DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Jan. 15, 2023

PM announces ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project to provide medical supplies to developing nations

Tags: National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a new ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project on 13th January under which India will provide essential medical supplies to developing countries affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises.

An overview of the news

• Under this project, India will provide essential medical supplies to any of the developing countries affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises.

• PM announced at the Concluding Session of the two-day virtual ‘Voice of Global South Summit’.

• India will launch the Global South Science and Technology Initiative to share its expertise in areas like space technology and nuclear energy.

• India will also set up a ‘Global South Center of Excellence’ for research on development solutions which can be scaled up and implemented around the world.

• PM Modi also suggested a Global South Young Diplomats Forum that would help connect young officials with foreign ministries.

• During the Covid pandemic, India's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative supplied vaccines made in India to over 100 countries.

PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express train

Tags: National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January, virtually flagged off the Vande Bharata Express train connecting Secunderabad with Vishakhapatnam.

An overview of the news

• This is the 8th Vande Bharata Express which will cover a distance of about eight hours between Secunderabad in Telangana and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

• The intermediate stops envisaged for the train include Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry.

• This will lead to ease of living, boost tourism and benefit the economy.

• In the last few years, seven Vande Bharat trains have covered a distance of 23 lakh kms, carrying 40 lakh passengers to their destinations.

• The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express can accelerate to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds.

Name of all 8 Vande Bharat Express train

1. Varanasi-New Delhi, 

2. Katra-New Delhi, 

3. Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar, 

4. Amb Andaura - New Delhi

5. Chennai - Mysuru

6. Nagpur - Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)

7. Howraha-New Jalpaiguri

8. Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam 

About Vande Bharat Express Train

• The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.

• These trains have a self-propelled engine which can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.

• The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.

• It was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.

• These trains can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph. 

• In the Union Budget for 2022-2023 the government has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.

Uttarakhand passed the Women's Reservation Bill

Tags: State News

Uttarakhand Governor Gurmeet Singh has given assent to a bill providing for 30% horizontal reservation for domiciled women citizens of the state in public services and posts.

An overview of the news

• The bill known as the Uttarakhand Public Services (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Bill 2022 was passed by the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly on November 30 during the winter session.

• This decision is considered an important one for ensuring gender equality and social justice in the state government.

Reservation For Women

• The Bill provides for 20% horizontal reservation for direct recruitment to public services and posts against vacancies to be filled up to July 24, 2006.

• Thereafter, 30% horizontal reservation will be provided in favour of women candidates permanently domiciled in Uttarakhand.

Cabinet Approval

• The state cabinet had on October 12 authorised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to bring an ordinance on the issue of women's reservation in state government jobs.

• The move came after a High Court judgement and was aimed at ensuring that 30% reservation for women in state services would be implemented.

Indian Army Day

Tags: Important Days

Army Day is celebrated in India every year on 15 January in the memory of the soldiers and the Indian Army.

An overview of the news

• This year India is celebrating its 75th Army Day.

• This year, on the occasion of Army Day, for the first time, a parade has been organised outside Delhi in Bengaluru.

• The day provides an opportunity to showcase Indian military capabilities including various weapon systems like K9 Vajra Self-Propelled Gun, Pinaka Rocket, T-90 Tank, BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Tunguska Air Defense System, 155mm Bofors Gun, Swati Radar.

Why is it celebrated on 15 January?

• On January 15, 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.

• M. Cariappa is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

• Army Day is celebrated every year to honour the soldiers of the country, who have set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood and laid down their lives for the country.

Indian Army

• The Indian Army was established about 127 years ago by the British on April 1, 1895.

• The Indian Army traces its origins to the armies of the East India Company, which later became the 'British Indian Army' and eventually, after independence, the Indian Army.

• The country's last British Commander-in-Chief was Francis Roy Butcher.

• The Indian Army is one of the most powerful forces in the world competing with superpowers like Russia, America and China.

Best Agripreneurs honoured on National Youth Day

Tags: Awards National News

On the occasion of National Youth Day, 82 best Agripreneurs trained under Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business (AC&ABC) scheme were hounered for their significant contribution through Agri-Clinic and Agri-business services to the farmers.

An overview of the news

• The Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Scheme is a mega flagship scheme of the Government, which was launched by the Government of India in April 2002 in collaboration with NABARD.

• It aims to transform unemployed youth into self-employed agri-entrepreneurs through 45 days free residential training in different parts of the country along with access to loans and subsidies from banks.

• The scheme is being implemented by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad through a network of 136 Nodal Training Institutes (NTIS) spread across all states.

Sonia Gujazara appointed Minister of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil

Tags: Person in news

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the appointment of Sonia Gujajara as the first minister of the new Ministry of Indigenous Peoples.

• About Sonia Gujajara

• Sonia Guajajara is widely known as the leader of the main group of indigenous tribes of Brazil and a member of the Amazon Guajajara.

• Sonia Guajazara is a Brazilian indigenous activist, environmentalist and politician.

• She is a member of the Party of Socialism and Liberty (PSOL) and was initially a candidate for President of Brazil in the 2018 Brazilian general election.

• He was also included in Time magazine's 2022 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

• About Brazil -

• It is the fifth largest country in the world by area after Russia, Canada, China and the United States.

• It covers almost half of the South American continent.

• 60% of the Amazon rainforest, considered the lungs of the Earth, is located in Brazil.

• President: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

• Capital: Brasilia

• Currency: Brazilian Real