Current Affairs - January 21, 2024 Current Affairs

Skyways Air Services has been lauded for its exceptional cargo services, earning the prestigious Best Cargo Services Award at the Wings India Awards. This achievement highlights their dedication to providing high-quality air cargo services within the aviation industry.

Haldia Petrochemicals (HPL) has become India's first ISO 27001:2022 certified firm, demonstrating its commitment to a secure digital environment. The certification highlights HPL's prowess in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring data integrity as part of its digital transformation efforts.

Northwestern University's breakthrough fuel cell, resembling the size of a book, utilizes soil microbes for perpetual energy generation. It is specifically designed for powering underground sensors in green infrastructure and precision agriculture, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional batteries by eliminating toxic leakage and reducing dependence on conflict-affected supply chains.

Operation Sarvashakti is launched by the Indian Army with the primary goal of eliminate terrorists in the Rajouri and Poonch areas of J&K, employing a large-scale operation reminiscent of 2003's Sarpvinash to counter ambushes on Indian troops.

INOX Air Products inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government for a $3 billion Green Ammonia Plant. The project, with a planned outlay of $3 billion, aims to be commissioned within 3 to 5 years and is designed to produce 500,000 MTPA (metric tons per annum) of liquid ammonia.

The EPC contract for a 2,400 MW Thermal Power Project at Jharsuguda district in Odisha has been awarded to BHEL by NLC India Ltd. The project, based on Ultra Super Critical Technology, aims to supply power to Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, and Puducherry, with coal linkage from NLCIL mines in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts.

The India International Science Festival's ninth edition commenced in Faridabad, Haryana, celebrating a decade of India's notable achievements in science, technology, and space. Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted milestones such as Chandrayaan-3's lunar landing, successful COVID-19 vaccine administration, and the Aroma Mission. The festival aimed to foster public engagement with science and technology.

Andhra Pradesh is set to become the second state in India, after Bihar, to conduct a caste-based census. The state government aims to complete the census by January 28, 2024, with the entire exercise conducted through village and ward secretariat staff.

Harith Noah, riding for Sherco TVS Rally Factory and hailing from Kerala, made history by securing a stage victory in Stage 8 of the Dakar Rally. His remarkable performance marks a significant milestone for Indian representation in this prestigious event.

REC Limited received the prestigious ICAI award for financial reporting, securing the 'Plaque' under the 'Financial Services Sector (Other than Banking and Insurance)' category at the ICAI Awards for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The recognition from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) highlights REC Limited's excellence in financial reporting for the year 2022-23.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the State Bank of India (SBI) in market capitalization. With LIC's share price rising over 2% to reach 52-week highs of ₹919.45, its market cap exceeded ₹5.8 Lakh Crore, making it the most valuable PSU. The article explores LIC's impressive comeback, its journey since listing, and the contributing factors to its remarkable revival.

Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, a seasoned professional in 'Gunnery and Missiles,' took over as Commandant at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, in January 2024. His distinguished career includes commanding key vessels such as INS Ajay, INS Khanjar, and INS Shivalik, showcasing his expertise and leadership in naval operations.

The UNDP and EU have allocated grants exceeding US$420,000 to address deforestation, enhance food security, and tackle climate change impacts in Papua New Guinea, benefitting communities across six districts in Enga Province.

The Adani Group, through Adani Enterprises Ltd, revealed plans to invest Rs 50,000 crore in a 1 GW hyperscale data centre in Maharashtra, aiming to create 20,000 jobs.

WHO has awarded the 'malaria-free' certification to 43 countries and 1 territory, recognizing their sustained efforts in interrupting nationwide malaria transmission for at least 3 consecutive years and maintaining a robust surveillance and response system. Recently, Cabo Verde has joined this list, becoming the third country in the WHO African region to be declared malaria-free. In the Southeast Asian Region, Maldives (2015) and Sri Lanka (2016) have achieved the status of being certified malaria-free by WHO.