January 2020 Persons in News

Sakshi Education

RBI appoints Executive Director Janak Raj as member of MPC
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed its Executive Director Janak Raj as member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 29th January, 2020, the highest interest rate setting body.

The Monetary Policy Committee takes decisions based on majority vote. Each member has one vote but the RBI Governor gets a casting vote in case of a tie.

Raj replaces M D Patra, who was recently elevated as Deputy Governor of the RBI.

The decision to appoint Janak Raj was taken at the 581st meeting of the central board held in Mumbai. The MPC is headed by the RBI Governor.
Government appoints M Ajit Kumar as chairman of CBIC
The government on 30 January, 2020 appointed M Ajit Kumar as chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. The appointment comes just two days before the Union Budget presentation. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment," said an official release.
Tunisia: Former FM Elyes Fakhfakh named PM-designate
Tunisia's President Kais Saied has named former Finance Minister Elyes Fakhfakh as Prime Minister-designate.

He will now face the difficult task of forming a cabinet within a month.

Fakhfakh's proposal will have to gain the approval of a divided parliament, which this month rejected an earlier attempt to form a government.
Iranian Olympic medalist Kimia Alizadeh announces her defection
Iran’s Olympic medalist, Kimia Alizadeh announces that she is leaving the country. Alizadeh is the only woman from Iran to have won the Olympic medal.

She made history at the Rio Olympics in 2016, when she won the bronze medal for her country in Taekwondo.

Her defection comes at a time when Iran is gripped in the protest for accidental downing of the Ukrainian airline with 176 passengers on board.

Alizadeh did not announce any future plans or the country which she has gone to, but she said that she will remain the daughter of Iran.
Harish Salve appointed Queen's Counsel for courts of England & Wales
Senior Advocate Harish Salve has been appointed the Queen's Counsel for the courts of England and Wales. This was announced by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Justice Department.

The title of Queen's Counsel is usually awarded to lawyers possessing demonstrated skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy. The appointment is done by the Queen, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor. He is advised by an independent Selection Panel which makes recommendations.

Advocate Salve served as a Solicitor General for India until 2002. He is known for representing India before the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav extradition case.
Srilankan President appoints high-powered commission to probe alleged political victimization of previous government
Srilankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a Presidential Commission of enquiry to probe alleged political victimization that took place during previous regime from 2015 to 2019. A gazette issued in this regard last evening appointed retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne as its chairman.

The Commission has been empowered to look into the alleged political revenge on government officials, employees of state corporations, members of the armed forces and the police during the period from January 8, 2015 to November 16, 2019. Maithripala Sirisena was the President and Ranil Wickremesinghe served as Prime minister during the period. Another commission has been appointed to probe into working of a private investment company. The previous regime has constituted several independent commissions to probe into criminal and financial activities which the Rajapaksas had termed tools for political witch-hunt. The working of these commissions have come under scanner following change of government after Presidential elections held in November 2019.
Ratan Tata: Top Googled business tycoon
Ratan Tata has emerged as India's most searched business tycoon on Google in 2019.

Google has released a 'Year in Search 2019' report which shows who or what was trending on the world's largest search engine during the year in India.

The most searched personality was Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot Abhinanadan Varthaman, who was held captive by Pakistan for 60 hours.
Hemant Soren: 11th CM of Jharkhand
Hemant Soren took oath as the 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Governor Draupadi Murmu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Soren at Morhabadi grounds in Ranchi on 29 Dec 2019.

Dr Rameshwar Oraon and former Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Alamgir Alam from Congress party and RJD legislator Satyanand Bhokta also took oath as Cabinet Ministers during the swearing-in ceremony.
General Bipin Rawat appointed first Chief of Defence Staff
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has been named the country's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

CDS will function as a single-point advisor to the government on matters related to the military and will focus on better synergy between the Army, Air Force and the Navy.

General Rawat will retire as Army Chief.

The defence ministry had recently amended the army, air force and navy rules by bringing in a new clause that allows the Chief of Defence Staff to serve upto a maximum age of 65 years.

The Chief of Defence Staff will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.

The Chief of Defence Staff, apart from being the head of the Department of Military Affairs, will also be the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

He will act as the Principal Military Adviser to Defence Minister on all tri-Services matters.

The three Chiefs will continue to advise Defence Minister on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services.

CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.

CDS will also bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services aimed at augmenting combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster has congratulated General Bipin Rawat for being appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff.
Hillary Clinton appointed as new chancellor of Queen's University Belfast in Ireland
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been appointed the new chancellor of Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland.

Clinton, who has been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland going back to the first visit of President Bill Clinton in 1995, becomes the university's first female chancellor.

She will serve as chancellor for a five-year term, The Irish Times reported after quoting a statement issued by the varsity.

The position of chancellor has been vacant since the death in 2018 of Thomas J Moran, chairman, president, and chief executive of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company.