Current Affairs January 14-15, 2019

In this post, GKToday presents Current Affairs of January 14-15, 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. The Gujarat Government has recently announced that the benefits of 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of general category in educational institutions and government jobs will be applicable from 14th January 2019 midnight. It is clarified that the eligibility of the new quota will be applicable only for which the announcement for jobs and admissions have been made but the process has not yet begun. In such cases, the ongoing process will be suspended for time being and fresh process will begin after incorporating the 10% additional quota. However, it is pertinent to mention here that the benefits of the fresh quota will not be applicable for which the process had begun before January 14, 2019, like for which the process of written, oral, computer proficiency or preliminary tests have already been conducted. The Centre had taken the decision under Article 46 of Guiding Principles of Constitution of India after Amendment of the Articles 15 and 16, incorporating 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections.

2. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has drafted a five-year action plan to address the problem of drug and substance abuse in the country. The aim of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (for 2018 to 2023) is to employ a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue. It involves education, de-addiction and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families. The plan focuses on preventive education, awareness generation, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of drug-dependent people, besides training and capacity-building of service providers through collaborative efforts of the Centre, state and NGOs. Plans are also afoot for awareness generation through social, print, digital and online media, and engagement of celebrities, besides strengthening the national tollfree helpline for drug prevention. The move comes after the Ministry withdrew the draft National Drug Demand Reduction Policy from the Cabinet. It had been pending for more than five-and-half years and was redrafted twice during the period.

3. On January 14, the first-ever Annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship Programme has started at the Foreign Services Institute in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by the United Nations under-secretary-general and high representative for disarmament affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and foreign secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale. Young Diplomats from 27 countries are participating in the Fellowship Programme, which will continue till 1st of Feb 2019. The purpose of the programme is to equip participants with knowledge and perspectives on various issues related to disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control and international security. The Programme covers a range of issues relevant to disarmament and international security such as global security environment, weapons of mass destruction, certain conventional weapons, space security, maritime cooperation, security of cyberspace, export controls, emerging technologies etc.

4. The 352nd birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh has recently celebrated as Prakash Utsav with religious fervour and gaiety in various parts of the country. The main function is organised at Takhat Sri Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara, Patna Sahib, where thousands of pilgrims across the globe are offering prayers. Born at Patna Sahib in Bihar on 5th January 1666, Guru Govind Singh was the 10th Sikh guru. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh as leader of Sikhs at the age of just nine. The 10th Sikh Guru was a spiritual leader, philosopher, poet and master warrior. He is considered as the eternal guru by his followers because of his contribution to Sikhism. He founded the Sikh warrior community called 'Khalsa Panth' at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, and introduced the Five Ks, the five articles of faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times.

5. The Andaman and Nicobar Command is the first and only Tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The archipelago is straddled strategically near the mouth of the Malacca Straits which is an important Sea Lane of Communication used by the navies of several countries. Recently, it is in news because Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman witnessed a joint military drill involving the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, the Navy and the Indian Coast Guard in the A&N Islands on January 14. In her 2-day visit to Islands, she will also witness three exercises - general survival exercise, amphibious drill and a joint drill.

6. National award-winning filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the West Bengal Film Journalists Association (WBFJA). The award is in the name of the late Satyajit Ray. He was awarded the award in the third edition of the 'Cinemar Samabartan' ceremony on January13, 2019. Dasgupta is a big name in the parallel cinema. He is known for his political films like "Dooratwa" (Distance) and "Grihajuddha" (Crossroads). As a director, he has won the National Film Award for Best Direction twice, for "Uttara" (2000) and "Swapner Din" (2005).

7. The first edition of Bhopal Literature and Art Festival (BLF) was held at the Multi Art Centre of the Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from January 12 to 14, 2019. The festival is a brainchild of former bureaucrat Raghav Chandra. over 70 writers and artists participated in the literary event. In it, Namita Gokhale has won the Sushila Devi Literature Award for her novel "Things to Leave Behind". She was awarded in the 'Best Book of Fiction Written by a Woman Author' category. The newly-instituted award recognizes the best work of fiction by a woman author and comes with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.

8. Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has recently launched 'One Family, One Job' scheme which entitles one government job for every family in the state. Though, the employment will be awarded only to members of those families which do not have a government job at present. As per scheme, CM Chamling handed over appointment letters to over 12,000 unemployed youths at a "Rojgar Mela" (employment fair) at the Paljor stadium, Gangtok. The task of providing employment was entrusted to the Department of Personnel. He also declared that all loan debts in the farming and agriculture sector would be revoked. As of now, the state government has over 1 lakh regularised employees on its rolls from a population of just 6.4 lakh. Sikkim is the only state in the country that gives the highest salaries to state government employees.

9. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi will head the 7-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into the revenue shortfall being faced by states following the roll out of Goods and Services Tax (GST). The GST Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, had decided to set up the GoM at its meeting on 22nd December 2018. As per a GST Council notification, the committee will suggest steps for augmenting collections. It will undertake data analysis and suggest measures for course correction. Several states, including Bihar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha and Gujarat are facing revenue shortfall.The states have faced revenue shortfall in the range of 14 to 37% in the April to November period. Among the Union Territories, Puducherry is facing maximum shortfall of 43%. Of the 29 states, only Andhra Pradesh and five north eastern states -- Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim and Nagaland -- have recorded revenue increase post the GST roll out.

10. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award in New Delhi for his outstanding leadership for the nation. According to the award citation , under his leadership, India is now identified as the centre for innovation and value added manufacturing (Make in India), as well as a global hub for professional services such as information technology, accounting and finance. The Award focuses on the triple bottom-line of People, Profit and Planet. It will be offered annually to the leader of a Nation. Prof. Philip Kotler is a world renowned Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.


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