18th January, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
PM Unveils Rs. 4,000 Crore Projects In Kochi, Kerala

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated three pivotal infrastructure projects in Kochi, Kerala, signaling a significant stride towards transforming India’s ports, shipping, and waterways sector.
• These projects, collectively worth over Rs 4,000 crore, align with the Prime Minister’s vision to enhance the nation’s maritime capabilities and foster self-sufficiency.
• The inauguration included the unveiling of the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited, a national pride and an engineering marvel. With a length of 310 meters and built at an investment of ₹1799 crores, the NDD is set to accommodate large vessels, including aircraft carriers and other significant ships.
• India’s first fully developed pure ship repair ecosystem, the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF), was also inaugurated. Representing an investment of ₹970 crores, ISRF will add 25% capacity to the country’s ship repair industry.

India To Host Year-long ‘Ramayan’ Festival From Delhi

• India is set to launch a year-long festival, seeking global connections through the celebration of Ramayan and its cultural significance. Coinciding with the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, it marks the commencement of a cultural extravaganza uniting the world through Ramayana.
• The festival is scheduled to commence from Delhi’s historic Purana Qila (Old Fort) on January 18 and will traverse various cities such as Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Varanasi. This marks the beginning of a cultural journey that will delve into the rich tapestry of the epic Ramayana.
• India aims to transcend borders with this festival by involving seven neighboring countries, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Minister of State for Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, mentioned that Indian missions abroad are actively engaging with countries to finalize their participation, ensuring a diverse and inclusive celebration.

PM Modi inaugurated NACIN Campus in Andhra Pradesh

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new campus of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN) at Palasamudram in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Sathya Sai district.
• NACIN, spread over 500 acres, is dedicated to capacity building in indirect taxation and narcotics control administration. This national-level, world-class training institute will train officials from the Indian Revenue Service (Custom & Indirect Taxes), central allied services, state governments, and partner nations.
• The establishment of NACIN in Andhra Pradesh aligns with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. The foundation stone for the facility was laid in 2015, and the academy represents a significant investment in the region’s educational and administrative capabilities.

Fresh Oil Discovery in Krishna-Godavari Basin by ONGC

• The recent announcement by the Indian government regarding a fresh oil discovery in the Krishna-Godavari Basin signifies a major breakthrough in the country’s energy sector. The discovery, led by the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), is located near Kakinada’s coastline in the Bay of Bengal.
• The oil has been extracted from the Krishna Godavari Deep-Water Block 98/2, approximately 30 kilometers off the coast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. This new crude discovery in the Krishna-Godavari Basin is a pivotal moment in India’s energy landscape.
• As of January 2024, four of the 26 wells in the basin are operational, with plans to increase this number significantly.
• India, as the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, heavily relies on global markets for crude oil. This discovery is a significant step towards energy self-reliance and reduces dependency on imported oil.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a merged scheme of 03 Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan ( SCA to SCSP) and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana(BJRCY) and has been implemented since 2021-22 with an aim to reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through Skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives and to improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuringadequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages. Broadly, the Scheme has following three components:
Development of SC dominated villages in to an “AdarshGram”

• ‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs that may include creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages including thoses elected under Adarsh Gram component, construction of Hostels/Residential schools, Comprehensive Livelihood Projects which may include components such as Skill development, related infrastructure development, financial assistance towards loans taken by beneficiaries for acquisition/creation of assets required for livelihood generation etc.
• Construction of Hostels in higher educational institutions which aretop-ranked as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of Government of India and are funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments either fully or partially. Similarly, construction of hostels in schools which are either fully or partially funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments and recommended by the Ministry of Education

 About Adarsh Gram Component {erstwhile Pradhan Mantri AdarshGram Yojana}

• The objective of this component is to ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that, inter alia, there is:
• Adequate infrastructure
• All requisite infrastructures necessary for socio-economic development needs are to be provided under the Scheme.
• Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators.
• The identified socio-economic indicators, known as Monitor able indicators, are to be improved so that the disparity between SC and non-SC population is eliminated and the level of indicators is raised to at least that of the National average. More specifically, all BPL SC families should have food and livelihood security, all SC children

Restructuring of Coal Controller Organisation Underway

• The Coal Controller’s Organization is a subordinate Office of Ministry of Coal, having its offices at Kolkata, Delhi and field Offices at Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur and Kothagudem. The Coal Controller Organisation performs various functions under different statutes/rules to ensure fair production and commercial transactions of coal including quality surveillance.
• In order to align the organization with the current scenario in the coal sector reforms, Ministry of Coal had formed a four member Committee under the Chairmanship of Sh. A.N.Sahay, Ex CMD, MCL/Ex Coal Controller to review the functions of Coal Controller’s Office in November, 2019.
•  The Committee proposed restructuring of Coal Controller Organisation with the aim to regulate the commercial mining, augment domestic coal production to achieve 1 billion Tonnes with zero import.

DoT Takes pro-active measures in preventing cyber frauds

• Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, has taken a pro-active drive to prevent malicious incoming calls and safeguarding cyber crimes and frauds.
• The Department has advised citizen to beware of receiving malicious incoming calls asking them to dial *401# followed by some unknown mobile number.
• This activates unconditional call forwarding received on mobile of citizen to the unknown mobile number. This allows fraudster to receive all incoming calls and can be used for fraud.

The DoT explains how the scamsters  operate and their Modus Operandi:

• The fraudster calls the telecom subscriber and pretends to be a customer service representative or technical support staff from their telecom service provider.
• The fraudster states that either there is a problem with their SIM card or there is some issue related to network or service quality and they need to dial a specific code to fix the problem. This code usually starts with *401# followed by a mobile number.
• After doing so unconditional call forwarding is activated on their mobile number and all incoming calls etc. are forwarded to the fraudster's mobile number.
• The fraudster then receives all incoming calls and can be used for fraud.

Also Read: Weekly Current Affairs (Important Dates) 16-22 December 2023 Bitbank: On which date International Migrants Day 2023 is observed?

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INTERNATIONAL
Switzerland to Host Ukraine Peace Summit on Zelenskiy’s Request

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has secured Switzerland’s agreement to host a global peace summit aimed at resolving the conflict sparked by Russia’s incursion into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Switzerland, known for its neutrality and past mediation roles, will facilitate talks to find a resolution.
• Zelenskiy, during a press conference in Bern alongside Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd, revealed that the peace summit’s participants are yet to be finalized. However, he emphasized the invitation to countries respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, hinting at inclusivity.
• The Kremlin dismissed talks in Davos on Ukraine’s peace proposals, asserting futility without Russian involvement.

Denmark’s King Frederik X Ascends As Queen Margrethe II Steps Down After 52 Years

• Denmark witnessed a historic moment on January 14 as King Frederik X ascended the throne, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after an impressive 52 years as the monarch. The capital brimmed with anticipation and excitement as large crowds gathered to witness this significant event in the nation’s history.
• Queen Margrethe, who had previously expressed her intention to remain on the throne for life, did not provide a specific reason for her decision to step down. However, she mentioned a significant back surgery in February of the previous year, which prompted her to contemplate her future.

Taiwan Elects Pro-Sovereignty William Lai in Historic Election, Further Straining China Ties

• Taiwanese voters have chosen William Lai Ching-te, a pro-sovereignty candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as their president, marking a significant departure from China. Lai, the current vice president, secured an unprecedented third consecutive term for the DPP by defeating his conservative rival, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), by over 900,000 votes.
• Beijing expressed anger over Lai’s victory, labeling him a “dangerous separatist” and emphasizing Taiwan as part of China. China’s military presence around Taiwan has heightened, raising concerns about potential conflict.

Tshering Tobgay Re-Elected As Bhutan’s Prime Minister

• In a significant political development, Bhutanese voters have overwhelmingly chosen Tshering Tobgay as their Prime Minister for a second term. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Mr. Tobgay, secured a landslide victory, winning nearly two-thirds of the seats in the recent election, as announced by the election commission.
• Tshering Tobgay, a former Prime Minister who previously held office from 2013 to 2018, has promised to strengthen ties with India, Bhutan’s key trading partner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Tobgay through a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the victory and expressing his support.
• Tobgay expressed his eagerness to collaborate with India in nurturing and strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

India-US Discuss Maritime Security and Ukraine Conflict in Bilateral Talks

• India and the US held discussions focusing on maritime security challenges, especially the Red Sea region.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Bliken today had a telephone conversation in which the two leaders exchanged perspectives on developments in the Ukraine conflict.
• Dr Jaishankar appreciated Mer Blinken's insights on the ongoing situation in West Asia, including Gaza.
• Dr Jaishankar said, New Delhi is looking forward to realising the extensive India-US cooperation agenda for 2024.

U.S. Designates Countries Including China, North Korea, Pakistan for Religious Freedom Violations

• The United States, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has identified several nations as ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ due to severe violations of religious freedom. This decision aligns with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, emphasizing the commitment to advancing freedom of religion globally.
• China, North Korea, Pakistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Myanmar have been labeled as ‘Countries of Particular Concern.’ Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam are placed on the ‘Special Watch List’ for tolerating severe religious freedom violations.

SPORTS
Praggnanandhaa Surpasses Viswanathan Anand to Become India’s No.1 Chess Player

• Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, an 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, achieved a historic milestone in his career by defeating World Champion Ding Liren from China. This significant victory occurred during the fourth round of the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament held in Wijk aan Zee. Praggnanandhaa’s triumph was notable as he played with black pieces and displayed strategic superiority from the onset of the game​​​​​.
• The win against Ding Liren not only marked a personal victory for Praggnanandhaa but also led him to surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian player. With a FIDE live rating of 2748.3, Praggnanandhaa marginally edged past Anand’s rating of 2748. This achievement places Praggnanandhaa as the second Indian, following Anand, to defeat a reigning world champion in classical chess. He had previously defeated Ding Liren at the Tata Steel tournament in 2023 as well​​​​​.

Divyakriti Singh Becomes 1st Indian Woman Arjuna Awardee for Equestrian Sports

• In a historic moment for Indian sports, the accomplished equestrian athlete, Divyakriti Singh, has been conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award, making her the first woman from Rajasthan to achieve this honour. The award was presented in a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
• The Arjuna Award for Divyakriti Singh holds special significance for her home state of Rajasthan, ending a five-year hiatus for the region in receiving this prestigious honour. As the sole representative from Rajasthan to be honoured this year, she not only brings glory to herself but also puts Rajasthan back on the map of sporting achievements.

TEMPLE SPECIAL
Ayodhya Ram Mandir History, Diwali 2022, Opening date, All you need to know

• Lord Rama, an avatar of the almighty Vishnu, is a popular Hindu deity. Lord Rama was born at Ayodhya, according to the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana.
• The Babri Masjid, a mosque built by the Mughals in the sixteenth century, is thought to be located near the Ram Janmabhoomi, the reputed birthplace of Rama. In the 1850s, a fierce disagreement developed.
• The remains of a Hindu temple were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) between 1978 and 2003.
• A number of historians, according to archaeologist KK Muhammad, have questioned the results.
• Numerous title and legal conflicts also occurred throughout time, leading to the 1993 adoption of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Ordinance, for example.
• It wasn’t until the 2019 Supreme Court ruling on the Ayodhya issue that it was decided the disputed land should be transferred to an Indian government trust established for the purpose of constructing a Ram temple.
• Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra was the final name given to the trust.
• The mosque was given five acres of land in the village of Dhannipur, 22 kilometres away, in the city.
• The Narendra Modi administration stated in the Parliament on February 5, 2020, that it had approved a plan to build the temple.
• It will be opened on 22nd Jan 2024

Published date : 18 Jan 2024 05:03PM