Current Affairs Compendium – January 2025

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Anji Khad Bridge

• India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge; part of USBRL Project.

• Location : Reasi district, J&K – Himalayan seismic zone; bridges Katra–Reasi valley.

• Specs : $725.5\,m$ long; main pylon $193\,m$ high ($331\,m$ above river-bed); wind resistance $213\,km\,h^{-1}$; train speed limit $100\,km\,h^{-1}$.

• Four sections – Reasi viaduct $120\,m$; Katra approach $38\,m$; cable-stayed span $473.25\,m$; central embankment $94.25\,m$.

• $96$ cables (length $82\,–\,295\,m$); hybrid foundation; built with DOKA jump-form & Spanish $40$-ton tower crane (cut time by $30\%$).

• Designed by ITALFERR; proof-checked by COWI; Indian + Eurocodes.

• USBRL : National project (sanction $1994!!–!95$); $16$ bridges, tunnel T-50 $12.77\,km$; >90\% tunnelling.

First BHS of Gujarat – Guneri Inland Mangrove (Lakhtar, Kutch)

• $32.78\,ha$ non-tidal mangrove ecosystem $45\,km$ inland from Arabian Sea.

• Inland mangroves reported at only $8$ global locations; limestone-fed groundwater.

• Hosts $20$ migratory + $25$ resident avifauna.

• Declared under Sec $37$, Biological Diversity Act $2002$ – Biodiversity Heritage Site concept; India now $48$ BHS (West Bengal highest = $10$).

‘Public View’ under SC/ST Act

• Bombay HC & SC quashed cases (Afshamaskar Pathan; revenue-inspector case) – insult must be “in public view” (Hitesh Verma 2020 precedent).

• Public view ⇒ presence of third person(s) able to witness/hear caste slur; private chamber ≠ public.

• Act $1989$ Sec $3(1)(r),(s)$ need caste abuse and public view.

• Explained constitutional safeguards (Arts $15,17,21$) & NCSC, NCST frameworks.

Appointment of Election Commissioners

• CEC & Other ECs Act $2023$: Search Committee (Law Min) → panel $5$ names → Selection Committee (PM, one Cabinet Min, LoP) may pick anyone; seniority no longer rule; first use Feb $2025$.

• SC March $2023$ had ordered PM + LoP + CJI model “till law passed”.

Cauvery–South Vellar Link Project

• TN scheme (phase-1 of multi-basin link) to divert $483\,TMC\,ft$ surplus at Biligundlu; canal $118.45\,km$ through Karur–Trichy–Pudukkottai; cost $₹565\,cr$.

• SC (Jan $2025$) declined Karnataka interim injunction as Centre yet to clear.

• Context : Cauvery dispute (CWDT $2007$, SC $2018$; CWMA/CWRC).

EPFO Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS)

• Rolled-out Jan $1,2025$; covers >68\,lakh EPS-95 pensioners; pilot disbursed $₹1570\,cr$ (Dec $2024$).

• Enables Aadhaar-based payment; any-bank pension; no physical verification.

• EPS $1995$: employer $8.33\%$, govt $1.16\%$ of basic + DA.

Genome India Project (GIP)

• Phase-I complete: $10,000$ healthy genomes across $99$ ethnicities; unveiled Jan $2025$ open-data platform; found $135\,million$ variants ( $7\,million$ unique).

• Phase-II target $1\,million$ incl. disease cohorts; to power precision medicine.

Private Members’ Bills – Decline

• 17th Lok Sabha spent $9.08\,h$ on PMBs; RS $27.01\,h$.

• Only $14$ PMBs ever became Acts (none after $1970$); Friday scheduling & indifference cited.

Death Penalty Laws – RG Kar case appeal

• Bengal govt seeks capital punishment; courts apply “rarest of rare” (Bachan Singh $1980$).

• New penal code BNS $2023$ retains death for murder, waging war, mob lynching, gang-rape minors, etc.

• Death warrants via Sessions → HC confirmation (CrPC $366$); review, curative, mercy (Arts $72,161$).

UGC Guidelines for Vice-Chancellors $2025$

• Draft MQ 2025 replaces $2018$ regs.

• Industry/PSU experts eligible as VC; 3-member panel (Visitor/Chancellor nomineé, UGC nomineé, varsity apex).

• API scrapped; PG $55\%$ + M.E/M.Tech can be Asst Prof sans NET; 8 research papers/chapters or $8$ patents for promotion.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Panama Row

• Trump demands US “take back” Panama Canal; alleges Chinese control (Panama Ports = CK Hutchison).

• Canal history: French $1880s$ failed; US built $1904!–!14$; Torrijos–Carter Treaties $1977$ → Panama control $1999$.

Russia’s Floating Nuclear Plant

• Akademik Lomonosov (2×KLT-40) reached >1\,billion kWh over $5$ yrs supplying Pevek, Chukotka; displaces $159,000$ t coal/yr.

WEF Annual Meeting 2025 (Davos)

• Theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”; $3,000$ leaders, $350$ HoS; key issues AI, Ukraine ceasefire talk, climate.

• India inked $₹15.7\,lakh\,cr$ MoUs (Maharashtra), $₹45,500\,cr$ Sun Petro (Telangana).

30 Years of WTO

• WTO born $1\,Jan\,1995$ from GATT Uruguay Round; >160 members; overseen by D-G Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (re-appt $2024$).

• Dispute body: panel → appeal; jobs gap $402.4\,million$ (ILO WESO $2025$).

Azerbaijan Flight 4K-AZ65 Crash Dec $25,2024$

• Embraer-190 Baku→Grozny diverted Aktau; crashed $3\,km$ short; $38$ fatalities; claims of Russian SAM involvement; ICAO Annex $13$ probe.

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Deal Jan $19,2025$

• $42$-day phase-I: Hamas to release $33$ hostages vs Israel $900!–!1650$ detainees; IDF withdraw Netzarim + Philadelphi corridors; phase-II full withdrawal & hostage release; phase-III Gaza reconstruction.

Israel bans UNRWA (East Jerusalem)

• Knesset laws Oct $2024$ effective Jan $2025$: no UNRWA activity/contact on Israeli soil; jeopardises aid (UNRWA supports $5.9\,million$ refugees).

“Gulf of America” Proposal

• Trump Jan $7$ suggests renaming Gulf of Mexico; Mexico rebuts (“Mexican America”); IHO authority needed – unlikely.

TECHNOLOGY

e-Rupee Wallet (CBDC)

• CRED launches beta with Yes Bank sponsorship; wallet limit $₹1\,lakh$; txn $₹10,000$ each/day $₹50,000$; part of RBI retail CBDC pilot (pilot Nov $2022$).

Entity Locker (MeitY NeGD)

• Cloud vault $10\,GB$ for org documents; consent-based share, Aadhaar auth; integrates MCA, GSTN, DGFT; aids MSME loans, vendor KYC.

Nengchu-1 CAES (China)

• World’s first $300\,MW$/$(1,500\,MWh)$ compressed-air energy storage demo (Hubei); round-trip efficiency $70\%$; saves $159,000$ t coal & cuts $411,000$ t CO₂/yr.

REPORTS & INDICES

ILO World Employment & Social Outlook $2025$

• Global unemployment rate steady $5\%$; jobs gap $402.4\,m$; youth unemployment $12.6\%$; real wages yet to catch up; India GDP growth $6.9\%$ $2024$.

ASER $2024$ (Rural)

• Survey $650,000$ kids $5!–!16$, $616$ districts.

• Class-3 govt reading @ Class-2 level $23.4\%$ (up from $16.3$ $2022$); subtraction proficiency two-thirds still fail; smartphone access $89\%$ (14-16 yrs).

Fiscal Health Index $2025$ (NITI)

• $18$ major states; parameters: Quality Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation, Fiscal Prudence, Debt, Debt Sustainability.

• Top-5 : Odisha ($67.8$) > Chhattisgarh > Goa > Jharkhand > Gujarat.

• Bottom-4 : Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab.

Henley Passport Index $2025$

• Rank 1 Singapore $195$ visa-free; India rank $85$ (visa-free $57$); Afghanistan last $26$.

DEFENCE & SPACE

Triple Commissioning Jan $15,2025$

• INS Nilgiri (Project-17A frigate), INS Surat (Project-15B destroyer; AI-enabled), INS Vaghsheer (Project-75 Kalvari-class sub) inducted by PM.

Exercise Ekuverin $13^{th}$ (India-Maldives) Feb $2!–!16,2025$ Maafilaafushi; platoon-level CI/CT & HADR.

TROPEX-25 Joint Phase (“TORPEX-25”) Jan $30!–!31$ – Eastern & Western Fleets combined; live firings from INS Vikrant, Visakhapatnam, Satpura, Jalashwa; MiG-29K with IAF assets.

First Indian to ISS

• Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla (IAF test pilot, born $1985$) selected for Axiom Mission-4; Dragon launch $2025$; after Gaganyaan training.

SpaDeX Mission (PSLV-C60, Dec $30,2024$)

• Two $220\,kg$ sats SDX-01/02 rendezvous & docking demo; ISL, GNSS-RODP; later payload ops (MS camera, multispectral).

ISRO’s $100^{th}$ Launch (GSLV-F15/NVS-02) Jan $17,2025$

• Second-gen NavIC sat $2250\,kg$ to GTO; signals $L1,L5,S$; rubidium atomic clock; GSLV with indigenous cryo; ISRO total launches $100$ (payload $548$ sats, >120\,t).

IMPORTANT DAYS (JAN $2025$)

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Anji Khad Bridge

• India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, a significant engineering marvel designed to connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India via rail. It is a crucial part of the USBRL Project (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link).

• Location: Constructed in the challenging terrain of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, which falls within a highly active Himalayan seismic zone. It bridges the deep gorge between Katra and Reasi valley.

• Specs: The bridge spans $725.5\,m$ in length. Its main pylon is $193\,m$ high, rising $331\,m$ above the river-bed, making it one of the tallest railway pylons. It is engineered for high wind resistance up to $213\,km\,h^{-1}$ and designed to allow trains to operate at a speed limit of $100\,km\,h^{-1}$.

• Structure: Comprises four key sections – the Reasi viaduct ($120\,m$), the Katra approach ($38\,m$), the main cable-stayed span ($473.25\,m$), and a central embankment ($94.25\,m$).

• Construction: Utilizes $96$ cables, varying in length from $82\,m$ to $295\,m$. It features a unique hybrid foundation system designed to withstand seismic activity. Advanced construction techniques like the DOKA jump-form system and a Spanish $40$-ton tower crane were employed, which significantly cut construction time by $30\%$.

• Design & Standards: Designed by ITALFERR and proof-checked by COWI, adhering to both Indian and Eurocodes for safety and reliability.

• USBRL Context: The USBRL is a national project sanctioned in $1994!!–!95$, aiming to establish an all-weather rail link to the Kashmir Valley. The project includes $16$ bridges and extensive tunneling, such as tunnel T-50 which is $12.77\,km$ long, with >90\% of the project involving tunneling efforts.

First BHS of Gujarat – Guneri Inland Mangrove (Lakhtar, Kutch)

• Declared as Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), recognizing its unique ecological significance.

• Ecosystem: A $32.78\,ha$ non-tidal mangrove ecosystem situated approximately $45\,km$ inland from the Arabian Sea. Its inland location and non-tidal nature make it a rare phenomenon, globally reported at only $8$ other locations.

• Hydrology: Sustained by limestone-fed groundwater, which provides the necessary saline environment for the mangroves to thrive away from direct tidal influence.

• Biodiversity: This unique habitat hosts a rich avifauna, including $20$ migratory species and $25$ resident bird species, highlighting its importance for local and migratory bird populations.

• Declaration: Declared under Section $37$ of the Biological Diversity Act $2002$, which establishes the concept of a Biodiversity Heritage Site to protect ecologically fragile ecosystems with unique biological features. India now boasts $48$ BHS, with West Bengal having the highest count at $10$.

‘Public View’ under SC/ST Act

• Legal Precedent: The Bombay High Court and Supreme Court have quashed cases (such as the Afshamaskar Pathan case and a revenue-inspector case) emphasizing that for an offense under the SC/ST Act, the insult must occur “in public view.” This is consistent with the Hitesh Verma $2020$ precedent.

• Definition of Public View: “Public view” is defined as the presence of a third person or persons who are able to witness or hear the caste-based slur or insult. Therefore, an insult made in a private chamber or within a private conversation without independent witnesses does not meet this criterion.

• Act Provisions: Sections $3(1)(r)$ and $3(1)(s)$ of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of $1989$ explicitly require both the act of caste abuse and its occurrence in “public view” for charges to be brought.

• Constitutional Safeguards: These rulings are rooted in constitutional safeguards, particularly Articles $15$ (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth), $17$ (abolition of untouchability), and $21$ (protection of life and personal liberty), which aim to protect the dignity and rights of SC/ST communities. The frameworks of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) also guide the interpretation and implementation of the Act.

Appointment of Election Commissioners

• New Law: The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act $2023$ introduces a new procedure for appointments. A Search Committee, headed by the Law Minister, will prepare a panel of $5$ names.

• Selection Committee: The final selection will be made by a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, one Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This committee has the discretion to choose any individual from the panel, or even outside it, overriding the previous emphasis on seniority. This new process is slated for its first use in February $2025$.

• Supreme Court Intervention: In March $2023$, the Supreme Court had intervened, ordering an interim model for appointments that included the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India, to ensure independence and impartiality “till a law was passed” by Parliament. The new Act replaces this interim arrangement.

Cauvery–South Vellar Link Project

• Tamil Nadu Scheme: This is a major scheme by the Tamil Nadu government, representing phase-1 of a multi-basin link project. Its primary goal is to divert $483\,TMC\,ft$ of surplus water from the Cauvery River at Biligundlu, which often goes unused.

• Canal Route: The project involves the construction of a $118.45\,km$ long canal that will traverse through the districts of Karur, Trichy, and Pudukkottai, aiming to enhance irrigation and water supply in these regions. The estimated cost for this phase is $₹565\,cr$.

• Legal Developments: The Supreme Court, in January $2025$, declined to grant an interim injunction requested by Karnataka, citing that the Central government had not yet cleared the project. This highlights the ongoing inter-state water dispute and the necessity of federal approvals.

• Context: The project is set against the backdrop of the long-standing Cauvery water dispute, which has been adjudicated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in $2007$ and further refined by the Supreme Court in $2018$. The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) are the bodies responsible for implementing the SC’s verdict and managing the river’s water distribution.

EPFO Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS)

• Rollout: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) officially rolled out its Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) on January $1,2025$. This system aims to streamline pension disbursements across the country.

• Coverage: It covers more than $68\,lakh$ pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, $1995$ (EPS-95). A successful pilot program in December $2024$ disbursed $₹1570\,cr$ in pensions, demonstrating its efficacy.

• Benefits: The CPPS enables Aadhaar-based pension payments, allowing pensioners to receive their pensions at any bank branch across India, irrespective of where their account is held or where they originally retired. It also eliminates the need for physical verification for pension claims, making the process more efficient and user-friendly.

• EPS $1995$ Contributions: Under the EPS $1995$ scheme, employers contribute $8.33\%$ of the employee’s basic salary plus Dearness Allowance (DA) towards the pension fund, and the government contributes an additional $1.16\%$.

Genome India Project (GIP)

• Phase-I Completion: The first phase of the Genome India Project (GIP) has been successfully completed, involving the sequencing of $10,000$ healthy genomes from individuals across $99$ diverse ethnic groups in India. The findings were unveiled in January $2025$ through an open-data platform.

• Discoveries: This extensive study identified $135\,million$ genetic variants, out of which $7\,million$ were found to be unique to the Indian population. This unique genetic data is crucial for understanding population-specific disease predispositions and drug responses.

• Phase-II Goals: Phase-II of the GIP aims to sequence $1\,million$ genomes, including a significant number of samples from disease cohorts. The ultimate objective is to leverage this comprehensive genomic data to power precision medicine initiatives in India, enabling personalized healthcare based on an individual’s genetic makeup.

Private Members’ Bills – Decline

• Legislative Engagement: The $17^{th}$ Lok Sabha allocated only $9.08\,h$ for discussions on Private Members’ Bills (PMBs), while the Rajya Sabha spent $27.01\,h$. This indicates a declining trend in the time dedicated to such legislative initiatives.

• Success Rate: Historically, only $14$ Private Members’ Bills have ever been enacted into law since India's independence, with none becoming Acts after $1970$. This highlights the significant challenges faced by PMBs in becoming legislation.

• Cited Reasons: The primary reasons cited for this decline and low success rate include the traditional Friday scheduling for PMBs, which often sees low attendance, and a general indifference or lack of priority given to these bills by the ruling government and other members.

Death Penalty Laws – RG Kar case appeal

• Case Context: The Bengal government is seeking capital punishment in the RG Kar case, bringing the focus back on India’s death penalty laws.

• “Rarest of Rare” Doctrine: Indian courts apply the “rarest of rare” doctrine, established in the Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab ($1980$) judgment. This doctrine mandates that the death penalty should only be awarded in exceptional cases where the crime is so heinous and brutal that it shocks the conscience of society.

• New Penal Code: The newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) $2023$ (which replaces the Indian Penal Code) retains the provision for capital punishment for a range of severe offenses, including murder, waging war against the state, mob lynching, and gang-rape of minors.

• Judicial Process: Death warrants are issued by Sessions Courts and require mandatory confirmation by the respective High Court under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Section $366$. Convicts also have multiple avenues for appeal and review, including review petitions, curative petitions, and clemency petitions (mercy petitions) to the President (under Article $72$) or the Governor (under Article $161$).

UGC Guidelines for Vice-Chancellors $2025$

• Draft Regulations: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released its Draft Minimum Qualifications (MQ) $2025$ regulations, intended to replace the existing $2018$ regulations for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of universities.

• Eligibility Expansion: A significant change is the eligibility of experts from Industry/Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to be appointed as Vice-Chancellors, broadening the pool of potential candidates beyond academia.

• Selection Panel: The selection process will involve a 3-member panel comprising a nominee from the Visitor/Chancellor, a UGC nominee, and a nominee from the varsity’s apex body (e.g., Syndicate or Executive Council).

• Academic Performance Indicators (API) Scrapped: The Academic Performance Indicator (API) system, previously used for promotions, has been scrapped, simplifying the assessment process for faculty.

• Revised Eligibility for Assistant Professor: For Assistant Professor positions, candidates with a Post-Graduate ($55\%$ marks) and an M.E./M.Tech degree are now eligible even without clearing the National Eligibility Test (NET).

• Promotion Criteria: For promotions, faculty members will now require $8$ research papers/chapters in peer-reviewed journals or $8$ patents, emphasizing research output and innovation.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Panama Row

• Trump’s Demand: Former US President Donald Trump, on January $7$, publicly demanded that the US “take back” the Panama Canal, alleging that it is under significant Chinese control. This claim stems from a Chinese company, CK Hutchison, operating Panama Ports.

• Canal History: The construction of the Panama Canal was an ambitious project, initially attempted by the French in the $1880s$ but failed due to engineering challenges and disease. The United States successfully built and opened the canal between $1904!–!14$, greatly impacting global shipping and US geopolitical influence.

• Transfer of Control: Under the Torrijos–Carter Treaties signed in $1977$, the US agreed to transfer full control of the canal to Panama. This transfer was fully realized in $1999$, ceding sovereignty to Panama.

Russia’s Floating Nuclear Plant

• Akademik Lomonosov: Russia’s floating nuclear power plant, named Akademik Lomonosov, which houses two KLT-40 reactors, has achieved a significant milestone by generating over $1\,billion$ kWh of electricity over five years. It serves as a vital energy source for Pevek, Chukotka, in the remote Arctic region.

• Environmental Impact: This plant displaces $159,000$ tons of coal annually, significantly reducing carbon emissions and providing a cleaner energy alternative in a region heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

WEF Annual Meeting 2025 (Davos)

• Theme: The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting $2025$ in Davos, Switzerland, held under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” brought together global leaders to address pressing challenges and foster cooperation.

• Participation: The meeting saw the participation of $3,000$ global leaders, including $350$ heads of state and government, fostering high-level discussions and networking.

• Key Issues: Primary discussions focused on the rapid advancements and implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), efforts towards a Ukraine ceasefire, and global strategies for climate action.

• Indian Engagements: India made significant strides at the meeting, with Maharashtra signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth $₹15.7\,lakh\,cr$ and Sun Petro (Telangana) signing deals worth $₹45,500\,cr$, demonstrating robust economic engagement.

30 Years of WTO

• Establishment: The World Trade Organization (WTO) was officially born on January $1,1995$, emerging from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and concluding the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. It serves as the primary international organization regulating global trade.

• Membership & Leadership: With over $160$ member countries, the WTO oversees a vast network of trade agreements. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was re-appointed as the Director-General in $2024$, continuing her leadership of the organization.

• Dispute Settlement: The WTO features a robust dispute settlement body, which involves a panel for initial rulings and an appellate body for reviews, providing a mechanism for resolving trade disputes among member states ensuring rule-based trade.

• Global Employment Outlook: The ILO World Employment and Social Outlook ($WESO$) $2025$ reported a global jobs gap of $402.4\,million$, highlighting persistent challenges in global labor markets despite economic growth.

Azerbaijan Flight 4K-AZ65 Crash Dec $25,2024$

• Incident: An Embraer-190 aircraft, Azerbaijan Flight 4K-AZ65, en route from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau before crashing just $3\,km$ short of the runway on December $25,2024$. The accident resulted in $38$ fatalities.

• Allegations: There were claims of Russian Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) involvement in the crash, which added a geopolitical dimension to the investigation.

• Investigation: The incident is currently under investigation as per International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex $13$ guidelines, which define international standards and recommended practices for aircraft accident and incident investigation.

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Deal Jan $19,2025$

• Phase-I ($42$ days): This phase involves Hamas releasing $33$ hostages in exchange for Israel releasing between $900!–!1650$ Palestinian detainees. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are also required to withdraw from the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors in Gaza.

• Phase-II: This phase stipulates a full withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the release of all remaining hostages.

• Phase-III: The final phase focuses on the comprehensive reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which has suffered extensive damage from the conflict.

Israel bans UNRWA (East Jerusalem)

• Legislative Ban: New Knesset laws passed in October $2024$ and effective January $2025$ ban all United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) activities and contact on Israeli soil, including East Jerusalem.

• Impact on Aid: This ban severely jeopardizes the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees, as UNRWA supports an estimated $5.9\,million$ refugees across its areas of operation, providing essential services like education, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance.

“Gulf of America” Proposal

• Trump’s Suggestion: On January $7$, former US President Donald Trump controversially suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

• Mexico’s Rebuttal: Mexico promptly rebutted the proposal, suggesting it could instead be called “Mexican America,” emphasizing its historical and geographical connection to both nations.

• Authority for Renaming: Any official renaming of significant geographical features like the Gulf of Mexico would require approval from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), an intergovernmental organization that coordinates hydrographic activities worldwide. Such a change is considered highly unlikely due to international conventions and sovereignty.

TECHNOLOGY

e-Rupee Wallet (CBDC)

• Launch: CRED, a leading financial technology platform, has launched a beta version of its e-Rupee wallet, in sponsorship with Yes Bank. This initiative is part of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot program, which commenced in November $2022$.

• Features & Limits: The e-Rupee wallet has a cumulative limit of $₹1\,lakh$, with individual transaction limits set at $₹10,000$ per transaction and a daily cumulative limit of $₹50,000$. This digital currency aims to offer a secure and efficient alternative to physical cash and existing digital payment methods, leveraging blockchain technology.

Entity Locker (MeitY NeGD)

• Digital Vault: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has introduced “Entity Locker,” a secure cloud vault offering $10\,GB$ of storage for organizational documents. It aims to digitalize and centralize document management for businesses and other entities.

• Functionality: The system supports consent-based sharing of documents, requiring Aadhaar-based authentication for enhanced security. It seamlessly integrates with various government platforms, including the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), streamlining inter-agency data exchange.

• Benefits: Entity Locker is designed to aid MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) loan applications by providing a centralized repository for financial documents and facilitates vendor KYC (Know Your Customer) processes, reducing bureaucracy and enhancing operational efficiency.

Nengchu-1 CAES (China)

• World’s First: China has commissioned Nengchu-1, the world’s first $300\,MW$/$(1,500\,MWh)$ compressed-air energy storage (CAES) demonstration project, located in Hubei province. This marks a significant advancement in large-scale energy storage technology.

• Energy Efficiency: The system boasts a round-trip efficiency of $70\%$ in converting and reconverting electricity, making it an effective solution for grid-scale energy storage.

• Environmental Impact: Annually, the Nengchu-1 CAES system is projected to save $159,000$ tons of coal and cut carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emissions by $411,000$ tons, greatly contributing to China's renewable energy goals and reducing its carbon footprint.

REPORTS & INDICES

ILO World Employment & Social Outlook $2025$

• Global Trends: The International Labour Organization (ILO) World Employment & Social Outlook ($WESO$) $2025$ reports that the global unemployment rate has remained steady at $5\%$.

• Jobs Gap: Despite stable unemployment, a significant “jobs gap” of $402.4\,million$ individuals exists, meaning this many people would prefer to work or work more hours but lack decent job opportunities. Youth unemployment is particularly high at $12.6\%$.

• Wages: The report highlights that real wages in many regions are yet to catch up with inflation and productivity gains, impacting living standards.

• India’s Economy: The report projects India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at $6.9\%$ for $2024$, indicating strong economic performance despite global challenges.

ASER $2024$ (Rural)

• Survey Scope: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) $2024$ (Rural) is a comprehensive survey that assessed $650,000$ children aged $5!–!16$ across $616$ districts in rural India, providing crucial insights into foundational learning outcomes.

• Reading Proficiency: The report shows a positive trend: $23.4\%$ of Class-$3$ students in government schools can read at a Class-$2$ level, an improvement from $16.3\%$ in $2022$. This indicates progress in foundational literacy.

• Mathematics Proficiency: However, challenges persist in mathematics, with two-thirds of students still failing to achieve subtraction proficiency, indicating a need for more focused interventions in numeracy.

• Digital Access: The survey also revealed widespread smartphone access, with $89\%$ of children aged $14!–!16$ having access to a smartphone at home, reflecting the increasing digital penetration in rural areas.

Fiscal Health Index $2025$ (NITI)

• Purpose: The Fiscal Health Index $2025$, developed by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), evaluates the fiscal performance and sustainability of $18$ major Indian states.

• Parameters: The index is based on several key parameters, including: Quality Expenditure (effectiveness of spending), Revenue Mobilisation (ability to generate own revenue), Fiscal Prudence (responsible financial management), Debt, and Debt Sustainability (ability to manage outstanding debt).

• State Performance:

  • Top-5 Performing States: Odisha ($67.8$) emerged as the best performer, followed by Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, and Gujarat, indicating strong financial management.

  • Bottom-4 Performing States: Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab were identified as the states with the weakest fiscal health, facing significant financial challenges.

Henley Passport Index $2025$

• Ranking Methodology: The Henley Passport Index $2025$ ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free, serving as a measure of global mobility.

• Top Rank: Singapore holds the top position, offering visa-free access to $195$ countries, highlighting its strong diplomatic relations and global connectivity.

• India’s Rank: India is ranked $85^{th}$, with its passport providing visa-free access to $57$ countries, indicating moderate global mobility for Indian citizens.

• Bottom Rank: Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list, with its passport allowing visa-free entry to only $26$ countries.

DEFENCE & SPACE

Triple Commissioning Jan $15,2025$

• Significant Inductions: On January $15,2025$, the Indian Navy witnessed a triple commissioning ceremony, inducting three potent warships by the Prime Minister, significantly boosting its naval capabilities.

• INS Nilgiri: A Project-17A frigate, designed for stealth and advanced combat capabilities, enhancing naval defense.

• INS Surat: A Project-15B destroyer, notably equipped with AI-enabled systems, representing a leap in naval technology and combat efficiency.

• INS Vaghsheer: A Project-75 Kalvari-class submarine, a diesel-electric attack submarine that enhances the Navy’s underwater warfare capabilities.

Exercise Ekuverin $13^{th}$ (India-Maldives) Feb $2!–!16,2025$ Maafilaafushi

• Joint Military Exercise: The $13^{th}$ edition of Exercise Ekuverin, a joint military exercise between India and Maldives, was conducted from February $2!–!16,2025$, at Maafilaafushi.

• Focus: The exercise focuses on platoon-level Counter-Insurgency/Counter-Terrorism ($CI/CT$) operations and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief ($HADR$) scenarios, enhancing interoperability and tactical skills between the two forces. This exercise is crucial for strengthening bilateral defense cooperation, especially given the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region.

TROPEX-25 Joint Phase (“TORPEX-25”) Jan $30!–!31$

• Naval Exercise: TROPEX-25 (Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise) convened its Joint Phase, dubbed “TORPEX-25,” from January $30!–!31$. This large-scale naval exercise involved the combined operations of both the Eastern and Western Fleets of the Indian Navy.

• Operations: The exercise featured live firings from major naval assets, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, guided-missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam, multi-role stealth frigate INS Satpura, and amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa. It also saw seamless integration of maritime air operations with MiG-29K fighter jets and other Indian Air Force (IAF) assets, showcasing robust jointmanship and operational readiness across the Indian Ocean Region.

First Indian to ISS

• Historic Selection: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (born $1985$), an Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilot, has been selected to become the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

• Mission: He is slated to be part of the Axiom Mission-4 ($Ax-4$), with a Dragon spacecraft launch anticipated in $2025$. This mission represents a significant milestone in India's space aspirations.

• Training Link: His selection follows intensive training for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, demonstrating the rigorous preparation of Indian astronauts for advanced space endeavors.

SpaDeX Mission (PSLV-C60, Dec $30,2024$)

• Mission Objective: The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) Mission, launched by PSLV-C60 on December $30,2024$, involved two $220\,kg$ satellites, SDX-01 and SDX-02. The primary objective was to demonstrate rendezvous and docking capabilities in orbit, a critical technology for future space missions like orbital refueling, assembly of large space structures, and active debris removal.

• Onboard Payloads: The satellites also carried advanced payloads, including an Inter-Satellite Link (ISL) for high-speed communication between spacecraft, a GNSS-RODP (Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation Data Processing) for atmospheric studies, and later payload operations featuring an MS camera and multispectral sensors for Earth observation.

ISRO’s $100^{th}$ Launch (GSLV-F15/NVS-02) Jan $17,2025$

• Milestone Launch: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a remarkable milestone on January $17,2025$, with the successful launch of GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 satellite, marking ISRO’s $100^{th}$ launch mission.

• NVS-02 Satellite: NVS-02 is a second-generation NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) satellite, weighing $2250\,kg$, successfully placed into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). It transmits navigation signals across $L1, L5,$ and $S$ bands, improving positional accuracy and timing services for users in India and its surrounding regions.

• Key Technology: The satellite is equipped with an indigenous rubidium atomic clock, essential for accurate navigation, and the GSLV rocket utilized an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, showcasing India’s self-reliance in advanced rocket technology.

• Cumulative Achievements: This $100^{th}$ launch underscores ISRO’s prolific track record, having collectively launched $548$ satellites with a total payload mass exceeding $120\,t$ into various orbits.

IMPORTANT DAYS (JAN $2025$)