Weekly Current Affairs: 20-26 January 2024

Weekly Current Affairs

Weekly Current Affairs for UPSC and Competitive Exam: Jobs Informations presents Weekly Current Affairs for all dedicated students and readers preparing for various competitive exams. In today’s session, get briefings about the important topics given in Current Affairs.

National

PM Inaugurates 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit with Vision for India’s Future

PM Inaugurates 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit with Vision for India’s Future 10-12, 2024 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. Inaugurating the Summit, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emphasised India’s emerging role as “Vishwa Mitra” in the evolving global landscape, affirming that the world sees India as a crucial pillar of stability, given its commitment to sustainable industries, infrastructure development, new age skills, green energy and the semiconductor ecosystems The summit, themed ‘Gateway to the Future,’ witnessed the participation of UAE President Mr. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reinforcing India’s deepening ties with the UAE. The event also saw the presence of Presidents Mr.Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor Leste, along with business representatives from over 100 countries. PM Shri Modi underscored the strengthening relations with the UAE and Africa during the summit and labeled it as a true gateway for development.

Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023 : Indore Gets Cleanest City Recognition

Indore, Surat and Navi Mumbai have bagged the first, second and third positions respectively as the cleanest Indian cities (over one lakh population) recognised by the Swachh Survekshan 2023. In the below-one lakh population category, Sasvad Patan and Lonavala emerged as the top three cleanest cities. Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were recognised as the first, second and third cleanest states, respectively. Varanasi and Prayagraj were honoured as the Cleanest Ganga Towns. Conferring the awards on the winners, President Sm!. Droupadi Murmu acknowledged the central government and organisations for their role in making the Swachh Bharat Mission a nationwide movement, expressing gratitude to the ‘Safai Mitra’ for their remarkable contribution.

PM Ignites Youth Spirit at 27th National Youth Festival

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 27th National Youth Festival at Nashik in Maharashtra on January 12, 2024. Addressing the youth on the occasion of National Youth Day, commemorating the birth anniversa ry of Swami Vivekananda, PM Shri Modi highlighted the theme of the five-day festival : “MYBharat-ViksitBharat@2047- By the Youth, For the Youth.” The festival featured cultural programmes show casing the diverse heritage of various states, along with road safety awareness events held in major cities and 750 district headquarters across the country. During his day-long visit to Maharashtra, the Prime Minister dedicated several development projects in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the ‘Bharat Ratnam’ (a Special Economic Zone for the Gems and Jewellery sector) at Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone. This facility, equipped with state-of-the-art machines, including 3D metal printing, is the first of its kind in India. He also launched the Namo Mahi/ a Sashaktikaran Abhiyaan, aiming to empower women in Maharashtra through skill development training and exposure to entrepreneurship development.

AYUSH Gets Shot in the Arm with WHO ICD-11 Integration

The World Health Organization (WHO) has incorporated data and terminology of disease based on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani into the ICD-11. ICD (International Classification of Diseases) is a globally recognised system for categorising and coding diseases , health conditions and related factors . The integration is a result of years of collaboration between India’s Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO and it seeks to provide a common language for health information and statistics worldwide. This development is expected to modernise AYUSH medicine and enhance its acceptance on a global scale, while fostering positive developments in India’s healthcare infrastructure, research capabilities, insurance coverage and disease control strategies.

International

Ms. Sheikh Hasina Sworn in as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister for Fifth Term

Ms. Sheikh Hasina, the President of Awami League has assumed office as Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fifth time. In the recently concluded general elections, Ms. Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League won 223 seats in the 300-member Parliament. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, boycotted the elections after their demand for a non-party caretaker government was rejected. Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s founder Mr. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been at the helm of the South Asian nation since 2009, making her one of the world’s longest-serving female heads of government.

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh’s UK Visit Concludes with Agreements on Defence Collaboration

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh engaged in fruitful discussions with UK Defence Minister Mr. Grant Shapps during his two-day visit to the United Kingdom. The meeting delved into a comprehensive spectrum of issues, including defence cooperation, security and the augmentation of defence industrial collaboration. The bilateral discussions culminated in the signing of two crucial agreements aimed at fostering deeper collaboration. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked to facilitate the bilateral international cadet exchange programme, fostering people­ to-people exchanges , especially among the youth. Another MoU was signed between I efence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and nee and Technology Laboratory, focusing on research and in the field of defence. Shri Rajnath Singh’s visit also with UK Prime Minister Mr. Rishi Sunak and a meeting with State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Mr. David Cameron. He also engaged with CEOs and industry leaders of the UK Defence Industry, exploring opportunities for collaboration. The visit concluded with an interaction with the vibrant Indian community in London, reinforcing the multifaceted bonds between India and the United Kingdom.

Economy

Inland Waterways Development Council Initiates Historic Steps for Maritime India Vision 2047

The inaugural meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) concluded in Kolkata on January 11, 2024, marking a significant leap towards fulfilling the Maritime India Vision 2047. Chaired by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), the key highlights of the meeting were the launch of “Harit Nauka” Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels and the launch of “Harit Nauka” Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels and the ‘River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047’. The Harit Nauka Guidelines advocate the adoption of low-emission fuels for inland vessel operations, promoting the concept of Green Vessels. The meeting also highlighted the nation’s capacity for constructing such vessels, with a new state-of-the-art facility at the Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited focusing on electric-powered inland vessels. The River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 emphasises ‘Infrastructure, Integration, Accessibility and Policy’ pillars to promote river cruise tourism. Over 30 potential routes and tourist circuits along inland waterways have been identified for further development.

One District One Product Programme Enlists 60 Aggregators to Promote ‘Brand India’

The One District One Product (ODOP) programme, spearheaded by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPllT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has achieved a significant milestone by enlisting over 50 aggregators dedicated to promoting ‘Brand India.’ This collective community of ODOP aggregators represents over 160 districts across more than 25 States and Union Territories. The ODOP aggregators aim to enhance efficacy and provide an immersive experience, inviting the world to authentically ‘Experience India.’ The initiative focuses on enlightening consumers about the origin of ingredients in the products they use, establishing a unique identity and fostering awareness. By employing inventive and eco-friendly packaging strategies and integrating compelling storytelling elements, these aggregators enrich the customer experience.

Sports

National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023: Celebrating Sporting Legends and Rising Talents

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024. Notable recipients included cricketer Mohammed Shami, chess player R Vaishali archers Ojas Pravin Deotale and Aditi Gopichand Swami, golfer Diksha Dagar and kabaddi players Pawan Kumar and RituNegi, who were honoured with the Arjuna Award. Additionally , hockey players Krishan Bahadur Pathak and P. Sushila Chanu, kho-kho player Nasreen, lawn bowls player Pinki, shootersAishwary Pratap Singh and Esha Singh, squash player Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, table tennis player Ayhika Mukherjee, wrestler Sunil Kumar and Antim, wushu player N. Roshibina Devi, blind cricketer llluri Ajay Kumar Reddy, para archer Sheetal Devi and para canoeing player Prachi Yadav were also among the recipients. Dronacharya Awards were bestowed on wrestling coach Lalit Kumar, chess coach R. B. Ramesh, para athletics coach Mahaveer Prasad Saini, hockey coach Shivendra Singh and others for their outstanding contributions . Dhyan Chand Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games were presented to Manjusha Kanwar for badminton, Vineet Kumar Sharma for hockey and Kavitha Selvaraj for kabaddi. Jain Deemed to be University, Bengaluru and Odisha Mining Corporation Limited were honoured with the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar during the ceremony. Adventure Awards 2023 were also conferred . Union Sports Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and other dignitaries graced the occasion with their presence.

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