General Bipin Rawat takes over as next Chief of Army Staff 



Among Important National Current Affairs, General Bipin Rawat took charge as the new 27th Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of India.
However, he succeeds General Dalbir Singh Suhag who retired from the service.
He had also superseded two senior most Lt Generals, Praveen Bakshi and PM Hariz. Also his appointment goes against the long-held convention of appointing the senior-most eligible officer to the topmost post.


Lionel Messi  becomes world's best playmaker for 2016 

January2


Among Important Sports Current Affairs, Lionel Messi has been voted the best playmaker in the world for 2016.
However, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) the Argentine has collected total 172 points, four more than last year, finishing ahead of Andres Iniesta, second in the ranking with 66 points and Toni Kross, third with 45 points.


India, Pakistan has exchanged lists of nuclear sites 




Among Important National Current Affairs, India and Pakistan has exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations.
However, this is the 26th consecutive exchange of such list, which held between the two countries after the first list was exchanged on 1st January, 1992.
Also, this exchange is done every year on 1st of January between them, with an aim to prevent them from attacking each other’s nuclear facilities.
Though, both countries have also exchanged the lists of nationals (including civil prisoners and fishermen) of each country lodged in their respective jails as per provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access.


Somdev Devvarman has announced his retirement from tennis 



Among Important Sports Current Affairs, on 1st January 2016 Counter-puncher Somdev Devvarman at the age of 31 announced his retirement from tennis.
He has represented India in the Davis Cup in 14 ties with 14 wins and 10 defeats in singles.
Also, Somdev reached a career-high rank of 62 in July 2011. He ended runner-up in ATP 250 events in Chennai (2009) and Johannesburg (2011) and those were his best results in his career apart from many wins on the Challenger circuit.



Journalist says Titanic tragedy caused by - Fire



Among Important International Current Affairs, as we all know that the Titanic tragically sank more than 100 years ago, the world has believed it was because of a rogue iceberg — but according to a journalist, it has now emerged that the gigantic ocean liner could have been brought down by a fire.
This journalist has spent 30 years researching on the disaster, believes that it was fire, not the ice that sealed the liner’s fate.