Current Affairs January 08, 2019
In this post, GKToday presents Current Affairs of January 08, 2019 in Short Notes form for preparation of IBPS, Banking, CLAT, SSC, Railway, UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC, TNPSC, MPSC, KPSC and all other competitive examinations of India.
1. Jehan Daruvala of Sahara Force India Academy has become the first Indian driver to win in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Race 3 at the Nuremberg circuit on July 2, 2017. Jehan's victory in race 3 comes 18 years after Narain Karthikeyan won in the British F3 Championship. The 2.3-km Norisring is an extremely fast and flowing layout for a street circuit and mistakes are punished by the concrete walls instead of tyre barriers. FIA Formula 3 is the toughest junior racing category in the world.
2. The North Central Railway (NCR) has launched a 'Rail Kumbh Seva Mobile App' to help people navigate through Prayagraj city during Kumbh Mela starting from January 15. The app will also provide information regarding all the 'Mela special' trains that will be run during the period. Additionally, the app will provide a link to the user to buy both unreserved and reserved train tickets. Mr Malviya said, through this app, the users will not only get to know their current location, but will also be able to reach to all railway stations, the mela zone, major hotels, bus stations and other facilities within Prayagraj. A photo gallery, containing pictures of previous Kumbh Melas can also be accessed through the app.
3. Andhra Pradesh has topped the 2018 Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Index of Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI). The ACI team, led by Tan Khee Giap, mentioned that despite Andhra Pradesh's excellent performance in ACI's EDB Index, the government needs to bridge numerous institutional and infrastructural gaps in order to sustain its position in the future. The index ranked economies of 21 states of India. In it, Maharashtra acquired 2nd position, while Delhi came in third place, respectively. The EDB index is based upon three parameters called ABC - Attractiveness to Investors, Business Friendliness and Competitiveness Policies.
4. Former liquor baron Vijay Mallya has become the first Indian businessman to be declared a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) under the newly enacted Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018 by the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai. The tag now allows the government to confiscate and sold his properties in alleged Rs. 9,000 crore loan default case in India. According to the new law, a FEO is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for his or her involvement in economic offences involving at least Rs. 100 crore or more and has left India to avoid prosecution. Mallya has been accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering and had left India in March 2016. Mallya currently facing extradition from the United Kingdom after a Westminster Magistrates Court in London ordered his return to India to face fraud charges resulting from the collapse of his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. However, the ruling has been challenged in the High Court in the UK.
5. Egypt has recently opened West Asia's largest cathedral in its New Administrative Capital, 45km east of Cairo. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated the newly-built Cathedral of Nativity and a mosque on the eve of Coptic Christmas in a symbolic message of tolerance in the predominantly Muslim nation. The newly built Al-Fattah Al-Aleem Mosque will be able to accommodate almost twice that of the cathedral, both of which are located in the major development that is the new administrative capital.
6. Lady Head constable Rani of 5th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) of Himachal Pradesh Police won a Gold medal in 78 kg category in the Senior National Women's Judo Championship at Visakhapatnam on January 7, 2019. Rani was also declared the best Judoka at the Championship.
7. The 27th New Delhi World Book Fair has started at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on January 5 with theme “Readers with Special Needs”. The All India Radio (AIR) is the radio partner for book fair. Over 20 countries including Canada, China, Sri Lanka, and the US are participating in the book fair. More than 600 publishers from across the country are participating in the event. The book fair focuses on Readers with Special Needs, to promote the idea of inclusive learning through a series of exhibitions. The timing of the fair is from 11 am to 8 pm and tickets are available at 50 metro stations. The cost of the entry tickets is 30 rupees for adults and 20 rupees for children. There will be free entry for students in school uniform and senior citizens.
8. As part of the Mission Shakti scheme, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has recently announced interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 lakh for Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) in the state. The initiative would benefit around 70 lakh women associated with six lakh SHGs. He also distributed financial assistance of Rs 3,000 each to six lakh WSHGs as part the state government's efforts to digitally empower women. In a bid to strengthen the programme, the Odisha government has also decided to build ‘Mission Shakti Home’ in each gram panchayat across the state. Besides, the Odisha Chief Minister also announced incentives of Rs 500 per month for anganwadi workers and Rs. 200 for helpers.
9. Veteran journalist Dinu Randive (93) has been conferred with the lifetime achievement award by the Mantralaya and Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh, an association of journalists covering Maharashtra legislature and secretariat. Mr Randive started his journalistic career in 1956. He also participated in the freedom struggle, the Sanyukta Maharashtra movement and the Goa liberation movement. Award winners in other categories included Vishwas Waghmode, Mahesh Tiwari and Prajakta Pol.
10. On 2nd January 2019, the Haryana government approved 11 projects for the rejuvenation of the mythical Saraswati river. The purpose of the projects is to revive the ancient Sarasvati river in the state and ensure regular flow of fresh water into it. These include the construction of Somb Saraswati barrage, Saraswati reservoir and Adi Badri dam on Somb river, a tributary of the Yamuna that originates in the Shivalik Hills. The projects were approved at a meeting of the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) chaired by the chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The board also approved construction of bridges at different locations and a Saraswati ghat. The construction of Somb Saraswati barrage and Saraswati reservoir would enable the storage of 1,000 hectare metres of water. The Haryana plan also involves interlinking of the Markanda river with what is said to be the course of the Saraswati through the Kainthla supply channel.
