Current Affairs : January 13-14, 2012

Government permits to prosecute 21 social networking sites

• The Government grants sanction to prosecute 21 social networking sites for allegedly promoting enmity between classes and causing prejudice to national integration.
• Department of Information Technology, in its report, tells a Delhi court that there is sufficient material to proceed against them.
• The sites which may be prosecuted include Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.

Higher Acreage of Wheat reported

• As per the data released by the agriculture ministry, over 284 lakh hectare area have been brought under wheat cultivation across the country so far in this year under Rabi Crop season.
• This cultivated area is about 80 thousand hectare more than last year during the same period.
• The higher acreage for wheat cultivation has been reported in Madhya Pradesh followed by Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar.

13 Somali Pirates captured in Indian Ocean

• The British Navy captures 13 Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.
• As per the information released by British Ministry of Defence, RFA Fort Victoria and a US Navy vessel intercepted the pirates' boat, which had refused to stop despite warning shots from a Royal Navy helicopter.

Abhinav Bindra bags gold in 12th Asian Shooting Championships

• India's ace shooter Abhinav Bindra bags a Gold medal in the Men's 10-metre Air Rifle event at the 12th Asian Shooting Championships in Doha.

Rs. 70 Crore sanctioned to BRO

• The central Government sanctions Rs. 70 Crore to Border Roads Organisation for strengthening the road infrastructure in Sikkim.
• The projects include widening of National Highway 31-A, the only road connecting this landlocked State to the rest of the country via Siliguri in West Bengal, at a cost of fifty one crore rupees. It also includes strengthening pavements between Ranipool and Gangtok, along the National Highway.

Shaurya Diwas observed

• 'Shaurya Diwas' function was organized to commemorate the 251st anniversary of the third battle of Panipat.
• Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat between the forces of the Maratha Empire and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh.
• The defeat of the Maratha army in this empire led to a clear path of colonization for the British.
• President of India recalls the supreme sacrifices made by the Marathas in the battle and says that this will always inspire us to safeguard our borders.

Makarsakranti celebrated

• Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival, celebrated in different parts of the country with traditional fervour and enthusiasm.
• The festival is known by various names in different states. It is known as Bhogali Bihu in Assam and West Bengal, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Uttarayan in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• In Uttar Pradesh, devotees gather at Prayag Sangam in Allahabad to take a holy dip in the river Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
• In Assam, Bhogali Bihu, popularly known as the Magh Bihu was celebrated as part of Makar Sankranti. In Kerala, the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala is celebrates the Makaravilakku festival.
• Lohri celebrated with special significance in Punjab. Farmers celebrate Lohri to get a good yield of wheat crop.