1. Barack Obama becomes first US President to be Chief Guest at Republic-Day
US President Barack Obama has become the first American President to be Chief Guest on Republic Day celebrations.He is also the first American President to visit India twice (earlier he had visited India in November 2010).
Key highlights of 66th Republic Day celebrations
- In this Parade, US President witnessed India’s military might and cultural diversity. This year’s parade was more based on cultural diversity rather than showing on military might.
- For the parade, Barack Obama arrived in his own vehicle named cadillac one (The Beast) and not with President Pranab Mukherjee. Thus, breaking the traditional practice, as the Chief Guest usually comes to the venue with the President, the Head of the State.
- Several States displayed tableaux depicting their local flavor and traditions.
- While, some Union government departments displayed tableaux related to government initiatives like Make in India and ‘save the girl child.
- For first time in history, all women contingents of the three services Army, Navy and Air Force marched in the parade.
- Some of India’s latest military arsenal was displayed in this year’s parade. However, Nuclear-capable Agni missiles- a highlight for the past several years was not displayed this year.
2. DP Sinha appointed as secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariatAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Divya Prakash Sinhaas secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat.
Since November 2013, this post was lying vacant after Yashovardhan Azad who was holding the post then, was appointed information commissioner.
Divya Prakash Sinha:
- He is IPS officer, belonging to 1979 batch of the Manipur-Tripura cadre.
- Before this appointment he was special director with Intelligence Bureau (IB).
- He is associated with IB for several years handling operations in key regions such as the northeast and even Delhi.
- He known to be instrumental in neutralization of banned terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) and various extremists groups in North east India.
3. RBI signs an information sharing agreement with Brazil’s Central Bank
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information with Brazil’s Central Bank- Banco Central do Brasil (BCB).This MoU was signed by Anthero de Moraes Meirelles, Deputy Governor for Supervision, BCB and S.S. Mundra, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India.
RBI by signing such MoU with supervisors of other countries is seeking to promote greater co-operation and share supervisory information among the authorities.
In this regard, RBI in total has signed 23 such MoUs, one Letter for Supervisory Co-operation and one Statement of Co-operation (SoC), with different Central Banks of other countries and overseas regulators/supervisors.
4. K Durga Prasad appointed as Special DG of CRPFAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed K Durga Prasad as the special director general (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
He will be in office for next three years or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
K Durga Prasad
4. K Durga Prasad appointed as Special DG of CRPFAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed K Durga Prasad as the special director general (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
He will be in office for next three years or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
K Durga Prasad
- He is IPS officer of 1981 batch from Andhra Pradesh cadre.
- Before this appointed, he was director of the Special Protection Group (SPG), but was removed from this post in November 2014.
- It should be noted that SPG provides security to the prime minister, former prime ministers and their family members.
- CRPF is the largest Central Armed Police Forces in India. It operates under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- It was established in 1939, under Crown Representative’s Police but after independence it was made statutory Central Reserve Police Force after the enactment of the CRPF Act, 1949.
- At present CRPF is the world’s largest paramilitary force with 228 battalions and over three lakh personnel.
- Function: Its primary role is to assist States/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and contain insurgency.
5. Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos passes awayFamous Greek singer Demis Roussos passed away in Athens, Greek. He was 68.
He was best known for his hit operatic pop ballads in the 1970s and 1980s and for his high-pitched voice and melodies inspired by Greek folklore which sold about 60 million records worldwide.
About Demis Roussos
- He was born as Artemios Ventouris Roussos in Alexandria, Egypt in 1946.
- He had started his music career at age of 17, when he joined band called The Idols.
- He was best known for his solo hits in the 1970s and 80s, including Forever and Ever, Goodbye and Quand je t’aime.
- He was also a member of progressive rock group Aphrodite’s Child.
6. Libby Lane, first female bishop of England consecrated
Church of England has consecrated Reverend Libby Lane as its first female bishop in a ceremony held at York Minster (a Gothic cathedral) in northern England.
With this consecration, Church of England ended its 500 year old male dominated tradition and considered as a historic move towards widening female participation in the Church.
Background
- Earlier in December 2014, she was appointed Bishop after Church formally had adopted legislation to allow women bishops.
- In this regard General Synod- the law-making body of the Church of England had given nod to this legislation in November 2014 which was passed by UK Parliament in October 2014.
- Since April 2007, she was Vicar of St Peter’s Hale and St Elizabeth’s Ashley, in Greater Manchester, England.
- In 1993, she was ordained as deacon and later in 1994, as priest.
- In January 2010, she was appointed as Dean of Women in Ministry for the Diocese of Chester.
7. In R-Day message, China tells India don't fall into ‘trap’ laid by U.S.
- China has offered to lift its strategic partnership with India to a “higher level,” and prompted New Delhi to avoid a “zero-sum trap” that was being set up by Washington and its allies.
- In a message, on the occasion of 65th Republic Day, to President Pranab Mukherjee, his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping expressed China’s willingness “to make concerted efforts with India to lift their strategic cooperative partnership oriented to peace and prosperity to a higher level”.
- The felicitations coincided with the New Delhi visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.
- An article on Monday that appeared in the Global Times and People’s Daily, cautioned India, not to fall into the “trap” that was being laid, to pit New Delhi against Beijing, by Washington, as part of its “pivot to Asia” doctrine.
- The commentary noted that "the second visit by a sitting U.S. President to India, the first time on record, has undoubtedly drawn wide attention from the international community”.
- It added that many Western media reports “have pointed out that the U.S., regardless of historical complications, is putting more efforts into soliciting India to act as a partner, even an ally, to support Washington's "pivot to Asia" strategy, which is mainly devised to counter China's rise.
- In a further elaboration, the daily pointed to the West’s “ulterior motives’’ to frame the "Chinese dragon" and the "Indian elephant" as natural rivals. “The West is egging India on to be fully prepared for "threats" posed by its large neighbour.
- Considering the fact that both sides still have territorial disputes and will probably have wider engagement at many levels, this so-called rivalry between India and China will not stop making headlines in Western media.”
- However, it cautioned India that it was facing a carefully positioned “trap”. “Although craftily set, it will be revealed eventually.”
- The daily advised both countries to put aside their “debates over specific issues,” and ensure that “their relations cannot take a life-or-death struggle as a foothold.”
- “The common interests they share are way larger than any differences. As both are emerging powers, which have the huge potential of being important forces in the international community, China and India should see more space for cooperation instead of contention. This agreement is fundamental to bilateral relations.
- The article counselled Beijing and New Delhi to “come to terms with a bottom line of interactions, making sure the big picture remains intact, although both sides still have disagreements on some specific matters,” and steer clear of a zero-sum game, that India, under Western influence was “sliding into”.
