Focus Merit

Date	Day	Theme 2020
04 January	World Braille Day
06 January	Journalist day (in Maharashtra)
09 January	Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
10 January	World Hindi Day
11-17 January	National Road Safety Week	Sadak Suraksha - Jeevan Suraksha.
12 January	National Youth Day
14 January	Armed Forces Veterans Day
15 January	Indian Army Day
18 January	15th Raising day of NDRF
19 January	National Immunization day
24 January	National Girl Child Day
24 January	International day of education	Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace.
25 January	National Voters' Day	Electoral Literacy for a Stronger Democracy
25 January	National Tourism Day
26 January	International Customs Day	Customs fostering Sustainability for people, prosperity and the planet.
26 January	World Leprosy Day	Leprosy isn't what you think
27 January	International day of the commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust	“75 years after Auschwitz – Holocaust Education and Remembrance for Global Justice”
30 January	World Neglected Tropical diseases day

INS Vikramaditya deployed in Arabian Sea amid “Sea Guardians”

January 11, 2020

India has deployed its aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in Arabian Sea. The aircraft carrier was deployed amid the Pakistan-China naval exercise “Sea Guardians” taking place in North Arabian Sea. Top officials of the Naval headquarters were on board the aircraft carrier when it was deployed in the strategic mission earlier this week.

exercise ‘Sea Guardians’ is taking place in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Key platforms of both China and Pakistan, including submarines, destroyers and frigates are part of the exercise.

Union Home Minister inaugurates the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre

January 11, 2020

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and also dedicated National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to the nation . This state-of-the-art Centre is located in New Delhi. The scheme to set up I4C was approved in October 2018 at an estimated cost of around 416 crore rupees to deal with all types of cyber-crimes with specific focus on crimes against women, children, particularly child pornography, child sex abuse material, online content pertaining to rapes.

At the initiative of Home Ministry, 15 States and UTs have given their consent to set up Regional Cyber Crime Coordination Centres. It constitutes 7 elements: National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre, National Cyber Crime Forensic Laboratory Ecosystem, National Cyber Crime Training Centre, Cyber Crime Ecosystem Management Unit, National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and Platform for Joint Cyber Crime Investigation Team.

On the other hand, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) is a citizen-centric initiative that will enable citizens to report cyber-crimes online through the portal. All the cyber-crime related complaints will be accessed by the concerned law enforcement agencies in the States and Union Territories for taking action as per law. This portal was launched on pilot basis on 30th August, 2019.

Tamil Nadu: 2 state-run varsities to be named after Jayalalithaa

January 11, 2020

Tamil Nadu Assembly passed two Bills to name a fisheries university and a music varsity after late Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University and The Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University have been rechristened “The Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University,” and “The Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University.” She served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for six times.

Orders had been issued in 2017 for the name change of fisheries varsity and sometime back as regards the music university. Though the name change is already in force in both the state-run varsities, the Bills were adopted to validate the change. DMK and other opposition party members, who opposed most of the other Bills, did not oppose naming the varsities after Jayalalithaa.

Oman: Ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said passes away

January 11, 2020

The longest-serving ruler of Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said passed away. He was a charismatic and visionary leader who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was ruling Oman since 1970. The Sultan is the prime decision-maker in Oman and also holds the portfolio of Prime Minister, supreme commander of the armed forces, minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance and minister of defense.

State Energy Efficiency Index 2019 unveiled by Union Govt.

January 11, 2020

The Union Government has released the “State Energy Efficiency Index 2019”. The index was released during the ‘Review, Planning and Monitoring (RPM)’ meeting held in New Delhi. The index is developed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) along with Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). The SEE Index 2019 traces the expansion and achievements of Energy Efficiency (EE) drives running in 36 states and union territories. The State Energy Efficiency Index 2019 was topped by Haryana, Karnataka and Kerala while Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and Rajasthan performed worst in their respective groups.

IMS certification for Mangaluru Junction railway facility

January 11, 2020

The Carriage and Wagon Depot at Mangaluru Junction railway station, which is capable of examining freight train formations for rail worthiness, has obtained Integrated Management System (IMS). The IMS certification covers ISO 9001-2015 for quality management, ISO 14001-2015 for environment management, and ISO 45001-2018 for occupational health and safety, and is valid up to December 2022.

Functions associated with the examination of freight trains and maintenance activities performed at the depot, platform yard, and sick line; and the stores and material management functions at the depot are certified under the IMS. The brake power certificate issued by the depot is the authority to utilize the rakes in the specified schedule. On average, 49 such rakes are examined at the depot in a month

Bangladesh: 2nd largest Muslim Congregation ‘Bishwa Ijtema’ begins

January 11, 2020

The first phase of the world’s second largest Muslim congregation after Haj begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thousands of devotees from Bangladesh and abroad are thronging the bank of river Turag at Tongi near Dhaka to participate in the congregation called Bishwa Ijtema. The Ijtema began with the ‘aam bayan’ and will end on January 12 with the final prayers ‘Akheri Munajat’. The second phase of Bishwa Ijtem will take place between January 17-19.

India Pulses and Grains Association announces ‘The Pulses Conclave 2020’

January 11, 2020

India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the nodal body for India’s pulses trade & industry announced that the 5th edition of The Pulses Conclave, will be held from 12th to 14th February, 2020 at Amby Valley City in Lonavala, Maharashtra. Prime Minister’s vision is to double the farmer’s income by the year 2022 and a huge effort has been put into achieving the same.

IPGA expects close to 1500 trade stakeholders from India and key pulses exporting countries like the USA, Australia, Canada, Myanmar, Ethiopia, etc. to participate in the conclave. The Pulses Conclave 2020, as a part of its agenda, will discuss about the increasing domestic production and consumption and will also bring to fore other areas of the trade like improving processing efficiencies, increasing consumption, exports, value addition, protein extraction, post-harvest crop management, etc.

Imported water-soluble fertilizers launched by Gujarat Agro Industries

January 11, 2020

The Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation (GAIC) has imported 300 metric tonnes (MT) of water soluble fertilisers from China, which it will be selling to farmers in Gujarat. GAIC Chairman and BJP MLA Madhu Shrivastav launched six different grades of imported water soluble fertilisers at a formal event in Ahmedabad. The new-generation fertilizers will be sold in the market under its brand – ‘AGRO’.

Gujarat has become a front-runner State in terms of area under drip irrigation system. The use of water-soluble fertilizers will be the next step for precision agriculture and to produce fruits and vegetables matching global standards. The water-soluble fertilisers that were launched include, AGRO MKP, AGRO NOP, AGRO MAP, AGRO NPK, AGRO CN, AGRO SOP.

The products that the company will be selling in markets across Gujarat are Calcium Nitrate, Mono Ammonium Phosphate, Potassium Sulphate, Soluble Potassium Nitrate, Mono Potassium Phosphate and NPK, which have been imported in powder form.

West Bengal: Dharmendra Pradhan launches mission PURVODAYA

January 12, 2020

Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Steel launched mission PURVODAYA for the development of eastern India through integrated steel hub in Kolkata, West Bengal. Through this programme, the government aims to transform logistics and utilities infrastructure which would change the socio-economic landscape in the eastern India.

The mission will drive India’s march towards five trillion dollar economy set by the government. The steps, under mission, also include growth of steel industry along with employment opportunities across the entire value chain.

January 2020 Current Affairs

INS Vikramaditya deployed in Arabian Sea amid “Sea Guardians”

Union Home Minister inaugurates the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre

Tamil Nadu: 2 state-run varsities to be named after Jayalalithaa

Oman: Ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said passes away

State Energy Efficiency Index 2019 unveiled by Union Govt.

IMS certification for Mangaluru Junction railway facility

Bangladesh: 2nd largest Muslim Congregation ‘Bishwa Ijtema’ begins

India Pulses and Grains Association announces ‘The Pulses Conclave 2020’

Imported water-soluble fertilizers launched by Gujarat Agro Industries

West Bengal: Dharmendra Pradhan launches mission PURVODAYA

All In One Current Affairs

State-Wise Static GK