- National:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several key development projects in New Delhi on January 3, 2025. These projects, worth over ₹12,200 crore, include the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, the Janakpuri West-Krishna Park Extension section of the Delhi Metro’s Phase IV, and the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Rohini.
- The Gujarat government approved the creation of Vav-Tharad as the state's 34th district on January 1, 2025. This new district was carved out of Banaskantha district for better administrative efficiency.
- India's first Generation Beta baby, Frankie Remruatdika Zadeng, was born on January 1, 2025, in Aizawl, Mizoram, weighing 3.12 kg. Born at 12:03 am, Frankie marks the beginning of Generation Beta, spanning from 2025 to 2039.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new Jammu Railway Division on January 6, 2025. This new division is part of Northern Railways and aims to benefit Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Leh-Ladakh.
- The ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative was launched by the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) on January 3, 2025, to empower women entrepreneurs in Mira Bhayandar. This initiative provides training and support for women in traditional snack production. During Diwali, over 3 tons of snacks were sold. It collaborates with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog.
- "Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0" is an initiative to empower women leaders from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by enhancing their understanding of governance. Organized by the National Commission for Women (NCW), the Lok Sabha Secretariat, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), it gathered over 500 elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes (STs) on January 6, 2025.
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the 11-day famous Adivasi Mela on January 5, 2025, in Bhubaneswar. The event celebrates tribal culture and heritage with exhibitions, stalls, and demonstrations. Additionally, the Chief Minister launched the Shahid Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Scheme to provide financial assistance to tribal students.
- Banking:
- On January 2, 2025, the State Bank of India (SBI) introduced a TAB-based digital process for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to open Non-Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts. This initiative enables paperless, fast account opening via SBI's You Only Need One (YONO) app, enhancing convenience and efficiency.
- On January 2, 2025, Cosmea Financial Holdings (CFH) received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to sponsor a mutual fund. This approval allows CFH to expand into the mutual fund market, focusing on Quant and Smart Beta strategies to meet investor needs.
- The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched a Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS) in January 2025. This system allows over 68 lakh pensioners to withdraw their pensions from any bank branch. It simplifies the process by eliminating the need for physical verification visit
- MoUs:
- The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 6, 2025, in Hyderabad. This MoU aims to enhance coordination and information exchange to combat money laundering in the insurance sector.
- Science & Technology:
- On January 1, 2025, N Space Tech successfully tested its SwetchaSAT-V0 ultra-high-frequency (UHF) communication system aboard ISRO's POEM-4 platform. This test marks significant progress in satellite communication technology.
- Sports:
- Lionel Messi was honored with the US Presidential Medal of Freedom on January 5, 2025. He was unable to attend the ceremony due to prior commitments. Messi expressed his gratitude in a letter to the White House.
- Govt.Schemes:
- Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy launched the PLI Scheme 1.1 for the steel industry on January 6, 2025. This scheme aims to boost domestic production of specialty steel, reduce imports, and enhance India's global position in steel production.
- Important Days:
- Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti was celebrated on January 6, 2025, marking the 358th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This significant occasion honors the tenth Sikh Guru's contributions, including the establishment of the Khalsa Panth.
- World Day of War Orphans 2025 is observed on January 6th to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children orphaned due to war and conflict. The theme for 2025 is "Healing and Hope: Supporting War Orphans", emphasizing the need for global support in their care, education, and protection.
- Appointments:
- Jyoti Sharma was named the new CEO of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) Foundation on January 2, 2025. She succeeds Nidhi Bhasin and brings over 20 years of experience in driving social impact.
- TATA AIG General Insurance Company appointed Amit Ganorkar as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on January 1, 2025. He succeeds Neelesh Garg and has over two decades of experience in the general insurance industry.
- Awards & Honours:
- Renowned Odia poet Prativa Satpathy received the Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2023 from Sambalpur University on January 5, 2025. The award recognizes her impactful poetry since the 1960s and includes a citation, shawl, and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000.
- Obituaries:
- Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis passed away at the age of 88 on January 5, 2025. He was known for modernizing Greece and leading the country into the eurozone. The Greek government has declared a four-day period of official mourning.
- Veteran nuclear scientist Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram passed away on January 4, 2025, at the age of 88. He was instrumental in India's first nuclear test in 1974 and the Pokhran-II tests in 1998.
- Ágnes Keleti, the world's oldest living Olympic champion and Holocaust survivor, passed away on January 2, 2025, at the age of 103. She won 10 Olympic medals in gymnastics, including five golds.
Questions:
1 Who was the recipient of the Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2023?
- A) Ramakanta Rath
- B) Jnanpith Das
- C) Sitakant Mahapatra
- D) Prativa Satpathy
2 Which municipal corporation launched the ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative to empower women entrepreneurs?
- A) Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
- B) Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)
- C) Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC)
- D) Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC)
