Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (01st to 07th January 2021)

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of 01st to 07th January 2021. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2021 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

• Global Family Day is an annual celebration observed on January 1stof every year.with the theme “One Day of Peace” which was then observed on the first day of every year to welcome the New Year.
• World Braille Day is observed every year on 4 January to celebrate the importance of braille, a form of communication and written language for people who are blind and visually challenged.
• In 2002, Born Free USA in coordination with the Avian Welfare Coalitionlaunched the first annual National Bird Day to promote avian awareness.
• The Journalist Day is observed by the Maharashtra state government on 6th January every year.This day was celebrated in memory of late journalist BalshastriJambhekar.
• The World Day of War Orphans is observed on January 6 every year. The day was initiated by France based SOS Enfants EnDetresse (SOSEED), a sponsorship program for orphans.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• The government extended the deadline to file income tax return (ITR) for individuals by 10 days to January 10, 2021.Prior to that the deadline was December 31, 2020.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the deadline for FASTags for all vehicles in India till February 15, 2021.
• The government approved a multi-modal logistics and transport hub (MMTH) at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
• The DRDO observed the 63rd Foundation Day of its establishment on January 01, 2021.
• Minister of State for External Affairs Muraleedharanlaunched the Global Pravasi Rishta portal and mobile App, to connect with Indian Diaspora across the world.
• On 1st January Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)- at six sites across six States, through video conference.
• Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane has received a Guard of Honour at Republic of Korea Army Headquarters at Gyeryong.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rajkot in Gujarat today through video conferencing.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur, on January 2 via video-conferencing.
• New Year announcement, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh informed of the government decision to extend “Disability Compensation” for all serving employees,
• Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and SteelDharmendra Pradhan launched the missed call facility for LPG consumers in Bhubaneswar.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rajkot in Gujarat through video conferencing.
• Virtual Agri-hackathon Atmanirbhar Krishi inaugurated To make Agriculture profitable and attract youth towards agriculture are challenges of the Agri-hackathon
• Indian Air Force Chief, Air Marshal R K S Bhadauria launched the IAF e-Governance (e-Office) portal in New Delhi. 
• The Central government has formed a genomic surveillance consortium for laboratory and epidemiological surveillance of circulating strains of the SARS-CoV-2 in India.
• Government has decided to extend the benefit of the scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) to all export goods to boost exports.
• The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has formally announced the final approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for emergency use.
• The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) released Data on Police Organizations.The BPR&D has been publishing the Data on Police Organizations (DoPO), annually, since the year
• Home Minister Amit Shah released the inaugural issue of the National Police K-9 Journal in New Delhi. It is the first such publication in the country on the subject of Police Service K9s, Police Dogs.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the amount of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022 from the current permissible limit of 5%.
• Indian Railways’ South Western Railway zone will start operating train services from Bengaluru city station to the newly built KIA, Devanahalli Railway halt station.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Kochi – Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipelineto the nation through video conference.
• India launched the 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. This Indian expedition marks four decades of the country’s scientific endeavour to the southern white continent.
• The 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will open on 16th January, with the Indian premiere of the movie ‘Another Round’ by Thomas Vinterberg.
• Delhi Government Department of Art, Culture, and Language has set up a Tamil Academy to Promote the language and culture of the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
• North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India) and Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Jammu is jointly organizing National Folk Dance Festival from December 26-28.
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is organizing Udyog Manthan – a marathon of focused sector-specific webinars for promoting Quality and Productivity in Indian Industry.
• Digital channels of Prasar Bharati have registered more than 100 percent growth in 2020, with Pakistan being the second highest digital audience for Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR).
• The Centre has decided to form a committee to protect the language, culture and land of Ladakh and ensure citizen’s participation in the Union Territory’s development.
• The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in its 60th meeting has approved the advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the country.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 306-km New Rewari-New Madar section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC)
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video-teleconference with his German counterpart Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.
• Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan released India report on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1 on the virtual platform. 
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the progress of National Infrastructure Pipeline, NIP implementation in New Delhi. 
• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at the National Metrology Conclave 2021 organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)   -National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi on its 75^thyear of inception.
• The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the ministry.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• India will begin its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 
• On new year eve, Australia has changed one word in its national anthem to reflect “the spirit of unity” and the country’s Indigenous population.
• The US Congress has passed the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act which will expand the number of scholarships available to Pakistani women to receive higher education under a merit and needs-based programme.
• India has sent over six tons of relief material to Fiji for its cyclone-affected people, reflecting its close ties with the island nation in the South Pacific.
• The 51st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from January 16 to January 24, 2021.
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnsoncancelled his Republic Day visit to India later this month, citing the need to oversee the Covid-19 pandemic response at home. The development comes as Britain began its third Covid-19 lockdown.
• The first ever wooden satellite could be launched from Japan in 2023. The Japanese firm Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto University have joined forces in the aim of developing a wooden satellite that would burn up more readily as its lifespan ends, without leaving debris or waste behind.
• The year 2020 was the eighth warmest year on record since nation-wide records commenced in 1901, the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• India has called for introspection within the UN Security Council over the lack of representation of African countries among its permanent members.
• India and France are scheduled to hold their annual Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi. 
• A new approach for surveying African elephants using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) could help in solving some of the present challenges in the conservation of the species.
• The World Bank has projected an economic growth rate of 6 percent for Bangladesh for the FY 2020-21.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

• The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the repeal provincialisation of Madrassa Bill, 2020 to abolish all government-run Madrassas in the state and convert them to general schools.
• Madhya Pradesh Government is Organizing an exhibition called Raag-Bhopali is being organized to promote Zari-Zardozi crafts of Bhopal.
• India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity in the State of Assam through construction of a 120 MegaWatts hydroelectric power plant that will enhance availability of electricity for households.
• Jharkhand is set to replace the Prime Minister’s insurance scheme for farmers with its own crop relief scheme –KisanFasal  Rahat Yojana.
• Admiral Karambir Singh, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) visited INS Dwarka, Indian Navy’s forward operating base at Okha, Gujarat, on new year’s eve.
• All shops and commercial establishments employing ten or more people in Karnataka are now allowed to operate on a 24×7 basis, the state government.
• Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated a migrant worker cell of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) at Udhna based iLab in Surat.
• In Madhya Pradesh, ‘Launch Pad Scheme’ is being started for boys and girls coming out of child care institutions and having completed 18 years of age. 
• On January 6, 2021, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s government will launch an initiative named ‘Kisan Kalyan Mission’
• This is mainly for  double the income of farmers of the state.
• Government signed two loan agreements of USD 646 million with New Development Bank for upgrading State Highway Network and District Road Network in Andhra Pradesh.
• Justice Hima Kohli has become the first woman Chief Justice of Telangana High Court following her swearing-in.
• The two-day Asian Water bird Census-2020 commenced in Andhra Pradesh under the aegis of experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), covering at least two dozen sites, including Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolleru Lake and Krishna Sanctuary.
• In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to increase the stipend amount with immediate effect as a new year gift to students who are doing internships after completion of MBBS and BDS course.
• Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have become the first group of states to complete three out of the four citizen-centric reforms stipulated by the Ministry of Finance.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

• DBS Bank India introduced a one-stop travel marketplace within the digibank app. Named as Travel Now, the platform enables customers to browse and book flights, bus tickets and hotels across hundreds of destinations both within and outside of India.
• State-owned Punjab National Bank NSE 0.92 % (PNB) announced the extension of its festival bonanza offer till March.
• India Post expects to make the Post Office Savings Bank interoperable with other bank accounts by April and will focus on enhancing digitisation of all services in 2021, a senior official of the department said.
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced that RuPay has partnered with RBL Bank to launch an innovative payment solution for Indian merchants – RuPayPoS in association with
• The Reserve Bank of India has constructed a composite Digital Payments Index (DPI) to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.
• State-run Bank of Baroda announced the launch of banking services on messaging platform
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to introduce the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) system for all payment transactions of value ₹50 crore and above undertaken by entities (non-individuals) via RTGS and NEFT.
• IDBI Bank announced the launch of video KYC account opening (VAO) facility for savings bank accounts.
• The Government of India and the Government of West Bengal and the World Bank signed a $105 million project to improve the inland water transport infrastructure in Kolkata, West Bengal.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ECONOMY

• Goods and Services Tax collections for December Rs 1.15 lakh crore, the highest ever since the implementation of the nationwide tax in July 2017.
• The World Bank estimates India’s growth to recover to 4% in FY22, as the rebound from a low base is offset by muted private investment growth given financial sector weaknesses.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

• In Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory Administration signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), an apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce.
• In an effort to bring about reforms in the Information Technology (IT) sector in Jammu and Kashmir, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and JK IT Infrastructure Development Company for establishing IT towers in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission signed MoU with Indo-Tibetan Border Police, ITBP for supply of 1,72,000 cotton durries every year.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of India and Government of Japan, on a Basic Framework for Partnership for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to “Specified Skilled Worker”.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AGREEMENTS 

• India has been chosen as the IUCN-supported Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) for 3 years and it could, on this capability, help different Asian nations in managing their protected areas.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a USD 100 million (around Rs 730 crore) loan to modernise and upgrade the power distribution system in Bengaluru city.
• Tata Power announced its partnership with SIDBI to provide a finance scheme to the MSME players in the rooftop solar segment.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India on 30th December 2020 signed a $10 million project readiness financing (PRF).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• Bajaj Auto has become the first two-wheeler company in the world to cross a market capitalization of Rs 1 lakh crore, making it the most valuable two-wheeler maker.
• The world’s richest person made the single-largest charitable contribution in 2020, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of top donations, a $10 billion gift that is intended to help fight climate change.
• The government is in the process to launch seaplane services on several routes, including Delhi-Ayodhya, in collaboration with the airline operators, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 
• A 19-year-old Indian student in Singapore is keeping his options open on a startup named “TEAMLABS” he has built with four applications in his teenage while schooling.
• Google Cloud announced the elevation of Karan Bajwa as its new leader for the Asia Pacific. Presently, Bajwa leads Google Cloud in India.
• Global Economy to Expand by 4% in 2021;

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT NEWS

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of tenure of K Sivan, secretary, Department of Space and chairman, Space Commission, for a period of one-year beyond January 14, 2021, that is up to January 14, 2022.
• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an associate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
• Senior IAS officer P Ravi Kumar has been appointed as Karnataka’s 38th chief secretary. He will replace TM Vijay Bhaskar who will superannuate on December 31 2020.
• Suneet Sharma has been appointed as the new Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) and ex-officio Principal Secretary to Government of India.
• Soma Mondal has taken over as Chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) with effect from January 01, 2021.
• Umesh Sinha has been appointed as the deputy election commissioner in the Election Commission of India, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
• The Punjab Government has promoted three Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs) to the rank of
• On January 04, Justice S Muralidhar took oath as the 32nd Chief Justice of OrissaHigh Court.
• Justice Vineet Kothari took oath as a Judge in Gujarat High Court.
• On January 04, 2021, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to Justice Pankaj Mithal as the new chief justice of the common high court for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.
• The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), the national apex body of the gems and jewellery industry, has announced the appointment of Ashish Pethe as chairman and SaiyamMehra as vice chairman for a period of two years.
• Sanjay Kapoor was elected president of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) while Bharat Singh Chauhan retained the secretary’s post .
• Alex Ellis, a British strategic expert, will take charge as the new UK High Commissioner to India, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) a
• Arup Kumar Goswami who was previously the Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, sworn in as the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court.
• Lt Gen Shantanu Dayal has been named the new DCOAS. Lt Gen Dayal is the Corps Commander of the Tejpur based 4 Corps.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS 

• Shri V.K. Yadav, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways has been conferred with the prestigious Eminent Engineer Award for the Year 2020
• On december 27, 2020, Harmony Foundation hosted the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice. The theme for this year’s awards was, Celebrating Compassion In Times Of Covid
• In Madhya Pradesh, the much-awaited Tansen Music Festival began in Gwalior with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place. In the inaugural ceremony renowned santoor player Pt Satish Vyas was conferred upon the prestigious Tansen Samman.
• ‘LUKOSIN’ Developer and Senior scientist Hemant Kumar Pandey has been honoured with DRDO’s ‘Scientist of the Year Award’ for his contribution in developing several herbal medicines, including the popular drug Lukoskin meant for treatment of leucoderma.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• Union Minister of Education Ramesh PokhriyalNishank virtually laid the foundation stone of ‘TiHAN-IIT Hyderabad, India’s first Testbed for Autonomous Navigation Systems (Terrestrial and Aerial) at IIT Hyderabad.
• The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai has developed an eye cancer therapy in the form of the first indigenous Ruthenium 106 Plaque for the treatment of ocular tumours.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is set to launch Amazonia-1, the first satellite to have been developed completely in Brazil by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Latin American nation’s apex space research body.
• Indian Air Force Chief, Air Marshal R K S Bhadauria formally launched the IAF e-Governance (e-Office) portal in Vayu Bhavan, New Delhi. 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘SAHAYAK-NG’ India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy) off the coast of Goa.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a contract with Indian Navy for initially supplying 20 Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation Dazlers (Laser Dazzlers) in New Delhi.
• Indian Army has inked a contract with M/s Goa Shipyard Limited for 12 Fast Patrol Boats for surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies, including those in high altitude areas. Delivery would commence from May 2021.
• On December 31, 2020, Kolkata-based, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), delivered the last ship of the MK IV Landing Craft Utility (LCU) class vessel ‘IN LCU L-58’ (Yard 2099) to the Indian Navy.
• India and Israel successfully tested a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) defence system.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

• Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare digitally inaugurated the 7th National Summit on Good, Replicable Practices through a video conference.
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with Quality Council of India (QCI), National Productivity Council (NPC), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Industry Chambers is organising Udyog Manthan – a marathon of focused sector-specific webinars for promoting Quality and Productivity in Indian Industry.
• Prime Minister inaugurates National Metrology Conclave 2021 through video conferencing. National Metrology Conclave 2021 was organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• Goa’s 14-year-old Leon Mendonca has become India’s 67th chess GrandMaster (GM) by winning the third and final norm at a tournament in Italy.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

• Indira Joseph Venniyor, Renowned broadcaster, All India Radio Veterean, and the first English news announcer of Travancore Radio, passed away. She was 94.
• On December 28, 2020, John Fulton Reid, New Zealand cricketer passed away. He was 64.
• Ace mountaineer Colonel Narendra ‘Bull’ Kumar, 87, who helped India secure the Siachen Glacier, passed away.
• Former Union minister, ex-MP from Rajasthan and Congress leaderButa Singh passed away. He was 86.
• Former Union minister, ex-MP from Rajasthan and Congress leaderButa Singh passed away. He was 86.
• Malayalam poet and lyricist Anil Panachooran passed away. He was 51.
• Mali’s former prime minister Modibo Keita died at the age of 78.
• Bob Brett, a tennis coach whose players included Grand Slam champions Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic and Marin Cilic, has died. He was 67.

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