Government has asked power generation companies (gencos)  to import 6% of their coal requirements until September 2023. As per reports, power ministry warned them if import target is not met, domestic supplies could be curtailed.

The ministry’s letter stated energy demand has increased sharply and it is expected to remain at increased level during first half of 2023-24. Estimated domestic coal supply of 392 million tonnes during the six months to the end of September is expected to fall short of demand by 24 million tonnes, according to the letter sent to heads of energy departments of states and managing directors of all utilities.

As demand for air travel is back on track after covid-19 wrecked havoc on the sector, a former Kingfisher Airlines’ executive and the former India head of Fairfax Financial are joining hands to launch a new regional carrier.

The new airline, to be called Fly91, will be headed by Harsha Raghavan, current managing partner at Convergent Finance LLP. He will be the Chairman of the proposed airline. Manoj Chacko, who was previously associated with now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, will be the CEO. Fly91 aims to begin operations by December 2023 and will have its base in Goa.

The government has released a total of Rs 36,656 crore under its scheme ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022-23’ for April-November in FY23. Centre has allocated Rs 1,05,000 crore for the scheme for the current fiscal.

Out of the total allocation, Rs 73,880 crore has been approved. Under the above scheme, financial assistance is provided to states by the Centre from its overall budgetary resources.  Capital expenditure amounting to Rs 68,591.51 crore has been approved under part 1 for Andhra Pradesh , Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.

Out of the approved expenditure, Rs 31,571.10 crore has been released. Similarly, under part-2, Rs 1,458 crore has been approved, Rs 1,615 crore under part-3, under part-5, Rs 2,215 crore has been approved.

Players at this month's Australian Open will not be required to take COVID-19 tests and will be allowed to compete even if they have the virus, according to tournament director Craig Tiley on Jan 10.

The health policy, which Tiley said reflected what was going on in the larger community, is a significant departure from the strict protocols that have surrounded the tournament for the past two years.

Melbourne will host the Australian Open which will begin on January 16.

French football boss Noel Le Graet on Jan 10 apologised for what he dubbed his "clumsy remarks" about Zinedine Zidane's potential interest in coaching the France national team.

Le Graet had quipped dismissively in an interview on French radio that he "wouldn't even have taken his call on the phone" when asked whether Zidane had rung him to express an interest in taking over as coach from Didier Deschamps.

That drew criticism from France and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, who called Le Graet's comments "disrespectful."

French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera also waded in, demanding an apology from Le Graet for his comments, which she said showed "a shameful lack of respect."

South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius has retired from international cricket with immediate effect to shift "focus on T20 and other shorter formats."

The 33-year-old has represented South Africa in 30 T20Is, 27 ODIs and three Tests since making his debut in 2016. He holds the record for the best bowling figures for South Africa in men's T20Is with his 5-17 against Pakistan in 2021.

Q1. Name the remote south Kashmir village  which has been lighted  up for the first time in 75 years  under the Pradhan Mantri developmental programme “Har Ghar Bijli Yojana” ?

1. Areh Bugh
2. Aho Paisan
3. Achabal
4. Tethan
5. None of These

Q2. Name the Canada-based Punjabi gangster and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative who has been designated  as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA ) by the  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on  Jan 10 ?

1. Wadhawa Singh Babbar
2. Ranjeet Singh
3. Arshdeep Singh Gill
4. Bhupinder Singh Bhinda
5. None of These

Q3. The government has asked power generation companies (gencos)  to import 6% of their coal requirements until

1. Sep 2023
2. Aug 2024
3. Jul 2025
4. Jun 2026
5. None of These

Q4. What is the theme of this year World Economic Forum (WEF ) meeting to be held in Davos ?

1. Cooperation in a World
2. Cooperation in a Fragmented World
3. Cooperation in a United World
4. Cooperation in a  Global World
5. None of These

Q5. What amount the government has released under its scheme ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022-23’ for April-November in FY23 ?

1. Rs 36,656 crore
2. Rs 30,653 crore
3. Rs 20,278 crore
4. Rs 16,616 crore
5. None of These

Answers

1-----------4    Tethan

2------------3   Arshdeep Singh Gill

3------------1   Sep 2023

4------------2   Cooperation in a Fragmented World

5------------1   Rs 36,656 crore

Renowned Kashmiri poet, critic and scholar, Professor Abdul Rehman Rahi passed away on Jan 9. He was 98.

He was awarded the Jnanpith Award for the year 2004. He got Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961 for his poetry collection 'Nawroz-e-Saba' and Padma Shri in 2000.

He is the first Kashmiri writer to be awarded Jnanpith, the country's highest literary award for his poetic collection 'Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz' (In Black Drizzle).