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Current Affairs 16 January 2024
1.India's First National Highway steel Road section on NH-66 Mumbai-Goa National Highway inaugurated
- Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI AAYOG inaugurated
India’s First National Highway Steel Slag Road section on NH- 66 Mumbai-Goa National Highway. The Steel Slag Road Technology, developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) is transforming the waste of steel industries into wealth and is helping the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to build stronger and ecofriendly national highways in the country. - JSW Steel, under the CSIR-CRRI technological guidance, has constructed the 1 km long four lane steel slag road section on Indapur-Panvel Section of NH-66 Mumbai-Goa. For construction of this road around 80,000 tons of CONARC Steel slag were converted as processed steel slag aggregates at JSW Steel Dolvi, Raigad plant.
2. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Inflation Hits Nine-Month High At 0.73% In December 2023
- The wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation came in at
0.73 per cent for December 2023, up from 0.26 in November, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. WPI has continued its upward trajectory after returning to positive territory in November after seven months. - Earlier in March, the WPI-based inflation was 1.34 per cent before falling to -0.92 per cent in April.Positive rate of inflation in December, 2023 is primarily due to increase in prices of food articles, machinery & equipment, other manufacturing, other transport equipment and computer, electronics & optical products etc.
3. Switzerland to Host Ukraine Peace Summit on Zelenskiy’s Request
- Switzerland agreed to host a global peace summit on Ukraine
at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Neutral Switzerland has previously acted as a broker to resolve conflicts and could now help find a resolution for the war that began when Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. - Zelenskiy, during a press conference in Bern alongside Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd, revealed that the peace summit’s participants are yet to be finalized. However, he emphasized the invitation to countries respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, hinting at inclusivity.
Foot Note:
About Switzerland:
Capital:Bern
President:Viola Amherd
4. Yes Bank Introduces Veefin’s SmartFin for Digital Supply Chain Finance
- Yes Bank has announced the launch of SmartFin, an end-to-
end digital supply chain finance (SCF) platform, powered by Veefin Solutions. The platform’s comprehensive capabilities in digital onboarding, credit underwriting, loan management and transaction processing redefine the accessibility of SCF products. - SmartFin facilitates digital SCF loans for dealers and suppliers of corporate clients, enabling them to achieve their strategic business objectives, that includes working capital efficiency, market expansion, sales acceleration, and strengthening supply chain partnership.
Foot Note:
About Yes Bank:
Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Mumbai
CEO: Prashant Kumar
5. Second International AYUSH Conference Inaugurated in Dubai
- The second International AYUSH Conference and Exhibition
opened its doors at the Dubai World Trade Centre, orchestrated by the Science India Forum and the Ministry of AYUSH. Running from January 13 to 15, the three-day event is dedicated to showcasing AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) as a reliable healthcare system for preventing and managing Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs). - The focal theme of the conference, "Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases – Prevention & Management through AYUSH," aims to highlight AYUSH as a prevention-oriented and cost-effective approach to creating a disease-free society.
6. National Startup Day is observed every year on 16th of January
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially declared 16
January as National Startup Day. Under the Startup India programme, startups in the country expanded from around 400 to 1.18 lakh. On the NationalStartupDay, I extend my best wishes to our talented entrepreneurs who with their hard work & innovative zeal are paving the way for India's emergence as a 'Global Hub for Startups. - Union Minister Piyush Goyal shared a post on X saying, "Celebrating 8️ Incredible Years of Startup India! A result of PM Narendra Modi ji's visionary leadership, this initiative is advancing our country's startup ecosystem to greater heights.
7. Vice admiral an pramod appointed director general naval operations
- Vice Admiral AN Pramod assumed charge as the Director
General Naval Operations (DGNO) on 15 Jan 2024. An alumnus of the 38th Integrated Cadet Course, Naval Academy, Goa, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1990. The Flag Officer is a CAT ‘A’ Sea King Air Operations Officer and a Communication & Electronics Warfare Specialist. - His important afloat appointments include Fleet Operations Officer, Western Fleet, Command of IN ships Abhay, Shardul and Satpura, Executive Officer Rajput, SCO Sujata and GO II Kirpan. He commanded the Naval Air Station, Utkrosh at Port Blair and was also the Directing Staff at DSSC, Wellington.
8. A book named "Gandhi A Life in Three Campaigns" Launched
- Renowned author M.J. Akbar, along with co-author K. Natwar
Singh, launched a new book titled “Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns.” This book was unveiled at a significant event hosted by Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library Society, at the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library at the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya. - ational Security Advisor Ajit Doval, at the book launch, praised Gandhi’s use of ‘soft power’ as a strategic tool against colonial rule. He described Gandhi’s political approach as inclusive, transcending conventional notions of soft and hard power, and coined it as “smart power.”
9. Bernardo Arevalo sworn in as Guatemala's President
- Guatemala's new president was finally sworn into office. It was
a moment that nearly didn't happen. Despite winning the election by a landslide back in August, anticorruption campaigner Bernardo Arevalo faced months of opposition from political opponents, and those efforts to prevent the transfer of power continued right up until the last minute. - In Guatemala City, the morning started off hopeful. Big groups of indigenous people came into the city on buses. Across the boulevards musicians played on stages, and kids carried balloons. An inauguration felt inevitable.
Foot Note:
About Guatemala:
Capital: Guatemala City
President:Bernardo Arévalo
10. Crown Prince Frederik X becomes king of Denmark
- Denmark’s King Frederik X has taken the throne after the
abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II, looking emotional as he waved to the thousands who gathered in the capital Copenhagen to witness the start of a new era. - For many in Denmark, his mother Margrethe was the only monarch they had ever known. But her shock abdication, after more than five decades on the throne, paved the way for her son, the former crown prince, to succeed her.
Foot Note:
About Denmark:
Capital: Copenhagen
Prime Minister : Mette Frederiksen
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