NATIONAL:
1. Cut in Subsidies
Why in news - India aims to cut spending on food and fertiliser subsidies to 3.7 trillion rupees ($44.6 billion) in the fiscal year 2023-24.
Key Points –
• Food and fertiliser subsidies alone account for about one-eighth of India’s total budget spending.
• The government is eager to tame its fiscal deficit, which is targeted at 6.4% of GDP for the current fiscal year.
2. Satish Dhawan
Why in news - Satish Dhawan passed away on January 3, 2002.
Key Points –
• Satish Dhawan was an Indian mathematician and aerospace engineer.
• He is popularly known as the father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India.
• At IISc Bengaluru, he built the nation's first supersonic wind tunnel.
• He was honoured with Padma Bhushan (1971) and Padma Vibhushan (1981).
• The Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, was renamed in his honour after he passed away,.
3. ‘Ganga Vilas’
Why in news - PM Modi would flag off the world’s longest river cruise — ‘Ganga Vilas’ — on January 13, 2023.
Key Points –
• From Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Bangladesh.
• It would cover a journey of 3200 km in 50 days and pass through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh.
• It would also pass-through Sundarbans Delta and the Kaziranga National Park.
4. Samvidhan Udyan
Why in news - President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan in Jaipur.
Key Points –
• She also graced the launch of a National Campaign on 'RISE-Rising India through Spiritual Empowerment'.
5. Siyom Bridge
Why in news - Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key Points –
• It is located on the Along-Yinkiong Road.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Digital India Innovation Fund
Why in news - Central government is going to launch a Digital India Innovation Fund to support deep-tech startups.
Key Points –
• It was announced at New India for Young India: Techade of Opportunities program, Thamarassery, Kerala.
• India has the world's third-largest startup ecosystem after the United States and China.
2. National Green Hydrogen Mission
Why in news - The Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Key Points –
• Under the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE).
• Budget allocation - ₹19,744 crore.
• Aim – Producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
• The Centre would provide incentives worth ₹17,490 crores for the production of both electrolyzers and green hydrogen for a period of 5 years.
• Incentives would be provided under ‘Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition’ (SIGHT) program.
• SHIP - Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership.
3. FAME India Phase II
Why in news - 50 electric buses were launched in Delhi under the FAME India Phase II scheme.
Key Points –
About FAME India –
• Under Ministry of Heavy Industries.
• FAME - Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles.
• It is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan.
• Aim - to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies.
• It is being implemented for a period of 3 years with effect from April 1, 2019.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH)
Why in news - The Reserve Bank of India has launched the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH).
Key Points –
• Aim - to capture subjective assessments of price movements and inflation, based on individual consumption baskets.
• The survey would be conducted across 19 cities.
• The survey would be conducted by Hansa Research Group, Mumbai.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA)
Why in news - Government named 27 overseas Indians for Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
Key Points –
• PBSA is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention would be held in Indore (January 8-10).
• Chief guest at the convention - Irfaan Ali (President of Guyana).
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Hydrogen Train in Asia
Why in news - China became the first country in Asia and second in the world to launch Hydrogen powered trains.
Key Points –
• Germany - First country to introduce hydrogen powered trains.
• India is likely to get its first-ever indigenous Hydrogen trains by December 2023.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Rani Velu Nachiyar
Why in news - Her birth anniversary was observed on January 3.
Key Points –
• She was born on January 3, 1730, in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
• She was the first queen to fight against the British colonial power in India.
• In collaboration with Hyder Ali and Gopala Nayaker, she waged a war against the British.
STATES/UTs:
1. Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh
Why in news - Himachal Pradesh would set up the CM’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh with an outlay of Rs 101 crore.
Key Points –
• Aim - to provide the facility of higher education to needy children and destitute women.
BIHAR:
1. Maithili Thakur
Why in news - Folk singer Maithili Thakur was appointed the state icon for Bihar by the Election Commission.
Key Points –
• She was recently selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for her contribution to the folk music of Bihar for 2021.
• Maithili was born in Bihar’s Madhubani district.
POINTERS:
• Which is the rarest mineral found on the whole earth so far – kyawthuit.
• Which team has appointed former India captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly as its director - Delhi Capitals.
• In which state India's first IVF mobile unit for cattle has been launched - Gujarat.
• Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has joined which Saudi Arabian football club- Al Nasser.
• Which organization has reintroduced yo-yo test and dexa scan test as criteria for selection of players – BCCI.
• Which Catholic priest has passed away at the age of 95 - Pope Benedict XVI.
• Who is heading the 17-member high-powered committee to discuss measures to protect Ladakh's unique culture, language and employment - Nityanand Rai.
• Recently, the famous Karnataka seer Siddeshwara Swami passed away. He was associated with which sect – Lingayat.
• Who has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank - Ajay Kumar Srivastava.
• The second phase of “Virasat” – a celebration of 75 handwoven sarees of India was organized in which city - New Delhi.