Current affairs 26 January 2023

RV Prassad honoured the most distinguished scientist of the year award 2022.

• Renowned scientist, R Vishnu Prassad was honoured with the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022 award at Indian Achievers Award ceremony held in Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi.
• The award recognized individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields, including culture, science, sports, and innovation.
• He contributed to smart cities, solid waste management, large-scale water treatment, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

NASA to test nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2027.

• NASA and DARPA (US military's research and development agency) will join hands to develop nuclear-powered rockets that could fly astronauts to Mars.
• This mission could allow spacecraft to travel faster, reduce transit time, and have other benefits.
• US Space agency could develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027.
• NASA also believes that they could be ready to send humans to Mars by the late 2030s.
• NASA Administrator: Bill Nelson

Tata Trusts appoints Siddharth Sharma as new CEO.

• Tata Trusts (Charitable Foundation) confirmed the appointment of Siddharth Sharma as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Aparna Uppaluri as the Trust's Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Their appointment will come into effect from 1 April 2023.
• Siddharth Sharma will succeed N Srinath, who stepped down from the CEO's post in 2022.
• Tata Trusts has created the COO post for the first time.
• Aparna Uppaluri is currently serving as the programme director at the Ford Foundation.

India becomes No.1 ODI team in cricket.

• Indian men's cricket team has become the No. 1 team in the ICC ODI rankings after defeating New Zealand by 90 runs in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• India won the first match by 12 runs in Hyderabad and the second match by 8 wickets in Raipur.
• This was India’s second consecutive clean sweep after defeating Sri Lanka last week.
• At present, England with 113 ratings placed second, followed by Australia (112), New Zealand (111), Pakistan (106), and South Africa (100).

PepsiCo and CARE introduce $18-million global programme in India.

• PepsiCo Foundation and CARE launched a programme She Feeds the World.
• It is a USD 18.2-million global agriculture-focused women empowerment programme in India.
• It commenced from two districts in North Bengal of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh could be the next state.
• The PepsiCo Foundation invested USD 18.2 million to scale CARE's She Feeds the World initiative in six countries.
• President, PepsiCo India: Ahmed ElSheikh