current affairs 26 january 2022

25 January - National Voters’ Day

25 January - National Tourism Day

NASA jointly launches the $1 million Deep Space Food Challenge with the Canadian Space Agency.

• The US space agency, NASA in coordination with the Canadian space agency has launched Phase 2 of the challenge named Deep Space Food Challenge.
• The competition invites teams to design, build and demonstrate innovative and sustainable prototypes of food production technologies and produce food for decision making.
• The technology will help future astronauts on long-duration space missions to produce nutritious, tasty and satisfying food that requires minimal resources and produces minimal waste.
• The Phase 2 of the challenge includes a prize of $1 million.
• Phase 1 of the Challenge ended in October 2021 and 18 teams were awarded a total of $450,000.

Ladakh wins the 9th Women's National Ice Hockey Championship-2022.

• Ladakh women's team has won the 9th National Women's Ice Hockey Championship in Himachal Pradesh on January 21, 2022.
• The championship was organised by the Ice Hockey Association of India at Kaza area in Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh from January 15 to 21, 2022.
• A total of six teams from Delhi, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Telangana and Indo-Tibetan Border Police participated in the championship.
• The present President of the Association is Dr. Surinder Mohan Bali.

29 Children Awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2022.

• The Prime Minister's National Children's Award (PMRBP) for the year 2022 has been conferred on 29 children.
• These winners include 15 boys and 14 girls from 21 states and union territories.
• The PMRBP award is given by the Government of India to children with exceptional abilities and outstanding achievements in 6 categories.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000/-.
• Category wise distribution of awards is given below:
• Innovation: 7
• Social Service: 4
• Scholastic: 1
• Sports: 8
• Art & Culture: 6
• Bravery: 3

Swiggy turns decacorn with valuation of $10.7 billion.

• Swiggy (food-ordering and instant grocery delivery platform) has signed a $700 million funding round led by asset manager Invesco.
• Two people familiar with the details of the deal said the latest capital infusion has nearly doubled Swiggy's valuation to $10.7 billion, making it a decagon.
• A Decacorn is a moniker for startups worth more than $10 billion.
• The company was earlier valued at $5.5 billion.

Indian military awards contract to Swedish Defence Company "Saab" for supply of AT4 anti-tank weapons.

• The Indian armed forces have signed a contract with the Swedish defence company Saab for the supply of single-shot anti-armour weapon AT4.
• Saab was selected through a competitive program for the supply of the AT4CS AST weapon, which will be used by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
• The AT4CS AST is a lightweight and fully disposable weapon.
• It can be fired from confined spaces such as from inside buildings, bunkers and other urban environments.
• The weight of AT4CS AST is around 9 kg with an effective range of 200m.