JANUARY 2016 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PART-5)

• India has ranked 89th globally in Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2015-16 list of 109 assessed countries in terms of talent competitiveness of its human capital. This GTCI list was compiled by INSEAD business school in partnership with Adecco and Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore (HCLI). This index measures a nation’s competitiveness based on the quality of talent it can produce, attract and retain. Switzerland tops the index.
• Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully launched India’s fifth navigation Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) 1E satellite. It was launched on board of PSLV-C31 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. It is equipped with two types of payloads viz. navigation payload and ranging devices.
• Scientists have discovered a new bird species named Himalayan Forest Thrush in Northeast India and adjacent parts of China. It has been given scientific name Zoothera salimalii after ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali who has made significant contributions to ornithology in India.
• India’s largest lender, State Bank of India has launched dedicated specialized branch for start-ups called ‘SBI InCube’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Maharashtra Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tata Trust for a skill training programme for the youth in the state. This programme has been undertaken under the state government’s ambitious ‘Kushal Maharashtra, Rojgaryukt Maharashtra’ initiative. Tata Trust will train around one lakh youths in the state in order to make them employable. It will set up skill development and vocational training centres in 10 districts across the state. The Trust will also set up virtual classrooms in 100 Industrial Training Institutes in Maharashtra. It will improve infrastructure of these ITIs.
• The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting has started in Swiss resort of Davos, Switzerland with participation of political leaders and business from around the world. The 4-day conference will cover the discussions on tumbling oil prices and China’s uncertain economic prospects.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping has formally opened Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing. The bank was formally established in Beijing on 25 December 2015. China’s former Finance Minister Lou Jiwei was elected as the first Chairman of the Bank’s Council while its former Finance Minister Jin Liqun was elected as its first President.
• Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette INS Kadmatt has been commissioned in the Indian Navy by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan at naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam. It is the second ship of Project 28 (P28) class ASW corvettes and is the latest ship after Shivalik class, Kolkata class and INS Kamorta.
• Veteran poet Balkrishna Garg was honoured with the second edition of Harikrishna Devsare Baalsahitya Award 2015 for his collection of poems for children titled ‘Baal Geet’.
• The Drug Authentication and Verification Application (DAVA) project of The Department of Commerce has won the 2015 eASIA Award under Trade Facilitation category. DAVA project was launched by Union Government in June 2015. It seeks to create an integrated platform for implementation of the Track and Trace system for exporters and domestic markets of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. The project aims to cover all the drugs manufactured in India and contribute considerably in enhancing the brand image of our pharmaceutical exporters.