Latest Current Affairs January 26 2018
1. IAF Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala posthumously conferred with Ashok Chakra
India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashok Chakra, was conferred on Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who died fighting militants in Kashmir valley. This is the third Ashok Chakra for the IAF and its first for ground combat. President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the award to Nirala’s wife at a function during the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath.
2. Narayanan appointed Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
Senior ISRO scientist Dr V Narayanan has assumed charge as Director of the space agency’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). He succeeds S Somanath who has been appointed Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
Narayanan, who is a rocket propulsion expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities. As Project Director for C25 Cryogenic Project, he lead the team that successfully developed the C25 Cryogenic Stage powered by a 20 tonne thrust Cryogenic Engine using Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen propellant combination.
He played a vital role in the successful launch of GSLV Mk III vehicle in its maiden attempt last year from the spaceport of ISRO, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota.
3. Chinese scientists for first time successfully clone monkeys
Chinese researchers have successfully cloned a macaque monkey fetus twice, producing sister monkeys Hua Hua and Zhong Zhong using the same basic method used to create Dolly. The team removed the nucleus from monkey eggs and replaced it with DNA from the fetus, implanting the resulting eggs in female monkeys for them to give birth. In theory, this makes human cloning more realistic given the genetic similarities between monkeys and our own species.
4. India marks 69th Republic Day with grand parade
India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand parade along with ten ASEAN leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first. Signifying India’s fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country’s military might and cultural diversity.
ASEAN
- Stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
- Motto: “One Vision, One Identity, One Community
- Members: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Brunei
5. Government announces Padma, Gallantry awards
Government of India has announced Padma awards for personalities who served the poor, set up free schools and popularised tribal arts globally. Of these, three were Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan, and 73 Padma Shri.
PADMA VIBHUSHAN
Senior RSS ideologue P Parameswaran, who was instrumental in building the Sangh cadre in Kerala, was conferred the Padma Vibhushan. Music composer Illaiyaraja and Ghulam Mustafa Khan are also recipients of the Padma Vibhushan.
PADMA BHUSHAN
Cricketer and former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni recieved the Padma Bhushan. Other Padma Bhushan awardees include billiards player Pankaj Advani, Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Alexander Kadakia, Ramachandram Nagaswamy, Laxman Pai,Ved Prakash Nanda, Arvind Parikh, and Sharda Sinha.
6. India, Vietnam sign two agreements
India and Vietnam has signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in the field of information and broadcasting, based on principles of equality and reciprocity pursuant to their national laws and regulations, following meeting between the prime ministers of the the two countries ahead of ASEAN Summit.
Another implementation arrangement between ISRO and National Remote Sensing Department of Vietnam was also concluded on the occasion, for establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing facility in Vietnam under ASEAN India Space Cooperation.
7. ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit issues Delhi Declaration
India rolled out the red carpet for the 10 ASEAN leaders, as they gathered in New Delhi to mark 25 years of ASEAN-India relations. At a commemorative summit, the leaders renewed their commitment to enhance the multifaceted ties between the South-east Asian grouping and its neighbouring South Asian giant.
The summit was co-chaired by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, which chairs Asean this year, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two expressed hopes for Asean and India to draw closer to each other. They also identified areas of mutual concern.
Theme of the Summit : Shared Values, Common Destiny
8. Government launches Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls
Rakesh Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, has launched the beneficiary module of the Rapid Reporting System (RRS) for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls – a web based on line monitoring for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls in New Delhi. The RRS will facilitate the monitoring of the scheme and taking corrective measures by ensuring faster flow of information, accurate targeting of the beneficiaries and reduction of leakages. This Portal has been developed in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The URL for the portal is http://sag-rrs.nic.in.
9. West Bengal’s first floating market opens in Kolkata
India’s first floating market is now open in Kolkata’s Patuli area in West Bengal. The market houses over 200 shops. Set up by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the market functions solely on boats at the lake in Patuli, where shopkeepers sell fruits, vegetables, fish among other produce.
10. US creates task force to promote ‘internet freedom’ in Cuba
The U.S. State Department said that it had created a Cuba Internet Task Force to promote “the free and unregulated flow of information” on the Communist-run island, an action denounced by Cuban state media as subversive. The task force will examine the technological challenges and opportunities for expanding internet access and independent media in Cuba.
11. India, ASEAN leaders agree to boost maritime ties
Leaders of Southeast Asia agreed with India to boost their maritime ties at a summit in New Delhi, as they seek to balance the increasing weight of China across the region. Delhi is hosting the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Regional Cooperation (ASEAN) and the summit comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pursuing an “Act East” policy of developing ties with these countries. The leaders agreed to establish a mechanism for greater cooperation in the maritime domain sector.
