15 January Current Affairs: Today’s Current Affairs for Competative Exams – Bank, SSC, Vyapam, PSC

Currents Affairs National 

Indian Navy to purchase aircraft carrier

• Indian Navy is planning to buy its 3rd aircraft carrier and 57 twin-engine fighter planes.
• Indian Navy has one operational aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and other aircraft carrier INS Vikrant under construction.
• The cost of aircraft carrier is around 1.6 lakh crore.

India and Israel inked 9 agreements 

• India and Israel signed 9 agreements on areas relating to cyber security, cooperation in the oil and gas sector, film-co- production, air transport pact etc.
• Israel’s PM who arrived India yesterday is on a 6-day tour.

UIDAI to add face recognition verification option 

• From 1 July 2018 UIDAI will add Face verification option for Aadhaar Authentication.
• This step is taken because of the problems arising due to mismatch in biometrics.

Imp Note: UIDAI – The Unique Identification Authority of India

                 CEO – Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey

25 injured during Jallikattu Celebrations in Tamil Nadu

• 25 persons were injured and 1 died during bull taming game in Tamil Nadu.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav begins in Karnataka

• The 7th edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav begun in Bengaluru on 14 January.
• The Mahostav is organised under ‘Ek Bharat Sherestha Bharat Program’. The event was inaugurated by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar , Karnataka’s Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree and Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma.
• The program by launched by PM Modi for promoting culture and heritage of country.

Currents Affairs Business and Economy 

Government to invite application for post of RBI deputy Governor

• Government will soon invite application for the post of RBI deputy Governor after the retirement of SS Mundra. 
• SS Mundra retired on 31 July 2017 after completion of 3 years term.
• The Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee (FSRASC) will select a suitable candidate to succeed Mundra.

Ford Motor plans to invest $11 billion in electric vehicles

• Ford Motor Co will increase its investment to $11 billion in electric vehicles by 2022.
• It will 40 hybrid and fully electric vehicles models as said by chairman Bill Ford.

Idea Cellular and Vodafone may merge till April

• The Idea and Vodafone merger may take place till April after the approval of Department of Telecommunication (DoT).
• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) gave approval to merger on Friday.

Currents Affairs Sports

Australian Open

• In first round of Australian Open tennis Tournament India’s Yuki Bhambri lost to Marcos Baghdatis from Cyprus.

Indian Captain  scores century in 2nd test against South Africa

• Indian Cricket team’s captain Virat Kohli scored a century in an ongoing test between India and South Africa in Centurion, South Africa.
• South africa is 1-0 ahead in 3 tests series.

Currents Affairs World

At least 38 killed in Double Suicide Bombing in Bagdad

• Around 105 people were wounded and 38 died after after 2 suicide bombers blew themselves in Baghdad.
• The incident happened in crowded street market in Baghdad on Monday.

Volcanic Eruption in Philippines

• Mayon volcano erupted in Philippines due to which thousands of people have to be evacuated.
• Mayon Volcano or Mount Mayon volcano is the most active volcano of the country.
• It last erupted on 18 Sep 2014. 

Over 75 injured in floor collapse of Indonesia Stock Exchange in Jakarta

• Due to collapse of floor inside the Jakarta Stock Exchange tower over 75 people were injured.

Cyclone in Madagascar

• 51 died and 22 are missing due to the tropical cyclone ‘Ava’ in Madagascar.
• The cyclone passed through Madagascar before 10 days.

Currents Affairs  Important Day

Indian Army Day

• Every year 15 January is celebrated as Army day in India in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa’s taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India.
• Today during Army Day celebrations in Delhi President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi  greeted the officers and troops of the Indian Army. 

Currents Affairs Miscellaneous ( Science, Technology etc.)

Former Union Minister Raghunath Jha passes away 

• Raghunath Jha who was Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise in Manmohan Singh’s Government passed away on Sunday in Delhi.
• Raghunath Jha who was 78 was suffering from kidney ailment.

YouTube allows to watch videos in incognito mode

• In coming features YouTube will soon allow users to watch videos in incognito mode.
• In incognito mode the pages searched do not appear in history.

NASA creates a 3D fly-through view of Orion Nebula

• Using images and data from telescopes NASA scientists created a fly through view of Orion Nebula.
• In a three-minute video Orion Nebula can be seen in both visible and infrared light.