Current Affairs January 16, 2019
In this post, GKToday presents Current Affairs of January 16, 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 71st Army Day is celebrated across the country on 15th January 2019 to commemorate the day when Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera M. Carriappa (C-in-C) took over the command of Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence. KM Cariappa is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of field marshal; the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. The day also remembers the glory of Indian Army and to salute the valiant soldiers, who have sacrificed their lives for the Nation.
2. The United States has launched a new innovation initiative titled 'Fair Value for Innovation' at the 4th edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. The initiative was launched by the Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of United States Chamber of Commerce. It will examine economic underpinnings that would enable breakthrough innovation, and explore how policymakers can harness innovation capital in India and around the globe through research, advocacy, partnerships, and programs.
3. Bengaluru Raptors have won their first-ever Premier Badminton League (PBL) title at Bengaluru on 13th January 2019. In the title clash played, Bengaluru edged out Mumbai Rockets, with a 4-3 win. Star player Kidambi Srikanth, Vu Ji Trang and the Men's Doubles pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Satiawan won their matches for Bengaluru guiding them to victory.
4. Shakil Ahmed, who is Asian Cup gold medallist and noted oarsman, has set up a world record in indoor rowing by completing one lakh metres in above-40 years category in Kolkata. A FISA level one coach, Shakil began his record-setting indoor rowing feat in Salt Lake stadium complex at 8 am on 13 January 2019 and achieved the milestone of covering 1,00,000 metres of simulated distance in 10 hours. He also has the record of completing 50,000 metres of simulated rowing in four hours and 13 minutes which is already in the Limca Record Book.
5. In Maharashtra, the 9th International Micro Irrigation Conference (IMIC) will be held at Aurangabad on 16th January 2019 with theme "Micro Irrigation in Modern Agriculture”. The 3-day event will be a multi-disciplinary dialogue in the form of a conference discussing issues related to micro irrigation for modern agriculture and various related issues like new techniques in micro irrigation for increased crop productivity, micro irrigation in cluster level farming etc. The conference is being organized by the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in association with International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Indian National Committee on Surface Water (INCSW) and WAPCOS Limited, a CPSE under the Union Ministry. The event will aim to address problems of developing as well as developed nations in the context of present-day challenges.
6. On 15th January 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the 13 km, 2 lane Kollam bypass on NH-66 in Kerala. Constructed at a cost of Rs 352 core, this highway has three major bridges over Ashtamudi Lake. The Kollam bypass project will ease traffic congestion around Kollam town and reduce the travel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. The importance of the Kollam bypass is, it touches 3 major National Highways - NH 66, NH 183 and NH 744 - passing through the state of Kerala. Some of the landmark ongoing National Highways projects in the state include the Thiruvananthapuram Bypass, Thalassery-Mahe Bypass, Kuthiran Tunnel along Wadakkanchery –Thrissur section of NH-544, Alappuzha bypass on NH66. These projects, on completion, will create new socio- economic opportunities for the people and boost trade and tourism in this region.
7. On 13th January, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the India’s largest startup ecosystem -named as ‘Integrated Startup Complex (ISC)’ - with a 1,000-seat capacity in Kalamassery, Kochi. The 8-floor facility, which is spread across 1.82 lakh sqft area, is set up by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM). The ISC houses ultra modern facilities of Maker Village that promotes hardware startups, Bionest that promotes medical technologies, BRINC which is the country’s first international accelerator for hardware startups, BRIC which is country’s first cancer technology incubator developing solutions for cancer diagnosis and care, and a Centre of Excellence set up by industry majors. The Kochi facility has beaten the status of Jaipur-based Bhamashah Techno Hub, as South Asia’s largest startup hub. In future, it will beat Station-F of Paris to emerge as the world’s biggest technology hub after its full expansion in 13 acres. It is built to provide top quality infrastructure for incubation and acceleration for the state’s startups.
8. Puducherry government has decided to impose a ban on the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic products in the Union Territory from 1st March 2019. The massive drive would also be launched to create awareness among the merchants and the public on the necessity of the ban. The decision has been taken to keep the environment clean. The ban on non-biodegradable bags will open up a new market for canvas/cotton, denim and jute bags. Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had announced ban on manufacture, sales, storage and usage of disposable plastic on 2018 World Environment Day (WED), with effect from 1st January 2019. Beside this, in March 2018, the Maharashtra Government also issued a notification imposing a ban on manufacture, use, sale, and distribution of all plastic materials like bags, spoons, Disposable utensils.
9. Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the first-ever Global Aviation Summit (GAS-2019) in Mumbai on January 15. The two-day summit, with a theme 'Flying for all-especially the next 6 Billion', is being organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation in association with FICCI. It offers stakeholders an opportunity to explore, deliberate and understand how technology-driven innovations will change air travel in the decades to come. The event will host experts and CEOs from Global Aviation Fraternity emphasizing upon the latest trends, futuristic aircraft and cutting-edge technologies. It also gives the opportunity to highlight latest concepts like drones, air taxis, volocopters, new jets and ultra-light aerial electric vehicles etc. It will also entail discussions on airports of future, innovations, safety & security, financing & leasing, sustainability and growth drivers - cargo, logistics.
10. Lenin Rajendran (67), an eminent Malayalam filmmaker and chairman of the Kerala Film Development Corporation (KFDC), has passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 14th of January 2019. Known for his unique style of filmmaking, Rajendran had entered tinsel town by directing the movie 'Venal' during the early 1980s. A multiple state award winner, Rajendran helmed a number of critically acclaimed movies including "Swathi Thirunal", "Daivathinte Vikrithikal", "Mazha", "Kulam" and "Idavapathi".
