Important Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018

Important Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018

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Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

U.S Govt shutdown

●    The US government officially shutdown today for the first time in five years.
●    This happened after the Senate rejected a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government running.
●    Trump blamed the Democrats for the shutdown which comes exactly a year after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. 
●    More than 800,000 federal employees would be furloughed. 

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

MeitY launches Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative

●    The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched Cyber Surakshit Bharat.
●    It is an initiative to strengthen cyber security.
●    It has been launched in association with National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and industry partners. 

Government launches Liveability Index to rate 116 Indian cities

●    The ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has decided to bring out a liveability index of 116 cities.
●    Cities together account for a total population of 13.4 crore people.
●    The ministry has decided to involve the Economist Intelligence Unit, which brings out an annual liveability index of cities.

India’s First Automatic Early Warning Dissemination System to come up in Odisha

●    The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS is expected to be commissioned by this March.
●    It is a project that aims at establishing a fool-proof communication system to disseminate disaster warning up to the community level, 
●    The EWDS had missed several deadlines of its launch.

India to offer Yoga classes at World Economic Forum

●    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s delegation to the World Economic Forum at Davos will offer yoga classes.
●    India aims to showcase its potential as a driver of global economic growth, after China.
●    Two yoga teachers from India will hold daily classes next week at the summit.
●    It has attracted 70 heads of state and government, including US President Donald Trump as well as celebrities, chief executives and top bankers.
●    Modi will be the first Indian prime minister to attend the WEF in 21 years.

Union Government Announces List of 9 New Smart Cities

●    Nine cities have been chosen in the latest round of the central government's flagship Smart Cities Mission.
●    It was announced by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
●    The number of cities are now 99. 
●    The nine cities are Bareilly, Moradabad and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Erode in Tamil Nadu, Bihar Sharif in Bihar, Silvasa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Diu in Daman and Diu, Kavarati in Lakshadweep and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.

India to set up $350 million Solar Development Fund for solar projects

●    India will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects.
●    It was announced by Power Minister R.K. Singh.
●    India will need at least $125 billion to fund a plan to increase the share of renewable power supply in the country’s grid by 2022.

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018:: ECONOMY NEWS

Mauritius was largest source of FDI in India in 2016-2017: RBI

●    Mauritius was the largest source of FDI in India.
●    US and the UK are next.
●    Singapore and Japan were the next two sources of foreign direct investment.
●    It was announced by the Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Companies 2016-17, released by RBI.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan crosses 1 crore mark

●    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda said that the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan programme crossed one crore mark.
●    The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016.
It was to fulfil his vision and ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India.

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018:: DAYS AND DATES

2018 to be observed as National Year of Millets

●    Union government has decided to declare 2018 as the ‘national year of millets’.
●    Millets are nutrient-rich. 
●    This decision has been taken following a request by Karnataka, which is the country’s leader in the millet sector.

NDRF Celebrated its 13th Raising Day

●    The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 13th Raising Day.
●    The Director Intelligence Bureau, Shri Rajiv Jain was the chief guest. . 
●    An MoU was also signed in between NDRF and NSDC. 
●    National Disaster Response Force is a specialized multi skilled, humanitarian force of the country.
●    It came into existence on January 19th, 2006.

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018:: APPOINTMENT NEWS

Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed as new DG of National Security Guard

●    CRPF special DG Sudeep Lakhtakia has been appointed as the new chief of National Security Guard. 
●    Lakhtakia will take over S P Singh who is the current chief.
●    He is currently serving as a Special Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018: AWARD

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust of Odisha wins prestigious UNWTO Award

●    Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust has won the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organisation Awards.
●    It is a community owned and managed venture promoted by RBS Foundation India and Indian Grameen Services.
●    The trust was honoured with the coveted award for "Innovation in Tourism Enterprise" at the 14th UNWTO Awards ceremony.

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018: SCIENCE
 

4th India International Science Festival to be held in Lucknow

●    The fourth edition of the India International Science Festival will be held in Lucknow.
●    The decision was taken at the first preparatory meeting for the 4th India International Science Festival (IISF) chaired by Union Minister for Science & Technology, Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. 
●    The 1st IISF was held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) New Delhi in December, 2015.

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018: OBITUARY

Iconic Cartoonist Chandi Lahiri Passes Away

●    Eminent cartoonist Chandi Lahiri passed away.
●    He was 86. 
●    Lahiri, is survived by his wife and a daughter.
●    He started his career as a journalist.
●    He is also called the creator of ‘pocket cartoons’ in Bengal.

Current Affairs 20th JANUARY 2018: DEFENCE

INS Vikramaditya formally Affiliated to Bihar Regiment

●    Indian Naval Ship Vikramaditya was formally affiliated to the Indian Army's highly-decorated and battle-hardened Bihar Regiment and the Indian Air Force's No 6 Squadron.
●    It is the Indian Navy's largest ship and its sole aircraft carrier.