Today's Current Affairs 17th January 2024

NATIONAL

India to Host Year-long ‘Ramayan’ Festival from Delhi

• India is set to launch a year-long festival, seeking global connections through the celebration of Ramayan.
• The festival is scheduled to commence from Delhi’s historic Purana Qila (Old Fort) on January 18 and will traverse various cities such as Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Varanasi.

Bull-Taming Festival ‘Jallikattu’ Starts In Tamil Nadu

• Tamil Nadu commenced the Jallikattu competition in Avaniyapuram, Madurai district.
• Jallikattu is a highlight of the Pongal harvest festival held in the second week of January.
• After prolonged protests by the people of Tamil Nadu against the ban, the Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict in May 2023.

Ministry of Home Affairs Revokes FCRA Registration of Centre for Policy Research

• The Ministry of Home Affairs in India has revoked the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020, registration of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) in New Delhi.
• Established in 1973, CPR is a prominent policy think-tank.

 SPORTS

ICC Players of the Month for December 2023

• Players of the Month for December 2023 for Men’s Pat Cummins (Australia).
• Players of the Month for December 2023 for Women’s Deepti Sharma (India).

About ICC:

Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Founded: 15 June 1909

CEO: Geoff Allardice

Chairman: Greg Barclay

 IMPORTANT DAYS

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024:17 January

• Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, also known as Prakash Utsav, is a significant Sikh festival commemorating the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth and last Sikh Guru.
• At the age of nine, in 1676, Guru Gobind Singh was declared the tenth Guru of Sikhs.
• One of his most notable achievements was founding the Khalsa Panth in 1699.

 RANKING

US Leads 2024 Military Rankings, India Fourth, Bhutan Ranks Lowest

• The Global Firepower’s Military Strength Rankings for 2024 offer a comprehensive assessment of military capabilities worldwide. The rankings, encompassing 145 countries, take into account more than 60 factors.

India Emerges as a Global Leader in Trust: Edelman Trust Barometer 2024

• The nation secures the 4th spot for media trust and the 5th position for trust in the government.
• In Edelman Trust Barometer 2024, India emerges as a global frontrunner in trust, topping the charts in confidence in businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

 BOOKS & AUTHOR

The book “An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy” released

• The book “An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy,” authored by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
• Sudha and Narayana Murthy are the co-founders of Infosys.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Government Reduces Windfall Tax on Crude Oil amid Global Economic Concerns

• In response to the evolving dynamics of the global oil market, the Indian government has decided to slash the windfall tax on domestically-produced crude oil, effective January 16.
• Indian government slashes windfall tax on domestically-produced crude oil from Rs 2,300 to Rs.1,700 per tonne.

RBI Releases Draft Norms for fintech Self-Regulatory Organisations

• RBI has unveiled a draft framework for the establishment and recognition of self-regulatory organizations (SROs) in the fintech sector.
• SRO-FT should be set up as a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.