January 2021 Tnpsc Monthly Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) commissioned a Monpa handmade paper making unit in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.The 1000-year-old heritage art, which disappeared in recent years, has been recovered by the efforts of KVIC. The fine-textured handmade paper is called Mon Shugu in the local dialect, and is made from the bark of a local tree called Shugu Sheng.

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan has recently reached the Sihanoukville Port in Cambodia to deliver 15 tonnes
of disaster relief items for theflood-affected people. Due to the floods occurred in November, over 8 lakh people are affected and over 40 people have died in Cambodia. This operation of INS Kiltan is a part of Mission Sagar-III under which humanitarian assistance and relief is provided to India’s friendly countries.

Explanation

The Ministry of Tourism implements the “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” project, in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India and State/ UTs. It aims to develop tourism amenities at heritage sites located across India to make them tourist friendly. Under the project, 27 MoUs have been signed with several companies and NGOs, also called “Monument Mitras”, to develop the sites under CSR.

Explanation

India’s first pollinator park has been established in the city of Nainital, Uttarakhand. It has been developed by research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department. The four-acre-park has over 40 species of butterflies, honeybees, birds and insects. The park aims to create awareness among people about the conservation of these species. It also aims to promote research on threats to habitat and impact of pollution on these species.

Explanation

❖ The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved to the sale of Akash surface–to–air missile systems to friendly foreign countries. A high–powered panel for quicker approval to export of the military equipment was also set up, with Defence minister, External affairs minister and the National security adviser.

❖ Indian Government has earlier set a target of achieving defence exports worth USD 5 billion by 2024.

Explanation

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently updated its mobile application “My FASTag” with a new feature to check balance status. In 2017, NHAI launched two mobile applications namely MyFASTag and FASTag Partner. While the former is for FASTag uses the latter is to be used by the merchants like CSCs, banking partners and vehicle dealers.

Explanation

❖ The External Affairs Ministry has recently launched the Global Pravasi Rishta portal and application to connect with the Indian diaspora across the world.

❖ The application and portal aim to create a three–way communication between the External Affairs Ministry, Indian missions and the diaspora, who are around 3.12–crore. While the app will be used by the diaspora, the portal will be used by the missions.

Explanation

❖ The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has announced that subscribers can now use online mode also to exit from the National Pension System.

❖ The National Pension System (NPS) was implemented with effect from the 1st January, 2004. It was extended to all citizens of the country from 2009 on a voluntary basis. PFRDA regulates the National pension system (NPS) as well as the pension sector.

Explanation

❖ A wildfire has recently started in the Dzukou Valley, a popular trekking destination located on the Manipur–Nagaland border. It is said to have started three days ago from the Nagaland.

❖ The Indian Air Force has deployed an Mi–17V5 helicopter to put off the massive wildfire in Dzukou Valley.

Explanation

British Racing Driver Lewis Hamilton has been knighted in the traditional New Year Honours list of the United Kingdom. The list recognises outstanding achievements in various fields including business, sport and politics among others.

Explanation

❖ As per media reports, China has recently completed the track–laying work for a railway line which links the cities of Lhasa and Nyingchi in Tibet. The cities are close to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh. This Sichuan–Tibet Railway is the second railway into Tibet, which starts from the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu and enters Tibet.

Explanation

❖ Prime Minister released a certification course on innovative construction technologies named NAVARITIH (New, Affordable, Validated, Research Innovation Technologies for Indian Housing).
❖ He also laid the foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)– at six sites across six states.

Explanation

❖ The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced the annual awards for excellence in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY–U) Mission.
❖ In the best performing states category, Uttar Pradesh bagged the first place, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. In the North East region and Hilly states, Tripura bagged the first place. Vishakhapatnam was named the best performing Municipal Corporation.

Explanation

❖ The 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Goa from 16th to 24th of January, 2021.
❖ Recently, the registrations have commenced for media delegates, who desire to attend the event, which will be held in a hybrid mode, on account of the Covid–19 pandemic. The registration will be open till January 10, 2021.

Explanation

❖ Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the inaugural issue of the National Police K–9 Journal in New Delhi.
❖ It is the India’s first such publication on the subject of Police Service K9s, which is the name given for Police Dogs. A special Police K9 Cell was set up in November 2020. The biannual journal will be released in April and October, with sections in Hindi and English.

Explanation

❖ The Indian Army has created a new human rights cell for the first time in the history. Its aims is to provide more transparency and probity in its functioning in disturbed areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.
❖ Major General Gautam Chauhan has taken charge as the first additional Director General (human rights) and will report directly to the Army vice–chief.

Explanation

❖ Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the permanent campus in the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur in Odisha. The institute has been functioning in a makeshift campus for more than five years, since it was launched as a third–generation IIM, in the year 2015–16.

Explanation

❖ The first hill–top Buddhist monastery of the Gangetic Valley has been found at Lal Pahari in Lakhisarai district of Bihar.
❖ This is the first monastery located at the top of a hill. This is discovered during a joint collaboration of Bihar Heritage Development Society and the Visva–Bharati University, West Bengal. It was a Vihara, named as Srimaddharmaviharik aryabhiksusanghasya.

Explanation

❖ According to a recent report published in South Asia Journal, Chennai has the maximum CCTV coverage per square kilometre and per 1,000 population. The report records the prevalence of CCTV cameras in 130 of the most populous cities in the world.
❖ The report also highlights that China and India have the highest densities of CCTV surveillance cameras in urban areas.

Explanation

❖ Britain became the latest nation that has eliminated taxation on women’s sanitary products. These taxes were called “tampon tax” has been completely abolished in the country.
❖ This decision was earlier announced in the country’s annual budget by its Treasury chief, but has been implemented only now, when Britain has left the European Union.

Explanation

❖ The Supreme Court’s three–judge bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar delivered its verdict on Central Vista Project Case.
❖ The bench approved the re–development project by a 2:1 majority and upheld the exercise of power by the Centre as just and valid. It also confirmed the modifications in the change in land use and the recommendations of the environmental committee.

Explanation

❖ According to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), over 371,500 babies were born on New Year’s Day across the world. It also revealed that India has recorded the highest number of births at around 60,000.
❖ India is followed by China, Nigeria and Pakistan. It also estimated that 140 million children are estimated to be born in 2021 with average life expectancy of 84 years.

Explanation

❖ The US Congress has recently passed the “Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Bill”.
❖ The bill makes it mandatory for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to award 50% of scholarships to Pakistani Women under a Pakistan–based higher education scholarship programme. The scholarships are to be awarded from 2020 to 2022.

Explanation

❖ Researchers of National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) are on a voyage to Antarctica, which marks the 40th Indian Scientific Expedition.
❖ Fuel for the expedition is provided by the Indian Oil. The expedition is flagged off from Mormugao Port, Goa with 43 members on board the expedition vessel. Jet A1 fuel, lubes and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) have been offered by Indian Oil.

Explanation

❖ The world’s largest floating solar energy project is set to be constructed at Omkareshwar dam on Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh. The 3,000–crore project, which will construct a 600 MW plant, will begin power generation by 2022–23.
❖ World Bank’s IFC and Power Grid will provide the financial assistance to this project, which includes installing solar panels in the dam.

Explanation

❖ Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju has recently launched the Assam Rifles Public School in Shillong. This school has become the first Khelo India Sports school of the North–East India. At present, nine Sports Schools have been approved across the country.
❖ The schools aim to integrate sports with education with the Government bearing the expenses of the athletes of the school.

Explanation

❖ People of Tamil Nadu celebrate the ‘Thai Poosam’ festival, which is dedicated for the worship of the Tamil God Lord Muruga. After the devotees requested to declare the day as a public holiday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami issued an order for the same.
❖ It is also celebrated in some parts of Kerala and in other countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Indonesia

Explanation

❖ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘National Atomic Timescale’, during the inauguration of the National Metrology Conclave. With this move, the Indian Standard Time is aligned with the International Standard Time, only by less than 3 nano seconds.
❖ The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the ‘National Environmental Standards Laboratory’.

Explanation

❖ The 450 km long Natural Gas Pipeline between Kochi in Kerala and Mangaluru in Karnataja is constructed by GAIL (India) Ltd. The 3000–crore project has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, for commercial operations. The pipeline has the transportation capacity of 12 million metric standard cubic metres per day.

Explanation

❖ World Braille Day is observed annually on 4 January, after it was established by the UN General Assembly in December 2018.
❖ The date also marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, who invented the system for reading and writing, used by people who are visually impaired. This year, the UN highlights the importance of the universal touch–based communication system.

Explanation

❖ The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC–NBWL) has recently approved the advisory for management of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the country.
❖ The Committee also approved the inclusion of Caracal, a wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, in the list of critically endangered species. At present, there are 22 wildlife species under recovery programme for critically endangered species.

Explanation

❖ The Union Cabinet approved to use funds from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), for the Angamaly–Azhutha Sabari rail project. The Railways will undertake the construction and maintenance of the project, while development of station will be through public–private partnership and a special purpose vehicle.
❖ The income will be shared between the State Government of Kerala and the Railways after deducting the expenses.

Explanation

❖ The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has declared that advertisement of any article using the name of any God and claiming that it has supernatural qualities, is illegal.
❖ This practice falls under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act. A petition was filed to prevent advertisements that promote the sale of articles like Hanuman Chalisa Yantra, Lakshmi Yantra, Meru Ring etc.

Explanation

❖ Uttar Pradesh–based Shivalik Mercantile Co–operative Bank (SMCB) has received a license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Small Finance Bank (SFB).
❖ With this, SMCB became the first Urban Cooperative Bank (UCB) in the country to make a transition to a Small Finance Bank, under the voluntary transition scheme. The Shivalik Small Finance Bank is set to commence business by April 2021.

Explanation

❖ Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have become the first states to complete three out of four citizen–centric reforms directed by the Ministry of Finance.
❖ The two states completed the One Nation, One Ration Card reforms, Ease of Doing Business reforms, and Urban Local Bodies reforms. Hence, the Ministry is to provide an additional financial assistance of Rs 1,004 crore for Capital Expenditure.

Explanation

❖ The Central Government has set up a control room in the national capital, amidst the spread of the bird flu or avian flu viruses across the country in four states. The control room aims to monitor the situation and record the preventive and control measures undertaken by the state authorities, on a daily basis.

Explanation

❖ As per the first advanced estimates of the national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY 2020–21 is estimated to contract by 7.7%.
❖ This is against the growth rate of 4.2% in the fiscal year 2019–20. There is an estimated contraction in all sectors except the agriculture in the current fiscal. While manufacturing sector is likely contract by 9.4%, Agri sector is estimated to grow by 3.4% compared to the last year.

Explanation

❖ The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has set up a technical expert group to study the adverse findings from the National Family Health Survey–5. The committee, chaired by Joint Secretary Preeti Pant, will also recommend policy interventions to improve the factors associated with malnutrition, stunting, anaemia, and C–section.
❖ The panel includes experts from medicine and nutrition and State programme officers.

Explanation

❖ Indian–American Dr Raj has been named as the first Chief Information Officer of the US Army. The position is equivalent in rank to a three–star General, and it was created in July 2020.
❖ He will supervise an annual budget of USD 16 billion for the IT operations of the US Army. He will also direct the execution of policies and programmes to modernise the US Army. He serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Army.

Explanation

❖ Pakistan has successfully conducted the test–flight of an indigenously developed Guided Multi Launch Rocket System.
❖ Named as ‘Fatah–1’, the system is capable of hitting targets up to a range of 140 km. The Guided Multi Launch Rocket System can deliver conventional warheads with utmost precision, as per the Army sources of the country.

Explanation

❖ Basavanna also called as ‘Basaveshwara’ was a 12th century statesman, Lingayat saint during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty. He is considered a famous icon of the Lingayat community in Karnataka.
❖ Recently, the Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the Rs 500–crore project ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’ in Basavakalyan. It is considered as the place where the philosopher lived.

Explanation

❖ A one–member commission was created under the Labour Ministry’s Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB), to prepare an action plan for the welfare and development of guest and contract workers during the COVID–19 pandemic.
❖ Veteran IAS officer C V Ananda Bose, who was in–charge of the commission, has recommended payment of a basic living wage in the event of employment loss. He also sought to establish Labour Authority of India as a nodal body.

Explanation

❖ The Pioneers Program was started by US space agency NASA in 2020, which aims to research on astrophysics science using smaller hardware. Recently, NASA has approved four small–scale astrophysics missions as a part of the Pioneers Program.
❖ The concepts include small satellites named Aspera, Pandora and StarBurst and a balloon mission named PUEO. These missions will help study about cosmic phenomena.

Explanation

❖ The country’s first Solar Electric RORO service will be introduced during the year 2021–2022, the Kerala Governor announced in the Assembly. He also announced that the state’s first amphibious water bus will also be launched. The state has planned to launch barge service for cargo movement and high–speed tourist services.

Explanation

❖ The Thane Municipal Corporation has taken a step and introduced a ‘period room’ in a toilet block located in the corporation. One out of the ten stalls of the toilet block has been converted into a ‘period room’ with all required amenities. This step is taken to improve menstrual hygiene.

Explanation

❖ Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to launch the ‘Single Window Clearance System’, for coal mines. It is an online platform to obtain clearances for smooth and seamless functioning of coal mines. Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi will also attend the virtual ceremony.

Explanation

❖ The first National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) was organised in February 2019 at District, State and National levels. The second edition of the festival was launched in the month of December 2020.
❖ After District and State–level events, the final event was held recently Central Hall of Parliament. Youth between 18 to 25 years will speak before the National jury and out of them, three will be declared winners.

Explanation

❖ The country’s second largest public sector bank, Punjab National Bank has partnered with IIT Kanpur and FIRST (Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology), to establish Fintech Innovation Centre (FIC).
❖ The Innovation centre will be set up at the IIT campus, which will facilitate research and development in technological solutions used in the Banking and Finance Sector.

Explanation

❖ The head coach of Indian cricket team and former India all–rounder Ravi Shastri launched a book titled ‘India’s 71–Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia’. The book is authored by the cricket journalist R Kaushik and it is an initiative of Bradman Museum.
❖ It describes the first 12 tours of India to Australia. It also includes over 200 rare pictures from the Bradman Museum. A portrait of former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was unveiled at the Sydney Ground.

Explanation

❖ Veteran IPS Officer Subodh Kumar Jaiswal took charge as the new Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
❖ He was serving as the DGP heading the Maharashtra Police since 2019. He had earlier served with the Special Protection Group (SPG) of the country, securing the Prime Minister.

Explanation

❖ Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) jointly announced that ISRO will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country.

❖ This step aims to provide mentorship, promote education in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Space Education among the young students of the country.

Explanation

❖ Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar released Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of 146 National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries as well as that of the zoos in the Country. At present, India has 903 Protected Areas, which covers about 5% of the total geographic area of the country.

❖ 10 best National Parks, 5 coastal and Marine parks and top five Zoos in the country will be ranked and awarded every year.

Explanation

❖ Bangladesh is to be the focus country at the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), scheduled from January 16 to 24, this year. Four films from Bangladesh have been included in the focus section, to recognise the cinematic contribution of the country. It is noteworthy that the 51st Indian International Film Festival has included Tamil films Asuran and Then in the list of Indian films selected for 2020.

Explanation

❖ The nation’s premier think tank NITI Aayog has partnered with e commerce major Flipkart, to launch the revamped Women Entrepreneurship Platform. This is seen as an effort to enhance the community experience for women entrepreneurs in India.

❖ This portal brings together women from different parts of India to realize their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Explanation

❖ The Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated on January 14 every year and was instituted in the year 2017, to commemorate the retirement date of the first Indian Chief of Army Staff, K M Cariappa. He served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1949 to 1953.

Explanation

❖ The Union Power Ministry in partnership with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), has recently organised the 30th “National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA)” function.

❖ The event was organised at Vigyan Bhawan – New Delhi and telecasted as a virtual event. BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power that has a mandate to implement policy and programs in energy efficiency and conservation.

Explanation

❖ After a six–year study conducted by ‘The Nature and Butterfly Society (TNBS)’, the Siruvani hills in the state of Tamil Nadu has been identified as a butterfly super–hotspot. 240 out of the total 325 species found in Tamil Nadu, are from the hills between 2015 and 2020.

❖ As per TNBS, if 25% of the state checklist species are found in a single area, it can be identified as a hotspot. Here around 74 per cent of the total species is found in the hills, from six families.

Explanation

❖ Khadi Prakritik Paint is the first–of–its–kind paint product, which has been developed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

❖ It is an eco–friendly, non–toxic paint which is also claimed to have anti–fungal and anti–bacterial properties. The paint is based on cow dung as its main ingredient and has been certified by Bureau of Indian Standards.

Explanation

❖ As per the recent report of the Henley Passport Index, Japanese passport has retained the rank of topmost powerful passport in the world. With the Japanese passport, one can travel to as many as 191 countries by visa–free or visa–on–arrival mode.

❖ India ranks 85th in the list while Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan remain the countries with the worst passport to hold.

Explanation

❖ France has hosted the One Planet Summit recently, in which 30 leaders, government officials and heads of international organizations participated. The summit was held in a virtual mode due to the ongoing COVID pandemic. During the summit, which focussed on protecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and agroecology, 50 countries pledged to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Explanation

❖ The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival event was organised at Mao of Manipur recently. The event was held in a virtual format. The entire Mao town was adorned with cherry blossom flowers and it was streamed live on Face book, YouTube, Instagram etc. Traditional folk dances and Special ballet named Cherri Nachom was also a part of the event.

Explanation

❖ The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs announced that it has decided to geo–tag all Waqf properties in the Union Territory of Puducherry. This step follows many complaints being received on illegal occupation of the properties by local goons.

❖ The Ministry is also working to constitute a Waqf Board in the UT. Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karykram, the Cenre will also finance to construct socio–economic infrastructure.

Explanation

❖ The resolution 1373 on counter terrorism was adopted by the United Nations Security Council unanimously on 28 September 2001. This was adopted following the 11 September terrorist attacks on the USA.

❖ Recently, an open debate was held at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) titled ’20 years after the adoption of resolution 1373’ that focused on combating terrorism on a globally. India was represented virtually by External affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar.

Explanation

❖ As per the ‘2020 Hurun Global 500’ list, Apple is the world’s most valuable company with a value of USD 2.1 trillion followed by Microsoft and Amazon with USD 1.6 trillion each.

❖ The 2020 Hurun Global 500 is a list of 500 most valuable non–state– controlled companies in the world. 11 Indian firms are a part of the list, which is led by Reliance Industries worth USD 169 billion.

Explanation

❖ As per the recent announcement of the Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, women will be inducted as Pilots in the Army Aviation Corps from next year.

❖ Prior to this, women were being allotted only ground duties in the Army Aviation Corps. Women pilots would fly helicopters and be part of operations at the borders.

Explanation

❖ The Mars Digger probe named the ‘Mole’ was deployed on the Mars by NASA’s InSight Lander. The probe has been recently declared dead by the Scientists, as it failed to burrow deep into the Mars. The heat probe was developed and built by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It has been trying since 2019, to dig deep and find the internal temperature of the Mars. The InSight lander will continue working till 2022.

Explanation

❖ UN – Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is a peace keeping mission of the United Nations in Mali, which was established in 2013. It is considered to be the most dangerous UN operations in the world.

❖ Recently, the peacekeepers’ convoy was attacked by an improvised explosive device (IED) by unidentified gunmen of Mali. The attack led to death of 4 peacekeepers and 5 were wounded.

Explanation

❖ The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) is an autonomous organization and a subsidiary of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Ministry of Agriculture, India.

❖ It is engaged in agricultural research related to spices in India and is headquarters in Kozhikode, Kerala. Recently Principal Horticulture Scientist J Rema assumed charge as the new Director of Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR).

Explanation

❖ The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) was launched in the year 2015 and is implemented by the Union Ministry of Skill Development. The 3rd Phase of the scheme has been launched recently, that aims to impart training to of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020–2021 with an outlay of Rs 949 crore.

Explanation

❖ India’s Bharat Dynamics and the global Aerospace company Thales have signed an agreement to collaborate on the STARStreak Air Defence system.

❖ To be undertaken with the support of both the Governments of India and the United Kingdom, the project will enable the export if the system to various customers including the UK Armed Forces. With this, BDL can also offer the system to Indian Armed Force with 60% indigenous content.

Explanation

❖ India’s first Labour Movement Museum is to be launched in the Houseboat tourism hub, Alappuzha in the state of Kerala. The Museum aims to showcase the history of world labour movement, by showcasing the important documents of the World Labour movement and the exhibits of Kerala’s labour movement. Conservation architect Dr Benny Kuriakose is leading the project of outlay Rs 9.95 Crore.

Explanation

❖ Ram Sewak Sharma, the first Director–General of the Unique Identification Development Authority of India (UIDAI), has authored a book titled “The Making of Aadhaar: World’s Largest Identity Platform”. The book comprises of technical details regarding the legal, governance and social aspects of the Aadhar system.

Explanation

❖ The G7 Summit of this year is to be held in Cornwall, a peninsular country in the south–west region of the United Kingdom, during June 11 to 13. Being the President of G7 this year, the United Kingdom has extended its invitation to India, Australia and South Korea to participate in the Summit as Guest countries.

❖ The Heads of Government of member states, and the representatives of the EU, usually meet at the G7 Summit.

Explanation

❖ A Tintin drawing, created by the Belgian artist Herge, is sold recently for €2.6 million at Paris, France. This makes the artwork the most expensive comic book art in history. The art contains a red dragon drawn on a black background by the frightened character’s face.

Explanation

❖ Yoweri Museveni, has been re–elected as the President of Uganda, a land locked country in East Africa. He won almost 59% of the votes.

❖ This makes Yoweri Museveni assume President’s office for the 6th term since 1986.

Explanation

❖ The Union Road Transport Minister and Union Defence Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the first–ever National Road Safety Month on January 18, 2021. The campaign seeks to build awareness on road safety and reduce road accidents in India.

❖ In the recent past, only ‘Road safety week’ was being organised. The Minister also presented various awards including best performing State in Road Safety works, Good Samaritan award, Best State Transport Corporations, among others.

Explanation

❖ Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan chaired the 148th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, through video conference. He also said that the year 2020 is described as the Year of Science, while the Year 2021 would be the year of global solidarity and survival. He also sought for fair and equitable distribution of the COVID vaccines.

Explanation

❖ Davos Agenda is the online event of World Economic Forum’s annual meeting held at Davos, Switzerland. The rich and powerful of the world are said to be the participants.

❖ This year, the five–day meeting is scheduled to be held between January 25 and 29, in the virtual mode, on account of COVID pandemic. WEF’s ‘Great Reset Initiative’ is also to be launched during the meeting. Several Union Ministers and top businesspersons from India are to attend the event.

Explanation

❖ The Government of India had earlier set up a task force under the chairmanship of Jaya Jaitley, to revisit the apt age for marriage of women.

❖ This committee was set up in accordance to the Prime Ministers Independence Day speech on “right age of marriage for women”. Recently, the panel has submitted its findings in the form of a report to the Ministry of Women & Child Development and to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Explanation

❖ The bilateral Air Exercise, ‘Desert Knight Exercise’ between Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force is scheduled to be held this month. To participate in the exercise, A–400M tactical aircraft from France arrived at Jodhpur.
❖ Indian Air Force’s Mirage 2000, Su–30 MKI, Rafale, and IL–78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft will feature in the exercise. The two countries have organised six editions of air exercises named Garuda.

Explanation

❖ The Union Culture Ministry announced that the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, January 23, would be celebrated as “Parakram Diwas” every year. It means the ‘Day of courage’.
❖ The Ministry also said that the government is to celebrate the leader’s 125th birth anniversary year starting from January 23, 2021. A series of events from January 23 till January 23, 2022 is also planned.

Explanation

❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has retained State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as domestic systemically important banks (D–SIBs), by data collected as on March 31, 2020. D–SIBs are also called as the banks which are considered as “too big to fail” meaning its failure will impact the country significantly.

Explanation

❖ India’s senior oncologist and chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta passed away at the age of 93. She was known for serving the poor and downtrodden at the institute during her 50 yearlong medical service career.
❖ The veteran was presented various awards Padma Shri, Magsaysay Award, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Explanation

❖ Dragon fruit is a wild cactus species native to the Americas and it is called pitahaya in those regions. The fruit–bearing species was first introduced to India after 1990. Many states of India including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal cultivate the fruits.
❖ However, India imports the fruit to meet its demand. Recently, Gujarat state government proposed to rename dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’.

Explanation

❖ ‘Exercise Kavach’ is a large and joint military exercise that would involve technical, electronic and human intelligence and assets of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard. This exercise is conducted under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), which is the only Joint Forces Command of the country

Explanation

❖ The Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju launched the first Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports Festival in Zanskar of Kargil district, Ladakh. The 13–day festival festival, organised by the Ladakh UT Administration, aims to promote Zanskar as an important destination for the winter tourists. The Sports Ministry is to promote Ladakh as a centre for Ice Hockey.

Explanation

❖ The United States of America (USA) has rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change. The new President Joe Biden reversed his predecessor Donald Trump’s order to exit the agreement.
❖ The Paris Agreement on climate change is an international treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), that came into effect in 2015.

Explanation

❖ The Smart Anti–Airfield Weapon (SAAW) has been indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s research centre Imarat.
❖ Recently, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) successfully test fired a Smart Anti–Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from a Hawk–I aircraft, off the coast of Odisha. HAL deploys its Hawk–I platform for certification of systems and weapons.

Explanation

❖ The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released the 15th edition of its report titled “Global Risks Report”. For the first time in the history, Climate threats accounted for all of the top long–term risks in the report.

❖ Other long–term risks include technological risks such as Cyber attacks and data theft, Political risks like Global governance failure and Societal risks like water crisis. ‘Economic confrontations’ and ‘Domestic political polarization’ were reported to be the top short–term risks.

Explanation

❖ Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the advanced Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility to Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad.

❖ India is the third country to have such a large HWT Test facility. The system, which has been developed in collaboration with Indian industries, will play a major role on futuristic Aerospace and Defence Systems.

Explanation

❖ A new draft ‘Arctic’ policy has been released recently by the Government of India. The draft policy would be available for public opinion till Jan 26, 2021. It has been prepared after deliberations with several Ministries. The policy aims to expand India’s scientific research, sustainable tourism and mineral oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.

Explanation

❖ Department of Science and Technology has stated recently that the number of scientific publications from India has increased exponentially over the last ten years and that India stands at 3rd position globally in number of scientific publications.

❖ China and USA are ahead of India in the list. In the year 2017–18, 1,937 out of the total 13,045 patents were filed by Indians.

Explanation

❖ The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently announced the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for 2021.

❖ As per the notification, Rajendra Kumar Bhandari has been selected in the individual category of the award, while the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) has been selected for the award in the institutional category.

Explanation

❖ 32 children across the county have been recently awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2021.
❖ Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India has been giving away this award to children with outstanding abilities and accomplishments in the fields of innovation, scholastics, sports, arts & culture, social service and bravery. Prasiddhi Singh, a resident of Tamil Nadu, has been awarded the Social Service Award.

Explanation

❖ AMPEX – 21 is India’s tri–service joint amphibious exercise which was conducted in the Andaman & Nicobar group of islands. It involved the participation of Naval vessels, Army’s amphibious troops and flying machines of the Air force.
❖ The aim of conducting this exercise is to validate the security force’s capabilities to safeguard the territorial integrity and enhance interoperability among the three forces.

Explanation

❖ The Maharashtra government is launching a new initiative named Jail Tourism in the state. As a part of the programme, jails where many freedom fighters were jailed will be developed as Tourism sites.
❖ From January 26, 2021 the state has launched the programme starting with the 150–year–old Yerawada Jail. It will also include Nagpur, Thane, and Ratnagiri Jails.

Explanation

❖ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recently launched the ‘Union Budget Mobile ahead of the Union Budget 2021. As this year’s budget will be completely paperless, the mobile application will enable members of the parliament and general public, to access budget documents.
❖ It has been developed by the National Informatics Centre under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry.

Explanation

❖ The Netherlands government played host to an online international Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS Online) on 25 January 2021, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
❖ It aims to help the countries build a climate–resilient ecosystem back after the pandemic Indian Prime Minister participated in the virtual conference and addressed the members.

Explanation

❖ The Union Agriculture Ministry has proposed a Rs 19,000 crore National mission on edible oil for approval in the upcoming budget.
❖ The mission seeks a five–year plan to achieve self–sufficiency in cooking oil production along with cutting its import. India spends almost Rs 75,000 crore annually in importing edible oil which will also promote local production and cut its cost.

Explanation

❖ India’s economist Jayati Ghosh has been chosen to be a part of UN high–level advisory board on socio–economic challenges in post–COVID–19 world.
❖ The board would make recommendations to UN Secretary–General for making response to the future, especially after the post COVID era. Ms. Jayati Ghosh is presently a professor of economics at University of Massachusetts.