NATIONAL NEWS

2020 Edition of Buxa Bird Festival Begins in West Bengal

• The fourth edition of the ‘Buxa Bird Festival’ began at Buxa National Park in West Bengal on January 6, 2020.

• The four-day festival is being attended by over 50 birdwatchers from across the country and abroad.

• It will witness more than 300 rare species of birds including the Great Hornbill, Sultan Tit and Greater Spotted Eagle, migratory birds from colder regions in the northern hemisphere, as well as other rare avian species.

SPORTS

Bhubaneswar to host 1st edition of Khelo India University Games

• The first edition of Khelo India University Games will be held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University in Bhubaneswar from February 22 to March 1, 2020.

• Over 4,000 athletes from 100 Universities across India will take part in the sports meet to be held in 17 different disciplines.

• The meet is being organised by the Sports Authority of India, Association of Indian Universities, the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federation.

• The 17 disciplines include: archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weight-lifting, wrestling, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi

Governor of Odisha: GaneshiLal.

Odisha Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik.

Leo Carter of New Zealand Becomes 7th Batsman to Hit Six Sixes in an Over

• cricket to smash six 6s in an over. He achieved the feat in New Zealand’s domestic T20 tournament Super Smash. Representing Canterbury, he smashed Knight’s bowler Anton Devcich for six 6s in the 16th over of the innings.

• Other 6 players who have achieved the feat are: Gary Sobers (West Indies), Ravi Shastri (India), Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Yuvraj Singh (India), Ross Whiteley (England) and HazratullahZazai (Afghanistan). When it comes to T20 cricket, Carter is just the fourth batsman to achieve the feat. Yuvraj is the only batsman to have scored six 6s in an international T20I.

India’s P MageshChandran lifts Hastings International Chess Congress title

• In Chess, Indian Grand Master (GM) P MageshChandran won the 95th edition of the prestigious Hastings International Chess Congress in Hastings, England.

• He remained unbeaten and finished in clear first place with 7.5 points from nine games after securing a 33-move draw in the final round against compatriot G.A. Stany

• The 36-year old US-based Chandran has FIDE rating of 2479.

BANKING AND ECONOMICS

RBI revises supervisory framework for Urban Co-operative Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India has revised its supervisory framework for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs). The revised framework aims to expedite resolution of UCBs experiencing financial stress. The revised framework stipulates the thresholds for various parameters that could trigger a corrective action by the UCBs or a supervisory action by the central bank.

• A UCB may be placed under supervisory action framework under the following conditions:

When its Net Non-Performing Asset (NPA) exceeds 6% of its net advances.

When its Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets Ratio (CRAR) falls below 9%.

When it incurs losses for two consecutive financial years or has accumulated losses on its balance sheet.

• RBI could also undertake different actions like imposition of all-inclusive directions under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Issue of show cause notice for cancellation of banking license may also be considered by the RBI if continued normal functioning of the UCB is no longer considered to be in the interest of its depositors.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO to Set up Human Space Flight Centre at Challakere in Karnataka

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has proposed to create India’s world-class infrastructure to house its young Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) at Challakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.

• The Rs 2,700-crore master plan is estimated to be established in three years.

• The facility spread over 400-acre ISRO land at Challakere will be a self-contained facility having infrastructure and activities related to space travellers.

• The first set of four astronaut candidates selected for the first Gaganyaan mission of 2022 will be trained in Russia.

• The new facility will help to save hefty sum to use such facilities abroad and in future, whatever training and activities would be done in Russia for the Gaganyaan crew can all be done at Challakere facility.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

List of Winners of 77th Golden Globe Awards

• The 77th Golden Globe Awards took place at California on January 5, 2020 to honor the best in film (both American and International) and American television of 2019.

• In film category, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood won the most awards with three.

• In television, Succession, Fleabag, and Chernobyl were the most awarded, with two awards each.

Winners List (Films)

• Best Motion Picture – Drama: 1917

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

• Best Actor – Drama: Joaquin Phoenix for Joker as Arthur Fleck / Joker

• Best Actress – Drama: Renée Zellweger for Judy as Judy Garland

• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy: TaronEgerton for Rocketman as Elton John

• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy: Awkwafina for The Farewell as Billi Wang

• Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth

• Best Supporting Actress: Laura Dern for Marriage Story as Nora Fanshaw

• Best Director: Sam Mendes for 1917

• Best Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

• Best Original Score: HildurGuðnadóttir for Joker

• Best Original Song: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) from Rocketman

• Best Animated Feature Film: Missing Link

• Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite (South Korea)

Winners List (Television)

• Best Television Series (Drama): Succession

• Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy): Fleabag

• Best Actor (Drama): Brian Cox for Succession as Logan Roy

• Best Actress (Drama): Olivia Colman for The Crown as Queen Elizabeth II

• Best Actor (Musical or Comedy): Ramy Youssef for Ramy as Ramy Hassan

• Best Actress (Musical or Comedy): Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Fleabag as Fleabag

• Best Actor (Miniseries or Television Film): Russell Crowe for The Loudest Voice as Roger Ailes

• Best Actress (Miniseries or Television Film): Michelle Williams for Fosse/Verdon as Gwen Verdon

• Supporting Actor: StellanSkarsgård for Chernobyl as Boris Shcherbina

• Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette for The Act as Dee Dee Blanchard

• Best Miniseries or Television Film: Chernobyl

DAYS

Journalists’ Day celebrated on 6th January in Maharashtra

• Journalists’ Day is being celebrated on 6th of January every year in the state of Maharashtra. The day is celebrated in the memory of late thespian journalist BalshashtriJambhekar.

• BalshastriJambhekar, is also known as ‘The Father of Marathi Journalism’, for his efforts in starting journalism in Marathi language.

January 2020 Important Days

Date

 Name of important Days

1 January

Global Family Day

8 January

African National Congress Foundation Day

9 January

NRI (Non-Resident Indian) Day or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

11 January

Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri

12 January

National Youth Day

15 January

15 January

Indian Army Day

Makar Sankranti

23 January

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti

24 January

National Girl Child Day

25 January

National Voters Day

25 January

National Tourism Day

26 January

Republic Day

26 January

International Customs Day

28 January

Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

30 January

Martyrs Day or Shaheed Diwas

30 January

World Leprosy Eradication Day

1 January – Global Family Day

• It is celebrated as a day of peace and sharing. Its aim is to unite and spread message of peace by considering and promoting an idea that Earth is a one Global Family so as to make world a better place to live for everyone.

8 January - African National Congress Foundation Day

• South African Native National Congress (SANNC) was founded in 8 January 1912 by John Langalibalele Dube in Bloemfontein. Behind this the primary motive was to give voting rights to black and mixed race Africans or to unite African people and spearhead the struggle for fundamental political, social and economic change.

9 January – NRI (Non-Resident Indian) Day or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

• NRI or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas observed every year on 9 January to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. This day also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9 January, 1915.

11 January – Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri

• He was the second Prime Minsiter of Independent India. He popularised the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' He actively participated in the India's freedom struggle. Due to cardiac arrest he died on 11 January, 1966.

12 January – National Youth Day

• The birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda also called Swami Vivekananda Jayanti is celebrated every year on 12 January. He was born on 12 January, 1863. The government had decided to observe it as National Youth Day because the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth. He had given speech at the Parliament of the World's religions in Chicago and glorified India's name.

15 January – Indian Army Day

• Every year 15 January is observed as Indian Army Day because on this day in 1949 field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief.

15 January -- Makara Sankranti

• Makara Sankranti or Maghi, is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the deity Surya. It is observed each year in January. It marks the first day of the sun's transit into Makara, marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.

• Observances: Kite flying.

• Date: Wednesday, 15 January, 2020

• Celebrations: Kite flying, bonfires, fairs, surya puja in river, feast, arts, dance, socialization

• Featured in religions: Hinduism

• Significance: Harvest festival

• Also called: Magha, Môkôr Sôngkrānti, Mela, Maghi, Bhogi

23 January - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti

• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. He was one of the most prominent Indian freedom fighter. His army was known as Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj. He also led an Indian national force from abroad against the Western powers during World War II.

24 January- National Girl Child Day

• On 24 January every year National Girl Child Day is celebrated to highlight the inequalities faced by a majority of the girls in India, importance of education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and safety of girl children etc.

25 January- National Voters Day

• Every year on 25 January National Voter's Day or Rashtriya Matdata Diwas is celebrated to encourage young voters to take part in the political process. In 2011 first time this day was celebrated to mark Election Commission's Foundation Day.

25 January- National Tourism Day

• Every year on 25 January National Tourism Day is celebrated in India to raise the awareness and educate people about the importance of tourism and the role it plays in the Indian economy.

26 January- Republic Day

• On 26 November, 1949 Indian Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution the supreme law of the land and replaced the Government of India Act 1935. It came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system. This day marks with the largest parade took place at Rajpath, Delhi every year.

26 January – International Customs Day

• International Customs Day (ICD) is celebrated every year on 26 January by Custom Organisation to recognise the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security. It also focuses on the working conditions and challenges that custom officers face in their jobs.

28 January- Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

• Lala Lajpat Rai was born on 28 January, 1865 in Punjab. He was a prominent nationalist leader who played an important role in India’s struggle for freedom. He also earned the title of 'Punjab Kesari' or 'the Lion of the Punjab'. He initiated the foundation of Punjab National Bank. He died on 17 November, 1928, due to serious injuries. The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Hisar, Haryana is named after Lala Lajpat Rai.

30 January – Martyrs Day or Shaheed Diwas

• 30 January is celebrated as Martyr's Day or Shaeed Diwas every year in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and sacrifice of three revolutionaries of India. As, on 30 January, 1948, the 'Father of Nation' was assassinated. And on 23rd March 3 heroes namely Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar of the nation were hanged to death by British.

30 January – World Leprosy Eradication Day

• World Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January every year to focus on the target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children. As, we know that disabilities do not occur overnight but happen after a prolonged period of undiagnosed disease.

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