Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 9 & 10 January 2022, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Daily Current Affairs 9 & 10 January 2022
NASA successfully completes deployment of James Webb Space Telescope
The NASA team successfully completed the deployment of 21-foot, gold-coated primary mirror panel of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on January 08, 2022. James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed its sunshield — a critical feature the observatory will use to keep its instruments extra cold during the course of its mission. The unfurling of the sunshield marks the end of perhaps the most complicated deployment the observatory must pull off in order to properly function while in space.
JWST was launched on December 25, 2021 in an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. The Webb mission will explore every phase of cosmic history, ranging from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe
The JWST is developed by NASA in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). JWST is named after James E. Webb, administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968. JWST will be a successor of Hubble Space Telescope.
Centre extends Navrang Saini’s term as interim chief of IBBI for three months
Dr. Navrang Saini, Whole Time Member, IBBI takes additional charge as Chairperson of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) for three more months till March 05, 2022. Mr. Saini, who is a Whole Time Member of IBBI, was assigned additional charge of Chairperson in addition to his existing duties in October 2021 for three months till January 13, 2022.
The post of full-time Chairperson has been lying vacant after M.S. Sahoo retired upon completing a five-year tenure on September 30, 2021.
India’s Real GDP projected to grow at around 9.5% in FY22: SBI Ecowrap
The economic research team of the State Bank of India (SBI) released its Ecowrap report on January 08, 2022.
India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow more than 9.5 % in FY21-22, according to SBI research report-Ecowrap. The economy registered an 8.4 % growth in the second quarter of the current fiscal (FY22), as per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Tuesday, November 30.
The report believes that though rising Covid infections could impact mobility, yet economic activity is not expected to get much affected.
Forex reserves decline by USD 1.466 bn to USD 633.614 bn: RBI data
As per the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the foreign currency reserves of India declined by $1.466 billion to $633.614 billion, in the last week of 2021, which ended December 31, 2021.
In the previous week ended December 24, the reserves dipped by USD 587 million to USD 635.08 billion. Gold reserves rose by USD 14 million to USD 39.405 billion. It touched a lifetime high of USD 642.453 billion in the week ended September 3, 2021.
Forex reserves include foreign currency assets (FCAs), gold reserves, SDRs, and the country’s reserve position with the IMF.
PM declares December 26 to be observed as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ annually
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi made a big announcement on Sunday 9th January 2022, on the occasion of ‘Guru Parv’ that is the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji. He said that ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ would be celebrated every year on 26th December from this year onwards. The day will be commemorated as a tribute to the courage of the 4 Sahibzades (the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji), who attained martyrdom in the 17th century.
The announced was made by PM Modi on January 09, 2022, on occasion of the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, or the birth anniversary of the 10th guru of Sikhs and the founder of the Khalsa community.
26 December marks the day on which Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji (younger pair of Sahibzade) attained martyrdom after being sealed alive in a wall, at the tender age of 6 and 9 years. Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji (older pair of Sahibzade) attained martyrdom on December 21, 1705, fighting the enemy in battle at Chamkaur Sahib at the young age of 18 and 14 years.
Reliance acquires controlling stake of 73.37% in New York’s Mandarin Oriental hotel for around $270 mn
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in Mandarin Oriental New York, a premium luxury hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has entered into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Columbus Centre Corporation, Cayman Islands, for an equity consideration of $98.15 million (Rs 735 crore).
Cayman is the parent company of Mandarin Oriental hotel. It had indirect ownership of 73.37 percent stake in the hotel. Reliance will also take over the hotel’s debt in excess of $115 million to take the entire deal value to around $270. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of March 2022.
First-ever Startup India Innovation Week to be held from January 10 to 16, 2022
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is organizing the first-ever Startup India Innovation Week from 10th to 16th of January 2022. This virtual week-long innovation celebration aims to commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and is designed to showcase the spread and depth of entrepreneurship across India. The programme will showcase the spread and depth of entrepreneurship across India.
States/UTs and various departments of Government of India will take part in the programme to address key aspects of the startup ecosystem through interactive sessions, workshops, and presentations.
Gandhi’s Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India by Dhirendra K. Jha
Dhirendra K. Jha, a Delhi-based journalist, has authored a new book titled “Gandhi’s Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India” has been released on January 04, 2022.
The book explores Godse’s relationship with the organizations that influenced his view and gave him a sense of purpose and draws out the gradual hardening of Godse’s resolve that led to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
The book has been authored by a Delhi-based journalist Dhirendra K. Jha under Vintage Books publication.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: 09 January
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)/(Non-Resident Indian Day) is observed by the Republic of India on 09 January to mark the favors and contributions made by Non-Resident Indians towards the welfare and development of the nation.
India is celebrating its 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in 2022.
As a part of the celebration, the Ministry of External Affairs will address a virtual youth PBD conference on the theme ‘the role of the Indian diaspora.’ The conference will cover various aspects with regard to innovation and new technologies by the overseas Indians residing in countries worldwide.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: History
First Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated on 9 January 2003. The date, 09 January, was selected to to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.
World Hindi Day: 10 January
World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 since 2006 to promote the language at the global stage. The day marks the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference which was inaugurated on January 10, 1975, by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. In India, the National Hindi Day is celebrated on September 14 every year. However, the celebration of first World Hindi Day was commenced on 10 January 2006 by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Hindi is considered to be the mother language of India. It is the simplest source of expression of our nation. It is our heritage and the most widely spoken language across the country. The word Hindi originated from the Persian word Hind, meaning the land of the Indus river.
Sikkim celebrated Losoong (Namsoong) Festival
Losoong is a Sikkimese New Year festival and carnival which celebrates the end of the annual harvest season at the conclusion of the tenth month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar. The Namsoong festival begins on the 1st day of the new moon phase Kurneet Lovo, as per the Lepcha lunisolar Calendar known as Dungkit Karchu. The losoong festival is celebrated as Sonam Losoong, by the Sikkimese Bhutia and as Namsoong by the Lepchas. The festival is primarily celebrated by Bhutia and Lepcha tribes in India, Bhutan and Nepal.
Other Festivals of Sikkim:
- Pang Lhabsol
- Sonam Lhochhar Festival
- Saga Dawa
NSO projects the Indian economy to grow 9.2% in FY22
National Statistical Office (NSO) has estimated India’s GDP to grow at 9.2 percent in the current fiscal, 2021-22. NSO released its first advance estimates of economic output on January 07, 2022. The GDP estimate for 2020-21 fiscal was projected at a contraction of 7.3 percent by NSO.
Key points:
- National Statistical Office (NSO) estimated India’s real GDP in the current fiscal year at ₹147.54 trillion, against the provisional estimate of ₹135.13 trillion in the previous fiscal.
- Nominal GDP for 2021-22 is estimated at Rs. 232.15 lakh crore, as against the Provisional
- Estimate of GDP for the year 2020-21 at Rs 197.46 lakh crore.
- The fiscal deficit target likely to be achieved is 6.8%.
