21st-23rd January, 2023

1. A sensitisation workshop on G-20 Environment and Climate Sustainability will be held in Bengaluru.
2. 57th Directors General of Police / Inspectors General of Police Conference was held in New Delhi.
3. Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution released a ‘Endorsements Know-hows!’ guide for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers on social media platforms.
4. IIT-Madras has developed a mobile operating system ‘BharOS’ to benefit India’s 100 crore cell phone users in India.
5. India will extend export benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme to domestic green hydrogen fuel manufacturers.
6. Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day visit. India has announced doubling of its high-impact community development project in the debt-ridden island nation.
7. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
8. India International Science Festival (IISF-2022) was organized in Bhopal on the theme of “Marching towards Amrit Kaal with Science Technology and Innovation”.
9. The average days of employment provided per household under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are at a five-year low in 2022-23.
10. The first B20 Summit under the G20 forum was organized in Gandhinagar.
11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with youngsters who were selected under the ‘Know Your Leader’ programme, which was organized to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi.
12. Atal Pension Yojana (APY) — targeted towards unorganised sector workers — saw the highest-ever takers in 2022 with enrolments rising 36%.
13. World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the establishment of a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Telangana) in Hyderabad.
14. India-UAE Partnership Summit will be organized by International Business Linkage Forum (IBLF) and Dubai International Chamber in Dubai on January 23-25.
15. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development).
16. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has been invited as the Chief Guest of Republic Day 2023.
17. Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, has inaugurated the “Democracy Summit” on the theme of “Use of Technology and Elections Integrity”.
18. PM launched various developmental projects in Karnataka.
19. Higher Education Minister in Kerala R Bindu announced that girl students above the age of 18 years would get maternity leave of 60 days.
20. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde inaugurated the two-day Regional Conference on “E-Governance” in Mumbai.
21. 4th International Trade Fair of Millets and Organics Products – ‘Millets & Organics 2023’ began at Bengaluru.
22. Assam’s Charaideo Maidam has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site.
23. Tamil Nadu announced setting up of a Turtle Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre at an estimated Rs 6.3 crore.
24. Jharkhand launched a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore to provide benefits to farmers in the state.
25. Maharashtra has approved the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan 2.0, the flagship water conservation scheme of the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis-led NDA government.
26. Jammu and Kashmir government has launched ‘UT Level Food Processing Programme for Development of Clusters for Specific Products of J&K’, an ambitious project targeted at revolutionising the food-processing sector and transforming the lives of farmers in the Union Territory.
27. Jaipur Literature Festival 2023 was addressed by the Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah.
28. 23rd edition of Asian Water Bird Census was conducted in the Kole wetlands in Kerala.
29. India produced record sugarcane to the tune of over 5,000 lakh tonnes during the 2021-22 season.
30. Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise “Cyclone-I” started in Rajasthan.
31. Indian Army had ordered six Apache Helicopters with the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL).
32. Indian Air Force is conducting a massive military exercise named ‘Pralay’ near the Line of Actual Control.
33. Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) has signed an agreement for setting up a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity.
34. India Tourism Development Corporation has signed a pact with the Ministry of Ayush for promotion of medical tourism in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
35. NASA has awarded $425 million to Boeing Co for the agency’s “Sustainable Flight Demonstrator” project which aims to cut aviation sector emissions.
36. India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline (IBFPL) will start supplying diesel to Bangladesh on an experimental basis from June 2023.
37. South Africa has announced to conduct the joint naval drills with Russia and China.
38. S. has designated Russia’s Wagner group as a transnational criminal organisation.
39. According to the World Bank’s Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg, Bangladesh is one of the world’s greatest development stories as it has moved from being one of the poorest at its inception to one of the fastest growing countries of the world.
40. Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) / Marine Exercise (MAREX) was held between Sri Lanka and USA at the SLN bases in Trincomalee and Mullikullam.
41. International Tourism Fair (FITUR travel exhibition) is being held in Madrid, Spain for five days.
42. United States has launched the “Welcome Corps” scheme to allow its citizens to offer sanctuaries to refugees.
43. NASA and Israel will sign an agreement on a space mission named ULTRASAT.
44. Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will be launched by Europe to find out whether the oceans hidden under the surface of Jupiter’s icy moons have the potential to host extra-terrestrial life.
45. SEBI has proposed to introduce a blocking of funds facility for trading in secondary markets for safeguarding investors’ money from misuse and default by stock brokers.
46. Japan’s leading sporting equipment maker Yonex is expanding its manufacturing footprint in India.
47. Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced some relaxations regarding Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme.
48. Sebi has launched an information database on municipal bonds.
49. RBI gave banks time till end of December 2023 to complete renewal of agreements for the existing safe deposit lockers of customers.
50. Amazon has tied up with Quikjet Cargo Airline Private Ltd, a Bengaluru-based freight carrier, which will use a Boeing aircraft to fly shipments.
51. GreenCell Mobility, a leading pan-India shared electric mobility player, has appointed Devndra Chawla as its CEO.
52. Chris Kipkins succeeds Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister of New Zealand in February 2023.
53. January 21 – Statehood Day of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura
54. January 24 – International Day of Education; Theme – To invest in people, prioritise education
55. January 24 – Statehood Day of Uttar Pradesh; Theme – ‘Investment and Employment’
56. January 24 – National Girl Child Day
57. Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder Dr Sanduk Ruit (a Nepalese ophthalmologist) has won the ISA Award for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain.
58. Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the “Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar” instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 11 exceptional children.
59. FIDE World Championship 2023 will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from April 7th to May 1st.
60. India Open Badminton 2023 tournament – Men’s Singles – Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) by defeating Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen; Women’s Singles – An Se-young (South Korea)
61. Laxman Rawat has won the NSCI All India Snooker Open 2023 in Delhi.
62. ‘Hockey & India – A Golden Legacy’ book has been released by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

National News

1. A sensitisation workshop on G-20 Environment and Climate Sustainability will be held in Bengaluru.
   • The first meeting of the G-20 Working Group on Environment and Climate Sustainability will be held in Bengaluru from the 9th to the 11th of February.
   • The G-20 Working Group will focus on Arresting Land Degradation, Restoration of Degraded Lands, and Enhancement of Biodiversity. It will put specific emphasis on the restoration of areas affected by Forest Fire and Mining.
2. 57th Directors General of Police / Inspectors General of Police Conference was held in New Delhi.
   • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision aims at making India a developed nation by 2047 and a $5 dollar economy by 2025.
3. Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution released a ‘Endorsements Know-hows!’ guide for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers on social media platforms.
   • The guide aims to ensure that individuals do not mislead their audiences when endorsing products or services and that they are in compliance with the Consumer Protection Act and any associated rules or guidelines.
4. IIT-Madras has developed a mobile operating system ‘BharOS’ to benefit India’s 100 crore cell phone users in India.
   • Developed indigenously, by JandK Operations Private Limited, a Company established by IIT Madras, BharOS is a significant step towards developing robust indigenous digital infrastructure in the country.
5. India will extend export benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme to domestic green hydrogen fuel manufacturers.
   • The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme, designed to offer refunds against some local levies to exporters, will be extended to green hydrogen once exports start.
   • India (one of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases) has approved a $2.11 billion incentive plan to boost local production and encourage use of green hydrogen.

6. Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day visit. India has announced doubling of its high-impact community development project in the debt-ridden island nation.
   • This agreement on community development projects in Sri Lanka with the support of the Government of India was signed in May 2005.
   • It had a project limit of Rs 300 million, doubling from this agreement to Rs 600 million.
   • At the Summit, India talked about the implementation of 13A of Sri Lankan Constitution, which gives powers to the Tamil Community in Sri Lanka. The agreement for the implementation of the provision was signed in 1987.
7. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
   • During the programme, the Prime Minister also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.
   • The largest unnamed island will be named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, the second largest unnamed island will be named after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on.
   • The Great Nicobar Plan was also announced to develop the infrastructure in Nicobar island in terms of defense, commerce, logistics, and industries.
     • Developing authority: NITI Aayog
     • To be implemented by: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)
     • Project Worth: Rs 75,000 crores
8. India International Science Festival (IISF-2022) was organized in Bhopal on the theme of “Marching towards Amrit Kaal with Science Technology and Innovation”.
   • IISF 2022 is the 8th edition since its inception in
   • This event was to be held in 2022. Now, it will take place in 2023.
9. The average days of employment provided per household under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are at a five-year low in 2022-23.
   • The average days of employment provided per household is 42 days while it was 50 days in 2021-22, 52 days in 2020-21, 48 days in 2019-20 and 51 days in 2018-19.

10. The first B20 Summit under the G20 forum was organized in
    • B20 India 2023 dialogue will take place under the theme of ‘RAISE,’ an acronym for Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable and Equitable Businesses.
    • Ahmedabad will host the U20 Summit of G20 forum in July 2023.
11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with youngsters who were selected under the ‘Know Your Leader’ programme, which was organized to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi.
    • The interaction took place on January 23 (Parakaram Diwas – Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti).
12. Atal Pension Yojana (APY) — targeted towards unorganised sector workers — saw the highest-ever takers in 2022 with enrolments rising 36%.
    • The figure crossed 10 million for the first time in a calendar year. The number of enrolments in 2022 rose to 5 million from 9.2 million in 2021.
    • Cumulatively, the majority of subscribers (82%) have opted for a Rs 1,000 pension followed by 11% opting for the highest pension amount of Rs 5,000 per month.
    • The highest number of enrolments age-wise was from 21-25 years (28%), accounting for 13.7 million subscribers, followed by 25-30 years (25%) with 12.1 million subscribers. The least number of subscribers were those above 35 years (11.14%).
    • The transgender community has also reported the highest number of enrolments in 2022.

13. World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the establishment of a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Telangana) in Hyderabad.
    • It will focus on healthcare and life sciences, with the goal of accelerating product development and delivery innovation within the Indian healthcare system.
    • India also participated in the First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting of the World Economic Forum which deliberated on the world need for clean energy technologies to confront climate crisis globally.
    • FMC was launched by US President Joe Biden in 2021. India, Japan, Norway, Italy, and Sweden. UK, USA, Singapore, Germany, Denmark. Canada joined the coalition in 2023.
14. India-UAE Partnership Summit will be organized by International Business Linkage Forum (IBLF) and Dubai International Chamber in Dubai on January 23-25.
    • India is the world’s fifth-largest economy and was the second-biggest trading partner to the UAE in 2021.
15. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development).
    • Purpose – to oversee the process and conduct periodic tests like the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Surveys
    • PARAKH will be setting norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognised school boards of India, encouraging and helping school boards to shift their assessment patterns towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century.
    • PARAKH may conduct the first NAS by 2024.
16. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has been invited as the Chief Guest of Republic Day 2023.
    • Border Security Force is conducting a seven-day long vigilance exercise called the “OPS ALERT” in the wake of 74th Republic Day.
    • This year, the Republic Day will focus on Nari Shakti (women empowerment). This is the first republic day celebration after the Rajpath was renamed the Kartavya Path.
17. Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, has inaugurated the “Democracy Summit” on the theme of “Use of Technology and Elections Integrity”.
    

    • This is the 2nd conference in this series. The first conference was held on the theme “Role, Framework and Capacity of Election Management Bodies”.
    • More than 16 countries participated in the conference.

State News

1. PM launched various developmental projects in Karnataka.
   • 1st project – Narayanpur left bank canal with modern irrigation system at Yadgir in North Karnataka (built at a cost of Rs 4699 crore)
   • 2nd project – Road and multi village drinking water projects worth Rs 10,863 crore
2. Higher Education Minister in Kerala R Bindu announced that girl students above the age of 18 years would get maternity leave of 60 days.
   • The state also allowed menstrual leave for girl students above the age of 18 years.
   • The concept of menstrual leave was first introduced by the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
3. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde inaugurated the two-day Regional Conference on “E-Governance” in Mumbai.
   • This conference has been jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra.
4. 4th International Trade Fair of Millets and Organics Products – ‘Millets & Organics 2023’ began at Bengaluru.
   • The Government of Karnataka has been a leader in promotion of millets – The first Organics and Millets Fair was held in 2017, the second and third editions in 2018 and 2019 in Bengaluru.
   • Karnataka launched the SEEMI Brand Products and Millets Calendar 2023 developed by Sahaja Samrudha Organization.
5. Assam’s Charaideo Maidam has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6. Tamil Nadu announced setting up of a Turtle Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre at an estimated Rs 6.3 crore.
7. Jharkhand launched a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore to provide benefits to farmers in the state.
   • Under the programme, 2,133 ponds will be renovated and 2,795 percolation tanks will be constructed in all the blocks of 24 districts of the state.
8. Maharashtra has approved the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan 2.0, the flagship water conservation scheme of the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis-led NDA government.
   • The scheme was launched in 2016 to make Maharashtra a drought-free state by 2019.
   • The programme aims to make 5000 villages free of water scarcity every year.
9. Jammu and Kashmir government has launched ‘UT Level Food Processing Programme for Development of Clusters for Specific Products of J&K’, an ambitious project targeted at revolutionising the food-processing sector and transforming the lives of farmers in the Union Territory.
   • It is a Rs 879.75-crore initiative to maximise farmer income and minimise post-harvest losses.
   • This comprehensive project has been designed to increase the competitiveness of seven identified products in 17 districts/clusters across categories in terms of cost, quality, branding, and sustainability within 5 years.
   • The government is investing in value-addition, logistics, marketing and branding of various agriculture, horticulture and livestock products to achieve this goal.
   • Products and their districts –

10. Jaipur Literature Festival 2023 was addressed by the Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah.
11. 23rd edition of Asian Water Bird Census was conducted in the Kole wetlands in Kerala.
    • As per the Census, the number of birds in the wetland has reduced significantly.
    • The number of water birds in the wetland has decreased from 15,959 in 2022 to 9,904.
    • The first edition of the Census was conducted in 1987 by Bombay Natural History Society and Wetlands International.

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. India produced record sugarcane to the tune of over 5,000 lakh tonnes during the 2021-22 season.
   • Of the total produced during the period, about 3,574 lakh tonne of sugarcane was crushed by sugar mills to produce about 394 LMT of sugar (sucrose) — of which 36 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 LMT sugar was produced by sugar mills.
   • In every sugar season, the production of sugar is around 320-360 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) as against the domestic consumption of 260-280 LMT.

Defence News

1. Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise “Cyclone-I” started in Rajasthan.
   • Exercise “Cyclone – I” is the first exercise of its kind bringing the special forces of both the nations on a common platform.
2. Indian Army had ordered six Apache Helicopters with the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL).
   • The order was placed under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
3. Indian Air Force is conducting a massive military exercise named ‘Pralay’ near the Line of Actual Control.

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) has signed an agreement for setting up a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity.
   • Purpose – to pave way for seamless, cost-effective trade, and commerce with our neighbours including the BIMSTEC nations
   • India is also developing Transhipment Port at Galathea bay at Greater Nicobar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. India Tourism Development Corporation has signed a pact with the Ministry of Ayush for promotion of medical tourism in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
   • Under the agreement, the ITDC will promote “Heal in India – Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda, Yoga and other Indian traditional systems of medicine”.
   • Medical value travel, also known as health tourism or medical tourism, is defined as travel for the purpose of maintaining, improving or restoring health through medical intervention.

International News

1. NASA has awarded $425 million to Boeing Co for the agency’s “Sustainable Flight Demonstrator” project which aims to cut aviation sector emissions.
   • United States has set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. aviation sector by 2050.

2. India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline (IBFPL) will start supplying diesel to Bangladesh on an experimental basis from June 2023.
   • Total length – 131.5 kilometre (126.5 km pipeline is in Bangladesh and 5 km is in India)
   • The international pipeline will carry diesel from the Siliguri based marketing terminal of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited to Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

3. South Africa has announced to conduct the joint naval drills with Russia and
   • The exercises named as “Mosi”, which translates to “smoke” in the local Tswana language of South Africa, are scheduled for February 17 to 27, off the port city of Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa.
4. South Africa has designated Russia’s Wagner group as a transnational criminal organisation.
   • Transnational organized crime is organized crime coordinated across national borders, involving groups or markets of individuals working in more than one country to plan and execute illegal business ventures.
5. According to the World Bank’s Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg, Bangladesh is one of the world’s greatest development stories as it has moved from being one of the poorest at its inception to one of the fastest growing countries of the world.
   • Bangladesh has the largest ongoing International Development Assistance program of more than USD 15 billion.
6. Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) / Marine Exercise (MAREX) was held between Sri Lanka and USA at the SLN bases in Trincomalee and Mullikullam.
   • The sea phase will take place in the Laccadive Sea.
   • This year’s exercise includes participants from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Maldives National Defence Force, and coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka.
7. International Tourism Fair (FITUR travel exhibition) is being held in Madrid, Spain for five days.
   • The exhibition was first held in 1981. The exhibition dedicates a separate pavilion for each participating country. The countries shall use these pavilions to exhibit their tourist attractions.
8. United States has launched the “Welcome Corps” scheme to allow its citizens to offer sanctuaries to refugees.
   • The Welcome Corps scheme is a new initiative from the US government to provide support for refugees arriving in the country.
9. NASA and Israel will sign an agreement on a space mission named ULTRASAT.
   • The mission is currently being developed by Israel Space Agency and Germany.
   • ULTRASAT will study the UV signature in space. It will look for UV emissions from mergers (collision of neutron stars) and supernova explosions.
10. Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will be launched by Europe to find out whether the oceans hidden under the surface of Jupiter’s icy moons have the potential to host extra-terrestrial life.
    • Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft is manufactured by Airbus in the southwestern French city of Toulouse.
    • JUICE will give a far clearer image of Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, before becoming the first spacecraft to orbit around one of Jupiter’s moons.
    • It will be the first European space mission that ventures into the outer solar system, which begins beyond Mars.
    • If launched in April 2023, the satellite is expected to enter Jupiter orbit by 2034. It will be deorbited in 2035.
    • NASA’s Clipper mission will be launched in 2024 to study Europa. It will orbit it by 2030.

Banking and Economy

1. SEBI has proposed to introduce a blocking of funds facility for trading in secondary markets for safeguarding investors’ money from misuse and default by stock brokers.
   • This is similar to Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA)-like facility already available for the primary market which ensures that money from an investor gets moved only when an allotment happens.
   • Now, investors will be able to trade in secondary markets based on blocked funds in one’s bank account, thereby eliminating the need to transfer funds to stock broker.
   • Under the proposed model, funds would remain in the account of client but will be blocked in favour of Clearing Corporation (CC) till the expiry date of the block mandate or till the block is released by the CC, whichever is earlier. CC can debit funds from client account, limited to the amount specified in the block.

2. Japan’s leading sporting equipment maker Yonex is expanding its manufacturing footprint in India.
3. Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced some relaxations regarding Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme.
   • Under the scheme, imports of capital goods are allowed duty free, subject to an export obligation.
   • The latest relaxation will be available for hotel, healthcare, and educational sectors.
   • The government has announced a one-time relaxation from maintaining the average export obligation for EPCG authorizations issued to them for years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
   • The next relaxation is to extend the export obligation period from the date of expiry for the duration equivalent to the number of days the export obligation period falls within February 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022.

About the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme –

• Objective – To facilitate import of capital goods for creating world-class products for export purpose
• It is a trade promotion scheme governed by the Foreign Trade Policy of India.
4. Sebi has launched an information database on municipal bonds.
   • The information database contains a wide range of information in the form of statistics and regulations, circulars, guidance note and Frequently Asked Questions issued by Sebi in respect of municipal debt securities.

5. RBI gave banks time till end of December 2023 to complete renewal of agreements for the existing safe deposit lockers of customers.
   • Banks were earlier required to complete the process by January 01, 2023.
   • RBI has asked them to complete work in phases with intermediate milestones of 50% by June 30, and 75% by September 30.
6. Amazon has tied up with Quikjet Cargo Airline Private Ltd, a Bengaluru-based freight carrier, which will use a Boeing aircraft to fly shipments.
   • Quikjet will transport Amazon customer shipments to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai.

Appointments

1. GreenCell Mobility, a leading pan-India shared electric mobility player, has appointed Devndra Chawla as its CEO.
2. Chris Kipkins succeeds Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister of New Zealand in February 2023.

Important Days

1. January 21 – Statehood Day of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura
   • Under the North-Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya attained statehood on January 21, 1972.
2. January 24 – International Day of Education; Theme – To invest in people, prioritise education
   • UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education to Afghan girls and women in 2023.
3. January 24 – Statehood Day of Uttar Pradesh; Theme – ‘Investment and Employment’
4. January 24 – National Girl Child Day

Awards

1. Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder Dr Sanduk Ruit (a Nepalese ophthalmologist) has won the ISA Award for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain.
   • The award carries a cash prize of USD 1 million, a certificate of merit and a gold medal.
   • He is fondly called as “God of Sight” to have saved 1,20,000 eyesight who would have otherwise gone blind in absence of treatment.
   • He is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award by India, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award of Philippine.
2. Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the “Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar” instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 11 exceptional children.
   • A book on Baal Veer “Young Heroes of India” was also released during the ceremony by Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, who presented the first copy to the President of India.
   • The awardees of this year include one each in the category of Bravery and Social Service, two in the category of Innovation, three in Sports, and four in Art & Culture.
   • Out of the 11 awardees, 5 are Girls and 6 are boys.

Sports

1. FIDE World Championship 2023 will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from April 7th to May 1st.
2. India Open Badminton 2023 tournament – Men’s Singles – Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) by defeating Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen; Women’s Singles – An Se-young (South Korea)
3. Laxman Rawat has won the NSCI All India Snooker Open 2023 in Delhi.
   • NSCI Snooker Open Crown is a snooker tournament organized by the National Sports Club of India (NSCI).

Miscellaneous

1. ‘Hockey & India – A Golden Legacy’ book has been released by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
   • This book has been prepared by Sportstar.

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