1. Lt Bhavana Kasturi Becomes The First Female Officer To Lead All-Male Contingent At Republic Day

• The grand celebrations of the 70th Republic Day were about a lot of proud firsts and women leading from the front.
• There was one other woman who created history - Lieutenant Bhavana Kasturi became the first woman in the history of the Indian Army to lead an all-male contingent consisting of 144 men.
• The theme of the 70th Republic Day parade is 'life of Gandhi' which is a tribute to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary. A total of 22 tableaus in the parade will showcase the Mahatma Gandhi theme.

2. National Voters' Day: Mizoram launches helpline, mobile app

• Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan launched the voters' helpline number '1950' and mobile app for people with disabilities as part of the National Voters' Day celebrations.
• The governor appealed to all voters to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.
• Mizoram governor appealed to all the voters to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections expected to be held in May-June 2019 and ensure peaceful conduct of the poll.

3. India Puts 'Microsat R' & Students-Built Nano-Satellite 'Kalamsat' Into Orbit

• India opened the year's space campaign by putting into orbit defence imaging satellite 'Microsat R' for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and students-built nano-satellite 'Kalamsat' in a copybook style.
• The notable aspects of this space mission are flying of a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), switching off and on of the fourth stage engine couple of times, and use of the fourth stage as an orbital platform carrying Kalamsat.
• ISRO trusted workhorse PSLV-C44 carrying military satellite Microsat-R and students payload 'Kalamsat' lifts off from the first launch pad at the spaceport of Sriharikota.

4. Parthasarathi Mukherjee to head Lakshmi Vilas Bank for another two years

• Private sector Lakshmi Vilas Bank has reappointed Parthasarathi Mukherjee as its managing director when the lender is struggling to raise Rs 2000 crore from investors.
• Previously,he served in Axis Bank and SBI in several position.
• Mukherjee joined the bank on January 25, 2016 for three years and had brought positive changes initially before the piling up bad loans hit profitability.

5. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches new reforms, guidelines to strengthen Jan Shikshan Santhans

• In a bid to boost skill training and entrepreneurship in the remotest corners of the country, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan,  announced comprehensive reforms for Jan ShikshanSansthan (JSS).
• The Ministry also released the new JSS site (www.jss.gov.in) which will furnish information and facts on action ideas, databases of beneficiaries and stakeholders, details of finance and expenditure and other ongoing development projects that are on process.
• The announcements were made during the National Conference for Jan ShikshanSansthan (JSSs).

6. Supreme Court Upholds Insolvency And Bankruptcy Code In Its Entirety

• The Supreme Court of India upheld the two-year old insolvency code in its entirety, quashing petitions which challenged the law saying it was discriminatory.
• The two-judge bench headed by Justice Rohinton Nariman also upheld the ban on promoters’ bids for the defaulting company undergoing the insolvency process.
• The constitutional validity of IBC was questioned as a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

7. Amul Launches Camel Milk With ‘Numerous Benefits’ In Select Markets

• The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, owner of dairy brand Amul,  announced the launch of camel milk in select markets of Gujarat.
• Branded as ‘Amul Camel Milk’, it would be available in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch.
• The milk is also beneficial to those having dairy allergies as it contains no allergens.

8. SBI Card And Etihad Guest Launches Visa Credit Cards For International Travellers

• SBI Card Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, has launched a travel specific Visa credit card for members and Indian travellers.
• The card which will be available in two variants, Etihad Guest SBI Card and Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card, will offer rewarding experiences to Etihad Guest members and international Indian travellers.
• Travel is a key spend category for Indian consumers, with 33 per cent of overall card spends in the SBI Card portfolio made within the travel industry.

9. Nepal, India to set up energy banking system to utilise surplus electricity

• Nepal and India have agreed to set up an 'Energy Banking' mechanism that would help the Himalayan country export its surplus electricity to neighbour India during the monsoon season and import power during its lean season in winter.
• The agreement on the 'Energy Banking' mechanism was arrived at during a meeting between the Nepali and Indian Energy Secretaries in Pokhara.
• The  agreement is based on the nature of demand and supply.

10. Kerala government to launch NRI pension scheme

• The Kerala government will soon launch a 'Pravasi Dividend Pension Scheme' to provide regular pension to Non Resident Keralites on a one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh.
• He announced the scheme during his address to the state Assembly.
• The one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh will be deposited with KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) for financing infrastructure projects.

11. Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika Awarded Bharat Ratna

• Pranab Mukherjee, India's 13th President and one of the Congress' tallest leaders for decades, has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour.
• Along with Mr Mukherjee, social activist and one of the BJP's senior-most leaders Nanji Deshmukh and music maestro from Assam, Bhupen Hazarika, have been awarded posthumously.
• In a political career spanning nearly five decades, Mr Mukherjee has served as the Finance Minister, Defence Minister and also the Foreign Minister during the UPA's rule at the centre.