TODAY NEWS ON January 13, 2024

News Headlines

India to host global meet on pulses after 18 years

Conference to feature discussions on global best practices of pulses production, processing and trade. About 800 representatives of governmnents, as well as commercial and non profit organisations involved in the production and processing of pulses will attend the Global Pulse Convention to be held here at the Taj Palace Hotel in February. Jointly organised by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC), the conference will see experts in the field sharing their views and experiences with various stakeholders and policymakers.

Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said that pulses production has increased in India and the government is keen to learn and share practices globally. “It’s a tricky task to keep the balance between the interest of the domestic farmers and the consumers. The inter-Ministerial committee of the government discusses production, distribution, and prices of pulses.

RBI Deputy Governor Michael Patra gets one-year extension

Mr. Patra, with RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, played a vital role in dealing with COVID-related impact on the economy. Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Michael D. Patra, who is in charge of monetary policy and is a member of the monetary policy committee, has been given a one-year extension ahead of the end of his tenure. Mr. Patra, with RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, played a vital role in dealing with COVID-related impact on the economy.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a further period of one year with effect from 15.01.2024 or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” according to a release from the Centre.

Prayers held for snow in Kashmir as dry spell ruins local economy

Weather conditions in Kashmir and severe drought have affected agriculture and horticulture besides causing severe hardship and suffering. Hundreds attended special prayers on Friday in the Valley to pray for an end to a prolonged dry spell in Kashmir and unusually high temperatures during the day. The special prayers, locally known as ‘Istisqa’, were organised at the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers.

According to official figures, snowfall in November and December dropped to 23 centimeters in 2023 against 134.6 cm for the same period in 2022 and 50.6 cm in 2021. In 2016, Gulmarg witnessed a similar spell of scant snowfall at 7.6 cm.  J&K’s winter capital Srinagar has not recorded any snowfall for three months. Even the day temperature was far above the normal of 6.4 degree Celsius in Srinagar. The maximum settled at 13 degrees Celsius. The day temperature in Gulmarg was 6.5 degree Celsius. Healthy spells of snowfall are key to Kashmir’s economy, which depends on horticulture and agriculture. Snowfall in the upper reaches of Shamsbari, Pir Panjal and Greater Himalayan ranges feed all the main rivers in J&K.

Lord Ram has chosen PM Modi to build his temple: L.K. Advani

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi an annanya bhakt (devoted disciple) of Lord Ram, Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart L.K. Advani said he was “just the charioteer of the Ram Rath Yatra” that began on September 25, 1990 to garner support for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Lok Sabha privileges panel recommends that Speaker revoke suspension of three Congress MPs after they express ‘regret’

The Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha is learnt to have accepted the “regrets” expressed by Congress MPs Vijaykumar Vasanth, Abdul Khaleque, and J. Jayakumar in New Delhi on Friday for their alleged disrespect to the Chair during the Winter Session of Parliament.

Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge, inaugurated

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, will be open for public commute from Saturday. MTHL, India’s longest sea bridge covering 21.8 km out of which 16.5 km is over the sea, is expected to see the movement of more than 70,000 vehicles every day.

PM Modi begins special 11-day ritual before opening of Ram Temple in Ayodhya

With the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya just 11 days away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, January 12, 2024, declared that he would be undertaking a set of special rituals before that day and as a representative of the people of India at the ceremony.

Nicaragua flight | Gujarat Police book 14 agents from Gujarat, Mumbai and Delhi for human trafficking

Days after the statements of passengers in the infamous Nicaragua-bound flight were recorded, the Gujarat Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 14 immigration agents for reportedly being involved in human trafficking. The agents — spread across Gujarat, Mumbai and New Delhi — allegedly lured people from Gujarat and Punjab and were set to get them into the U.S. illegally. The plan had been to fly them to Nicaragua and then Mexico, from where they would cross the border to enter the U.S.

Army convoy attacked by suspected militants near J&K’s Poonch

Militants opened fire on an Army convoy in the Pir Panjal valley’s Poonch district on January 12 evening. The incident took place around 6 p.m. “A security forces convoy of vehicles was fired upon by suspected terrorists from a jungle near Krishna Ghati in the Poonch sector. No casualties to own troops,” a Jammu-based Army spokesman said.

Farmers convention to chart action plan to defeat BJP

The national convention of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of more than 500 farmers’ outfits, will be held on January 16 in Jalandhar. The meeting will discuss alternative agriculture and industrial policies ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The farmers’ leaders will also chart strategies to defeat the BJP in the polls.

Vibrant Summit ends with staggering 26.33 lakh crore investment pledges: Gujarat Government

The 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit concluded on January 12 with Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for 41,299 projects, with potential investment proposals worth ₹26.33 lakh crore, being signed during the mega event.

Iran says U.S.-U.K. attack on Houthis will fuel instability in region

Iran on Friday condemned the U.S.-British attack on Houthis in Yemen, warning that it will fuel “insecurity and instability” in the region, Iranian state media reported. “These attacks are a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws“, said Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson at Iran’s foreign ministry.

Sri Lanka says debt restructure finalised by April

Sri Lanka’s bankrupt government said Friday that a foreign debt restructure would be finalised by the beginning of April, after signs the economy was emerging from its worst crisis on record.

India squad for England Tests announced; Dhruv Jurel gets first call-up as injury keeps Shami out

The selectors on Friday stuck to the tried and tested names while announcing the India team for the first two Tests against England with wicketkeeper batsman Dhruv Jurel being the lone new face. Rohit Sharma will lead the 16-man side while Jasprit Bumrah will be his deputy.

Food inflation hit 10.4% in urban India in December

India’s retail inflation accelerated to a four-month high of 5.7% in December 2023, from 5.55% a month earlier, led by an uptick in food prices that rose 9.5% nationally and breached the 10% mark for urban consumers, hitting 10.42%. Although rural India’s consumers faced a slightly lower rise in food prices at just under 9%, they faced higher overall inflation at nearly 6%, compared to 5.5% faced by their urban peers in December.

While price rise hardened in December, the average consumer price inflation for the October-to-December quarter has been 5.4%, moderately lower than the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projection of 5.6%. Yet, hopes of an interest cut on the horizon remain bleak, as the RBI expects an average price rise of 5.2% for the first half of 2024 before easing to its 4% target between July and September.

For News Based : Daily Current G.K. Analysis ,Short notes & M.C.Q