Current Affairs, January, 2016

Current Affairs January, 2016

India GDP for 2016

§        World Bank - 7.8 %

§        UN - 7.5 % from 8.2 %

§        IMF – 7.3 %

BCCI Annual Awards 2014-15

The BCCI Awards are a set of annual cricket awards given by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). These award in various categories recognize and honor the best Indian international and domestic cricketers of the past year. The awards were first given in 2006–07. 
Recipients of 2014-15 BCCI Awards are C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Syed Mujtaba Hussain Kirmani. 
Polly Umrigar Award: Virat Kohli.

Jharkhand first state to sign MoU with Centre for power scheme UDAY 

Jharkhand, a mineral-rich but energy-deficit state has become first state in country to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme with Union Government. In this regard a tripartite MoU was signed between the state government, Union Ministry of Power and state power distributor.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has won the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN).

Carli Lloyd and Lionel Messi named FIFA Woman and Man World Player of the Year at Ballon d'Or for 2015.

Tsai-Ing Wen Taiwan's first women president.

61st Filmfare AwardsWinners List 2016

 Best Actor : Ranveer Singh for 'BajiraoMastani'
 Best Actress : Deepika Padukone for 'Piku'
 Best Film : 'BajiraoMastani'
 Best Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali for 'Bajirao Mastani'

North Korea claims that it had successfully test fired hydrogen bomb for the first time.

PM Modi declared India's first organic state Sikkiim
Sikkim has formally become India’s first fully organic state after it successfully implemented organic farming practices on around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land. 
Formal declaration in this regard was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inaugurating the Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 in Gangtok, Sikkim. PM also handed the Organic Certificate to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. 
The Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 has been organised on the sidelines of the National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 
On this occasion, PM also launched three new orchid species developed in Sikkim which is also known as the Land of Flowers viz. Cymbidium Sardar (named after Sardar Patel), Cymbidium Deen Dayal (named after Deen Dayal Upaddhyay) and Cymbidium Namo (named after Narendra Modi).
The journey of landlocked Sikkim to become organic state was initiated in 2003 after Pawan Chamling-led government had decided to make state an organic farming state.

Raghuram Rajan conferred Central Banker of Year Award.

India French military exercise Shakti-2016


India Japan joint coast guard exercise Sahyog-Kaijin 2016.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Maldives on cooperation in the field of Health.

Kerala achieved 100% primary education. 1st state in India

The renowned bharatnatyam dancer Subhashini Vasanth has been honored with the 2015 Neerja Bhanot Bravery Award. Subhashini Vasanth is the founder trustee of Vasantharatna Foundation, started in the memory of her husband, Colonel Vasanth V, who was awarded the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous) in 2008 after he lost his life fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The Neerja Bhanot Award was instituted in 1991 in the memory of the brave Senior Flight Purser Neerja Bhanot, who saved hundreds of lives while sacrificing her own, during a Pan Am plane hijack at Karachi Airport in September 1986. The award consists of Rs 1.50 lakh in cash, a citation and a trophy and is given every year to those women who show extraordinary courage and bravery.

World's largest Tricolour flying atop the country's tallest flagpole at the Pahari temple in Ranchi (Jharkhand).

Jammu and Kashmir people s Democratic Party leader Mufti Md Sayeed passed away.

Mrinali Sarabhai passed away. Legendary Kathak and kathakali dancer.

New birds species Himalayan Forest Thrush found in India.

Start up India -10000 crore rupees fund drive. India's first start up focused bank Branch SBI.

Guenter Butschek appointed CEO & MD of Tata Motors.

Anuradha Roy won DSC Prize for south Asian literature for her novel "Sleeping on Jupiter".

Madhya Pradesh selected for Krishi Karman Award for year 2014-15.

Chhattisgarh: Chosen for achieving growth in production of pulses. 

West Bengal: Chosen for good agriculture production.

Krishi Karman awards are given to Best performer States for raising country’s food grain production. These awards were instituted in 2010-11 for recognizing the meritorious efforts of the states in food grains production.

Global risk report WEF.

Dineshwar Sharma -  Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) board of director from India

Telangana starts recognition of e-Motor Insurance policies, first in India.

India's newest state capital Amaravati will get an underwater tunnel in river Krishna, about three-km long for the first time in India.

Has double agent Headley further exposed Pak?WATCH LIVE TVx

Importance Festival in India celebrated in January

Flamingo festival Arunachal Pradesh

Pongal - TN

Jallikattu- TN, bullfighting
The Nandi Natakotsavam’, the prestigious state-organised theater festival, has begin at Mahati auditorium in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 

Union Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
The Union Cabinet has approved Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, a new crop insurance scheme to boost farming sector in the country. 

Highlights of Scheme Uniform premium: Farmers will pay uniform premium of 2 per cent for all Kharif crops and 1.5 percent for all Rabi crops. 

In case of annual horticultural and commercial crops, farmers will pay 5 per cent premium. 

These premium rates are very low. Government will pay balance premium to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities. 

Government subsidy: There will be no upper limit subsidy given by Government even if balance premium is 90 percent.
The new Crop Insurance Scheme has been formulated in line with One Nation–One Scheme theme. 

Union Government reserves 33% posts of women constables in CAPFs 

The Union Government has reserved 33 per cent posts of Constables for women in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to enhance their representation. 
Key facts To begin with, 33 per cent of posts of Constables will be reserved for women in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). While, 14-15 per cent posts in the Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) will be reserved for women.

Sam Pitroda appointed as technical advisor of the Odisha government.

India and Singapore signing MoU in the field of Civil Aviation.

IMF Reforms: India, China, Brazil, Russia get more voting rights

India’s voting rights increased by 0.3% from the current 2.3% to 2.6%. China’s voting rights increased by 2.2% from current 3.8% to 6 %.

China will have the 3rd largest IMF quota and voting share after the US and Japan. While, India, Russia and Brazil will also be among the top 10 members of the IMF.

Indigenously-built surface-to-air Akash missile was successfully test fired from complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipuri in Odisha.

India ranks 76 in 2015 Corruption Perception Index
India has been ranked 76th out of 168 countries in the recently released 2015 Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The 2015 CPI was the 21st edition of the annual index and was published by the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI). 
Key facts In this edition, India has scored 38 on a scale from 0 (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt). This score is same as 2014 edition indicating that country is showing lack of improvement. India has improved in its ranking compared to earlier position of 85 and 94 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. 
Top 5 Countries: Denmark (score 91), Finland (score 90), Sweden (89 score), New Zealand, Netherlands (87 score) and Norway (87 score). 
Bottom 5 Countries: Angola (rank 163), South Sudan (rank 163), Sudan (rank 165), Afghanistan (rank 166), North Korea (rank 167) and Somalia (rank 167). 
BRICS Countries: South Africa (rank 61), India (76), Brazil (rank 76), China (rank 83) and Russia (rank 119).
SAARC Countries: Bhutan (rank 27), India (rank 76), Sri Lanka (rank 83), Pakistan (rank 117), Nepal (rank 130) and Bangladesh (rank 139) and Afghanistan (rank 166).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has celebrated the 6th National Voters’ Day across the country. Theme for year 2016 is Inclusive and Qualitative Participation. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi also released the book titled Belief in the Ballot and presented the first copy to the President.

Marvin Minsky, pioneer of artificial intelligence passes away.

India Russia sign agreement on scientific research.

Atulesh Jindal to take over as new CBDT chairman.

Angelique Kerber from Germany has won the 2016 Australian Open Title of Tennis in the women’s singles category. It was her maiden Grand Slam Tennis title.

Union Government has appointed Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey as the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) for a period of three years.

Sania Mirza, Martina Hingis win 2016 Australian Open title of Tennis.

Gallantry awards 2016
President Pranab Mukherjee has conferred the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami posthumously.

Kirti Chakra: 
Subedar Mahendra Singh of 9 PARA (Special Force). Sepoy Jagdish Chand (Posthumous) of 546 DSC Platoon.

Kirti Chakra is the second highest peace time gallantry award i.e. awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. Shaurya Chakra is third highest peace time gallantry award generally awarded for counterinsurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

2016 Padma Awards
President Pranab Mukherjee has announced the names of recipients of year 2016 Padma awards. He approved conferment of 112 Padma Awards. Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three Categories viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. This year’s list comprises 10 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 83 Padma Shri Awardees.

2016 Padma Vibhushan Awards It is the second highest civilian award. It is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service. 

Padma Vibhushan
Ms. Yamini Krishnamurthi - is an eminent Indian dancer of Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi styles of dancing
Shri Rajinikanth    Art-Cinema    Tamil Nadu
Smt. Girija Devi    Art-Classical Vocal    West Bengal
Late Shri Dhiru Bhai Ambani (Posthumous)    Trade & Industry    MaharashtraDr. Viswanathan Shanta   Medicine- Oncology    Tamil Nadu
Shri Shri Ravi Shankar    Others-Spiritualism    Karnataka


Padma Bhushan
Shri Anupam Kher    Art-Cinema    Maharashtra
Shri Udit Narayan Jha    Art-Playback Singing    Maharashtra
Shri Pallonji Shapoorji  Mistry (NRI/PIO)    Trade & Industry    Ireland

Late Swami Dayanand Sarawasati (Posthumous)    Others-Spiritualism    Uttarakhand

Ms. Saina Nehwal    Sports-Badminton    Telangana
Ms. Sania Mirza    Sports-Tennis    Telangana
Shri Vinod Rai (11th CAG)  Civil Service    Kerala

Padma Shri
Ajay Devgn
Priyanka Chopra

India to be fastest growing economy in 2016: UN Report 
As per the report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), India’s GDP growth forecast for 2016 has been downgraded to 7.5 % from 8.2 % estimated earlier, due to slow progress in implementing reform policies.

In the updated report on ‘World Economic Outlook (WEO)’ , the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept India’s growth projection unchanged at 7.3 % in the current fiscal and 7.5 % in the FY17. 

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group has announced a tie-up with the Madhya Pradesh government to set up a 750-Mw Rewa ultra-mega solar power project. This will be the largest single-site solar power project in the world. 

​India is now the world's 3rd largest steel producing country after China and Japan.

Toyota (Japan) Again World's Largest Automaker for the 4th time.

Devender Kumar Sikri - Chairman, Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Atulesh Jindal - Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

Amit Shah - President, BJP (2nd term)

Amitabh Bachchan - Brand Ambassador, Incredible India campaign

Amitabh Kant - CEO, NITI Aayog

Sachin Bansal - CEO, Flipkart

Sailesh - Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

Sam Pitroda - Technical Advisor, Odisha Government

Alice Vaidyan - CMD, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC)

Gurdeep Singh - CMD, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

According to Social Cops analysis, India has 10.1 million child workers as of Census 2011.

According to the new rule imposed by Indian Railways, any individual will not be able to book more than six tickets online in a month from IRCTC website from his/her user ID.

According to the Press Information Bureau's recent report, India moved 13 positions ahead from 65th to 52nd rank in Tourism & Travel competitive index. Spain topped the list.

After 400 years of prohibition, the Parsuram temple in Uttrakhand’s Jaunsar Bawar area has allowed entry to Dalits and women.

Favorite Actress In A New TV Series : Priyanka Chopra.

Complete Winners List of 73rd Golden Globe Awards

Motion Picture (Film)

 Picture, Drama : "The Revenant."

 Picture, Musical or Comedy : "The Martian."

 Actor, Drama : Leonardo Di Caprio, "The Revenant."

 Actress, Drama : Brie Larson, "Room."

 Director : Alejandro Inarritu, "The Revenant."

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) - National Award on e-Governance

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered officials to impose ban on polythene in entire state from January 2017.

Umaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur) - World’s Best Hotel of 2016

 Kullu Natti (Himachal Pradesh's folk dance) - Guinness Book of World Records (largest folk dance)

 Nisid Hajari (Midnight’s Furies) - William E. Colby Award 2016

 Nitish Kumar (Bihar Chief Minister) - K Veeramani Social Justice Award

Gujarati litterateur Raghuveer Chaudhary selected for 2015 Jnanpith Award

It is bestowed upon any Indian citizen who writes in any 22 official languages of India mentioned in VIII Schedule of Constitution of India.

The British writer, Kate Atkinson has won the 2015 Costa novel award for her novel “A God in Ruins”, the companion her previous novel to ‘Life After Life’.

Global Corruption Index (Transparency International-Berlin, Germany)

Denmark – 1; Then Finland and Sweden 

India – 76;

Afghanistan, North Korea & Somalia

Human Development Report (UNDP)

India – 130; (187 Country; Norway-1; Australia -2)

Indian States Kerala 1^st. West Bengal ranks 13

HDI calculated on three indices

§             Life expectancy

§             Education and

§             National income

The HDI was developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq, and the Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

India ranks 89th in Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2015-16. It has slipped by 11 positions in this edition of list compared to previous rank of 78 in 2014-15 edition of list. Switzerland (1st), Singapore (2^nd).

According to the Press Information Bureau's recent report, India moved 13 positions ahead from 65th to 52nd rank in Tourism & Travel competitive index. Spain topped the list.

India ranked 22nd but topped the list for its up-and-coming economy, according to the Best Countries reports released at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, it is Germany. Germany top. Denmark top for women.

Global Peace Index

India – 143/162; (Iceland – 1, Denmark-2);  Syria in bottom; Tot-162 Country

January 9        NRI Day

January 12     National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda Birthday)

January 15     National Army Day

January 18     National Immunization Day / National Pulse Polio Day

January 24     National Girl Child Day (Indira Gandhi Birthday)

January 25     National Tourism Day / Indian Voters Day

January 30     Martyrs Day (Mahatma Gandhi) / World Leprosy Day