NATIONAL NEWS

Indian International Science Festival in Haryana

Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the 9th Indian International Science Festival in Faridabad, Haryana.

The primary objective of this festival is to commemorate the world of science, making it accessible to all.

It will continue till 20th January, which aims to engage the public with science and celebrate the joy of science.

The Department of Science and Technology informed that during the festival, 17 different events are being organized keeping in mind different sections of the society like young students, women scientists, toy manufacturers, social organizations, science teachers and start-ups. School, College students and general public can visit the festival through registration.

India emerges as a global frontrunner, showcasing its unparalleled prowess on the international stage.

PM Modi Releases First Instalment of PM-JANMAN To 1 Lakh Beneficiaries

PM Modi released the first instalment to 1 lakh beneficiaries of PMAY-G under the PM-JANMAN scheme.

PM Modi released the first instalment of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

PM Modi released ₹540 crores as the first instalment of funding.

Since the launch of the PM-JANMAN scheme, had sanctioned projects worth over ₹4,700 crore through 9 ministries under the PM-JANMAN package.

PM-JANMAN was launched for the socio-economic welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in November 2023.

It has a budget of around 24,0004 crore rupees.

It focuses on 11 critical interventions through nine ministries.

It aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the PVTGs by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities.

Safe housing, clean water to drink, better access to healthcare, nutrition, education, energy, road and telecom connectivity, and chances for sustainable livelihood are some of these facilities.

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Modi Inaugurates NACIN Complex in Andhra Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the new campus of National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) at Palasamudram in Andhra Pradesh.

He will be interacting with the Officer Trainees of the 74th and 75th batch of Indian Revenue Service (Custom and Indirect Taxes) as well as the Officer Trainees of the Royal Civil Service of Bhutan.

He will be visiting the Antiques Smuggling Study Centre, Narcotics Study Centre and Wildlife Crime Detection Centre at NACIN and will also plant a sapling and interact with construction workers.

The PM will also be releasing a book titled Flora of Palasamudram.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S A Nazeer, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman are also likely to participate in the programme.

India's First Dark Sky Park

The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India's first Dark Sky Park and the fifth such park in Asia for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasises on the recognition of the intrinsic value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical resource.

The IUCN also highlights the need to preserve natural darkness for the sake of nature conservation, ecological integrity in protected areas, and the well-being of communities in healthy cities, stated Prabhu Nath Shukla, deputy director of PTR Maharashtra.

The escalating global threat of light pollution poses a substantial risk to this invaluable resource, he stated in a release.

The Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Working Group, led by the International Astronomical Union, has recommended the establishment of 'Dark Sky Oases' by national and local governments, Shukla

He stated the Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky.

Haryana CM Inaugurates 2nd Panchkula Book Fair

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the 2nd Panchkula Book Fair, organized by six departments under the aegis of power companies in Panchkula.

The National Book Trust also has a special contribution in this fair.

The theme of the book fair is "Haryana illuminates with the light of knowledge, knowledge flows through electricity”.

Nearly 100 publishers have put stalls in the fair, in which books of Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Punjabi, among others are available. The book fair will continue till 22 January.

Addressing the event, Haryana Chief Minister stated that the coordination of language in books is akin to the mutual relationship between body and soul.

He stated that books not only enhance knowledge but also free us from mental stress.

 

BUSINESS

LIC Overtakes SBI as the Most Valuable PSU Firm

LIC has become the most valuable company among the public sector undertakings (PSUs).

The market capitalization of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) became more than that of the State Bank of India (SBI).

Shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India have been trading rapidly since the morning of 17 January. After the rise in LIC's stock, its market cap has crossed Rs 5.8 lakh crore.

Whereas the market cap of SBI stood at Rs 5.62 lakh crore. SBI shares are trading with a decline.

LIC shares are trading with a rise of more than 2 percent.

 

SPORTS

India's Number-One Chess Player

India Chess Wizard Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa defeated World Chess Champion Ding Liren in the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee, in the Netherlands.

As a result of this victory, Praggnanandhaa became only the second Indian after Vishwanathan Anand to defeat a reigning champion.

He also overtook Anand to become India's new number one Chess player in terms of live ratings.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Assam's Highest Civilian Award 'Assam Baibhav'

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi will be honored with Assam's highest civilian award 'Assam Baibhav'.

Athlete Hima Das will be awarded the Assam Saurav Samman.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 16 January announced the annual state civilian award for the year 2023.

As an award, Gogoi will be given a citation, certificate, medal and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

Ranjan Gogoi was the 46th CJI of India and the first judge from the Northeast to hold the post.

During his tenure, the Supreme Court had given a historic verdict on the decade-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case.

This year the state government will confer civic awards on a total of 22 personalities including four Assam Saurav and seventeen Assam Gaurav awards.

Assam Saurav award will be given to four personalities.

Hima Das - Athletics

Dr. Kishan Chand Nauriyal: Art and Culture

Elvis Ali Hazarika: Swimming and

Nadiram Deuri: Tiwa Dance

This award will include a citation, certificate, medal and a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh.

 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Releases Book

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar released the book 'Fertilising the Future: Bharat's March Towards Fertilizer Self-Sufficiency' written by Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

The Hindi version of the book is titled 'Urvarak-Atmanirbharta ki Raah.'

The book delineates the journey of making India self reliant in the fertilizer sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the revolutionary changes that have taken place till date.

 

OBITUTARY

Urdu Poet Munawwar Rana Passes Away

Noted Urdu poet Munawwar Rana passed away at the Sanjay Gandhi PostGraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow.

He was Born on November 26, 1952, he left a mark on Indian literature and his work, "Shahdaba", earned him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 but he returned it due to political reasons.

During the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), his daughter and he supported the protesters. He was also in the news during the farmers' agitation for purportedly controversial remarks.

Munawwar Rana suffered infection in the lungs and throat in 2017 and was also receiving treatment regularly due to kidney problems for which he had to undergo dialysis.