Current GK Current Affairs : January 21, 2010

Appointments:
Shiv Shankar Menon: National Security Advisor
Former Foreign Secretary of India , Shiv Shankar Menon is the new National Security Adviser (NSA). He replaces Mr M K Narayanan who has already been designated as the West Bengal Governor.
About this Post:
The post of National Security Advisor (NSA) was created in 1998 and Brijesh Mishra was the first NSA in AB Vajpayee’s government. This is an important job has one of the executive functions of the NSA is to serve as chairman of the executive council of the Nuclear Command Authority.

National Updates:
Orissa: Biju Saharanchal Bidyut Yojana & Piyush Yojna
Orissa govt introduces Biju Saharanchal Bidyut Yojana in all the 104 Urban Local Bodies(ULB). Besides a drinking water scheme named ”Piyush” for the urban poor in the state has also been introduced. In this scheme the urban poor under the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category would be provided drinking water with the provision of one tap at a monthly charge of Rs 30, with five per cent hike every year.

First BCBP compliant airport in India- Bangalore
Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) on January 20, 2010 becomes the first 100% BCBP compliant airport in India to receive a platinum certification. Read Here

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Critical Wildlife Habitat
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and the adjoining mangrove areas at Chorao are being declared as Critical Wildlife Habitat under the Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006.

4th World Gujarati Conference
Three day 4th World Gujarati Conference starts from January 21, 2010. About 1000 delegates from different states in the country and from across the globe will participate in the conference. Previous World Gujarati Conferences were held in Ahmadabad in 1989, Mumbai in 1996 and Vadodara in 1999.

Rajasthan: Panchayati Raj Elections:
Polling for first phase of Panchayati Raj elections was completed. 60 per cent polling & voters selected their representatives for 2254 posts of Members of Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samithis.

Maharastra : Vidarbha Bandh
Vidarba bandh observed today in Vidarba region of Maharastra which passed off peacefully. It was called by leaders of various political parties in support of separate state-hood for Vidarba region comprises 11 districts of Maharastra. Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s MNS did not participate in the bandh.

Business & Economy
POSCO- OTPCL Power Pact
POSCO , a steel major from South Korea which is setting up a 12 million tonne mega steel plant at Paradip with an estimated cost of Rs 54,000 crore signs an agreement with the Orissa Power Transmission Company Limited (OPTCL) to avail 24 MW of power for the project.

India & World
India US MOU’s
Two Memoranda of Understanding have been signed between India and United States. One on the deployment of sky marshals and the other for cooperation in airport technical visits, marking the beginning of continued cooperation on security issues.

India tests Laser-guided Bombs
India carries out two successful flight trials of laser-guided bombs (LGBs) for the Indian Air Force. Two flight trials were conducted at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems of the LGBs. The bomb, once released, by the mother aircraft at appropriate range, will seek the target and home on to it very accurately and with high reliability. All the necessary on-board components are sourced from Indian industry.

Honorary General of Nepal Army :
Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav conferrs the honorary rank of General of the country’s army on Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor . The honor for General Kapoor comes after Nepalese army chief General Chhtra Man Singh Gurung was conferred with the honorary title of General of the Indian Army by President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi on December 14, upholding a six-decade-old tradition.

Stunning China Growth:
Chinese economy grew by stunning 10.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009. Bogged down by the financial meltdown, Japan has seen sluggish growth in recent quarters, the current outstanding growth of China seems to make it second largest economy of the world.

Sports:

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