National
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
⇒ BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with increased indigenous content and improved performance, was successfully test-fired from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on January 20, 2022.
The launch was conducted by Brahmos Aerospace in close coordination with the teams of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Teams from DRDO and NPOM, Russia participated in the test.
BrahMos Aerospace, the joint venture between DRDO and NPOM, Russia, has been continuously upgrading the powerful, highly versatile BrahMos to increase its effectiveness and lethality against sea and land targets.
Virtual Museum
⇒ Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt inaugurated an interactive Virtual Museum hosted by the Gallantry Awards portal on January 20, 2022.
- The Virtual Museum brings together the stories of commitment and sacrifice of the gallantry awards winners in an innovative and user-friendly format.
- It comprises of a 3-D walk through experience, gallery building, lobby, wall of fame, tour of war memorials, war room, resource centre, selfie booth and equipment display etc.
Developed by:
The Virtual Museum has been jointly developed by Ministry of Defence, Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics, as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ commemorating 75 years of Independence.
Dr Subhas Mukherjee Award
⇒ Dr Satish Adiga, Professor in Clinical Embryology at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, has been selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research for its National Award for the year 2020.
Dr Adiga will receive Dr Subhas Mukherjee Award from ICMR in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the field of In vitro fertilization (IVF).
About:
- The Dr Subhas Mukherjee Award was Instituted by ICMR in the year 2012 in the memory of Dr Subhas Mukherjee to recognize the outstanding contribution of IVF experts in the country.
- Dr Subhas Mukherjee is the creator of India’s first IVF baby.
International
New Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
⇒ Alikhan Smailov became the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev nominated Alikhan Smailov for prime minister on 11 January 2022.
- Smilov also served as the country’s finance minister from 2018 to 2020.
South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021
⇒ The 6th annual edition of South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021 presented by WAN-IFRA was announced on December 23, 2021.
These awards, presented by WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, recognize South Asian publishers who have delivered unique and original digital media projects in the last 12 months.
Read More About WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021
Social Housing Units Project in Mauritius
⇒ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, jointly inaugurated the Social Housing Units Project in Mauritius on 20 January 2022.
- This project has been implemented as part of the vibrant development partnership between India and Mauritius.
On this occasion, the two Prime Ministers also took part in a virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for two other projects ‘construction of a Civil Service College and a 8 MW Solar PV Farm’ that are being undertaken under India’s development support.
Civil Service College project:
The Civil Service College project, located in Reduit, is being financed through a grant support of US$ 4.74 million, under an MoU signed in 2017 during the visit of Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth to India.
8 MW Solar PV Farm Project:
The 8 MW Solar PV Farm project involves the installation of 25,000 PV cells to generate approximately 14 GWh of green energy annually, to electrify approximately 10,000 Mauritian households with an estimated avoidance of 13,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year. This will help Mauritius in mitigating the effects of climate change.
The ceremony also included exchange of two key bilateral agreements:
Agreement for the extension of USD 190 million Line of Credit from the Government of India to the Government of Mauritius for the Metro Express and other infrastructure projects and MoU on the Implementation of Small Development Projects.
Sports
ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for December 2021
⇒ The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 10 January 2022 announced New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel as the winner of the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for December 2021.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month, December 2021: Ajaz Patel
ICC Players of the Month for January 2022
⇒ South Africa’s Test sensation Keegan Petersen and England captain Heather Knight were voted ICC Players of the Month for January 2022.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month, January 2022: Keegan Petersen
ICC Women’s Player of the Month, January 2022: Heather Knight
Death
Noted Bengali Cartoonist Shri Narayan Debnath
⇒ Noted Bengali Cartoonist Shri Narayan Debnath passed away on 18 January 2022 in Kolkata. He was 96.
Debnath is the creator of the popular Bengali comic strips of Handa Bhonda (1962), Batul the Great (1965) and Nonte Phonte (1969). He is the only comic artist in India who has received a D. Litt degree.
Debnath was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2021. He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award and Banga Bibhushan Award in 2013.