PM Modi Launched 'Swachh Mandir' Campaign

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kicked off the 'Swachh Mandir' (Clean Temple) campaign across the country on January 8, 2024 with an aim to make pilgrimage sites pristine.
• He urged the people nationwide, to kick off a cleanliness campaign at smaller pilgrimage sites starting from Makar Sankranti (January 14) and continue until January 22, 2024.
• He launched the campaign, ahead of the upcoming consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024.
• The campaign will involve all elected representatives, including MPs, MLAs, and panchayat representatives, who will collaborate to ensure the success of the cleanliness drive.

FitRise-75 Programme Concluded

• The FitRise-75 programme concluded at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVP NPA) in Hyderabad on January 8, 2024.
• The FitRise-75 has been taken up drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India programme of 2019.
• Over three lakh police personnel, their families and general public participated in the 75-day long programme.
• Union Home minister Amit Shah inaugurated the FitRise-75 programme in October 2023 as part of celebrations when the SVP NPA completed 75 years of service to the nation.

ONGC Started Oil Production in Bay of Bengal

• State-owned ONGC has started oil production from its flagship deep-sea project in Krishna Godavari basin in Bay of Bengal on January 8, 2024.
• The ONGC has started producing from the Cluster-2 project in KG-DWN-98/2 block and will slowly ramp up output.
• Production is expected to be 45 thousand barrels per day and over 10 million standard cubic metres per day of gas.
• The project is expected to add 7 % to current national oil production and 7 % to national natural gas production.

Leopard Became National Symbol of Kyrgyzstan

• Central Asian country, Kyrgyzstan, has declared the snow leopard as the national symbol on January 8, 2024.
• President Zhaparov's order highlights the important role of snow leopards in maintaining ecological balance.
• The loss of these magnificent creatures in the wild poses a significant threat to the delicate balance of mountain ecosystems.
• The Global Snow Leopard Forum was hosted by Kyrgyzstan in the year 2013.

Decline in Individual Income Inequality in Past 8 Years

• The State Bank of India has released an economic research report on January 8, 2024.
• Report revealed a substantial decrease in individual income inequality in India between the financial years 2013-14 and 2021-22.
• Income inequality captured through the Gini coefficient of taxable income has declined significantly from 0.472 to 0.402 during financial years 2013-14 and 2021-22.
• According to this report, 36.3 % of taxpayers have moved from lower income to higher income tax bucket.
• The income disparity of people earning less than ₹ 3.5 lakh has declined from 31.8 % to 15.8 % during last 8 years.

Navrang Lal Tibrewal

• Former Governor of Rajasthan Justice Navrang Lal Tibrewal passed away on January 8, 2024.
• He also held the position of the acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court in 1998.  
• On May 25, 1998, he took on the role of the acting Governor of Rajasthan State, succeeding Darbara Singh.
• Currently, he was serving as the chairman of various educational institutions, including one in Jaipur and three institutions in Jhunjhunu.

Pandit Hariram Dwivedi

• Pandit Hariram Dwivedi affectionately known as Hari Bhaiya, a stalwart of Hindi literature, passed away on January 8, 2024.
• At 88, Hari Bhaiya, known for poetic gems like 'Anganaiya' and 'Jeevandayini Ganga,' left an indelible mark on literature.
• His passion for writing, earning him accolades such as the Rahul Sankrityan Award, Hindi Sahitya Saraswat Samman, and the Purbia Gaurav Samman, among others.
• Despite accolades, including the Sahitya Bhushan Award, his dreams of Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan remain unfulfilled.

Divisional Khadi Utsav 2024 Opens in Meerut

• Uttar Pradesh State Minister Dr. Somendra Tomar and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee inaugurated the 'Divisional Khadi Utsav 2024' on January 8, 2024.
• 'Divisional Khadi Utsav2024' inaugurated in the Government Inter College premises of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
• Around 100 participants from 8 states are participating in the Utsav and displaying their products.
• In the exhibition, utensils from Khurja, organic jaggeryfrom Meerut, perfume from Kannauj, pickle from Pratapgarh and brass productsfrom Moradabad are attracting everyone.

International Purple Fest Organised

• The first-of-its-kind 'International Purple Fest Goa - 2024' was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athvale on January 8, 2024.
• International Purple Fest is designed as a platform for individuals with disabilities to exhibit their capabilities and talents and to ensure social inclusion of "divyangjan" persons.
• This fest is organized by the Government of Goa and Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Chief minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant, ministers of Goa government and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.