Current Affairs: January 15, 2012

137 foundation day of Indian Metrological Department observed

  • In the year 1875, the Government of India established the India Meteorological Department, bringing all meteorological work in the country under a central authority.
  • Mr. H. F. Blanford was appointed Meteorological Reporter to the Government of India.
  • The first Director General of Observatories was Sir John Eliot who was appointed in May 1889 at Calcutta headquarters.
  • The headquarters of IMD were later shifted to Shimla, then to Poona (now Pune) and finally to New Delhi.
  • 137 foundation day of Indian Metrological Department observed on 15 January 2012.

15th Round of Indo-China Border Talks begins in New Delhi

  • Special Representatives from India and China meet in New Delhi from January 16 for the fifteenth round of border talks.
  • India and China have already concluded an agreement on political parameters and guiding principles to address the border issue in 2005.
  • In addition to the India-China boundary issue discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest are expected to be held in the two day deliberations.
  • India is represented by National Security Adviser, Shivshankar Menon.
  • China represented by State Councillor and special representative Dai Bingguo.

Bhogali Bihu festival celebrated in Assam

  • Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is a harvest festival and marks the end of harvesting season.
  • The festival celebrates in Assam with traditional pomp and gaiety on 15 January, coinciding with Makara Sankranti.
  • People exchanged greetings, bid adieu to the winter season and welcome the religious month of Magh.

Pongal celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Other parts of South India

  • Pongal celebrated with traditional fervour in Tamil Nadu and other parts of southern India.
  • In Sri Lanka, the Hindus celebrated Thaipongal on this day, the occasion signifies beginning of the month of Thai.

Makaravilakku festival celebrated in Kerala

  • Thousands of pilgrims thronged the famous Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala for the makaravilakku festival.
  • Pilgrims flock here every year for darshan of Lord Ayyappa on the most auspicious makarasankranti day.

Ma Ying-jeou re-elected president of Taiwan

  • Ma Ying-jeou has been re-elected as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for a four year term.
  • Ma had previously won the presidency by 58.45% of the popular vote in the presidential election of 2008, and has been recently re-elected in 2012 with 51.5% of the vote.

Australia wins Test Series

  • Hosts Australia wins the 4-match Test series against India, with the MS Dhoni led side losing the third cricket test at Perth by an innings and 37 runs.
  • The latest defeat was India’s seventh consecutive defeat on international soil.
  • The latest defeat was also the second straight innings defeat in the tournament.

Moiben Laban wins Mumbai Marathon 2012

  • Kenya’s Moiben Laban wins the Full Marathon category of the Mumbai Marathon 2012.
  • Moiben accomplished the target in 2 hours and 11 minutes.
  • India’s Ram Singh Yadav won the race among the Indian contenders qualifying for the London Olympics.
  • Netsanet Abeyo from Ethiopia has won in the women’s Marathon.
  • Indians Soji Mathew and Priyanka Singh were the winners of the half marathon in the men and women’s category.
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3 Comments

  1. sharatnair77

    January 18, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    Thank you sir.

  2. ashutosh.hind

    January 24, 2012 at 12:23 am

    I am loving this site..thanks for making such a good interface and interlinking..nice work
    –Ashutosh
    Soft. Engg(worked at Adobe Sys.)

  3. ali

    January 31, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    thanks sir for this

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