Current Affairs 26th January 2019

Current Affairs 26th January 2019 - Important Points

• Indian Navy’s largest-ever coastal defence exercise ‘Sea Vigil’ concluded on - 23rd January 2019
• Government institutes Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar on - 23rd January 2019
• ICC awards 2018 recognised by - The International Cricket Council 
• Amul Camel Milk launched in - Gujarat 
• BSNL to Offer Data Connectivity Services via - SMS in India
• Amendments to Currency Swap arrangement for SAARC nations approved by - Cabinet
• Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Prizes 2019 organised in -  Varanasi
• IPS officer Aparna Kumar completes South Pole expedition located in -continent of Antarctica
• Renowned Hindi author, poet Krishna Sobti passed away on - 25th January 2019
• Veteran South African all-rounder Johan Botha declared retirement from all forms of cricket on - 23rd January 2019
  Current Affairs 26th January 2019 - Details

Indian Navy’s largest-ever coastal defence exercise ‘Sea Vigil’ concluded on - 23rd January 2019

Indian Navy’s largest-ever Coastal Defence Exercise- “Sea Vigil” was directed by the Navy & Coast Guard, in close harmonization with State Governments & UTs settled on January 23rd, 2019.
Objective
The important purpose of the exercise was to widely & holistically validate the efficacy of the events taken since the “26/11” attack in Mumbai.
It intended to instantaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all states & UTs.
Significant Highlights

• Sea Vigil was the largest such exercise the nation had ever observed in recent times & witness participation by above 100 ships, aircraft & patrol boats manned & functioned by various security agencies.
• It covered a wide frontage, covering for the 1st time the complete coast of India, including island territories, seaward, coastal & hinterland areas. 
• The exercise contained 2 distinct phases. In the 1st phase, all the involved agencies evaluated the robustness of their own associations.
• During the 2nd phase, pretend attacks were carried out on vital installations & assets by insightful through the sea, in Kerala & Lakshadweep. 
• The security groups were able to thwart efforts by the opposing force to insinuate onto the coast using commandeered fishing boats. 
• The rejoinder of agencies to other security possibilities including hijacking of a ship & attack on offshore installations off Kochi Harbour was also evaluated.

Government institutes Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar on - 23rd January 2019

The Union Government on January 23rd, 2019 introduced an annual prize named “Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar” to mark the 122nd Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. 
The prize scheme will cater the efforts of organisations/individuals who work to improve suffering of the pretentious population in the aftermath of any disaster.
The prize will be declared every year on 23 January on the Birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. All Indian People & groups who have excelled in areas of Disaster Management like Prevention, Mitigation,
Preparedness, Saving, Response, Relief, Rehabilitation & Early Warning will be qualified for the prize.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2019

• For the year 2019, 8th Battalion of the NDRF, situated at Ghaziabad, was nominated for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for its admirable work in Disaster Management. 
• The 8th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force was elevated in 2006 & is a highly specialised Rescue & Response Force with large area of accountability covering National Capital Region, Uttarakhand, Western UP & Haryana.
• It contributed in 314 major operations & saved more than 50000 people. In the recent Kerala Floods, the battalion saved 5338 victims & displaced 24000 persons to safety.
• Other major disasters in which this National Disaster Response Force battalion took part are Leh Cloud Burst in 2011, Kedarnath Floods in 2013, Cyclone Hudhud in 2014, Chennai Floods in 2015 &Tripura Floods in 2018.
• The battalion had served efficiently to neutralise the threat during Radiation Incident at Mayapuri, Delhi during the year 2010.
• The battalion has also done admirable Disaster Management related work Internationally. In the result of Nepal Earthquake in 2015, 6 teams of the battalion were amongst the 1st responders to land at Kathmandu.

ICC awards 2018 recognised by - The International Cricket Council 

The International Cricket Council awards recognise & honour the best International Cricket players of the previous year.
ICC prizes 2018

• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year presented to Indian Cricket team Skipper Virat Kohli.
• ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year award presented to Indian Cricket team Skipper Virat Kohli.
  ICC One-Day International Player of the Year presented to captain of Indian Cricket team Virat Kohli.
• ICC Emerging Player of the Year was presented to Rishabh Pant.
• ICC Associate Player of the Year award presented to Calum MacLeod.
• T-20 International Performance of the Year award was given to Aaron Finch.
• ICC Spirit of Cricket prize was presented to Williamson.
• Umpire of the Year award was presented to Kumar Dharmasena.
• Fans’ Moment of the Year award was presented to India’s victory in the Under-19 World Cup
  Selection Process
• The awardees are nominated by a process wherein ICC Selection committee includes eminent former players picks the finalists for the various prizes. Then the awardees are nominated via votes by an electoral college encompassing present national team skippers of Test playing countries, members of the Elite Panel of ICC umpires & referees, prominent former players & cricket correspondents. The prizes are shared in case of a draw.

Amul Camel Milk launched in - Gujarat 

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited- GCMMF has released Amul Camel Milk in
particular markets of Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad & Kutch in Gujarat.
Benefits of Camel Milk

• Camel milk supports healthy bacteria growth in the gut, making it easy to digest & it also recovers gastro-intestinal health & systemic immunity.
• Camel milk is rich in Vitamin B1 and can provide 70 percent of the recommended daily value per serving.
• Camel Milk is rich in calcium which benefits to develop stronger bones.
• Being a good source of potassium &phosphorus, calcium milk benefits in maintaining a healthy BP level, in combination with a low-sodium diet, which diminishes the risk of a stroke.
• Camel Milk has minimum levels of saturated fats. This move of Amul will give camel farmers better prices & will help customers by giving them hygienically-processed, greater quality camel milk.

BSNL to Offer Data Connectivity Services via - SMS in India

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited- BSNL has inked a partnership pact with the French company Be-Bound
to offer data connectivity via SMS in areas where there is no Internet access or signal breakages.
Effectiveness The SMS based data linking will assist with the support of a technology embedded in a mobile Application.
The application will sense if the user’s area has poor network connectivity. If yes, then the application will send directions to the Be-Bound server.
These directions would be forwarded via SMS from the user’s account.
Be-Bound server will ease SMS based data connectivity after receiving a command from the application.
The connectivity is based on SMS sent to & fro among the application & the Be-Bound server.
This technology was 1st introduced in France & it is also being tested in few of the African nations. In India, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is in talks with few applications to execute the technology.

Amendments to Currency Swap arrangement for SAARC nations approved by - Cabinet

The Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi has sanctioned the modifications to the framework
on currency swap arrangement for SAARC member nations.
The modifications incorporate a standby capability of USD 400 million. This stand-by capability
enables India to provide a prompt reply to the present request from SAARC member nations for enjoying the swap amount beyond the present limit prescribed under the SAARC Swap Framework.
SAARC Swap Framework
The Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Nations was formed with the
motive to provide a line of funding for short term foreign exchange necessities/to meet the balance of
payments disasters till longer-term preparations are made/the concern is resolved in the short-term
itself. It was sanctioned by the Government of India on March 1, 2012.
Under the framework Reserve Bank of India offers swaps of varying sizes to each SAARC Member
nations dependent on their 2 months import needs, not exceeding US$ 2 billion in total, in USD,
Euro/INR.
Profits to SAARC & India
The pact has enabled India to fortify its relations with the SAARC nations together with enlightening
financial stability in the region. This pact also bolsters the trustworthiness of India among the SAARC
nations.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Prizes 2019 organised in -  Varanasi

President Ram Nath Kovind discussed Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Prize 2019 to 30 awardees. The prizes were presented during the  Pravasi Bharatiya Divas being organised at Varanasi.
The winner of this prestigious award includes  Gita Gopinath  chief economist of IMF, Nihal Singh Agar,
founding president of VHP in Australia & Ramesh Chotai, ex-president of Hindu Mandir & Cultural Centre in Canada.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Prizes

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Prize is the highest award deliberated on overseas Indians. The prizes are
conferred on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin/an organization/institution established &
operated by the Non-Resident Indians/Persons of Indian Origin, who has accomplished a crucial
contribution in any one of the following fields:
a) Better considerate about India abroad;
b) Support to India’s causes & concerns in a perceptible way;
c) Producing closer ties between India, the overseas Indian community & their nation of residence;
d) Social & humanitarian causes in India/overseas;
e) Welfare of the local Indian community;
f) Philanthropic & altruistic work;
g) Eminence in one’s field/ outstanding work, which has enhanced India’s respect in the nation of
residence;
h) Distinction in skills which has enhanced India’s prestige in that nation.
Goods & Services Tax Appellate Tribunal
The Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi has sanctioned the formation of National Bench of Goods & Services Tax Appellate Tribunal.
Features of the National Bench of Goods & Services Tax Appellate Tribunal
The National Bench of the GST Appellate Tribunal will be situated in New Delhi.
The National Bench of Goods & Services Tax Appellate Tribunal would contain President & include 1
technical member from the centre & 1 technical member from the state.
The National Bench of GST Appellate Tribunal will serve as a forum for the 2nd appeal in Goods &
Services Tax laws &the 1st common forum for dispute resolution between Centre & states.
The 1st appeal against the decisions of the Appellate Authorities under the Central & State Goods & Services Tax Acts lie before the National Bench.
National Bench of Goods & Services Tax Appellate Tribunal will make sure uniformity in redressal of arguments arising under Goods & Services Tax, & therefore, in the execution of Goods &  Services Tax across the nation.
Provisions for the National Bench of the Goods & Services Tax Appellate
Tribunal Chapter XVIII of the CGST Act delivers for the Appeal & Review Mechanism for disagreement resolution under the Goods &  Services Tax.
Section 109 of Chapter XVIII Chapter of CGST Act authorizes the Central Government to form an
Appellate Tribunal known as the GSTAT for hearing on the sanction of Council, by notification, with
effect from such date as may be definite therein on the approval of Goods & Services Tax Council.

IPS officer Aparna Kumar completes South Pole expedition located in -continent of Antarctica

Indian Police Service officer Aparna Kumar who is on deputation to Indo Tibetan Border Police- ITBP,
become the 1st woman Indian Police Service & Indo Tibetan Border Police officer to effectively conquer the South Pole.

More about South Pole

• The South Pole is the Southernmost point on the surface of the Earth & is at the middle of the Southern Hemisphere. It is located on the continent of Antarctica.
• The South Pole is the coldest as well as driest place on Earth.
• The temperature there varies from -37 degrees to -48 degrees. As a result of this harsh climate, there are no native inhabitant plants/animals at the South Pole. 
• South polar skuas & snow petrels are infrequently seen there.
  About the Expedition
• The expedition started from Chile.
• Indian Police Service officer Aparna Kumar started her journey with a team of 7 members & 2 guides.
• The team walked for 111 miles.
  Aparna Kumar
  Aparna Kumar is an Indian Police Service officer of UP cadre & volleys from Karnataka. The IPS officer is working Indo Tibetan Border Police on deputation as Deputy Inspector General.

Renowned Hindi author, poet Krishna Sobti passed away on - 25th January 2019

Renowned Hindi author & poet Krishna Sobti decreased on January 25th, 2019 at a hospital in Delhi. She was 93 years old.
The author had been admitted to a Delhi hospital for the past 2 months. She was about to finish her 94 years in February. Since the past 1 week, she was in the ICU.
More about Krishna Sobti

• She was born in 1925 in Gujrat, Punjab (now a part of Pakistan), Krishna Sobti was a famous Hindi fiction writer & essayist.
• She was known mainly for writing about issues of woman identity & sexuality. She is well known for her 1966 novel Mitro Marjani, an unapologetic portrayal of a married females’ sexuality.
• Sobti also wrote under the pen name of Hashmat & has printed Hum Hashmat, a compilation of pen portraits of writers & friends. 
• Her other novels comprised Daar Se Bichchuri, Surajmukhi Andhere Ke, Yaaron Ke Yaar, Zindaginama. In 1996, she was bestowed the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of the Akademi.
• A number of her works are now available in English & Urdu languages. Krishna Sobti earned the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980 for her novel Zindaginama.
• In 2017, she got the Jnanpith Award for her contribution to Indian literature. She was also the recipient of the 1st Katha Chudamani Award in 1999 for Lifetime Literary Achievement.
• She also earned the Shiromani Award in 1981, Hindi Academy Award in 1982 & Shalaka Award of the Hindi Academy Delhi. In 2008, her novel Samay Sargam was nominated for Vyas Samman, instituted by the K.K.Birla Foundation.

Veteran South African all-rounder Johan Botha declared retirement from all forms of cricket on - 23rd January 2019

Famous South African all-rounder Johan Botha has declared his instant retirement from all forms of cricket. The cricketer cited wear & tear on his body & complete physical fatigue as the main cause behind the decision.
The news of his retirement was declared on the formal website of Botha's Australian T20 league team, the Hobart Hurricanes on January 23rd, 2019.
More about Johan Botha

• The ex-cricketer had played for the South African national team from 2005-2012.
• In 2012, he accomplished the decision to move to Australia to play in the nation's domestic leagues & in 2016 he was formally granted Australian citizenship. 
• Born in Johannesburg, Botha represented the South African under-19s at the 2000 Under-19 World Cup & completed his 1st-class debut for Eastern Province in the same year at the age of 18.
• The all-rounder was a right-handed batsman & right-arm off-spin bowler. He did his international debut in November 2005, in an ODI against India. 
• He had much greater achievement in the limited-overs arrangements, representing South Africa at the 2009 World T20, 2009 Champions Trophy, 2010 World T20, 2011 World Cup  the 2012 World T20. 
• He skippered the team for periods at both One-Day International & T20 International level, generally during the absence of more senior players. He skippered the team in 10 One-Day Internationals & took it to the No.1 ranking after they defeated Australia 4-1 in Australia in 2009. 
• He retired from international cricket following the 2012 World T20, inking a contract to captain South Australia in Australian domestic cricket.