CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS
SCM, MoHUA launches ‘Open Data Week’:
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced the initiation of the Open Data Week to encourage adoption of open data and promote innovation across India’s urban ecosystem.
- Leading up to the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Smart Cities: Smart Urbanization’ conference scheduled to be held in Surat, during February 2022, the Open Data Week is part of a series of pre-event initiatives being undertaken by MoHUA to promote awareness and use of open data.
- It will be conducted during the third week of January, i.e., from 17th January 2022 to 21st January 2022.
- The Event aims to show the benefits of open data such as increased efficiency, transparency, a spur in innovation, and economic growth.
- It is divided into two segments – first, uploading of datasets, visualizations, APIs and data blogs on the Smart Cities Open Data Portal from 17th January 2022 to 20th January 2022 and second, celebration of a Data Day by all smart cities on 21st January 2022.
Pralhad Joshi Launches New Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy of NLC India Ltd:
- Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi that NLC India Ltd, a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Coal has been playing a pivotal role in ensuring India’s energy security during the last six decades of performance.
- The Minister was virtually launching the new rehabilitation & resettlement (R& R) policy applicable to land owners of NLCIL mines area.
- Lauding the efforts of NLCIL and Tamil Nadu Government in framing a very flexible rehabilitation policy with multiple options available to the affected people, Minister Shri Joshi ensured that compensation to the affected villagers will be based on fair and transparent process.
- NLCL has signed an MOU with Tamil Nadu government to impart skill development to the youth under Skill India Mission.
- The new RR policy will pave the way for sustainable livelihood and make every village Atma Nirbhar.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Narayan Rane virtually inaugurates MSME Pavilion in World Expo, 2020 Dubai:
- Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister, Narayan Rane has virtually inaugurated MSME Pavilion in World Expo, 2020 Dubai.
- The World Expo 2020, held under the Bureau International des Expositions aims at bringing together millions of people for the world’s exceptional show, celebrating human brilliance and achievement with the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating Future”.
- The MSME Ministry’s participation in the Expo will help to develop an understanding of the MSME ecosystem in India as well as enable interaction with governments of different countries, Business and Industry leaders, which will help in exchange for best practices adopted across the world.
- Rane also launched the Khadi India Film produced by KVIC.
- It has over six crore units employing over 11 crore people and is a significant contributor to the economic growth of India
CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS
9th women National Ice Hockey Championship-2022 inaugurated: HP
- In Himachal Pradesh, the 9th women National Ice Hockey Championship-2022 was inaugurated at Ice Skating Rink, Kaza in Lahaul Spiti district.
- For the first time in the state, Ice Hockey competition and development camp is being organized at the national level.
- Teams from Himachal Pradesh, Telengana, Ladakh, ITBP Ladakh, Chandigarh and Delhi are participating in this mega event.
- First match of this event was played between Delhi and Himachal, in which Delhi won 4-0. In second match, Chandigarh defeated Telengana 1-0.
- It may be recalled that first Basic Ice Hockey ten days Coaching Camp was organized at Kaza in the year 2019 by State Youth Services and Sports Department, in collaboration with the Ladakh Women Ice Hockey Foundation.
Purple Revolution is J&K’s contribution to Start-up India:
- The first National Start-up Day is being observed on Jan16th. The Prime Minister had announced that 16th January will be celebrated as National Start-Up Day
- “Purple Revolution” is Jammu and Kashmir’s contribution to Start-Up India.
- The Minister briefed about the Aroma Mission launched by the Science and Technology Ministry through the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which has led to the “Purple Revolution” in India.
- The Minister informed that the CSIR had introduced high-value essential oil bearing lavender crop through its Jammu based laboratory, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicines for cultivation in Doda, Kishtwar and Rajouri districts.
- Later, other districts including Ramban, and Pulwama were also added. He said that in a brief span of time, aroma and lavender cultivation has become a popular option in farming for agricultural Start-up.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION
DCB Bank’s board approves appointment of Rupa Devi Singh as Non-exec Chairman:
- The Board of Directors of DCB Bank has approved the appointment of Rupa Devi Singh, Independent Director, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Bank.
- This appointment, which was approved at the Board of Director meeting on January 14, 2022, is in view of the vacancy caused by retirement of Nasser Munjee from that position.
- Appointment of Singh as Non-Executive Chairman will be effective from the date of receipt of such RBI approval.
- According to DCB’s website, Singh has been a non-executive independent director of the Bank from January 22, 2015
CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS
Virat Kohli steps down as India’s Test captain
- On Jan 15, 2022, Virat Kohli stepped down from Test captaincy of the Indian team after the recently-concluded South Africa series.
- He had replaced MS Dhoni as the full-time captain in the 2014/15 season.
- With 40 wins in 68 matches, Kohli ends his captaincy stint as the most successful Indian Test captain.
- The 33-year-old had recently quit as T20 captain and was later sacked as ODI captain by the BCCI.
- He first led the national side in Test cricket in 2014 against Australia.
- In 2021, India also finished as the runners-up in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.
- Recently, kohli had stepped down as India’s T20I captain and was subsequently removed as the ODI captain ahead of the South Africa tour.
About Virat Kohli :
- Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India.
- He plays for Delhi in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
- He reached the number one spot in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time in 2013.
- He has won Man of the Tournament twice at the ICC World Twenty20 (in 2014 and 2016).
- He also holds the world record of being the fastest to 23,000 international runs.
Awards & Honors :
- 2013 – Arjuna Award
- 2017 – Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award.
- 2018 – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India’s highest sporting honor
CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES
Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu Passes Away
- Former Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki passed away at the age of 91.
About Toshiki Kaifu :
- Toshiki Kaifu born on 2 January 1931 in Nagoya, Japan.
- In 1976, Kaifu joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fukuda Takeo as education minister.
- He served as the 77th Prime Minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.
- In 1991 he sent the Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Persian Gulf in the wake of the Gulf War.
- He began his political career as a lawmaker secretary.
- He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1960 and went on to hold important government positions such as deputy chief Cabinet secretary as well as education minister until becoming Prime Minister in August 1989.
- He dedicated himself to tackling many policy challenges amid a turbulent international situation, including the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War.
Daily CA On Jan 18th :
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced the initiation of the Open Data Week to encourage adoption of open data and promote innovation across India’s urban ecosystem.
- Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi that NLC India Ltd, a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Coal has been playing a pivotal role in ensuring India’s energy security during the last six decades of performance.
- Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister, Narayan Rane has virtually inaugurated MSME Pavilion in World Expo, 2020 Dubai.
- In Himachal Pradesh, the 9th women National Ice Hockey Championship-2022 was inaugurated at Ice Skating Rink, Kaza in Lahaul Spiti district.
- The first National Start-up Day is being observed on Jan16th. The Prime Minister had announced that 16th January will be celebrated as National Start-Up Day
- The Board of Directors of DCB Bank has approved the appointment of Rupa Devi Singh, Independent Director, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Bank
- On Jan 15, 2022, Virat Kohli stepped down from Test captaincy of the Indian team after the recently-concluded South Africa series.
- Former Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki passed away at the age of 91.
