NATIONAL:
1. Republic Day Guest
Why in news - Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the chief guest for the Republic Day 2023, landed in India on January 24.
Key Points –
• This is the first time that an Egyptian President has been invited as chief guest for the event.
• Jawaharlal Nehru and Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser were key in forming the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
• The India-Egypt bilateral trade agreement has been in operation since March 1978.
• A military contingent from the Egyptian Army will participate in the Republic Day parade.
2. International Craft Summit
Why in news - Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated an ‘International Craft Summit’ in Jajpur.
Key Points –
• The main objective of the summit is to promote Odisha crafts in Rajasthan.
• Partners - 4 United Nations agencies and 5 UNESCO Creative Cities.
3. U-WIN Program
Why in news - U-WIN program to digitise India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
Key Points –
• It has been launched in a pilot mode in two districts of each state and Union Territory.
• It would be used to register and vaccinate every pregnant woman, record her delivery outcome, register every newborn delivery, administer birth doses and all vaccination events thereafter.
• It replicates Co-WIN program which has served as the “digital backbone” for India’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Chris Hipkins
Why in news - Labour leader Chris Hipkins has been sworn in as the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Key Points –
• The move came after the surprise resignation of Jacinda Ardern.
2. Machu Picchu
Why in news - The popular tourist destination of Machu Picchu (Peru) has been indefinitely shut for visitors due to protests.
Key Points –
• Machu Picchu – It is described by UNESCO as the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilisation.
• Glencore’s Antapaccay copper mine (Cusco) - One of the largest mines in Peru.
• Protesters are demanding the removal of Dina Boluarte, Peru’s first woman president.
3. Meteorite in Antarctica
Why in news - Researchers discovered over five meteorites in Antarctica, including a rare hefty specimen that weighs over 7 kg.
Key Points –
• The meteorites were sent to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
• Nearly 45,000 meteorites recovered to date from the icy wasteland of Antarctica.
4. Longest Calligraphic Mural
Why in news - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has installed the longest calligraphic mural in the world on King Abdul Aziz Street.
Key Points –
• King Abdul Aziz Street leads to Makkah’s Grand Mosque.
• The 75-meter-long mural is designed by artist Amal Felemban.
5. Public Health Emergency
Why in news - Brazil's ministry of health has declared a medical emergency in the Yanomami territory.
Key Points –
• Reason - Children dying of malnutrition and other diseases caused by illegal gold mining.
• Yanomami is Brazil’s largest indigenous gold reserve bordering Venezuela.
ECONOMY:
1. Organics International Data
Why in news - IFOAM - Organics International recently released a study on organic farming.
Key Points –
• In 2020 the increase in global organic farming reached 3 million hectares.
• India among top 3 nations in expanding organic farming in 2020
• Highest increase in global organic farming –
A. Uruguay (5,89,000 hectares)
B. Argentina (7,81,000 hectares)
C. India (3,59,000 hectares).
• Of the world’s total 74.9 mh under organic farming, Australia has the highest at 35.7 mh. whereas India has 2.8 mh.
• Sikkim is the first State in the world to become fully organic.
• Major organic exports from India are flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice & pulses.
• Major exporting states: Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, & Nagaland.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Global Fire Power Index 2023
Why in news - The Global Firepower Report 2023 was released recently.
Key Points –
• India ranked as the 4th most powerful army in the world.
• Top 5 - United States of America (1st), Russia (2nd), China (3rd), India (4th) and United Kingdom (5th).
• Most powerful in the Middle East and North African region –
A. Turkey (rank - 11)
B. Egypt (rank - 14)
C. Iran (rank - 17)
2. Annual Ranking of Police Station 2022
Why in news - Union Ministry of Home Affairs conducted the annual exercise of ranking of police stations.
Key Points –
• Best police station - Aska police station (94.54%), Ganjam district (OD)
• Pragati dashboard was used to rank police stations on their performances. It was developed by the State Crime Records Bureau.
SECURITY:
1. ‘Ops Alert’ Exercise
Why in news - BSF has started an “Ops Alert” exercise to enhance security along the India-Pakistan border in Kutch (GJ) and Barmer (RJ).
Key Points –
• Aim - to “thwart any ill designs of anti-national elements” during the Republic Day celebrations.
• Harami Nala (near Bhuj in Kutch of Gujarat) is a prohibited zone where fishing is not allowed as the area is contested by both India and Pakistan.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. India in the Oscars
Why in news - The final nominations list at the 95th edition of the Academy Awards was released recently.
Key Points –
• Final nominations from India –
A. Song - 'Naatu Naatu' (Best Original song category)
B. Two documentaries - 'All That Breathes' and 'The Elephant Whisperers’.
• RRR bagged an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Original song.
• All That Breathes' is also nominated for a BAFTA Award. It previously won the 'World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary' at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
• India’s official entry Chhello Show (Last Film Show) did not score a nomination in the Best International Feature category.
• The Academy Awards ceremony would be held on March 13 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with Jimmy Kimmel as the host.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. 13th National Voters’ Day (NVD)
Why in news – Election Commission of India celebrated the 13th National Voters’ Day on 25th January 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme 2023 - Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure.
• ECI song- “Main Bharat Hoon- Hum Bharat Ke Matdata Hain”.
• Matdata Junction - A yearlong Voter Awareness Program by ECI in collaboration with All India Radio.
• “National icon” of Election Commission - Pankaj Tripathi.
SPORTS:
1. Sports Federation Following
Why in news – The study of the most followed international sports federations on social media was released by BCW Sports.
Key Points –
• The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) is the most followed international sports federation on social media.
• Top 3 (followers) –
A. International Cricket Council (92.2 million).
B. FIFA (51.4 million)
C. International Basketball Federation (15.5 million)
• The International Automobile Federation (FIA) is a new entry in the top ten, placing ninth with 3.7 million followers.
STATES/UTs:
1. “Schools of Eminence” Project
Why in news - Punjab has launched the ‘Schools of Eminence’ project at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Mohali.
Key Points –
• 117 schools of eminence in Punjab were inaugurated.
2. ULPIN in Ladakh
Why in news - Ladakh Lt Governor R K Mathur launched the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) in Ladakh.
Key Points –
• The 14-digit ULPIN would help in the digitisation of land records and also reaching a conclusive land titling.
• The next step in ‘SVAMITVA’ for digitisation and computerisation of land revenue records.
BIHAR:
1. Karpoori Thakur Jayanti
Why in news - Jan Nayak Karpuri Thakur's 99th birth anniversary was celebrated on January 24 in Bihar.
Key Points –
• He was the Chief Minister of Bihar twice (Dec 1970 to June 1971 and Dec 1977 to April 1979) and once the Deputy Chief Minister.
• He won the assembly elections for the first time in 1952.
• He was the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Bihar.
• He implemented the Mungeri Lal Commission report in 1977 that recommended reservations for Backward Castes in government jobs.
• He was born in Pitaujhiya village of Samastipur district.
• He was popularly known as Jan Nayak.
POINTERS:
• How many islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been named after Paramveer awardees recently – 21 islands.
• Where will the G-20 Environment Working Group meeting be held recently – Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Who has been appointed as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently – Vikram Devdutt.
• Recently, which company's CEO "Reed Settings" has resigned from the post of CEO – Netflix.
• Where has the International Trade Fair 'Millets & Organics 2023' event held recently – Bangalore.
• Who has recently been conferred with the Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr. Prabha Atre (Hindustani vocalist Padma Vibhushan).
• Who has recently released the book “India's Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn” - Dr. Ashwin Fernandes.
• In which state the Business 20 Inception meeting is being organized – Gujarat (Gandhinagar).
• Which British Indian entrepreneur has been honoured with the Freedom of the City of London Award - Manish Tiwari.
• Who has been appointed as the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Inger Andersen.