NATIONAL:
1. Green Hydrogen Blending
Why in news - NTPC Ltd commissioned India's first green hydrogen blending project.
Key Points –
• It started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat.
• The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL).
• Green hydrogen is made by electrolysis of water.
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has given approval for 5% blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with and would reach 20% phase wise.
• PNGRB regulate the refining, processing etc of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas excluding production of crude oil and natural gas.
2. Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum
Why in news - World's first palm leaf manuscript museum opened in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Key Points –
• It houses accounts of the famed Battle of Colachel.
• Battle of Colachel (1741) - Travancore king Marthanda Varma (1729-58) defeated the Dutch East India Company at Colachel and ended Dutch expansion in India.
• Marthanda Varma became Asia's first state to defeat the expansionist designs of any European power.
3. Lithium Mines in Argentina
Why in news - India has identified two lithium mines and one copper mine in Argentina.
Key Points –
• India may acquire or lease them soon.
• Ownership or leasing rights of the mines would be with Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (Kabil).
• It was formed in 2019 to ensure the supply of strategic minerals in India's market.
• Argentina is the fourth largest producer of lithium. It also has the third-largest reserve of the mineral in the world.
• Australia, US and China are the other major producers of the mineral.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU)
Why in news - India would take over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) in Jan 2023.
Key Points –
• 13th APPU Congress held in Bangkok during August-September, 2022.
• Vinaya Prakash Singh would take over the charge of secretary general of the Union for 4 years.
About APPU –
• APPU is an intergovernmental organization of 32 member countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
• HQ - Bangkok, Thailand.
• It is the only restricted union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region, which is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
2. Serbia-Kosovo Tensions
Why in news – Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew after Serbs erected barricades in the north of Kosovo.
Key Points –
• Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
• The Serbian government has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood.
3. Ceasefire in Ukraine
Why in news – Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 6-7, for 36 hours).
Key Points –
• Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, called for Christmas truce.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on Water
Why in news – PM Modi addressed the opening session of the first All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on Water via video message.
Key Points –
• Theme - Water Vision @ 2047.
• It was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• As per ‘Per Drop More Crop’ campaign (under PMKSY) - More than 70 lakh hectares of land in the country have been brought under micro-irrigation so far.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Day for War Orphans 2023
Why in news – It is marked annually on January 6 with an aim to highlight the challenges that these orphans face.
Key Points –
• It was established by SOS Enfants en Detresse, a French organisation.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Odakuzhal Award for 2022
Why in news – Writer Ambikasuthan Mangad has been chosen for the Odakuzhal Award for 2022.
Key Points –
• For his collection of short stories ‘Pranavaayu’ (Life Breath).
• ‘Pranavaayu’ (2015) portrays the struggle of a city where oxygen supply is low and all people depend on oxygen kits to breathe.
SECURITY:
1. Captain Shiva Chauhan
Why in news - Captain Shiva Chauhan has become the first woman army officer to get operationally deployed on the Siachen Glacier.
Key Points –
• Siachen Glacier is the world’s highest battlefield.
• Siachen (altitude - 20,000 feet) is located in the Karakoram range in the Himalayas.
AGREEMENTS:
1. ‘DRDO Industry Academia- Ramanujan Centre of Excellence’ (DIA-RCoE)
Why in news - IIT Madras is collaborating with DRDO to develop advanced technologies for national defence.
2. HCL and IIT Dhanbad
Why in news – An MoU was signed between Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and IIT (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad.
Key Points –
• HCL is the only copper miner in India.
BIHAR:
1. Samadhan Yatra
Why in news – Hon’ CM Nitish Kumar formally started yatra from West Champaran on January 5, 2023.
Key Points –
• This is his 14th Yatra named Samadhan Yatra.
• The first phase yatra would continue till January 29. 18 districts will be covered in this.
• CM Nitish Kumar previous yatra’s –
A. Nyay Yatra (2005),
B. Vikas Yatra (Jan 2009)
C. Dhanyavad yatra (June 2009).
D. Samaj sudhar yatra (2021) etc.
POINTERS:
• Which is the first state to have separate registration for Vintage Vehicles – Odisha.
• Railways has launched a plan to achieve 'net zero carbon emissions' by which year – 2030.
• Which state has signed an agreement of Rs 2275 crore with ADB to improve the power distribution network - Tripura.
• In which state/UT, ‘Tribal Winter Festival’ has been organized for the first time – Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Who has been appointed as the chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes - Hansraj Gangaram Ahir.
• Which state government has decided to start ‘Solar Roof Top Project’ under renewable energy - Uttar Pradesh.
• In which city the “Universal Health Coverage Day 2022” conference has been organized by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – Varanasi.
• Crew-5 mission has recently been launched by which space agency – SpaceX.
• In which state has the Sudarshan Prahar exercise conducted by the Sudarshan Chakra Corps of the Indian Army – Rajasthan.
• India has recently signed MoU with which country on Biodiversity Conservation – Nepal.