National News
1. National Immunization Day was observed on 19 January
National Immunization Day was observed on 19 January 2020. The day was aimed to maintain the NO POLIO status of the country. On this day, a nationwide programme to administer polio drops to children below 5 years was organized throughout the country.
The Pulse Polio programme ensures to protect children from polio disease and aims to eliminate poliomyelitis in India.President Ram Nath Kovind launched the Pulse Polio Programme 2020 and administered Polio drops to children below the age of 5 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
The immunization programme will be held for the next two days to cover all the left out children by the door to door visit.Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Poliovirus. It attacks the nervous system. Children less than 5 years are more likely to contract the virus than any other group. Poliovirus spreads by food or water containing human faeces and less commonly from infected saliva. Vaccination is provided to all children under the age of five years to fight polio.
2. Startup India Tableau in Republic Day 2020
Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry will showcase a tableau on Startup India in this year’s Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi. The tableau on the theme Startups: Reach for the Sky will showcase stages of the lifecycle of a startup and the all-round support provided by the Government in this journey. The tableau will depict how ideas come to life and how the innovations that emerge positively affect lives of the citizens of India.
The Startup India Action Plan, launched on 16th of January 2016, has stirred entrepreneurial spirit across the country. Under the Startup India Scheme, eligible companies can get recognized as startups by DPIIT in order to access a host of tax benefits, easier compliance, IPR fast tracking and other benefits. More than 26,000 startups from 551 districts of 28 States and 7 Union Territories have been recognized in this period.
3. UP govt approves Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the implementation of 'Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana'.Under this scheme, assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to the dependents of a farmer, who dies or becomes divyang, due to an accident and if their age at the time of the accident is between 18 years and 70 years.The scheme is fully funded by the Uttar Pradesh government and will be extended through the District Magistrate.The scheme can be availed by filling an application form within 45 days of the farmer's death or becoming divyang. If the deceased or divyang is having insurance under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana or any other scheme provided by the government, then the amount to be provided to the beneficiary under Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana will be adjusted accordingly.According to UP Chief Minister's Office (CMO), if the amount given to the beneficiary exceeds Rs 5 lakh under the above mentioned schemes then no amount will be extended under Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana.
4. Andhra Pradesh cabinet clears proposal for three capitals, bill introduced in assembly amid protest
The Jaganmohan Reddy government introduced the bill in Andhra Pradesh Assembly to have three capitals in the state. The cabinet, eariler in the morning, had approved the three-capital proposal during its meeting at the state secretariat, chaired by CM Reddy.
The AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, also provides for dividing the state into various zones and establishing zonal planning and development boards.
The Legislature will essentially deliberate the report of the High-Powered Committee of ministers and bureaucrats on "decentralised development" and take a call on various related issues, including the location of the state capital.
The HPC relied on the recommendations made by the six-member committee of experts and also the Boston Consulting Group, besides the Sivaramakrishnan Committee, while coming out with its own set of suggestions.
5. PM to jointly inaugurate the second Integrated Check Post at Jogbani-Biratnagar
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will jointly inaugurate the second Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Jogbani-Biratnagar with Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri K.P. Oli. The second Integrated Check Post at Jogbani-Biratnag is built with Indian assistance to facilitate trade and people’s movement across India-Nepal border.
Both Prime Ministers will also witness the remarkable progress in Government of India assisted post-earthquake housing reconstruction projects in Nepal. Out of GoI’s commitment to build 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, 45,000 have already been completed.
6. One Nation One Ration Card Scheme to be implemented across India from 1st June
One Nation One Ration Card Scheme will be implemented across India from June 1, 2020, as per the announcement made by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan. The all-India roll-out of the scheme has been preponed from its original date of 30th June to 1st June.Currently, the scheme is operational in 12 states across the country from January 1, 2020 onwards. The key highlight of One Nation One Ration Card scheme is that under this scheme, a beneficiary will be able to avail benefits across the country using the same ration card.
Beneficiaries will be able to avail their entitled food grain under the National Food Security Act from any Fair Price Shop located across India. Until now, poor migrants, who migrate to a new place had to get a new ration card issued in their name at their new location in order to buy food grains at subsidized prices through Public Distribution System. However, with the all-India roll-out of the scheme from 1st June 2020, migrants will be able to buy subsidized food grains from any fair price shop across the country, without having to apply for and obtain a new ration card.
From January 1, 2020, the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme was implemented in 12 states across India. These include Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Tripura, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana.
7. POLNET 2.0: Updated police communication service armed with robust satellite data communication facility launched
Police communication services in the country are expected to be bolstered as a revamped and upgraded POLNET 2.0 was commissioned by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
The new platform is armed with a robust multi-media facility and is a captive satellite-based network that provides video, audio and data connectivity across the country, especially in times of disasters when regular communication either gets jammed or crashes.
The Directorate of Coordination Police Wireless (DCPW) that operates POLNET or the police network services in the country has brought out an enhanced communication platform for police and security forces to communicate better during law and order problems and disasters, including linkup from remote border and coastal areas.
The DCPW was set up in 1946 and it was placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1950 with the primary mandate of coordination between state and central police and security agencies for radio communication and frequency allocation.It has been operating POLNET since 2006.
The new platform is named POLNET 2.0 and for the first time it will provide video-conferencing facility to four entities sitting at different locations in the country with Internet-enabled multimedia services. From its control room in Delhi, it can host 40 people talking at one point of time.
8. India’s First e-Waste Clinic will be set up in Madhya Pradesh
India’s first e-waste clinic for segregating, processing and disposal of waste from household and commercial units will soon be set-up in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its establishment.
The clinic is a three-month pilot project. If it would be a success, then the same would be replicated throughout the country.
Electronic waste will either be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic by individuals.
9. NITI Aayog Releases Its Vision for the National Data and Analytics Platform
NITI Aayog released its vision for the National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP). The platform aims to democratize access to publicly available government data. It will host the latest datasets from various government websites, present them coherently, and provide tools for analytics and visualization. NDAP will follow a user-centric approach and will enable data access in a simple and intuitive portal tailored to the needs of a variety of stakeholders.
NDAP will spearhead the standardization of formats in which data is presented across sectors and will cater to a wide audience of policymakers, researchers, innovators, data scientists, journalists and citizens. The development of NDAP will take place over a period of one year. The first version of the platform is expected to be launched in 2021. The process will follow a user-centric approach, and will incorporate feedback received from various users and stakeholders throughout the course of its development.
10. Centre designates Daman as headquarters of merged UTs
The Centre designated Daman as the headquarters of the merged Union Territories of Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
11. Cabinet nod to six-month extension for OBC panel
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the nod for extension of the term of the commission to examine the issue of Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by another six months.The commission has sought additional time to scrutinise submissions and errors, including spellings, in the existing OBC list.The Cabinet has also broadened the scope in terms of reference of the commission. The commission reportedly had requested the government for additional time to submit the report since the “repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription etc appearing in the existing Central List of OBCs need to be cleared”.
12. India achieves complete phase out of one the most potent ozone depleting chemical
India has successfully achieved the complete phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b, which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises and one of the most potent ozone depleting chemical after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) .(HCFC)-141 b is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.India has consciously chosen a path for environment friendly and energy efficient technologies while phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs). Importantly, India is one among the few countries globally and a pioneer in some cases in the use of technologies, which are non-Ozone Depleting and have a low Global Warming Potential (GWP).India had proactively and successfully taken the challenge of complete phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b, which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises by 1.1.2020. On 31 December, 2019, as part of the Government’s commitment for moving towards environment friendly technologies, in a significant first, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) brought out a notification in the Gazette of India through which the issuance of import license for HCFC-141b is prohibited from 1st January, 2020 under Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2019 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
HCFC-141b is not produced in the country and all the domestic requirements are met through imports. With this notification, prohibiting the import of HCFC-141 b, the country has completely phased out the important ozone depleting chemical. Simultaneously, the use of HCFC-141 b by foam manufacturing industry has also been closed as on 1st January, 2020 under the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2014.
13. Aadhaar, hartal among new Oxford words
The latest edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary features 26 new Indian English words, including Aadhaar, chawl, dabba, hartal and shaadi. The 10th edition of the dictionary has 384 Indian English words and incorporates over 1,000 new words, such as chatbot, fake news and microplastic.
14. India’s 1st war memorial for animals set to open in Meerut
Government of India is planning to set up a war memorial for animals in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. It will be India’s first animal war memorial. The memorial will come up at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut, where the army breeds, rears, and trains dogs, mules and horses.
The memorial aims to recognize the heroic acts of the animals on the battlefield, devotion to duty and outstanding contribution to military service alongside soldiers. The names and service numbers of over 350 handlers, 300 dogs, and a few horses and mules will be inscribed on granite tablets at the memorial. The monument would be similar to the National War Memorial in Delhi but on a smaller scale.
15. Govt to reward travellers visiting 15 tourist spots in a year
Bringing cheer to travel enthusiasts, the government has decided to reward people visiting 15 tourist spots in a year by funding their expenses. Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said the move should not be construed as a monetary benefit, but as an incentive.The tourism ministry will fund the travel expenses of tourists who visit 15 destinations in the country in a year and submit the photos on our website.Tourists, however, have to travel outside their home states to be eligible for contention.
16. India, Bangladesh signs to upgrade Ashuganj-Akhaura road
India and Bangladesh signed an agreement to upgrade Ashuganj-Akhaura road into a 4-lane highway on 24 January. The agreement aim is to upgrade the 50.58 kilometre long road between Ashuganj river port and the Akhaura land port in Bangladesh into a 4-lane highway.
The project is aimed to boost connectivity between the North-eastern part of India and Bangladesh. It will facilitate sub-regional connectivity among South and South-east Asian countries. Under the agreement, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of Bangladesh and an Indian Company Afcons Infrastructure Limited will upgrade the 39 km long road between the Ashuganj river port to the Dharhar area. The RHD and an India-Bangladesh joint venture (JV) firm will upgrade the remaining part of the road from Dharhar to Akhaura.
The deal expects the work to be completed on time and to maintain quality.
17. Wildlife census starts in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu
The annual wildlife census has started in the Kalakkadu - Mundanthurai tiger sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. More than three hundred personnel, including forest officials, wildlife experts and college students are involved in the exercise. The survey will also take note of the condition of forest environment and its effect on the pattern of distribution of the wild animals. Possibilities for man-animal conflicts will also be identified during the survey and necessary eco-friendly steps to avoid them will also be suggested.
The census findings will be included in the annual State of Wild Life Population report of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.
International News
1. US drops designation of China as currency manipulator
The Trump administration is dropping its designation of China as a currency manipulator in advance of the signing of a Phase 1 U.S.-China trade agreement.The preliminary pact that the two sides are set to sign this week includes a section that’s intended to prevent China from manipulating its currency to gain trade advantages.The action announced comes five months after the Trump administration had branded China a currency manipulator - the first time that any country had been so named since 1994 during the Clinton administration.Even while removing China from its currency black list, the Treasury Department does name China as one of 10 countries it says require placement on a watch list that will mean their currency practices will be closely monitored. In addition to China, the countries on that list are Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland and Vietnam.
The Treasury Department is required to report to Congress twice a year in April and October on whether any countries are manipulating their currencies to gain unfair trade advantages against U.S. businesses and workers. The new report is technically three months late, apparently because the Trump administration had delayed its release until it had achieved the currency Phase 1 commitments from China.The initial decision to brand China as a manipulator had come in a surprise announcement in August, reversing a Treasury finding in May that no country was manipulating its currency. The United States had not put any country on the manipulation blacklist since the Clinton administration branded China a manipulator 26 years ago. Trump had long accused China of manipulating its currency, even though most independent experts concluded that Beijing had stopped doing so years ago.
2. Myanmar, China ink deals to accelerate Belt and Road as Xi courts an isolated Suu Kyi
China and Myanmar inked dozens of deals to speed up infrastructure projects in the Southeast Asian nation, as Beijing seeks to cement its hold over a neighbor increasingly isolated by the West.But no major new projects were agreed during the two-day visit by President Xi Jinping, the first of any Chinese leader in 19 years. Analysts said Myanmar was generally cautious of investments by Beijing and was also being careful ahead of elections later this year.Still, Xi and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi signed 33 agreements shoring up key projects that are part of the flagship Belt and Road Initiative, China’s vision of new trade routes described as a “21st century silk road”.
They agreed to hasten implementation of the China Myanmar Economic Corridor, a giant infrastructure scheme worth billions of dollars, with agreements on railways linking southwestern China to the Indian Ocean, a deep sea-port in conflict-riven Rakhine state, a special economic zone on the border, and a new city project in the commercial capital of Yangon.
They did not address a controversial $3.6 billion Beijing-backed mega dam, where work has been stalled since 2011, reflecting the contentiousness of Chinese investment in Myanmar, where many are uncomfortable with the sway Beijing has over its smaller neighbor. More than 730,000 Rohingya were forced to flee western Myanmar after a military crackdown that the United Nations has said was executed with “genocidal intent”. China has defended the country on the global stage and is viewed as the biggest obstacle to a prosecution of its leaders at an international war crimes tribunal.
The project allows China to have easy of access to Indian Ocean. This is because this route bypasses Strait of Malacca through which China imports most of its oil requirements. Strait of Malacca connects Andaman Sea and South China Sea.
3. US Senate to begin impeachment trial against Trump on January 21
The US Senate is likely to begin the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump on January 21 after the House of Representatives last month impeached him for pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival. The 435-member House of Representatives, where Democrats enjoy a majority, last month charged Trump with high crimes and misdemeanours” and impeached in vote that was based on bitter political divide. Now, the 100-member Senate, where the Republicans are in majority, needs to put Trump on trial before he can be removed from the White House.
After House sends its articles of impeachment, the Senate will likely take a few days to deal with logistics of the trial.
4. Iran to Pull Out of NPT
Iran has warned to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the European Nations refer the dispute over its atomic programme to the United Nation Security Council.
Iran had signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) with US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China in 2015 that had offered it access to global trade in return for accepting curbs to its atomic program.In 2018, the US unilaterally pulled out the pact and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
Recently, the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani (the commander of the Al-Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC) was assassinated by the US during his visit to Iraq. This has escalated tensions in the international arena.
Amid rising tensions, Britain, France and Germany declared that Iran was violating the 2015 pact and have launched a dispute mechanism that could eventually see the matter referred back to the Security Council and the reimposition of U.N. sanctions.
5. Sheikh Hasina launches e-passport facility in Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh has launched an e-passport facility for its citizens on January 22, 2020. PM Sheikh Hasina launched this facility in Dhaka and said that e-passport is a gift to the country in Mujib centenary year.
Bangladesh has become the first country in the South-Asia region to provide an e-passport facility to its citizens. However, Bangladesh is the 119th country in the world with this facility. On the other hand, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said that 490 million e-Passports are already present in the world. It is believed that digital passports can control the fake passports in the country.
e-Passport is a smart passport or digital passport that contains an electronic chip. The chip contains all the data of a passport holder or the information generally printed on the passport’s page. The chip records passport holder’s name, biographic information, date of birth and all related information.
6. Australia’s iconic platypus under threat from climate change:study
According to a study,Australia’s devastating drought and other effects of climate change are pushing platypus towards extinction. Platypus is a semi aquatic egg laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia.They are one of the five extant species of monotremes,the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
Platypuses are also known as venomous mammals as male platypus has a venomous spur on the inside of its ankle.
They are listed as Near Threatened under the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Red list.
7. Seoul to send vessel to Strait of Hormuz after US pressure
South Korea will send a naval destroyer and 300 troops to the Strait of Hormuz, after pressure from its ally the US in the face of tensions between Washington and Tehran.Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks on shipping vessels in the strait, a strategic choke point for the world's oil trade where the US has deployed a naval mission.But the request put Seoul in a dilemma: it has had diplomatic relations with Tehran since the early 1960s and until last year Iran was one of the resource-poor South's key oil suppliers.
Seoul and Washington are in a security alliance but their relations have been strained by the Trump administration's demands the South pay billions of dollars more towards the costs of 28,500 US troops stationed in the country to protect it from the nuclear-armed North.
US Ambassador Harry Harris last week urged Seoul to join in the naval mission, saying "very few countries have a greater need" to take part as the South "gets 70 percent of its oil supplies from the Middle East".Trump abandoned the landmark 2015 deal curtailing Tehran's nuclear programme and imposed economic sanctions against Iran, prompting South Korean exports to the country to fall nearly 90 percent last year.
8. India to help energy rich Ghana expand clean fuel network
As part of India’s strategy of practising a ‘softer and collaborative diplomacy’ wherein there is a ‘sense of partnership,’ state run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) will help Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA) expand the country’s liquified petroleum gas (LPG) network. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was inked which will provide for administrative assistance to IOC as and when it commercially participates in gas rich Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.The MoU comes in the backdrop of India’s success with its marquee Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) that provides clean fuel, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which seeks to invest about $8 trillion in infrastructure projects across Asia, Europe and Africa. New Delhi is opposed to the BRI as it says the initiative lures countries into debt traps and does not respect sovereignty or address environmental concerns.
9. Nepal invites PM Modi and Imran to Sagarmatha dialogue
In a fresh initiative, Nepal has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders from SAARC countries including Pakistan, China, and other European countries for Sagarmatha Sambaad in April this year.
The Sambaad (dialogue) is named after the world’s tallest mountain, Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), which is also a symbol of friendship, he said, adding it will be a “fantastic idea” for all SAARC leaders to be present at the event fashioned along the lines of the Shangri La Dialogue.
The theme for the first edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad, scheduled from April 2-4, is ‘Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity’, Gyawali told a group of visiting Indian reporters. It will be held every two years.
The main objectives of the first edition of the Sambad are to forge a common consensus among countries on the impending climate crisis and encourage political leaders to mobilisepolitical will to tackle the menace. It is expected to be attended by environment ministers, scientists, experts, officials, think tanks from the countries, Gyawali said.
10. US imposes visa rules for pregnant women on 'birth tourism'
The Trump administration has published new visa rules aimed at restricting a practice known as “birth tourism."That refers to cases when women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship.
The new rules in the Federal Register say applicants will be denied tourist visas if they are determined by consular officers to be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth. It is a bigger hurdle to overcome, proving they are traveling to the U.S. because they have a medical need and not just because they want to give birth in the country.
11. Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list till June 2020
In a major blow to Pakistan, the country will remain on the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) till June 2020 as it failed to comply with the 27-point action plan to control funding to terrorist groups. The international terror financing watchdog has warned Pakistan of stern action for its failure in combating money laundering and terror financing.The decision was taken after the conclusion of the February 16-21 group meetings and the plenary session of the FATF on where another deadline of four months has been given to Pakistan to act against organisations involved in terror financing.The FATF noted that Pakistan addressed only 14 of 27 action items given to it for controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, responsible for series of attacks in India.
The FATF outcome concluded that all "deadlines" had "expired" and while there was some forward movement, Pakistan still needed to do a lot more. The FATF continuing Pakistan in the 'Gray' list means its downgrading by IMF, World Bank, ADB, EU and also a reduction in risk rating by Moody's, S&P and Fitch. This will add to the financial problems of Pakistan, which is seeking aid from all possible international avenues.
12. One Trillion Trees Initiative: WEF launches initiative to grow one trillion trees by 2030
The World Economic Forum has launched 'One Trillion Trees Initiative' to grow, restore and conserve 1 trillion trees across the world by 2030. The global initiative is aimed at restoring biodiversity and help fight climate change.The one trillion trees project is also aimed at uniting governments, non-governmental organisations, businesses and individuals in mass-scale nature restoration.
US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will join the one trillion trees initiative, a day ahead of its official launch. The main purpose of planting one trillion trees is to slow down climate change by removing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The process of restoring, planting and conserving one trillion trees by 2030 will provide the much-needed progress against climate, biodiversity and SGD goals.
The 1t.org is a WEF initiative, which has been designed to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, led by UNEP and FAO. It will offer a platform to connect, empower and mobilize a global reforestation community comprising governments, businesses, civil society and millions of people from across the world. The community willhelp people unleash their potential to act at an unprecedented scale and speed up the conservation and restoration efforts for one trillion trees within this decade.
Defence, Economy and Business News
1. Indian Navy Signs MoU for Offshore Data with Geological Survey of India
Indian Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geological Survey of India (GSI) for ‘Sharing of seabed sediments data, products and expertise for Naval Application in Meteorology and Oceanography’. GSI’s Marine and Coastal survey Division based at Mangaluru has mapped most of India’s 2.1 Million square km Exclusive Economic Zone and has a vast repository of offshore data. This data collected using GSI’s state-of-the-art oceanic research vessels Samudra Manthan, Samudra Kaustubh, Samudra Shaudhikama and Samudra Ratnakar, will now be used by Indian Navy’s rapidly growing blue water fleet for reliable and accurate oceanographic modeling to support their expansive maritime operations in the Indian Ocean region.
2. India successfully test-fires K-4 submarine-launched nuclear capable missile
India successfully test-fired the K-4 nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile off the coast of Visakhapatnam for the second time, in a major milestone to augment its strategic arsenal and delivery systems.
The missile, developed by the DRDO, has a range of 3,500 km and it will be able to bring almost all parts of Pakistan and several areas of China within its reach.The missile is being developed for integration with India's Arihant class nuclear submarines.
The missile was test-fired successfully for the second consecutive time in the last five days off the coast of Visakhapatnam.It was test-fired from an underwater platform.India has been steadily enhancing its strategic weapons which included successful test-firing of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile Agni 5 with a range of over 5,000 km.In November, India conducted successful night trial of 'Agni-II' surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable missile with a strike range of 2000 km.
3. 63 Indian Billionaires Have More Money Than The Union Budget For 2018-19: Oxfam
Releasing the study 'Time to Care' here ahead of the 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), rights group Oxfam also said the world's 2,153 billionaires have more wealth than the 4.6 billion people who make up 60 per cent of the planet's population.India's richest 1 per cent hold more than four-times the wealth held by 953 million people who make up for the bottom 70 per cent of the country's population, while the total wealth of all Indian billionaires is more than the full-year budget.
The report flagged that global inequality is shockingly entrenched and vast and the number of billionaires has doubled in the last decade, despite their combined wealth having declined in the last year.
The Oxfam report further said "sexist" economies are fuelling the inequality crisis by enabling a wealthy elite to accumulate vast fortunes at the expense of ordinary people and particularly poor women and girls. Regarding India, Oxfam said the combined total wealth of 63 Indian billionaires is higher than the total Union Budget of India for the fiscal year 2018-19 which was at Rs 24,42,200 crore.
4. Indian Air Force reinstates ‘Tigersharks’ fighter squadron
The Indian Air Force (IAF) reinstated its 222 ‘Tigersharks’ Squadron on 1 January at Hasimara Air Force Station (AFS) in eastern India, with the squadron now fielding Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter aircraft.Originally established in 1971 at Ambala, some 200 km north of New Delhi, and equipped with Sukhoi Su-7 (‘Fitter-A’) fighters, the ‘Tigersharks’ also became the first IAF squadron to be equipped with licence-built MiG-27 ‘Flogger’ ground-attack aircraft in 1985.
The squadron moved to Hasimara AFS in May 1989 and was ‘number-plated’ in March 2011 after the IAF began retiring its MiG-27s.
The service’s last MiG-27s were decommissioned in December 2019.
5. RBI ranked sixth among central banks in buying gold abroad
The RBI holds 625.2 tonnes of gold, forming 6.6 per cent of its forex reserves, said the World Gold Council (WGC) in a report based on data central banks shared with the International Monetary Fund about their holdings last week.
RBI was a modest player in buying gold abroad compared to other major central banks, adding to its reserve in October after a gap of five months. However, it became the sixth largest buyer when it purchased 25.2 tonnes in first 10 months of 2019 to hedge government’s sovereign gold bond issue.The central banks of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Poland bought more than India in 2019. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bought 7.5 tonnes of gold last October, buttressing its foreign exchange reserves to $450 billion.
6. Centre approves Rs 2379 crore for construction of Z-Morh tunnel in J&K
The govt entered into an agreement for construction of 6.5 kms long Z-Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Leh National Highway at the cost of Rs 2378.76 crore which will be completed in 3.5 years. Z-Morh Tunnel would provide all-weather road connectivity to Sonamarg tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir which mostly remains closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall in Gagenger area.
7. IMF blames India for global slowdown, lowers 2019 growth forecast to 4.8%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered India’s economic growth forecast to 4.8 per cent for this fiscal year owing to the crisis in the non-banking financial sector and weak rural demand. It also cut the world’s growth estimate and blamed the slowdown in India for its move.The IMF projection, 1.3 percentage points lower than its earlier estimates, is less than the 5 per cent projected by the official advance estimates. The IMF projected India’s economy to grow by 5.8 per cent next year, which is 1.2 percentage points less than its earlier forecast. It also forecast the economy to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2021-22 which is 0.9 percentage point lower than earlier projections.
The IMF estimated world economic growth at 1.9 per cent for 2019, 0.1 percentage point lower than its earlier forecast. Similarly, it projected the global economy to grow by 3.3 per cent in the current calendar year, 0.1 percentage point lower than its previous estimates, and 3.4 per cent in 2022, 0.2 percentage points below its earlier estimates.
8. Delhi airport gets a new women-only cab service
At the Indira Gandhi International Airport is an exclusive 'Women with wheels,' taxi service that is unique as it is operated by women drivers, for women.The service, an initiative by 'Sakha cabs' was launched from the international airport from January 10 in a bid to make women feel safer. The cabs are driven by women drivers and the services are also provided to only female commuters.
9. ISRO's VyomMitra Humanoid Robot Set For an Unmanned Trip Into Space
Exciting times lie ahead for India and its space quest, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) firms up plans and timelines for the human space flight, Gaganyaan. ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan announced that two unmanned missions will be sent up and recovered before it — thus testing and proving India's technologies to do the same — before the actual manned mission is taken up. These two unmanned missions will carry with them a half-humanoid, along with a few other experiments on micro-gravity and its effects on humans, said Dr Sivan. The first unmanned mission will be in December, and it may spill over into next year. The second unmanned mission will be six months later, by June 2021. The aim is to conduct a manned mission before August 2022.
Earl
The Vyommitra humanoid will be sent for the szme. The 'space robot' has been developed by scientists at IISc in collaboration with ISRO, and is programmed to behave or react to situations the way humans would. This is why the space robot is all set to get itself 'beamed up' onto the unmanned mission planned in end-2020, as a precursor to the actual manned mission.
Vyommitra is a 'half-humanoid', because it has no legs.
10. Artillery gun 'Sharang' to be inducted into Army by March end
The first batch of 18 indigenously upgraded 'Sharang' artillery guns will be inducted into the Army by March 31 this year. The gun has been upgraded from 130mm to 155mm with a striking range of 39 kilometres. It had successfully gone through integrated firing check on different parameters ranging from0 degree to 45 degrees at the Long Proof Range of Ordnance Factory Khamaria, 16 kilometers from Jabalpur district headquarters.The Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpur had won the global contract to upgrade the Sharang artillery gun, and it was done with the help of the state-owned ordnance factories, and teams from the Army and DRDO.
People in News
1. Lt Gen SK Saini to be India's next Vice Chief of Army Staff
Lieutenant General SK Saini will be the new vice chief of the Indian Army. He will take charge on January 25. Lt Gen Saini is currently serving as the Southern Army Commander.The post of the Vice Chief of Army Staff fell vacant after Lt Gen MM Naravane, the then vice chief, became the Chief of Army Staff. This was following the completion of General Bipin Rawat's tenure as army chief on December 31.An alumnus of Sainik School Kapurthala and the National Defence Academy (NDA), Lt Gen SK Saini was commissioned into the Jat Regiment in June 1981. He commanded his battalion (7 Jat), a mountain brigade, a counter insurgency force in J&K, a corps in the western theatre and the Southern Army Command.
2. Greece elects Katerina Sakellaropoulou as first female president
Greece’s lawmakers elected their country’s first female president with an overwhelming majority voting in favor of high court judge Katerina Sakellaropoulou.Sakellaropoulou said she would aim for the “broadest possible consensus” in the course of carrying out her duties in her first comments as president-elect.
Greece has a historically low number of women in senior positions in politics, and Mitsotakis had been criticized for selecting a nearly all-male Cabinet after he won general elections in July 2019. In the current Greek Cabinet, all but one of the 18 senior positions are held by men.
3. North Korea appoints hardline ex-army officer as new foreign minister
Former army officer Ri Son-gwon has been appointed foreign minister of North Korea. North Korea has appointed the former army officer with a reputation as a hardliner as its foreign minister, in a possible sign that it is to adopt a tougher stance in nuclear negotiations with the United States.
Sports News
1. Magnus Carlsen breaks record for longest unbeaten streak in chess history
Magnus Carlsen completed another record-breaking achievement when he stretched his unbeaten record to 111 successive games. The 29-year-old world champion drew against Jorden van Foreest in the fourth round of the Wijk aan Zee tournament to edge past the 110 classical games unbeaten, set by the Russian Sergei Tiviakov in 2005.
2. Arjun Munda elected as new President of Archery Association of India
Arjun Munda has been elected as the new President of the Archery Association of India (AAI). He was elected to the position during elections conducted on January 18, 2020.
The much-delayed elections were conducted smoothly, as it was conducted in the presence of three observers, one each from World Archery, Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association.Union Minister Arjun Munda won a clear majority over his rival BVP Rao with 34-18 votes. He will now serve a full term of four years.
Two factions led by Arjun Munda and BVP Rao had elected themselves as the Presidents of AAI in June 2019 in two separate elections held simultaneously in Delhi Chandigarh. This led to factionalism in AAI and there was confusion over which is the legitimate body.
This factionalism caused by the election of two parallel bodies resulted in the suspension of AAI by the World Archery in August 2019 for flouting its guidelines.
The World Archery had appointed its Asia region vice-president Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol as an observer in the polls. Chapol will now be required to submit a report, based on which the world body will decide on the conditional lifting of suspension on AAI.
Due to AAI’s suspension, Indian archers cannot compete under the Indian flag in international sporting events. They have to compete as independents. Hence, the key priority is to get the suspension on AAI lifted, in order to provide all necessary facilities to the Indian archers ahead of the Tokyo Olympics later this year.
3. World Archery conditionally lifts suspension on India
The World Archery conditionally lifted the suspension on India on January 23, 2020. The move comes less than a week after elections were held for India’s controversy-ridden Archery Association.
Indian archers will now be allowed to represent India under the tricolour. Due to India’s suspension earlier, Indian archers were not allowed to compete at the Asian Championshipsunder the Indian flag. They had to compete as neutral athletes. The next international archery tournament is Indoor World Series in Las Vegas in February 2020.
4. India beat Japan by 10 wickets in U-19 World Cup
Defending champions India outclassed debutant Japan by 10 wickets in their second match of the ICC U-19 World Cup. In their tournament-opener India had beaten Sri Lanka by 90 runs.
5. India wins Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship 2020
The team of the Indian Consulate has won the Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship of 2020 held in Sharjah. The team of the Indian Consulate defeated the Pakistan Consulate to win the trophy which was organized by Skyline University College in Sharjah. The trophy was organised with an aim of uniting the officials and employees of different Consulates based in UAE. The Consulate team of 8 countries participated in the tournament. The participating Consulates were: India, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh , Afghanistan, South Africa, Pakistan and the US.
Rankings and Indexes
1. India ranks 5th in Carbon Disclosure Project 2019
India secured 5th spot on the annual Carbon Disclosure Project 2019 report which was published by Global non-profit organization. Carbon Disclosure Project, an initiative of the Global Reporting Initiative, is aimed at measuring the carbon reduction activities undertaken by different companies and firms operating in various countries across the globe. The report surveys corporate commitments to science-based targets (SBT) and evaluates the climate change risk that they are exposed to. In the annual report, the United States of America secured the top spot followed by Japan, United Kindom and France. India secured the 5th spot on the project report.
The Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2019 said that a total of 58 companies shared details about the environment-related activities undertaken by them in this year. The report also claims that over 98 percent of top Indian companies have formed some type or committee or group within its organization to drive and address climate-related issues.
The Carbon Disclosure Project evaluated a total of 6900 companies globally to compile their annual report for 2019. The report also found that investors responded better to companies who have disclosed their environmental activities. The report also claimed that investors also took into account the climate change risk from Indian companies before investing in an organization.
India is the first developing economy with maximum number of companies committing to the science-based targets.
2. Gujarat ranked top for water efficiency, Delhi among worst performing states
Gujarat has been ranked the best for parameters on efficiency targets in the review of state and Central government water departments by the ministry of Jal Shakti. Rajasthan is thethird best and Delhi is among the worst performing states, according to the ranking for 2019 circulated to different state governments recently.Among the seven Central departments reviewed, the Survey of India has got the top billing followed by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and Central Water Commission. The Central Pollution Control Board, the country’s pollution watchdog, has got the lowest rank, in the ranking for the year 2019.
The departments have been ranked on parameters for procurement, finance, real-time data acquisition system, data digitization, analytical work, trainings and updating MIS. The agencies have been given score out of 100, and those scoring between 48 and 100 are called satisfactory; the ones scoring between 40 and 48 are moderately satisfactory; score between 34 and 40 falls under moderately unsatisfactory category and score below 34 is in the unsatisfactory category.As the ranking is moderate considering moderate is 48 to 100 points, the water resource departments of nine states, union territories and river basin organizations have been ranked as satisfactory, 8 are moderately satisfactory, four moderately unsatisfactory and 12, including Delhi, are in the unsatisfactory category.The states that have done satisfactory work under the project are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat SW, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal SW. SW stands for surface water department and GW for groundwater department.
Gujarat surface water department scored 80.51 to be on top of the implementing agencies, followed by Damodar Valley Corporation with 68.24 score and Rajasthan with a score of 66.73. The other states have scored less than 50, indicating that there is a vast scope of improvement in these states to achieve the national water targets.
Rajasthan was ranked 16th in the April-May 2018 rankings. In the rankings issued in December 2019, the state has made a quantum jump and is among the states for best management of its water resources. Ranking has been done under the National Hydrology Project that aims to improve drought and flood management, creating a state specific database on availability, plugging leakages in canals and dams and meteorological forecast on water resources information system.The ranking is part of the mid-term review of the Central and the state government departments dealing with water to achieve the target to provide piped drinking water connection to every household in the next five years. Another aim of the ranking is to have a water resources information system (WRIS) for all states to create a real-time integrated National Water Information Center (NWIC).
3. WEF’s 1st Global Social Mobility Index 2020: India ranks 76th & Denmark tops the list
On January 20, 2020 the World Economic Forum (WEF) released 1st edition of a report titled “The Global Social Mobility Report 2020: Equality, Opportunity and a New Economic Imperative”. The global social mobility index (GSMI) of 82 countries were launched in this report. As per the Index, India ranked at the 76th position with a score of 42.7while Denmark topped the list. India is among the 5 countries namely China, the United States(US), Japan and Germany which stands to gain most from boosting social mobility score.India ranks 41st in lifelong learning while it ranks 53rd in working conditions. It has the second-highest level of workers in vulnerable employment behind Saudi Arabia.Social protection and fair wage distribution are the areas in which India needs improvement. It ranks 76th in social protection and 79th in fair wage distribution.
The index was prepared on 5 dimensions with 10 key indicators. The 5 dimensions are health; education (access, quality and equity); technology; work (opportunities, wages, conditions); and protections & institutions (social protection and inclusive institutions). The top 5 countries in the index: Denmark is followed by Norway (score 83.6), Finland(score 83.6) , Sweden (83.5) and Iceland (82.7) in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively. It is to be noted that the top 5 countries are all Nordic countries.Among the G7(group of 7) countries, Germany is the most socially mobile at rank 11t & score 78 points. It was followed by France at rank 12, Canada at rank 14, Japan at rank 15, the United Kingdom(UK) at rank 21, US at rank (27th) and Italy with 34th rank.
4. Corruption Perception Index 2019: India slips two positions to 80th rank
Transparency International has launched this index on January 23, 2020, based on data collected in 2019. India slipped two positions to 80th in the index while it was at 78th in the previous year’s ranking. India’s total score was 40 and managed to secure 80th rank.
Transparency International released the report of this index during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Denmark and New Zealand topped the index as they are the most honest countries. A total of 180 countries have been placed in public sector corruption cases in this index.The index uses a scale from 0 to 100, where score 0 indicates a highly corrupted country whereas number 100 indicates corruption-free country.Ghana is known as the beacon of democracy in Western Africa. It slipped to seven points from 48 in 2014 to 41 in 2019. Ghana and India are sharing the same spot in the index.
5. India climbs eight places to rank 72 among 132 countries in global talent index
India has climbed eight places to 72nd rank in the 2020 Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), which was topped by Switzerland, the US and Singapore.Sweden (4th), Denmark (5th), the Netherlands (6th), Finland (7th), Luxembourg (8th), Norway (9th) and Australia (10th) complete the top 10 league table. The GTCI report compiled by INSEAD in collaboration with human resource firm Addeco and Google was released in Davos, Switzerland.
In the BRICS grouping, China was ranked 42nd, Russia (48th), South Africa (70th) and Brazil at 80th position. This year's GTCI report explores how the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is not only changing the nature of work but also forcing a re-evaluation of workplace practices, corporate structures and innovation ecosystems.
6. Sri Lanka topped the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative list
Sri Lanka topped on breastfeeding rate according to a new survey conducted by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi). The survey was taken among 97 countries globally.
Sri Lanka's rank is based on its performance on ten indicators of policies and programs. Sri Lanka has scored 91 out of 100 points WBTi uses color-code to rank countries. Sri Lanka earned a green color code, which implies the best level of performance.
WBTi was launched in 2004. WBTi assists countries to assess the status of the participating countries. It will also benchmark the progress in implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding in a standard way. The WBTi assists countries to measure strengths and weaknesses on the 10 parameters of policy and programmes that protect, promote and support optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. So far, 120 countries have been involved in WBTi and 97 have completed assessments.
Days and Events
1. Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates India’s first global Mega Science Exhibition “Vigyan Samagam” in Delhi
The Union Minister of State (I/C) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that three-tier teams should be set up for scientific research involving older and younger generations, so that continuity can be maintained in research work. He said that exhibitions should be organised with focus on educating the young students, so that they can choose science as a career in future. He was addressing at the inauguration of India’s first global Mega Science Exhibition “Vigyan Samagam” at National Science Centre.
2. ‘National Girl Child Week’ to be held from Jan 24 to 30
The National Girl Child Day will be celebrated on ‘Jagruk Balika-Samarth Madhya Pradesh’ (Aware Girl Child-Enabled Madhya Pradesh) theme in the State under the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ (Save Girl Child-Educate Her) Yojana on January 24. Its aim is to create awareness among the people in the society about the rights of girl child and to provide her new opportunities.
The Women and Child Development Department will organise Division and District level programmes on January 24. A National Girl Child Week will be observed by the Women and Child Development Department in the state from 24 to 30 January. During this week, important social awareness programmes like ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ Signature Campaign, Mass Oath, Prabhat Pheri, Ghar-Ghar Dastak (Knocking at every door) by Aaganbadi and Asha Workers will be arranged, also stickers and posters will be pasted at Panchayat and Public buildings. Apart from this, posters and slogans on importance of girl child will be displayed at all the Government and Private Colleges/ Universities. At Aaganbadi level, deliberations will take place on ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’.
3. WEF Davos 2020 begins, Klaus Schwab says proud of community it has created
Welcoming participants to the 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, its founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said he is proud to have created a community of some great people, including young leaders, through this platform.The welcome message was followed by the annual crystal awards and this year's recipients included celebrity film star Deepika Padukone.
The awards are given to cultural leaders, who are improving the state of the world through their contributions to inclusive and sustainable change.
Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, presented the awards to artist Theaster Gates, choreographer Jin Xing and artist Lynette Wallworth, besides Padukone.The award celebrates the achievements of artists and cultural figures whose leadership inspires inclusive and sustainable change.
Padukone has been given the award for her leadership in raising mental health awareness.
4. Mizoram to celebrate Chapchar kut on March 6
Mizoram will celebrate Chapchar Kut, the biggest and most important festival of the Mizos, on March 6. While March 5 will be celebrated as pre-festival, which would be graced by Art and Culture Minister R Lalzirliana as "Kut Pa" or the "father of the festival", the grand celebration will take place on March 6, where that place would be taken by Zoramthanga."Promotion of Mizos' culture and moral code" has been chosen as the theme for this year Chapchar Kut.The festival will be celebrated with cultural fervour and gaiety in all parts of the state and the grand celebration will be held at the Assam Rifles ground. Chapchar Kut is a spring festival celebrated usually in March after completion of the Jhum cultivation.Jhum cultivation, also known as the slash and burn agriculture, is the process of growing crops by first clearing the land of trees and vegetation and burning them thereafter.
5. International Day of Education-24 January
International Day of Education is celebrated globally on 24 January annually to celebrate the role of education in bringing global peace and sustainable development. The theme of 2020 International Day of Education is “Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace”.
On 3rd December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education.The first International Day of Education was held in 2019.
6. National Tourism Day 2020-25 January
The World Tourism Day was celebrated on 27 September and in India, National Tourism Day is celebrated on the 25 January. This celebration is all about to cultivate and create awareness among the society globally on the significance of tourism, and it’s social, political, financial and also cultural worth and value.
7. National Voter’s Day- 25 January
India celebrates this day on January 25 every year. The purpose of celebrating National Voters’ Day is to make the youth aware of voting. This year’s theme of National Voters’ Day is - ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy’. The Election Commission of India was established on January 25, 1950. National Voters’ Day was celebrated for the first time on January 25, 2011. It was the 61st Foundation Day of the Election Commission. Since 2011, National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year on January 25.
8. Republic Day 2020: India celebrates its 71st Republic Day
India celebrated its 71st Republic Day on January 26, 2020. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at India's 71st Republic Day Parade on January 26. Bolsonaro is the third Brazilian President to be invited as Chief Guest for India’s Republic Day Parade. Before him, India hosted President Fernando Henrique Cardoso in 1996 and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2004, as chief guests for the Republic Day Parade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi payed homage to the fallen soldiers on January 26, 2020 at the National War Memorial. This year, for the first time, the wreath laying ceremony was held at the newly built National War Memorial instead of Amar Jawan Jyoti beneath the India Gate arch. The National War Memorial has been built in the India Gate Complex behind the canopy and was inaugurated in February 2019 by PM Modi. PM Modi was joined by newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat along with the Tri-Services chief.
Captain Tanya Shergil, a fourth generation Army Officer led an all-male marching contingent of the Indian Army Corps of Signals. The motto of the Corps is “Teevra Chaukas”.
Awards
1. Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2020 announced
In the aftermath of any disaster, many organisations and individuals work silently but effectively to alleviate suffering of the affected population. A good deal of work is done in research/ innovations in early warning, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, rescue, relief and rehabilitation. In order to recognise the excellent work done by individuals and institutions in India in the field of disaster management, Government of India has instituted an annual award known as Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. The award is announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
The award scheme for the year 2020 was given wide publicity. For the year 2020, Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre, Uttarakhand (in the institution category) and Shri Kumar Munnan Singh (Individual category) have been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for their commendable work in Disaster Management. In case the winner being an institution, it shall receive a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakhs. This cash prize shall be utilized by the winning institution for Disaster Management related activities only. In case of the winner being an individual, winner shall receive a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs.
It may be recalled that for the year 2019, 8th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) located at Ghaziabad, had been selected for the award for its commendable work in disaster management.
