26th January 2019 Current Affairs
India celebrates 70th Republic Day today
- India celebrates 70th Republic Day today honouring the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935).
- President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa is the chief guest for this year’s Republic Day parade.
- The Republic Day Parade Ceremony commenced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.
- As per the tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag by the President, the national anthem was played with a 21-gun salute.
Cabinet approves an amendment to 'Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries'
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for amendment to the ‘Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries’ to incorporate a ‘Standby Swap’ amounting to $ 400 million operated within the overall size of the Facility of $ 2 billion.
- The facility would enable India to provide a prompt response to the current request from SAARC member countries for availing the swap amount exceeding the present limit prescribed under the SAARC Swap Framework.
Pak declares Sugarcane juice as national drink
- On 25 January 2019, the Pakistan government declared sugarcane juice as the ‘National Drink’ of the country after a poll on Twitter.
- The government conducted a poll on Twitter at which people were asked to decide the national drink of Pakistan.
- Options including orange juice, sugarcane juice and carrot juice were given in the poll.
BSNL, French firm join hands to offer data services through SMS
- State-run telecom firm BSNL has partnered with French company Be-Bound to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks.
- Both the companies signed a business partnership agreement to jointly market the service in India.
- The technology will be embedded in mobile apps. The app will send a command to Be-Bound server in case it does not get data connectivity for SMS-based connectivity.
- “Be-Bound server will facilitate SMS connectivity after getting a command from the app.
- The app will also send SMS from user’s account because for connectivity we need to send sms to and fro.
Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna
- Former president Pranab Mukherjee, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika were on 25 January 2019 conferred the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
- In an official statement, the government said Deshmukh and Hazarika have conferred the award posthumously.
- Pranab Mukherjee, fondly known as ‘Pranab Da’, was the president between 2012 and 2017.
- The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap of four years.
- Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan Malviya were given the award by the Narendra Modi government in 2015.
Government announces Padma awards 2019
- The government on 25th January 2019 announced names of the Padma awardees 2019 on the eve of the 70th Republic Day.
- This year 112 recipients have been selected for the prestigious awards. This includes 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awards.
- One of the highest civilian Awards of the country, the awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
- The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
- The Awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year.
Government institutes Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar
- The government has instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.
- It will be announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- The Award carries a certificate and a cash prize of 51 lakh rupees.
- This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force located at Ghaziabad has been selected for the Award for its commendable work in disaster management.
- The award has been instituted to acknowledge the contribution and selfless service of organisations and individuals to humanity in the aftermath of any disaster.
Tomy Abhilash awarded with Nao Sena Medal
- President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Nao Sena Medal to Commander Tomy Abhilash on 25 January 2019.
- Tomy Abhilash had participated in the Golden Globe navigation race in 2018.
- Abhilash was stranded 3,200 km off the coast of Western Australia after his sailing vessel, INSV Thuriya’s mast broken during a severe storm in the Indian Ocean.
Opportunity rover completes 15 years on Mars
- NASA’s Opportunity rover has completed 15 years of its touchdown on the surface of Mars.
- The rover landed in a region of Mars called Meridiani Planum on 24 January 2004.
- The solar-powered rover went silent since a global dust storm in June 2018.
- The rover was designed to travel 1,006 metres and operate on the Red Planet for 90 Martian days.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Columnist Russell Baker passed away
D N Chakraborty gets journalism award
- Assam government has conferred the ‘Republic Day Journalism Award 2019 to veteran journalist and former editor Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty on 26 January 2019.
- He has been honoured for his lifelong contribution to journalism in the state.
- He is the former Editor of Dainik Asom, Dainik Janambhumi and Ajir Batori group of newspaper.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the recruitment of domestic workers
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing Memorandum of Understanding between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the Recruitment of Domestic Workers.
- The MOU provides a structured framework for cooperation on domestic workers related matters and provides strengthened safeguards for Indian domestic workers including female workers deployed in Kuwait.
- The MOU is initially valid for a period of five years and incorporates provision for automatic renewal.
- Around 3,00,000 Indian domestic workers deployed in Kuwait would be major beneficiaries. This includes around 90,000 female domestic workers.
Try out the quiz ?
1. India celebrates 70th Republic Day today, honouring the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect after replacing ............
India celebrates 70th Republic Day today honouring the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935).
2. Cabinet approved an amendment Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for which member countries?
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for amendment to the 'Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries' to incorporate a 'Standby Swap' amounting to $ 400 million operated within the overall size of the Facility of $ 2 billion.
3. Which country declared Sugarcane Juice as the ‘National Drink’?
On 25 January 2019, the Pakistan government declared sugarcane juice as the ‘National Drink’ of the country after a poll on Twitter.
4. BSNL has partnered with which French company to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks?
State-run telecom firm BSNL has partnered with French company Be-Bound to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks.
5. Who has conferred with the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on 25 January 2019?
Former president Pranab Mukherjee, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika were on 25 January 2019 conferred the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
6. This year how many people have been selected for the prestigious Padma awards?
The government on 25th January 2019 announced names of the Padma awardees 2019 on the eve of the 70th Republic Day. This year 112 recipients have been selected for the prestigious awards. This includes 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awards.
7. Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar will be announced every year on which date?
The government has instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. It will be announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
8. Who has been awarded with Nao Sena Medal?
President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Nao Sena Medal to Commander Tomy Abhilash on 25 January 2019.
9. Opportunity rover has completed 15 years on Mars. This rover was designed by ......
NASA’s Opportunity rover has completed 15 years of its touchdown on the surface of Mars. The rover landed in a region of Mars called Meridiani Planum on 24 January 2004.
10. Columnist Russell Baker passed away, he was winner of ............
Russell Baker, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who penned thousands of columns for The New York Times, passed away at his home in Leesburg, Va. He was 93.
11. Who has got Republic Day Journalism Award 2019 by Assam government?
Assam government has conferred the ‘Republic Day Journalism Award 2019 to veteran journalist and former editor Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty on 26 January 2019.
12. India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with which country for cooperation on the Recruitment of Domestic Workers?
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing Memorandum of Understanding between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the Recruitment of Domestic Workers.