Current Affairs: JANUARY 26, 2014

Current Affairs

January 26, 2014

1. India celebrates 65th Republic Day.

2. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attend as the Chief Guest of Republic Day.

3. Padma Awards Announced 2014: The President of India has approved conferment of 127 Padma Awards including one duo case (counted as one) as per the list below. The list comprises two Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan and 101 Padma Shri Awardees. 27 of the Awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and Posthumous Awardees.The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

[Read the list of awardees here...]

4. India ranked 155th in global environment performance list at World Economic Forum: India has been ranked at a low 155th position in a global list that places countries on how well they perform on high-priority environmental issues.The 2014 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), released today here, has ranked 178 countries in total. Among them, India is placed at the 155th position, with an index score of 31.23 points. Its rank is also much lower than BRICS peers.Among the BRICS, South Africa was placed at the 72nd rank with an index score of 53.51, followed by Russia (73rd rank, 53.45 points), Brazil (77th rank, 52.97 points) and China (118th rank, 43 points).Besides, India has fared poorly compared to neighbouring countries like Nepal and Pakistan — which are ranked 139th and 148th, respectively.

5. National Communal Harmony Awards 2013 Announced: The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai has been selected for the National Communal Harmony Award 2013 in the Organization category. Dr. Mohinder Singh of Delhi and Dr. N Radhakrishnan of Kerala have been selected for this Award in the individual category.Dr. Mohinder Singh, aged 72 is a scholar and presently member of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions. Earlier, he was also Member of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities from 2005 to 2007Dr. N Radhakrishnan, aged 69 is a well known academic, a Gandhian scholar and a peace worker. He initiated the Shanti Sena programme at the Gandhigram University and extended this work to other parts of the country. He has been actively working to restore peace in communally tense areas of Tamilnadu and Kerala. [Read more...]

6. Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship: Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship, but a basic identity for a person to avail himself or herself of various benefits provided by the government, said Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Nandan Nilekani.Speaking to presspersons after visiting the Traffic Management Centre here on Friday, Mr. Nilekani described Aadhaar as the one of the world’s biggest social inclusion projects that aims to help beneficiaries get over Rs. 3,000 crore subsidies provided by the government.

7. 368 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced : The President has approved awards of 368 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of the 65th Republic Day Celebrations. This includes 03 Kirti Chakra, 10 Shaurya Chakra, 1 Bar Sena Medal (Gallantry), 48 Sena Medal (Gallantry), 02 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), 1 Bar to Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 14 Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, 05 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 07 Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 45 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 19 Yudh Seva Medal, 05 Bar to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 35 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 08 Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 15 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 10 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 112 Vishisht Seva Medal. In addition a total of 25 Mention-In-Despatches have also been announced for participating in Operation Rakshak.

8. Li Na trounces Cibulkova in straight sets to win first Australian Open : Seven months after giving retirement serious thought, Li Na made it third time lucky in an Australian Open final with a 7—6 (3), 6—0 win over Dominika Cibulkova to become the oldest women’s champion here in the Open era.Li, who turns 32 next month, lost finals to Kim Clijsters in 2011 and to Victoria Azarenka last year. In between, she won the 2011 French Open in one of the many firsts she’s established for Chinese tennis.Widely popular at Melbourne Park for her funny post-match interviews and wise cracks about her husband and his snoring, Li didn’t disappoint the Rod Laver Crowd in her first victory speech.

9. 83 Presidential Awards for IAF this Year : 83 IAF Air Warriors have been decorated with Presidential Awards on the eve of Republic Day, this year.This includes Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) for six Air Marshals, Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) for one Air Marshal, eight Air Vice Marshals and four Air Commodores.One Kirti Chakra (Posthumously), one Shaurya Chakra (Posthumously), two Shaurya Chakra, three Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) (Posthumously), one Bar to Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), eleven Vayu Sena Medal (VM) Gallantry, fifteen Vayu Sena Medal for devotion to duty have been awarded.The Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) have been awarded to two Air Vice Marshal, seven Air Commodores, nineteen Group Captains and two Wing Commanders. [Read More...]

10. Tata Motors Managing Director Karl Slym died after falling from a high floor of a five-star hotel in Bangkok.

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