Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 15 2021
Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 15 2021. Read and Download daily, monthly Current Affairs Daily Digest 2021 for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI etc,. Download month wise Current affairs 2020 PDF and Current affairs quiz PDF .
1. Which were the 10 cities with highest traffic congestion in the world in 2020?
Moscow had the highest traffic congestion in the world in 2020, according to TomTom Traffic Index, a report detailing the traffic situation in over 400 cities in 57 countries. Moscow was followed by Mumbai, Bogota, Manila, Istanbul, Bengaluru, Kyiv, New Delhi, Novosibirsk and Bangkok in traffic congestion. In 2019, the same index had found Bengaluru to be the most congested.
2. Bengaluru world’s fastest growing tech hub, Mumbai 6th: Report
Bengaluru has emerged as the world’s fastest growing mature tech ecosystem since 2016, with Mumbai coming in at sixth place, according to Dealroom.co data analysed by London & Partners. Investment in Bengaluru grew 5.4 times from $1.3 billion in 2016 to $7.2 billion in 2020, the report said. Bengaluru also ranked sixth for the most tech venture capitalist investments globally.
3. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw named as VC of US-India Business Council
Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been named as the new vice-chair of the US-India Business Council (USIBC) on Thursday. Shaw will be one of the three vice-chairs on the USIBC’s board of directors. “I look forward to forging collaborative initiatives in pharma and healthcare in research, innovation, skill development between our two nations,” Shaw said.
4. DRDO develops India’s first Indigenously-Developed 9mm Machine Pistol
India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army. Infantry School, Mhow and DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune have designed and developed this weapon using their respective expertise in the complementary areas.
5. FSS and IPPB join hands to promote financial inclusion
Financial Software and Systems (FSS), a leading payment processor and provider of integrated payment products, has partnered with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to promote financial inclusion among underserved and unbanked segments.
6. Intel appoints Pat Gelsinger as new CEO
Intel has appointed Pat Gelsinger as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Feb. 15, 2021. Gelsinger will also join the Intel board of directors upon assuming the role. He will succeed Bob Swan, who will remain CEO until Feb. 15.
7. Kerala becomes 8th State to complete ease of doing business reforms
Kerala has become the 8th State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Kerala has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs.2,373 crore through Open Market Borrowings. Permission for the same was issued by the Department of Expenditure on 12th January 2021.
8. IFFI 2021 to celebrate the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray
The 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be celebrating the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray by screening five of his classics. As part of the tribute, the festival will showcase Ray’s acclaimed “Pather Panchali”, the first film of his The Apu Trilogy, 1964 romantic drama “Charulata”, “Sonar Kella”, his 1977 Hindi directorial debut “Shatranj Ke Khilari” and “Ghare Baire” (1984).
9. Indian Army inks $20 mn contract to buy SWITCH drones
The Indian Army has recently signed a contract with Mumbai-based drone manufacturing company, ideaForge, to procure high-altitude variant of SWITCH unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The total cost of the deal is approximately USD 20 million.
10. Indian Army Day: 15 January
The Army Day in India is celebrated on 15 January every year, to salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country and its citizens. This year marks the 73rd Indian Army Day. The Army Day is celebrated at all Army Command headquarters to honour our country’s soldiers who set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood, and above all, love for the country.
11. India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol jointly developed by Indian Army, DRDO
India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by the Indian Army and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This was informed by the Defence Ministry on January 14, 2021.
12. India-Oman Strategic Strategic Consultative Group meeting held
India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting was held in-person in New Delhi on January 14, 2021.
The Indian delegation was led by Sanjay Bhattacharya, Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs, while the Omani delegation was led by Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al-Harthy, Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs, Foreign Ministry.
13. India and Japan sign MoU to strengthen cooperation in Information and Communications Technology
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and Japan on January 15, 2021, to enhance cooperation in the field of ICT- Information and Communications Technology.
The MoU was signed by Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT, and Takeda Ryota, the Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of Japan. The signing was exchanged through a video conference.
