Current Affairs Jan 2018 - Miscellaneous

  • The 1st PIO-Parliamentarian Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

  • Karnataka topped all states with investment intentions of Rs 1.49 lakh crore till October 2017, which was 43% of the country's total investment intentions.

  • Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic won the deciding Fast4 mixed doubles 4-3 (3), 4-2 over Germany to give Switzerland its third Hopman Cup title.

  • World’s largest Ice Festival 'International Ice and Snow Festival' was held in Harbin, China.

  • Ministry of Petroleum launched Saksham (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) 2018 Campaign which is an annual flagship event of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India.

  • North Korea and South Korea have agreed to march together under a single unified Korea flag at the Winter Olympics.

  • The rural sanitation coverage has reached up to 76% from 39% when the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched.

  • The Union Government would come out with EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) - Index for ranking of banks that would increase public accountability of PSBs as independent agencies to evaluate and rank PSBs annually on reforms.

  • External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated India-ASEAN Friendship Park (Bharat-ASEAN Maitri park) in New Delhi.

  • Young Indian shuttler Siddharth Pratap Singh won the Swedish Open Junior International Series with a straight-game victory over Denmark’s Mads Christophersen in the finals.

  • UP Diwas was celebrated on 24th January.

  • Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr Hun Sen, was on a state visit to India.

  • Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film Padmaavat has been banned in Malaysia by the country's censor board as the film touches on the sensitivities of Islam.

  • Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga appointed as the Prime Minister of Mali -

  • Om Prakash Singh has been appointed as the Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh recently.

  • Indian origin scientist, Pratibha Laxman Gai, has been honoured with Damehood by Queen Elizabeth.

  • Maharashtra has decided to impose a spot fine of Rs 500 for open defecation.

  • Union Cabinet recently approved establishment of AIIMS under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana at Bilaspur.

  • The United States has suspended security aid to Pakistan.

  • Maharashtra state government is going to form an education board for non-English medium schools.

  • Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the coach of the Delhi Daredevils franchise for the upcoming IPL 2018.

  • The Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Department of Science & Technology signed a MoU for - Joint funding of Technology Mission for IndianRailways.

  • The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved five projects worth - Rs 295.01crore

  • The Colour of new Rs 10 note to be issued by RBI is Chocolate Brown.

  • Focus country group in the New Delhi World Book Fair 2018 is European Union.

  • France would be conferring its highest order of merit, the 'Legion of Honour', on legendary film and theatre actor - Soumitra Chattopadhyay.

  • The output of wheat is expected to touch an all-time high of 100 million tonnes in 2017-18.

  • India has signed the bilateral annual Haj 2018 Agreement with Saudi Arabia.

  • Cricketer Yusuf Pathan was banned recently for five months for failing dope test.

  • US approved the sale of anti-ballistic missile worth USD 133 million to Japan.

  • Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel has been appointed as the new Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

  • Iran has lifted restrictions that were imposed on Internet use.

  • India signed four agreements for collaboration in ICT sector with Sri Lanka.

  • The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared procurement of small arms worth Rs 3547 Cr.

  • India and US will jointly conduct a military exercise called ‘Vajra Prahar’.

  • Microsoft has topped Thomson Reuters’ debut list of ‘Top 100 Global Technology Leaders’.

  • Tata Consultancy Services has signed a deal worth over 690 mn dollars with M&G Prudential.

  • The Indian Coast Guard has begun its biennial search and rescue exercise with the Coast Guard of Japan.

  • The Union Government has sanctioned projects worth over Rs 10000 cr for North-East to enable better connectivity.

  • China has launched a new guided-missile frigate called 'Wuhai'.

  • China has built the world’s largest air purifier to fight pollution.

  • Virat Kohli has been named ICC Cricketer of the Year 2017.

  • Virat Kohli has been named as the captain of both ICC Test and ODI teams of the year 2017.

  • Madhya Pradesh has claimed to become the first in India to fully achieve door-to-door garbage collection target.

  • Steve Smith won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.

  • Maharashtra state cabinet has approved 1% reservation for orphans in government jobs.

  • The Indian football team climbed 3 places and ranked 102 in the first FIFA rankings of 2018.

  • Sri Lanka has become the first nation to be connected to India’s National Knowledge Network.

  • UP state cabinet has approved 'one district, one product' scheme - Uttar Pradesh.

  • George Weah was sworn-in as President of Liberia.

  • Researchers have discovered a new population of walking fish in Tasmania in Australia.

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