January 2025

 

National

•Global Blue Flag Certification to Kappad and Chal Beaches  - Kerala's famous Kappad Beach in Kozhikode and Chal Beach in Kannur  have been awarded  the prestigious Blue Flag Certification by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for meeting stringent environmental and safety standards.  

• National Turmeric Board - Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the National Turmeric Board (NTB) in New Delhi on January 14, 2025, which  will be headquartered in  Nizamabad (Telangana) with Palle Ganga Reddy as its first Chairperson.

• 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, 2025 - The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha  on January 8-10, 2025. It  was the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention to be held in eastern India. The Young Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held on 8 January 2025. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, 2025 was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 9 January 2025.

The theme of this year is "Contribution of Overseas Indians to Developed India". The Chief Guest of this conference was Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangalu, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs. It is organised in various cities to showcase the diversity and progress of different regions of India.    

• Rural India Festival, 2025 - Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rural India Festival 2025  at Bharat Mandapam, New  Delhi. The festival will be held from 4th to 9th January. Its theme is ' Building an Inclusive Rural India for Developed India 2047' and the motto  is “Gaon Badhe, Toh Desh Badhe”.   

• Ken-Betwa River Linking National Project - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25th December, on the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee,  laid the foundation stone of the country's first ambitious and multipurpose Ken-Betwa National River Linking Project in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. This is the country's first river linking project under the National Perspective Plan. This project  will provide irrigation facilities in many districts of Madhya Pradesh and  Uttar Pradesh.

• First tagging of Ganges river dolphin in India -  Ganges river dolphin was tagged for the first time in India on  18 December 2024 in Assam. The aim of this tagging was to create better strategies for the conservation of Ganges river dolphin. This tagging provided more information about the habitat requirements of Ganges river dolphins, their migration patterns, and their distribution area. The Ganges River Dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as an 'endangered' species.

• Kisan Kavach -  Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh unveiled India's first anti-pesticide bodysuit  Kisan Kavach, designed to protect farmers from the harmful effects of pesticides. The suit features advanced fabric technology that deactivates harmful pesticides on contact. Developed by BRIC-inStem in Bangalore in collaboration with Sepio Health Pvt Ltd, the Kisan Kavach safety cover consists of a full-body suit, mask, headshield and gloves, providing comprehensive protection.

• 22nd Divya Kala Mela, 2024 - The 22nd Divya Kala Mela was organized in New Delhi under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its theme is 'Empowered Divyangjan'. The objective of this fair is to promote the talent and entrepreneurship of Divyang craftsmen and entrepreneurs. 

• 10th International Herbal Fair, 2024 - 10th International Herbal Fair, 2024 was organized  in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Its main theme  is  "Women Empowerment through Minor Forest Produce" 

• Country with the third largest metro rail network in the world -  After China and America, India has become the country with the third largest metro rail network in the world. Metro rail network in India has increased to 1000 km. Metro rail network is spread across 11 states and 23 cities of the country.  

• Nanaji Deshmukh Park -  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath  laid the foundation stone of Nanaji Deshmukh Park located in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Nagar Colony of Gorakhpur. After laying the foundation stone of the park amid Vedic chanting, the Chief Minister also planted a Rudraksha plant. This park will be developed in an area of ​​1800 square meters.

• Country's first 'Coastal Aquatic Bird Census'- India's first Coastal Aquatic Bird Census was conducted in Jamnagar, Gujarat between January 3 and 5, 2025.  The census was conducted in the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary. The purpose of this census was to collect information about the number of birds and their habitat in the coastal areas of the state. This census covered 170 km of coastline from Okha to Navlakhi.

• India's first zero-waste airport- Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in  Indore, Madhya Pradesh  is India's first zero-waste airport. The zero-waste project at this airport is based on the 4R principle. The 4R principle means - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Restore.     

• First border solar village -  Masali village in Banaskantha district of Gujarat is the country's first border solar village. This village is just 40 kilometers away from the Pakistan border. Solar panels have been installed in this village under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme.  

• First 'Udaan Yatri Café' - The Ministry of Civil Aviation has opened the first 'Udaan Yatri Café' in India as a pilot project  at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport . The aim of this café is to provide catering to passengers at reasonable prices. This is a pilot project, which will be implemented at other airports as well if it is successful.

• Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan App-  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh  announced the launch of Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan App on Army Day on January 15 to promote a new concept called 'war tourism'. The initiative, a collaboration between the Indian Army and the Ministry of Tourism, aims to transform historical battle sites and border areas into tourist destinations.    

• Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple - Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sri Sri Radha-Madanmohanji Temple built by the efforts of ISKCON in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai on January 15, 2025. It is the second largest temple in the world.   

• New name of 'Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration' (HIPA) - The Himachal Pradesh government on 9 January 2025 approved renaming the state's renowned institute 'Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration' (HIPA) after former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The decision was taken in a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.   

• Indian Army celebrates 77th Army Day in Pune- The Indian Army celebrated its 77th Army Day at the Bombay Engineers Group and Centre Parade Ground in Pune, Maharashtra on January 15, 2025. This is the third occasion when the Army Day parade was held outside Delhi. For the Southern Command, this is the second time the parade has been organised under its aegis.

• First State to adopt ‘Tavarit’ digital initiative – On January 19, 2025, Supreme Court Judge Justice Abhay S. Oak launched “e-Jyoti Journal” and a digital initiative called “Tavarit”. It was launched  in the two-day Chief District and Session Judge Conference organized by Madhya Pradesh State Judicial Academy in Jabalpur. The status of summons and warrants can also be tracked online through Tatkaal.

• Entity Locker-  National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has developed a modern digital platform called Entity Locker. The Government of India has introduced Entity Locker for organizations and companies to manage government documents and store them on a secure, cloud-based platform. Entity Locker can be used by any organization registered in India.

• Three new flights launched in Manipur-  Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu along with Chief Minister of Manipur Shri N. Biren Singh flagged off Alliance Air flights on three routes including two new routes. Alliance Air will now add new routes from Imphal to Kolkata and then Kolkata to Imphal, Imphal to Guwahati and then Imphal to Dimapur and then Dimapur to Imphal .

• Impact Factbook, India Startup Challenge– On January 16, 2025, Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Impact Factbook (Empowering a Resilient and Agile India for the Growth of Visionary Startups) and India Startup Challenge on the 9th Foundation Day of Startup India in New Delhi. The Impact Factbook is a comprehensive guide to the growth journey of India's startup ecosystem, charting the evolution of the sector from 2016-2024. The Factbook provides insights into the success of Startup India's mission, its challenges and achievements. The India Startup Challenge aims to bring forth 75 challenges across various sectors. In this challenge, 20 industry leaders and innovators will come together to invite thinkers to come up with solutions to business problems.

• Kochi Dialogue 2025 -  The inaugural edition of Kochi Dialogue 2025 is being held  on 16-17 January 2025 in Kochi city of Kerala. This is the first of its kind Track 1.5 dialogue to be held in Kerala, aimed at strengthening ties between India and Gulf countries. The theme  of the inaugural edition of this dialogue is "Effectiveness of India's Look West Policy: People, Prosperity and Progress".

• India Cleantech Manufacturing Platform-  Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced the launch of 'India Cleantech Manufacturing Platform'. The platform will focus on bringing together stakeholders from policy, industry, finance and research to promote clean tech manufacturing in sectors such as solar, wind, hydrogen and battery storage in the country. 

• Archaeological Experiential Museum - The Union Ministry of Culture and the Government of Gujarat  inaugurated a state-of-the-art Museum and Archaeological Interpretation Centre in Vadnagar. The event was presided over by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah.  

• Installation of solar roof top plants in government buildings of Madhya Pradesh -  PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme in Madhya Pradesh will now be applicable for government buildings as well. Solar roof top plants will be installed in it. This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.

• Chief Minister Fisherman Prosperity Scheme-  On January 15, 2025,  the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has decided to continue the “Chief Minister Fisherman Prosperity Scheme” for the next 2 years (year 2024-25 and year 2025-26).

• Garib Kalyan Mission- On January 15, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved the implementation of 'Garib Kalyan Mission'. Under this mission, an ambitious target has been set to make the state poverty free by the year 2028. The objective of the mission is to economically uplift the poor and deprived sections of the state and bring their income to the minimum income level. 

• Mission Mausam - Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Mission Mausam' on 14th January 2025 on the occasion of the 150th Foundation Day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi with the aim of making the country a “weather-ready” and “climate-smart” nation.   

• Conference on Future of Jobs, 2025 - Conference on Future of Jobs was held  in New Delhi on January 15, 2025. The theme  was “Shaping the workforce of the future: Driving growth in a dynamic world”. It was organized by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

• Developed India Young Leaders Dialogue, 2025 - Department of Youth Affairs, led by Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya is organizing the Developed India Young Leaders Dialogue from 10-12 January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It aims to provide a unique platform to the youth to present innovative solutions for a developed India.  

•On January 8, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development works worth over Rs 2 lakh crore in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

• International Seminar on 'Interpreter Education and Research: Perspectives from the United States, Canada and India', 2025 - Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi in collaboration with Linguistic Empowerment Cell (LEC) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) organised International Seminar on 'Interpreter Education and Research: Perspectives from the United States, Canada and India'. International Seminar on 'Interpreter Education and Research' was  held at JNU New Delhi.

• Defence Ministry declares 2025 as the Year of Reforms - The Ministry of Defence has decided to observe 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms' to accelerate ongoing and future reforms. The aim is to transform the armed forces into a technologically advanced combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations.  

• EMPOWER BIZ – FLYING OF DREAMS – NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) under its Award to Reward (ATR) programme launched EMPOWER BIZ – FLYING OF DREAMS in partnership with New Shop, India’s largest 24/7 convenience retail chain. The initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills and resources required to succeed in the organised retail sector.

• Chief Minister's Yuva Annadoot Yojana-  Madhya Pradesh government has started the Chief Minister's Yuva Annadoot Yojana to provide employment to the youth. Under this scheme, unemployed youth will be given the job of delivering ration to ration shops.

• Official Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait - At the invitation of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of India His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Kuwait on 21-22 December 2024. This was his first visit to Kuwait. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait on 21 December 2024 as the 'Guest of Honour' of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.  Prime Minister Modi's visit to Kuwait is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years since Indira Gandhi's visit in 1981.

• Annual Groundwater Quality Report, 2024 - Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil has released the Annual Groundwater Quality Report for the entire country for the year 2024. The groundwater quality assessment was carried out by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB). This report is the first to adopt a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for groundwater quality monitoring, ensuring uniformity in data collection, analysis and interpretation. More than 81 percent of groundwater samples meet safe limits for irrigation, but local issues of high sodium content and RSC values ​​require targeted interventions.

100% of groundwater samples in the north-eastern states are in the excellent category for irrigation. According to this report, the level of groundwater extraction in India is 60.4%. In the report, groundwater samples have been found to be within safe limits for irrigation. Some of the highlights of this report are:

According to the report, nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, and uranium pollution in groundwater is increasing in India Nitrate pollution is highest in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Uranium pollution is a problem in Rajasthan and Punjab. Fluoride pollution is a problem in Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Arsenic pollution is a problem in the floodplains of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. Sodium absorption ratio (SAR) is very high in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh .

• India State of Forest Report, 2023- Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Bhupendra Yadav released the 'India State of Forest Report 2023' at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. It is noteworthy that the India State of Forest Report is being published by the Indian Forest Survey on a biennial basis since 1987. India State of Forest Report 2023 is the 18th report of this series.    

The forest and tree cover of the country  is 8,27,367 sq. km. which is 25.17 percent of the geographical area of ​​the country   , of which 7,15,343 sq. km. (21.76 percent) is covered by vegetation and 1,12,014 sq. km. (3.41 percent) is covered by trees.  

Compared to the year 2021, the country's forest and tree cover has increased by 1445 sq km, which includes an increase of 156 sq km in forest cover and 1289 sq km in tree cover.  

 The top four states showing maximum increase in forest and tree cover are Chhattisgarh (684 sq. km), Uttar Pradesh (559 sq. km), Odisha (559 sq. km) and Rajasthan (394 sq. km).     

 The top three states showing maximum increase in forest cover are Mizoram  (242 sq km), Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km).   

The top three states the highest forest and tree cover in terms of area are Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq. km), Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq. km) and Maharashtra (65,383 sq. km).     

The top three states maximum forest cover in terms of area are Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km) and  Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km).     

 In terms of percentage of forest cover in relation to total geographical area, Lakshadweep (91.33 per cent) has the highest forest cover, followed by Mizoram (85.34 per cent) and  Andaman and Nicobar Islands (81.62 per cent).     

Current assessments also reveal that 19 states/union territories have more than 33 per cent of their geographical area under forest cover. Of these, eight states/union territories, namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur have more than 75 per cent forest cover.     

The total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq. km.

The total endowment of trees in India's forests and non-forest areas has been estimated at 6430 million cubic metres, of which 4479 million cubic metres are within forests and 1951 million cubic metres outside forest areas. The total endowment has increased by 262 million cubic metres as compared to the previous assessment, of which 91 million cubic metres are within forests and 171 million cubic metres are outside forest areas.  

 The extent of bamboo holding area in the country  has been estimated at 1,54,670 square kilometers. There has been an increase of 5,227 square kilometers in the bamboo area as compared to the last assessment done in the year 2021.

The total annual potential production of industrial timber from external forest trees has been estimated at 91.51 million cubic metres.

In the current assessment, the total carbon stock in the country's forests has been estimated at 7,285.5 million tonnes. Compared to the previous assessment, the country's carbon stock has increased by 81.5 million tonnes.

Regarding achievement of NDC targets, current assessment shows that India's carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent , which indicates that compared to the base year of 2005, India has already reached an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes, while the target is to achieve 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.           

• 23rd Meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China - The 23rd Meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China, Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor of India and Mr. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Foreign Minister, was held on 18 December 2024 in Beijing.

• First wine production unit in Uttarakhand - The Uttarakhand government  inaugurated its first wine production unit in Kotdwar, a significant step towards promoting wine tourism under the state's new excise policy.   

• Atal Gram Sushasan Bhawan- On the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Modi has also laid the foundation stone of 1153 Atal Gram Sushasan Bhawans in Madhya Pradesh on December 25, 2024.

• Climate Smart Agri-Textiles Demonstration Centre - Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with  Synthetic and Art Silk Mills Research Association (SASMIRA) inaugurated Climate Smart Agri-Textiles Demonstration Centre at Navsari, Gujarat in the presence of Shri CR Patil, Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of India.  

• India's first bio-bitumen based national highway section - Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated India's first bio-bitumen-based national highway section. Located on NH-44 at Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, this highway is an important milestone in sustainable road infrastructure.

•Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the launch of a “cashless treatment” scheme to provide financial assistance to road accident victims  . Under the scheme, the government will cover treatment expenses up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days, provided the police are informed about the accident within 24 hours.

• 'Vikasit Panchayat Karmayogi' Initiative - Union Minister of State for Science & Technology (Independent Charge), Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the 'Vikasit Panchayat Karmayogi' Initiative. It aims to enhance the capacity and capability of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by equipping elected representatives and officials with necessary tools and knowledge for effective governance and participatory planning.

• The World Bank has approved a $325.10 million (about Rs 2,737 crore) project to boost agriculture sector in Uttar Pradesh. 

• Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages - Union Home Minister Amit Shah released a book titled 'Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages' in New Delhi on 2 January 2025. The book presents the history of three thousand years of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh in seven volumes. 

• 'Eklavya' Online Digital Platform - Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi launched an online learning platform for the Indian Army, named " Eklavya".

• Kumbhavani channel and Kumbh Mangal sound - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a dedicated All India Radio (AIR) channel, Kumbhavani, and a special programme Kumbh Mangal sound in Prayagraj. These initiatives have been specially designed for the Maha Kumbh Mela.

•Established on January 4, 1985, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) will celebrate its 40th Foundation Day on January 4, 2025 in New Delhi . 

• 'Rashtraparv' website and mobile app - Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh launched the 'Rashtraparv'  website and mobile app. The website will provide information related to the organisation of events like Republic Day and Independence Day along with their live telecast and details related to tickets and seating arrangements.

• Moto Woman– “Moto Woman” is an exclusive bike taxi service launched by Uber India  for women in Bengaluru, connecting female riders with female drivers to ensure safety and convenience during their ride.  

• India's first child cancer hospital-  The country's first child cancer hospital is going to be built in Phulwari Sharif, Patna, Bihar. The hospital run by the Mahavir Mandir Trust Committee will have 100 beds. Children suffering from cancer will be treated free of cost in this hospital.

• Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will be held in Bihar in March 2025. This competition will be held  in Rajgir. Bihar will host this prestigious international competition for the second time after the year 2012.

 

 

International

• World's largest dam - China  approved the construction of the world's largest dam in Tibet. This dam   will be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River. This river is known as Brahmaputra in India. The dam will be three times larger than the world's current largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam. The dam will produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. The dam is estimated to cost more than one trillion yuan ($137 billion) to build.

•On January 14, 2025, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that bans transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The bill defines "gender" as based on innate biological and genetic characteristics.

• INTERSEC-2025 - INTERSEC-2025, the world's leading trade fair for safety, security and fire prevention,  was held from 14th to 16th January 2025 at the World Trade Centre, Dubai. 

• Agreement with Hamas for ceasefire in Gaza approved - On January 17, 2025, Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet approved an agreement with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza after more than 460 days of war.

• Inauguration of electricity transmission from Nepal to Bangladesh - Nepal will begin exporting electricity to Bangladesh using India's power grid for the first time on November 15, 2024. India has facilitated the first trilateral power transaction, allowing Nepal to export up to 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through the Indian grid.

• Iraq launches national census- Iraq launched its first nationwide population census in decades. Iraq is conducting its first nationwide census since 1987, which was held during the reign of Saddam Hussein.

• World's longest expressway tunnel- The world's longest expressway tunnel is the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel built in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region . This tunnel passes through the Tianshan Mountains. This tunnel is at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level.  This paved the way for the opening of a new shortcut connecting the southern and northern parts of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The 22.13 kilometer-long tunnel, "Shengli", which means "victory" in Chinese, will reduce the time to drive through the central part of the Tianshan Mountains from several hours to about 20 minutes once it is operational.

• India ranks second in terms of cyber attacks- India has reached the second place in the world in terms of cyber attacks. Cyber ​​intelligence firm CloudSEK gave this information in a report. According to the report, the US was the most targeted country with 140 attacks due to its economic dominance and digital infrastructure. Israel was in third place with 57 cyber attacks.

• Emergency declared in Ecuador- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a 60-day state of emergency in seven provinces and three municipalities amid growing internal unrest and armed conflict.

• Announcement of closure of Hindenburg Research- Hindenburg Research founder Nathan Anderson announced the closure of the research firm in January 2025.

• US lifts sanctions on three Indian installations - According to the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the United States has lifted a 20-year-long ban on three major Indian nuclear entities. These include Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and Indian Rare Earth (IRE).

• Talks on nuclear issue between Iran and three European countries- Talks on nuclear issue between Iran and European countries took place in January 2025. Iran, France, Britain and Germany participated in this dialogue. The purpose of this dialogue was to remove sanctions and discuss Iran's nuclear program. 

• Massive fire in the forests of Los Angeles- At least 27 people have died and more than 12,300 houses have been burnt to ashes in the massive fire that raged in the Los Angeles area of ​​Southern California, USA, in more than a week. 

• Plane crash in South Korea- A Jeju Air plane crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea due to a landing gear failure, killing 179 people. Only 2 people survived the accident. The plane was returning from Bangkok and had 181 people on board. Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 plane crashed while landing on the runway.

• Russia is the country to implement new tourist tax - Russia has implemented a new tourist tax  from January 1, 2025.  This tax has been imposed in place of resort fee. Under this, tourists staying in hotels and other places will have to pay an additional one percent of the cost of stay. The Russian Tax Code was amended in July 2024. Under this amendment, a new chapter was added called the Tourist Tax. The rate of this tax will be one percent in 2025 and will gradually increase to three percent by 2027. This tax is planned to strengthen the regional tourism infrastructure.

In addition, Indonesia and Portugal have also imposed taxes on tourists.

• Bulgaria and Romania join the EU's Schengen Area- Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU's Schengen Area on January 1, 2025. Prior to this, both of these countries had partial membership of the Schengen Area.  After joining the Schengen area, both these countries removed checks on people at internal land borders. This has made movement and travel easier across Europe.

• Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty - Zimbabwe officially abolished the death penalty on December 31. President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the law.

• Chashma Nuclear Power Plant - Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has received a license to build Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) . This plant will be Pakistan's largest nuclear power plant. This plant will generate 1,200 megawatts of electricity. This plant will be built to the design of Chinese company Hualong.  

• First India-Liberia Foreign Office Consultations held – The first round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Liberia  was held on 17 December 2024 in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. 

• Federal emergency declared due to oil spill in Black Sea - Russia declared a federal emergency due to an oil spill in the Black Sea . The spill was caused by two Russian tankers that were hit by a storm on December 15, 2024. The spill caused severe damage to the marine and coastal ecosystem.

• Visa-free travel to Sri Lanka- The Sri Lankan government has announced visa-free entry to the island nation for six months for citizens of 35 countries, including India, the UK and the US.

• Time Person of the Year, 2024 - Time magazine has named US President-elect Donald Trump  as the 2024 'Person of the Year', the second time he has received this honor. Trump had earlier received this honor in 2016. Last year, the 2023 'Person of the Year' was given to pop icon Taylor Swift.

• 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, 2024 - Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Grenada Mr Dickon Mitchell, currently Chair of CARICOM, will co-chair the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana on  20 November 2024. The first India-CARICOM Summit was held in New York in 2019.         

•The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) took place from 2 to 13 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29), 2024 - The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29) is scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November 2024. This conference is also known as the Conference of the Parties (COP).  

With a key focus on climate finance, COP-29 brought together nearly 200 countries in Baku, Azerbaijan and reached a significant agreement on:

(i) tripling funding to developing countries, 

(ii) increasing the target from the previous US$100 billion per year to US$300 billion per year by 2035,

(iii) To ensure efforts to work together with all stakeholders to increase financing to developing countries from public and private sources to US$1.3 trillion per year by 2035.

• Mount Semeru – Mount Semeru volcano located in East Java, Indonesia recently erupted.

• Mount Ibu – Mount Ibu volcano, located on Halmahera Island in eastern Indonesia, erupted on January 11, 2025. 

• The CR450 prototype in China   , which achieved a speed of 450 kilometres per hour during testing, is the world's fastest high-speed train, even faster than the CR400 Fuxing high-speed rail (HSR) currently in service.

• National Bird of America - The Bald Eagle will officially be made the national bird of America  in December 2024.  This bird has been a symbol of America's power and strength for more than 240 years. President Joe Biden signed the legislation sent by Congress, giving it final approval. The bald eagle is known for its white head, yellow beak and attractive brown body.

• 105th full member to join the International Solar Alliance - Moldova officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on December 15, 2024.  It is the 105th full member country to join the International Solar Alliance.  

 

 

Economic

• Distribution of 65 lakh property cards under SVAMITVA scheme - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 18, 2025 distributed over 65 lakh property cards to rural families in over 50,000 villages across 10 states and two Union Territories through video conferencing under the Centre's SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping of Villages with Improvised Technology in Rural Areas) scheme. The main objective of the Swamitva Yojana which was launched in April 2020 is to give legal rights to their properties to the people living in villages.

• Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) for the year 2024-25– Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi announced a significant amendment in the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS(D)] Policy for the year 2024-25. The objective of this policy is to enhance food security and ensure efficient distribution of rice among various stakeholders.

Following are the important decisions taken under the revised policy:

Fixation of reserve price for rice : Reserve price of rice for sale to State Governments,State Government corporations and community kitchens has been fixed at ₹ 2,250 per quintal (pan-India),without the need to participate in e-auction  

Ethanol production support : Reserve price of rice for sale to ethanol distilleries for production of ethanol has also been fixed at ₹ 2,250 per quintal (pan-India).

• Ban on Unregulated Lending Activities (BULA) Bill - The Ban on Unregulated Lending Activities (BULA) Bill is designed to curb unregulated lending activities. The bill is based on the recommendations of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Under this bill, there is provision of punishment and penalty to stop irregular loan activities. In this bill, there is a provision of three to ten years of imprisonment and fine on those who harass the borrowers or recover the loan illegally. 

Under this bill, those involved in illegal loan business can face a jail term of two to seven years and a fine of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Under this bill, there is a provision for CBI investigation in matters related to public interest. 

• MuleHunter.AI tool launched by Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of MuleHunter.AITM, an Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) based model to prevent and mitigate digital frauds through the use of mule accounts . RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that this public infrastructure facility developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), Bengaluru will help banks to quickly address the issue of mule bank accounts and reduce digital frauds. 

• ‘Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card’ launched - ICICI Bank in association with Times Internet and Visa has introduced the ‘Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card’.

• Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme' (FTI-TTP) - Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 16, 2025 extended the 'Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme' (FTI-TTP) to seven additional airports in India. It was inaugurated at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi in June 2024. The programme aims to provide faster immigration clearance for pre-verified passengers through automated e-gates using biometric authentication. 

As part of the first phase, FTI-TTP will also be available at airports in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin and Ahmedabad. There is a plan to implement this facility at 21 major airports in the country. The program is free. Both Indian citizens and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders can enroll for it. 

• World Economic Situation and Prospects, 2025 - On January 9, 2025, the United Nations released the 'World Economic Situation and Prospects' 2025 report. According to this report, the global growth rate is estimated to be 2.8 percent in the year 2024. It is estimated to be 2.8 percent in the year 2025 and 2.9 percent in the year 2026.

The growth rate of developed economies is estimated to be 1.7 percent in the year 2024. It is estimated to be 1.6 percent in the year 2025 and 1.8 percent in 2026. The growth rate of developing economies was estimated at 4.1 percent in the year 2024. Which is estimated to be 4.3 percent in the year 2025 and 4.2 percent in the year 2026.

According to the report, India 's GDP growth rate was estimated to be 6.9 percent in the year 2024. It is estimated to be 6.6 percent in the year 2025 and 6.7 percent in the year 2026. At the same time, China 's GDP growth rate has been estimated at 4.9 percent in the year 2024. Which is estimated to be 4.8 percent in the year 2025 and 4.5 percent in the year 2026.

• Launch of 8th edition of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) – On January 9, 2025, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched the 8th edition of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). On this occasion, he said that India's organic exports are likely to reach Rs 20,000 crore in the next three years. He also unveiled TraceNet 2.0, an advanced online traceability system for seamless operations and advanced tools for regulatory oversight.

• Agreement on Trade in Non-Basmati White Rice (NBWR) - The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade in Non-Basmati White Rice between the Ministry of Cooperation of the country and the Ministry of Trade of Indonesia. This MoU has been signed for trading of one million metric tonnes of non-Basmati white rice annually based on production and international prices.The term of the agreement will be four years and will automatically extend for an additional four years.

• Approval of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme - On January 1, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme till the year 2025-26. The total budget of these schemes is Rs 69,515.71 crore. The objective of this decision is to provide risk coverage to farmers against natural disasters.

• SAIL awarded 'Great Place to Work' status for the second time - Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has received the prestigious 'Great Place to Work' certification by the Great Place to Work Institute, India, for the period January 2025 to January 2026. This is the second consecutive certification for SAIL, earlier it was awarded for the period December 2023 to December 2024.

The Great Place to Work Institute is a global organization that recognizes employers who create excellent employee experience through a rigorous assessment process. SAIL achieved the certification following a comprehensive survey conducted by the Institute based on direct feedback from SAIL employees.

• Highest Coal Production in 2023-24 –  As per the year-end review of the Ministry of Coal, India recorded its highest ever coal production of 997.826 million tonnes (MT) in the financial year 2023-24, registering a growth of 11.71 per cent over the corresponding figure of 893.191 MT in the year 2022-23. 

• The Haryana government has approved the purchase of 24 crops from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP). With this, Haryana has become the first state in the country to purchase 24 crops at MSP in the interest of farmers. This is a historic step of the Haryana government under the leadership of Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini in the interest of the farmers.    

• E-auction portal 'Banknet' - Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance  launched the revamped e-auction portal 'Banknet' in New Delhi. On this portal, all government banks will provide complete information about flats, houses, land, vehicles, machinery, plants. By visiting the portal, any person can take information about all the properties to be auctioned and participate in it. This portal provides all the information at one place for buyers and investors.

• One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme– The Central Government has launched the “One Nation One Subscription” (ONOS) scheme for students on January 1, 2025. The initiative aims to break the barriers to knowledge by providing access to international scholarly journals and articles to all students, teachers, researchers and scientists of the Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and R&D Centres of the Central Government in the country. 

It aims to ensure that India's academic and research community is equipped with the best global resources, foster innovation and enhance the quality of research across various disciplines. The ONOS scheme is the cornerstone of India's ambition to become a self-reliant and developed nation by 2047. This initiative is a key component of the Developing India@2047 vision.

• List of 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, 2024 - American business magazine Forbes has released its 21st annual ranking of the 100 most powerful women in the world for the year 2024. The magazine evaluates and ranks the work of business, entertainment, politics, social service and policy makers around the world.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tops the list for the third year in a row , with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde in second place. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is third , and a new addition to the top five is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was sworn in in October and is her country's first female head of state.        

Three Indian women are named in Forbes India's 21st list, namely Nirmala Sitharaman, Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is ranked 28th in this Forbes list. Nirmala Sitharaman took over as Union Finance Minister in May 2019 and has been continuously holding this important post since then. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of Indian multinational information technology (IT) company HCL Technologies and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HCL Corporation, has been ranked 81st in the Forbes India list of the world's most powerful women. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has been ranked 82nd in Forbes' list of the world's most powerful women. Kiran Mazumdar is the founder and chairperson of biotech company Biocon.

• World Malaria Report, 2024 – World Malaria Report, 2024 was released by the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s report provides an important, up-to-date account of efforts to control and eliminate the disease in 83 countries around the world. According to this report, the number of malaria cases globally is estimated to be 263 million in the year 2023. This is an increase of 11 million cases compared to the previous year and an increase of 58.6 cases per 1000 population at risk in the year 2022.

The disease is most prevalent in the African region, with an estimated 94% of all malaria cases worldwide estimated to occur in 2023. The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region has seen a 57% increase in incidence since 2021, rising to 17.9 cases per 1,000 population at risk in 2023. The top five countries most affected by malaria in 2023 are Nigeria (26%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (13%), Uganda (5%), Ethiopia (4%) and Mozambique (4%).

Globally, the number of deaths from malaria is estimated to be 597,000 in the year 2023. The highest mortality rate from malaria is in the African region, where an estimated 95% of malaria deaths worldwide occur. There has been a significant decline in malaria cases and related mortality in India . Accordingly, by the year 2024, India will officially move out of the High Risk High Impact (HBHI) group of malaria-endemic countries.

• Meta fined 251 million euros- The European Union 's privacy watchdog fined Facebook-owner Meta 251 million euros following an investigation into a 2018 data breach at the social media platform that exposed millions of accounts. The fine came after Ireland’s Data Protection Commission concluded its investigation into the breach, when hackers gained access to user accounts by exploiting a bug in the platform’s code that allowed them to steal digital keys known as “access tokens.”

•The American newspaper Wall Street Journal has  recognized Madhya Pradesh among the top global destinations for the year 2025. This recognition reflects Madhya Pradesh's rich heritage, unique wildlife and stunning natural beauty. 

• India is the third largest smartphone exporter in the world- India is the third largest exporter of smartphones in the world. India was ranked 23rd in 2019. In November 2024, India's smartphone exports exceeded Rs 20,000 crore.   

 

 

Scientist

• Inauguration of National Institute of Mental Rehabilitation Health (NIMHR) in Madhya Pradesh - Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar  inaugurated the National Institute of Mental Rehabilitation Health (NIMHR) in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.  Established under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, this Institute is a landmark achievement in advancing mental health rehabilitation and empowering persons with disabilities across the country. Situated in an area of ​​25 acres, with state-of-the-art infrastructure, NIMHR has been built at an initial project cost of  ₹127 crore.     

• India’s first CSIR Innovation complex – Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh virtually dedicated India’s first CSIR Innovation complex in Mumbai.

• National Science Drama Festival, 2024-25 - National Science Drama Festival 2024-25, one of the flagship programmes of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM),  was organised on 18 January 2025 at  National Science Centre, New Delhi. The programme is conducted at the block, district and State/UT level in all the 28 states and 8 Union Territories of India.

• Successful launch of Pakistan’s satellite ‘PRSC-EO1’ – China successfully launched a Pakistani satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on January 17, 2025 . The satellite, named PRSC-EO1, was launched by a Long March-2D carrier rocketat 12:07 pm (Beijing time) and successfully entered its designated orbit. The rocket also carried two other satellites - 'Tianlu-1' and 'Lantan-1'.  

• Proba-3 Mission - The European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission was launched by a PSLV-C59 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.This is ISRO's 61st PSLV mission. Proba-3 will study the outermost and hottest layer of the Sun's atmosphere.  Proba-3 is an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission of the European Space Agency. It consists of 2 spacecraft, namely Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and Occulter Spacecraft (OSC).

• New giant radio galaxy discovered - South Africa's MeerKAT telescope has discovered an extraordinary new giant radio galaxy, named  Inkathazo. This galaxy is 32 times larger than our own Milky Way galaxy. The name Inkathazo is derived from the isiXhosa and isiZulu languages ​​of South Africa. It means 'trouble', 'challenge', or 'problem'.  The MeerKAT telescope is located in the Karoo region of South Africa. It is made up of 64 radio dishes. 

• Dinga Dinga Virus - Dinga-Dinga Virus (DDV) is an infectious disease that causes tremors in the body. This disease  is spread in Uganda, Africa. It is also called 'Dancing Disease'. This virus was first discovered in the year 2023. This virus spreads rapidly through mosquitoes, ticks, and human contact.  

• Partnership between Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. and Canara Bank - Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (TPREL) and Canara Bank have partnered to promote rooftop solar systems  under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana . The partnership aims to make solar energy solutions affordable and accessible for homes. Under this partnership, Canara Bank will provide affordable loans for rooftop solar systems. The aim of this scheme is to promote the adoption of clean energy and achieve India's renewable energy goals.

•On January 16, 2025, the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi has signed a contract worth around Rs 2,960 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited for the supply of Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy .

• Approval for setting up of “Third Launch Pad” – The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi  has approved the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. 

 • Bhargavastra - Bhargavastra is a multi-layer counter-drone system developed by 'Solar Group' and 'Economic Explosives Limited'. It is based on micro-missile technology, which is capable of detecting and destroying enemy drones and swarm drones. This system can also track small drones from a distance of 6 kilometers and has the capability to fire more than 64 micro-missiles simultaneously.

• Fast Patrol Vessels Amulya and Akshay-Two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) – Amulya and Akshay, indigenously designed and built for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) were launched in Goa on January 5, 2025 .     

• Nadi Tarangini: India's first indigenous Ayurvedic medical device - Indigenously developed pulse diagnosis device, Nadi Tarangini, has become India's first Ayurvedic medical device to receive approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the national regulator for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices in the country .

The device is the brainchild of Padma Bhushan awardee Professor JB Joshi, Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT) and President of the Marathi Vigyan Parishad. It has been developed by Dr Aniruddha Joshi after over six years of research at IIT Bombay. Nadi Tarangini costs ₹55,000 and the company that made it, Atreya Innovations, is based in Hinjewadi, Pune. 

• Indigenously developed “Paracetamol – While addressing the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced India’s first indigenously developed “Paracetamol” medicine. Developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), this innovation aims to make India self-reliant in paracetamol production, reducing dependence on imported raw materials. Karnataka-based Satya Deepthi Pharmaceuticals Ltd will produce affordable paracetamol using this technology.

• Establishment of Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Jammu announced - Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh announced the establishment of a Regional Meteorological Centre in Jammu to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This initiative is an important step towards strengthening meteorological services in Jammu and Kashmir, enhancing disaster preparedness and climate adaptation in the region.

• Himkavach- Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) launched a new uniform for soldiers deployed in extreme cold on Siachen and Ladakh border. It  has been named Himkavach. Himkavach is designed to work in temperatures ranging from 20°C to -60°C.

• Establishment of new observatory on Panchet Hill -  Panchet Observatory has been established on top of Panchet Hill in Purulia district of West Bengal . This observatory will help in making scientific observations of celestial bodies. This observatory is at a height of 600 meters above the ground. This observatory is located at 86 degrees east longitude. 

• Second Multipurpose Vessel 'Utkarsh'- The second of the two multipurpose vessels built by M/s L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy was launched   on 13 January 2025 at  L&T, Kattupalli, Chennai in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The ship  has been named 'Utkarsh'  which means 'Excellent Conduct'.       

• Sixth Scorpene submarine 'Vaghsheer' - The sixth submarine of the Project 75 class, Vagsheer, was handed over to the Indian Navy on 9 January 2025 after successful completion of mandatory sea trials. This submarine has been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai in collaboration with  Naval Group, France.    

• Inauguration of '5G Use Case Test Lab' - Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the 5G Use Case Test Lab at CMPDI, Ranchi to advance the digital transformation of the coal sector and facilitate development of 5G-based applications tailored for the coal industry .

• Rwanda declares end of Marburg virus outbreak – On December 20, 2024, the World Health Organization and the Rwandan government declared the Marburg fever outbreak in Rwanda over, after no new cases were reported in recent weeks.      

• Asia's Largest Shallow Wave Basin Research Facility - Asia's Largest Shallow Wave Basin Research Facility   has been commissioned by IIT Madras, which will meet the needs of Indian research and industry. It is a unique facility that can address challenging problems in Indian ports, waterways and coastal engineering. It is a multi-directional shallow wave basin that can handle complex wave and current interactions. 

• New generation assault ship 'Sichuan' -  On December 27, 2024, China launched the new generation amphibious assault ship 'Sichuan'. This ship is the first ship of the Type 076 class. This ship is named after Sichuan province in southwestern China.  It is China's largest amphibious assault ship to date. The ship is designed to deploy fighter jets and support ground troops. It has an electromagnetic catapult system, allowing fighter jets to be launched directly from the deck. The ship is more than 850 feet long and about 170 feet wide. The ship is capable of carrying helicopters and amphibious aircraft. The ship is as long as the US Navy's America-class LHA.

• Discovery of a very rare species of Molossus bat -  A rare type of bat has been seen in the country's capital Delhi. This bat of the 'Rotten Free-Tailed Bat' species has been seen in Delhi's DDA Yamuna Biodiversity Park . This species of bat is generally found only in three places in the world .  This bat of the 'Rotten Free-Tailed Bat' species is found only in the Western Ghats, Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and Cambodia. This bat of the species 'Rotten Free-tailed Bat' eats insects, which helps in controlling the insect population .  It helps in pollination .  Bats of this species are known for flying long distances.

• Contract for purchase of 9 Vajra-T self-propelled tracked artillery guns - The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs 7,629 crore with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the Indian Army . The deal is for purchase of 100 Vajra self-propelled tracked artillery guns . The army already has 100 such tanks.

• SLINEX, 2024 - SLINEX 2024 was a bilateral naval exercise held between India and  Sri Lanka. The exercise was conducted from 17 to 20 December 2024  in Visakhapatnam. The exercise was conducted under the Eastern Naval Command. The aim of this exercise was to enhance maritime cooperation between the two countries and create a safe maritime environment. INS Sumitra from India  and SLNS Sayura from Sri Lanka participated in this exercise.The exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase was the harbour phase from 17-18 December and the second phase was the sea phase from 19-20 December.  This exercise was started in the year 2005.

• Dark Eagle - The US Army has successfully tested a hypersonic long range hypersonic weapon missile known as Dark Eagle. The missile was developed by Lockheed Martin. This is an anti-missile system that will destroy enemy missiles in the air. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Spaceport in eastern Florida . It can cover a distance of up to 3,000 kilometers at a flight speed of Mach 4.9. This test demonstrated the missile's ability to exceed speeds of 3,800 mph, five times the speed of sound, and strike distant targets.

• SpaDeX Mission - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)  successfully carried out the SpaDeX docking experiment on January 16, 2025 , making India the fourth country to achieve this historic feat after the US, Russia and China. The two satellites SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) launched by PSLV C60 on December 30, 2024 got successfully docked. The SPADEX mission is a landmark project of ISRO, designed to develop and demonstrate the technology required for rendezvous, docking and undocking of spacecraft using two small satellites.

• India's first Diabetes Biobank - Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF)  has established the country's first Diabetes Biobank in Chennai, a repository of population-based biological samples aimed at aiding scientific research. 

 

 

Awards/Honours 

• Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2023 – The winners of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2023 are – Umesh Zirpe  (Lifetime Achievement),  Anshu Kumar Tiwari  (Skydiver),  Parveen Singh, Late Savita Kanswal  (her father received the award). This award is the highest adventure award in India.  It is given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is the highest national honour for outstanding achievements in the field of adventure on land, sea and air.

• Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize, 2025 - Professor Urvashi Sinha, Faculty Member of the Department of Light and Matter Physics at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), has been awarded the Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Cambridge, UK . She was given this award for her contribution to quantum computing and science.

• Gangadhar National Poetry Award, 2023 - The Gangadhar National Poetry Award for the year 2023  was given to Odia poet Pratibha Satpathy. The award was given on January 5, 2025 on the 58th Foundation Day of Sambalpur University.  

• Styajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award - Renowned director Aparna Sen was honoured with the 'Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award' by the West Bengal Film Journalists' Association (WBFJA). This award was given for his contribution to Indian cinema.  

• Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan announces Children's Literature Awards for the year 2023 - On 9 January 2025, Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan announced Children's Literature Awards for the year 2023. This year, it was announced that 9 children's literature writers will be honored.

The awards announced in various categories are as follows-

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan Women Children Literature Award- Dr. Karuna Pandey, Lucknow

Sohan Lal Dwivedi Children's Poetry Award- Dr. R.P. Saraswat, Saharanpur

Amritlal Nagar Children's Story Award - Dr. Mohammad Arshad Khan, Shahjahanpur

Student Child Painting Award - Dilip Sharma, Aligarh

Lalli Prasad Pandey Children's Literature Journalism Award - Narendra Nirmal, Gautam Buddha Nagar

Dr. Ramkumar Verma Children's Drama Award - Balram Agarwal,

Krishna Vinayak Phadke Children's Literature Review Award - Devi Prasad Gaur, Mathura

Jagpati Chaturvedi Children's Science Writing Award - Dr. Deepak Kohli, Lucknow

Umakant Malaviya Youth Children Literature Award- Anil Kumar Nilay, Pratapgarh

• 32nd Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, 2024 - Recently, famous Malayalam writer NS Madhavan was selected for the '32nd Ezhuthachan Puraskaram', 2024, the highest literary honor of the Government of Kerala. He was selected for his contribution to Malayalam literature during the last 5 decades.

• ATP Awards, 2024 – ATP Awards for the year 2024  announced. 

List of winners of the ATP Awards 2024,

Giovanni Mpetshi Pericard was named  the Most Improved Player at the 2024 ATP Awards  .

Russell was named Coach of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards. 

Mencic was named Rookie of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards. 

Jannik Sinner was named  Fans' Favorite Player of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards .

Berrettini was named Comeback of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards . 

 Dimitrov received the Sportsmanship Award at the 2024 ATP Awards . 

Indian Wells, London-Queen's Club, and Doha were named Tournament of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards .

 Joan Solsona  received the Media Excellence Award at the 2024 ATP Awards.

Bolelli and Vavassori were named Fans  Favorite Doubles Pair at the 2024 ATP Awards. 

• The Best FIFA Football Awards, 2024 - FIFA, the supreme governing body of football, honoured the award winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards, 2024. The awards ceremony  was held in Doha, Qatar.

Real Madrid and Brazil star footballer Vinicius Junior was awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player Award. Spain and Barcelona footballer Aitana Bonmatti was  awarded The Best FIFA Women's Player Award. Bonmatti has won The Best FIFA Women's Player award for the second consecutive time.  

Other awards given were as follows:

The Best FIFA Men's Coach Award - Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)

The Best FIFA Women's Coach Award - Emma Hayes (Chelsea and United States) 

The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper Award - Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)

The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award - Alyssa Naeher (United States)

The FIFA Puskas Award - Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)

The Best FIFA Fan Award - Guilherme Gandra Moura (Brazil)

FIFA Marta Award – Marta (Brazil)

FIFA Fair Play Award - Internacional Club's Thiago Maia was given this award for his efforts to help flood victims in Brazil.

• WTA Awards 2024 – The Women's Tennis Association has announced the winners of the WTA Player Awards 2024.

List of winners of the WTA Awards 2024: 

WTA Player of the Year- Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 

WTA Doubles Team of the Year- Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini (both Italy)

WTA Most Improved Player of the Year- Emma Navarro (United States)

WTA Newcomer of the Year- Lulu Sun (New Zealand)

WTA Comeback Player of the Year- Paula Badosa (Spain)

WTA JerryDiamond ACES Award-  Arina Sabalenka (Belarus) 

WTA Coach of the Year Award- Renzo Furlan (Coach of Jasmine Paolini) 

 

 

Scheme/Project

• Gyanodya Yojana – On January 21, 2025, the Jharkhand Cabinet approved the implementation of computer-based education in government middle schools under the Gyanodya Yojana. Under this scheme, computer education and computer-based education will be introduced in government middle schools between the years 2024-25 to 2029-30 at a cost of Rs 94.95 crore. On August 29, 2017, the Jharkhand Cabinet approved the 'Gyanodya Yojana' for qualitative improvement in school education.

• Health Insurance Scheme in Jharkhand - Jharkhand Cabinet has approved the much-awaited health insurance scheme for state employees and pensioners. Under this, they and their dependents will get the facility of cashless treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh per year for general diseases and Rs 10 lakh for serious diseases.

• Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme - The Department of Commerce, Government of India has launched the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme on January 21, 2025. The scheme aims to enhance the global competitiveness of India's diamond business.     

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Landless Agricultural Laborer Welfare Scheme - On January 20, 2025, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai launched the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Landless Agricultural Laborer Welfare Scheme. Under this scheme, Rs 10,000 will be given every year to those farmers of the state who do not have land.

• Odisha Government announces monthly pension for those jailed during Emergency - On January 13, 2025, the Odisha Government approved a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 and free healthcare  for those jailed during the Emergency in 1975-77. This pension will be awarded to persons imprisoned under MISA (Internal Security Act, 1971) or DIR (Defence of India Rules) or DISIR (Defence of India and Internal Security Rules) from June 26, 1975 to March 21, 1977.

The pension will be sanctioned in favour of living persons (i.e. those who were alive as on January 1, 2025), irrespective of the period of their stay in jail. These benefits will be provided for the period beginning January 1, 2025. No benefits will be provided for the period prior to January 1, 2025.

• Shaheed Madho Singh Hath Kharcha Yojana - To encourage the education of students of tribal community by providing them financial assistance, Odisha government has started Shaheed Madho Singh Hath Kharcha Yojana. The scheme aims to reduce the dropout rate among Scheduled Tribe (ST) students and increase enrolment in secondary and higher secondary education. Under the Shahid Madho Singh Hath Kharch Yojana of the Odisha government, students taking admission in class 9th and 11th are being provided a one-time financial assistance of ₹5000, which will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of the students.

• Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project - Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project is a joint project of India and Bhutan . It is being built on the Punatsangchhu River in Wangdue Phodrang District of Bhutan  . The purpose of this project is to meet the electricity needs of Bhutan and provide additional power to India. This is a run-of-the-river project. This project is fully funded by India. The project is being developed in two phases – Phase-I with a capacity to generate 1200 MW of power and Phase-II with a capacity to generate 1020 MW of power.

• Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission - On January 12, 2025, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched 'Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission' on National Youth Day.The mission aims to empower the youth of the state by providing them opportunities to enhance their skills, knowledge and overall development. The mission is dedicated to the welfare of youth from urban and rural areas, including those from economically and socially disadvantaged sections.

• PARTH Yojana – On January 8, 2025, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav launched the PARTH (PARTH- Police Army Recruitment Training & Hunar) scheme. Under this scheme, youth will be given training for recruitment in army, police and paramilitary forces. The aim of this scheme is to help the youth in getting government jobs.

• Sonamarg Tunnel Project - Prime Minister Narendra Modi  officially inaugurated the Z-Morh Tunnel in Sonamarg, Jammu and Kashmir on January 13, 2025. The Z-Morh Tunnel is located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha were present at the inauguration ceremony. The 6.5-km-long Z-Morh Tunnel in Sonamarg, Jammu and Kashmir will provide all-weather connectivity from Sonamarg to Srinagar .The project aims to promote tourism by providing reliable access to Sonamarg throughout the year, while also facilitating business and economic development in the region.

• 34th State to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana - Odisha has become the 34th state to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) after the National Health Authority (NHA), Union Health Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. 

• Solar Agriculture Feeder Project 2.0 - Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the Chief Minister Solar Agriculture Feeder Scheme 2.0 to empower farmers. The aim of this scheme is to provide free electricity to farmers during the day.   

• Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project-  A 600 MW floating solar power plant has been built on the Omkareshwar dam in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. This park is India's largest floating solar park. In the first phase, production of 278 MW pollution-free electricity has started.

• Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship Scheme - Delhi Government announced to give scholarship in the name of Dr. Ambedkar. It has been named Ambedkar Samman Scholarship. Under this scheme, students of Dalit community will be given financial assistance to study abroad. Children of government employees will also be benefited under this scheme. 

• Sanjivani Yojana - Delhi Government has launched Sanjivani Yojana for senior citizens, which will provide free healthcare services to Delhiites aged 60 years and above.

• “Banglar Bari” Scheme -  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the “Banglar Bari” scheme to provide houses to the rural poor in the state, fully funded by her government.  

 

 

Treaty/Agreement

• MoU between Uttar Pradesh Government and  Western Sydney University - A Memorandum of Understanding was signed virtually between the Uttar Pradesh government and Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia to set up the first foreign university campus in Uttar Pradesh. Western Sydney University of Australia  will set up its first campus in India in Greater Noida, UP.

 

 

Conferences/Festivals

• 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circulation, 2025 - 24th World Sustainable Development Summit concluded on 7 March 2025 in New Delhi.   

• 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) - The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) was held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from 20 to 24 January 2025  , under the theme "Cooperation for an Intelligent Age" .  

• 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference, 2025 - Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla  inaugurated the 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference in Patna, Bihar on 20 January 2025. This is the third time that Bihar is hosting this important conference.The theme of the conference is “75th Anniversary of the Constitution: Contribution of Parliament and State Legislatures in Strengthening Constitutional Values” .

• Future Minerals Forum, 2025 - Future Minerals Forum, 2025 was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 14-16, 2025.  Union Minister for Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy participated in the Ministerial Round Table Meeting of Future Minerals Forum 2025.

• Steelfab Expo 2025 -  Steelfab Expo 2025 in UAE begins in Sharjah. India has its largest ever participation with over 35 companies in the Confederation of Indian Industry Indian Pavilion.

• Entrepreneurship Development Summit, 2025 -  Entrepreneurship Development Summit 2025 on the theme “Empowering Entrepreneurs, Transforming Livestock Economy” was held on January 13, 2025 at G.D. Madulkar Natya Gruha, Pune.  The event was inaugurated by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias  Lallan Singh along with Ministers of State Shri SP Singh Baghel and Shri George Kurien.

• Heimtextil 2025-  Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh  inaugurated the India Pavilion at Heimtextil 2025 held at Messe Frankfurt, Germany.

• First India-Sri Lanka Hindi Conference, 2025 – The first India-Sri Lanka Hindi Conference was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka  on January 10, 2025  , in which the country's first certificate course in Hindi language through open education was launched. 

• First International Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan, 2025 - The First International Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan, 2025  was held in Dehradun on January 12, 2025. NRI Uttarakhandis from around 17 countries participated in this event. The main objective of this conference is to connect the Uttarakhandis living abroad with their roots and to discuss their experiences, suggestions and investment possibilities for the development of the state.

• 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting, 2025- The 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting  is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13-17 January 2025. The theme of this year's meeting is Secure, Innovative, Inclusive: Shaping ASEAN's Digital Future.  

• 31st National Children's Science Congress- The 31st National Children's Science Congress  was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on January 3-6, 2025. It was inaugurated by Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Its theme is - 'Understanding ecosystems for health and well-being'. Child scientists from Gulf countries like Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia also participated with their presentations.

• 27th International Vedanta Congress- The 27th International Vedanta Congress was held at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi on January 3-5, 2025. The theme of this conference was 'Reimagining the Vedantic World Order'. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the conference. 

• 25th National Conference of Chairmen of State Public Service Commissions, 2025-  The 25th National Conference of Chairmen of State Public Service Commissions, 2025  was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka in January, 2025. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the conference. In April, 2023, the 24th National Conference of Chairmen of State Public Service Commissions was held at Lucknow.

• Natural and Organic Farmers Summit, 2024- Natural and Organic Farmers Summit, 2024  was held at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Krishi Vigyan Kendra,Tuniki, Medak district,Telangana in December 2024. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presided over the event as the chief guest. 

• 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting, 2024-  The 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting, 2024 was held in New Delhi. The  meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

• 10th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo, 2024- Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 10th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo 2024 in Dehradun. The theme of this conference is "Digital Health - An Ayurveda Perspective".

• 5th All India Conference of State Railway Police Chiefs, 2024 – The 5th All India Conference  of State Railway Police Chiefs in collaboration with Ministry of Railways  in coordination with Railway Protection Force (RPF)  was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The event was held to discuss passenger safety, crime reduction strategies and critical manpower requirements for improved railway security. The conference began with the keynote address by Shri Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO, Railway Board.

• Bhaktapur Festival, 2024 - Bhaktapur Festival, 2024  held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

 

 

Operation/Campaign

• “Sahyog-Hop Tack” Exercise, 2024– “Sahyog-Hop Tack” Exercise, 2024 was a joint maritime exercise between India and Vietnam , held off the coast of Kochi.    

• Healthy Mother - Healthy Child' Campaign- On January 15, 2025, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai launched the 'Healthy Mother-Healthy Child' campaign in Jashpur district. The aim of this campaign is to improve the nutritional level of pregnant mothers and children.

• Operation Chivalrous Night 3 – The UAE has launched a campaign to support education in the Gaza Strip as part of 'Operation Chivalrous Night 3'. The campaign involves sending school bags and educational materials to children, with the aim of helping students continue their education amid the difficult humanitarian situation prevailing in the region.

• ‘Dare Square’ Motorcycle Expedition- Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command flagged off the Motorcycle Expedition ‘ Dare Square’ from Visakhapatnam to Ayodhya on  13 January 2025. The rally will traverse the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and will culminate at the Dogra Regimental Centre, Ayodhya.             

• Surya Kiran, 2024 - Surya Kiran, 2024 is a joint military exercise between India and Nepal, the 18th edition of which  was held from 31 December 2024 to 13 January 2025 at Saljhandi, Nepal.     

• ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ Campaign - To eliminate child marriage in Nepal, ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ campaign was launched on 31 December 2024 with the aim to completely eliminate child marriage by 2030.

 

 

Celebrity (National)

• Arun Mishra - Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arun Mishra  has been appointed as the ombudsman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) .

• Sanjiv Khanna - Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office to new Supreme Court judge Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran on January 16, 2025. Justice Chandran was earlier the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. His appointment increases the number of judges in the Supreme Court to 33, one less than the full sanctioned strength. 

• Vijay Kumar Singh (VK Singh) – Former Army Chief VK Singh took oath as the new Governor of Mizoram on January 16, 2025. Singh becomes the 25th Governor since Mizoram attained full statehood in 1987.  Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court Vijay Bishnoi administered the oath of office. Former Union Minister VK Singh replaced Hari Babu Kambhampati, who has been appointed as the Governor of Odisha.He served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 2010-2012. He has been the Minister of State in other important ministries in the Central Government including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

• Gyanendra Pratap Singh - The Central Government  has appointed Gyanendra Pratap Singh as the new Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) .

• Tuhin Kant Pandey- The current Finance Secretary, Tuhin Kant Pandey took over as Secretary, Department of Revenue (DoR), Ministry of Finance. He is a senior IAS officer of 1987 batch of Odisha cadre. 

• Justice Guhanathan Narendra- Justice Guhanathan Narendra was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court. Governor Lieutenant General (Retired) Gurmeet Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to him. 

• Dr. Sandeep Shah–  Eminent medical professional and visionary leader Dr. Sandeep Shah has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) , a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI).      

• Ashutosh Agnihotri- IAS Ashutosh Agnihotri is the new Chairman and Managing Director of Food Corporation of India (FCI) . He took charge on January 3, 2025 at FCI Headquarters, New Delhi.   

• Faiz Ahmed Kidwai - Senior IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai   has become the new Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) . 

• Hari Babu Kambhampati - Hari Babu Kambhampati took oath as the 27th Governor of  Odisha on December 3, 2025.  Earlier, the Governor of Odisha was Raghubar Das.   

• Bhuvnesh Kumar- Bhuvnesh Kumar is the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He assumed office on January 2, 2025. Bhuvnesh Kumar is a 1995 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.  

• Arif Mohammad Khan-  Bihar 's new Governor  Arif Mohammad Khan took the oath of office and secrecy on January 2, 2025. He was administered the oath by Patna High Court Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran. Arif Mohammad Khan has replaced Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

• Kamya Karthikeyan - Kamya Karthikeyan, a 17-year-old Indian teenager, a class 12 student at Navy Children School, Mumbai, has become the youngest woman to climb the highest peaks of the seven continents. Kamya, along with her father Commander S Karthikeyan, completed the prestigious Seven Summit Challenge by reaching the summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica on December 24. With this feat, Kamya has become the youngest woman in the world to have scaled the "Seven Summits".

• Nimisha Priya - Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, has been sentenced to death in Yemen. Nimisha Priya has been in a Yemeni jail since 2017. She was found guilty by the court of murdering Yemeni citizen Talal Mahdi.

• Justice V Ramasubramanian - Justice V. Ramasubramanian   has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) . He is a former Supreme Court judge. He took over as the Chairperson of the NHRC on December 30, 2024. 

• Gyanendra Pratap Singh (GP Singh) - Senior IPS officer Gyanendra Pratap Singh  has taken charge as the new Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) .

• Rabindra Nath Mahato -  On December 10, 2024, Rabindra Nath Mahato of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was unanimously elected the Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. He was elected the Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly for the second consecutive time

 

 

Celebrities (International)

• Prabowo Subianto- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended India's 76th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest . India celebrated its 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025 at the Kartavya Path and on this occasion, the nation also completed 75 years of enactment of the Constitution. It is noteworthy that in 1950, the then President of Indonesia Sukarno also attended India's first Republic Day celebration as the chief guest. President Prabowo is on his first visit to India and is the fourth President of Indonesia to attend India's Republic Day.

• Jake Sullivan – US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited New Delhi on 5-6 January 2025.

• Nitin Bhandari– In January 2025, PepsiCo has appointed Nitin Bhandari as Vice President and General Manager for India and South Asia Beverages.

• Joseph Aoun- Former Army Chief Joseph Aoun was elected as the new President of Lebanon in January 2025. The 61-year-old President has become the 14th President of Lebanon.

• Nicolas Maduro - In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro took oath as President for the third consecutive time. The Presidents of Cuba, Nicaragua attended his swearing-in ceremony. Maduro has been President since 2013. Meanwhile, the US has increased the reward money announced for his arrest. The United States has not recognized Maduro as the President of Venezuela since 2019.  

• Suhas Subramaniam-  Suhas Subramaniam has created history by becoming the first Indian-American to be elected to the Congress (US Parliament) from Virginia. Suhas Subramaniam sworn into the 119th Congress. Contesting for the US House of Representatives from Virginia's 10th Congressional District, a Democratic Party stronghold, Mr. Subramaniam defeated Mike Clancy of the Republican Party. Suhas Subramaniam is the first Indian American to be elected from Virginia and the entire East Coast.

• Maia Sandu– Maia Sandu  took office as President of the Republic of Moldova for the second term.

• Aisake Valu Eke– In December 2024, Aisake Valu Eke  was elected the new Prime Minister of Tonga. 

• Kristun Frostadottir – Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) leader Kristun Frostadottir became Iceland's youngest prime minister at the age of 36, leading a three-party coalition with the Liberal Reform Party (LRP) and the People's Party (PP).

• Justice Madan B Lokur - Former Supreme Court judge of India Justice Madan B Lokur has   been appointed as the Chairman of the United Nations Internal Justice Council. His term will last till November 12, 2028.   

• Sriram Krishnan - On December 22, 2024, US President-elect Donald Trump appointed Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor on AI (Artificial Intelligence).  

• Javier Milei – Argentine President Javier Milei was granted Italian citizenship  in December 2024. He was granted this citizenship during his state visit to Italy. His ancestors  migrated to Argentina in 1926, the year before he was born  .  

• Chris Evans – Former Senator for Western Australia, Chris Evans   has been appointed the first Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner, his five-year term will begin on 2 December 2024.  

 

 

Demise

• Dr. Rajagopal Chidambaram - Dr. Rajagopal Chidambaram, one of India's most distinguished scientists and a renowned physicist, passed away on January 4, 2025 in Mumbai.

• P. Jayachandran - Legendary Malayalam singer and National Award winner P Jayachandran has passed away at the age of 80.

• Brigadier General Amit Jha - Brigadier General Amitabh Jha was an Indian peacekeeper. He was the Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Monitoring Force (UNDOF). He died on 24 December 2023 due to illness.   

• Dr. K.S. Manilal- Eminent botanist Dr. K.S. Manilal passed away on January 1, 2025 in Thrissur, Kerala. He was 86 years old. The Padma Shri awardee was suffering from a prolonged illness.  Dr. Manilal is best known for translating and annotating the 17th century Latin botany treatise Hortus Malabaricus.  

• Pritish Nandy - Indian poet, journalist, filmmaker and former MP Pritish Nandy died on January 8, 2025 at the age of 73.

• M.T. Vasudevan Nair - Malayalam literary giant and Jnanpith Award winner M.T. Vasudevan Nair passed away at a private hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala. He was 91.

• Manmohan Singh - Former PM Manmohan Singh passed away on 26 December 2024 at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi. He was 92 years old. He was born on September 26, 1932 in a village (Gah) in the Punjab province of undivided India. He was the 13th Prime Minister of the Republic of India . He was also an economist. Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of the country twice. He was the Prime Minister of the country from 22 May 2004 to 26 May 2014. 

After winning the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, he became the first Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru , who got the opportunity to become Prime Minister for the second consecutive time after successfully completing a five-year term. In 1985, during the regime of Rajiv Gandhi , Manmohan Singh was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India . He is also credited for the economic reforms carried out as Finance Minister during the Prime Ministership of P. V. Narasimha Rao from 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996 .          

He served as Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985); Advisor to the Prime Minister, Chairman, University Grants Commission. He has been a member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) since 1991, where he was the Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2004. He criticized the export based trade policy in India in his book 'Export and the Prospects of Self-Reliance and Growth in India'.

Manmohan Singh was the only Prime Minister of the country whose signature is on Indian currency notes. In the year 2005, when he was the Prime Minister, a new 10 rupee note was issued with Manmohan Singh's signature on it.Manmohan Singh received the Padma Vibhushan in 1987, the Euro Money Prize for Finance Minister in 1993, the Asia Money Prize for Finance Minister in 1993 and  1994, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995.

• Zakir Hussain - On December 15, 2024, famous tabla player Zakir Hussain died in San Francisco, America. He was 73 years old. He was born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai.   

• Osamu Suzuki- Former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation Osamu Suzuki has passed away at the age of 94. He was suffering from a disease called lymphoma. Osamu was born on January 30, 1930 in Gero, Japan.

 

 

Books

•"Parliament: Powers, Functions and Privileges; A Comparative Constitutional Perspective"- Dr. K.S. Chauhan 

 

 

Year/Day/Week

 •4 January  -  Louis Braille Day

•9 January - Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) 

•10 January - World Hindi Day 

•12 January- National Youth Day (Birthday of Swami Vivekananda) 

•15 January - Army Day 

•23 January - Birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose 

•25 January - National Tourism Day, National Voters Day 

•26 January- Republic Day, International Customs Day 

•30 January - Martyr's Day (Death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi), National Leprosy Prevention Day 

 

 

Game

Cricket

• Vijay Hazare Trophy, 2024–25 - From 21 December 2024 to 18 January 2025, India's List-'A' cricket tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024–25 was held in various cities of India. The final between Karnataka and Vidarbha was played on 18 January 2025 at Kotambi Stadium (Baroda Cricket Association Stadium), Vadodara, Gujarat. Karnataka won the title for the fifth time by defeating Vidarbha by 36 runs in the final  . Karnataka was captained by Mayank Agarwal and Vidarbha was captained by Karun Nair. 

• Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2024-2025- Australia is the winner of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a series of Test cricket matches played between India and Australia. The series was scheduled to be held in Australia from 22 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, which Australia won 3–1 against India. Australia defeated India by 6 wickets in the fifth and final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 played at Sydney Cricket Ground.

• Smriti Mandhana became the fastest Indian cricketer to score a century in women's ODIs - On 15 January 2025, Smriti Mandhana became the fastest Indian cricketer to score a century in women's ODIs.  She scored this century in just 70 balls in the third ODI against Ireland. This record was earlier in the name of Harmanpreet Kaur, who had scored a century in 87 balls. Also, Smriti Mandhana has become the first Indian woman batsman to score 10 centuries in women's ODIs.

• ICC Women's Championship, 2022-2025 - On December 23, 2024, Australia defeated New Zealand by 75 runs in Wellington to win the ICC Women's Championship, 2022-2025 (3rd edition).

• ACC Under-19 Women's T20 Asia Cup, 2024 - The inaugural edition of the ACC Under-19 Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024 was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from15 to 22 December 2024. India women's cricket team won the title by defeating Bangladesh women's cricket team by 41 runs in the final.

• Record for the fastest women's Test century - On December 15, 2024, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt set the record for the fastest century in women's Test cricket while playing against South Africa at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein. She completed this century in just 96 balls. He broke the record of Sri Lanka's Chamani Seneviratne, who held the record for scoring the fastest century by scoring a century in 106 balls against Pakistan in the year 1998.  

 

 

Football

• FIFA Intercontinental Cup, 2024 – Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup 2024 title after defeating CF Pachuca 3-0 at Lusail Stadium, Qatar.

• Santosh Trophy, 2024 -25 - West Bengal won the Santosh Trophy national football championship by defeating Kerala in the final of the 78th edition. West Bengal defeated seven-time champions Kerala 1-0 in the final played at GMC Balayogi Stadium Hyderabad, Telangana.   

 

Hockey

• Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup, 2024-  Indian Women's Hockey Team won the title by defeating China 3-2 in penalty shootout in the final of the Women's Junior Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman.

• World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, 2025 – The 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships will be held in Ottawa, Canada from December 26, 2024 to January 5, 2025. The United States won their second consecutive championship by defeatingFinlandin overtime of the gold medal game.   

 

Lawn Tennis

• Adelaide International, 2025 - The Adelaide International, 2025 is a tennis tournament of the 2025 ATP Tour season held in Adelaide, Australia, between January 6-11, 2025.  

Men's Singles winner- Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) 

Women's Singles winner-  Madison Keys  (United States) 

• United Cup‚ 2025 - The United Cup is an international outdoor hard court mixed-gender team tennis tournament organized by the ATP and WTA. It is scheduled to be held from December 27, 2024 to January 5, 2025 in the cities of Perth and Sydney, Australia.

The United States won the title for the second time by defeating Poland 2–0.

Men's Singles winner -  Taylor Fritz  (United States)

Women's Singles winner-  Coco Gauff (United States) 

 

Badminton

• Petronas Malaysia Open, 2025 – Badminton tournament from 7 – 12 January 2025 Petronas Malaysia Open, 2025 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  

Men's Singles winner-  Xi Yu Qi  (China)

Women's Singles winner-  An Se Young  (South Korea)

• King Cup International Badminton Open, 2024 - King Cup International Badminton Open, 2024 is held in Shenzhen, China. It features only men's singles. Men's Singles winner- Anders Antonsen (Denmark). Lakshya Sen of India won the bronze medal at the King Cup International Badminton Open 2024 defeating French shuttler Alex Lanier .

 

Chess

• Late Manohar Parrikar Goa International Open Grand Master Chess Tournament, 2025 - Late Manohar Parrikar Goa International Open Grand Master Chess Tournament, 2025 from January 11-19, 2025   at Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao, Goa. The title of the late Manohar Parrikar Goa International Open Grand Master Chess Tournament, 2025 has been won by young International Master Ayush Sharma of India. He defeated Indian Grand Master SP Sethuraman in the final round.

• FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, 2024 – FIDE World Rapid Championship held on 26-29 December 2024 in New York City , United States. Koneru Humpy of India and Volodar Murzin of Russia won the women's and open (men's) titles respectively at the 2024 FIDE  World Rapid Championships. This was the second FIDE World Rapid Championship for Humpy  , while Russian Volodar Muzarin became the second-youngest player to win the championship in the Open category.   

• FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship, 2024 - FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship, 2024 was held in New York, USA from December 30-31, 2024. Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia were joint winners in the Open category.

• Qatar Masters 2024 - The chess tournament Qatar Masters 2024 was held in Doha, Qatar. Russian chess grandmaster Andrey Esipenko won the title in this chess tournament. Arjun Erigaisi of India secured second place. 

 

Billiards/Snooker/Squash

• British Junior Open, Squash Tournament 2025 - On January 6, 2025, Anahat Singh of India  won the women's under-17 title at the British Junior Open, 2025 squash tournament in Birmingham, England. She defeated Malika Elkaraksy of Egypt in the final.  

• WSF Women's World Squash Team Championships, 2024 - The Women's World Squash Team Championships (WSF)  was held at the Hong Kong Football Club, where Egypt defeated the United States to win the title for the fourth consecutive time and sixth time overall. 

• WSF Men's World Squash Team Championships, 2024 – The WSF Men's World Squash Team Championships  was held at the Hong Kong Football Club, where Egypt defeated England to win the title. 

 

Athletics

• Para Athletics World Championships, 2025-  World Para Athletics announced that the 12th edition of the Para Athletics World Championships will be held  in New Delhi, India in the year 2025. It will be held for the first time in India and fourth time in Asia.

• Tata Mumbai Marathon, 2025 – Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025 was held in South Mumbai.  This year Berhane Tesfay of  Eritrea has won the Tata Mumbai Full Marathon. Anish Thapa has secured first position  among Indians. Nirmaben Thakor was the Indian elite women's race winner this time too.

 

Kho-kho

• Kho-Kho World Cup, 2025 - The first Kho-Kho World Cup was held from 13 to 19 January 2025  at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The Indian women's and men's teams have won the title of Kho-Kho World Cup 2025. Both the women's and men's teams won the title by defeating Nepal in the final. The trophy and mascots for the Kho World Cup 2025  were Tejas  and  Tara.

 

 

Sports Miscellaneous

• 53rd National Senior Men's Handball Championship, 2024 – 53rd Senior Men's Handball Championship, 2024 held at Changanassery, Kerala from 26 - 29 December, 2024. Kerala defeated Chandigarh in the final  to win the National Senior Men's Handball Championship title for the first time. 

• ISSF Junior World Cup, 2025 - On December 21, 2024, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced that India will host the ISSF Junior World Cup, 2025. It will be the 11th edition of the Junior Shooting World Cup and the first in India.

• Mascot of 38th National Games - The mascot, logo, jersey, national anthem and tagline of the 38th National Games were unveiled at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Dehradun. The mascot 's name is "Mouli", inspired by the Monal, the state bird of Uttarakhand. The tagline of the 38th National Games is "Sankalp se Shikhar Tak". The logo  reflects the vibrant colours of Uttarakhand, showcasing the diversity of the state to the entire nation. Two traditional sports like Yoga and Mallakhamb have also been officially included in the National Games for the first time.   

• Fit India Cycling Drive -  Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya launched the 'Fit India Cycling Drive' at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. Around 500 cyclists participated in the three-kilometre ride from the stadium to Raisina Hills and back. The initiative aims to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transport.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                    Very important facts for upcoming exams

• Kappad Beach in Kozhikode and Chal Beach in Kannur, Kerala were awarded Blue Flag certification. 

•The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, 2025 was held in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). The theme of this year is "Contribution of Overseas Indians to Developed India". The Chief Guest was Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangalu, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

•10th International Herbal Fair, 2024 was organised at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh).

•After China and America, India has become the country with the third largest metro rail network in the world.

•Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore, Madhya Pradesh is India's first zero-waste airport. 

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sri Sri Radha-Madanmohanji Temple in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. It is the second largest temple in the world .    

•The Defence Ministry has decided to celebrate 2025 as  the 'Year of Reforms'.

•Uttarakhand government  inaugurated its first wine production unit in Kotdwar. 

•Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the book titled 'Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages' in New Delhi.

• The country's first pediatric cancer hospital is going to be built in Patna, Bihar. 

•Women's Kabaddi World Cup, 2025 will be held in Rajgir, Bihar. 

•China  approved the construction of the world's largest dam in Tibet. This dam will be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River.  

 •India has reached second place in the world in terms of cyber attacks.

•On January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU's Schengen Area.   

• Zimbabwe recently abolished the death penalty. 

•Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has received the license to build Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5). This plant will be Pakistan's largest nuclear power plant.  

• The Sri Lankan government has  announced visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries, including India, the UK and the US, into the island nation for six months  .

•Time magazine has named America's newly elected President Donald Trump as  'Person of the Year' for 2024.  

•The 29th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP-29)  will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024. 

• The Bald Eagle will officially be made the national bird of the United States  in December 2024.

• Moldova is the 105th  full member country  to officially join the International Solar Alliance. 

•India  recorded its highest ever coal production of 997.826 million tonnes (MT) in financial year 2023-24. 

•American magazine Forbes released the list of the 100 most powerful women in the world for the year 2024. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has topped the list for the third consecutive year.

•The top three countries most affected by malaria in 2023 are Nigeria (26%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (13%), Uganda (5%).

 •India is the third largest exporter of smartphones in the world. 

•China successfully launched  a Pakistani satellite "PRSC-EO1" into space from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.   

•The European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission was launched by a PSLV-C59 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh  .   

•Dinga-Dinga virus is an infectious disease that spread in Uganda, Africa.  

• The Panchet Observatory is established  on top of the Panchet Hill in Purulia district of West Bengal.  

•The World Health Organization  declared the Marburg fever outbreak in Rwanda over.  

•China launched new generation amphibious assault ship 'Sichuan'.

• SLINEX 2024 was a bilateral naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka  held at Visakhapatnam.   

•America has  successfully tested a hypersonic long range missile called Dark Eagle. 

• The country's first diabetes biobank has been established in Chennai. 

•Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award  was given to director Aparna Sen.

•Real Madrid and Brazil footballer Vinicius Junior was awarded "The Best FIFA Men's Player Award" 2024. 

•Spain and Barcelona footballer Aitana Bonmatí was awarded "The Best FIFA Women's Player Award" 2024.

• Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project is a joint project of India and Bhutan. It is being built on the Punatsangchhu River in Wangdue Phodrang District of Bhutan.   

• Odisha has become the 34th state to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). 

•Delhi Government  has launched Sanjivani Yojana to provide free health services to senior citizens.

 •West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched “Banglar Bari” scheme to provide houses to the rural poor.

•The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) was held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland on the theme "Cooperation for an Intelligent Age" .  

•Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla  inaugurated the 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference in Patna, Bihar. 

•First India-Sri Lanka Hindi Conference, 2025  held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

•31st National Children's Science Congress  was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

•The 27th International Vedanta Congress was held in New Delhi. The theme of this conference was 'Reimagining the Vedantic World Order'.

•25th National Conference of Chairmen of State Public Service Commissions, 2025 held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

•  Exercise “Sahyog-Hop Tac” 2024 was a joint maritime exercise between India and Vietnam,  held off the coast of Kochi.  

•The United Arab Emirates has  launched a campaign to support education in the Gaza Strip as part of 'Operation Chivalrous Night 3'.

• Surya Kiran, 2024 is a joint military exercise between India and Nepal, which  was held in Saljhandi, Nepal.   

•Former Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra has been appointed as the ombudsman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

• Vijay Kumar Singh (VK Singh) became the new Governor of Mizoram on January 16, 2025.

• Gyanendra Pratap Singh has been appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

•On January 3, 2025, Ashutosh Agnihotri became the new Chairman and Managing Director of Food Corporation of India (FCI).  

• Hari Babu Kambhampati took oath as the 27th Governor of Odisha on December 3, 2025. 

• Bhuvnesh Kumar is the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). 

•New Governor of Bihar Arif Mohammad Khan took oath of office and secrecy on January 2, 2025. 

• Kamya Karthikeyan, a Class 12 student of Navy Children School, Mumbai,   has become the youngest woman to climb the highest peaks of seven continents. 

• Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, has been sentenced to death in Yemen. 

• Justice V. Ramasubramanian has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). 

•Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended India's 76th Republic Day celebrations   as the chief guest on January 26, 2025.

•In January 2025, former army chief Joseph Aoun was elected the new president of Lebanon.

• Nicolas Maduro took oath as President for the third consecutive time in Venezuela.

• Suhas Subramanian is the first Indian-American to be elected to Congress (US Parliament) from Virginia.

• Maia Sandu became the President of the Republic of Moldova for the second term.

•In December 2024, Aisake Valu Ike  was elected the new Prime Minister of Tonga.

• Kristruña Frostadóttir became Iceland's youngest Prime Minister at the age of 36.

•Argentine President Javier Milelli was granted Italian citizenship.