National News
i. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) along with Doordarshan (DD), Prasar Bharati launched two science communication initiatives, DD Science and India Science. The initiatives were inaugurated by Union Science & Technology Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
ii. While DD Science is an one-hour slot on Doordarshan National channel, India Science is a internet-based channel, which is available on any internet-enabled device, and will offer live, scheduled play and video-on-demand services.
i. India got its largest startup ecosystem when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated a 1.8-lakh-square-feet facility housing incubation set-ups across a string of segments in modern technology.
ii. The Integrated Startup Complex under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) includes the ultra-modern facilities of Maker Village that promote hardware startups, the BioNest that promotes medical technologies, BRINC which is the country’s first international accelerator for hardware startups.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS Clerk Mains Exam:
- P Sathasivam is the present governor of Kerala.
3. Government Launches ‘Womaniya on GeM’ Initiative
i. Government e Marketplace (GeM) has launched “Womaniya on GeM”, an initiative to enable women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups (WSHGs) to sell handicrafts and handloom, accessories and many other products.
ii. The initiative seeks to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth. Government e-Marketplace is a 100% government owned company set up under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS Clerk Mains Exam 2018:
- GeM was set up in 2016, CEO GeM: S Radha Chauhan.
4. Madras HC Forms Committee To Weed Out Invasive Plant Species
- Macedonia Prime Minister: Zoran Zaev, Capital: Skopje, Currency: Macedonian Denar.
Appointments
Banking News
- ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, MD& CEO: Mr. Sandeep Bakshi, Tagline: Hum Hain Na!.
Important Days
8. Indian Army Day: 15 January
i. Army Day is observed on January 15 in India. 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.
ii. Army day is dedicated to the soldiers who fought to safeguard the country’s honour. This is the 71st celebration of the Indian Army Day.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS Clerk Mains Exam:
- General Bipin Rawat is the present Chief of Indian Army.
i. Asian Cup gold medallist Shakil Ahmed has set up a world record in indoor rowing by completing 1 lakh meters in above-40 years category in Kolkata.
ii. Shakil began his record-setting indoor rowing feat in Salt Lake stadium complex and achieved the milestone of covering 1 lakh meters of simulated distance in 10 hours.
i. Sir Michael Atiyah, a British mathematician who received the 1966 Fields Medal, also known as the ‘Nobel for Mathematics,’ passed away at the age of 89.
ii. Atiyah was best known for his co-development of a branch of mathematics called topological K-theory and the Atiyah-Singer index theorem. Atiyah was also the President of the Royal Society from 1990-1995.