Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 17 & 18 2021
Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 17 & 18 2021. Read and Download daily, monthly Current Affairs Daily Digest 2021 for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI etc,. Download month wise Current affairs 2020 PDF and Current affairs quiz PDF .
1. India supplies two Mobile Harbour Cranes to strengthen cargo handling capacity of Iran’s Chabahar Port
The Indian government has supplied a consignment of two Mobile Harbour Cranes- MHC to Chabahar Port in Iran. The total contract value of the consignment is over USD 25 million under a agreement signed for the supply of 6 MHC.
2. National Road Safety Month inaugurated by Defence Minister
The National Road Safety Month was inaugurated today by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at an inaugural function in New Delhi.
The National Road Safety Month will be observed to spread awareness regarding road safety and reduce road accidents in India.
3. PM Modi becomes President of Somnath Temple Trust
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the President of Somnath Temple Trust, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet on Tuesday. “I’m confident that the trust, headed by Modiji, will further enhance the dignity and grandeur of the Somnath temple,” he added. “Modiji’s dedication to the development of Somnath shrine area has been amazing,” Shah tweeted.
4. PM Modi launches Rs 1,000-crore ‘Startup India Seed Fund’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Rs 1,000-crore ‘Startup India Seed Fund’ on 16 January 2021, while addressing the ‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’ 2021. This initiative will help in setting up new startups and promote their growth.
5. NDRF Celebrates its 16th Raising Day
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 16th Raising Day on 18th January. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a specialized multi-skilled, humanitarian force of the country, came into existence on January 19th, 2006 has been playing a vital role in Disaster Management and Community awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the country.
6. Legendary classical musician Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan passes away
Legendary Indian classical musician and Padma Vibhushan awardee Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan passed away. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, the Padma Bhusan in 2006, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2018.
7. Ramchandra Guha’s latest book ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket’
Ramchandra Guha’s latest book ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket’ would be launching virtually in the Tata Literature Live (The Mumbai Lit fest) this month. His latest book juxtaposes his life with his abiding love for the game & this conversation could not come at a better time with India and Australia in the midst of an enthralling test series.
8. India’s first COVID-19 Vaccine recipient is Manish Kumar
Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker in Delhi, became the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in India after PM Modi flagged off the nationwide vaccination drive on 16 January 2021. Manish Kumar was given the injection at AIIMS in Delhi while Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was also present.
9. Biswajit Chatterjee conferred ‘Indian Personality of the Year’ award at IFFI
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar announced veteran actor, director and singer Biswajit Chatterjee as the recipient of the ‘Indian Personality of the Year’ award. The 84-year-old actor is known for featuring in films like “Bees Saal Baad”, “Night In London” and “April Fool”.
10. Pakistan Permits Dubai Royals to Hunt ‘Houbara bustard’
Pakistan has issued special permission to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Dubai Ruler; the crown prince, and 5 members of the royal family for hunting houbara bustard during the 2020-21 hunting season.
11. Kerala Governor launches ‘One School One IAS’ scheme
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has inaugurated the ‘OneSchool One IAS’ scheme which has been rolled out under the Vedhik Erudite Foundations Scholarship Programme. According to a notification released an institution considered by top academics and retired IAS and IPS officers in the state is conducting the programme which seeks to refute the general notion that the civil service is for the elite class only.
12. US designates UAE, Bahrain as ‘Major Strategic Partners’
The United States has recently designated the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the “major strategic partners” of the country. This has been announced before the formal transition of the president’s office from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. This announcement of “major strategic partners” was done by Kayleigh McEnany, the White House Press Secretary.
13. NASA targets final test of ‘world’s most powerful rocket’
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking to carry out the eighth and final test in its “Green Run” test series. This eighth stage termed “hot fire,” will bring to an end a series of tests which, NASA says, will gradually bring together the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) to life for the very first time.
14. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw selected as one of USIBC vice-chair
The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has selected three top corporate leaders as the Vice-Chairs of 2021 Global Board of Directors of USIBC with immediate effect. The three new appointees will now work with USIBC President Nisha Biswal and the Council’s policy directors, for strengthening US-India commercial relationship for the future.
