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- Central Government Approves Formation Of 8th Pay Commission; India Becomes The Fourth Country To Dock In Space
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America lifts ban on 3 Indian nuclear institutions. Justice K. Vinod Chandran took oath as SC judge. At the same time, the third satellite launch pad will be built in Sriharikota for Rs 3,985 crore.
Information about some major current affairs, which are important for students preparing for government jobs…
NATIONAL
1. Central Government approved the formation of 8th Pay Commission: The Central Government has approved the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission today on January 16.
After the cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwani Vaishnav informed the journalists about the decisions.
- The recommendations of this commission will come into effect from the year 2026.
- This is expected to bring major changes in minimum wage and pension.
- The 7th Pay Commission came into effect on 1 January 2016. About 1 crore people were benefited from this.
- The 7th Pay Commission was constituted on 28 February 2014 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
- Generally, the next pay commission is constituted every 10 years.
2. Third satellite launch pad to be built in Sriharikota for Rs 3,985 crore: The Central Government today on January 16 approved the construction of a third launch pad at Sri Harikota in Andhra Pradesh.
It is estimated to be completed in 48 months. At present there are 2 launch pads in Sriharikota.
- It will cost Rs 3,985 crore to prepare this launch pad.
- The third launch pad will cater to the needs of next generation launch vehicles (NGLV).
- It will be designed to place heavy satellites in orbit.
- So far, more than 60 launches have been made from both the launch pads.
- By building a third launch pad, the number of satellites and space craft launches can be increased.
SCIENCE & TECH
3. India becomes the fourth country to dock in space: India has become the fourth country to successfully dock two spacecraft in space. ISRO said that the docking experiment was completed on the morning of 16 January.
Before this, only Russia, America and China have been successful in doing this.
- Missions like Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan and the Indian Space Station depended on the success of this mission.
- Moon soil samples will be brought to Earth in Chandrayaan-4 mission.
- At the same time, humans will be sent to space in the Gaganyaan mission.
- ISRO had launched the Space Docking Experiment Mission on 30 December 2024 at 10 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
- Under this, two spacecraft were deployed 470 km above the earth with the PSLV-C60 rocket.
4. America lifts ban on 3 Indian nuclear institutions: On January 15, America lifted the 20-year-old ban on 3 Indian nuclear institutions.
This decision of America has come after the visit of American NSA Jake Sullivan (left) to India on January 6. During this time, he met Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.
- These include the names of Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and Indian Rare Earth (IRE).
- At the same time, America has added 11 institutions of China to the list of sanctions regarding national security.
- Actually, India conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan on 11-13 May 1998. This test was known as Operation Shakti.
- Due to these tests many countries had imposed economic sanctions on India. The US then imposed sanctions on more than 200 Indian institutions.
Appointment
5. Justice K. Vinod Chandran takes oath as SC judge: Supreme Court Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna on January 16 appointed Justice K. Vinod Chandran sworn in as SC judge.
With the swearing-in of Justice Chandran, the strength of judges in the Supreme Court has increased to 33 (total sanctioned judges are 34), which also includes the Chief Justice.
- On January 13, the Center had approved the proposal of the collegium headed by the SC Chief Justice.
- On January 7, the collegium had recommended the promotion of Justice Chandran as a Supreme Court judge.
- Apart from the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court Collegium also included Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice Abhay S Oka.
- Justice K. Vinod Chandran was appointed judge of the Kerala High Court on 8 November 2011.
- On 29 March 2023, he was appointed Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
International
6. Hindenburg Research Company, which presented report on Adani, closed: American short-selling firm Hindenburg Research is about to shut down. Company founder Nathan Anderson announced this late on January 15.
Hindenburg Company was founded in 2017. It was founded by Nathan Anderson. (file photo)
- Hindenburg Research was started in 2017.
- Hindenburg Research reports had led to billions of dollars in losses for several companies, including India’s Adani Group and Icahn Enterprises.
- In August 2024, Hindenburg had claimed in its report that Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had stakes in an offshore company linked to Adani Group.
Sport
7. Djokovic became the player to play the most Grand Slam matches: Defending champion Novak Djokovic has made it to the third round of Australian Open 2025 by defeating Jaime Faria of Portugal.
This was Djokovic’s 430th singles match of his Grand Slam career.
- Djokovic has become the first player to touch the figure of 430.
- He left behind Swiss player Roger Federer (429).
- America’s Serena Williams (423) is at third place in the list.
- Djokovic won 3 out of 4 Grand Slam tournaments last year including the Australian Open in January, the French Open in June and the US Open in September.
- In September, he won the 24th Grand Slam of his career by winning the US Open.
8. Sitanshu Kotak becomes the new batting coach of the Indian team: On January 16, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Sitanshu Kotak as the new batting coach of the Indian team.
Sitanshu will take over his responsibility from the upcoming series against England.
- Earlier, Sitanshu had also taken over the responsibility as head coach of the Indian team in 2023.
- Sitanshu Kotak got the responsibility of head coach of the Indian team for the first time in the absence of Rahul Dravid.
- He was also associated with the India A team since 2019.
- Sitanshu did not get a chance to play international cricket but he has played domestic cricket for Saurashtra.
- Earlier, there was no official special batting coach in India’s coaching staff.
- Apart from head coach Gautam Gambhir, the staff includes Morne Morkel (bowling coach), Abhishek Nair (assistant coach), Ryan ten Doeschate (assistant coach) and T Dilip (fielding coach).
TODAY’S HISTORY
History of 16 January:
- On this day in 2003, Kalpana Chawla flew to space in NASA’s space shuttle Columbia Space Shuttle, but she could not return to Earth again. While returning to Earth, Kalpana’s spacecraft crashed on 1 February 2003.
- In 2009, Mumbai won the Ranji Championship for a record 38th time by defeating Uttar Pradesh.
- In 2006, socialist leader Michelle Bachelet was elected the first female President of Chile.
- In 2000, the Chinese government recognized a two-year-old Tibetan boy as the reincarnation of the ‘Sakaar Buddha’.
- Famous Malayalam film actor Prem Nazir passed away in 1989. He made a Guinness World Record for playing the role of lead actor in 610 films.
- In 1920, the League of Nations held its first council meeting in Paris.
- In 1761, the British captured Puducherry from French occupation.
Also read the current affairs of the previous days:
1. Current Affairs January 15: PM commissions 2 warships and 1 submarine to Navy; Approval to create 2 reserve battalions of CISF
Indian Women’s team scored a record 435 runs against Ireland. Odisha Government will give monthly pension of Rs 20,000 to those jailed during Emergency. At the same time, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0. Read the full news…
2. Current Affairs January 14: PM Modi launches ‘Mission Mausam’; Government of India launches National Turmeric Board
India successfully tested third generation indigenous anti-tank guided missile ‘Nag’. Odisha became the 34th state or union territory to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. At the same time, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam reached India on a five-day visit. Read the full news…