Why in news?

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated a heliport, constructed at a cost of Rs 18 crore, near the Sanjauli-Dhalli bypass.
• The Centre has provided Rs 12.13 crore for the construction of this project under the Himalayan Circuit of the Swadesh Darshan programme and Rs 6 crore under UDAN-2.
• Heliports are also being constructed at Baddi, Rampur and Mandi under the Udaan-2 scheme of Government of India.
• The state government will soon send a proposal for construction of new heliports at Reckong Peo, Chamba, Dalhousie, Jhanjeli, Jawalaji etc to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to give a fillip to tourism activities in these areas.

Why in news?

• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform to continue to develop the Kenya Transmission Project on a public-private partnership basis.

About the project

• The project entails the development, financing, construction, and operation of the 400kV Lessos – Loosuk and 220kV Kisumu – Musaga transmission lines under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework. Once completed, the project will be the first Independent Power Transmission (IPT) in Kenya and will set a reference point in Africa as the first financing of transmission lines on a PPP basis. This Project will also improve both the supply and reliability of power transmission in Western Kenya and further create a demonstration effect to help increase private sector investments into the expansion of Africa’s power transmission networks, which is critical to bridging the continent’s electricity access gap.
• In this development partnership, POWERGRID, one of the world’s leading electric transmission utility companies will provide technical and operational know-how to the project, while Africa50 will bring its project development and finance expertise and will act as a bridge between the Kenyan government and private investors.
• The signing of this agreement underscores POWERGRID and Africa50’s commitment to continue to dedicate resources to accelerate development activities on the project until financial close.

Why in news?

• London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners has released the Henley Passport Index for the year 2022, based on exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

About the report

• According to the latest report, even as the world continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan and Singapore top the list of being the most powerful passport in the world for the year 2022. The visa-free score of both these countries is at 192.
• Afghanistan (rank 111) and Iraq (rank 110) continue to be in the ‘worst passports to hold’ category having a visa-free score of 26 and 28 respectively.
• According to the report, Japanese citizens can travel to as many as 192 countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival access destinations around the world. Singapore is tied in the first place (with a score of 192) and South Korea ties with Germany in second place (with a score of 190).
• Countries like Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain are tied at the third position with regard to the most powerful passports in the world with a visa-free score of 189.
• India has improved it ranks and is currently placed at 83rd position from the earlier 90th position in the most powerful passport report with a visa-free score of 60.
• USA and the United Kingdom have risen one ranking to be placed at sixth position.
• India has improved it ranks and is currently placed at 83rd in the most powerful passport report with a visa-free score of 60.

Why in news?

• The US Mint has begun shipping the first coins with Maya Angelou’s likeness on the American quarter, a 25-cent piece. She is the first Black woman to appear on a US coin.

About Poet Maya Angelou

• Angelou, author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” will also be the first figure commemorated through the American Women Quarters Program, which was signed into law in January 2021.
• Each 2022 quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of accomplishments being celebrated throughout this historic coin program. Maya Angelou, featured on the reverse of this first coin in the series, used words to inspire and uplift.

Why in news?

• An extended range sea-to-sea variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired by India from the Indian Navy’s newly commissioned INS Visakhapatnam recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation said.

About sea-to-sea variant of the BrahMos

• BrahMos, deployed by the Navy on its warships first in 2005, has the capability to hit sea-based targets beyond radar horizon.
• Advanced sea to sea variant of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missile was tested from INS Visakhapatnam recently. Missile hit the designated target ship precisely.
• The Navy too said the launch was an achievement. Successful test-firing of the extended-range BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missile from INS Visakhapatnam, Indian Navy’s newest indigenously-built guided missile destroyer, represents a twin achievement: Certifies the accuracy of the ship’s combat system and armament complex. Validates a new capability the missile provides the Navy and the Nation.

Why in news?

• First Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Workshop on Developing Regional Cyber Security Capabilities recently took place

About the conclave

• The first Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Workshop on “Developing Regional Cyber Security Capabilities on Defensive operations, Deep/Dark Web handling and Digital Forensics” was hosted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Government of India in association with National Forensics Science University, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and the Secretariat of the Colombo Security Conclave, over two days on 10-11 January 2022.
• Delegates from Member and Observer States of the of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) including Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Bangladesh participated in the workshop.

Why in news?

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently successfully flight tested the final deliverable configuration of the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).

About Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile

• The indigenously developed anti-tank missile is a low weight, ‘fire and forget’ missile and is launched from a man portable launcher, integrated with thermal sight.
• During the test, which was conducted at a range in Southern India, the missile impacted the designated target with precision and destroyed it. The final impact event was captured on camera. The purpose of this particular test was to prove the consistent performance for the missile system at its minimum range.

Why in news?

• The satellite centre is one of the biggest projects to come up in Una district. It will involve an investment of Rs 450 crore—Rs 283 crore to be spent on buildings, and the remaining on equipment for the centre.
• The construction of the PGI satellite centre in Una district is expected to start in April. The PGI, Chandigarh, is in the process of finalising the drawings of the building of the satellite centre.

Why in news?

• With an about 4-km ropeway connecting Jabli with Kasauli in Solan district of Himachal getting an all-clear from the authorities concerned, tourists as well as locals can hope of traversing between the two points in a mere 20 minutes.
• The eco-friendly transportation mode will have the twin advantage of easing traffic snarls as well as saving fuel to promote cleaner environment.
• It will also provide speedier access to Kasauli, the world-famous town frequented by 5,000 to 7,500 tourists on a daily basis during peak season. The project is to be completed at a cost of Rs 206 crore.
• The Ropeways and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation (RTDC), which is executing the project, has prepared a preliminary report and tenders are likely to be floated shortly.
• “Its lower terminal point will be situated at Mohal Bhat ka Gaon at Jabli on the Parwanoo-Dharampur section of National Highway-5. The upper terminal point has been identified near the Public Works Department Circuit House in Kasauli,” he said.

Why in news?

• Fourteen-year-old Bharath Subramaniyam recently became India’s 73rd chess Grandmaster, after completing his third and final GM norm at Vergani Cup Open in Italy.

About Bharath Subramaniyam

• Subramaniyam scored 6.5 points from nine rounds along with four others to finish seventh overall in the event. He secured his third GM norm here and also touched the requisite 2,500 (Elo) mark.
• Notably, to become a GM, a player has to secure three GM norms and cross the live rating of 2,500 Elo points.
• The All-India Chess Federation (AICF) also congratulated the teenager on his fe