15 January 2018 Current Affairs
Click here to download 15 January 2018 Current Affairs in PDF Format
15th January 2018: 70th Army Day
The 70th Army Day is being celebrated on 15th January 2018. 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. 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 from General Sir F.R.R Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence.
UIDAI introduces face authentication to further strengthen Aadhaar security
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) decided to enable ‘Face Authentication’ in fusion mode on registered devices by July 1, so that people facing difficulty in other existing modes of verification such as fingerprints, iris, and one-time-password (OTP) could easily authenticate. Not only will this new facility help in an inclusive authentication of those who are not able to biometrically verify their identity, due to worn out fingerprints, old age, or hard working conditions, but also add another layer of security.
India contributes $50,000 to UN Youth Envoys office
India contributed $50,000 to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Office of Envoy on Youth to help with its mission of involving young people in the world body’s goals. The contribution was handed over by Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in India’s UN Mission to the Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake. India contributes $50,000 to UN Youth Envoy’s office January 15, 2018.
India, Israel sign 9 agreements in space, defence, cybersecurity
India and Israel have signed nine agreements to boost cooperation in the areas of space, cyber security and oil and gas between both countries. The agreements were signed following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in New Delhi. Netanyahu is first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India in span of last 15 years and second one overall. Ariel Sharon was first and only Israeli Prime Minister to visit India in 2003.
Sri Lanka reimposes ban on women buying alcohol
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered to reimpose ban on women buying alcohol or working in places that sell or manufacture liquor. The 1979 law prohibiting the sale of any type of alcohol to women was overturned in an effort to restore gender neutrality. However, the move was opposed by hardline sections of the majority-Buddhist nation forcing the President to reimpose the ban.
Anil Khanna to Head IOA Finance Commission
Senior sports administrator Anil Khanna was named Chairman of the Finance Commission of the Indian Olympic Association, which also formed a four-member advisory committee. The advisory committee comprises Tarlochan Singh, GS Mander, S Regunathan and BS Landge. The IOA also formed a Medical Commission and Games Technical Conduct Committee and nominated office bearers of IOA and National Sports Federations (NSFs) to the Committees.