Current Affairs Assam – January 2018 e-Magazine
January 13
The US, Japan joint military drill ‘IRON FIST’ begins
The 13th annual Iron Fist exercises kicked off in the U.S. western state of California.
More than 500 U.S. Marines and sailors are partnering with about 350 members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force to train in fire support operations and amphibious assaults.
American and Japanese military forces have launched joint exercise named Iron Fist.
4th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference in Nalanda
President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the 4th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference on ‘State and Social Order in Dharma-Dhamma Traditions’ in Nalanda district, Bihar.
The conference was organized as a part of commemorative events to celebrate the silver jubilee year of ASEAN-India Partnership Dialogue.
Indian Railways launches SFOORTI application
With an aim to optimize freight operations and plan traffic flow, the Union Ministry of Railways has launched Smart Freight Operation Optimisation&Real Time Information (SFOORTI) application.
The app will help the freight managers to monitor and manage freight business using Geographical Information System (GIS) views and dashboard.
January 14
New moth species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
Researchers have discovered a new species of moth from the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
The discovery of the Zygaenid moth was published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, an international journal on conservation and taxonomy, on December 26 last year.
The article was published by Bombay Natural History Society scientist Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi and renowned lepidoptera (study of butterflies and moths) expert J J Young, and state education department employee Punyo Chada.
India ranks 30th on WEF Global Manufacturing Index
Japan has been found to have the best structure of production in the Geneva-based WEF’s first ‘Readiness for the future of production report’ and is followed by South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, the US, Sweden, Austria and Ireland in the top 10.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India at 30th position on a global manufacturing index below China’s 5th place but above other BRICS peers, Brazil, Russia and South Africa.
About India, the 5th-largest manufacturer in the world with a total manufacturing value added of over USD 420 billion in 2016, the WEF said the country’s manufacturing sector has grown by over 7 per cent per year on average in the past three decades and accounts for 16-20 per cent of India’s GDP.
BSE’s India International Exchange lists IRFC’s First Green Bond
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)’s India International Exchange listed the first bond on its Global Securities Market.
The bonds issued by Indian Railways Finance Corporation (IRFC) are one of the highest credit rated bonds issued by an Indian corporate and has been IRFC’s first foray into the Green Bond market.
January 15
70th Army Day celebrated on 15th January
Every year on this day, the ‘Army Day’ is celebrated to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) K.M Carriappa took over the command of Army.
The day is celebrated to pay homage and salute to the courageous and brave Indian soldiers who have been sacrificing their lives for protecting the country.
Lakhimi Borooah passes away
Lakhimi Borooah, the first Assamese lady to represent India in Tea Board in the World Trade Fair in 1964 in New York, USA, passed away on January 13.
She started the first children’s chess competition in Assam in 1988 under the PC Borooah Educational & Charitable Society. Later, the PC Borooah Chess Academy was set up by her and completed 25 years in 2013.
She was associated with many social organisations such as the Indian Women and Child Welfare, Eastern India Recreation Club, Assam Sishu Kalyan Sadan, New Art Players among others.
Maharashtra recorded-Maximum no. of illegal mining cases
Maharashtra has recorded 1.39 lakh cases of illegal mining which are highest in the country between 2013-17, as per the data revealed by the Union Environment Ministry in Rajya Sabha.
India recorded 4.16 lakh cases during this period in which Maharashtra accounted for 33.5%.
