Daily Current Affairs and GK | 26 and 27 January 2021

Topic: State News/Uttar Pradesh

1. Udyam Sarthi app launched by UP Chief Minister on its 71^st foundation day.

• Udyam Sarthi app has been launched by UP Chief Minister on its 71^st foundation day.
• Udyam Sarthi app will offer all information about self-employment and offer information about the job industry.
• It has been made under the One District One Product scheme. It will help youth in exploring self-employment opportunities and different business opportunities in departments of state government and central government.
• The assistance of state government, experts’ opinion, loan availability process, market availability details and information about business models as well as strategies will also be offered through the Udyam Sarthi app.
• Government aims to develop UP as the most developed state with the highest employment rate. 
• On 24 January 1950, United Provinces was renamed as Uttar Pradesh. In 2017, Uttar Pradesh decided to celebrate 24 January as its foundation day called UP Diwas.

Topic: Defence

2. Operation Sard Hawa launched by BSF.

• Operation Sard Hawa has been launched by Border Security Force (BSF) at the international border on the western side of Rajasthan.
• Operation Sard Hawa will strengthen vigil to prevent infiltration because of the dense fog in the area.
• It was started on 21 January and will continue till 27 January. BSF carries out this operation as a routine exercise.
• In summers, Operation Garam Hawa is carried out by BSF as a routine exercise.

Topic: Art and Culture

3. Ministry of Tourism organizing Bharat Parv 2021 on a virtual platform from 26 January to 31 January.

• Ministry of Tourism is organizing Bharat Parv 2021 on a virtual platform from 26 January to 31 January.
• Bharat Parv 2021 was inaugurated by 17^th Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.  Bharat Parv 2021 is focused on the overall theme of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.
• Bharat Parv 2021 is the first virtual Bharat Parv. The virtual platform for Bharat Parv 2021 showcases glimpses of the Republic Day Parade and recorded performances of Armed forces music bands.
• Tourism destinations, arts and crafts of multiple States and Union Territories are being showcased during Bharat Parv 2021.
• During Bharat Parv 2021, the Bureau of Outreach and Communication under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting focuses on the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Bharat Parv is organized by the Ministry of Tourism annually in front of Red Fort on the occasion of Republic Day.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

4. Flypast of Republic Day parade 2021 ended with Vertical Charlie formation by Rafale fighter jet.

• Flypast of Republic Day parade 2021 ended with Vertical Charlie formation by single Rafale fighter jet.
• ‘Eklavya formation’ was conducted by a Rafale jet with two Jaguar Deep penetration strike aircraft and two MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters.
• ‘Trinetra’ formation was conducted by three Su-30MKIs. In September 2020, Five Rafale fighter planes were inducted into Indian Air Force.
• Rafale:
  • It is a French twin-engine multi-role combat aircraft.
  • It has the capability to strike air-to-air targets from up to 150 km away.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Government announces names of Padma Awardees for year 2021.

• Government announced names of Padma Awardees for year 2021.
• Padma Vibhushan for year 2021 will be given to seven persons. Some of them are given below.

• Padma Bhushan for year 2021 will be given to ten persons. Some of them are given below.

• This year, government announced Padma Shri to 102 persons. Some of them are given in the next table.

• Padma Awards:
  • These are the civilian awards instituted in 1954 as Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg, and Tisra Varg.
  • Later the awards were renamed as Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a high order) and Padma Shri (for distinguished services).
  • The Padma Awards are given by the President of India.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. President approves giving of Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards - 2020 to 40 persons.

• President approved giving of Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards - 2020 to 40 persons.
• The awards included in Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards -2020 are:
  • Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak to one person
  • Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak to eight persons
  • Jeevan Raksha Padak to 31 persons
• Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak has been awarded posthumously to Muhammed Muhsin of Kerala.
• Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards
  • These recognize meritorious act of human nature in saving the life of a person. These can be given posthumously. These were instituted in 1961.
  • Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Jeevan Raksha Padak are three categories of Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Award.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

7. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte submits resignation to President Sergio Mattarella.

• Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte submitted his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella after criticism of overspending in coronavirus crisis.
• Two weeks ago, former PM Matteo Renzi withdrew his support from the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
• Former PM Matteo Renzi had opposed PM Giuseppe Conte’s plan for spending of EU aid for coronavirus crisis.   
• Italy:
  • It is a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline. Its capital is Rome.
  • President: Sergio Mattarella
  • Prime Minister: Giuseppe Conte
  • Currency: Euro

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

8. Lt Gen Ravin Khosla takes charge of Gajraj Corps.

• Lt Gen Ravin Khosla has taken charge of the Indian Army’s Frontier Gajraj Corps.
• He has replaced General Shantanu Dayal.
• He had also served in operation PAWAN in Sri Lanka. He has been awarded the Ati Vishist Sewa Medal, Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.
• Indian army is divided into seven commands. Each command consists of two or more corps. There are thirteen corps in the Indian army. Every Corps is headed by a General Officer Commander (GOC).
• Gajraj Corps:
  • It is also known as the IV Corps.
  • It was formed on 4 October 1962 by Lt Gen Brij Mohan Kaul at Tezpur, Assam.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Colonel Santosh Babu will be awarded the Maha Vir Chakra award posthumously.

• President has announced the name of the awardee of Defence awards, which include winner of Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakras, Vir Chakras, Shaurya Chakras, Sena Medal, etc.
• Colonel B Santosh Babu will be awarded the Maha Vir Chakra award posthumously. He was the commanding officer of 16 Bihar Regiment during the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
• Sanjiv Kumar, Shyam Narayan Singh Yadav, Vinod Kumar, Pintu Kumar Singh, Rahul Mathur will be awarded Kirti Chakra.
• Nuduram Soren, K Palani, Naik Deepak and Gurtej Singh will be awarded Vir Chakra.
• Important Defence Awards: 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

10. DRDO successfully test-fired New Generation Akash Missile in Odisha.

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted the maiden test of New Generation Akash missile (Akash-NG) from Odisha.
• The Missile has achieved all the objectives during the test. 
• The test launch was carried out by a combined team of DRDO, BDL and BEL.
• The existing Akash missile has a range of 25 km, while the Akash-NG can strike targets at a range of 30 km.
• Akash-NG:
  • It is a new generation Surface-to-Air Missile. It will be used by the Indian Air Force for intercepting low Radar Cross Section aerial threats.
  • It can hit target up to a range of around 30 km.
• Akash is the first indigenously developed Surface to Air missile of India. It is designed and developed by DRDO. It was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

11. Maharashtra CM inaugurated an international zoological park in Nagpur.

• Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur.
• Recently, the Gorewada International Zoo has been named as Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoo.
• It is spread over an area of 1,914 hectares. It has a wildlife sanctuary, Indian safari, African safari biodiversity park and night safari.
• The four different safaris: leopard safari, sloth bear safari, tiger safari and herbivore safari are the main feature of this park.
• It is one of the largest zoological parks in India.
• It has been developed by the State Forest Department and Forest Development Corporation.
• The government will also establish Gondwana Theme Park in Nagpur to make tourists aware about the culture of Vidarbha tribals.
• Protected Areas in Maharashtra:
  • There are six national parks in the State.
  • There are seven Zoos and four rescue center in Maharashtra.
  • There are 41 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Maharashtra.

Topic: Sports

12. Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 started in Ahmedabad.

• Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 is being played between 26- 31 January at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad.
• The four quarter-final will be played between 26-27 January and two semi-finals will be played on 29 January. The final will be played on 31 January.
• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy:
  • It is a domestic Twenty20 cricket championship.
  • It is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
  • Karnataka was the winner of Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 2019-20.
• List of domestic Cricket competitions of India: