In Current Affairs for 20 January 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 20 January 2024
Boeing India Engineering And Technology Center
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new state of the art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center and launched the Boeing Sukanya programme in Bengaluru.
- In his address during the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Boeing facility in Bengaluru strengthens the ‘Make in India-Make for the World’ resolution and reinforces the World’s trust in India’s talent.
- With Asia’s largest helicopter manufacturing factory and the Boeing facility inaugurated today, the Prime Minister said that Karnataka is the new aviation hub in the country.
- He said that the center is encouraging state governments to reduce taxes related to aviation fuel and also working to make Aircraft Leasing easier.
- He also mentioned the International Financial Services Centers Authority established in Gift City to reduce India’s offshore dependence on aircraft leasing and financing.
- India is becoming one of the most well connected markets due to the policy initiatives of the Central Government. He said, with just 70 operational airports in 2014, the country has today 150 operational airports, the efficiency of which is also being enhanced with increase in air cargo capacity.
- India has become the world’s third largest domestic aviation market. The PM said, in a decade, the number of domestic passengers has doubled.
- The schemes like UDAN have played a big role in this. Indian airlines fleet size is increasing due to growing demand.
- He emphasised that the rapidly growing aviation sector is giving impetus to India’s overall growth and employment generation.
- Prime Minister informed that 15 percent of India’s pilots are women which is three times more than the global average.
- He expressed the Government commitment to create new opportunities for women in the aerospace sector.
- He acknowledged the contribution of Boeing in giving a boost to women participation in the aviation sector by helping the poor living in far flung areas to realise their dreams of becoming pilots through the Boeing Sukanya programme.
E SAKSHI App Under MPLADS
- Launch Of e-Sakshi Mobile Application Marks A Significant Advancement In Administration Of Member Of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme In India. Digital Initiative, Spearheaded By Union Ministry Of Statistics And Programme Implementation.
- Aims To Transform The Way MPs Engage In & Manage Development Projects Within Their Constituencies.
- MPLADS, Established In 1993, Is A Central Sector Scheme Fully Funded By The GOI. It Allows MPs To Recommend Developmental Projects With An Emphasis On Durable Community Assets, Based On Locally Felt Needs.
- Each MP Is Allocated Rs. 5 Crores Annually For These Projects, Which May Include Building Infrastructure Like Toilets And Bridges And Providing Essential Services Like Drinking Water And Electricity.
- Before e-Sakshi, The Process Was Predominantly Paper-based, Leading To Various Administrative Challenges. This Feature Prevents The Occurrence Of Ghost Projects By Providing Tangible Proof Of Progress.
Assam Baibhav Award
- Former Chief Justice of India and current Rajya Sabha MP, Ranjan Gogoi, is set to be honored with the prestigious ‘Assam Baibhav’ award, the highest civilian award in Assam.
- Highlighted Gogoi’s significant contributions to the field of justice and jurisprudence. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 10. This marks the third year of the Assam Baibhav awards, with the inaugural award presented to business magnate Ratan Tata in the first year, followed by journalist Tapan Saikia in the second year.
- The decision to confer this year’s award upon Ranjan Gogoi reflects the state government’s acknowledgment of his exceptional service and achievements. Chief Minister Sarma, in his announcement, emphasized the groundbreaking role played by Ranjan Gogoi as the first judge from the North East to assume the position of Chief Justice of India.
- Sarma commended Gogoi’s efforts in expanding the delivery of justice and enriching the country’s jurisprudence.
- The Chief Minister also credited Gogoi for his role in the establishment of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, emphasizing the significant impact of Gogoi’s Assamese roots on this historic development.
- The Assam Baibhav, the state’s top civilian award, was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 2, 2021, during Assam Day. It includes a ₹5 lakh cash prize and lifelong government-sponsored medical treatment. The award features the Jaapi image and “Assam Baibhav” in Assamese on a Hollong tree leaf.
Green Rooms In Ukraine
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Denmark, has introduced a groundbreaking initiative in Ukraine, the establishment of “green rooms” at the National Police headquarters in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
- This innovative project aims to create a safe and supportive environment for effective communication between law enforcement officers and child survivors or witnesses of crime.
- The “green rooms” are specially designed spaces within police facilities that prioritize the well-being and rights of child survivors during investigative and procedural processes.
- Rooms play a pivotal role in facilitating interactions that are sensitive to the needs of children involved in legal proceedings.
- The “green room” consists of two spaces separated by special glass. One room serves as a communication area where police officers can interact with the child, while the other allows for discreet observation of the conversation.
- This setup ensures privacy and confidentiality. Interactions in the “green room” can be recorded, providing a valuable resource for court proceedings.
- This innovative approach minimizes the necessity of directly involving the child in legal processes, thereby preventing re-traumatization.
- The design and functionality of the “green room” create a child-friendly atmosphere, promoting a sense of security and comfort for children and adolescents who have encountered legal conflicts.
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Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan
- The Assam government recently launched a financial assistance scheme, the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), with the aim of empowering rural women entrepreneurs.
- The program is designed to provide financial assistance to women who aspire to embark on their entrepreneurial journey independently, beyond their association with Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- This initiative introduces unique conditions, focusing specifically on the number of eligible children for the beneficiaries.
- The MMUA scheme is designed to promote the development of rural women who are part of self-help groups. It aims to transform them into “Rural Micro Entrepreneurs” with an annual income target of ₹1 lakh per member.
- To qualify for the grant, women from the general and other backward caste (OBC) categories must have no more than three children.
- However, specific exemptions are made for women from the Moran, Muttock, and tea-tribe communities, who can apply with four or fewer children. For women belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) categories, the eligibility criteria dictate that they should have no more than four children.
- Eligibility is limited to three children. Maximum benefit for up to four children. If beneficiaries have daughters, they must be enrolled in school.
- For girls not attending school, a signed commitment for future enrollment is necessary.
- In the inaugural phase of the MMUA, each eligible applicant will receive a grant of ₹10,000 in the first year. This seed funding is intended to facilitate the initiation of various business ventures, chosen from a curated list of 145 business plans prepared by the government.
- The financial allocation for this scheme is unprecedented, with ₹3,900 crore earmarked in the state’s annual budget, making it the most substantial initiative of its kind in Assam.
Google Pay Partners With NPCI
- In a significant move towards fostering international digital transactions, Google India Digital Services and NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) have joined hands to propel UPI payments beyond the borders of India.
- The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities is poised to revolutionize the way Indian travellers engage in financial transactions abroad.
- The primary objective of the MoU is to enhance the usage of UPI payments for Indian travellers outside their homeland.
- With this collaboration, Google Pay (GPay) becomes the conduit, enabling seamless and convenient transactions for Indian globetrotters. This marks a departure from the traditional reliance on cash or international payment gateways.
- The MoU outlines three pivotal objectives that aim to reshape the landscape of international digital payments.
- It seeks to broaden the scope of UPI payments, providing travellers the ease of conducting transactions in foreign countries.
- The collaboration aims to establish UPI-like digital payment systems globally, setting a precedent for frictionless financial exchanges.
- Lastly, it focuses on simplifying cross-border financial exchanges by leveraging the UPI infrastructure for remittances between countries. By utilizing the robust UPI infrastructure, the collaboration aims to simplify cross-border financial exchanges, reducing reliance on conventional money transfer channels. This not only benefits Indian travellers but also contributes to the global ease of financial transactions.
Nuclear Battery
- A start-up in China has created a new battery that it claims can generate electricity for 50 years without the need for charging or maintenance.
- A report in The Independent, it’s a nuclear battery developed by Beijing-based Betavolt, And don’t imagine a massive size after reading the word “nuclear”.
- Betavolt has managed to squeeze 63 isotopes into that module that’s smaller than a coin, the outlet further said in its report.
- The company said it is the first battery in the world to realise the miniaturisation of atomic energy.
- The next-generation battery is already being tested and will be mass produced for commercial applications like phones and drones.
- “Betavolt atomic energy batteries can meet the needs of long-lasting power supply in multiple scenarios, such as aerospace, AI equipment, medical equipment, microprocessors, advanced sensors, small drones and micro-robots,”.
- “This new energy innovation will help China gain a leading edge in the new round of the AI technological revolution,” it further said.
- A nuclear battery converts radioisotope energy into electrical energy, and has an advantage over other types of batteries due to its high energy density. Such batteries use energy from the decay of a radioactive isotope to generate electricity.
- Nevertheless, the newly developed nuclear battery has a layered structure which apparently makes it fire resistant and jerk proof — which means it is not likely to explode when there’s a sudden external force applied on the device running a nuclear applied on the device running a nuclear battery.
- The battery is also said to be capable of working in temperatures ranging from -60 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius.
- It measures 15 x 15 x 5 millimetres and is made of wafer-thin layers of nuclear isotopes and diamond semiconductors, as per Futurism.
- The nuclear battery currently generates 100 microwatts of power at 3 volts. However, the goal is to reach a 1-watt power output by 2025.
- Betavolt said the radiation poses no danger to the human body, making it usable in medical devices such as pacemakers.
- The technology used in the battery taps into the energy from decaying isotopes, a concept that was first explored in the 20th century. It then converts this energy into electricity.
Current Affairs 20 January Question
- Boeing India Engineering And Technology Center Inaugurated In
A. Bengaluru
B. Kolkata
C. New Delhi
D. Hyderabad
ANSWER: A - Annual Allocation Does Each Member Of Parliament Receive For MPLADS
A. Rs. 1 Crore
B. Rs. 2 Crore
C. Rs. 3 Crore
D. Rs. 5 Crore
ANSWER: D - Who Is Set To Be Honored With ‘Assam Baibhav’ Award 2024
A. Ratan Tata
B. Tapan Saikia
C. Narendra Modi
D. Ranjan Gogoi
ANSWER: D - Financial Assistance Scheme Recently Launched By Assam Government To
Empower Rural Women Entrepreneurs
A. Pradhan Mantri Mahila Vikas Yojana
B. Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan
C. Nari Shakti Yojana
D. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
ANSWER: B - Recently Appointed As Chief Executive Officer Of Indian Olympic Association
A. Mustafa Ghouse
B. Lakshmi Narasimhan
C. Raghuram Iyer
D. Michel Aballea
ANSWER: C - Punganur Cow, Seen In News, Is Native To Which State Of India
A. Kerala
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Andhra Pradesh
D. Mizoram
ANSWER: C - Kachchhi Kharek Which Has Recently Received GI Tag, Belongs To Which State
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Gujarat
C. Goa
D. Bihar
ANSWER: B - Sinomicrurus Gorei Seen In News, Belongs To Which Species
A. Snake
B. Fish
C. Frog
D. Bird
ANSWER: B - IUCN Status Of ‘Gentoo Penguin’, Which Was Seen In The News
A. Endangered
B. Least Concern
C. Vulnerable
D. Critically endangered
ANSWER: B - What Target Government Set To Reduce Accidental Death By 2030
A. 50 %
B. 40 %
C. 60 %
D. 30 %
ANSWER: A - Fastag Seen In News, Works On Which Of Following Techniques
A. WiFi Frequency Identification
B. Infrared Frequency Identification
C. Radio Frequency Identification
D. Electrical Frequency Identification
ANSWER: C - On Which Date ‘National Startup Day’ Observed In India
A. 11 January
B. 17 January
C. 16 January
D. 16 February
ANSWER: C - Panama Canal, Seen In News, Connects Which Two Oceans
A. Atlantic Ocean & Pacific Ocean
B. Atlantic Ocean & Indian Ocean
C. Indian Ocean & Arctic Ocean
D. Pacific Ocean & Arctic Ocean
ANSWER: A - Paramyrothecium Indicum That Was Seen In The News Recently
A. Flowering Plant
B. Phytopathogenic Fungus
C. Herbicide-resistant Crop
D. Marine Species
ANSWER: B - Telangana Collaborated With Which Organization To Establish Centre For The
Fourth Industrial Revolution
A. World Bank
B. World Trade Organization
C. World Economic Forum
D. International Monetary Fund
ANSWER: C - Which Organization Issued Japanese Yen Denominated Green Bonds
A. REC Limited
B. International Monetary Fund
C. World Bank
D. Japan Green Finance Organization
ANSWER: A - In Which Year, Savitribai Phule Established Country’s 1st School For Women
A. 1835
B. 1848
C. 1855
D. 1860
ANSWER: B - On Bank Of Which River, West Bengal Government Plan To Develop Tea Park
A. Ganga
B. Hooghly
C. Anjana
D. Kalindi
ANSWER: B - Zosurabalpin Recently Discovered Compound, Belongs To Which Category Of
Medical Drugs
A. Antiviral
B. Antibiotic
C. Antifungal
D. Antidepressant
ANSWER: B - Charaideo Maidams, Seen In News, Are Located In Which State
A. West Bengal
B. Assam
C. Karnataka
D. Andhra Pradesh
ANSWER: B
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