15 January 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam.

January 15th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Gaganyaan space astronauts training to start this month
2. MoU to enhance bilateral defence cooperation
3. Special exhibition on ‘Indian Heritage in Digital Space’
4. Gadkari presents ‘National Highways Excellence Awards’

1. Gaganyaan space astronauts training to start this month

About Gaganyaan

• Gaganyaan will be the Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the basis of Indian Human Space Flight Program.
• With Gaganyaan, India will become only the 4th country after Russia, the USA and China to send humans to space.

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2. MoU to enhance bilateral defence cooperation

Context:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to further defence cooperation between India and Finland.

About MoU:

• The MoU on cooperation in the field of Production, Procurement, Research and Development of Defence-related Equipment and Industrial cooperation has been inked.
• Under the broad ambit of the MoU, cooperation between Finnish companies and Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings could be explored.

3. Special exhibition on ‘Indian Heritage in Digital Space’

Context:

The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism launched a month-long special exhibition titled Indian Heritage in Digital Space.

About the Exhibition:

• This special exhibition showcase adaptation and infusion of technologies being developed under the Indian Digital Heritage (IDH) initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India in the cultural heritage domain of the country.
• The exhibition demonstrates the outcome of two flagship projects viz. 
  • A digital mini-spectacle to showcase the glory of Hampi and
  • Augmented reality-based interactions with physical models of monuments.
• The goals of these projects are to create digital installations using 3D laser scan data, AR, holographic projections and 3D fabrication to provide interactive and immersive experiences showcasing the glory of five Indian monuments namely 
  • Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
  • Taj Mahal, Agra
  • Sun Temple, Konark
  • Ramachandra Temple, Hampi 
  • Rani Ki Vav, Patan

4. Gadkari presents ‘National Highways Excellence Awards’

Context:

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs has lauded the contribution of all stakeholders in the National Highways (NH) sector for their contribution in erecting world-class road infrastructure in the country.

About National Highways Excellence Awards:

• The awards were instituted in the year 2018. The first cycle of awards in 2018 received wide participation from around the country.
• Following the success of the first cycle, the Ministry decided to make the National Highways Excellence Awards an annual feature.
• The aim is to recognise companies which are performing exceptionally well in the construction, operations, maintenance and tolling stages of highway development as well as in the arena of road safety.
• The motive behind starting an annual awards program is to create a spirit of healthy competitiveness amongst all stakeholders involved in the development of highway infrastructure in the country and to contribute to the larger goal of expanding the road network in the country.

January 15th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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