NATIONAL:
1. ‘Aarogya Maitri’ Project
Why in news - Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project.
Key Points –
• Aim - provide essential medical supplies to any developing country affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crisis.
• It was launched at the concluding leaders’ session of the two-day virtual ‘Voice of Global South Summit’.
• Other proposals –
A. Global-South Young Diplomats Forum
B. Global-South Scholarships
C. Global south centre - Centre of Excellence
D. Global South Science and Technology Initiative.
2. Constitution Literate District
Why in news - Kollam has been officially declared India’s first Constitution literate district.
Key Points –
• Constitution Literacy Campaign - Around 16.3 lakh people in the district above the age of 10 have been educated on various aspects of the Constitution.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. EU's Satellite Launch Port
Why in news - EU officials and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf inaugurated the EU's first mainland orbital launch complex.
Key Points –
• Facility name - Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna, Sweden.
• It would complement the EU’s current launching capabilities in French Guiana.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Geospatial Hackathon
Why in news - Dr Jitendra Singh launched “Geospatial Hackathon” to promote Innovation and Start-Ups in India’s Geospatial ecosystem.
Key Points –
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) in partnership with IIIT Hyderabad and Microsoft has launched this Hackathon.
• It is divided into 2 parts - Research Challenge and Startup Challenge.
2. National Urban Technology Mission
Why in news - The Centre is set to launch a 5-year mission for Municipal Services and ULBs.
Key Points –
• By – M/o Housing and Urban affairs.
• It would infuse technological innovations into municipal services of 4,500 urban local bodies (1,000 cities) in the country.
• Budget outlay - ₹15,000 crore for 5 years.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Richest Actors in the World 2023
Why in news - The list of 8 richest actors of the world was released by World of Statistics.
Key Points –
• Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has an estimated net worth of $770 million.
• He is the richest actor in Asia and 4th richest actor all over the world.
2. 18th Global Risks Report 2023
Why in news - Recently, the Global Risks Report 2023 was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Key Points –
• It is based on the 2022-2023 Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) that reveals the cost of living crisis, food supply crisis, energy supply crisis etc.
• It says 2025 would be dominated by a social and environmental risk driven by underlying geopolitical trends.
• It examines risks across five categories: Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technological.
• Major global risks –
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 53rd WEF 2023 Summit
Why in news - The 53rd edition of the annual World Economic Forum summit began on Jan 16, 2023 at Davos, Switzerland.
Key Points –
• Theme 2023 - ‘Cooperation in a fragmented world’.
• It is being held physically for the first time in three years.
About WEF (1971) –
• It is a non-governmental lobbying organization founded by economist Klaus Scwab.
• Klaus Scwab pioneered the concept of “stakeholder capitalism.”
• WEF President - Borge Brende.
• WEF Hq - Cologny, Switzerland.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Captain Surbhi Jakhmola
Why in news - Captain Surbhi Jakhmola would be the first woman officer to be posted on a foreign assignment at the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Key Points –
• She would be sent to Bhutan as part of Project Dantak.
• Project Dantak (April 24, 1961) - to construct the pioneering motorable roads in Bhutan.
• BRO builds and maintains road networks along India's borders and in friendly neighbouring countries.
2. Clare Lombardelli
Why in news - Clare Lombardelli has been appointed as the new OECD Chief Economist.
Key Points –
• This is the first time a British person has held this role in thirty years.
• She replaced France’s Laurence Boone, who has held the post since 2018.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. ‘MAARG’ Portal
Why in news - Piyush Goyal launched the MAARG platform (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth) on Jan 16, 2023.
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Aim – to facilitate mentorship between startups and entrepreneurs across sectors, stages, and functions.
SPORTS:
1. Women’s IPL Media Right
Why in news - Viacom 18 has won the bid for the media rights for the upcoming Women’s IPL for Rs 951 crore for 5 years (2023-27).
Key Points –
• BCCI is expected to launch the T20 league for women cricketers in March 2023.
STATES/UTs:
1. Right to Sight
Why in news - Rajasthan became the first State to implement a policy to control blindness, with the objective of ensuring the “right to sight”.
Key Points –
• Aim - to bring light in the lives of more than three lakh people suffering from visual impairment in the state.
• The Rajasthan government would mandatorily run Keratoplasty Centres and Eye Banks at all the government medical colleges.
• Prevalent blindness rate in India - 1.1% (2020). GoI aims to bring it down to 0.3% through the blindness control policy.
BIHAR:
1. MV Ganga Vilas in Patna
Why in news - Inland Waterways Authority of India denied media reports saying MV Ganga Vilas got stuck in Chhapra.
Key Points –
• It reached Patna at its scheduled time and date on Jan 16, 2023 at Bhadraghat.
• It would leave Patna on Jan 17, 2023.
• Chirand Saran, situated 11 km southeast of Chhapra, is the most important archaeological site of the district.
• The cruise has a capacity of 80 passengers with 18 suits.
2. Gangajal Aapurti Yojana at UN
Why in news - Erik Solheim has heaped praise for the Gangajal aapurti yojana .
Key Points –
• Erik Solheim is the former Executive Director at UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
About the scheme –
• Launched by Hon CM Nitish Kumar on Nov 27, 2022.
• Around 7.5-lakh households of Rajgir, Gaya and Bodhgaya would get treated water of the river through pipes from 28 November.
• Implemented by Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL).
• The floodwaters would travel 150 km via pipes from Hathidah near Mokama and reach households.
POINTERS:
• Recently, according to the World Bank, what percent of India's economic growth rate has been estimated in the current financial year – 6.9%.
• Who has recently become India's first woman pilot to fly Sukhoi fighter aircraft - Avni Chaturvedi.
• Where will the 14th edition of the World Spice Congress be held from February 16 to February 18 – Mumbai (Maharashtra).
• Recently the Kota tribe of which state has celebrated the Aiyanoor Ammanoor festival every 2 years – Tamil Nadu.
• Where has the 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference started recently – Jaipur (Rajasthan).
• Recently sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik said that he has made the world's largest 105 feet long hockey stick on the banks of which river in Cuttack – Mahanadi.
• Who has recently been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jaipur Film Festival – Aparna Sen.
• Which country's captain 'Hugo Lloris' has retired from international football – France.
• Which state's governor has approved 30% reservation in government jobs for women – Uttarakhand.
• Indian Railways to start 'Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train' between which two stations - Ayodhya to Janakpur.