NATIONAL:
1. National Commission for Women (NCW)
Why in news - President Droupadi Murmu graced the 31st Foundation Day Celebrations of National Commission for Women on Jan 31, 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme - ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat’.
• WCD Minister Smt Smriti Zubin Irani launched the Commission’s journey book - "Sashakt Nari, Sashakt Bharat".
• NCW was founded in January 1992 as a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• Current chairman of NCW - Rekha Sharma.
• First chairman of NCW - Mrs. Jayanti Patnaik.
2. President Address to Parliament
Why in news - President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of Parliament for the first time on Jan 31, 2023.
Key Points –
• In India, the practice of the President addressing Parliament was established after the promulgation of the Government of India Act in 1919.
• Article 87 provides two special occasions on which the President addresses a joint sitting –
A. Address the opening session of a new legislature after a general election.
B. First sitting of Parliament each year.
• January 31, 1950 - President Rajendra Prasad addressed members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the first time.
• After the President’s address, the two Houses move a motion to thank the President for /his/her speech.
• Prime Minister replies to the motion of thanks. The motion is then put to vote.
3. Peshawar Mosque Attack
Why in news - More than 40 people were killed and around 100 injured after a suicide blast at a mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar.
Key Points –
• Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.
• It was carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
• TTP was officially set up in 2007.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Revamped Monument Mitra Scheme
Why in news - Private firms would soon be able to partner with the Archaeological Survey of India for the upkeep of 1,000 monuments.
Key Points –
• It involves adopting and maintaining heritage sites based on the Corporate Social Responsibility model.
About Monument Mitra Scheme –
• Monument Mitra - An entity partnering with the government under the 'Adopt A Heritage' project under Ministry of Culture.
ECONOMY:
1. Sovereign Green Bond (SGrB)
Why in news - The maiden sovereign green bond (SGrB) auction of Rs 8,000 crore got oversubscribed owing to robust demand.
Key Points –
• Maturity period - 5-year (yield of 7.10%) and 10-year (yield of 7.29%).
• Greenium - Sovereign green bond was sold at premium.
• The proceeds from the sale of SGrB would be used to finance or refinance for various green projects, including in renewable energy, clean transportation etc.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Model G-20 Summit
Why in news - The Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL) has organized a first-of-its-kind Model G20 Summit.
Key Points –
• It was inaugurated by India's G20 Sherpa-Amitabh Kant and Guest of Honour-Eko Junor.
• Central theme – “Global Partnerships: Challenges & Opportunities”.
REPORT & INDICES:
1. AISHE 2020-21
Why in news - Ministry of Education released All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021.
Key Points –
• The Ministry has been conducting All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2011.
Key Facts –
Student Enrolment:
• Total enrolment in higher education - 4.14 crore in 2020-21 (21% increase since 2014-15).
• Female enrolment - 2.01 crore (28% increase since 2014-15).
• Gross enrolment ratio (GER) - 27.3 (25.6 in 2019-20).
• The ratio of female GER to male GER, has increased from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-21.
• Top 5 States in terms of the number of students enrolled - Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Number of Institutions:
• The Institutes of National Importance (INIs) have almost doubled to 149 in 2020-21 (75 in 2014-15).
• Highest number of Universities - Rajasthan (92), Uttar Pradesh (84) and Gujarat (83).
• College Density – 31 (27 in 2014-15).
• Highest college density - Karnataka (62), Telangana (53) and Kerala (50).
• Districts with highest number of Colleges - Bangalore Urban (1058), Jaipur (671) and Hyderabad (488).
Faculty:
• The female per 100 male faculty has improved to 75 in 2020-21 (74 in 2019-20).
2. Bloomberg Billionaires Index
Why in news - Gautam Adani (rank 11th) slipped out of the top 10 rankings of the world's richest list.
Key Points –
• Adani’s net worth - $84.4 billion.
• Top 3 –
A. Bernard Arnault ($189 billion).
B. Elon Musk ($160 billion)
C. Jeff Bezos ($124 billion).
• Mukesh Ambani ranked 12th with the net worth of $82.2 billion.
• Adani's net worth has slipped primarily after the release of a report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. “The Poverty of Political Economics”
Why in news - British economist Meghnad Desai has authored a new book titled “The Poverty of Political Economy: How Economics Abandoned the Poor”.
Key Points –
• It highlights how economics systematically kept the interests of the poor at the periphery.
• It was published by HarperCollins Publishers India.
SPORTS:
1. Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023
Why in news - Anish Giri won the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023.
Key Points –
• It is also known as the “Wimbledon of Chess”.
• It is held annually in Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands.
STATES/UTs:
1. Project Aspiration
Why in news - Woxsen University has launched Project Aspiration to empower adolescent girls of standard 9-12, Telangana Model School.
Key Points –
• Woxsen’s Centre of Excellence – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has conceptualized the project.
• Students were selected by the school principal to take part in ‘Train the Trainer’ workshop.
2. Visakhapatnam
Why in news - Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy reiterated that Visakhapatnam would become the capital of the state.
Key Points –
• His government repealed the “decentralised development” (3 capitals) law in November 2021.
• Also, earlier plans to develop Amaravati - on the banks of the Krishna river - as the capital city have been scrapped.
3. Aarohini Campaign
Why in news - Uttar Pradesh has launched the Aarohini initiative training program to empower girls from the underprivileged class.
Key Points –
• Aim - Safety and security of girls in 746 Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools in the state.
• The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan would work under the Aarohini Initiative.
4. Ladli Bahna Yojana
Why in news - Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced the Ladli Bahna Yojana for financially weak women.
Key Points –
• The scheme for married and unmarried (not for students) would guarantee Rs 1,000 monthly to all such women.
POINTERS:
• In which state has the swallowtail butterfly been spotted for the first time in India - Arunachal Pradesh.
• Where was the first meeting of the G-20 International Financial Architecture Working Group held – Chandigarh.
• Who has launched India's first AI-powered screening system to automatically identify chart patterns in various stocks – StockEdge.
• Which state government will host the 7th edition of the Nature and Birds Festival - Uttar Pradesh (Vijay Sagar Bird Sanctuary, Bundelkhand).
• Who has become the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 cricket history - Yuzvendra Chahal.
• Who has been honoured with the “International Hockey Federation (FIH) National Awards 2023” - VK Pandian.
• In which state the fifth "Khelo India Youth Games" has started - Madhya Pradesh.
• Who has been honoured with "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Contribution Award 2022"? - Sunil Krishnan (Global Entrepreneur).
• Which sportsperson has been chosen as the brand ambassador of the sports brand Puma India - Harmanpreet Kaur.
• In which city 'Khadi Utsav 2023' has been inaugurated recently – Mumbai.