NATIONAL:
1. Ethanol-Blended Petrol
Why in news - The phased roll-out of E20 (20% ethanol blending in gasoline) would begin on April 1, 2023.
Key Points –
• The government plans to achieve the level of 20% ethanol blending in the overall petrol supply in the country by 2025.
• To achieve 20% blending by 2025, the country needs 10.2-11 billion litres of ethanol.
• India aims to contribute 25% of global ethanol demand by 2040.
• Oil-marketing companies are targeting the installation of alternative fuel stations at 22,000 retail outlets by May 2024.
2. Mir Barkat Ali Khan
Why in news - The 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Barkat Ali Khan, also known as Prince Mukarram Jah Bahadur (89), passed away in Istanbul.
Key Points –
• He was the grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was the successor to the formerly princely kingdom of Hyderabad.
• On September 17, 1948, Hyderabad ceased to exist as a princely state and merged to the Indian union after Operation Polo (1948).
• In 1971, erstwhile PM Indra Gandhi passed the 26th Amendment Act and abolished the privileges and privy purses of all the princely rulers.
3. Battery Swapping Network
Why in news - Gogoro Inc and Belrise Industries have inked a pact with Maharashtra to set up battery-swapping infrastructure.
Key Points –
• It would be a 50-50 joint venture.
• Investment - Around $2.5 billion (Rs 20,617 crore) over a course of 8 years.
• It was signed at the Maharashtra pavilion, World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
• Maharashtra is India's largest economy with a state gross GDP of more than USD 450 billion which accounts for 16% of India's industrial output.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Abdul Rehman Makki
Why in news - Pakistan-based Abdul Rehman Makki has been blacklisted as a global terrorist (on Jan 16, 2023) by the United Nations.
Key Points –
• He is the deputy chief of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed.
• He was included in the UN Security Council’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
• In June 2022, China put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to list Makki as a global terrorist.
• Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar was listed as a global terrorist in June 2019.
• In October 2022, Pakistan was taken off the grey list.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Womaniya on GeM
Why in news - The success of “Womaniya on Government eMarketplace (GeM)” was commemorated in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• The event was held by GeM in partnership with the Self-Employed Women’s Association, Bharat (SEWA Bharat).
• “Womaniya” (2019) was launched to encourage the participation of women entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHG) from the informal sector on the GeM portal.
ECONOMY:
1. Indian Exports
Why in news - Merchandise exports shrank 12.2% in December 2022 from a year before to $34.5 billion.
Key Points –
• Imports, too, dropped in December, by 3.5%, to $58.2 billion.
• Trade deficit to almost $23.8 billion in December.
• India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $36.4 billion, an all-time-high level in absolute terms, and 4.4% of GDP, in the September quarter.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 14th World Spice Congress (WSC)
Why in news - The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC), is to be held in Mumbai from Feb 16-18, 2023.
Key Points –
• India is known as the ‘Spice Bowl’ of the world.
• Theme - VISION 2030: S-P-I-C-E-S (Sustainability, Productivity, Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Safety).
• Maharashtra is the largest producer of turmeric in India.
• Maharashtra produces two GI-tagged turmeric varieties and one GI-tagged chilli variety.
• Coastal areas of Maharashtra are also known for production of GI tagged Kokum.
• Spices board of India (1987) HQ – Cochin.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. India Mobile Gaming Report 2022
Why in news - India Mobile Gaming Report 2022 was published by the gaming platform Mobile Premier League (MPL).
Key Points –
• Top 5 destination for mobile gamers –
A. Uttar Pradesh (Top - Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Allahabad)
B. Maharashtra (Pune, Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and Nashik)
C. Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jodhpur)
D. Bihar (Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur)
E. West Bengal ( Kolkata, Midnapore, Murshidabad, Howrah and Darjeeling)
• Most famous games - Ludo Dice, Snakes and Ladders, Carrom, Fruit Dart, Block Puzzle and Poker.
• A report from Lumika revealed that India became the world’s largest consumer of mobile games in 2022.
• The gaming market in India had a value of $2.6 billion in 2022. It would expand to $8.6 billion by 2027.
SECURITY:
1. 21st VARUNA 2023
Why in news - The 21st edition of the bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France commenced on Jan 16, 2023.
Key Points –
• It was initiated in 1993 and christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001.
• Duration – January 16 to 20, 2023 (5 days).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Shukrayaan I
Why in news - Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Venus mission, Shukrayaan I may be postponed to 2031.
Key Points –
• Earlier it was expected to be launched in December 2024.
• Both the U.S. and the European space agencies have Venus missions planned for 2031 — VERITAS and EnVision, respectively.
• Other ISRO missions, including Aditya L1 (Sun) and Chandrayaan III (Moon), have also been affected by manufacturing delays.
2. Solitary Waves Around Mars
Why in news - A team of Indian scientists have discovered their first evidence of solitary waves around Mars.
Key Points –
• Solitary waves are mainly distinct electric field fluctuations in the Martian magnetosphere.
• It was identified by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), Mumbai.
• The data was recorded by the Langmuir Probe and Waves instrument on Nasa’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft which was launched by NASA in November 2013.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Startup Day
Why in news - India celebrated National Startup Day on January 16.
Key Points –
• Organized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), M/o Commerce and Industry.
• The first National Startup Day was observed in 2022.
• Startup India Innovation Week - 10th – 16th January 2023.
• India is home to the world’s third–largest startup ecosystem.
• There are 108 startups that have gained the status of Unicorn.
AWARDS & AUTHORS:
1. Federal Bank Literary Award 2022
Why in news - K Venu bagged the first-ever Federal Bank Literary Award 2022 for his autobiography ‘Oranweshananthinte Katha’.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Pankaj Kumar Singh
Why in news - Pankaj Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser.
Key Points –
• He is a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre.
• Singh retired as the BSF chief on December 31, 2022.
BIHAR:
1. Industrial Development
Why in news - The Industries Department has released the rating of industrial development for the month of December on Jan 17, 2023.
Key Points –
• Top 5 (Points) –
A. Nalanda (59)
B. Sheikhpura (58)
C. Munger (55)
D. Samastipur (55)
E. Lakhisarai (54)
• Last rank – Madhepura.
2. Scheme Wise Ranking
Why in news - This type of ranking has been started from the month of November 2022.
Key Points –
• Districts have been ranked on the basis of 5 schemes –
A. Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)
B. PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME Scheme).
C. Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana (MMUY)
D. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
E. Startups:
• Name of the scheme (first rank) –
A. PMEGP- Siwan (19.31)
B. PMFME- Nalanda (20.11)
C. MMUY-Lakhisarai(14.78)
D. MSME- Patna (6.86)
E. Start Up - Madhubani (9)
3. Handloom Cluster
Why in news – The central government has approved 10 handloom clusters proposed by the state government.
Key Points –
• For the FY 2022-23, handloom projects costing Rs 114 crores 74 lakh and 77 thousand have been proposed under National Handloom Development Project (NHDP).
• In 2021-22, for the first time the central government approved projects of Rs 8,23,00,000 under the Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme.
POINTERS:
• All India Radio has collaborated with which commission to launch a weekly program "Matadata Junction" to create awareness among voters - Election Commission of India.
• In which state Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was inaugurated Shaurya Sthal – Uttarakhand.
• Which institute's scientists have developed an AI tool to predict lung cancer - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
• Which country has declared the end of the outbreak of "Ebola" disease - Uganda.
• Recently ‘world’s dirtiest man’ Amou Haji passed away, he was a resident of which country – Iran.
• Which country’s embassy has started Project ‘Saaras’ for menstrual health in Ghaziabad – Israel.
• Which union minister has signed MoU with FIFA and AIFF to implement Football4School initiative in India - Dharmendra Pradhan.
• Which state government has announced to start single-use plastic buyback scheme - Himachal Pradesh.
• Which state government has started the ‘Chief Minister’s Education Award Scheme’ – Odisha.
• Which state’s cricket deaf team has recently won the ‘T20 National Championship 2022’ trophy – Haryana.