January 16th, 2018
1.The Indo-US joint military exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Seattle, US.
- In this edition of bilateral exercise, Indian Army team from the Pune-headquartered Southern Command will participate. The exercise will mainly focus on special operations in urban areas.
- The aim of the exercise is to promote military relations between the two countries by enhancing interoperability and mutual exchange of tactics between Special Forces.
- The objectives of the joint training are to share the best practices between the two armies and to develop joint strategies by sharing the expertise of conducting operations in a counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment while capitalizing on the rich repository of experiences of each other armies.
2.The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (IWDRI).
- The two-day workshop is being organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
- Underlining the importance of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Shri Rajnath Singh said that it creates opportunities for economic growth and is at the core of sustainable development.
- Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba was also present during the inaugural session.
3.India and Sri Lanka signed four agreements for collaboration in Information and communication technology (ICT) sector between both countries.
- The MoU for cooperation was signed by Union minister for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad with his Sri Lankan counterpart in Colombo.
- Both the countries signed a MoU for enhancing cooperation between them in the IT sector, cybersecurity and eGovernance.
- Static Part: Srilanka:-Capitals-Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte|Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee|Prime minister-Ranil Wickremesinghe|President-Maithripala Sirisena.
4. Punjab government inks Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd for setting up of biogas and bio-CNG plants in the state.
- The MOU with IOC was signed by Punjab Bureau of Industrial Promotion and Punjab Energy Development Agency in presence of Punjab CM Amarinder Singh.
- Around 42 plants will become operational in 2018.
- Static Part: IOC:- Headquarters- New Delhi|Chairman-Mr. Sanjiv Singh.
5. Indian peacekeepers rebuild Akoka bridge in record time in South Sudan.
Indian peacekeepers in UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have re-built a key bridge in record time in strife-torn South Sudan’s Akoka village.- In June 2017, heavy rains washed away a 300-meter-long road segment across a river in Akoka village.
- Indian Peacekeepers rebuilt it in record 10 days in collaboration with the local government.
- Static Part: South Sudan:- Capital-Juba|Currency-pound|President-Salva Kiir Mayardit.
6. Market regulator Sebi has approved the appointment of Vijay Kumar as Managing Director and CEO of National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX).
- Kumar, a former chief business officer at NCDEX, is likely to assume the office next week. The exchanges selection committee had picked his name for the MD and CEOs post from a list of 11 candidates.
- He is an agro-industry veteran, having worked for Cargill and National Bulk Handling Corporation.
- Static Part: NCDEX:- CEO- Samir Shah |Headquarters- Mumbai.
7.Indian actress Charu Rohatgi passes away.
- Charu Rohatgi, in a best known for her role as Parineeti Chopra’s mother in Ishaqzaade movie and TV show in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon.
- Parineeti Chopra took to Twitter to pay her homage to Charu Rohatgi.
8. Shirdi Ke Sai Baba actor Actor Sudhir Dalvi gets Janakavi P Sawlaram award.
- Actor Sudhir Dalvi was honoured with the Janakavi P Sawlaram award at a function in Thane, Maharashtra.
- The award is jointly given by the Thane Municipal Corporation and the Janakavi P Savlaram Kala Samiti.
9. ‘Khelo India’ Anthem launched by Union Sports minister Mr.Rajyavardhan Rathore.
- Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore unveiled the mascots (Vijay the tiger and Jaya the black buck) and launched the anthem (“Aur khelna chahte hain hum…Khel mein hi masti hai….khel se abaad honge hum”) which aims to focus on brotherhood, equality, and solidarity in sports at a ceremony in Delhi.
- Earlier, the Union Govt. has approved Rs 1,756 crore for a period of three years, revamping of ‘Khelo India’.
- Static Part: Constituency of Rajyavardhan Rathore- Jaipur (Rural), Rajasthan.
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