Important Current Affairs 25th January 2019

National News

Centre to renovate, develop around 400 abandoned airstrips across country
•    Centre has decided to renovate and develop around 400 abandoned airstrips across the country to strengthen air-connectivity.
•    The Airports Authority of India prepared a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard and sent it to all the 29 states and seven Union Territories expressing its willingness to develop those air strips along with the respective state governments.
•    Union Civil Aviation department Secretary said that Jharkhand is the first state in the country where an MOU was signed to develop one such abandoned air strip at Dhalbhumgarh.

India, Maldives agree to continue close cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism & medical cooperation
•    India and Maldives have agreed to continue their traditionally close cooperation on issues of maritime security, counter-terrorism and medical cooperation.
•    This was decided during the meeting between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Maldivian counterpart Mariya Ahmed Didi in New Delhi on Thursday.
•    Both sides held substantive discussions on further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.

ISRO successfully launches PSLV C44 carrying Kalamsat & imaging satellite Microsat R; PM congratulates scientists
•    The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the PSLV C 44 carrying kalam sat and Microsat R last night at 11.37 precisely.
•    The rocket precisely injected the Microsat R in its designated orbit.
•    Kalamsat is a ten cm cube weighing one kilogram communication satellite with a life span of two months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the space scientists for another successful launch of PSLV.
•    India also becomes the first country to use the fourth stage of a space rocket as an orbital platform for micro-gravity experiments.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to be Chief Guest at R-Day Parade
•    South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade. He is the second President of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the parade.
•    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ramaphosa will hold delegation level talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
•    Both the leaders will also address the India-South Africa Business Forum today with the objective to grow business ties between the two countries.
•    Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi is revered in the African nation as he had an important role in the non-violent movement in South Africa.

9th National Voters’ Day to be celebrated across country today
•    The 9th National Voters’ Day will be celebrated across the country today for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process on 25th January 
•    The National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices will be conferred on Officers for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections.
•    The National Voters’ Day is celebrated all over the country on January 25 every year since 2011 to mark the Foundation day of Election Commission of India, which was established on 25th January 1950.
•    In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, No Voter to be Left Behind has been selected as the theme for the National Voters’ Day.

Botha announces immediate retirement from all forms of Cricket
•    Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement from all forms of Cricket.
•    The 36-year-old Botha, who received his Australian citizenship in 2016, failed to take a wicket during yesterday's nine-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers.
•    Botha played for South Africa in five test matches, 78 one-day internationals and 40 T20 Internationals from 2005 to 2012.

RBI okays Ravneet Gill as Yes Bank MD & CEO
•    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Ravneet Gill as the MD & CEO of private sector lender Yes Bank.
•    Mr. Gill is currently the India chief of foreign lender Deutsche Bank.
•    The present MD & CEO of Yes Bank Rana Kapoor’s term ends on January 31.

Ronojoy Dutta named new Indigo CEO
•    InterGlobe Aviation Limited, which owns and operates low cost airline IndiGo, has named global aviation professional Ronojoy Dutta as its new CEO.
•    The position was lying vacant since the resignation of the former CEO Aditya Ghosh in April 2018. IndiGo co-founder Rahul Bhatia was holding charge as interim CEO during the period.