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

Piyush Jaiswal honored with Global Bihar Excellence Awards 2019

January 3, 2020

Piyush Jaiswal was awarded the Global Bihar Excellence Award 2019. This award was presented by Rajya Sabha MP and Padma Shri Awardee Dr. CP Thakur and Bihar Women Commission president Dilmani Devi in Patna to promote women empowerment.

The award was given to recognize and felicitated Piyush Jaiswal’s contribution towards social welfare, women empowerment and introducing new talent in the field of arts and culture.

Piyush Jaiswal was recently awarded the humanitarian award with the Global Peace Excellence Humanitarian Award 2019 on the occasion of International Human Day.

‘Damini’ helpline service for women launched by UPSRTC

January 3, 2020

UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) has launched ‘Damini’ helpline service considering the safety of the women passengers. As the extension of ‘Nirbhaya Yojana’ the unique number “81142-77777” has been subscribed for this helpline. Women passengers can lodge their complaints by calling the helpline number and by using WhatsApp service.

The service will be functional from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day and will be exclusively handled by women officers at the UPSRTC headquarters and regional offices. Women passengers can lodge their complaints on the general helpline number, 1800-180-2877, after 6 p.m.

Natyasurya Awardee dramatist Ratna Ojha passed away

January 3, 2020

Eminent Assamese dramatist, litterateur and social activist Ratna Ojha passed away due to old-age related ailments. For his contribution to the field of theatre, he received the prestigious Natyasurya Award in 2005.

He had introduced street plays in Assam in 1971 with his skit ‘Kokaideo’ to revive the theatre movement in the state that was fading with the death of his mentor Phani Sarma.

Iran’s Gen Qassem Soleimani killed in US airstrike on Baghdad airport

January 3, 2020

Iran’s top commander General Qassim Soleimani has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. Soleimani, who led a special forces unit of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, has been a key figure of Iranian and the Middle East politics.

His death exacerbated already-high tensions between Iran and the United States and triggered concerns of retaliation from Iranian forces. After the news of Soleimani’s death, oil prices jumped more than 4% and fuelling fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region.

Andhra Pradesh Govt. appoints two ‘Disha Special Officers’

January 3, 2020

The Andhra Pradesh government-appointed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official Dr Kritika Shukla and Indian Police Service (IPS) official M Deepika, as Special Officers for implementing the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act 2019.

The Act is intended for speedy trial and faster execution in cases of sexual offences against women in the state. To ensure a speedy trial, the state will set up exclusive special courts in all the 13 districts to deal with cases of offences against women and children including rape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, social media harassment of women, sexual harassment and all cases under POCSO Act.

28th World Book Fair to focus on Gandhi as writer

January 3, 2020

The annual New Delhi World Book Fair, in its 28th edition, will focus on how Mahatma Gandhi influenced generations of writers through his writings. The fair, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) in association with ITPO, will be inaugurated by Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The theme for World Book Fair 2020 is ‘Gandhi: The Writers’ Writer.

Commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi, the theme pavilion, inspired by Sabarmati Ashram, uses hand-spun materials as wall-cladding. Besides an exclusive exhibition of 500 books on and by Gandhi in different languages, it will also host 30-panel discussions, book launches and performances related to the theme.

Integrated helpline number 139 launched by Indian Railways for passengers

January 3, 2020

The Indian Railways has integrated its helpline numbers into a single number — 139 taking over all the existing helpline numbers, for quick grievance redressal and enquiries by passengers during their train journeys.

The Helpline 139 will be available in twelve languages. It will be based on Interactive Voice Response System and will provide easy access to all mobile users.

A new campus of NFSC in Nagpur inaugurated by Home Minister

January 3, 2020

Union Home Minister Amit Shah dedicated the new campus of National Fire Service College (NFSC) under the Ministry of Home affairs. NFSC campus spread across 42 acres is fully equipped with the international standards. The four-year Bachelor level course in Fire Engineering approved by the All India Council for Technical Education along with the short and long-term courses in Emergency Management, Medical Life Support Management, and Disaster Management will be taught in this college.

In the same function, the Minister also laid the foundation stone for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Academy which will be established near Suradevi village of Nagpur. 15 President’s Fire Service medals for gallantry were also awarded by the Minister to the awardees including Fire Service Officers and Firemen from different parts of the country.

Govt approves release of Grant-in-Aid of Rs 2.6 cr to J&K Pollution Control Board

January 3, 2020

Environment and Forests Ministry has approved the release of Grant-in-Aid of 6 crore rupees to J&K Pollution Control Board. Under this scheme, the JK PCB shall provide financial assistance to 3742 number of Eco Clubs of registered schools in both the regions of J&K along with 96 Eco-Clubs for registered Colleges.

The environment education, awareness and Training scheme of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India for National Green Corps (Eco-Clubs) which was closed for over a decade has been revived for J&K.

Ireland: Hillary Clinton appointed as new chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast

January 3, 2020

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been appointed the new chancellor of Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland for a five-year term.

The position of chancellor has been vacant since the death in 2018 of Thomas J Moran, chairman, president, and chief executive of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company.

Clinton, who has been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland going back to the first visit of President Bill Clinton in 1995, becomes the university’s first female chancellor.

January 2020 Current Affairs

Piyush Jaiswal honored with Global Bihar Excellence Awards 2019

‘Damini’ helpline service for women launched by UPSRTC

Natyasurya Awardee dramatist Ratna Ojha passed away

Iran’s Gen Qassem Soleimani killed in US airstrike on Baghdad airport

Andhra Pradesh Govt. appoints two ‘Disha Special Officers’

28th World Book Fair to focus on Gandhi as writer

Integrated helpline number 139 launched by Indian Railways for passengers

A new campus of NFSC in Nagpur inaugurated by Home Minister

Govt approves release of Grant-in-Aid of Rs 2.6 cr to J&K Pollution Control Board

Ireland: Hillary Clinton appointed as new chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast

All In One Current Affairs

State-Wise Static GK