Current Affairs 28th January 2021| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DAYS 

International Data privacy day- observed on Jan 28

• Data Privacy Day is an international event that occurs every year on 28 January.
• The purpose of Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices.
• It is currently observed in the United States, Canada, Israel and 47 European countries.
• Surveys and industry reports show that many of us feel an increasing lack of control over our own data.
• The theme for DPD 2021 is “Own Your Privacy.” 
• Surveys and industry reports show that many of us feel an increasing lack of control over our own data.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS

Bharat Parv begins on virtual platform showcasing glory of nation

• Bharat Parv 2021, a festival to celebrate the spirit of India has begun on Jan 26, 2021.
• The festival is being organised on a virtual platformbharatparv2021.com this year from Jan 26 to till 31st of January.
• The mega event envisages generating patriotic fervour and showcases the rich and varied cultural diversity of the country.
• The Ministry of Tourism organizes Bharat Parv every year since 2016 in front of the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of Republic Day Celebrations.
• Prasar Bharati has set up its virtual stall which will showcase its efforts towards promoting Ek Bharat-Shrestha Bharat.

India pledges $150,000 for UN Peacebuilding Fund for 2021

• India has announced a pledge of $150,000 to activities of the Peacebuilding Fund this year and said that 2021 provides the international community with an opportunity to look at peace-building in a more focused manner.
• India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti.
• The Peacebuilding Fund has put forth a comprehensive scenario covering a horizon of five years. The Fund requires5 billion dollars for 2020-2024.
• The recently concluded 2020 review of the UN peacebuilding architecture provides a framework to strengthen peace building collectively.

PM chairs meeting of PRAGATI

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of 35th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Central and State governments.
• In the meeting, ten agenda items were taken for review including nine projects and one program.
• Among the nine projects, three projects were from the Ministry of Railways, three from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and one project each from Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Power Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs.
• These nine projects have a cumulative cost of 54 thousand 675 crore rupees concerning the 15 States.
• The States are Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister marks NCC rally in New Delhi 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the rally of the National Cadet Corps at Cariappa Ground in Delhi. 
• Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff and the three armed services Chiefs will also be present on the occasion.
• The Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour, review March Past by NCC contingents and witness cultural performance during the event.

NSA Ajit Doval speaks with US counterpart 

• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had a telephone call with his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan.
• The External Affairs Ministry said NSA Doval conveyed his best wishes to NSA Sullivan on his appointment as National Security Advisor.
• Doval underscored that as leading democracies, with an abiding faith in an open and inclusive world order, India and the US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues.
• These issues include combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cyber security and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Liberation War fighter from Bangladesh awarded Padma Shree

• Bangladesh Liberation War fighter Col. (Retd.) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir and well known musicologist, Rabindra Sangeet exponent and academic Sanjida Khatun from Bangladesh has been awarded the Padma Shri for the year 2021.
• Padma awards are one of the highest civilian awards of the country.
• The awards were announced on the eve of the Republic Day of India.
• According to the official press release, 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri awards have been conferred on people for their distinguished work in various fields.

About Bangladesh:

• Capital: Dhaka
• Currency: Bangladeshi taka
• President: Abdul Hamid

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Andaman Lt Governor flags off electric buses

• D K Joshi, the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands flagged-off a fleet of electric buses.
• The project for 40 electric buses is being executed by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited(NVVN Limited), a 100% subsidiary of NTPC Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
• The introduction of electric buses in the Island union territory will help cut down tailpipe emissions as well as provide comfortable public transport.
• These buses will provide last mile connectivity to NAMMA Metro network.

 About NVVN :

• NVVN is developing and providing a complete range of zero emission mobility solutions for various vehicle segments. In order to encourage faster migration to electric vehicles, NVVN is also developing charging infrastructure in multiple cities across the country.
• Founded : 2002

About Ministry of Power :

• Office holder : R K Singh
• Founded : 2 July 1992
• Headquarters : New Delhi

Uddhav Thackeray inaugurates Zoological Park in Nagpur

• In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur. 
• The park has been developed by the State Forest Department and Forest Development Corporation.
• It is spread across an area of 1,914 hectares and includes a wildlife sanctuary, Indian safari, African safari biodiversity park and night safari.
• The park has been opened for the Indian safari.
• Registration can be done on the website wildgorewada.com.

About Maharashtra:

• Governor: Bhagat Singh KoshyariTrending
• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief minister: Uddhav Thackeray

Meghalaya selected for Special Award

• The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya was selected for a Special Award for Information Technology applications in Elections by the Election Commission of India (ECI), in the National Best Electoral Practices Awards-2020.
• President Ram Nath Kovind virtually conferred the award to Meghalaya CEO F.R. Kharkongor at the National Voters’ Day Award function held in New Delhi, a statement from the CEO’s office informed.

About Meghalaya:

• Capital: Shillong
• Governor: Satya Pal Malik
• Chief minister: Conrad Sangma

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates integrated weapons design centre

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the Integrated Weapons System Design Centre at DRDO’s Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile complex in Hyderabad.
• The facility would enhance the capability in design and development of command and control systems for surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems,
• The DRDO officials briefed Naidu on the various ongoing projects and technological developments of missile complex laboratories Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI).
• The exposition will display missile technologies and weapon  systems and the centre will be the backbone for outreach activities.

About DRDO :

• Founded : 1958
• Headquarters : New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT NEWS

Lt Gen Ravin Khosla takes over command of Gajraj Corps

• The command of Indian Army’s Frontier Gajraj Corps changed hands from Lieutenant General Shantanu Dayal, to Lieutenant General Ravin Khosla.
• Lieutenant General Gen Ravin Khosla brings with him immense operational experience and has served in important command and staff appointment both in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East.
• He comes to Gajraj Corps from Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army), New Delhi where he was holding the appointment of Director General (Manpower Planing & Personnel Services).
• The General Officer has served in Sri Lanka during Operation PAWAN.
• For his illustrative service, he has been awarded the Ati Vishist Sewa Medal, Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal. 
• In addition to his professional pursuits, the general officer is also a keen sportsperson and an avid reader.

Italian PM Giuseppe Conte resigns

• Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned – and it is not clear if he will be able to form and lead a new coalition government.
• Parties are divided over spending in the coronavirus crisis, in which more than 85,000 Italians have died.
• Mr Conte met President Sergio Mattarella, who may ask him to form a stronger government.
• he lost his Senate majority.
• However media reports said, someone else could become Italy’s PM, or a snap election could be called.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : AWARDS

Maha Vir Chakra awarded to Col Santosh Babu posthumously

• President has approved awards of 455 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others.
• Galwan valley hero Colonel B Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, who lost his life during the Galwan Valley clash last year, will be posthumously awarded with Maha Vir Chakra.
• Subedar Sanjiv Kumar of 4th Battalion Parachute Regiment, CRPF Inspector Pintu Kumar Singh, CRPF Head Constable Shyam Narayan Singh Yadav, CRPF Constable Vinod Kumar will be posthumously awarded with Kirti Chakra.
• Deputy Commandant CRPF Rahul Mathur will be awarded Kirti Chakra.
• Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren of 16 Bihar Regiment, Havildar K Palani of 81 Field Regiment, Naik Deepak Singh of Army Medical Corps 16 Bihar Regiment and Sepoy Gurtej Singh of 3rd Battalion Punjab Regiment will be awarded Vir Chakra posthumously.
• Havildar Tejinder Singh of 3 Medium Regiment will be awarded Vir Chakra.
• Major Anuj Sood of 21st Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, Jammu and Kashmir police inspector Arshad Khan, J&K police Selection Grade Constable GH Mustafa Barah, J&K police Constable Naseer Ahmed Kolie and J&K Special Police Officer Bilal Ahmed Magray will be posthumously awarded with Shaurya Chakra.
• Rifleman Pranab Jyoti Das of 6th Battalion Assam Rifles and Paratrooper Sonam Tshering Tamang will be awarded Shaurya Chakra.
• These include one Mahavir Chakra, 5 Kirti Chakras, 5 Vir Chakras, 7 Shaurya Chakras, 4 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 130 Sena Medal (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), 4 Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, 4 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 51 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 11 Yudh Seva Medal, 3 Bar to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 43 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty) including 2 COVID Warriors, 8 Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 3 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) including one COVID Warrior and 131 Vishisht Seva Medal including 12 COVID Warriors.

Padma Shri Awardee Transgender Joga Nritya Performe

• Manjamma Jogathi, the Padma Shri comes after decades of social and financial struggle.
• The list of Padma awards recipients this year includes a transgender from Karnataka who has over the past many decades practised and single-handedly popularised rural folk arts.
• Manjavva Jogati, as she would be called in Karnataka, held aloft the cause of these art forms, especially the Jogati Nritya and Janapada songs, practiced in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra, and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Achievements :

• In 2006, she was awarded the Karnataka Janapada Academy Award and, 13 years later, in 2019, she herself was appointed President of the institution, becoming the first transgender to occupy the position.
• In 2010, the Karnataka government honoured her with the annual Kannada Rajyotsava award.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING 

TCS is third most valued IT services brand globally: Brand Finance

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS) is now the world’s third most-valued IT services brand, only behind industry heavyweights Accenture Plc and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), according to a report.
• Four Indian IT services companies TCS, Infosys Ltd. (4), HCL Technologies Ltd. (7) and Wipro Ltd. (9) have secured spots in the Top-10 global rankings.
• The brand value of HDFC Bank is recorded at USD 15 billion.
• Accenture retained the title of world’s most valuable and strongest IT services brand with a record brand value of $26 billion, while IBM continued at the second place with brand value of $16.1 billion.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd :

• CEO : Rajesh Gopinathan
• Founded : 1 April 1968
• Headquarters : Mumbai
• Founders : Faquir Chand Kohli, Tata Sons, J.R.D.Tata

Climate risk Index India Ranks in 7th

• India is among the top 10 most affected countries in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 published by the Bonn-based environmental think tank Germanwatch.
• India ranked as the Seventh worst hit country in terms of climate change in 2019.
• It is the 16th edition of the report and has taken into account the data available for 2019 and from 2000 to 2019.
• It caused catastrophic damage and a humanitarian crisis, making Mozambique and Zimbabwe the two most affected countries in 2019.
• In the past 20 years (2000-2019), Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti were the countries most affected by the impacts of such weather events.

About Global Climate Risk Index :

• The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 analyses to what extent countries and regions have been affected by impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.). Human impacts (fatalities) and direct economic losses were analysed.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : AGREEMENTS

India Inks Strategic Partnership With International Energy Agency

• India and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed a framework for a strategic partnership to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation and to enhance global energy security, stability and sustainability.
• This partnership will lead to an extensive exchange of knowledge and would be a stepping stone towards India becoming a full member of the Paris-based IEA.
• The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary (Power) and Dr. Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director.
• Dr Birol termed the signing of the agreement as a historic moment and a huge step forward for global energy governance.

About IEA :

• Headquarters : Paris, France
• Founded : November 1974
• It is mainly to help coordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil. It is made up of 30 member countries and also includes eight association countries.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 to be played in Ahmedabad

• Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 will be played from 26-31 January, at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad.
• As per schedule, four quarter finals will be played from 26-27 January, two semi finals on January 29, with the final scheduled on January 31.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has conducted a fresh round of Covid tests on the players who will be taking part in the knockouts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali National Twenty20 championship.
• The eight teams which have qualified for the knockouts – Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Baroda, Bihar and Rajasthan.

About BCCI :

• President : Sourav Ganguly
• Secretary : Jay Shah
• Headquarters : Mumbai
• Founded : December 1928

About Ahmedabad :

• Founder : Ahmad Shah I

Daily CA On Jan 27 :

• The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an international memorial day observed on January 27 every year.
• Indian Railways’ South Eastern Central Railway(SECR) zone has created another record when it operated the longest freight train on the Indian Railways network.
• The 15th edition of the famous ‘Toshali National Crafts Mela’ began in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on January 21.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has pegged contraction in India’s economy at 8 percent in the current financial year, higher than the 7.7-per cent decline projected by the government’s advance estimates.
• Board of Directors of Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank have given approval to appoint J K Shivan as managing director and CEO of the Bank.
• India’s economy is projected to grow at3% in 2021, even as it is estimated to contract by 9.6% in 2020.
• India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to contract by 8 per cent in 2020-21, according to the latest round of FICCI’s Economic Outlook Survey.
• The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda virtually through a Video Conference launched “ShramShakti”, a National Migration Support Portal at a programme held at Panjim, Goa.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful trial of the indigenously developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) off the Odisha coast from the Hawk-I jet of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). 
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden launch of the new generation of surface-to-air Akash missile from integrated test range off the coast of Odisha.
• Nikhil Srivastava, a young Indian mathematician, has been named winner of the prestigious 2021 Michael and Sheila Held Prize along with two others for solving long-standing questions on the Kadison-Singer problem and on Ramanujan graphs.
• The closing ceremony of the 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India was held in the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Stadium in Goa.
• Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, who laid the foundation of scientific studies on geo hazards, was  selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for 2021 for his work in disaster management.
• Shyam Srinivasan, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Federal Bank, is the Business Standard Banker of the Year for 2019-20.
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has won the 10th National Ice Hockey Championship organised by the Ice Hockey Association of India, after defeating Ladakh with five goals to one.
• Former India and Mohun Bagan, East Bengal goalkeeper Prasanta Dora died aged 44.

Daily CA On Jan 28 :

• Data Privacy Day is an international event that occurs every year on 28 January
• Bharat Parv 2021, a festival to celebrate the spirit of India has begun on Jan 26, 2021. The festival is being organised on a virtual platformbharatparv2021.com this year from Jan 26 to till 31st of January.
• India has announced a pledge of $150,000 to activities of the Peacebuilding Fund this year and said that 2021 provides the international community with an opportunity to look at peace-building in a more focused manner
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of 35th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Central and State governments.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the rally of the National Cadet Corps at Cariappa Ground in Delhi. 
• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had a telephone call with his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan
• Bangladesh Liberation War fighter Col. (Retd.) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir and well known musicologist, Rabindra Sangeet exponent and academic Sanjida Khatun from Bangladesh has been awarded the Padma Shri for the year 2021.
• D K Joshi, the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands flagged-off a fleet of electric buses.
• In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur. 
• The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya was selected for a Special Award for Information Technology applications in Elections by the Election Commission of India (ECI), in the National Best Electoral Practices Awards-2020.
• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the Integrated Weapons System Design Centre at DRDO’s Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile complex in Hyderabad.
• The command of Indian Army’s Frontier Gajraj Corps changed hands from Lieutenant General Shantanu Dayal, to Lieutenant General Ravin Khosla.
• Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned – and it is not clear if he will be able to form and lead a new coalition government.
• President has approved awards of 455 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others.
• Manjamma Jogathi, the Padma Shri comes after decades of social and financial struggle.The list of Padma awards recipients this year includes a transgender from Karnataka who has over the past many decades practised and single-handedly popularised rural folk arts.
• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS) is now the world’s third most-valued IT services brand, only behind industry heavyweights Accenture Plc and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), according to a report.
• India is among the top 10 most affected countries in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 published by the Bonn-based environmental think tank Germanwatch.
• India and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed a framework for a strategic partnership to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation and to enhance global energy security, stability and sustainability.
• Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 will be played from 26-31 January, at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad.