Weekly Current Affairs (Jan 22 to Jan 28)

The nation celebrated its 68th Republic Day.
The government on Wednesday announced Padma awards to citizens of the country in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres.
A day after Shanmuganathan decided to step down as Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, President Pranab Mukherjee, accepting his resignation, gave Assam Governor, Banwarilal Purohit additional charge of Meghalaya.
India has been ranked 79th among 176 countries in the Corruption Perception Index 2016 released by the Transparency International organisation. Its score marginally improved from 38 in 2015 to 40 in 2016. India had a score of 36 in 2012.
G.N. Rao to be inducted into Ophthalmology Hall of Fame.
The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel has reconstituted TOP committee with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games under the “Target Olympic Podium” scheme.
ISRO has successfully tested its indigenously developed cryogenic engine in a major step forward for its landmark ‘GSLV Mk III’ rocket, scheduled for launch within the first quarter this year.
E-commerce giant Alibaba's financial arm, has reached an agreement to acquire American money-transfer major MoneyGram for $880 million, in a deal that will expand the firm's business in the US after India and Thailand.
GOI has stated that 119 banks are connected with the aadhar enabled payment system.
A Keshav Krishna, a scientist at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) has been selected for the National Geoscience Award for 2016.
Three Indian-origin persons – Dr Purushottam Sawrikar, Dr Makhan Singh Khangure and Dr Vijay Kumar have been awarded Australia's highest civilian honour this year for their contributions in the field of medicine and work towards the community.
State-owned refiner Hindustan PetroleumBSE -1.47 % Corp Ltd (HPCL) and gas utility GAIL India LtdBSE 1.36 % today signed a pact with Andhra Government for setting up a Rs 40,000 crore petrochemical plant in the state.
Indian Hotels appoints Chandrasekharan non-executive Additional Director.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birthday or Netaji Jayanti was celebrated in the light of patriotism and a breeze of love for country as '' Desh Prem Divas'' on 23rd January.
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched ‘SBI Exclusif,’ its wealth management offering, in Kochi.
The annual "Surya Namaskar Yajna" or "Health for Humanity Yogathon" has been recognised in the US House of Representative on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.
The Indian Navy’s Annual Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX) got underway on 24 Jan 17.
Gujarat, Telangana and Haryana emerged as the top three states with the highest growth in going cashless in the `Cashless India Scorecard’ prepared by Walnut app to track the growth of digital payments in the country.
India signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday that allows the Gulf OPEC country to fill half of an underground crude oil storage facility at Mangalore that is part of New Delhi’s strategic reserve system.
Celebrating creativity in all its forms, the seventh edition of Hyderabad Literary Festival-HLF 2017 was opened at Hyderabad.
The nation paid homage to Havildar Hangpan Dada, awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest award to an army man during peace-time operations, for killing four terrorists who had infiltrated into north Kashmir last year.
For the first time, a military contingent of UAE participated in the 68th Republic Day parade on Rajpath in the presence of their country's Deputy Supreme Commander Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was the chief guest.
India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' made its debut by flying past the Rajpath on the country's 68th Republic Day.
Ten girl cadets and one Girls Cadets Instructor (GCI) were conferred with Raksha Mantri Padak by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on his visit to the NCC Republic Day Camp 2017 in Delhi.
In a first, ‘black cat’ commandos of elite counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) participated in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi.
26th of January is a day of celebration for both Australia and India. While India celebrates in Republic Day, Australia too celebrates its Foundation Day.
National Action Plan for Children, 2016 (NPAC) was launched at a special function held to celebrate the National Girl Child Day in New Delhi.
In a bid to expand passport services and to ensure wider coverage, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts (DOP) have agreed to utilise the Head Post Offices (HPO) across the country as Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) for delivering passport-related services.
E-Health Kerala, the project envisaged by the health department in association with the state IT Mission, was launched officially by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function held at Peroorkada District Hospital.
Russian envoy Alexander Kadakin passes away.
Arunachal Pradesh launched 'Dulari Kanya', a special scheme to check infant mortality in the state, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day.
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order for an "impassable physical barrier" to be built along the US border with Mexico.
Reserve Bank prohibited Indian entities from making direct investments in any entity located in 'non co-operative countries and territories', as identified by the inter-governmental body FATF.
Delhi Dynamos appoint Ashish Shah as new CEO.
India's largest online travel portal MakeMyTrip has launched the first ever social luxury travel magazine called 'Luxury Travel Times'.
US President Donald Trump has appointed prominent Indian-American attorney Uttam Dhillon to a key White House position to assist him on ethics and compliance matters.
US pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson on Thursday announced it was buying Europe’s biggest bio-pharmaceutical firm, Switzerland’s Actelion, for $30 billion (€27.9 billion) in a deal that creates a new spin-off company.
Jeevan Raksha Padak 2016 announced.
Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won his 11th World Billiards (150-Up format) Championships title by beating Peter Gilchrist of Singapore in the summit clash.
Japan has formally named its first home-grown sumo grand champion Kisenosato in almost two decades, in a boost to the traditional wrestling sport.
Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals in a doping case involving teammate Nesta Carter.
Karnataka Bank inks pact with Tirth Agro Technology.
On January 25 India celebrated its sixth National Voters Day.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named four women in a strong field of nine umpires to officiate in next month's ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier 2017 in its continued efforts and commitment for the overall growth and development of women's cricket.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) launched the first-ever Indian Women’s League (IWL) to be held at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi from January 28 till February 14.
US Emmy award winning actress Mary Tyler has passed away.
Biologists created the world’s first stable semi-synthetic organism.
Pune City Police have started using a ‘Beat Marshall Monitoring Mobile App’ on experimental basis to map the real-time locations of patrolling teams from police stations.
Burj Khalifa lighted up in tricolor to mark 68th Republic Day of India.
Japan successfully launched its first military communications satellite Kirameki-2 that is designed to upgrade its network in the face of China's increasingly assertive maritime activity and North Korea's missile threat.
Mauritius is set to have a new Prime Minister, two days after the 86-year-old Indian-origin Anerood Jugnauth resigned and handed over the post to his son.
Damodar Valley Corporation received NTPC award 20015-16 from Union Power Minister, Piyush Goyal.
Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson, Reliance Foundation, has become the first South Asian to be honoured by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York for her philanthropic work in the areas of education, sports, healthcare, rural transformation, urban renewal, disaster response, women's empowerment and promotion of the arts.
Global aerospace major Boeing on launched its engineering and technology center in Bangalore.
Madhya Pradesh CM announces total ban on polythene bags.
France has issued its first "green bonds" with a record seven billion euro ($7.5 billion) sale, paving the way for the establishment of a genuine market in renewable energy bonds.
Cabinet permitted NABARD to raise about Rs 20,000 crore from the market for on—lending to cooperative banks at 4.5 per cent interest with an aim to provide cheaper crop loans to farmers.
Venezuela awards Peace Prize to Russian Prez Vladimir Putin.
India and France has signed White Shipping agreement to enable information sharing on maritime traffic and maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) amid China's expanding naval forays in the area where India wants to establish itself as the net security provider.
Russia, Turkey and Iran, the sponsors of the peace talks between the Syrian government and rebels, have agreed to act as joint monitors for the war-torn country’s fragile ceasefire - in a promising step towards ending the violence.
Mathew Hayden and David Boon inducted into Australian cricket hall of fame.
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 92.34 crore integrated check-post (ICP) at the India-Bangladesh international border here in Meghalaya to boost bilateral ties.
Nikki Haley confirmed as US envoy to UN.
National girl child day was celebrated on 24th of January as a national observance day for the girl child.
India, along with Brazil, Argentina and some other nations, has rejected an informal attempt by the European Union (EU) and Canada to work towards a global investment agreement at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)-level that would incorporate a contentious Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism.
China developed world’s biggest solar park.
The government transferred the role of advising the government on how to utilize the proceeds from disinvestment from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) to the Department of Economic Affairs.
To educate awareness on banking codes at grass root level, The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI) will organise “know your rights” programme in all the states.
Foreign secretary S Jaishankar gets one-year extension.
Telangana government backed startup incubator T-Hub launched GIS Innovation Hub (GIH) for startups in the city, powered by Esri India, the geographic information system, or GIS, software and solutions provider.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal mooted for cashless transactions through grass root level programmes, saying his government has initiated several steps to digitize payment methods.
Kremlin to host 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed a senior Dutch official Derk Segaar as head of the world bodys information centre in New Delhi, covering India and Bhutan.
Siddhartha Murarka has been appointed as the Chairman of the Eastern India Regional Council of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
Vodafone to invest Rs 3000 cr in West Bengal in next 3 years.
The Senate has confirmed controversial candidate Mike Pompeo to head the CIA in President Donald Trump's new administration.
Commerce & Industry Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman launched Rubber Soil Information System (RubSIS), an online system for recommending application of appropriate mix of fertilizers to the specific plantations of rubber growers depending upon their soil nature in New Delhi.
Multiplex chain operator PVR today launched theatre on demand service ‘Vkaao’ and plans to add 100 screens by end of next fiscal across the country.
Delhi airport wins award for CSR
Shane Watson bags Australia’s T20 International player of the year award.
Indian and British experts are joining hands on a project to help tackle health problems associated with air pollution in Delhi, which affect some 46 million people in and around the country's capital city.
Utkarsh Micro Finance launches Small Finance Bank.
Ronnie O’Sullivan created history as he sealed a record seventh Dafabet Masters title after coming back to defeat Joe Perry in a 10-7 triumph at Alexandra Palace in London.
Uber to bring Food Delivery App ‘UberEATS’ in India.
Virender Sehwag named Kings XI Punjab brand ambassador.
Indian-American Ajit Pai is the new FCC head.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will set a record when it launches 103 satellites in one go on a single rocket in the first week of February.
IRDAI allows Swiss Re to open branch in Mumbai.
India and UAE have launched dialogue on the security situation in Afghanistan in the backdrop of recent assassination of five diplomats from the Gulf country by suspected Taliban.
India's largest cab aggregator Ola has named Vishal Kaul, a former PepsiCo executive as its chief operating officer.
For the first time, a film made in a Himachali dialect "Saanjh" gets international recognition by grabbing best feature film award at international Borrego Springs Film Festival held in California, US.
3 day Arogya Mitra conference begins in Silchar, Assam.
Virat Kohli becomes fastest batsman to score 1000 runs as ODI captain.
Nepal launches 10 year plan to reduce depending on India for vegetable imports.
2017 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.
The Annual Status Education Report (ASER) 2016 found that Himachal Pradesh is doing well in many regards, on the education front, as compared to the rest of the states.
100% FDI under consideration in food processing sector.
Russian Railways is helping India's national transporter increase the speed of its passenger trains up to 200 km per hour.
In a setback to Indian travelers, Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, has withdrawn the visa-free facility for Indians who will have to complete a pre-arrival registration.
Punjab National Bank launches contactless card PNB Wave N Pay.
Anurag Thakur was unanimously elected head of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA) for a four-year term.
Ecotourism project setup at Purulia, West Bengal.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved MakeMyTrip’s acquisition of rival, ibibo Group, according to documents filed by Nasdaq-listed MakeMyTrip to US Securities and Exchange Commission
Dhruv Sunish finally got the taste of ITF Juniors title when he won the boys singles crown downing Kazakhstan's Dostanbek Tashbulatov at the Dakshin Kalikata Sansad clay courts.
Saina Nehwal started the new year in the best possible manner after beating Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong 22-20, 22-20 in the women's singles final of the $120,000 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold in Sibu.
Urdu poet, lyricist Naqsh Lyallpuri dies at 88.
Apple named most innovative company of 2016.
A special task force for women safely reconstituted in Delhi.
Over 3.5 lakh people sing national anthem in Gujrat to set a new world record.