Tribal Affairs Ministry proposes 6th Schedule Area status to Ladakh

NATIONAL NEWS

Tribal Affairs Ministry proposes 6th Schedule Area status to Ladakh

• Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has proposed 6th Schedule Area status to Union Territory of Ladakh. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said that his ministry has sent the proposal to the Union Home Ministry to declare the 6th Schedule status to Ladakh.
• Tribal Affairs Minister also assured that his ministry will take all necessary measures to preserve and enrich the rich legacy of Ladakh.
• Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk had last month appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to preserve the culture and identity of Ladakh.

Govt announces to set up ten chairs in various universities in different fields to encourage women to carry out research activities

• On the occasion of National Girl Child Day today, the Ministry of Women and Child Development announced to set up ten Chairs in different fields with an aim to carry out research activities to encourage women.
• The initiative called the Establishment of Chairs in the Universities in the name of eminent women is being launched with the assistance of the University Grants Commission, UGC.         

OBJECTIVE

• The main objective is to inspire women to pursue higher education and to achieve excellence in their area of work. This initiative of highlighting and celebrating women achievers of the country will motivate young girls and women towards higher studies.
• On the subject of Administration, the proposed name of chair will be Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, for Literature name of chair will be Mahadevi Varma, for Freedom Fighter (North East) name of chair will be Rani Gaidinliu, for Medicine and Health name of chair will be Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, for Performing Art name of chair will be M S Subbulakshmi, for Forest and Wildlife Conservation name of chair will be Amrita Devi (Beniwal), for Mathematics name of chair will be Lilavati, for Science name of chair will be Kamala Sohonie, for Poetry and Mysticism name of chair will be  Lal Ded and for Educational Reforms name of chair will be Hansa Mehta.
• The financial implications of the proposal is 50 lakh rupees per Chair per year and the total expenditure for establishing ten Chairs will be approximately five crore rupees per annum. The Chairs are to be established for a period of five years initially as per the guidelines.

Delhi airport gets a new women-only cab service

• At the Indira Gandhi International Airport here is an exclusive 'Women with wheels,' taxi service that is unique as it is operated by women drivers, for women.
• The service, an initiative by 'Sakha cabs' was launched from the international airport from January 10 in a bid to make women feel safer.
• The cabs are driven by women drivers and the services are also provided to only female commuters.

STATE NEWS

Madhya Pradesh govt made the reading of Preamble of Constitution mandatory in schools

• In Madhya Pradesh, state government has made the reading of Preamble of the Constitution mandatory in schools on every Saturday from today. The Department of School Education stated that orders in this regard have been issued to District Education Officers.
• That the Preamble to the Constitution will be read out by the headmaster or teacher in all the schools after prayer on every Saturday. The same will be read out by the students later.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India, China Border Personnel Meet at Ladakh

• Ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between India and China was conducted on the occasion of Chinese Spring Festival at Chinese BPM Huts at Daulat Beg Oldie -Tien Wien Dien (DBO-TWD) Meeting Points, the northern-most meeting point between armies of both countries on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
• The Indian delegation was led by Lt. Col. Amit Kumar Sharma and Chinese Delegation was led by Lt. Col. Lee Ming Ju.
• Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The meeting reflected the mutual desire to maintain and improve relations at the functional level in the border areas.
• A cultural programme showcasing Chinese culture and traditions was organized by the Chinese side. The delegations parted amidst a feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and trust along the borders.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Forex reserves rise to 462.16 bn in the week ended Jan 17

• The country's foreign exchange reserves rose 943 million US Dollars to touch a life-time high of 462.16 billion US Dollars in the week ended January 17.
• The rise in reserves was mainly on account of an increase in foreign currency assets, which rose by 867 million US Dollars to 428.45 billion US Dollars.
• In the reporting week, gold reserves increased 70 million US Dollars to 28.56 billion US Dollars.
• The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were up by 3 million US Dollars to 1.45 billion US Dollars.
• The country's reserve position with the IMF rose by 3 million US Dollars to 3.70 billion US Dollars

APPOINTMENT

CEC Sunil Arora assumes Chairmanship of FEMBoSA for 2020

• Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora has assumed Chairmanship of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2020.
• The Outgoing Chair of FEMBoSA, KM Nurul Huda who is also CEC of Bangladesh, handed over the Logo of FEMBoSA to Mr Arora at the 10th Annual Meeting of FEMBoSA held in New Delhi yesterday.
• FEMBoSA was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries held at New Delhi in May, 2012.
• With its eight members, FEMBoSA represents a very large part of the democratic world and is an active regional association of Election Management Bodies.

SPORTS

India wins 1st T20 International of 5-match series against New Zealand

• In cricket, India has won the first T20 International of five-match series against New Zealand by six wickets.
• Visitors achieved the target of 204 in just 19 overs losing four wickets at Eden Park in Auckland. For India, KL Rahul made 56, skipper Virat Kohli scored 45 and Shreyas Aiyyar made 58 runs.
• Earlier, put in to bat first, New Zealand scored 203 for five in the stipulated 20 overs. Colin Munro and Skipper Kane Williamson smashed quick-fire half-centuries.
• The second T20 will also be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday while the third T20 will be held at Hamilton on the 29th of this month.
• The 4th T20 will be played at Wellington on 31st January while the final and the 5th match will be held at Mount Maunganui on 2nd February.
• The three-match ODI series starts from 5th of February 5 with the first match at Hamilton, followed by the second at Auckland and the third ODI at Mount Maunganui.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Voters' Day being celebrated today

• The 10th National Voters’ Day (NVD) will be celebrated today. The theme for NVD-2020 is ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy.
• The theme sets the tone for year-long activities with focus on voter education and renewal of citizens’ faith in the electoral process.
• The Day is celebrated on 25th January every year since 2011. It is celebrated at over ten lakh locations across the country including polling stations, district and state headquarters, to mark the Foundation day of Election Commission of India, which was established on 25th January 1950.