Important Current Affairs 29th January 2018

Important Current Affairs 29th January 2018

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Current Affairs 29th January 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Vijay Keshav Gokhale, India's new Foreign Secretary

●    Vijay Keshav Gokhale assumed charge as the new foreign secretary for a two-year term.
●    He succeeded former foreign secretary S Jaishankar. 
●    S Jaishankar completed his term of three-years, including one extended year.
●    Gokhale joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981.

New Dress for Postmen/MTS launched by Shri Manoj Sinha

●    The Department of Posts has redesigned the uniform for Postman and MTS cadre in consultation with National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi (NIFT). 
●    The uniform has been redesigned keeping in view the functionality, comfort and durability. 
●    The uniform will provide a strong brand identity of the Department of Posts as it provides for easy identification of postmen staff.
 

‘Bharat Parv’ being organized by the Ministry of Tourism

●    ‘Bharat Parv’ being organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India  at  the Red Fort, Delhi  from  26th to 31st  January, 2018.
●    It is focusing on “Dekho Apna Desh”. 
●    The entry to the Parv is free and it open for public from 12.00 Noon to 10.00 pm. However, Identity proof  is  to  be  carried  for  entry  to  the event.

President Confers Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Sqn Ldr Kamal Sharma Flying (Pilot)

●    In June 2017, the Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF had launched "Operation Prahar", a major joint operation against Naxalites in Sukma district. 
●    Sqn Ldr Kamal Sharma Flying (Pilot), an experienced Helicopter Combat Leader was tasked to proceed immediately to Sukma.
●    Sqn Ldr Sharma displayed exceptional courage which has special significance not only for the IAF but also for the troops involved in these operations.
●    For his act of exceptional courage and fortitude in the conduct of a daring mission in Operation Triveni, Squadron Leader Kamal Sharma has been awarded Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry).

President Confers Shaurya Chakra to Corporal Devendra Mehta

●    Corporal Devendra Mehta was attached for active counter insurgency operations with 13 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion under the aegis of 'Op Rakshak' in Jammu & Kashmir. 
●    Cpl Mehta disregarding personal safety, displayed indomitable courage while assisting in the evacuation of his buddy Corporal Nirala who was critically injured in the gun fight and took over the LMG to retaliate in order to neutralise the six terrorists.
●    For this act of gallantry, Corporal Devendra Mehta has been awarded Shaurya Chakra.

Current Affairs 29th January 2018: SPORTS

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer won his 20th Grand Slam title

●    Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title. 
●    This is the second consecutive time that Federer has won the Australian Open.
●    In total he has won 20 Grand slam titles.

Tableau of Youth Affairs & Sports Ministry adjudged best among all Ministries 

●    Tableau of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for Republic Day 2018 has been adjudged as the best Tableau among all the Tableaux of the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. 
●    In a ceremony in New Delhi yesterday (28.1.2018), Shri Rahul Bhatnagar, Secretary (Sports) received the Trophy and Certificate for best Tableau from Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman.  
●    Theme of the Tableau of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was Khelo India.

Khelo India Pledge Launched at the Khelo India School Games Carnival 

●    Following the launch of Khelo India School Games earlier this month, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched the pledge for Khelo India at the Khelo India School Games Carnival in Delhi. 
●    The pledge is a promise to participate and encourage sportsmanship spirit and it is aimed at inspiring youngsters to build mass participation and excellence in sports. 
●    The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore took the pledge today at the carnival.

Current Affairs 29th January 2018: AWARDS

Maharashtra wins best tableau at Republic Day; Assam second

●    The Punjab Regiment has bagged the award for the best marching contingent among the three services.
●    Maharashtra got the first prize for the best tableau.
●    Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave away the awards at Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi Cantonment.
●    Maharashtra’s tableau was titled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj coronation.
●    Assam’s tableau bagged the second prize.

Bruno Mars' album '24K Magic' wins 7 Grammy Awards

●    Bruno Mars won album of the year at the 60th Grammy Awards.
●    In a stacked category with Jay-Z’s “4:44,” Lorde’s “Melodrama,” Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.,” and Childish Gambino’s “Awaken, My Love!” Mars won for his 2017 hit-filled album “24K Magic.”

PTM and TM awards for Indian Coast Guard personnel announced

●    The President of India has approved the President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) to Indian Coast Guard personnel.
●    The Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service) has been awarded to the following officers:
●    DIG Iqbal Singh Chauhan.
●    DIG Yedavalli Amarender Reddy.
●    Comdt Ebenezer Devadoss Anand Kumar Stanley. 

Current Affairs 29th January 2018: OBITUARIES

Billionaire Ikea Founder Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91

●    Ingvar Kamprad, the farmer's son turned multi-billionaire who founded the Ikea empire that revolutionised furnishing,died.
●    He was 91.
●    He leaves behind a legacy of affordable interior design for households around the world.

Current Affairs 29th January 2018: ECONOMY

Finance Minister Present Economic Survey 2017-18 in Parliament 

●    A series of major reforms undertaken over the past year will allow real GDP growth to reach 6.75 percent this fiscal and will rise to 7.0 to 7.5 percent in 2018-19.
●    This was stated in the Economic Survey 2017-18 tabled in Parliament today by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley. 
●    It said that the reform measures undertaken in 2017-18 can be strengthened further in 2018-19.

GST data reveals 50% increase in number of Indirect Taxpayers 

●    A preliminary analysis of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) data reveals that there has been a 50% increase in the number of indirect taxpayers.
●    There were 9.8 million unique GST registrants.

Rs 20,339 Crore Approved for Interest Subvention in 2017-18

●    Rs.20,339 crore has been approved by the Government in 2017-18 to meet various obligations arising from interest subvention being provided to the farmers on short term crop loans.
●    This was stated in the Economic Survey 2017-18 tabled by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley in the Parliament.

In the year 2016-17, coconut products worth Rs.2084 crore has been exported

●    Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that the Coconut Development Board (CDB) major schemes are focusing on coconut production, productivity, processing for coconut products, value addition, marketing, and export promotion in Bihar. 
●    The Minister said this on the occasion of the inauguration of the Farmers’ Training Centre cum Regional Office Building of Coconut Development Board in Patna.
●    The Minister said that India is leading in the global coconut production and productivity.
●    He said that the annual coconut production is 2395 crore from 20.82 lakh hectare and the productivity is 11505 coconuts/hectare.