NATIONAL NEWS

SARAS Fair 2023

• The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is to host the Saras Mela 2023 from 04 February to 14 February for the first time.

• The fair would be organised at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu.

• In the fair artisans and women self-help groups from across the country will showcase their crafts, handcrafts, handloom and foods.

• The national level food and cultural fair will showcase unique and famous indigenous products from different states and union territories of the country.

• The event will provide a platform to the participants to sell and promote their self-made products.
• The fair is organised jointly by the Centre-State Government as part of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has selected the 'Pyramids of Assam' as the country's sole nomination for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

• The Ahom-era 'Moidams' (cemetery of the royal family) in Assam's Charaideo district will be India's only nomination for recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• 'Moidems' will be nominated in the category of cultural sites.

• India currently has 40 World Heritage Sites.

PM-KISAN Handout to be Raised to Rs 8,000

• The Centre may enhance the income support to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme to `8,000 from `6,000 per year, in the upcoming Budget as it seeks to provide a modicum of consumption booster, despite the budgetary focus on macroeconomic stability.

• An increase of Rs. 2,000 per farmer would entail an annual additional cost of around Rs. 22,000 crores to the government.

• The enhancement in the PM-KISAN amount could be for a year and be reviewed thereafter.

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was launched in February 2019.

Rajasthan Government to Rent Out Drones to Farmers

• The Government of Rajasthan will provide drones on rent to the low-income farmers of Rajasthan to help them in spraying fertilizers and pesticides.

• Around 1,500 drones will be made available at custom hiring centers by the state government in two years.

• In conventional agricultural practices, pesticides are sprayed either manually or with the help of tractor-mounted sprayers where high quantities of pesticides and water are used and where a sizable portion of spray goes waste in the environment.

• Through drones, deficiency of nutrients in the standing crop can be determined and replenished easily.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival will be organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in Mumbai from 27 January to 31 January 2023.

• The SCO Film Festival is being organised during the Presidency of India in the SCO.

• The festival aims to build cinematic partnership, act as a bridge between the cultures of different countries in the SCO and create harmony among the film communities of the SCO members through a collective cinematic experience.

• A total of 57 films from SCO countries will be screened at the SCO Film Festival.  

• 14 feature films will be screened in the competition section and 43 films will be screened in the non-competition section.

BANKING

SEBI Introduces Information Database on Municipal Bonds

• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched an information database on municipal bonds.

• Ashwani Bhatia, a whole-time member of SEBI, launched the database at a two-day outreach program on municipal bonds and municipal finance organized by the SEBI, in New Delhi as part of efforts to develop the bond markets.

• A general obligation bond (GO) is issued by governmental entities and not backed by revenue from a specific project, such as a toll road.
• Revenue bond secures principal and interest payments through the issuer or sales, fuel, hotel occupancy or other taxes.
• It is a good alternative source of finance to fund projects undertaken by Municipal Corporations.

SPORTS

Indian Open Badminton

• Shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand won the India Open Badminton title.
• He defeated World No.1 Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles final of the India Open Badminton Championship 22-20, 10-21 and 21-12 at K. D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Most Eminent Scientist of the Year 2022

• R Vishnu Prasad has been conferred with the most prestigious scientific honour Indian Achievers Award for the year 2022.

• It was awarded by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

• The award is given for outstanding contributions in various fields including culture, science, sports and innovation.

• Vishnu Prasad, who has contributed to smart cities, solid waste management, large scale water treatment, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, was selected by a jury headed by Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra.

Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award-2023

• Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS) Mizoram selected for Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023.

• It was given for excellence in disaster management for the year 2023 on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23 January.

• It is to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management.

• OSDMA was established in 1999 after the huge cyclone tragedy in Odisha.

• OSDMA had worked effectively during various cyclones like Hudhud (2014), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Odisha flood (2020).

• Lunglei Fire Station efficiently and effectively controlled the massive fire that broke out in the uninhabited forest areas surrounding Lunglei town on 24 April 2021.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2023

• President of India, Droupadi Murmu conferred the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to 11 exceptional children on 23 January 2023.

• This year the award has been given to 11 children from 11 States/UTs, who represent the diversity of the nation for their exceptional achievements.

• This year's awardees include one in the category of bravery and social service, two in the category of innovation, three in sports and four in art and culture.

• Out of 11 awardees, 5 are girls and 6 are boys.

• Smriti Zubin Irani also released a book ‘Young Heroes of India’ on Bal Veer during the ceremony, who presented the first copy to the President of India.

DEFENCE

Maritime Exercise TROPEX 2023

• A maritime exercise called TROPEX is conducted by the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region.

• TROPEX-2023 is being organised over a period of three months from January to March.

• The TROPEX exercise is held once every two years.

• Apart from the Indian Navy the exercise will involve their participation with assets from the Indian Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.

• The aim of the exercise is to test the combat readiness of the Navy and safeguard national interests in the maritime domain and promote stability and peace in the Indian Ocean region.

'AMPEX' 2023

• The biggest tri-services exercise 'AMPEX' 2023 was conducted from 17 January 17 to 22 January near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

• Troops of the Indian Army, warships of the Indian Navy and aircraft of the Air Force participated during the five-day exercise.

• The aim of this war exercise was to showcase India's capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of its areas including better coordination between the three services and enhance joint war fighting capabilities.

• The exercise included Air Entry of Naval Marine Commandos, Air Entry of Army Special Forces, Naval Gunfire Support, Follow up operations like landing of troops from land, air and water.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Education Day

• International Day of Education is celebrated every year on 24 January.
• It is to spread awareness about education globally and to make education accessible to all.
• The theme of the International Day of Education for the year 2023 is 'To Invest in People, Prioritise Education'.
• This year is the fourth edition of International Education Day.
• UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education for the year 2023 to Afghan girls and women.

National Girl Child Day

• National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on 24 January.
• National Women Child Day aims to highlight the prejudice and injustice towards girls.
• The day also encourages awareness of women's rights in our country.
• The main objective of this day is to change the attitude of the society towards the girl child, reduce female feticide and create awareness about the declining sex ratio.
• An event is being organised with the theme ‘Self Defence Training for Girls’.

OBITUTARY

Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora

• Former Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjeet Singh Arora passed away. He was at the age of 61.

• Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December 1981.

• He served as the former Vice Chief of the Air Staff from 01 October 2019 till 30 June 2021.

• He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2011 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2020.