPSC is constitutional body that conducts the prestigious civil services examination to select IAS, IFS and IPS officers among others. It has been established under Article 315 of the Constitution and consists of a Chairman and ten Members; appointed and removed by President. The chairman and members of the Commission hold office for a term if six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. launched by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada. Google Doodle pays tribute to India’s social reformer Savitribai Phule 04-Jan-17 Search engine giant Google honoured India‘s 19th Century social reformer Savitribai Phule on the occasion of her 186th birth anniversary (3 January 2017) by dedicating a doodle on its webpage. The ‗doodle‘ had a narration by New Delhi-based NGO Zubaan, with colourful paintings by Malvika Asher on the different historical aspects of Savitribai‘s life. It showed a group of demure women assembled outside what could be a school for education in a skyblue starry background which also doubles as her blouse. Justice JS Khehar sworn in as 44th Chief Justice of India 04-Jan-17 Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar was sworn in as 44th Chief Justice of India (CJI). He was administered oath to the office by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. With this, he became the first person from Sikh communitry to become the CJI Government approves new projects under Namami Gange for Haridwar and Varanasi 04-Jan-17 The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved new projects under Namami Gange programme in Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). Government launches Swachh Bharat Survekshan 2017 in 500 cities 04-Jan-17 The Union Ministry of Urban Development launched Swachh Survekshan 2017 to rank 500 cities/towns across the country on cleanliness with a population of 1 lakh and above The survey will be conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI) under the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan in a bid to encourage competition to improve sanitation. Election Commission announces dates for assembly elections in five states 04-Jan-17 The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the dates for the assembly elections in five states– Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa. January 4: World Braille Day Bunkar Mitra Helpline for Handloom Weavers went live 05-Jan-17 The Union Ministry of Textiles‘ Bunkar Mitra Helpline for Handloom Weavers went live. It was launched by the Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani on the occasion of Good Governance Day (on December 25, 2016). UN declares 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 06-Jan-17 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared the year 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The declaration recalls the potential of tourism sector to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Government constitutes Injeti Srinivas Committee to frame National Sports Code 06-Jan-17 Unique IAS Academy, 1st street, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, 98842 67599 Page 2 Unique IAS Academy TNPSC January Current Affairs - 2017 The Union Sports Ministry has constituted committee to frame comprehensive National Sports Development Code across sports disciplines. About Financial Stability and Development Council The Central Government had established Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in December 2010 with the Finance Minister as it Chairman. The idea to create it was first mooted by the Raghuram Rajan Committee on Financial Sector Reforms in 2008. It is a super regulatory body for regulating financial sector which is a vital for bringing healthy and efficient financial system in the economy India and Kazakhstan sign Protocol to amend DTAC 06-Jan-17 India and Kazakhstan have signed a Protocol to amend the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) between the two countries in New Delhi Delhi Government unveils Good Samaritan Policy 07-Jan-17 Delhi Government has approved ‗Good Samaritan Policy to encourage people to help road accident victims in emergency situation. 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas begins in Bengaluru 07-Jan-17 The 14th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) began in the country‘s IT hub Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme of this edition is ―Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora About Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) PBD is an annual event organised since 2003 by Ministry of External Affairs to foster greater interaction between the Indian Diaspora and Indian government. It is a very important platform for engagement of the Union Government and the state governments with the overseas Indian community. It provides the single platform to Indian diaspora to put forth their issues and grievances before the government and in turn government can leverage their resources in nation building activities. It is held annually on 9 January to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India i.e. on 9 January, 1915. About Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) IWT is a bilateral water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan signed in 1960. It was brokered by the World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development). The treaty deals with sharing of water of Indus water system having six rivers — Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum between the two countries. Gen. Raheel Sharif to head Islamic Military Alliance 07-Jan-17 Pakistan‘s former Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif (retired) was appointed head of Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), a Saudi Arabia-led military coalition of 39 nations. The appointment was confirmed by Pakistan‘s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif as both the government and the Army allowed Gen Gen. Raheel Sharif to head Islamic Military Alliance 07-Jan-17 Pakistan‘s former Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif (retired) was appointed head of Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), a Saudi Arabia-led military coalition of 39 nations. The appointment was confirmed by Pakistan‘s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif as both the government and the Army allowed Gen 20th National Conference for e-Governance begins in Visakhapatnam 09-Jan-17 The 20th Edition of the National Conference for e-Governance 2016-17 has started in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The theme of this year‘s conference is ‗Internet of Things and e-Governance‘ and will be covering newly evolving areas of e- Governance across five plenary sessions. Unique IAS Academy, 1st street, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, 98842 67599 Page 3 Unique IAS Academy TNPSC January Current Affairs - 2017 What is VVPAT? The VVPAT system is a new initiative of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. In the VVPAT system, when a voter presses the button for a candidate of his choice in the electronic voting machines (EVM), a paper ballot containing the serial number, name of the candidate and poll symbol will be printed for the voter.