Current Affairs Daily Updates: 21 and 22 January 2018

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Current Affairs Daily Updates: 21 and 22 January 2018
1. Fourth India International Science Festival to be held in Lucknow
  • The fourth edition of the India International Science Festival will be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
  • The decision to hold the Festival in Lucknow was taken at the first preparatory meeting for the 4th India International Science Festival (IISF).
  • The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
  • The 1st IISF was held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) New Delhi.
  • India had also set a Guinness Book of World Records when 2000 school students performed two experiments at the Festival.
2. Arun Jaitley Launches National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data Portal
  • The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley launched the National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data Portal in Delhi.
  • This initiative is a significant step towards driving accountability and transparency for corporate India.
  • The portals’ easy accessibility to the general public will ensure a high level of compliance and will also help in institutionalizing and consolidate the CSR activities.
  • The launch of the portals will bring 100 percent transparency in corporate governance by making public over 4-crore filings of nearly 1.2 million companies.
3. Apple named the world's most admired company for 2018
  • Technology giant Apple topped Fortune magazine's list of the 'World's Most Admired Companies' for 2018.
  • E-commerce giant Amazon has retained its second spot, followed by Google's parent Alphabet.
  • Social media giant Facebook lost its place in the top ten most admired companies this year and was ranked 12th on the list.
4. NASA develops aircraft that can fold wings mid-flight
  • NASA successfully applied a new technology that allows aircraft to fold their wings between zero and 70 degrees while inflight.
  • Built from a shape memory alloy, the system operates without a hydraulic system, reducing the wing weight by up to 80%.
  • The technology's potential aerodynamic benefit includes increased controllability, which may result in a more fuel-efficient aircraft.
5. Mauritius Largest Source of FDI in India - Reserve Bank of India
  • Mauritius was the largest source of foreign investment in India (21.8 percent share at market value), followed by the US and the UK, according to a census by the Reserve Bank of India.
  • Singapore and Japan were the next two sources of foreign direct investment (FDI), reported the Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Companies 2016-17, released by RBI.
6. NDRF celebrated its 13th Raising Day
  • The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 13th Raising Day in New Delhi.
  • The Director Intelligence Bureau, Rajiv Jain was the chief guest on this occasion.
  • The meeting highlighted the disaster threat of country and important changes have taken place in Disaster Management in India and across the world.
7. India Defeats Pakistan to Win Blind Cricket World Cup 2018
  • India beat Pakistan by two wickets to win the Blind Cricket World Cup 2018 for the second time after a thrilling match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the UAE.
  • Hosts Pakistan had set India a target of 308 runs at a loss of eight wickets in their allotted 40 overs after they were put into bat.
  • India conquered the modest target in the 39th over, with two balls to spare and eight wickets lost. For his brilliant all-around performance, Sunil Ramesh was declared the man of the match.


8. Anandiben Patel named as New Madhya Pradesh Governor
  • Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel named as the new governor of Madhya Pradesh.
  • She will replace Gujarat governor Om Prakash Kohli, who currently holds additional charge of the office of Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Ms. Patel became the first woman chief minister of Gujarat.
9. MEITY Launches Cyber Surakshit Bharat to Strengthen Cybersecurity
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), announced the 'Cyber Surakshit Bharat' initiative in association with National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and industry partners.
  • Cyber Surakshit Bharat will be operated on the three principles of Awareness, Education, and Enablement.
  • Cyber Surakshit Bharat is the first public-private partnership of its kind and will leverage the expertise of the IT industry in cybersecurity.
10. Om Prakash Rawat appointed as New Chief Election Commissioner
  • Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat was appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India.
  • Mr. Rawat is the 22nd CEC of India.
  • He succeeded Achal Kumar Joti.
  • The government also appointed former finance secretary Ashok Lawasa as an Election Commissioner.
  • Mr Rawat will take over the office from 23rd January 2018 onwards. Sunil Arora is the other Election Commissioner.
11. Sushma Swaraj Inaugurates Puducherrys 1st POPSK at Karaikal
  • The first Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) of Puducherry was inaugurated by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs at Karaikal.
  • The POPSK at Karaikal is the 60th POPSK to have become functional since the launch of the scheme in January 2017.
  • It is the first POPSK to become operational in the UT of Puducherry.
12. Telangana and Tokyo Body Sign MoU for Municipal Waste Incineration
  • The Telangana government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Clean Authority of Tokyo in connection with municipal solid waste incineration in Hyderabad.
  • The two bodies exchanged knowledge in municipal solid waste incineration facilities and make an effort to realize human resource exchanges in view of technical cooperation in the future.
13. Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed as New DG of National Security Guard
  • Senior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the 'black cats' commando force NSG.
  • The officer is currently serving as a Special DG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters New Delhi. 
  • He will take over from incumbent S P Singh who will retire from the post of NSG DG on January 31.
14. India's 1st Garbage Festival Organised in Chhattisgarh
  • The Raipur Municipal Corporation in Chhattisgarh organized the three-day 'Kachra Mahotsav 2018'.
  • It is India's first Garbage Festival.
  • The festival aimed to increase awareness, use the waste generated in the city creatively, and to showcase multiple techniques for reusing things that are labeled as garbage.
15. India Ranks 62nd on WEFs Inclusive Development Index
  • India was ranked at the 62nd place among emerging economies on an Inclusive Development Index of World Economic Forum (WEF).
  • In the report, China is on 26th position and Pakistan is on 47th.
  • Norway remains the world’s most inclusive advanced economy, while Lithuania again tops the list of emerging economies, according to the report.
  • India was ranked 60th among 79 developing economies in 2017. Among advanced economies, Norway is followed by Ireland, Luxembourg, and Switzerland in top three.