Top Current Affairs of the Week (16- 22 January 2022)

World's largest national flag, Indian Tricolor displayed on Army Day

• World's largest national flag, Indian Tricolor made from Khadi, was displayed along India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan's Longewala, on 74th Army Day.
• Longewala is the western part of the desert state's Jaisalmer district and was the site of Battle of Longewala in 1971
• It is 225 feet long, 150 feet wide and weighs around 1,400 kg, while Ashoka Chakra in the center has a diameter of 30 feet.
• Monumental National Flag is created by Khadi and Village Industries Commission

J&K set to have two whole genome sequencing labs very soon

• Jammu and Kashmir is set to have two whole genome sequencing labs after which samples of Covid positive persons will be tested in the region.
• During the second wave of Covid, UT administration decided to set up two genome sequencing labs one in GMC Jammu and other in GMC Srinagar/SKIMS Soura
• All details were shared with Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) for procurement of machines required for installing in two labs.

Defence Online Coaching 2022

Centre issues postal stamp to mark 1 year of Covid vaccination drive

• Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has released commemorative Postal Stamp on COVID-19 Vaccine to mark the 1st anniversary of India's National Covid-19 Vaccination program.
• The commemorative stamp features a healthcare worker inoculating senior citizen with COVID-19 vaccine, along with an image of ‘COVAXIN’ vial.
• This stamp signifies the remarkable work done by our frontline healthcare workers and scientific community in protecting the people against COVID.

Navies of India, Russia Conduct Passing Exercise In Arabian Sea

• The navies of India and Russia conducted a passing exercise in the Arabian Sea.
• Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer INS Kochi exercised with Russian Navy's destroyer Admiral Tributs.
• The exercise showcased cohesiveness and interoperability between the two navies. 
• A passing exercise is done to ensure that two navies participating in it are able to smoothly coordinate and communicate in times of any disaster or war.

MEIL completes 5-km tunnelling work as part of Zojila project

• Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) has completed 5-km-long tunnelling work as part of the 18-km-long all-weather Zojila Tunnel.
• The project of the NHIDCL, being executed by the MEIL, is envisaged to ensure connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh throughout the year.
• Zojila project, Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel, is a challenging development project in India for strategic reasons too.

China builds 'artificial moon' for gravity experiment

• China built an "artificial moon" research facility that will enable them to simulate low-gravity environments using magnetism.
• The gravity of this place can be controlled using powerful magnets by scientists to such low levels that it could successfully simulate the moon’s gravity.
• The artificial moon research facility is scheduled for official launch in the year 2022.
• It is first of its kind research facility in the world.

Chhattisgarh govt to set up employment mission to create 15 lakh job

• Chhattisgarh govt decided to set up an employment mission to create around 15 lakh job opportunities in the state in the next 5 years.
• The mission will be headed by CM Bhupesh Baghel.
• Under the mission, the State government will also leverage expertise of premiere institutions such as the IIT, IIIT, IIM and NIT, in the State to generate employment opportunities.
• In the last 3 years, several innovative programmes were introduced to create employment opportunities.

Narendra Kumar Goenka appointed as new chairman of AEPC

• Narendra Kumar Goenka took charge as the new chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).
• He succeeded Padma Shri awardee A Sakthivel.
• Prior to this, he was the Vice Chairman of AEPC and has been associated with AEPC for more than two decades
• AEPC is the official body of apparel exporters in India, under Ministry of Textiles that provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers and international buyers.
• Headquarters: Gurugram

Delhi Police makes 1st foray into world of Podcasts with digital audio

• Delhi Police is making its first foray into the world of Podcasts with digital audio presentation titled as ‘KISSA KHAKI KA’.
• Delhi Police will establish communication with masses through its unheard stories of crimes, investigations, heart, and humanity.
• Podcast will be aired digitally on Social Media handles of Delhi Police .
• It will create a new bond between Delhi Police and citizens and enable better understanding among people of challenges the police force faces.

India set to host football AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 from 20th Jan

• India is all set to host football AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 from 20th January 2022 in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune.
• This is a very significant tournament because women's football is gaining a lot of ground in Asia, and particularly in India.
• The tournament will witness 12 teams competing for the trophy.
• AFC Women's Asian Cup India will also be the final stage of Asian qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Roberta Metsola becomes youngest President of EU Parliament

• Centre-right Maltese lawmaker Roberta Metsola (43 years) has been chosen as youngest President of European Union (EU) Parliament
• She is the only 3rd woman to head European Parliament, despite controversy over anti-abortion stance
• She is a member of the largest bloc, European People’s Party, who won large majority with 458 votes
• She first elected to as a Member of European Parliament in 2013, representing Malta, and became First VP of European Parliament in Nov 2020

OxFam India releases new study report ‘Inequality kills’

• Oxfam India has released report titled as ‘Inequality Kills’, which reveals that COVID-19 pandemic has heightened economic inequalities across the world.
• Key highlights:
• Wealth of world’s 10 richest men doubled since COVID began.
• Collective wealth of India’s 100 richest people hit a record high of Rs 57.3 lakh crore ($ 775 billion) in 2021.
• Number of Indian billionaires grew from 102 to 142 during COVID.
• 84% of households suffered a decline in their income in a year.

PM Modi, Mauritius PM jointly inaugurate India-assisted housing project

• PM Narendra Modi and his Mauritius counterpart Pravind K Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the India-assisted Social Housing Units project in Mauritius virtually.
• They also launch the Civil Service College and 8MW Solar PV Farm projects in Mauritius that are being undertaken under India’s development support
• An agreement on extending a 190 million US dollar  Line of Credit from India to Mauritius for the Metro Express Project and other infra. projects have been exchanged.

Indonesia replaces sinking Jakarta with new capital city Nusantara

• TheIndonesian Parliament has passed a law to relocate the country’s capital from Jakarta to Nusantara.
• The initial relocationwill start between 2022 and 2024.
• In the next decade, the government centre will be relocated and by 2045, the vision of 'World City for All" will be realised.
• Theplan was formulated as Jakarta is prone to flooding amid climate change.
• The sinking megacityalso suffers from chronic congestion and air pollution.

First BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 held under Chinese chairship

• The first BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 was held virtually on January 18-19 2022, with the members thanking India for its BRICS chairship in 2021.
• China has taken on the rotating chairmanship of BRICS in 2022.
• BRICS is a grouping of five major emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Dileep Sanghani elected as IFFCO chairman

• Dileep Sanghani has been elected as chairman (17th) of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO).
• He succeeds Balvinder Singh Nakai.
• Sanghani was elected as the vice-chairman of IFFCO in the year 2019.
• IFFCO is a multi-state cooperative society engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing fertilisers.
• IFFCO Headquarters: New Delhi.

India successfully test fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

• BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with increased indigenous content and improved performance was successfully testfired from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha
• The launch was conducted by Brahmos Aerospace in close coordination with the teams of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
• The missile was equipped with advanced indigenous technologies and followed a modified optimal trajectory for enhanced efficiency and improved performance

Saturnino de la Fuente, the world's oldest man passes away at 112

• The oldest person living (male) Saturnino de la Fuente García (112 years & 341 days) has passed away at home in León, a city in northwest Spain,
• Saturnino claimed the record as the oldest person living (male) in September 2021 when he was exactly 112 years and 211 days.
• De la Fuente was a cobbler by trade and started working in a shoe factory at age 13.
• He was born in the Puente Castro neighbourhood of León on Feb. 11, 1909.

 Defense

Amar Jawan Jyoti to merge with War Memorial flame

• According to defence officials, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at India Gate will be merged with the flame at the newly constructed National War Memorial in the same complex.
• The Amar Jawan Jyoti was erected as a memorial to fallen soldiers of the 1971 operations that led to the freedom of Bangladesh.
• It is housed inside the India Gate, a British era memorial to soldiers who lost their lives in pre-independence operations.

India, Sri Lanka extend existing Science & Technology cooperation for three

• India and Sri Lanka have extended the existing Science and Technology cooperation for three more years.
• Now, the countries focus on new areas like waste-water technologies, sustainable agriculture, aerospace engineering, robotics and artificial intelligence.
• The decision was taken during the 5th Joint Committee meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.

Babar Azam named captain of ICC Men's ODI Team of Year 2021

• According to the global cricket body, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year.
• He was also named the skipper of the Men's Team of the Year for 2021.
• There were no Indians in the ICC T20I Men's Team of the Year but Smriti Mandhana found a spot in the Women's T20I Team of the Year.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grand statue to be installed at India Gate

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that a grand statue of iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chand Bose will be installed at India Gate.
• He said, till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place. 
• Mr. Modi will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netaji’s birth anniversary.

Albert Bourla wins $1 million Genesis Prize for development of COVID-19 vac

• Albert Bourla was awarded the prestigious Genesis Prize for his efforts in leading the development of a COVID-19 vaccine
• He is the chairman and chief executive of global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.,
• The $1 million awards are granted each year to a person for their professional achievements, contributions to humanity and commitment to Jewish values
• Bourla had received the largest number of votes in an online campaign (200,000 people in 71 countries participated).

Suriya's Tamil socio-drama 'Jai Bhim' nominated for Best Featured Film

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the list of 276 films that is eligible for consideration at the 94th Oscars.
• Suriya's hard-hitting Tamil socio-drama Jai Bhim is India's entry into The Academy.
• Jai Bhim is the fourth Indian film to get nominated for Oscars after Mother India, Salaam Bombay, and Lagaan
• Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s latest period drama Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham has also officially made it to the Oscars 2021 list.

Haryana and Himachal inks MoU to revive Saraswati River

• Haryana and Himachal Pradesh govt have signed MoU to revive the Saraswati river in Panchkula.
• Under this, Haryana Government will construct a dam and a reservoir in Adi Badri area near Yamunanagar district, which is situated on the border of Himachal Pradesh.
• Cost of the project is estimated at Rs 215.33 crore and will be borne entirely by Haryana govt.
• Adi-Badri is considered as the origin of Saraswati river.
• Dam will be delivered 224 hectare mtr water from Som river

PM Modi to unveil 216-foot statue of saint Ramanujacharya in Hyderabad

• PM Modi will inaugurate 216-foot statue of Ramanujacharya in a sitting position in Hyderabad on Feb 5, 2022 to celebrate 1,000th birth anniversary of the saint.
• Ramanujacharya: 11th century saint and a revolutionary social reformer.
• It will be called as ‘Statue of Equality’.
• It is located in a 45-acre complex at Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana
• It is built at a cost of Rs. 1,000-crore, which was funded entirely by donations from devotees globally

First District Good Governance Index for 20 Districts released

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has released District Good Governance Index for 20 Districts of UT of Jammu and Kashmir
• Organized by: Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Jammu & Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration & Rural Development in association with Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad.
• J&K will become first Union Territory in the country to have Good Governance Index.

PM Modi emerges as 'Most Popular Leader' worldwide

• PM Narendra Modi has emerged as the most popular leader worldwide, according to US-based global leader approval tracker, Morning Consult Political Intelligence.
• Modi has topped with 71% approval ratings among 13 world leaders while US President, Joe Biden is ranked at number six with 43% rating.
• Joe Biden is followed by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau with 43% and Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison at 41% approval ratings.

BRO conducts final blast concluding all excavation on Sela Tunnel Project

• The final blast for 980-metre long Sela Tunnel (Tunnel 1) has been conducted by Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry through e-ceremony from New Delhi
• This marks the culmination of excavation works on the complete Sela Tunnel Project.
• This feat has been achieved by Border Roads Organization (BRO)
• It is located in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh
• Once completed, it will be a lifeline as it will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang.

‘Indigenous Knowledge & Health Care: The Way Forward’

• Tribal Research Institute, Telangana in collaboration with Ministry of Tribal Affairs has organized two Days workshop on ‘Indigenous Knowledge & Health Care: The Way Forward’ from 19th January to 20th January 2022
• It has been launched with technical support from United Nations Development Programme.
• Tribal Research Institute, Uttarakhand has been designated as the nodal TRI for coordination with other TRIs.

 Click to Download Current Affairs of the Week (16 -22 Jan 2022) 

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