NATIONAL NEWS

The 7th Edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha to be Held

The 7th edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2024’ will be held on the 29th of this month.

Ministry of Education announced that, through the unique interactive program, over 4,000 participants will be interacting with the Prime Minister.

The programme will be held in a town hall format at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam

Pariksha Pe Charcha is a programme where students, parents, and teachers from across the nation and also from overseas interact with the Prime Minister to discuss anxieties related to examinations and life after school.

Pariksha Pe Charcha is part of the larger movement ‘Exam Warriors’ led by Mr Modi to create a stress-free atmosphere for youngsters.

 

SPORTS NEWS

Virat Kohli wins ICC ODI Player of the Year Award

Indian batting star Virat Kohli bagged the ICC ODI Player of the Year award for the fourth time, following his record-breaking performance in the World Cup 2023.

Kohli had previously won the award in 2012, 2017, and 2018 and also stands amongst the four nominees for the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2023 award.

Notably, Kohli has become the first-ever cricketer to clinch this award four times, surpassing AB de Villiers' tally of three awards.

Virat Kohli built on his comeback in 2022 with a spectacular 2023, where he won the Player of the Tournament performance at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Awards

Former India wicket-keeper Mr Farokh Engineer and all-rounder Mr Ravi Shastri were bestowed with the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Awards at Naman Awards ceremony in Hyderabad.

The Naman Award is given to celebrate Indian Cricket and recognising performances both at the domestic and international level.

For their outstanding performances, Mr Mohd. Shami (2019-20), Mr R. Ashwin (2020-21), and Mr Shubman Gill (2022-23) received the Polly Umrigar award for Best International Cricketer- Men while Mr Jasprit Bumrah, who had received this award in the 2018–19 season, received his second for the 2021-22 season.

Similarly, Ms Smriti Mandhana, who was named the Best International Woman Cricketer in 2017-18, claimed the top award for the second time for her breakthrough performances in 2020–21 and also 2021–22.

N. Ananthapadmanabhan, Vrinda Rathi, Jayaraman Madan Gopal, and Rohan Pandit were awarded the Best Umpire in Domestic Cricket for 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23, respectively.

Mumbai received the Best Performance Award in BCCI Domestic Tournaments for 2019-20.

 Madhya Pradesh won the award for the 2021–22 season for winning the Ranji Trophy.

 Saurashtra claimed the top prize for the 2022–23 season for their title triumph in the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Men’s U25 State A trophy, and finishing runner-up in the Irani Cup.

Blavatnik Award

Three Indian scientists are also among the nine scientists selected for the prestigious 'Blavatnik Award' 2024 given to young scientists in Britain.

This award will be given to them for their excellent work in chemistry, physics and life sciences.

This award is given by ‘Blavatnik Family Foundation’ and ‘The New York Academy of Sciences’.

This award is mainly given to young scientists for their research work. These selected young scientists will be honoured in a ceremony organised on 27 February 2024 for their research work in various fields of science.

Out of the total nine scientists honoured with the Blavatnik Award, three are young scientists of Indian origin include Professor Rahul R. Nair, Professor Mehul Malik and Dr. Tanmay Bharat.

 

DEFENCE

Joint Special Forces Exercise Cyclone II Commenced in Egypt

The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel reached Egypt to take part in the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE.

It is the 2nd edition of the Exercise Cyclone which will be conducted at Anshas, Egypt from 22nd January to 1st February 2024.

Cyclone is an annual exercise held alternatively in India and Egypt.

It is to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of Special Operations in desert/ semi desert terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.

The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and an Egyptian contingent comprising 25 personnel is being represented by Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.

The Exercise will involve planning and execution of special operations in sub conventional domain and conducted in three phases.

While the first phase will include Military Exhibitions and Tactical Interactions, the second phase will focus on training on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), counter IED and Combat First Aid.

The third and final phase will encompass Joint Tactical Exercise based on Fighting in Built-up Area and Hostage Rescue Scenarios.

Tata Group and Airbus Sign to Manufacture H125 Civil Helicopter

Tata Group and France's Airbus signed an agreement to manufacture civil helicopters "with significant indigenization and localization components."

Under this agreement, both companies will manufacture H125 helicopters, which were signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to New Delhi.

The agreement was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India as the chief guest at India's 75th Republic Day celebrations.

Both companies finalised this agreement during the visit of Emmanuel Macron.

Under this, Tata and Airbus will work together on the manufacturing of H125 helicopters.

Its manufacturing will be done in Vadodara, Gujarat. The H125 helicopter, jointly manufactured by Airbus and Tata Group, is a single engine helicopter.

This multi-mission workhorse will revolutionise passenger and freight transportation.

It will also be used for areas such as emergency medical services (HEMS), disaster management, law enforcement, tourism and air task missions.

'Sada Tanseeq' Joint Military Exercise

The joint military exercise between the armies of India and Saudi Arabia – Sada Tanseeq is going to start in Rajasthan from 29 January 2024.

This ‘Sada Tanseeq’ will be organised in Rajasthan from 29 January to 10 February 2024.

According to the information given by the Indian Army, 'Sada Tanseeq' is the first exercise of its kind to be organised between the two countries.

The objective of this exercise is to share the best military activities and experiences between the armies of the two countries. This exercise will promote military cooperation and interoperability between India and Saudi Arabia.

The objective is to enhance synergy, interoperability and joint skills by learning and sharing best practices between the armies of the two countries.

This joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate.

During this exercise, participants will engage in missions ranging from joint planning, operations, joint tactical exercises.

This exercise will provide an opportunity to field commanders and soldiers to interact with each other.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

North Korea Conducts Test of Underwater Nuclear Weapon System

North Korea has conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapons system in a protest against this week's joint military drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan.

The test of the "Haeil-5-23", a name North Korea has given to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, was carried out by the defence ministry's think tank in the waters off its east coast.

Haeil", which means tsunami, is the new Nuke drone system that was first reportedly tested in March 2023.

It was intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion.

 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Shri Amit Shah Launched a New Book                

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah launched a book titled, 'A Promised Nation Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi- the Maker of New India', written on the life and works of PM Modi in Braille script in New Delhi

Launched the book 'A Promised Nation Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi- the Maker of New India' written on the life and works of Modi Ji in Braille script.

The book will help people with visual impairment to know about the life journey of Modi Ji and the transformation he has ushered in.

It will also act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2024 is observed every year on 27 January.

The UN General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7 on 01 November  2005, to designate January 27 as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD).

On 27 January 2006, the first commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day was held at the UN Headquartered in New York City.

After that UN Headquarters commemorates this day every year.

While UN offices and other state offices across the world conduct their ceremonies.