Title Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 20th January 2021

Daily CurrentTitle
              Affairs Capsule
             Title 2021
      20th January

NDRF Raising Day: 19 January

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrates its Raising Day every year on January 19, since it came
into existence on January 19, 2006.

      In 2021, the NDRF is observing its 16th Raising Day.
      NDRF is an Indian specialized force under the National Disaster Management Authority, constituted
       under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to carry out special response in situations of threatening
       disaster.
      There are 12 NDRF battalions located in different parts of the country and comprises as many as 13,000
       NDRF personnel who work to build a safer country.
      Director Generals of NDRF: SN Pradhan
      Parent department: Ministry of Home Affairs

India, France to hold bilateral Air exercise at Air Force Station in Jodhpur

Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force will conduct a bilateral Air exercise, Ex Desert Knight-21 at
Air Force Station Jodhpur.

   The Air exercise will be till 24th January.
      French side will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M
       Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.
      The Indian Air Force aircraft participating in the exercise will include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale,
       IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.
      It is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing
       interaction between the two premier Air Forces.

Budget Session of Parliament to begin on 29th of January

The Budget Session of the Parliament will begin on the 29th of this month.

      The seating arrangements have been made in view of COVID-19 guidelines.
      The Budget session will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both
       the Houses.
      This session every year starts with the President’s Address to both Houses.
      The Union Budget will be presented on 1st February.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assigned additional charge of Ministry of AYUSH

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of AYUSH.

   During the hospitalization and treatment of AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik following a road accident, his
       portfolio related to the Ministry of AYUSH has been temporarily assigned to Mr Rijiju in addition to his
       existing portfolios.
      The President has directed that this arrangement may continue till Mr Naik resumes his work related to
       the Ministry of AYUSH.

Govt. decides to celebrate birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as 'Parakram Diwas' on 23rd of
January every year

Government has decided to celebrate the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as 'Parakram Diwas' on 23rd
of January every year.

      Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Parakram Diwas event in Kolkata and will inaugurate an
       exhibition there.
      Another event is planned in Haripura, Gujarat where Netaji was elected president of Congress in 1938.
      A High Level Committee, headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been constituted to
       commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji.

354th birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is celebrated across India with great fervour and enthusiasm.

      The main function is organised at Takhat Sri Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara, Patna Sahib, the birth place of
       Guru Gobind Singh.
      Born at Patna Sahib in 1666, Guru Govind Singh was the 10th Sikh guru.

   He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur ji as leader of Sikhs at the age of just nine.

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announces ‘Horticulture Development Mission’

Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced the ‘Horticulture Development Mission’ (Bagayat Vikas
Mission).

      The aim of this mission is to double the income of farmers involved in medicinal and horticulture farming.
      Under this mission, the waste land of the government will be given on 30-year lease for farming of
       horticulture and medicinal crops.
      As per an estimate, the government has about 50,000 non-cultivated land waste lands.
      The government will also offer priority assistance to lease owners for drip-sprinkler fountains.

1st consignment of green peas and white brinjals shipped on direct flight from Varanasi to Sharjah

The first consignment of green peas and white brinjals of Varanasi has been shipped from direct flight from
Varanasi to Sharjah in UAE.

      After successfully exporting Langda and the Dussehri variety of mangoes and green chillies of
       neighbouring district Ghazipur to many districts it is time to taste the fresh green peas and white brinjal
       of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi.
      It will also open new avenues for farmers of the Poorvanchal region.
      Earlier the consignments were sent from Varanasi to the ports of Gujarat and Mumbai and then they were
       shipped to other countries but with the start of direct cargo flight from Varanasi to Sharjah recently, the
       fresh products will reach directly to the markets abroad in less time.

Nagpur's Gorewada International Zoo to be renamed after Bal Thackeray

The Maharashtra government has renamed Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur as 'Balasaheb Thackeray
Gorewada International Zoological Park'.

      The zoological park will come up on nearly 2,000 hectares of forest land and Chief Minister Uddhav
       Thackeray will inaugurate the Indian safari at the zoo on January 26.
      Born on January 23, 1926, in Pune, Balasaheb Thackeray had begun his professional career as a cartoonist
       with the English-language daily 'The Free Press Journal'.
      He later quit his professional job and founded the Shiv Sena in 1966 to advocate for the interests of the
       people of Maharashtra in Mumbai's political and professional landscape.
      Thackeray was also the founder of the Marathi-language newspaper 'Saamana'.
      Thackeray breathed his last on November 17, 2012, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 86.

World renowned oncologist Dr V Shanta passes away

Dr. V. Shanta, the world renowned oncologist passed away due to brief illness in Chennai.

      Dr. Shanta is the Chairperson of Adyar Cancer Centre.
      She joined the hospital in 1955 as a trainee and went on to become the Head of the Institution which
       expanded far and wide to deal with the deadly disease in a more precise manner.
      Dr. Shanta's contribution to the field of oncology, had earned her the Magsaysay, Padma Shri, Padma
       Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards.