PM Modi to host first-ever India-Central Asia Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the first-ever India-Central Asia Summit virtually on January 27, 2022. The virtual event will see participation from Presidents of five central Asian nations- Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The key focus of the summit is likely to be regional security, Afghanistan issue and trade and connectivity, culture, development partnership and people-to-people ties. This will be the first such high-level engagement between India and the Central Asian countries.

Neeraj Chopra conferred Padma Shri

Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra was conferred the Padma Shri on January 26, 2022, the fourth-highest civilian award of India. The 24-year-old had created history by becoming the first Indian to win Olympic gold in athletics. He also got the Param Vishisht Seva Medal by the 4 Rajputana Rifles for his distinguished service. Chopra is a Subedar in the Indian Army.

Andhra Pradesh  gets 13 new districts; Check full AP new districts list

Andhra Pradesh government has announced the formation of 13 new districts under the AP Districts Formation Act, Section 3(5). The new districts in Andhra Pradesh have been formed based on the Parliamentary constituencies. They are carved out from the 13 existing districts, bringing the total number of districts in the state to 26.

The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Government has announced that the temple town of Tirupati will become a new district and it will be named after the Presiding deity Lord Sri Balaji.

In another significant political move, the state government has decided to name the Vijayawada district after the founding president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao (NTR). Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised to name a district after NT Rama Rao during the election campaign.

Find the names of old districts and the new districts in Andhra Pradesh in the table below:

COVID-19 vaccine: DCGI grants conditional market approval for Covishield and Covaxin

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted regular market approval for the COVID-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin for use in the adult population subject to certain conditions. The approval has been granted under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019. 

Earlier on January 19, 2022, the Subject Expert Committee of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had recommended the regular market approval of Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India for their COVID-19 vaccines COVAXIN and Covishield with conditions for the adult population in the country.

As per India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), SEC had recommended the upgrade of Covaxin and Covishield status from the restricted use in an emergency situation to grant new drug permission with certain conditions in the adult population. The Drugs Controller General of India was to further evaluate the recommendations and will give its decision.

Air India successfully handed over to Tata Group

The Government of India successfully handed over Air India to the Tata Group on January 27, 2022, nearly 69 years after it was taken from the TATAs. According to the officials, the airline was handed over to the conglomerate as all the formalities were close to completion.

The Tata Group, as part of the deal with the Government, are also handed over the Air India Express and a 50% stake in the ground handling arm of Air India SATS.

While this will be the Government of India’s first privatization since 2003-2003, Air India will be the third airline brand in Tata’s stable as the conglomerate holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara. It is a joint venture by Singapore Airlines Ltd.

Plinth construction starts at Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

The third phase of the construction of the Ram Temple started at Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya on January 24, 2022, with a laying of granite stones for the plinth. With an aim of achieving physical strength and other physical and chemical features and consequent longevity, the work of plinth with granite stone has begun. Digital instrumentation is also being used for monitoring the safety parameters of the temple and the data of these instruments will be used to study the behaviour of the structure in respect of earthquake, loading, etc. On the basis of the judgment of the Supreme Court on November 9, 2019, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was entrusted to undertake the work of Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Ministry of State for Culture released pictorial comic book ‘India’s Women Unsung Heroes’

The Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi released the pictorial comic book ‘India’s Women Unsung Heroes’. The comic book has been prepared by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with Amar Chitra Katha. The latest comic book portrays the tales of valour of India’s forgotten women freedom fighter. It is a fitting tribute to them as it celebrates the lives of women who lit the flame of rebellion in the country. The Minister further informed that the book contains the stories of queens who had battled imperialism and also dedicated their lives to Maa Bharati.