Major Headlines (January 25, 2022)
- Pakistan sends India a plea by Hindu body for air pilgrimage; Officials in Delhi, Islamabad cautious, say government clearances may take time
- India’s total case tally reaches 3.95 crore; Tamil Nadu reports most number of deaths at 46, Punjab follows with 39 and West Bengal 37
- Amid Ukraine crisis, NATO sends planes, ships to eastern Europe; U.S., Britain and Australia order diplomats’ families to leave Kiev
- China sends 52 aircraft towards Taiwan zone; Taipei scrambles jets, issues warnings
- India can make $300-bn electronics by 2026; Challenges must be overcome : Report
- COVID 3.0 drags activity lower by 20% in less than a month; Nomura business resumption index slides to 100.5, from 120.2 a month ago
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 24, 2022)
- Omicron in community transmission: INSACOG; Most cases mild, but hospitalisations, ICU cases up; 3.05 lakh cases on Sunday
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change : Ranking of State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities will bring in efficiency in decision making without diluting any regulatory safeguards
- Competition Commission of India imposes penalty on maritime transport companies for indulging in cartelisation
- Moscow may install proxies in Kiev: U.K.; Britain claims to have evidence of Kremlin trying to install pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine
- Taliban, Afghan civil society members begin Oslo talks; Women activists, journalists meet ruling dispensation
- Peru declares environmental emergency following oil spill; Waves from Tonga eruption hit a tanker unloading at refinery
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 22 & 23, 2022)
- Amar Jawan Jyoti now merged with War Memorial flame: Government; Congress and some veterans oppose removal of tribute to 1971 Bangladesh war
- People can soon invest in infra projects: Gadkari; SEBI nod awaited, says Minister
- 3.33 lakh new cases reported; Active cases crossed the 20.18-lakh mark; total number of infections at 3.88 crore
- Antrix-Devas may not be last such high-profile row; Many challenges faced by tech firms entering private sector
- U.S., Russia seek to ease Ukraine tensions; Russia seeks exit of NATO from Bulgaria, Romania
- Taliban delegation heads for Oslo talks; Afghan regime’s meeting with Western officials to focus on human rights and humanitarian aid
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 21, 2022)
- Supreme Court upholds OBC quota in NEET; Open exam only ensures formal equality, does not end ingrained inequalities
- Assam, Meghalaya CMs meet Amit Shah on boundary issues; Home Ministry to examine regional committee reports further talks
- Extended range BrahMos tested; Launch conducted by BrahMos Aerospace in coordination with DRDO teams
- Active cases breach 19.7 lakh; Country sees 3.43 lakh new cases, 682 deaths were recorded; positivity rate stands at 17.7%
- U.S. warns Russia on invading Ukraine; Any incursion would be met with a ‘severe’ response from the U.S. and its allies, says White House
- U.S. warship’s South China Sea passage sparks row; PLA says forces deployed to drive it away
- India Ratings pegs FY23 GDP growth at 7.6%; Agency expects fiscal deficit at 5.8-6%
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 20, 2022)
- States weigh options on IAS cadre rule changes; Six of them have written to Centre opposing any such move
- No foreign dignitary as chief guest at Republic Day event; PM will meet five Central Asian leaders virtually
- Special camps to register workers on e-Shram portal; 21 centres to aid migrant workers reactivated
- New COVID-19 cases cross 3 lakh mark; 18.9 lakh active cases across India; 475 deaths on Wednesday, higher than the average levels last week
- U.S. boosts military aid to Kiev, asks Russia to choose ‘peaceful path’
- Economic recovery is yet to attain durability, says ICRA; Early data for January is weak following reimposition of curbs to check third wave
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 19, 2022)
- Government : No one died of hunger in recent times; Comprehensive steps have been taken, it tells Supreme Court
- Tableaux selection fair, says Rajnath; Well-established system in place, Defence Minister tells CMs of Bengal, Tamil Nadu over rejection of their State tableaux
- Saudi Arabia hits back at Houthi rebels after UAE drone attack; 14 persons dead in strike on Sana’a; the coalition also intercepted eight drones
- Rising sea levels prompt Indonesia to relocate capital from Jakarta to “Nusantara”
- Cyberattacks surge as COVID spurs digital rush; Ransomware incidents rose 151%: WEF’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2022
- India extends $500-mn credit to Sri Lanka for fuel imports; Move part of $1.5bn facility, follows recent $900 mn relief
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 17 & 18, 2022)
- India records a 40% spike in COVID infections over a week; 2.55 lakh new cases in 24 hours; Maharashtra, Karnataka register most cases
- MeitY invites applications under Chips to Startup Programme from academia, R&D organisations, startups and MSMEs
- Ukraine says it has ‘evidence’ that Russia’s behind cyberattack; Microsoft says more organisations could be affected
- Tsunami threat around Pacific basin from huge undersea volcanic eruption begins to recede
- COVID-19 spike continues, 2.32 lakh cases on Monday; At 17.7%, test positivity rate the highest in the ongoing wave
- Two Indians, a Pakistani killed in UAE tanker blasts; Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim responsibility for attack
- North Korea fires more missiles; Country’s fourth weapons test this month as it ignores offer for talks by U.S.
- Impact of tsunami being assessed in Tonga; Ash, contaminated water pose threat
- Xi Jinping rejects ‘Cold War mentality’; Chinese President pledges to send an additional 1 billion doses of COVID vaccine to other countries
- Germany vows ‘to do all’ to guarantee Ukraine’s security; NATO, Kiev sign agreement to bolster cybersecurity
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 16, 2022)
- Election Commission ban on rallies in five poll-bound States till January 22
- Daily COVID-19 cases remain high; Recorded 2,62,938 cases and 305 deaths; Kerala records the highest number of casualties
- Philippines approves deal for BrahMos missile; The contract is worth $374.96 mn
- China, Iran start implementing sweeping strategic agreement; Beijing says it will continue to oppose illegal sanctions against Tehran
- U.S. coast on tsunami alert after Pacific volcano; Waves lash island nation of Tonga
- Russian invasion of Ukraine likely; U.S. cites intelligence reports stating Moscow will conduct ‘a false-flag operation’
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 13 & 14, 2022)
- Retail inflation accelerates to 5.59%; Industrial output growth slows to 1.4% in November : NSO
- S. Somanath appointed new Chairman of ISRO; He played a major role in development of the GSLV Mk-III
- Assam, Meghalaya to end border dispute by January 21; Amit Shah to seal deal on six of the 12 areas
- Broadcast Audience Research Council ratings for news channels to resume soon; It was suspended after Mumbai police busted a TRP racket
- India reports 2.41 lakh new cases, 372 deaths; 165% rise in infections compared with a week ago
- Russia, NATO lay out stark differences on Ukraine crisis; The alliance defends its ‘open-door-policy’, invites Moscow for more talks
- Omicron is ‘dangerous’ for unvaccinated : WHO; Risk of a deadline variant remains
- India, China agree for more LAC talks; 14th round of talks between military commanders did not yield breakthrough
- India extends $900 mn aid to Sri Lanka; It includes a $400 mn currency swap and deferred payment of $500 mn
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 12, 2022)
- BrahMos advanced variant test fired; The extended range naval version of the missile was launched from a destroyer
- India’s passport rank improves to 83 from 90 in the Henley Passport Index
- India records a whopping 1.85 lakh cases; Highest single-day rise in infections in the third and ongoing wave; active cases cross nine-lakh
- Ties with NATO have reached a ‘moment of truth’ : Russia; Moscow has demanded security guarantees from alliance
- Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for international summit to end Ukraine crisis
- Corporate profitability likely fell in Q3 after 11 quarters : Crisil; But, revenue momentum was sustained by price increases
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 11, 2022)
- Two lakh more got jobs in 9 sectors in July-September last year; The Quarterly Employment Survey was released by Union Labour Ministry
- Ministry of Home Affairs seeks more time to frame CAA rules; Without the rules being framed, the Act cannot be implemented; the third extension expired on January 9
- India, South Korea to hold bilateral talks; Focus mainly on large trade deficit, market access issues and non-tariff barriers faced by Indian exporters
- Test positivity rate in India climbs to 12%; Nearly 1.61 lakh new cases and 428 deaths reported in country, active cases surge towards 8-lakh mark
- Suu Kyi sentenced to 4 years in prison; Charges include illegal possession of walkie-talkies; ousted leader faces a total six-year prison term
- No one should interfere in China-Sri Lanka ties; Chinese Foreign Minister proposes a forum on the development of Indian Ocean island countries
- India IT firms to log 20-30% growth in 2022 : Analysts; Digital transformation to power deals
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 10, 2022)
- NEET-PG counselling from January 12: Centre; Supreme Court order paves the way for process to begin
- India adds 1.79 lakh COVID-19 cases; Infections surge in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai
- Centre yet to notify rules of Citizenship Amendment Act; January 9 was the last day of the third extended deadline
- Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel joins Beijing-based AIIB; Will be Vice-President at Beijing-based multilateral bank
- Indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant heads out for next set of sea trials; Readings on performance to be taken
- 164 dead, nearly 6,000 held after Kazakhstan protests; Detainees include ‘substantial number of foreign nationals’
- Russia to stand firm on Ukraine in talks with U.S.; Kremlin disappointed with signals coming from NATO, EU
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 08 & 09, 2022)
- SC permits NEET counselling under present OBC, EWS quota; Final hearing on validity of Rs. 8 lakh annual family income limit in March, it says
- NSO estimates FY22 GDP growth at 9.2%; COVID-19 could impact final numbers
- Kazakh leader issues ‘shoot to kill’ order for those participating in unrest
- U.K. calls in military to help hospitals facing staff crunch; they are also assisting with COVID-19 testing, vaccination
- Japan, U.S. expand defence cooperation; Amid tensions with China, Tokyo agrees to continue hosting 50,000 U.S. troops
- India to surpass Japan as Asia’s 2nd largest economy by 2030; IHS Markit sees consumption spending doubling over a decade to $3 tn by 2030
- Maldives inks key deals with China; Beijing agrees on visa exemption for Maldivians, signs aid pact on infrastructure
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 07, 2022)
- Government says Rs. 8 lakh EWS cap derived after study; SC probes Centre on the reasoning behind income limit
- TTD, Ramakrishna Mission lose FCRA nod; They are among the 6,000 NGOs whose registration was not renewed by Centre
- Daily COVID-19 cases cross one-lakh mark; highest in more than 200 days
- Russia-led troops deployed in Kazakhstan; Dozens killed in Central Asia Republic as protests over rising prices escalate
- Use drones more effectively : Civil Aviation Ministry; Several Ministries receive suggestions for a range of uses, from surveillance to disaster management
- North Korea tests hypersonic missile; Hypersonic missiles are harder to intercept by missile defence systems
- Bankers’ asset quality at risk from COVID-19 third wave, says ICRA
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 06, 2022)
- Government says Rs. 8 lakh EWS income cap ‘best way forward’; Allow NEET counselling, it urges Supreme Court
- North Korea fires ballistic missile in first test in two months; U.S., Japan, South Korea raise alarm, China remains passive
- PMI : December services activity hits 3-month low; COVID wave fear, price pressures drag
- Russia-led military alliance to send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan
- Australia, Japan to sign treaty to beef up defence & security cooperation at virtual summit today
- Kazakhstan declares state of emergency after protests over fuel price rises turned violent
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 05, 2022)
- Supreme Court to hear EWS quota case today; Centre cites urgency, says NEET-PG counselling in limbo
- States told to share intel through the Multi Agency Centre, a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau which was made operational in 2001 following the Kargil War
- Centre tells States to set up field hospitals to tackle COVID; NTAGI chief says it may be the third wave
- Chinese President Xi Jinping signs combat training order for PLA; The armed forces must redouble their efforts to better combine training with combat operations
- China to ‘modernise’ nuclear arsenal; Beijing defends its atomic weapons policy, urges U.S., Russia to reduce stockpiles
- Omicron spread may hit Q4 GDP outlook by 20-30 bps; Reserve Bank may delay raising reverse repo rate, says HDFC Bank economists
- India spent record $55.7 bn on gold imports in 2021; Deferred weddings conducted last year spurred demand
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 04, 2022)
- China constructing bridge on Pangong lake in Ladakh; It will bring down time to move troops and equipment
- Centre seeks urgent listing of EWS reservation case today; Challenge to 10% quota has delayed postgraduate medical admissions
- 33,000 new cases in India; All States record rise; Maharashtra leads surge with 12,160 new infections, Delhi reports 4,099 cases
- Sudan’s PM Hamdok resigns amid crackdown on protesters; He cites lack of political consensus, conflict with military as reasons for move
- World powers vow to stop spread of nuclear weapons; China, Russia, U.S., U.K., France issue statement after NPT review scheduled today was postponed due to COVID-19
- Jobless rate hit high of 7.9% in December; Third wave may undo economic gains
- India, Israel in talks for free trade agreement; UAE pact close to finalisation : Goyal
- India wants WTO meet on COVID package; Discussions on patent waiver sought
- RBI approves small, offline e-payments; It aims to promote usage in rural areas
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 03, 2022)
- Six lakh adolescents register for vaccination; India’s daily caseload rises to 27,553, while Omicron cases surge to 1,525
- Rs. 8 lakh income ‘reasonable’ cap for EWS quota, Centre tells SC; The criterion is ‘more stringent’ than the one for OBC creamy layer, the government says
- Census first phase, NPR data collection deferred till September; The exercise was scheduled to begin in April 2020
- Draft national air sports policy pushes for safety standards; It will cover activities like aerobatics, ballooning, paragliding and micro lighting
- Kaziranga elevated road plan awaits nod; The 35-km stretch will run over nine corridors used by animals of the park
- Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba scheduled to attend Vibrant Gujarat Summit; Deuba visit ideal to resume India-Nepal talks : Envoy
- Telangana tops Open Defecation Free plus list; 13,737 of 14,200 villages in State feature on the Central list
Source: The Hindu and other government website
Major Headlines (January 01 & 02, 2022)
- Disorientation of crew in poor weather likely cause of crash; Tri-service probe complete; findings sent for legal review ahead of submission
- GST Council defers tax rate increase on textiles; Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi, T.N. had opposed the hike
- Rajya Sabha annual productivity drops to 59%; The lowest reported was in 2018 with 36% productivity
- Sri Lanka to ink pact with India to develop oil tanks; Lease agreements are expected to be signed soon : Minister
- Biden, Putin warnings over Ukraine; U.S. President warns of sanctions, Russian leader says such a move will rupture ties between the nations
- Core sector output rose 3.1% in November; Crude and cement buck trend
- COVID-19 cases cross 20,000 yet again; It could put stress on health infrastructure, says official and directs States to ramp up facilities
- Rockets fired from Gaza Strip land off central Israel’s coast; They fell in the Mediterranean Sea off Tel Aviv, says Army
- Nuclear, gas energy likely to receive ‘green tag’ in European Union; France and Austria are at loggerheads
- Use of IPO funds to become transparent with new rules; Cap on acquisition portion serves interests of investors
Source: The Hindu and other government website
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