Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 January 2021

Topic: Important Days

1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday will be celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ every year.

• Government has announced that the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ on 23 January every year.
• The day will be celebrated to mark his remarkable contribution to the independence movement of India. He is remembered for his selfless service to the nation.
• This day will inspire youth to face adversities in their life.
• Government is celebrating the 125^th anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose across the country from 23 January 2021.
• Subhas Chandra Bose:
  • He was born on 23 January 1897.
  • He was made the President of the Indian National Congress in 1938.
  • He established Forward Block in 1939.
  • He was the leader of Azad Hind Fauj.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Personality in News

2. Renowned Indian oncologist Dr. V Shanta passed away. 

• Dr. V Shanta, renowned Indian oncologist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute, has passed away at the age of 93.
• Dr. V Shanta has received Magsaysay, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards for contribution in the field of oncology.
• She will be remembered for her contribution to the development of the Cancer Institute at Adyar. She had dedicated her life to Cancer research and treatment.
• She was the Chairman and Executive Chairman of the Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai.
• Cancer: It is a large group of diseases. In this, cells develop abnormally beyond their normal limits, which makes a fatal attack on the surrounding parts of the body and enters into other organs.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

3. Joe Biden will take oath as 46^th President of US on 20th January.

• On 20th January, Joe Biden will take oath as 46^th President of US and Kamala Harris will take oath as 49^th Vice-President.
• Chief Justice of US, John Roberts will administer oath.  The venue for oath-taking ceremony will be West front of the US Capitol building, seat of US legislature (called US Congress).
• Kamala Harris (Kamala Devi Harris) will become America's first woman, first Black and first person with south Asian roots to become American Vice-President.
• Dr Jill Biden (Jill Tracy Biden) is wife of Joe Biden (Joseph Robinette Biden). Indian-American Mala Adiga was appointed by Joe Biden as policy director of his wife Jill Biden.  
• Two Indian-Americans were appointed by Joe Biden to the National Security Council of the White House (Official residence of US President).
• Their names are Tarun Chhabra and Sumona Guha. Shanthi Kalathil has been also named by Joe Biden in National Security Council.

Topic: National News

4. Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has been given additional charge of Ministry of AYUSH.

• Minister of State (Independent charge) for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, has been given additional charge of Ministry of AYUSH.
• He will have additional charge of Ministry of AYUSH till Shripad Yesso Naik resumes work.
• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik is hospitalized and being treated after a road accident.
• Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju is also serving as Minister of State for Minority Affairs.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Six lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh will be given financial assistance of around 2,691 crore rupees under PMAY-G.

• 6 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh will be given financial assistance of around 2,691 crore rupees under Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna - Gramin (PMAY-G).
• PM Modi will release the financial assistance today through video conferencing. He will speak with a woman of Chitrakoot district of Bundelkhand area of UP.
• Last year, Uttar Pradesh won nine national awards for implementation of PMAY-G by union rural development ministry.
• Minimum size of the house under PMAY-G is 25 square meters. In Indira Awas Yojana, it was 20 square meters.
• Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna - Gramin (PMAY-G) was launched by PM Modi on 20^th November, 2016. It became effective from 1^st April 2016. Government has targeted to construct 2.95 crore houses by 2022 in two phases given below.
  • First phase: Construction of 1.00 crore houses in 3 years (2016-17 to 2018-19)
  • Second phase: Construction of 1.95 crore houses in 3 years (2019-20 to 2021-22)

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

6. ‘Horticulture Development Mission’ (Bagayat Vikas Mission) announced by Gujarat CM.

• ‘Horticulture Development Mission’ (Bagayat Vikas Mission) has been announced by Gujarat CM.
• It aims to double the income of farmers engaged in farming of horticulture and medicinal crops.
• Under Bagayat Vikas Mission, Government will give its wasteland on 30-year lease for medicinal and horticulture farming.
• Gujarat government will release a list of land blocks on its I-Khedut portal. Kutch, Surendranagar, Patan, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts will be include din in the first phase of the mission.
• Gujarat:
  • It is a coastal state of India. Its capital is Gandhinagar.
  • Governor: Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
  • Gir National Park is located in Gujarat.
  • Bordering states: Rajasthan (in northeast), Maharashtra (in southeast), Madhya Pradesh (in east)

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

7. India wins Border-Gavaskar Trophy by beating Australia in Brisbane test.

• The Indian cricket team has beaten Australia at Gabba in Brisbane to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 2-1.
• India has won the trophy by winning the fourth test by 3 wickets. India has chased 328 run target on the fifth day.
• It was the first time in the last 32 years that Australia has lost any match at Gabba. It is India’s first victory at Gabba.
• Rishabh Pant has been awarded Man of the Match award and Pat Cummins was awarded ‘Man of the Series’ award.
• India had also won the Border–Gavaskar Trophy in 2018–19.
• Border–Gavaskar Trophy: It is a Test series played between India and Australia. It is named after Australia’s Allan Border and India’s Sunil Gavaskar.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defense

8. India, France will conduct bilateral air exercise at Jodhpur.

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force will hold the bilateral air exercise ‘Ex Desert Knight-21’ at Jodhpur Air Force Station.
• It is scheduled to be held from 20 to 24 January.
• For the first time, Rafale aircraft will be included in exercise from both sides to represent the growing bilateral defense ties. 
• France will participate with Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel, while Indian Air Force will participate with Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.
• Indian and France Air forces had conducted the sixth edition of Garuda air exercise in 2019 at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan, France.
• This exercise will foster the defense relationship between India and France through AN exchange of knowledge and experience.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Reports and Indices

9. NITI Aayog will launch the Second Edition of India Innovation Index 2020.

• NITI Aayog will release the second edition of the India Innovation Index 2020. It will be released by the NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar.
• It is based on the study of innovation capabilities and performance of 29 states and eight union territories of India. It also highlights the strength and weaknesses of their innovation policies.
• In this methodology of ranking, state and union territories have been divided into 17 ‘Major States’, 10 ‘North-East and Hill States’, and 9 ‘City States and Union Territories’.
• The states and union territories have been ranked based on two categories- outcome and governance.

• It uses 36 indicator and 4 composite indicators to evaluate state and union territories performance.
• India Innovation Index 2020 has also included global parameters to measure innovation. It also considers different factors that help innovation at country, state, and district levels.
• The first edition of this index was launched in October 2019.
• NITI Aayog:
  • It was formed on January 1, 2015. It replaced the Planning Commission.
  • The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman and the Prime Minister appoints the Vice-Chairperson.
  • Rajeev Kumar is the current Vice- Chairperson of NITI Aayog. Amitabh Kant is its CEO.

Topic: Books and Authors

10. Goa Chief Minister released book ‘Manohar Parrikar -Off the Record’.

• Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has released a book ‘Manohar Parrikar- Off the Record’.
• It has been written by Waman Subha Prabhu.
• It is a collection of memories of the writer with late Manohar Parrikar.
• In this book, the author has narrated the unseen personality of Manohar Parrikar.   
• Manohar Parrikar:
  • He was the former Chief Minister of Goa.
  • He also served as the Minister of Defence from 2014 to 2017.
  • He was posthumously awarded Padma Bhushan.
  • He was the first IITian to become the Chief Minister of a state.