Concise Current Affairs Recap: 20 January 2016

1-PSLV-C31 successfully launched IRNSS-1E satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully launched the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-E satellite. The satellite will provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continent. The satellite is the fifth of the IRNSS constellation.

2-Maharashtra to host Raigad festival from Jan 21

Maharashtra’s state cultural department is organising a 6-day festival at the historic Raigad Fort. The fort was built by Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji and was the place where he was coronated.

3-Jehan Daruvala won Lady Wigram Trophy motor race

Sahara Force India Academy racer Jehan Daruvala has won New Zealand’s Lady Wigram Trophy. It was Daruvala’s maiden victory in Formula cars.

4-Plastic to outweigh fish in oceans by 2050

Plastic rubbish will outweigh fish in the oceans by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to recycle the material. It was revealed in a report of Ellen MacArthur Foundation. At least eight million tonnes of plastics find their way into the ocean every year—equal to one garbage truckful every minute.

5-Uttarakhand introduces heli-taxi for tourists

Uttrakhand introduces first helicopter service called ‘heli-taxi’, between the city of Haldwani and Munsiyari town in Uttarakhand. Tourists will now be able to witness an aerial view of the Himalayas.

6- The World’s Oldest Organism is Pando

Pando, ‘the Trembling Giant’ is a colony of a single male Quaking Aspen Tree, located in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah, the USA. It is 80000-years-old which makes it the world’s oldest living organisms.

7-Ministry of Shipping initiated Project Green Port to make Indian ports cleaner and greener

 Ministry of Shipping has started Project Green Ports, which will help in making the Major Ports across India cleaner and greener.

8-Seven ancient Buddhist caves found in Mumbai

Researchers have found seven ancient Buddhist caves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli, Mumbai. The caves are believed to have been built between the 1st century BC and the 5th-6th century AD.

9- Black Hole is tearing apart Galaxy named W2246-0526

NASA has said that a huge black hole seems to be eating up much of the galaxy’s materials. The galaxy, W2246-0526, is located about 12.4 billion light-years from Earth.

10-Delhi airport to display world’s largest charkha

The world’s largest wooden charkha will be on display at  Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi. This charkha will be installed by government body Khadi and Village Industries Commission . It will have nine meter length and five meters height and it will inculcate a feeling of Indianness among the travelers.