1.MQ -9B
- MQ-9B high-altitude long-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
- It is among the top high-technology deals currently in the pipeline between the two countries
- In addition to the licensed manufacture of the General Electric F-414 jet engines in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
- While the engine deal has been cleared by the U.S. Congress, the MQ-9B deal is still under process
- The MQ-9B will significantly boost the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces,
- Work in tandem with the U.S.-origin P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft
- Enhance the Indian Navy’s surveillance over the Indian Ocean Region.
2. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in land scam case
- The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organisation mandated with investigation of offence of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws
- The statutory functions of the Directorate include enforcement of following Acts
- The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
- The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)
- The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA)
- The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (FERA)
- Sponsoring agency under COFEPOSA
- Under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), this Directorate is empowered to sponsor cases of preventive detention with regard to contraventions of FEMA
3. Parakram Diwas 2024 Commemoration: Red Fort Unveils History and Cultural Spectacle
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the event on January 23 at Red Fort, Delhi.
- The celebration extends till January 31, highlighting historical reflections and cultural expressions.
- Red Fort played a pivotal role in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s saga and Azad Hind Fauj.
- The museum within the fort dedicated to Bose and INA preserves their legacy, inaugurated by PM Modi in 2019.
- Projection mapping show by National School of Drama artists at Red Fort, illuminating its history.
- Exhibitions with rare photographs, documents, paintings, sculpture workshops, and interactive AR and VR exhibitions.
- Prime Minister to digitally launch ‘Bharat Parv’ by the Ministry of Tourism, showcasing diversity.
- Republic Day Tableaux, cultural exhibits, and a nine-day event at Ram Leela Maidan and Madhav Das Park.
4. Direct Listing Scheme
- Government allows direct listing of securities by public Indian companies on International Exchanges of GIFT IFSC.
- The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, has amended Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, and notified the ‘Direct Listing of Equity Shares of Companies Incorporated in India on International Exchanges Scheme’.
- This is following the Finance Minister’s announcement in July 2023 to enable the direct listing of Indian Companies at GIFT- IFSC exchanges in the first phase.
- This provides the regulatory framework to enable public Indian companies to issue and list their shares in permitted international exchanges.
- As of now, the framework allows unlisted public Indian companies to list their shares on an international exchange.
- SEBI is in the process of issuing the operational guidelines for listed public Indian companies.
- The international stock exchanges at GIFT-IFSC under the regulatory supervision of IFSCA namely, India International Exchange and NSE International Exchange have been, currently, prescribed as permitted stock exchanges under the Rules and the Scheme.
- This policy is expected to reshape the Indian capital market landscape and offer Indian companies, especially start-ups and companies in the sunrise and technology sectors, an alternative avenue to access global capital beyond the domestic exchanges.
- Benefits
- Lead to better valuation of Indian companies
- Boost foreign investment flows
- Unlock growth opportunities
- Broaden the investor base
- Provide Indian companies with the flexibility to access both domestic and international markets
5. Exercise Desert Knight
- On Jan 2024, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise Desert Knight along with the French Air and Space Force (FASF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force.
- The IAF contingent comprised of Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, AWACS, C-130-J and Air to Air Refueller aircraft.
- The main focus of Exercise Desert Knight was on enhancing synergy and interoperability between the three Air Forces.
- The interactions during the exercise facilitated the exchange of operational knowledge, experiences and best practices among the participants.
ONE LINER
- The ‘Illam Thedi Kalvi’ scheme was introduced in 2021 to bridge learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Khelo India 2023 Closing Ceremony held at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana secured top three positions.
- Feb -1 – To commemorate the contributions made by Indian Cost Guard to Nation’s Maritime Security since 1977.
