NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Directorate General of Shipping & Centre for Development of Advanced Computing sign umbrella MOU to drive Maritime Innovation: The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a Scientific Society under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to advance technological innovation and excellence in India’s maritime sector.This MoU embodies a progressive vision for tackling challenges and leveraging opportunities in the maritime sector through technology, collaboration, and innovation. It establishes a strong foundation for building a sustainable and advanced maritime ecosystem in India.
2. JSW Group signs MoU with Odisha govt to set up 5-MTPA steel plant in Keonjhar: Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group signed an MoU with the Odisha government to set up a 5-million tonnes per annum steel plant in Keonjhar district.The agreement was signed in presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Sajjan Jindal here on the first day of ‘Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha Conclave’.The JSW (Group) will set up a 5-MTPA steel plant in Keonjhar district at an investment of around Rs 35,000 crore.Keonjhar district is located in the iron ore reserves belt, and the minerals were being exported to other areas from the district. As a result, the locals did not get any benefit from the mineral resources.
3. Nagoba Jatara: The Nagoba Jatara is an important tribal festival celebrated by the Mesram clan of Adivasi Gonds in Keslapur village, Telangana. This eight-day event started on January 28 and is regarded as the second largest Adivasi fair in India. It draws participants from various states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. The festival showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Gond community. The Jatara attracts thousands of participants. Elders of the Mesram clan play a central role in the rituals. They perform the ‘Bheting’ ceremony, where new brides are introduced to the clan. This process ensures their acceptance within the community and connection to their deities.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India’s participation in International Travel Trade Exhibition at FITUR, Madrid: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has participated in one of the leading travel fairs – IFEMA being held in Madrid, Spain for positioning India as a potential leading destination in the source market of Spain and Latin America.The exhibition at FITUR, considered to be a benchmark event in the tourism sector, was held from 22nd – 26th January 2025. FITUR is the global meeting point for tourism professionals and leading fair for inbound and outbound markets in Ibero-America.The Indian delegation comprised of more than 23 co-exhibitors, including the State Governments of Karnataka, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand amongst others showcased their unique tourism products and experiences under the Incredible India banner at FITUR.
2. Georgia declared malaria-free after decades-long battle: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Georgia has officially been certified as malaria-free, marking a significant milestone in the country’s nearly century-long battle against the disease.Georgia becomes the 45th country and the first in the WHO European Region to achieve this status.The certification process requires a country to demonstrate that no indigenous malaria cases have been reported for at least three consecutive years. Georgia achieved this milestone in 2015, after successfully interrupting the transmission of the three main malaria parasite species: P. falciparum, P. malariae, and P. vivax.
3. Micheal Martin returns as Irish prime minister: Micheal Martin has been elected as the Republic of Ireland’s prime minister for a second time. Lawmakers voted 95 to 76 in support of the nomination of the Fianna Fail leader.Martin will lead a coalition government made up of the two largest centre-right parties, in addition to independent lawmakers.Martin, 64, was previously prime minister from 2020 to 2022 before handing the position to Fine Gael for the second half of the term.
4. Alexander Lukashenko wins seventh straight term in ‘sham’ Belarus election: Longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has been declared winner of a disputed presidential election, securing a seventh straight term, according to the country’s electoral body.Belarus’ incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko has won the presidential election. Preliminary data from the Central Election Commission shows that Lukashenko received 86.82 per cent of the vote.According to the law, Belarus’ president is chosen through direct elections, and a candidate receiving more than 50 per cent of the vote is declared elected. The president is elected for five-year terms.
5. 26 January 2025 – World Leprosy Day: World Leprosy Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of January. In 2025, the World Leprosy Day is on 26 January.This international day is an opportunity to celebrate people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination.Theme 2025 – Unite. Act. Eliminate
6. Red Cross Raises Alarm Over Ebola Risks in Goma: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed serious concerns regarding the potential escape of Ebola samples from a laboratory in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Ongoing fighting in the city has raised fears of power cuts that could compromise the integrity of these samples. The ICRC urges immediate action to protect these pathogens, warning of catastrophic consequences if they were to spread. Ebola outbreaks are rare but have occurred regularly since the virus was identified. The largest outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016, resulting in over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths. Ebola persists in infected animals and can occasionally spread to humans even between outbreaks.
7. Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: India and China have recently agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, marking moment in bilateral relations. This decision follows Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing and comes after months of negotiations to resolve military tensions at the Line of Actual Control. The yatra, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent geopolitical tensions, is now set to recommence under existing agreements. Many believe that completing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra leads to Moksha or liberation. The pilgrimage includes the Kailash Kora, a circumambulation of the mountain, which takes several days. The mountain’s mysteries, including its unique shape and sounds, have intrigued scientists and spiritual seekers alike.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India’s Role in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions: India has a long-standing commitment to United Nations peacekeeping missions. This commitment is brought into light by recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the tragic deaths of peacekeepers, UN officials expressed gratitude for India’s contributions. India has deployed number of troops and police personnel to various missions, showcasing its dedication to global peace. UN peacekeeping involves activities aimed at maintaining or restoring international peace.Established in 1948, it operates under principles of consent, impartiality, and non-use of force except for self-defence.
Today, approximately 100,000 personnel from 125 countries are engaged in active missions worldwide.
SPORTS
1. India’s Jyothi Yarraji wins gold medal in women’s 60m indoor hurdles in France: In Athletics, India’s Jyothi Yarraji broke her own national record and won the gold medal in the women’s 60m indoor hurdles at the Meeting de Nantes Métropole 2025 in France.Jyothi Yarraji, who already holds the national record in women’s 100m hurdles, clocked 8.04 seconds to win the final A at the Pierre-Quinon Metropolitan Stadium.At the 2023 Asian Games, Jyothi won the silver medal in the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.91 seconds. Last year, she made her Olympic debut in Paris, where she finished fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles repechage heat, failing to qualify for the semi-finals.
2. PM Modi inaugurates the 38th National Games in Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 38th National Games in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.The 38th National Games is being hosted in Dehradun, Uttarakhand during its Silver Jubilee year and will be held in 11 cities across 8 districts of Uttarakhand from 28th January to 14th February.36 states and one union territory will participate in the National Games. Over 17 days, competitions for 35 sports disciplines will be held. Among these, medals will be awarded for 33 sports, while two will be exhibition sports. Yoga and Mallakhamb have been included in the National Games for the first time. More than 10,000 athletes from across the country will participate in the event.With a focus on sustainability, the theme for the National Games this year is “Green Games.”
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. WHO Guidelines on K-Salts: Recent health guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest that switching from traditional table salt to potassium-based salts, known as K-salts, could aid in managing blood pressure and reducing heart disease risks. This recommendation is particularly relevant in countries like India, where hypertension is public health concern. Several challenges hinder the adoption of K-salts. Many consumers have developed a taste preference for high-sodium foods, leading to increased consumption of salty snacks and beverages. Sodium also enhances food shelf-life and moisture retention, making it a popular choice in packaged foods. Consequently, encouraging the switch to K-salts in the food industry may be difficult.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Reserve Bank of India ombudsman resolves 95% of complaints in FY24: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has resolved 95 per cent of complaints received under the Reserve Bank-Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.According to the annual report of the Ombudsman Scheme for this period, a total of 9,34,355 complaints were lodged under RB-IOS. These complaints were handled by the Offices of the RBI Ombudsman (ORBIOs) and the Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre (CRPC).The RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme recorded a 32.81 per cent increase in complaints from banking customers during the financial year ending March 2024. As per the report, 57.07 per cent of maintainable complaints were resolved through mutual settlement, conciliation, or mediation, while 40.78 per cent were dismissed due to the absence of any service deficiency.
2. IRDAI imposes ₹1 crore penalty on Royal Sundaram General Insurance: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has imposed a ₹1 crore penalty on Royal Sundaram General Insurance for violation of norms pertaining to outsourcing of activities.In an inspection, the regulator observed payments in excess of ₹1 crore, made during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to vendors, were not reported in the outsourcing returns filed with the Authority.The insurer also failed to submit the explanation/ information sought by the inspection team during the inspection period.
3. Ujjivan SFB board approves filing for universal bank license with RBI: The Board of Directors of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has approved to file an application with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for universal bank license.Apart from Ujjivan SFB, AU SFB has already applied for an universal bank license with the RBI. Jana SFB too is expected to follow suit in the current calendar year.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Hariman Sharma selected for Padma Shri revolutionised apple cultivation: Hariman Sharma, a visionary farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has been honored with Padma Shri, one of the highest Civilian Award for his transformative contribution to Indian agriculture.He developed an innovative, self- pollinating, low chilling apple variety called HRMN – 99, that has revolutionized the apple cultivation landscape in the country and brought a juicy nutritive variety more within reach in terms of geography and affordability.Unlike commercial apple varieties that require temperate climates and extended chilling hours, HRMN-99 thrives in tropical, sub-tropical, and plain regions with summer temperatures reaching 40-45°C, enabling apple farming in areas where it was previously considered unviable.
2. Wing Commander Akshay Saxena Receives Vayu Sena Medal: Wing Commander Akshay Saxena has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his exceptional contributions during anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea. This recognition marks the increasing threats posed by piracy in international waters, particularly from Houthi rebels targeting merchant vessels. The operation, conducted on 16 March last year, was part of the Indian Navy’s Operation Sankalp, aimed at ensuring maritime security in the region. The operation puts stress on the importance of inter-service coordination in modern military operations. It demonstrates the Indian Armed Forces’ capability to respond swiftly to maritime threats. The successful execution of this mission also reflects the strategic importance of the Arabian Sea for trade and security.
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