13-14 January 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh celebrated across the country

The 352nd birth anniversary of the 10^th& last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh is being celebrated across the country as ‘Prakashotsava’.
The main function being held at "Takht Harmandar Sahib" in Patna Sahib (birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a 350-rupee commemorative coin as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in New Delhi.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's entire life was devoted to serving the people and fighting for values of truth, justice, and compassion.
Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Five K's tradition of the Khalsa Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a wooden comb), Kara (an iron or steel bracelet worn on the wrist), Kirpan (a sword), Kacchera (short breeches).

Note:

Guru Gobind Singh, born Gobind Rai (22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the 10th Sikh Guru, a spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher.
Gobind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur (ninth Sikh guru) and Mata Gujri.
Guru Gobind Singh was formally installed as the leader of the Sikhs at age nine, becoming the last of the living Sikh Gurus.

2. Prez Kovind approves re-promulgation of Triple Talaq ordinance

According to Ministry of Law and Justice notification, President Ram Nath Kovind has approved re-promulgation The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019.
The ordinance seeks to protect the rights of married Muslim women and criminalise the practice of instant triple talaq.
The President has also re-promulgated Companies Amendment Ordinance 2019 and Indian Medical Council Amendment Ordinance 2019.

3. Rajyavardhan Rathore launches National Youth Parliament Festival 2019

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Col Rajyavardhan Rathore has launched the National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 at a function in New Delhi.
The theme of the festival is- Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and contribute to policy.
The festival will continue till 24th of next month.
The Ministry has decided to organise the youth festival at every district of the country so that the youth (18 to 25 years) can participate and discuss and debate about how to make a New India.

Note:

The best three speakers at the National Youth Parliament will be awarded.
The award money will be 2 lakh rupees for the first prize while 1.5 lakh rupees for the second while one lakh rupees will be for third prize.

4. Vice President Naidu inaugurates 25th edition of Partnership Summit 2019 in Mumbai

Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated the Partnership summit 2019 (25^th edition) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
New India Rising to Global Occasions is the theme of the inaugural session of the Summit.
The summit is expected to build new partnerships and explore investment opportunities in sectors like Artificial Intelligence, big data, food processing, defense, aeronautics, renewable energy and tourism.

5. Sikkim CM launched ‘one family, one job’ scheme

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has launched the ‘One Family One Job’ scheme in Gangtok.
Now, Sikkim has become the first state in the country to carry out such a programme for the people entitling them to state government employee benefits.
Under this Scheme, every family one government job has been allotted.
New recruits were taken for Group C and Group D posts in 12 departments.

6. INDUS FOOD 2019 to begin today in Greater Noida

INDUS FOOD-II with the theme of 'World Food Supermarket' has been started at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida (14th and 15th January 2019).
It will promote value addition to India's agriculture exports and integrate Indian farmers and agricultural products with global value chains.
INDUS FOOD is a global platform where top exporters from the Food and Beverage Industry of India will be participating and buyers from across the world have been invited.
The event is aimed at promoting India as a strong and reliable exporter of food and beverage products to the world

7. Punjab govt to regularise over 5100 teachers with full pay scale

The Punjab government will regularise over 5100 teachers with full pay scale next month.
According to State Education Minister O P Soni said, the state government is making efforts to uplift educational standards in the state.
'Sikhya Providers' and "volunteer teachers" will get a pay hike of 1,500 rupees from next month.
Those teachers who were suspended during their protests had been reinstated and the teachers who were temporarily sent to distant places had been ordered to join at their parent stations.

8. Gujarat becomes 1st state to implement 10% quota to EWS

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced that the benefits of 10% for Economically Weaker sections of general category in educational institutions and government jobs will be applicable in the state.
This 10% quota for the economically weaker class from the general category will be over and above the existing 49% quota for SC, ST and OBC.
The eligibility of the new quota will be applicable only for which the announcement for jobs and admissions have been made but the process has not yet begun.
Gujarat is the first state to implement Government’s historic and unprecedented decision to implement the 10 per cent reservation for general category poor candidates.

Note:

The Union Government had taken the decision under Article 46 of Guiding Principles of Constitution of India after Amendment of the Articles 15 and 16, incorporating 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections.

9. Nepal Army Chief conferred honorary ‘General of Indian Army’

Nepal's Army Chief Purna Chandra Thapa has arrived in New Delhi on a four-day official visit.
General Thapa conferred honorary ‘General of Indian Army’ by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The visit symbolizes the deep-rooted ties between the two armies and will help strengthen defence cooperation.
He will also visit defence formations based at Jaipur and Lucknow.

10. Ashok Chawla resigned as NSE Chairman

Ashok Chawla has resigned as chairman of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) with immediate effect.
Earlier, Ashok Chawla stepped down from the post of non-executive Chairman of Yes Bank.
Mr Chawla is named, along with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in the Aircel-Maxis bribery case being probed by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation).

Note:

The National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai.
NSE (established in 1992) was the first exchange in the country to provide a modern, fully automated screen-based electronic trading system.

Obituaries

11. AAP leader and former banker Meera Sanyal passes away

Banker-turned politician Meera Sanyal (57-years) passed away due to illness.
She had joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after quitting her job as the country chief executive (CEO) of Royal Bank of Scotland.
She contested the Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully in 2014 from Mumbai South constituency.
Sanyal also authored a book entitled ‘The Big Reverse: How Demonetization Knocked India Out’.
Sanyal was also awarded as Philanthropist of the Year by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in 2011.

Sports

12. Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul suspended pending an inquiry into comments on the TV show

According to The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai, Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul were suspended pending an inquiry into their comments on women during a TV show.
The decision to hand them suspensions came after Rai's CoA colleague Diana Edulji recommended suspension till further action against the two.
Both will be sent home on the first available flight from Australia.

13. Abhinav Shaw becomes youngest gold medallist in shooting

Abhinav Shaw (10-years) has become the youngest gold medallist in shooting at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune.
He teamed up with Mehuli Ghosh to help West Bengal win the 10m air rifle mixed team event.
Delhi's Devanshi Rana bagged gold in Under-21 girls 25m pistol event.
With 18 medals (nine gold, six silver and three bronze) Maharashtra was also crowned champions.

14. Bengaluru Raptors win Premier Badminton League title

Bengaluru Raptors edged the Mumbai Rockets 4-3 to win their first ever Premier Badminton League title.
Star player Kidambi Srikanth, Vu Ji Trang and the Men's Doubles pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Satiawan won their matches for Bengaluru guiding them to victory.

Note:

Premier Badminton League is a franchise league has the rights to operate and execute the Premier Badminton League.
The nine teams are Delhi Dashers, Ahmedabad Smash Masters, Awadhe Warriors, Bengaluru Raptors, Mumbai Rockets, Hyderabad Hunters, Chennai Smashes, North Eastern Warriors and Pune 7 Aces.

15. Australian Open: first Grand Slam of the season begins in Melbourne

Today, the first Grand Slam of the season 107th edition "Australian Open-2019" kicked off in Melbourne, Australia.
Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki are the 2018 men's and women's singles defending champions, respectively.
India's Prajnesh Gunneswaran will be seen in action in the Men's Singles, with Leander Paes and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, with their team-mates.
The pair of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan figuring in the Men's Doubles.

Note:

The "2019 Australian Open" is a tennis tournament that will take place at Melbourne Park between 14- 27th January 2019.
The tournament will consist of events for professional players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles play.

16. Mahendra Singh Dhoni joins an elite list of Indian cricketers to score ten thousand runs

India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the fifth player to score 10,000 runs (in 330 ODIs) for India in One-day International (ODI) Cricket.
Earlier achieved are Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli.
Now Dhoni has over 10,050 runs at an average of 49.75, including 9 centuries and 67 fifties.
Overall, Dhoni is the 13th player in history to score ten thousand runs in the ODIs.
In 2001, India's Sachin Tendulkar became the first player to cross the 10,000 runs mark in ODIs.

List of Indian cricketers to score ten thousand runs:

S. No	Player Name	Matches	Runs	100s	50s
1.	Sachin Tendulkar	463	18,426	49	96
2.	Sourav Ganguly	311	11,363	22	72
3.	Rahul Dravid	344	10,889	12	83
4	Virat Kohli	217	10,235	38	48
5.	MS Dhoni	333	10224	10	68