IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JANUARY 26th &27th , 2020

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JANUARY 26th and 27th, 2020

Bharat Parv 2020 to begin at Red fort ground in New Delhi
Bharat Parv 2020, the programme to celebrate the spirit of India, begins at Red fort ground in New Delhi and will be on till 31st January.

1)     The objective of Bharat Parv is to encourage people to visit different tourism places of the country and to inculcate the spirit of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’.

2)     The Tourism Ministry has said that the theme of this year’s Bharat Parv is Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and Celebrating 150 Years of Mahatma Gandhi.

3)     Bharat Parv has many attractions for the public including display of Tableaux of the Republic Day parade, performance by armed forces bands.

2-day ‘Innovation Festival’ begins at Science Centre in Itanagar
In Arunachal Pradesh, the two-day ‘Innovation Festival’ kicked off at the Science Centre.

1)     The festival is being organized by the Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation.

2)     More than 50 innovations are put on display by students from various educational institutions, grassroots innovators, artisans and entrepreneurs from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and other states.

3)     The Innovation Festival, a first of its kind in the state, aimed to foster the culture of innovation among all people of the state, especially in all the educational institutions.

Himachal Pradesh celebrates its 50th Statehood Day
Himachal Pradesh celebrated its 50th Statehood Day on 25 January.

1)     On January 25, 1971 Himachal Pradesh was carved out as the 18th State of the country, after being a Union Territory for over 15 years.

Nation celebrates 71st Republic Day
The nation celebrates 71st Republic Day.

1)     The main function was organized at Rajpath in the National Capital. President Ram Nath Kovind unfurled the tricolour and took the salute of the parade.

2)     President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro was the Chief Guest at the Parade this year.

3)     The parade started from Vijay Chowk and proceeded towards the Red Fort grounds.

4)     It was commanded by Parade Commander, Lieutenant General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area.

5)     For the first time, a contingent of women bikers of CRPF performed daredevil stunts.

6)     Sixteen States and Union Territories and six Central Ministries participated in the Parade.

7)     Jammu and Kashmir participated in the parade for the first time as a Union Territory.

8)     The Tableau of Gujarat was on the theme Rani ki Vav - Jal Mandir which is a unique piece of ancient Indian architectural style, construction work and craftsmanship.

9)     Meghalaya's Tableau depicted the Double Decker Living Root Bridge which is a main tourist attraction of the state.

10)  Telangana's tableau brought to life its floral festival called Bathukamma.

11)  The Air Force tableau displayed models of the Rafale aircraft, Tejas aircraft, Light Combat Helicopter, Akash Missiles System and Astra Missiles.

12)  The major attraction was fly-past by the newly inducted Chinook and Apache helicopters along with Sukhoi and advanced light helicopters.

13)  Anti-satellite weapons - Mission Shakti, Army’s battle tank Bhishma were also showcased during the 90-minute long parade.

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.

1)     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.

2)     Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk had last month appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to preserve the culture and identity of Ladakh.

3)     The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

West Bengal emerges at the top in vegetable production
West Bengal has overtaken Uttar Pradesh and emerged as the top State in vegetable production in 2018-19.

1)     According to the State-wise horticulture production data released at a conference organised by the Agriculture Ministry last week, West Bengal produced 29.55 million tonnes (mt) of vegetables last year.

2)     Andhra Pradesh continued to hold on to the pole position in fruits with 17.61 mt, followed by Maharashtra (10.82 mt) and UP (10.65 mt).

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.

1)     The Outgoing Chair of FEMBoSA, handed over the Logo of FEMBoSA to Mr Arora at the 10th Annual Meeting of  FEMBoSA held in New Delhi.

2)     FEMBoSA was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries held at New Delhi in May, 2012.

3)     With its eight members, FEMBoSA represents a very large part of the democratic world and is an active regional association of Election Management Bodies.

Government announces 141 Padma Awards for this year on occasion of 71st Republic Day
The government has announced 141 Padma Awards for this year on the occasion of 71st Republic Day.

1)     The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhusan and 118 Padma Shri awards.

2)     Former Union Ministers George Fernandes, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley will be awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

3)     Pejavara math seer late Vishveshateertha Swamiji will be awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

4)     Former Prime Minister of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth, Hindustani classical vocalist Chhannulal Mishra and Boxer MC Mary Kom will also get Padma Vibhushan.

5)     Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated all those who have been selected for Padma Awards.

Switzerland mints smallest gold coin featuring image of Einstein
The smallest gold coin in the world featuring legendary scientist Albert Einstein has been recently minted by Switzerland.

1)     The gold coin of about 0.12 inches of diameter has been made by state-owned Swissmint and features the scientist sticking out his tongue.

2)     The size of the coin weighing 1/500th of an ounce is so small that it comes along with a magnifying glass for observing Einstein's cheeky image.

3)     The price of each gold coin has been pegged at USD 205 and only 999 of these have been made by producers.

4)     Famed physicist Einstein was granted Swiss citizenship in the year 1901 and he was also a recipient of the 1921 Nobel Prize for physics.

UK introduces new fast-track visa to attract scientists
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a new fast-track visa to attract more of the world's best scientists to the U.K. in hopes of creating a global science "superpower."

1)     Johnson paired the announcement of the Global Talent route program with a pledge of 300 million pounds ($392 million) for research into advanced mathematics.

2)     The money will help fund researchers and doctoral students whose work in math underpins myriad developments such as safer air travel, smartphone technology and artificial intelligence.

3)     The new visa route will have no cap on the number of people able to come to the U.K. under the program.

4)     Britain is facing its biggest immigration shake-up in decades after it leaves the EU.

Gadkari gives ‘GATI’ to monitor Rs 3 lakh crore road projects
The Union ministry of road transport and highways has launched an online portal ‘GATI’.

1)     The new portal created by NHAI on the lines of PRAGATI portal used by PMO can be accessed from NHAI website and contractors, concessionaires can raise any project related issues on it.

2)     Issues raised on GATI portal will be monitored daily by a team of officers in NHAI and will be constantly reviewed by the senior officers of NHAI and the ministry of road transport and highways.

Ganga Yatra under Namami Gange mission to begin from Bijnor, Ballia in UP
The five-day Ganga Yatra under Namami Gange mission kicked off from Bijnor and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.

1)     UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat and Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan launched the yatra from Bijnor, a place where Ganga enters Uttar Pradesh.

2)     Governor Anandiben Patel, Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Modi will launch it from Ballia in eastern UP, where the holy river leaves the state to enter Bihar.

Country's first Super Fab Lab inaugurated in Kerala
The country's first Super Fab Lab was launched at the Integrated Startup Complex of the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM).

1)     The lab will give a major push to the hardware industry in the country and the only such facility outside the U.S.

2)     The Super Fab Lab will function in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra govt launches its much-awaited 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme
The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government launched its much-awaited 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme. The scheme is aimed at providing a meal to the poor for just 10 rupees.

1)     Under the scheme thalis or lunch plates would be available to people at designated centres/ canteens during a stipulated time in all the districts.

2)     Launching the scheme was one of the poll promises made by the Shiv Sena, which shares power with the NCP and Congress in a coalition government.

3)     Under the pilot scheme, at least one 'Shiv Bhojan' canteen has been started at district headquarters.

Pema Khandu dedicates Padi Yubbe outdoor stadium to the people of Lower Subansiri
Chief Minister Pema Khandu dedicated the 4000 seating capacity Padi Yubbe outdoor stadium to the people of Lower Subansiri district.

1)     The stadium has been named after the first cabinet Minister from the Apatani community.

2)     This Padi Yubbe Outdoor Stadium is the third after Pasighat and Daporijo to be completed and ready for use.

India’s first war memorial for animals to come up in Meerut
A first of its kind war memorial for animals is being planned in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut city.

1)     It will feature those animals that have lost their lives in counter-insurgency operations, mainly in Kashmir.

2)     The memorial will be unique since it will be devoted to service animals, mostly dogs, but also horses and mules.

3)     It will be the country’s first animal war memorial and recognise their heroics on the battlefield, devotion to duty and outstanding contribution to military service alongside soldiers.

4)     The monument would be similar to the National War Memorial in Delhi but on a smaller scale.

Government to sell 100 pc stake in Air India
The government issued the preliminary information memorandum for 100 per cent stake sale in national carrier Air India.

1)     As part of the strategic disinvestment, Air India would also sell 100 per cent stake in low cost airline Air India Express and 50 per cent shareholding in joint venture AISATS.

2)     Management control of the airline would also be transferred to the successful bidder.

3)     The government has set March 17 as the deadline for submitting the Expression of Interest (EoI).

NBA legend Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash
Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's all-time greatest players whose international stardom transcended basketball, was killed at age 41 in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles.

1)     Bryant rocketed to fame as an 18-year-old rookie and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships.

2)     The cause of the crash was unknown, and an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board could take months.