1) National Youth Day: 12 January
•The National Youth Day has been celebrated every year on 12 January. This is the day when Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest social reformers, thinkers, and philosophers of India, was born. The Indian government had declared back in 1984 that Swamiji’s birthday would be celebrated as the National Youth Day.
•The main aim behind this is to make sure that the students across the country can be encouraged to learn about life, the ideas and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and apply them in their lives.
2) National Youth Festival 2020 begins in Lucknow
•The 23rd National Youth Festival 2020 started from 12-16 January at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. This festival is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The NYF 2020 is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and State Government of Uttar Pradesh. The theme of the 23rd National Youth Festival 2020 is “FIT YOUTH FIT INDIA”. The theme is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for New India to be a fit India and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat. The event aims to promote the knowledge and ideas of the Youth.
•The government has been organising NYF since 1995 with an objective to provide a platform to the youth of the country and provide them with an opportunity to showcase their talents in various activities.
3) Kolkata Port renamed as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port
•The Kolkata Port has been renamed as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port on the occasion of 150th years celebration of Kolkata Port Trust. The event was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He dedicated a Commemorative Stamp to mark 150 years of Kolkata port trust to nation. The Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 tribal girl students from Sundarbans were also inaugurated during the event.
•During the event, two oldest pensioners of the Port Mr. Naresh Chandra Chakraborty (100 years old) and Smt. Nagina Bhagat (105 years old) were also honoured.
4) India’s 1st Cyber Crime Prevention Unit “AASHVAST” launched in Gujarat
•The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the first Cyber Crime Prevention Unit of India “AASHVAST” in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Along with AASHVAST, he also launched 2 other projects: VISWAS & Netrang.
•The AASHVAST project will act as a helpline for the cyber crime victims. The project will provide cyber-security solution to the common people of Gujarat provided by Gujarat Police. Project AASHVAST is expected to contribute in preventing crimes in the state of Gujarat.
•The e-governance initiative Video Integration and State Wide Advanced Security (VISHWAS) was also launched with an objective to improve Law and Order Management, Proactive traffic management and control, Crime detection with the help of video analytics and post incident investigation and video forensics. Command and Control Room will be established in 33 districts of the state in the project ‘Netrang’.
5) Bangladesh hosts Muslim congregation “Bishwa Ijtema”
•First phase of “Bishwa Ijtema” has commenced in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the second largest congregation of Muslim community after Hajj. The second phase of the congregation will be held from January 17 to 19.
•Bishwa Ijtema is an annual event which is taking place on the outskirts of Dhaka since 1967. It is being organised in a field of 160 acres, on the bank of the Turag river at Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka. The congregation draws devotees of Muslim community from about 150 countries, hence making it the second largest congregation of Muslim community after Hajj.
6) Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al Said took over as Sultan of Oman
•Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al Said has took over as Sultan of Oman. He will succeed Sultan Qaboos bin Said who passed away recently. The Sultan is the prime decision-maker in Oman and also holds the portfolio of Prime Minister, supreme commander of the armed forces, minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance and minister of defence.
•Sultan Qaboos bin Said was a charismatic and visionary leader who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was ruling Oman since 1970.
7) 18th Dhaka International Film Festival begins in Bangladesh
•The 18th Dhaka International Film Festival begins at Dhaka, Bangladesh. The theme of the festival is ‘Better Film, Better Audience and Better Society’. During the festival, 220 films from 74 countries will be screened across various venues in Dhaka between 11-19 January.
8) Tsai Ing-wen wins Taiwan presidential election
•Tsai Ing-wen has won the Taiwan presidential election. She wins the second term as Taiwan president. Her Democratic Progressive party retained control of the legislature, according to final results. She defeated Han Kuo-yu with 57.1% of the vote.
9) World Future Energy Summit commences in Abu Dhabi
•The World Future Energy Summit commences in Abu Dhabi with the theme “Rethinking Global Consumption, Production, and Investment”. The Summit will conclude on 17th January, 2020. Delegates from around 170 countries are participating in the summit to be held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The summit will host the business leaders, policy makers, innovators, senior government officials, investors, financiers, producers, and buyers of sustainable solutions from all over the world.
•The World Future Energy Summit 2020 will feature forum programmes and demonstration in five domains namely: smart cities, water, waste, energy & solar. The event aims to stop the use of single-use plastics.
10) Jasprit Bumrah gets BCCI’s Polly Umrigar award
•Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah will receive the BCCI’s prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for his super performance in international cricket in the 2018-19 season. The world’s No. 1 ODI bowler made his Test debut during India’s tour of South Africa in January 2018. On the other hand, leg-spinner Poonam Yadav will be given the best international cricketer (women) award.
•Former India captains Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anjum Chopra will be presented with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award and the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for women respectively. Mayank Agarwal and Shafali Verma will receive the awards for a best international debut in men’s and women’s category.
