1. Army Hospital (R&R) performs India’s first-ever Left Ventricular Assist Device
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
- Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantt has performed India’s first-ever Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation using the HeartMate 3 device in a government institution.
Important points:
- This marks a historic first for the Armed Forces Medical Services too. The procedure was successfully performed on a 49-year-old wife of an Armed Forces veteran who had been waiting for a heart transplant for over two years.
- The LVAD, often regarded as a ‘mechanical heart’, serves as a life-saving bridge for patients with end-stage heart failure.
- The HeartMate 3 LVAD is a cutting-edge device that uses advanced technology to improve heart function.
- It offers hope to patients with severe cardiac conditions. Currently, the patient is recovering steadily under medical supervision, showcasing the success of high-quality teamwork.
- This achievement reflects the Army Hospital’s relentless pursuit of excellence in medical care. This milestone reaffirms the position of Army Hospital (R&R) as a leader in providing advanced medical care.
2. “National Conference of DMs on PM JANMAN on 21st January 2025
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is organizing “National Conference of DMs on PM JANMAN” on 21st January2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi under guidance of Sh. Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs and Sh. Durgadas Uikey, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs.
Important points:
- This conference is focusing on 06 core areas under the Abhiyan viz. Rural Development (Awas & Roads), PVTG) Hostels (schools) Drinking water under JJM, operationalization of Anganwadis and operationalization of Multi-Purpose Centers (MPCs).
- The Conference is specifically targeted at sharing best practices and facilitating progress in districts which have substantial scope for improvement.
- This event is being organized to ensure that the objectives of the Mission are expedited and the intended benefits reach the last mile as targeted in line with vision of Prime Minister.
- The conference will feature breakout sessions focused on each core area, with participation from State Tribal Welfare Departments (TWD), District Magistrates, and their teams, including the PO ITDA and the DSWO/DWO/ in-charge of Tribal Welfare (3 members per District).
- A total of 88 districts from 18 States will engage in discussions and share insights draw out action plan on the implementation of PM JANMAN.
3. Nehru Yuva Kendra Hosts Border Area Youth Exchange Program in Delhi
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)successfully organized the Border Area Youth Exchange Program at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) in Rajghat, New Delhi, from January 15 to 19, 2025.
Important points:
The event brought together young people from various border areas across India, providing them with a platform to interact, learn, and share experiences of unity, peace, and cultural exchange.
The five-day program focused on fostering national integration, promoting youth leadership, and creating awareness about the rich cultural diversity of India's border regions.
It saw the participation of over 100 youth representatives from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand.
The program included a mix of cultural activities, workshops, discussions, and visits to significant places in Delhi, including the Raj Ghat Memorial, where Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of peace and non-violence was highlighted.
4. Mines Ministry to Host 3rd National Mines Ministers’ Conference
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
The Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, is hosting the 3rd National Mines Ministers’ Conference on January 20-21, 2025, at Konark.
Important points:
The two-day event aligns with the vision of "Vikasit Bharat 2047" and will bring together more than 16 State Mining Ministers along with senior officials from the Central and Odisha Governments.
- The conference will be presided over by Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, with Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi gracing the inaugural session as the Chief Guest.
Key Highlights of the Conference:
Release of the Report on States’ Best Practices in Mining: Showcasing innovative governance models implemented by states, the report aims to improve efficiency and transparency in mining practices.
Launch of the Mining Tenement System (MTS) Module: A landmark step towards digital governance, this module will streamline mining operations and enhance accountability.
Handing Over of Sanction Letters to Startups: Selected startups will receive sanction letters under initiatives promoting innovation in sustainable mining practices.
Handing Over of Geological Memoranda (GMs) and Geological Reports (GRs): Comprehensive data will be provided to the Ministry of Mines and states, boosting exploration activities.
Transfer of Critical Mineral Block GRs by Chhattisgarh: GRs of critical mineral blocks will be handed over to the Ministry of Mines, supporting India’s self-reliance in critical minerals.
Awards to Best-Performing States: States excelling in mineral auctions and mining reforms will be honoured for their outstanding contributions.
Launch of the 5th Tranche of Critical Mineral Blocks: The launch aims to accelerate exploration and attract private sector investment in critical minerals, reducing import dependency.
5. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) inaugurates National-level Khadi Exhibition
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Shri Manoj Kumar, inaugurated the National-level Khadi Exhibition at the Mahakumbh, at Sector-1, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, in Kumbh Nagri, Prayagraj.
Important points:
A total of 152 stalls set up, with 98 stalls showcasing Khadi products and 54 showcasing products from village industries
The exhibition features products from more than 20 States across India, including items from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to Nagaland.
The Chairman urged the pilgrims and visitors to visit the Khadi exhibition and embrace indigenous products, thereby promoting the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative.
6. Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launches the toolkit for 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, launched the toolkit for 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS).
Important points:
For the year 2024, a special category - Super Swachh League has been introduced creating a separate league of cities excelling in cleanliness.
India’s cleanest cities move into a newly created Super Swachh League.
The cities who have been in the top 3 in at least 2 years in the last 3 years (2021-2023) have made the cut.
Cities in Super Swachh League:
Very Small Cities (< 20,000 population) – Panchgani, Patan.
Small Cities (20,000 – 50,000 population) - Vita, Sasvad.
Medium Cities (50,000 – 3 Lakh population) – Ambikapur, Tirupati, New Delhi Municipal Council.
Big Cities (3 – 10 Lakh population) – Noida, Chandigarh.
Million Plus Cities (> 10 Lakh population) - Navi Mumbai, Indore, Surat.
The introduction of the Super Swachh League in this year’s survey serves dual purposes: it encourages top-performing cities to strive for higher aspirational standards, while also motivating other cities to improve and aim for top ranks.”
For the very first time, the cities have been classified into 5 population categories: Very Small, Small, Medium, Big, and Million-Plus.
Each category will be assessed based on population and parameters tailored to its specific size and needs.
Awards will be given to clean cities in each category. This makes the new Swachh Survekshan
About Swachh Survekshan (SS):
The world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, initially launched by MoHUA in 2016, Swachh Survekshan drives urban sanitation improvement through citizen participation and third-party validation.
“Swachh Survekshan stands as a remarkable testament to collaboration and collective responsibility, reflecting the nation’s commitment to making cleanliness a way of life.
7. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiinaugurated the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, the largest mobility expo in India, today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Important points:
The Indian Auto industry has grown by nearly 12%,the export was rising driven by the mantra of “Make in India and Make for the World”.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi remarked that the sale of approximately 2.5 crore cars in a year demonstrates the continuously growing demand in India.
“India is currently the world's fifth-largest economy and the third-largest passenger vehicle market”.
He remarked that as India ascends to become one of the top three economies globally, the country's auto market will witness unprecedented transformation and expansion.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the automotive industry was driven by innovation and technology.
Background
The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is being held from 17-22 January, 2025 across three separate venues: Bharat Mandapam & Yashobhoomi in New Delhi and India Expo Center & Mart, Greater Noida.
Expo will host over 9 concurrent shows, 20+ conferences and pavilions. In addition, the Expo will also feature state sessions to showcase policies and initiatives in the mobility sector to enable collaboration between industry and regional levels.
Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 aims to unite the entire mobility value chain under one umbrella.
This year’s expo has a special emphasis on the global significance with participation from across the globe as exhibitors and visitors.
It isan industry-led and government-supported initiative and is being coordinated by Engineering Export Promotion Council of India with the joint support of various industry bodies and partner organizations
8. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launches massive New Glenn rocket on first test flight
Tags: International Relations
Why in the news?
- Blue Origin launched its massive new rocket on its first test flight January 16, 2025, sending up a prototype satellite to orbit thousands of miles above Earth.
Important points:
Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lifts off on its inaugural launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., on January 16, 2025.
Named after the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida, soaring from the same pad used to launch NASA's Mariner and Pioneer spacecraft a half-century ago.
9. World Economic Forum recognition for HUL’s Assam plant
Tags: International Relations
Why in the news?
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has designated Hindustan Unilever Limited's (HUL) Doom Dooma site at Tinsukia, Assam, as an Advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)End-to-End Value Chain Lighthouse.
What does this recognition mean?
- The factory is now part of the Global Lighthouse Network, a community of production sites that use cutting-edge technologies.
- The factory is India's only FMCG company with three factories to receive this recognition.
- The factory uses technologies like AI, automation, cloud computing, and IoT to improve its supply chain.
What are the benefits of this recognition?
- Reduced changeover times
Improved product availability
Higher labor productivity
Advancements in sustainable packaging and product quality
Rapid one-click changeovers between products
10. Three Indian nuclear entities no more on U.S. restrictions list
Tags: National News
Why in the news?
In a significant move, the United States on Wednesday removed restrictions onthree Indian nuclear entities.
Key points:
The three entities are Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR) and the Indian Rare Earths (IRE), according to the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
