- National:
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- Odisha became the 34th state to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on January 13, 2025. The scheme provides ₹5 lakh per family per annum for healthcare coverage, with an additional ₹5 lakh for women members. It will benefit 1.03 crore families in Odisha, enhancing access to affordable healthcare.
- Makar Sankranti, celebrated on 14th January, marks the sun's transition into Capricorn, ending the winter solstice. In Punjab, it's known as Maghi, featuring holy dips, charity, bonfires, and traditional dancing. It's a time of joy and community.
- On January 14, 2025, C-DOT and IIT Delhi signed an agreement to develop "Building Blocks for THz Communication Front Ends" for 6G under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) initiative. This collaboration aims to advance India's 6G technology and promote self-reliance in telecom hardware.
- Pongal, celebrated from 14th January, marks the harvest season in Tamil Nadu. It includes cooking the traditional dish "Pongal," temple visits, and kolam (rangoli) designs. The festival signifies gratitude for a bountiful harvest and community joy.
- The Mahayana New Year, celebrated on January 14th, marks a fresh spiritual beginning for Mahayana Buddhists. It's observed with prayers, meditation, and acts of kindness, reflecting on the Buddha's teachings of compassion and wisdom.
- The Madhya Pradesh government launched the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission on January 13, 2025, to coincide with National Youth Day. The mission aims to empower youth through education, skill development, and social initiatives.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission Mausam on January 14, 2025, to mark the 150th foundation day of IMD. This initiative aims to make India "weather-ready" and "climate-smart" by enhancing weather forecasting and disaster management.
- International:
- Russia's atomic agency, Rosatom, shipped a 320-tonne reactor vessel for the sixth power unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant on January 13, 2025. The vessel was manufactured by Atommash and transported from Novorossiysk to India.
- Banking:
- India's M&A activity in 2024 declined to a four-year low in deal value at $80.5 billion, as announced on January 12, 2025. Despite the drop in deal value, the number of deals rose by 3.3% compared to the previous year.
- The IBBI mandated the exclusive use of the eBKray auction platform for selling assets under liquidation, starting from April 1, 2025. This decision, announced on January 10, 2025, aims to streamline the recovery of NPAs and promote transparency in the process.
- Economy:
- Crisil announced on January 14th, 2025, that India's GDP growth is projected to be 6.7% for the next fiscal year. This forecast considers factors such as government spending, agriculture, and export growth.
- India's retail inflation rate dropped to 5.22% in December 2024, marking a four-month low. This decrease was driven by easing food prices. The announcement was made on January 13, 2025.
- India's net direct tax collection increased by 16% to around ₹16.90 lakh crore in FY25 so far, announced on January 13, 2025. This growth was driven by strong collections from personal and corporate income taxes.
- India's total renewable energy capacity reached 209.44 GW by December 2024, announced on January 13, 2025. This marks a 15.84% increase from the previous year, driven by additions in solar and wind energy capacities. Solar power contributed 24.54 GW and wind energy added 3.42 GW to this growth.
- Sports:
- Bangladesh's cricketer Tamim Iqbal Khan retired from international cricket on January 10, 2025. This marks his final retirement, citing the desire to avoid distractions before the Champions Trophy.
- Defence:
- The INS Utkarsh, the second Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) for the Indian Navy, was launched on January 13, 2025, at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, Chennai. The vessel, designed for roles such as towing ships and operating unmanned autonomous vehicles, was christened by Dr. Sushmita Misra Singh.
- Appointments:
- Zoran Milanović was re-elected as President of Croatia for a second consecutive term on January 12, 2025. He secured a landslide victory with over 74% of the vote against his conservative rival, Dragan Primorac.
Questions:
1 What is the projected GDP growth rate for India for the next fiscal year as announced by Crisil on January 14, 2025?
- A) 6.7%
- B) 6.5%
- C) 7.0%
- D) 7.5%
2 Which state became the 34th to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on January 13, 2025?
- A) West Bengal
- B) Gujarat
- C) Odisha
- D) Bihar