12 January 2017 - Current Affairs

12th January being observed as National Youth Day 

  • National Youth Day is celebrated in India on 12 January on the birthday of social reformer, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda (154th).
  • Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed National Youth Day function at Rohtak through video conferencing. 
  • The Union Government had declared to observe the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as a National Youth Day every year from 1985 onwards.
  • The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘Youth for Digital India’.

Note:
  • Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 and died on 4 July 1902.
  • He was the chief disciple of the 19th-century saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
  • He was one of the most prominent figures of India who introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the 'Western' World.

Allahabad: Magh Mela begins

  • Today, Magh Mela festival (month-long) has begun at Sangam in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh).
  • Thousands of Pilgrims, saint, and seers are taking a holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of Paush Purnima.
  • Kalpwas has also begun, pilgrims stay on the bank Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in tents and take early morning bath and take part in other religious duties.


India's annual Haj quota increased by 34,500, biggest hike in three decades

  • Today, Saudi Arabia has increased India's annual Haj quota by 34,500.
  • Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten inked an agreement in this regard in Jeddah.
  • The latest increase in quota will be effective from the current year.
  • Last year, a total of 1,35,903 devotees from India performed Haj. 


Norway becomes first country to cease FM radio broadcasting

  • Norway has become the first country to cease FM radio broadcasting using analog frequencies.
  • The main reason behind this technological shift is to offer a better radio service to the whole population.
  • The move to “radio digitization” was decided by the Parliament in 2011 and a timetable was announced in 2015. 

Note:
  • NRK is the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, and the largest media organization in Norway.
  • NRK broadcasts three national TV channels and three national radio channels on DVB-T, cable, satellite, IPTV, FM and DAB. 

Daniel Ortega Sworn in for 3rd Term as Nicaragua's President

  • Daniel Ortega (71-year) has sworn in for a third consecutive term as President and his wife Rosario Murillo as the new Vice President in Nicaragua.
  • A married couple the reins of power for the first time in the Central American country's history.
  • Ortega and Murillo were elected in November with 72.5% of the vote, but with a high rate of abstentions and their party won 71 of the 92 seats in parliament.


Padmashree awardee K.M. Philip passes away

  • A whole-time Director of MRF Ltd K.M. Philip (104-year) has passed away.
  • He was an active member of the YMCA and brought prestige to the organisation as the first Asian to be elected as the President of the World Alliance of YMCAs with its headquarters in Geneva.


2nd Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched


  • The second Scorpene class submarine Khanderi has been launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai (Maharastra).
  • It has the ability to launch a crippling attack with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on surface.
  • Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century.
  • Khanderi is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in collaboration with M/s DCNS of France, as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy.
  • The first one (Kalvari) is completing sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.

Sreejesh becomes member of FIH Athletes' Committee



  • The Indian men's hockey team captain PR Sreejesh has become a member of International Hockey Federation (FIH)Athletes' Committee.
  • The Committee comprises a total of eight current and former hockey players who have the responsibility to act as a liaison between the FIH and the athletes.
  • Earlier, Sreejes led the Indian team to the silver medal feat at the FIH Champions Trophy in London.

Note:
The FIH Athletes' Committee will get to develop, collate, provide and promote resources for athletes on topics of direct concern including athlete health and welfare, career preparation and management, anti-doping, betting and match-fixing.  

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