Index

●​ Awards and Honours

●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
●​ Bollywood producer Vinod Bachchan, known for films like Tanu Weds
Manu and Ginny Weds Sunny, received the Global Prestige Award at the
UK Parliament's House of Lords.​( Upper House )

●​ Odisha swimmer Pratyasa Ray has been selected for the 2024 Ekalabya
Puraskar, with a ₹7 lakh cash prize and citation.​

●​ ICMR received the 2024 UN Inter-Agency Task Force Award for

achievements in controlling non-communicable diseases and mental
health.​ ( ICMR - Indian Council for Medical Research.)

●​ Chiranjeevi was recognized by Guinness World Records for performing

in over 537 songs and 24,000 dance moves during his career.​

●​ Rhea Singha, a 19-year-old from Gujarat, won Miss Universe India 2024
and will represent India in the global pageant.

●​ Dhruvi Patel, a student at Quinnipiac University, won Miss India

Worldwide 2024 in Edison, New Jersey.​
.
●​ Dunith Wellalage and Harshitha Samarawickrama won ICC Player of
the Month for their August 2024 performances.​
Jasprit Bumrah won ICC Player of the year 2024.

●​ Kauvery Hospitals received the Platinum level in the NABH Digital

Health Assessment for digital healthcare services.​

●​ Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) was awarded the Rajbhasha

Kirti Puraskar by the Ministry of Home Affairs.​

●​ Cambodia’s Angkor Wat was named the most photogenic UNESCO

World Heritage site in Asia by Times Travel.

●​ NMDC won the Rajbhasha Kirti Award for implementing the official
language policy in the "C" region.​

●​ Aishwarya Rai won the Best Actress (Critics) award for her role in
Ponniyin Selvan 2 at SIIMA 2024.​( South Indian International movie award )

●​ Indian-origin lecturer Prasanthi Ram won the Singapore Literature

Prize for her debut short story cycle Nine Yard Sarees.​

●​ Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra were the top-ranked cities in the Swachh
Vayu Survekshan Awards 2024 for population categories over 10 lakh.​

●​ Ayushmann Khurrana and Neeraj Chopra received FICCI Youth Icons

Award for their contributions.​
●​ TIME Magazine listed Ashwini Vaishnaw among the most influential
people in technology and AI, recognizing his work on India's
semiconductor manufacturing push.​

●​ RINL's Dr. Dasari Radhika won the 'Gender Diversity' Award at the ISA
Steel Conclave 2024 for promoting gender inclusion in the steel industry.​

●​ The Lab Mitra initiative from Varanasi won the National e-Governance
Gold Award for Administrative Reforms at the 2024 National
e-Governance Conference.​

●​ The Wokha SAATHI WhatsApp Chatbot, from Nagaland's Wokha

District, won the Gold Award at the National e-Governance Awards for
its consolidation of 40 services.​

●​ The Ministry of Women and Child Development received the National

Award for e-Governance 2024 for its Poshan Tracker initiative, part of
Mission Poshan 2.0.​

●​ The Malabar Group was honored with the CSR Times Award 2024 for its
'Hunger Free World' initiative, providing 41,000 food packets daily
across India and Zambia.​

●​ Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2024: Karma Phuntsho (Bhutan), Miyazaki

Hayao (Japan), Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand), Nguyen Thi Ngoc
Phuong (Vietnam), Farwiza Farhan (Indonesia).

​
 ●​ 24th Mother Teresa International Awards: João Bernardo Vieira II
(Posthumously, Guinea-Bissau), Sidharth Srivastava and Namit Bajoria
(Industry), Mohammed Mahtabur Rahman (Chairman, NRB Bank Limited),
Irka Bochenko (Arts), MP Rozario (Education), Murli Panjabi and
Sureandar Singh Khandari (Social Work, UAE), Ahmed al Hashemi (Young
Musician and Child Prodigy).​

●​ Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) won two CSR
Times Awards 2024 for their excellence in healthcare services and skill
development initiatives.​

●​ President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence

Nightingale Awards 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Ms Sheela Mondal, Ms
Iken Lollen, Ms Vidjeyacoumary V, Ms Januka Pandey, Ms Anindita
Pramanik, Ms Brahmacharimayum Amusana Devi, Major Gen Ignatius
Delos Flora, Ms Prem Rose Suri, Dr Tabasum Irshad Handoo, Dr
Nagarajaiah, Ms Shamshad Beegum A, Ms Asha Womanrao Bawane, Ms
H Mankimi, Ms Sanjunta Sethi, Mr Radhey Lal Sharma.

Appointments
Name Current Position
Alok Ranjan Director of NCRB
Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai
Amit Garg Patel
Harini Amarasuriya Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Director of Global "Loss and
Ibrahima Cheikh Diong Damage"
Anura Kumara
Dissanayake President of Sri Lanka
Michel Barnier Prime Minister of France
Chief Justice of Madras High
Justice K.R. Shriram Court
Justice Nitin Madhukar Chief Justice of Kerala High
Jamdar Court
Chief Justice of Delhi High
Justice Manmohan Court
Chief Justice of Himachal
Justice Rajiv Shakdher Pradesh High
Justice M.S. Chief Justice of Jharkhand
Ramachandra Rao High Court
Justice Suresh Kumar Chief Justice of Madhya
Kait Pradesh High
Chief Justice of J and K and
Justice Tashi Rabstan Ladakh
Justice Indra Prasanna Chief Justice of Meghalaya
Mukerji High Court
Air Marshal Amar Preet
Singh Chief of the Air Staff
Director General of Narcotics
Anurag Garg Control
Head Coach of Indian
Santosh Kashyap Women's Football
Jafar Hassan Prime Minister of Jordan
Brand Ambassador for
Manu Bhaker Ministry of
Atishi Chief Minister of Delhi
Director General of Sashastra
Amrit Mohan Prasad Seema
Tuhin Kanta Pandey Finance Secretary of India
President of Olympic Council
Randhir Singh of Asia
Chief Secretary of Arunachal
Manish Kumar Gupta Pradesh
Michel Barnier Prime Minister of France
V Satish Kumar Chairman of Indian Oil
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Dr. T.V. Somanathan Cabinet Secretary of India
Satish Kumar Chairman of Railway Board
Director General of National
B Srinivasan Security

Sports
●​ Indian duo Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won
the Hangzhou Open 2024 men's doubles title by defeating the German
pair Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens.​

●​ Indian wrestler Sangram Singh became the first Indian male wrestler
to win an MMA fight at the Gama International Fighting Championship
in Georgia, defeating Pakistani opponent Ali Raza Nasir in 90 seconds.

●​ India won two gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest,
Hungary, in both the open and women's categories.​

●​ Nazira Banoo from Ladakh secured a gold medal in the under-30

Poomsae category at the 1st Khelo India Women’s Taekwondo
League.
 ​

●​ Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar received the best male and female
player awards at the FIDE 100 Awards ceremony in Hungary.​

●​ Jasprit Bumrah became the 10th Indian bowler to reach 400

international wickets during India’s first Test against Bangladesh in
Chennai.​

●​ Dhanush Loganathan won bronze in the men’s 55kg category at the

IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships 2024 in Spain.​

●​ Scotland will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after

Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to high costs.

Government Policies and Schemes

●​ PM launched 'Acharya Chanakya Skill Development' scheme to provide
free skill training to 150,000 youth in Maharashtra aged 15-45
annually.​

●​ PM launched 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme

offering up to ₹25 lakh financial aid to women-led startups, with 25%
 reserved for backward and economically weaker sections.​

●​ Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled 'White Revolution 2.0' aiming to

boost milk procurement by 50% in 5 years, empowering women and
increasing exports.​

●​ Government allocated ₹31,000 crore to fence the 1,643-km Myanmar

border, covering states like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur,
and Mizoram.​

●​ Niti Aayog proposed 'EduCities' in Navi Mumbai and MTHL to boost

higher education and job creation with a 100-hectare development
plan.
●​ Cabinet approved ₹35,000 crore extension of PM-AASHA scheme until
2025-26, aimed at ensuring remunerative prices for farmers' produce.​

●​ Cabinet approved 'Bio-RIDE' scheme with ₹9,197 crore funding for

biotechnology advancement, focusing on research, entrepreneurship, and
biomanufacturing.

●​ PMJANMAN scheme extended with ₹79,156 crore to improve

socio-economic conditions in 63,000 tribal villages, benefiting 5 crore
people across 30 states.​

●​ FM Sitharaman launched NPS Vatsalya, a pension scheme for children,

allowing investments starting at ₹1,000 with withdrawal options upon
turning 18.​
●​ Union Cabinet cleared 'One nation, one election' bill proposing
synchronized elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local
bodies with 18 constitutional amendments.​ ( For cutting Election Cost )

●​ MeitY launched the second cohort of Samridh scheme, offering ₹40

lakh support to 125 startups, boosting India's software product
industry.​

●​ PM launched 'SUBHADRA' scheme in Odisha, providing ₹50,000

financial support to over 1 crore women aged 21-60 over five years.​

●​ DPIIT launched 'BHASKAR' platform under Startup India to centralize

India’s startup ecosystem, connecting startups, investors, and
government bodies.​

●​ India launched 'Trade Connect ePlatform' to streamline export-import

info and facilitate interaction between IEC holders and Export
Promotion Council officials.​

●​ Cabinet approved 'Mission Mausam' with ₹2,000 crore to enhance

weather and climate science using next-gen radars, satellites, and
supercomputers.​

●​ PM E-DRIVE scheme, with ₹10,900 crore, aims to boost EV adoption

through e-mobility and infrastructure development.

●​ PM-eBus Sewa scheme, with ₹3,435 crore, to deploy 38,000 e-buses by

2028-29, reducing fossil fuel dependence and pollution.​
●​ SBI Foundation's Asha Scholarship Program expanded to support
10,000 underprivileged students with scholarships ranging from ₹15K to
₹20 lakh.​

●​ Odisha CM launched Subhadra Awareness Van ahead of the scheme

rollout to empower 1 crore women in the state with financial aid.​

●​ Namami Gange projects in UP and Bihar, totaling ₹1,076 crore,

became operational, improving water quality and reducing Ganga
pollution.​

●​ India launched its first fashion forecasting initiative, VisioNxt, using

AI and Emotional Intelligence to decode fashion trends for the industry.​

●​ Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the RESET Program

to empower retired athletes with career development skills via
dedicated courses and internships.​

●​ Ministry of Women and Child Development launched She-Box Portal to

centralize and monitor workplace sexual harassment complaints for
enhanced safety.

●​ Ministry of Road Transport introduced Vehicle Scrapping Policy to

phase out old, polluting vehicles, replacing them with newer models via
discounts.​

●​ Cabinet approved 12 Industrial Smart City Projects under the National

Industrial Corridor Development Programme with a ₹28,602 crore
 investment.​

●​ Cabinet approved e-auctions for 730 FM radio channels across 234

cities with a reserve price of ₹784.87 crore, supporting local employment
and 'vocal for local'.​

●​ Cabinet approved the Unified 'Vigyan Dhara' Science Scheme,

merging 3 schemes with ₹10,579.84 crore for research, capacity building,
and innovation.​

●​ Cabinet approved BioE3 Policy to boost biomanufacturing with Bio-AI

hubs, supporting India's goal of a Net Zero carbon economy by 2070.​

●​ Union Cabinet approved the Unified Pension Scheme, offering 50% of

average basic pay as pension for government employees under NPS
with 25 years of service.

Index and Reports

●​ India surpassed Japan to become the third most powerful nation in
the 2024 Asia Power Index, driven by strong economic growth and
diplomatic influence.​

●​ The Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24 reported a Labour Force

Participation Rate of 60.1% for those aged 15 and above, with an
unemployment rate of 3.2%.​

●​ U.P., Rajasthan, and M.P. topped the list of states with the highest cases
of atrocities on Dalits in 2022, with a conviction rate of 32.4%.​

●​ Kerala retained its top spot in India’s Food Safety Index 2024, followed
by Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, and Nagaland.​
●​ India scored 98.49/100, earning Tier 1 status in the 2024 Global
Cybersecurity Index, reflecting its growing cybersecurity framework.​

●​ HCLTech ranked top among India-headquartered companies in TIME’s

World's Best Companies 2024 list and secured a place in the global top
10 for Professional Services.​

●​ Delhi Airport ranked 24th and Mumbai Airport 44th globally in

megahub rankings, while Delhi improved in low-cost carrier operations.​

●​ India’s health infrastructure includes 1,69,615 Sub-Centres, 31,882

PHCs, and 6,359 CHCs, according to a Health Ministry report for 2022-23.​

●​ IIFT topped LinkedIn's global MBA ranking for networking and ranked
51st in LinkedIn’s Top 100 MBA Programs.​

●​ India overtook the US to become the second-largest global market for

5G smartphones with a 13% market share, behind China.​

●​ Switzerland topped the 2024 Best Countries Ranking, with India

ranked 33rd globally.​

●​ IIT Bombay and BITS Pilani ranked top in IIRF 2024 Engineering
Rankings for government and private institutions, respectively.​

●​ Gautam Adani topped the 2024 Hurun India Rich List with Rs 1,161,800
crore, while Shah Rukh Khan joined the billionaires' list.

​
 ●​ Hyderabad surpassed Bengaluru in the 2024 Hurun Rich List, becoming
the third city with the most billionaires, with 17 new entrants.​

●​ India added a record 15 GW of solar capacity in the first half of 2024,

marking a 282% increase from the same period in 2023.

Defence
●​ IAF concluded Exercise Eastern Bridge-7 with Oman, involving MiG-29,
Jaguar, F-16, and Hawk aircraft, focusing on joint operations and
training.​

●​ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Open Water

Swimming Expedition in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, covering 300
km over five months.​

●​ Squadron Leader Mohana Singh became the first woman fighter pilot
in the LCA Tejas fleet, participating in the Tarang Shakti exercise.​

●​ Indian Navy's women officers embarked on a global circumnavigation

expedition aboard INSV Tarini as part of Navika Sagar Parikrama II.

●​ Indian Navy's P8I aircraft joined Exercise Kakadu 2024 in Australia,

involving 30 nations for enhanced regional cooperation.​
●​ Indian Army concluded the 5th edition of Exercise AL NAJAH in Oman,
focusing on counter-terrorism operations.​

●​ IAF hosted the Indian Defence Aviation Exposition-II (IDAX-24)

alongside Tarang Shakti-24, showcasing cutting-edge technologies.​

●​ Two indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercrafts

were launched at Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Navy.​

●​ MoD signed a ₹26,000 crore contract with HAL for 240 Su-30MKI aero
engines to support the IAF’s fleet.​

●​ The 20th edition of Indo-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas began
in Rajasthan, focusing on counter-terrorism operations.​

●​ India successfully tested the Agni-4 ballistic missile, enhancing its

defense capabilities with a range of 3,000-4,000 km.​

●​ Phase 2 of Exercise Tarang Shakti was conducted at Jodhpur, with

Australia deploying three EA-18G Growlers.​

●​ The Indian Army launched Project NAMAN to provide dedicated

support to defense pensioners, veterans, and their families.​

●​ INS Arighat, India's second nuclear submarine, was commissioned,

equipped with K-15 missiles and advanced technology.

​
 ●​ Indian Army ordered an additional 73,000 SIG716 rifles from
US-based SiG Sauer, replacing the older INSAS rifles.

Science and Technology

●​ Sunita Williams took command of the ISS for the second time,
succeeding Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko aboard Boeing’s
Starliner shuttle.​

●​ Russian cosmonauts set a new record for the longest mission on the ISS
at 374 days, surpassing the previous 370-day record.​

●​ Germany discovered a new COVID-19 variant, XEC, which has

mutations for faster transmission but no evidence of increased severity.​

●​ Asteroid 2024 PT5, a mini-moon, will orbit Earth from September 29 to

November 25, 2024, with future flybys in 2025, 2055, and 2084.​

●​ Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to

go to the ISS in 2025 on the Axiom-4 mission.

●​ The 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization

is being marked, first excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921-22.​

●​ Astronomers discovered the largest black hole jets, "Porphyrion,"

stretching 23 million light-years, surpassing the Milky Way's size.​
 ●​ India’s third home-built 700 MWe nuclear reactor achieved criticality
at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project and will soon start operations.​

●​ India plans to establish Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028 under the

revised Gaganyaan program with a ₹20,193 crore budget.​

●​ ISRO received approval to develop the Next Generation Launch

Vehicle (NGLV) for space missions, with a budget of ₹8,240 crore.​

●​ The Venus Orbiter Mission is scheduled for 2028, focusing on Venus'

surface and atmosphere, with a ₹1,236 crore budget.​

●​ IBM and L&T partnered to develop advanced processors for AI and

cloud systems, strengthening India's semiconductor industry.

National Affairs
●​ Tata Steel inaugurated India's largest blast furnace at Kalinganagar,
expanding capacity from 3 MTPA to 8 MTPA, with a ₹27,000 crore
investment.​

●​ Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport will launch India's first air
train system by 2027, enhancing connectivity between terminals and
Aerocity.​

●​ CDRI launched a $2.5 million fund for urban infrastructure resilience in

30 low and middle-income countries, including India.​

●​ CPENGRAMS launched by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’

Welfare for swift redressal of pension grievances, improving financial
empowerment.​

●​ "Laapataa Ladies" by Kiran Rao selected as India's entry for the 2025
Oscars in the Foreign Film category.​
●​ CBDT notified the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme 2024, effective
from October 1, to resolve income tax disputes.​

●​ Nadi Utsav 2024 celebrated India’s rivers at IGNCA, focusing on the

theme 'Rivers in Reverse.'​

●​ SAIL conducted 'Safai Mitr Suraksha Shivir' under 'Swachhata Hi

Seva' for health check-ups of cleanliness workers.​

●​ IFFI 2024 will introduce the 'Best Debut Indian Film Section' in its 55th
edition in Goa.​

●​ A national symposium 'Exercise AIKYA' on disaster management began

in Chennai to enhance preparedness among key stakeholders.​

●​ PM Modi launched India's first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail connecting

Ahmedabad and Bhuj, covering 360 km in 5 hours 45 minutes.​

●​ Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was renamed as ‘Sri
Vijaya Puram,’ recognizing its historical significance.

●​ The Cabinet approved health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per year

for senior citizens above the age of 70 under the Ayushman Bharat
scheme.​

●​ A peace pact was signed between the Centre, Tripura government, and
NLFT/ATTF to end violence and promote integration.​
 ●​ NSD Repertory Company celebrated its 60-year legacy with the launch
of 'Rang Shashthi,' showcasing modern Indian drama.​

●​ PM Modi awarded certificates to 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis,

recognizing their annual earnings of over ₹1 lakh.

Summits and Conferences

●​ Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st ICG Commanders’ Conference,
highlighting the construction of 31 ICG ships worth over Rs 4,000 crore
by Indian shipyards.​

●​ The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa
from November 20-28, 2024, featuring participation from multiple
countries.​

●​ The 10th World Free Zones Organisation Congress took place in Dubai,
focusing on shifting global economic structures and unlocking new
investment avenues.​

●​ The Quad summit announced joint coast guard exercises and other key
initiatives, starting with the U.S. Coast Guard in the Indo-Pacific.​

●​ The Quad countries launched the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, focusing

on cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific, with $1.58 billion pledged by the
U.S.​

●​ PM Modi attended the Quad Leaders Summit in Delaware, USA,

reiterating India's commitment to a free Indo-Pacific and announcing
India will host the 2025 Quad Summit.
 ​

●​ World Food India 2024, hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing

Industries, will feature over 90 countries and 26 Indian states,
highlighting food processing technology.​

●​ Union Minister Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma inaugurated the “Green

Revolution in Steel” conference in Mumbai, focusing on sustainable
innovation in the steel sector.​

●​ CSIR held an online conclave focusing on enhancing South-South

cooperation for sustainable development, in collaboration with the
Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology.​

●​ Mansukh Mandaviya chaired anti-doping meetings in New Delhi,

reaffirming India's commitment to international anti-doping initiatives,
and signed an MoU with National Law University.​

●​ The 2nd Naval Commanders’ Conference, beginning on September 17,

2024, will focus on strategic and operational discussions among Indian
naval leaders.​

●​ Global Bio-India 2024 successfully concluded in New Delhi, showcasing

India’s biotech innovation potential and unveiling 11 new products by
Indian biotech startups.​

●​ The BRICS Literature Forum 2024, held in Kazan, Russia, discussed the
dialogue between traditions, national values, and global literary
cultures.​
●​ The EW Conference “Spectrum” 2024, held at Base Repair Depot
Najafgarh, focused on trends, technologies, and maintenance challenges
in electronic warfare.​

●​ The G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Cuiabá, Brazil, discussed

enhancing agricultural resilience and promoting sustainable fisheries
and aquaculture.​

●​ India's participation in the BRICS Literature Forum 2024 highlighted

literature's role in promoting unity and multiculturalism, featuring the
session “Volga to Ganga.”​

●​ PM Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida,

emphasizing India’s ambition to become a global semiconductor hub.​

●​ PM Modi addressed the 2nd International Conference on Green

Hydrogen, outlining India’s goal to produce 5 million tonnes of green
hydrogen by 2030.​

●​ India hosted the 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil

Aviation in New Delhi, discussing air safety, cyber security, and
achieving net zero emissions.​

●​ The 3rd India-US Defence Acceleration Summit was held at Stanford

University, focusing on strengthening technology partnerships in
defence innovation.​

●​ PM Modi inaugurated the National Conference of District Judiciary,

emphasizing infrastructure development and the allocation of ₹7,200
crore for e-courts phase III.​

●​ The Naval Commanders’ conference in Kochi focused on operational

concepts, tri-services coordination, and maritime agency
collaboration.​

●​ India will host the 1st World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit
in Goa from November 20-25, 2024, promoting India’s media and
 entertainment industry.​

●​ Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira visited New Delhi to co-chair

the 9th India Brazil Joint Commission, focusing on enhancing strategic
partnership.

MoUs and Agreements

Parties Involved Details
Signed an MoU in Coonoor to enhance research and
UPASI and Rubber training in natural rubber and develop high-yielding
Board climate-resilient clones.
AIIMS Delhi and Partnered to establish a da Vinci robotic surgery
Intuitive training center for multidisciplinary surgical training.
FSSAI and Brazil's Signed an MoU to enhance food safety through joint
Ministry of Agriculture projects and technical collaboration.
Transferred high-altitude sustenance technologies to
DRDO and Power Grid support the 5000 MW Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project in
Corporation Ladakh.
Indian Coast Guard
and The Habitats Signed an MoU to enhance marine conservation efforts
Trust through initiatives like ghost net removal.
Partnered to launch Jan Aushadhi Kendras at coal field
PMBI and Coal India sites, providing generic medicines to the workforce.
Gati Shakti
Vishwavidyalaya and Signed an MoU to collaborate on railway engineering
Monash University research and education.
Partnered to promote Indian organic products in the
APEDA and LuLu UAE through dedicated shelf space and promotional
Group campaigns.
Airtel and Italy's Partnered to enhance Asia-Europe data connectivity
Sparkle using the Blue-Raman Submarine Cable Systems.
Department of Food
and Public Signed an MoU to boost efficiency in food grain
Distribution and FCI procurement and distribution.
Tamil Nadu and Signed an MoU to expand equipment manufacturing in
Caterpillar Thiruvallur and Krishnagiri.
Signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in nuclear
energy through supply chain collaboration and HR
ENEC and NPCIL development.
Partnered to enhance skilling and employment within
MSDE and Swiggy Swiggy’s network through the Skill India Digital Hub.
Indian Army and Air Signed an MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya to skill
Force personnel in logistics operations.
IIT Guwahati and Partnered to enhance aviation education in Assam,
Airbus India contributing to the UDAAN Scheme.
Signed an MoU to boost FinTech innovation and
IIM-K and RBIH research, fostering entrepreneurship.
Ministry of
Panchayati Raj and Collaborated to enhance communication systems and
UNICEF accelerate SDGs in rural areas.
India’s CAG and the
UAE Accountability Signed an MoU to enhance public sector audit
Authority collaboration.
National Test House Signed an MoU to enhance energy efficiency in India
and BEE through the Standards & Labelling Program.
Signed an MoU on semiconductor cooperation to
advance collaboration in digital tech, health, and skill
India and Singapore development.
Bisleri and the Goa Partnered to enhance waste management under the
government Bottles for Change initiative.
India and Saudi Signed an MoU to enhance public sector auditing
Arabia through joint training programs in financial audits.
Inspire Institute of Signed an MoU to boost the development of wrestling in
Sport and United India.
World Wrestling
Bharti Airtel and Partnered to offer exclusive content offers for Apple
Apple Music and Apple TV+ in India.
Signed an MoU to supply hydraulic and lubricating oils
RINL and IOCL to RINL from 2024 to 2029.
ICAR-CIFE and Partnered to enhance cooperative management in
VAMNICOM fisheries, supporting dairy and fishery cooperatives.
Signed an MoU to implement RPL programs for the skill
NALCO and IISSSC development of contractual employees.
Secured a contract from Adani Power for supercritical
power projects worth over ₹11,000 crore in Rajasthan
BHEL and Madhya Pradesh.

Banking & Economic Affairs

●​ SEBI imposed a ₹1 crore fine on Jai Anmol Ambani for approving loans
to promoter-related entities without proper oversight in the Reliance
Home Finance case.​

●​ S&P Global Ratings maintained India's economic growth forecast at

6.8% for FY 2024-25.

●​ Bajaj Capital Insurance launched the Human+AI campaign

"BlessMeGanesha," generating over 15 lakh impressions in five days.​
●​ HDFC Life partnered with Metropolis Healthcare and CallHealth for
seamless medical test services for policy applicants.​

●​ EaseMyTrip introduced ScanMyTrip, India’s first travel marketplace

integrated with ONDC, for listing services like flights and
accommodations.​

●​ PayU launched Flash Pay, India’s first biometric payment solution,

enabling transactions via fingerprint or facial recognition in under 10
seconds.​

●​ Tata Motors partnered with ESAF Small Finance Bank to provide

financing solutions for its commercial vehicle customers.​

●​ IDFC FIRST Bank introduced the Mayura Credit Card with a premium
metal design and offers like 10x rewards on spends over ₹20,000.​

●​ IDFC FIRST Bank launched the Ashva Credit Card, offering benefits
like enhanced lounge access and trip cancellation coverage.

●​ YES BANK and Paisabazaar launched the co-branded PaisaSave Credit

Card, offering cashback on online and offline purchases.​

●​ HDFC Pension crossed ₹1 lakh crore in Assets Under Management

(AUM) and has grown its subscriber base to over 21 lakh.​

●​ WAAYU launched India’s first zero-commission food delivery app,

available on the ONDC network.​
●​ Persistent Systems was recognized as the fastest-growing IT services
brand, with a 327% increase in brand value since 2020.​

●​ Maharashtra remains the top GDP contributor at 13.3%, followed by

states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu contributing 30% of India’s GDP.​

●​ Google won an appeal overturning a €1.49 billion fine imposed by the

EU over AdSense competition restrictions.​

●​ RBI raised the UPI transaction limit to ₹5 lakh for tax payments and
hospital services, enhancing convenience for large transactions.​

●​ Bahrain secured $16.65 million investments from three Indian

companies during visits to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai.​

●​ Bharat PetroResources Limited (BPRL) secured its first production

concession in Abu Dhabi, investing $164 million in exploration.​

●​ Apple lost a €13 billion court battle with the EU over back taxes owed
to Ireland, following the EU's crackdown on tax benefits.​

●​ Maharashtra approved a $10 billion semiconductor fabrication unit

by Adani Group and Israel’s Tower Semiconductor in Panvel.​

●​ Bank of India launched the Star Dhan Vriddhi FD scheme offering up

to 7.9% interest for senior citizens on 333-day fixed deposits.​

●​ Star Health launched the “Special Care Gold” insurance policy in

Braille for visually impaired individuals.​

●​ Kotak General Insurance rebranded to Zurich Kotak General

Insurance following Zurich’s acquisition of a majority stake.​

●​ Alembic Pharma received USFDA approval for Albendazole Tablets

USP (200 mg), a generic equivalent to Impax’s Albenza.​
 ●​ POP, a fintech enabler, launched India’s first multi-brand co-branded
credit card in partnership with RuPay and Yes Bank.​

●​ India aims to boost alcoholic beverage exports to $1 billion,

enhancing presence in markets like the UAE and Singapore.​

●​ Telangana and Tamil Nadu led GSDP growth among the top Indian
states for FY24, with Telangana growing at 9.2%.​

●​ HDFC Bank introduced GIGA, a financial suite designed for gig workers,
offering savings accounts, insurance, and credit cards.

●​ Tata AIA launched USD-denominated life insurance products for NRIs

from its offshore branch at GIFT City.​

●​ The World Bank raised India’s growth forecast to 7% for FY24, citing
strong recovery in agriculture and services.​

●​ GST collections reached ₹1.75 lakh crore in August, marking a 10%

increase from the previous year.

International Affairs
●​ Iran unveiled its Shahed-136B kamikaze drone with a range exceeding
4000 km, along with the "Jihad" missile with a 1000 km range.​
●​ California enacted a law requiring school districts to restrict student
smartphone use.​

●​ The Loss and Damage Fund is set to disburse aid by 2025 with $800
million pledged.​

●​ Taiwan allowed same-sex marriages between Chinese and Taiwanese

citizens.​

●​ WHO declared Jordan the first country to eliminate leprosy, with no

local cases in 20 years.​

●​ Bangladesh Army officers were granted executive magistracy powers

by the interim government for 60 days.​

●​ World Bank committed $2 billion to support Bangladesh's reforms,

flood response, and health.​

●​ Mexico passed a constitutional reform allowing nationwide elections

for judges, the first in the world.​

●​ Zimbabwe plans to cull 200 elephants to help feed communities

suffering from drought.​

●​ The Taliban suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan,

affecting global eradication efforts.​

●​ Storm Boris caused flooding and disruptions in central and eastern

Europe, intensified by moisture from warm seas.​

●​ Typhoon Bebinca hit Shanghai, the strongest storm since 1949,

evacuating over 400,000 people.​

●​ The US pledged $202 million in aid to support Bangladesh's

development and growth.​
●​ WHO approved its first Mpox vaccine for Africa, developed by
Bavarian Nordic A/S.​

●​ Palestine secured a seat at the 79th UN General Assembly despite

Israeli opposition.​

●​ Australia plans to introduce legislation setting a minimum age for

social media use to protect children.​

●​ China announced joint naval and air drills with Russia in the Sea of
Japan and Sea of Okhotsk.
●​ South Korea hosted an international summit to draft a blueprint for
responsible AI use in the military.​

●​ The UAE completed the first Arab nuclear power plant, providing 25%
of the country's electricity.​

●​ Super Typhoon Yagi disrupted southern China, with winds of 245 km/h
and widespread flooding.​

●​ The US, Britain, and EU signed a landmark AI treaty, aligning AI

development with human rights and democracy.​

●​ Greece declared a state of emergency over dead fish influx following

last year's floods.

​
 ●​ The UN allocated $100 million from the Central Emergency Response
Fund for humanitarian crises in 10 countries.​

●​ Nepal Tourism Board won the PATA Gold Award for its Livelihood
Recovery Project in sustainable tourism.​

●​ Dhulikhel in Nepal was recognized as the country's first

WHO-designated 'healthy city.'​

●​ Australia plans to cap international student enrollments at 270,000 in

2025 to address housing pressures.​

●​ Germany donated 100,000 Mpox vaccine doses to combat the

outbreak in Africa, particularly in the Congo.​

●​ Typhoon Shanshan, with winds of 120 mph, approached Japan, bringing

heavy rain and flight cancellations.​

●​ South Korea and the US held the Ulchi Freedom Shield 24 drill with
over 200 aircraft, focusing on North Korea's threats.

Books and Authors

●​ Arundhati Roy’s first memoir, “Mother Mary Comes to Me”, will be
released in 2025, reflecting on her relationship with her mother and her
personal and political journey, published by Penguin Random House.​

●​ Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi launched the book “Sri Rama in
Tamilagam” by Dr. D.K. Hari and Dr. D.K. Hema Hari, highlighting the
historical and cultural connection between Lord Rama and Tamil Nadu.​

●​ ISRO Chairman S. Somanath released “ISRO: Exploring New Frontiers,

a coffee-table book by The Hindu”, covering India's space missions
from the 1960s to present, featuring stories, interviews, and photographs.​
 ●​ Kuldeep Gupta launched his book “A Journey from Black Gold to
White Gold”, focusing on the shift from the Oil & Gas industry to
renewable energy solutions like lithium-ion batteries.​

●​ Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari launched a comic book on IAF

heroes, featuring stories of Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh and
the 1971 Battle of Boyra, with free distribution during IAF publicity
drives.

Obituaries
●​ Veteran Malayalam actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma passed away at 80
after a seven-decade career, appearing in over 700 films and receiving
four state awards.​

●​ South African anti-apartheid activist and politician Pravin Gordhan

died at 75 after battling cancer; he was known for transforming the tax
agency and fighting corruption.​

●​ CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury passed away at 72 after a prolonged

illness; he served as CPI(M) General Secretary since 2015 and was a
two-term Rajya Sabha MP.​
 ●​ Brazilian music icon Sergio Mendes passed away at 83 in Los Angeles
after battling long-term COVID, renowned for his global influence on
Brazilian music.​

●​ Chilean tennis legend Luis Ayala, a two-time French Open finalist and
winner of 46 singles titles, passed away at 91; cause of death not
specified.​

●​ Former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss passed away at 94 after

a prolonged illness; he served as Prime Minister four times and was
known for his integrity

Days and Events

Date Event Name Theme
National Nutrition
1 Sep 2024 Week -
Empowering Educators for a
5 Sep 2024 Teachers Day Sustainable Future.
International Promoting multilingual education:
8 Sep 2024 Literacy Day Literacy for mutual understanding.
World Suicide
10 Sep 2024 Prevention Day Changing the Narrative on Suicide.
International Day of Artificial Intelligence as a tool for good
15 Sep 2024 Democracy governance.
Montreal Protocol – Advancing Climate
16 Sep 2024 World Ozone Day Actions.
International Day of
21 Sep 2024 Peace Cultivating a Culture of Peace.
World Alzheimer's Time to act on dementia, Time to act
21 Sep 2024 Day on Alzheimer's.
22 Sep 2024 World Rhino Day Keep the Five Alive.
 International Day of
23 Sep 2024 Sign Language Support Sign Language Rights.
23 Sep 2024 Haifa Day -
World Pharmacist Pharmacists: Meeting global health
25 Sep 2024 Day needs.
25 Sep 2024 Antyodaya Diwas -
27 Sep 2024 World Tourism Day Tourism and Peace.
28 Sep 2024 World Rabies Day Breaking Rabies Boundaries.
29 Sep 2024 World Heart Day Use Heart for Action.
International Translation, an art worth protecting:
30 Sep 2024 Translation Day Moral and Material.
 INDEX
●​ Awards and Honours
●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
●​ Nobel Prize 2024:​

○​ Physiology or Medicine: Victor Ambros, Gary Ruvkun for

discovering microRNAs regulating gene expression.​

○​ Physics: John Hopfield, Geoffrey Hinton for advancements in

machine learning with neural networks.​

○​ Chemistry: David Baker, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper for

protein design and structure prediction.​

○​ Literature: Han Kang for poetic prose exploring trauma and

human fragility.​

○​ Peace: Nihon Hidankyo for advocating a nuclear-free world.​

○​ Economic Sciences: Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, James A.

Robinson for work on institutions and economic prosperity.

●​ IIFA Awards 2024:​

○​ Best Film: "Animal".​

○​ Best Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra for "12th Fail".​

 ○​ Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan in "Jawan".​

○​ Best Actress: Rani Mukerji in "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway".​

○​ Special Awards: Hema Malini and Jayantilal Gada for

Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema.​

●​ Best Tourism Villages Competition 2024:​

○​ Adventure Tourism: Dhudmaras (Chhattisgarh), Aru (J&K).​

○​ Agri Tourism: Kumarakom (Kerala), Hansali (Punjab).​

○​ Community-Based Tourism: Chitrakote (Chhattisgarh), Minicoy

Island (Lakshadweep).​

●​ National Water Awards 2023:​

○​ Best State: Odisha (1st), Uttar Pradesh (2nd).​

○​ Best District (South Zone): Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.​

○​ Best Urban Local Body: Surat, Gujarat.

●​ 70th National Film Awards:​

 ○​ Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Mithun Chakraborty for Lifetime
Achievement.​

○​ Best Feature Film: "Aattam" (Malayalam).​

○​ Best Actor: Rishab Shetty in "Kantara".​

●​ Other Key Awards:​

○​ Honorary César Award 2025: Julia Roberts will receive the

Honorary César Award.​

○​ Maharatna Status: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited granted

Maharatna status.​

○​ González Urrutia for efforts in restoring democracy in Venezuela.​

○​ Global Prestige Award: Vinod Bachchan honored at UK

Parliament for contributions to Bollywood.​

○​ National Kishore Kumar Award: Rajkumar Hirani awarded on

Kishore Kumar's 37th death anniversary in Khandwa.​

○​ National Film Award (Language-Specific):​

■​ Best Telugu Film: "Karthikeya 2".​

■​ Best Tamil Film: "Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1".​

○​ HR Excellence Award 2024: SJVN recognized for Inclusion, Equity

& Diversity.​
Sports
●​ Sakharov Prize 2024: María Corina Machado, Edmundo.​

●​ Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award: Darasing Khurana awarded for

mental health advocacy.​

●​ Global Anti-Racism Championship Award: Urmila Chaudhary (Nepal)

for racial equity work.​

●​ Humanitarian Award for Global Impact: Mohanji honored at Conscious

Companies Awards in Johannesburg.​

●​ Femina Miss India World 2024: Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh.​

●​ UK Illustration Award: Aditi Anand for "Marigolds" focusing on child

labor in India.​

●​ 2024 ISSF Junior World Championships:​

○​ India tops medal table: 13 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze.​

○​ Parth Prakash Mane: India’s first individual gold in Men's 10m

Air Rifle.​

○​ Mukesh Nelavalli: Secured six medals, including 1 individual gold

and 3 team golds.
●​ ISSF World Cup Final 2024:​

○​ Vivaan Kapoor: Silver in Men’s Skeet.​

○​ Anantjeet Singh Naruka: Bronze in Trap.​

●​ ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024:​

○​ Champion: New Zealand (1st title).​

○​ Most Runs: Laura Wolvaardt, 223 runs.​

○​ Most Wickets & Player of the Tournament: Amelia Kerr with 15

wickets.​

●​ National Para-Swimming Championship 2024:​

○​ Overall Champion: Karnataka with 392 points.​

○​ Top Male Senior: Mohammed Aasim (Kerala).​

○​ Top Female Senior: Sharanya (Karnataka).​

●​ Commonwealth Games 2026:​

○​ Venue: Glasgow, Scotland.​

○​ Dates: July 23 to August 2, 2026.​

○​ Sports Dropped: Cricket, Field Hockey, Badminton, Wrestling,

Table Tennis.​

●​ Key Sports Achievements:​

○​ Asian Table Tennis Championship: Indian women’s team won

historic bronze.​
 ○​ Singapore Open Snooker: Pankaj Advani claimed the title with a
5-1 victory over Jaden Ong.​

○​ Shivchhatrapati Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded to

Pradeep Gandhe for contributions to badminton.​

●​ Tennis & Badminton Highlights:​

○​ China Open: Carlos Alcaraz won his first China Open title,
defeating Jannik Sinner.​

○​ Most Expensive Women's HIL Player: ₹32 lakh paid for Shrachi
Rarh Bengal Tigers player.​

●​ Important Records & Milestones:​

○​ David Miller: 6th player to play 500 T20 matches.​

○​ Ravichandran Ashwin: Leading wicket-taker in ICC World Test

Championship with 189 wickets.​

●​ Notable Archery & Athletics Events:​

○​ Deepika Kumari: Silver in Women's Recurve at the Archery World

Cup Final.​

○​ World Athletics Continental Tour: Gulveer Singh won gold in

Men’s 5000m with a new record.​

○​ Asian Table Tennis Championship: India’s women’s team won a

historic bronze, first since 1972.​

○​ World Pickleball Championship: To be held in Mumbai, November

12-17, 2024.​

○​ Dipa Karmakar: Announced retirement after a notable

gymnastics career.
 ​

○​ Angad Cheema: Wins Vizag Open after 11-year gap.​

○​ Junior World Wushu Championship: India secured 7 medals,

including 2 golds.​

○​ First Indian Woman with 50 International Goals: Bala Devi

achieved this milestone at the SAFF Women's Championship.​

Government Schemes and Policies

●​ Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2024:​

○​ Theme: “Sports for Nation Building”; aims to modernize sports

governance and welfare measures.​

○​ Key Features: SRBI to regulate NSFs, Ethics Commissions, 10%

voting rights for athletes, 30% female representation, RTI
governance transparency.​

●​ Compassionate Pension for Elderly Government Pensioners:​

 ○​ Additional Pension: 20%-100% increase based on age, starting
from 80+ years.​

●​ UDAN Scheme Extension:​

○​ 10-Year Extension: Enhances regional air connectivity; new

airports in Surguja, Rewa, and Saharanpur inaugurated.​

●​ Key Government Initiatives:​

○​ Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY): TB nutrition support doubled to

₹1,000/month.​

○​ PM-National Agricultural Development Scheme: ₹1.01 trillion

budget for agriculture, supporting digital and organic farming.​

○​ PM E-DRIVE Scheme: ₹10,900 crore for EV adoption, introducing

e-vouchers.​

○​ BRAP 2024: Simplifies business regulations to boost "Make in

India".​

●​ Revised Minimum Wage Rates:​

○​ Wages: Unskilled ₹783/day, Semi-skilled ₹868/day, Skilled

₹954/day, Highly Skilled ₹1,035/day.​

Tourism and Green Hydrogen Initiatives

●​ Paryatan Mitra & Didi: Social inclusion and employment in tourism.​

●​ Green Hydrogen Mission: Targets 5 MMT production by 2030, positioning

India as a leader.​
Indices and Reports
●​ Global Innovation Index 2024:​

○​ India's Rank: 39th among 133 economies; Switzerland, Sweden,

USA, Singapore, and UK are top 5.

●​ Academic Freedom Index 2024:​

○​ India's Academic Freedom: Ranked “completely restricted” with

score dropping from 0.6 (2013) to 0.2 (2023).​

●​ Global Hunger Index 2024:​

○​ India's Rank: 105th out of 127 with a "serious" hunger level; top
worst-hit: Somalia (127th).​

●​ Economic Freedom of the World 2024:​

○​ India's Rank: 84th out of 165, improved from 87th; Top: Hong
Kong, Last: Venezuela.​

●​ NABARD Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2021-22:​

 ○​ Key Findings: 57.6% rise in rural monthly income, 66%
households saving, 80.3% insurance coverage.​

●​ Key Environmental and Economic Indicators:​

○​ Deforestation in 2023: 15.7 million acres lost, equivalent to

Ireland’s size; 351% increase since 2015.​

○​ India's Foreign Tourists: 4.78 million in Jan-Jun 2024; Top

Sources: Bangladesh (21.55%), USA (17.56%).​

○​ Ethanol Production: India: 3rd largest global ethanol producer

and consumer with a 40% rise in sugarcane production.​

Defence
●​ India’s Fourth Nuclear Submarine Launch:​

○​ Submarine S4*: India’s fourth SSBN launched, featuring K-4

nuclear ballistic missiles with 3,500 km range, ~75% indigenous.​

●​ Second Army Commanders' Conference 2024:​

○​ Location: Gangtok; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to address

security challenges.​

●​ Key Defense Partnerships and Exercises:​

○​ Italian Carrier Exercise: INS Vikramaditya and Italian CSG

conducted first joint drill off Goa (Oct 1-6, 2024).​

○​ INS Talwar: Joined IBSAMAR VIII in South Africa with Brazil and
South Africa, focusing on naval interoperability.​
 ○​ Malabar Exercise: India hosts Quad nations (US, Australia, Japan)
in Visakhapatnam, starting October 8, 2024.​

●​ DRDO VSHORADS Test Success:​

○​ Defense Technology and Procurement:​

■​ DRDO-BEL-Israel Partnership: Launched for MRSAM

systems; includes phased array radar, command, control,
and launchers.​

■​ $3.5-Billion Drone Deal with US: 31 MQ-9B drones (16 Sky

Guardian, 15 Sea Guardian) for Navy, Army, and Air Force.

●​ Army Sports Conclave:​

○​ Goal: Boosts Indian sports ecosystem, supports over 9,000

athletes through Mission Olympics Wing.​

●​ Joint Military Exercises (October 2024):​

○​ SWAVLAMBAN SHAKTI: Indian Army (Jhansi), 1,800 soldiers, 210

armored vehicles.​

○​ Naseem-Al-Bahr: Indian and Omani Navies, off Goa; includes

anti-aircraft drills.​
 ○​ SIMBEX 2024: India-Singapore naval drills in Visakhapatnam
(Oct 23-29, 2024).

Science and Technology

●​ PARAM Rudra Supercomputing Systems:​

○​ Launched: Three PARAM Rudra supercomputers deployed in Pune,

Delhi, Kolkata for astronomy, material science, and physics
research.​

●​ WHO Declares India Trachoma-Free:​

○​ Achievement: India eliminated trachoma, joining 21 other

countries.​

●​ Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services:​

○​ Launch: ESA's LCNS program to support lunar landings and

mobility; first relay satellite by 2026.​

●​ Ahmedabad University’s Climate Institute:​

○​ Research led by Dr. Balaji Srinivasan.​

●​ First Diagnostic Test for Mpox:​

○​ Approval: WHO authorized the first Mpox diagnostic test for

emergency use.​

●​ Bharat-Gen Language Model:​

○​ Launch: India’s first government-funded AI language model for

public service, led by IIT Bombay.​
●​ Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Landing:​

○​ Landing Site: 3.85-billion-year-old lunar crater; Pragyan rover

images reveal Moon's evolution.

●​ SpaceX Rescues NASA Astronauts:​

○​ Mission: Launched to return stranded astronauts Wilmore and

Williams from ISS.​

●​ Infosys Launches Industry-Specific AI Models:​

○​ Topaz Models: AI tools for banking (Topaz BankingSLM) and IT

operations (Topaz ITOpsSLM).​

●​ Zydus Typhoid Vaccine Approval:​

○​ WHO Approval: ZyVac TCV typhoid vaccine by Zydus for ages 6

months to 65 years.​

●​ New Snake Species Discovered:​

○​ Anguiculus dicaprio: Snake species named after Leonardo

DiCaprio, found in western Himalayas.
National Affairs
●​ Classical Language Status for Five Languages:​

○​ Languages Approved: Marathi, Bangla, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese

granted Classical Language status.​

●​ AFSPA Extended in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh:​

○​ Coverage: Extended for six months in eight districts of Nagaland

and specific areas in Arunachal Pradesh.​

●​ New Lady Justice Statue at Supreme Court:​

○​ Symbolizes judiciary's awareness and protection.​

●​ Hizb-Ut-Tahrir Declared Terrorist Organization:​

○​ Designation: Group banned for promoting terrorism and

attempting to establish an Islamic caliphate.​

●​ Supreme Court Upholds Section 6A of Citizenship Act:​

○​ Decision: Validity upheld; Section 6A addresses migration from

Bangladesh to Assam as per Assam Accord.​

●​ 21st Livestock Census Launched:​

○​ Focus: Detailed data collection on livestock species, mobile data

collection introduced.​

●​ Railway Project to Link North Bihar with NE States:​

○​ Cost: ₹4,553 crore project to enhance connectivity on India-Nepal

border, creating 87 lakh employment days.​
●​ Venture Capital Fund for Space Startups:​

○​ Amount: ₹1,000 crore approved to support space startups in

satellite and launch vehicle technology.​

●​ Amazon Future Engineer Program in Tribal Schools:​

○​ Initiative: Launched in 50 Eklavya Model Schools to improve

blockchain and AI skills.​

●​ Karmayogi Saptah for Civil Servants:​

○​ Objective: National Learning Week focuses on skill development

in governance and service delivery.​

●​ Cruise Bharat Mission:​

○​ Goal: Double cruise tourism and create 4 lakh jobs within five
years across 5,000 km waterways.​

●​ National Maritime Heritage Complex:​

○​ Location: Approved for Lothal, Gujarat to showcase India's

4,500-year maritime history.​

●​ eMigrate V2.0 Portal Launched:​

○​ Purpose: Enhances safe migration for Indian workers, with 2.81

lakh registered foreign employers.​

●​ Sovereign Green Bonds:​

○​ Fundraising: ₹20,000 crore to be raised for ESG-compliant

projects in FY 2024-25.​

●​ MSP Hike for Rabi Crops:​

 ○​ Support: Increased MSP for mustard, lentils, gram, and wheat for
2025-26 season.​

●​ Election Dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand:​

○​ Schedule: Maharashtra on November 13, Jharkhand in two

phases on November 20, 2024.
●​ BRICS Summit 2024:​

○​ Sixteenth BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.​

○​ New Members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE joined BRICS.

●​ 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits:​

○​ Laos hosted the twin ASEAN Summits, emphasizing regional

integration and resilience.​

●​ World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA):​

○​ India hosted the WTSA for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region.​

○​ Focused on 6G, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity standards.​

●​ NITI Aayog’s Methanol Seminar:​

 ○​ Focused on clean energy innovations.​

●​ India Mobile Congress 2024:​

○​ Hosted in New Delhi, with a focus on advancements in 6G, IoT, and

circular economy.​

○​ Drew participants from 120 countries.​

●​ India Digital Agri Conference 2024:​

○​ Focused on digital innovations in agriculture with cross-sector

collaboration.​

●​ Global Biodiversity COP16 in Colombia:​

○​ Focused on biodiversity loss, with nearly 200 countries reviewing

the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework.​

●​ India’s Leadership at WTSA-2024:​

○​ India led all 10 ITU Study Groups in WTSA-2024, held in New

Delhi, increasing leadership positions from 7 to 11.​

●​ SCO Cultural Capitals:​

○​ Varanasi held SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital status for

2022-2023.​

○​ Almaty for 2023-2024.​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ India Digital Agri Conference: Focus on knowledge exchange

and collaboration in digital agriculture.​
 ○​ SWAVLAMBAN 2024: Hosted by the Indian Navy, focused on
innovation and self-reliance.

○​ COP16 Begins in Colombia: Focus on biodiversity conservation

with 200 countries in attendance.​

○​ India’s Role in WTSA-2024: India secured leadership in all 10 ITU

Study Groups in WTSA-2024.

MoUs and Agreements

●​ DigiLocker Partners with UMANG App for Seamless Access:​

○​ National e-Governance Division and UMANG integrate for

enhanced government service access through DigiLocker.​

●​ RITES & Etihad Rail Sign MoU:​

○​ RITES Limited and Etihad Rail collaborate on UAE railway

infrastructure, focusing on rolling stock and project
management.​

●​ India-Nepal Petroleum Infrastructure Agreement:​

 ○​ Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation sign B2B
framework to build pipelines, aiming to reduce transport costs.​

●​ Maharashtra & SAI MoU for Sports Excellence:​

○​ Maharashtra and Sports Authority of India established a National

Centre of Excellence in Mumbai for sports infrastructure.​

●​ India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty 2024:​

○​ New treaty focuses on dispute settlement and national

treatment; UAE invested $19 billion in India since 2000.​

●​ SAIL and BHP Steel Decarbonization Collaboration:​

○​ Steel Authority of India and BHP explore GHG emission

reduction in steelmaking, focusing on hydrogen and biochar use.​

●​ ICMR and NTPC Solar Power Initiative:​

○​ Solar panels across 15 ICMR institutes under a 25-year power

purchase agreement for stable solar tariffs.​

●​ India-Nepal-Bangladesh Trilateral Power Trade Deal:​

○​ Nepal to export 40 MW electricity to Bangladesh via India’s grid;

plans for hydropower project and new transmission line.​

●​ Meghalaya Govt and The/Nudge Institute Livelihood Initiative:​

○​ Support for 50,000 households in Meghalaya with a focus on

single mothers and social inclusion.​

●​ India’s Agreement to Protect Marine Biodiversity:​

 ○​ India joins the UN General Assembly to conserve high seas
biodiversity, banning harmful fishing practices.​

●​ ‘Scam se Bacho’ Campaign:​

○​ Government of India and Meta launch campaign to combat online

scams, with multiple ministries involved.

●​ Audio-Visual Co-Production Pact with Colombia:​

○​ India and Colombia collaborate on film productions, making

Colombia the 17th country to sign such a pact with India.​

●​ India-US MQ-9B Predator Drone Procurement:​

○​ India procures 31 MQ-9B drones from the US for enhanced land,

air, and sea military capabilities.​

●​ Six MoUs Signed Between India and Lao PDR:​

○​ Agreements on defense, customs, heritage, and nutrition; India

pledges $1 million to Laos through UN Development Fund.​

●​ Global Biofuels Alliance Host Country Agreement:​

 ○​ India to host GBA Secretariat, with 27 countries and 12
organizations, promoting biofuel investments.​

●​ Clean Energy Transition Collaboration:​

○​ IIT Delhi partners with International Energy Agency (IEA) for

emission reduction and energy technology innovation.

Banking and Financial Awareness

●​ Forex Reserves Reach $700 Billion:​

○​ India’s forex reserves surpassed $700 billion, joining China,

Japan, and Switzerland; RBI Governor Das led a growth of $4.2
billion/month.​

●​ RBI Bars 4 NBFCs:​

○​ RBI restricts Asirvad Micro Finance, Arohan Financial Services,

DMI Finance, and Navi Finserv from lending due to regulatory
violations.​

●​ Paytm Resumes UPI Onboarding:​

○​ NPCI permits Paytm to onboard new UPI users, nine months after
RBI’s restriction for regulatory non-compliance.​

●​ Tax Devolution of Rs 1.78 Lakh Crore:​

○​ The central government distributes over Rs 1.78 lakh crore to

states; Uttar Pradesh receives Rs 31,962 crore.​

●​ RBI Projects 7.2% GDP Growth:​

 ○​ RBI estimated 7.2% GDP growth for FY 2024-25, keeping repo
rate at 6.5%; UPI Lite wallet limit increased to Rs 5,000.​

●​ Adani Group’s Hydrogen Project:​

○​ India’s largest hydrogen blending project launched by Adani

Group in Ahmedabad, aiming at a 2.2-2.3% green hydrogen
blend.​

●​ Paisabazaar AI Credit Advisor:​

○​ Paisabazaar unveils PB Assist, India’s first AI-driven credit

advisory tool, using GPT-3.5 for real-time insights.​

●​ SBI Card-Singapore Airlines Credit Card:​

○​ SBI and Singapore Airlines launch KrisFlyer SBI Card offering up

to 10,000 miles and other benefits.

●​ IDFC FIRST and IDFC Limited Merger:​

○​ IDFC FIRST Bank merges with IDFC Limited, enhancing financial

capabilities, effective October 1, 2024.​

●​ Axis Bank Mastercard for Small Businesses:​

 ○​ Axis Bank introduced the MyBiz credit card, with benefits for
small business owners, including travel insurance.​

●​ SEBI Mandates UPI for Debt Bids:​

○​ SEBI requires UPI for debt securities bids up to Rs 5 lakh from

November 1, enhancing investor protection.​

●​ India’s Exports Growth of 4.86%:​

○​ India’s exports reached $393.22 billion, with a 4.86% increase in

April-September 2024; key destinations include UAE and US.​

●​ HDFC Bank Singapore Branch:​

○​ HDFC Bank opened its first branch in Singapore, marking its fifth
international expansion.​

●​ India’s Imports from China Rise:​

○​ Imports from China reached $56.29 billion (April-Sept 2024), while

the US remains India’s top export market.​

●​ SECL Opens Fourth AMRIT Pharmacy:​

○​ SECL inaugurated its fourth AMRIT Pharmacy in Bilaspur,

offering subsidized life-saving medicines.​

●​ Finance Commission Grants Released:​

○​ Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan received finance commission

grants for local development; Andhra Pradesh awarded Rs 396
crore.​

●​ India’s Industrial Production Contracts:​

 ○​ Industrial production contracted by 0.1% in August 2024; mining
fell by 4.3%, while manufacturing grew by 1%.​

●​ Hindalco Joins International Copper Association:​

○​ Hindalco Industries joined ICA, contributing as a major copper

and aluminum producer.​

●​ Muthoot FinCorp ONE Financial Suite:​

○​ Muthoot FinCorp ONE, launched in 2022, offers diverse financial

products, from loans to insurance.

●​ Infosys AI Lab in London:​

○​ Infosys partners with the University of Cambridge to establish a

25,000-square-foot AI lab employing 200 in London.​

●​ IMF Retains India’s 7% GDP Growth Forecast:​

○​ IMF maintained India’s GDP forecast at 7% for FY 2024-25, with

global growth projected at 3.2% for 2024 and 2025.​

●​ Canara HSBC Life Insurance ‘Promise4Future’ Plan:​

○​ Canara HSBC introduces ‘Promise4Future’ life insurance plan

with two variants for savings and steady income streams.
International Affairs
●​ Saudi Arabia Lost Its Bid for a Human Rights Council Seat:​

○​ Saudi Arabia lost its bid to the Marshall Islands, marking a

decline in international support.
●​ UK-Mauritius Treaty on Chagos Archipelago:​

○​ UK agreed to cede Chagos Archipelago sovereignty to Mauritius

while retaining military rights on Diego Garcia for 99 years.​

●​ Bangladesh Constitution Reform Commission:​

○​ The interim government in Bangladesh formed a nine-member

commission led by Professor Ali Riaz to review and propose
reforms in 90 days.​

●​ Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killed:​

○​ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, aged 62, was killed on October 16,
2024, in a confrontation with Israeli soldiers in Gaza.​

●​ Saudi Arabia Loses UN Human Rights Council Seat:​

○​ Saudi Arabia lost its bid for the Human Rights Council seat to the
Marshall Islands, marking a decline in international support.​

●​ Pakistan 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill:​

○​ Pakistan Senate passed the 26th amendment, limiting Chief

Justice tenure to three years and creating a 12-member
appointment commission.​

●​ North Korea-South Korea Relations Severed:​

 ○​ North Korea cut all road and rail connections with South Korea
amid escalating border tensions.​

●​ Nepali Mountaineer Sets Record:​

○​ Nima Rinji Sherpa, 18, became the youngest to summit all 14

peaks over 8,000 meters, achieving the feat on October 9, 2024.​

●​ UAE Aid Campaign for Lebanon:​

○​ UAE launches “UAE Stands with Lebanon”, mobilizing aid

following Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s $100 million directive.

●​ Sri Lanka Receives $200M World Bank Aid:​

○​ Sri Lanka secures $200 million from the World Bank to support
macroeconomic stability as part of the RESET initiative.​

●​ India Joins International Energy Efficiency Hub:​

○​ India joined the International Energy Efficiency Hub, aligning

with nations like the US and UK in sustainability efforts.​

●​ Taiwan Defense Support:​

○​ U.S. President Biden approved $567 million in defense support for

Taiwan, encompassing services and military education.​
●​ Northern Land Command by NATO in Finland:​

○​ NATO to establish a Northern Land Command in Finland by 2025,

overseeing land force operations near the Russian border.​

●​ Event Highlights:​

○​ Tropical Storm Krathon: Affected the Philippines and South

Korea.​

○​ Hurricane Helene: Affected the United States.​

○​ Cyclone Oscar: Affected Cuba and the Bahamas.​

●​ FATF Greylisting Updates:​

○​ FATF updates greylisting criteria to target high-risk nations,

including Nigeria, Venezuela, and Yemen.​

●​ Bangladesh Cancels Hasina-Introduced Holidays:​

○​ Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in

Bangladesh canceled eight national holidays established by
Sheikh Hasina.​

●​ WHO Secures $1B in Pledges:​

○​ WHO received $1 billion for the 2025-2028 budget, with Germany

contributing nearly $400 million.​

●​ Abu Dhabi Declared World’s Richest City by SWFs:​

○​ Abu Dhabi led in sovereign wealth funds globally, valued at $1.7

trillion, followed by Oslo, Beijing, and Singapore.
 ​

●​ Nicaragua Breaks Diplomatic Relations with Israel:​

○​ Nicaragua formally severs ties with Israel over recent actions in

Gaza and Lebanon.​

●​ Australia as Focus at 55th IFFI:​

○​ Australia is named the “Country of Focus” at the International

Film Festival of India, with seven films featured.​

●​ Hong Kong App Ban for Cybersecurity:​

○​ Hong Kong restricted apps like WhatsApp and Google Drive on

government computers to enhance cybersecurity.​

●​ Russia Proposes BRICS Grain Exchange:​

○​ Putin proposed a BRICS grain exchange for fair pricing and food
security, suggesting an investment platform among member
nations.​

●​ Israel Joins Asian Development Bank (ADB):​

○​ Israel became the 69th ADB member, following approval by ADB’s

Board of Governors on April 14, 2022.​
 ●​ Egypt Malaria-Free Certification:​

○​ Egypt declared malaria-free by WHO, joining Cabo Verde as the

second nation to achieve this status in 2024.​

●​ Indonesia’s Largest-Ever Cabinet Announced:​

○​ Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto appointed a

109-member Cabinet following his 2024 election victory with a
seven-party coalition.

India and World

●​ India extends $500M in Support:​

○​ India has extended $500 million in support to various global

causes.​

●​ Maldives President Muizzu's First Bilateral Visit to India:​

○​ Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu visited India; new projects

announced, including RuPay card launch in Maldives, and a new
runway at Hanimaadhoo Airport.​

●​ India-Pakistan Kartarpur Corridor Agreement Extended:​

○​ India and Pakistan extended the Kartarpur Corridor operation for

pilgrimages to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur until 2029.​

●​ Study in India Campaign:​

○​ India launched 'Study in India' campaign at Sharjah's

International Education Show, offering fee waivers and
scholarships for international students.​
●​ WHO Traditional Medicine Centre Funding:​

○​ India pledged $250M to WHO's Centre for Traditional Medicine,

becoming the sixth-largest global contributor to WHO.

●​ UNFPA Recognizes India's Maternal Health Progress:​

○​ UNFPA honoured India for reducing its Maternal Mortality Ratio

by 70% from 2000-2020, nearing SDG targets.​

●​ ADB Loan for Himachal Pradesh Tourism:​

○​ ADB approved $162M loan for sustainable tourism in Himachal

Pradesh, including projects in Kangra and Naggar.​

●​ Reliance Group Invests in Bhutan's Renewable Energy:​

○​ Reliance to invest in Bhutan's solar and hydropower, developing a

500 MW solar plant and collaborating on a 770 MW hydro project.​

●​ India-India Bilateral Investment Treaty:​

○​ India and Uzbekistan signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty to

protect investors, represented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman.​
●​ India’s Support for Sri Lanka's Education Sector:​

○​ India increased grant support to 600M SLR for upgrading

schools in Sri Lanka’s plantation areas.​

●​ IIT Madras Global Research Centre in Dubai:​

○​ IIT Madras to open a center in Dubai focusing on AI, data

science, and sustainable energy by 2025.​

●​ Indo-Turkiye Friendship Association Launched:​

○​ ITFA, fostering economic, cultural, and technological ties

between India and Turkiye, launched in Hyderabad.​

●​ India as Sri Lanka's Top Tourist Source Market:​

○​ India topped Sri Lankan tourism markets, with over 300K

visitors by mid-October, followed by UK, Russia, and Germany.​

●​ India and Russia Technology Trade:​

○​ India became Russia's second-largest restricted tech supplier,

increasing exports of microchips and circuits.​

●​ Indo-US Collaboration on AI and Quantum Technology:​

○​ The US-India partnership announced $2M in grants for AI,

quantum research projects, fostering innovation under USISTEF.​

●​ Pravasi Parichay 2024:​

○​ The 2024 Pravasi Parichay event celebrated India's linguistic

diversity in Riyadh with performances in 11 classical languages.
 ​

●​ India’s Aid to Palestine:​

○​ India dispatched 30 tons of aid to Palestine, including medicines

and food, emphasizing its commitment to a two-state solution.

Appointments
Person Position
Prabowo Subianto President of Indonesia
Claudia Sheinbaum President of Mexico
Luong Cuong President of Vietnam
Justice Sanjiv Khanna Chief Justice of India
Justice Yayha Afridi Chief Justice of Pakistan
Prakash Man Singh Raut Chief Justice of Nepal
Abhyuday Jindal President, Indian Chamber of Commerce
S Gopalakrishnan Chairman, Staff Selection Commission
Vijaya Rahatkar Chairperson, National Commission for Women
Rashmika Mandanna National Cyber Safety Ambassador
S Paramesh Chief, Indian Coast Guard
Partha Pratim Sengupta MD & CEO, Bandhan Bank
L Satya Srinivas CEO, Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
 High Commissioner, St. Vincent and the
Subhash Prasad Gupta Grenadines
Noel Tata Chairman, Tata Trusts
Sanath Jayasuriya Head Coach, Sri Lanka Cricket
Ajit Vinayak Gupte Ambassador to Germany
MV Shreyams Kumar President, Indian Newspaper Society
PK Gupta Chairman, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
Surgeon Vice Admiral Director General, Armed Forces Medical
Arti Sarin Services (DGAFMS)

Books and Authors

Book Author
Khaki Mein
Sthitapragya: Memories
and Experiences of an
IPS Officer Anil Raturi
Lara: The England
Chronicles Phil Walker
War Bob Woodward
Mountain Mammals of
the World M.K. Ranjitsinh
The Last Song of Dusk Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
Obituaries
Person Details
Ratan Tata Industrialist
Atul Parchure Marathi and Hindi Actor
Pioneer of Cardiac Surgery, Former AIIMS
P. Venugopal Director
Baba Siddique Former Member of the Maharashtra Assembly
Vasant Anant Gadgil Sanskrit Scholar

Days and Events

Date Event Name Theme
International Day of Aging with Dignity: Strengthening
October 1 Older Persons Care and Support Systems
First Monday of Engaging Youth to Create a Better
October World Habitat Day Urban Future
October 4 World Animal Day The world is their home too
World Cerebral Palsy
October 6 Day Uniquely CP
92nd Indian Air Force Bhartiya Vayu Sena - Saksham,
October 8 Anniversary Sashakt, Atmanirbhar
October 7 World Cotton Day Cotton for Good
World Mental Health
October 10 Day Mental Health at Work
International Day of
October 11 the Girl Child Girls’ Vision for the Future
October 12 World Arthritis Day Informed Choices, Better Outcomes
October 20 World Osteoporosis Say no to fragile bones
 Day
World Iodine Strengthening Public Health Through
October 21 Deficiency Day Awareness and Action
October 24 United Nations Day -
October 24 World Polio Day A Global Mission to Reach Every Child
October 31 Ekta Diwas 2024 -
 Index
●​ Awards and Honours
●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
Urban Mobility India Conference 2024

Union Minister Manohar Lal attended the event.

●​ City with the Most Sustainable Transport System: Kochi (Kochi Metro
Rail Corporation Ltd.)
●​ City with the Best Public Transport System: Bhubaneswar (CRUT)
●​ City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System: Srinagar (Srinagar
Smart City Ltd.)
●​ City with the Best Safety and Security System: Gandhinagar
(Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation)
●​ Best Intelligent Transport System (ITS): Surat (Surat Municipal
Corporation)
●​ Most Innovative Financing Mechanism: Jammu (Jammu Smart City
Ltd.)
●​ Best Record of Public Involvement in Transport: Bengaluru (BMTC)
●​ Metro with Best Multimodal Integration: Bengaluru (BMRCL)
●​ Best Passenger Services & Satisfaction (Metro): Mumbai (Mumbai Metro
One Pvt. Ltd.)

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2022-23

Awarded to 82 young artists in music, dance, and drama. Includes ₹25,000, a

plaque, and angavastram.

Sahitya Awards at 'Sahitya Aaj Tak' Festival

●​ Lifetime Achievement: Gulzar

●​ Emerging Writer Award: Siniwali – Heti-Sukanya Akath Katha
●​ Indian Language Talent Award: Bharat Kheni – Raja Ravi Varma
●​ Popular Writer Award: Yatindra Mishra – Gulzar Saab: Hazar Raahein
Mud Ke Dekhi...
●​ Indian Language Award: Pradeep Dash – Charu, Cheevar and Charya
●​ Best Composition: Shivamurthy – Agam Bahai Dariyaav
●​ Best Creation: Usha Priyamvada – Arkadept
Notable Recognitions

●​ Rohini Nayyar Prize: Anil Pradhan – ₹10 lakh + citation + trophy

●​ Gotham Awards: Angelina Jolie – Performer Tribute (Maria)

●​ AFI 2025: Francis Ford Coppola – Life Achievement Award
●​ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Honorary Officer of the Order of Fiji
●​ State Bank of India: Best Bank in India – Global Finance Magazine
●​ IUCN Award: Bibhab Kumar Talukdar – Harry Messel Award for
conservation
●​ Pro Kabaddi League: Best Sports League; Puneri Paltan – Sports
Franchise of the Year
●​ ANR Award: Chiranjeevi – presented by Amitabh Bachchan
●​ RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das: A+ grade – Global Finance magazine
●​ EU's Sakharov Prize: María Corina Machado & Edmundo González
Urrutia
●​ Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2023: Daniel Barenboim & Ali Abu Awwad
●​ Miss Charm India 2024: Shivangi Desai
●​ Green World Award 2024: Coal India Ltd – Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna
●​ Miss Universe 2024: Victoria Kjaer (Denmark); Rhea Singha (India) – did
not make top 12
●​ Leeds Festival Best Film: The Fable – Manoj Bajpayee
●​ Hyderabad Airport: Digital Twin Innovation Award
●​ SaMaPa Awards 2024: Nityanand Haldipur, Shashi Vyas, Kamalini Dutt,
Harish Tiwari, Bashir Aarif
●​ IFFI 2024: Phillip Noyce – Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award
●​ Education Awards 2024-25: Kunal Dalal – Education Leader of the Year;
JBCN Education – India’s Most Respected Brand
Appointments

Name Designation
President,
International Hockey
Tayyab Ikram Federation
Harsha Vardhan
Agarwal President, FICCI
Prime Minister,
Navin Ramgoolam Mauritius
Shigeru Ishiba Prime Minister, Japan
CEO, Zee
Punit Goenka Entertainment
CEO, Professional Golf
Amandeep Johl Tour of India
Brand Ambassador,
Jackie Shroff ALT EFF
Brand Ambassador,
Sonu Sood Thailand Tourism
Defence Secretary of
Rajesh Kumar Singh India
Foreign Secretary of
Vikram Misri India
Arvindar Singh
Sahney Chairman, Indian Oil
Keshav Chandra Chairman, NDMC
Chairman, Airports
Vipin Kumar Authority of India
51st Chief Justice of
Justice Sanjiv Khanna India

Mithali Raj Mentor, ACA Women’s

 Cricket
Ashish Khanna Director General, ISA
Comptroller & Auditor
K. Sanjay Murthy General of India
47th President of the
Donald Trump USA

Sports
Under-19 World Boxing Championship

●​ Location: Colorado, USA​

●​ Medal Count: 4 gold, 8 silver, 5 bronze​

●​ Notable Winners:​

○​ Gold: Krisha Verma (F75kg), Parthavi Grewal (F65kg), Vanshika

Goswami (F+80kg), Hemant Sangwan (M90kg)​

●​ Achievement: India finished second in the women's division, with 17 out

of 19 boxers winning medals.​

12th Sultan of Johor Cup 2024 (U21 Hockey)

 ●​ Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia​

●​ Result: Bronze medal, defeating New Zealand 3-2 in a shootout.​

●​ Gold Winner: Great Britain​

●​ Silver Runner-Up: Australia​

●​ Historical Note: The Indian junior men's team won the 2022 edition by
defeating Australia.

U23 World Wrestling Championships 2024

●​ Location: Tirana, Albania​

●​ Medal Count: 1 gold, 1 silver, 7 bronze​

●​ Key Winners:​

○​ Gold: Chirag Chikkara (Men's Freestyle 57kg)​

○​ Bronze: Vicky (Men’s Freestyle 97kg), marking India’s first medal in

this category at U23 Worlds.

World Pickleball Championship

●​ Date: November 12-17, 2024​

●​ Venue: Cricket Club of India, Mumbai​

●​ Medal Count: 28 medals, including 11 golds.​

●​ Highlights:​

○​ Involved 650 players from 15 countries.​

○​ Winners in various categories included Sonu Vishwakarma (19+

Open Gold) and Priyanka Mehta (35+ Women's Singles Gold).
IPL 2025 Mega Auction

●​ Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia​

●​ Details:​

○​ Total players registered: 1,574 (1,165 Indian, 409 overseas).​

○​ Most expensive players: Rishabh Pant to LSG for ₹27 crore,

Shreyas Iyer to PBKS for ₹26.75 crore.​

○​ Youngest player: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (13 years old) signed by RR

for ₹1.10 crore.

Individual Achievements

●​ Neeraj Chopra: Appointed Czech legend Jan Zelezny as his coach.​

●​ Alexander Zverev: Won the 2024 Paris Masters, marking his 7th Masters
1000 title.

●​ Anish Sarkar: Became the youngest-rated chess player at age 3 with a

FIDE rating of 1555.​

●​ Tanushree Pandey: Won silver in U-21 Women’s Singles at the World Soft
Tennis Championship.​
 ●​ Mandeep Jangra: Secured the WBF super featherweight world title
against Conor McIntosh.​

●​ Harmeet Desai: Claimed Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles titles at WTT
Feeder Caracas.​

●​ Jyothi Surekha Vennam: Won gold in women’s compound archery at the

GT Open in Luxembourg.​

●​ Manika Batra: First Indian to reach the top 8 at WTT Champions

Montpellier 2024.​

●​ Atanu Das: Won bronze in Recurve Men at the Swiss Open Indoor
Archery.

Team and National Achievements

Asian ArmWrestling Cup 2024:

●​ India finished second with 223 medals, including 63 golds.​

AIFF Recognition:

●​ AFC President's Recognition Award (Silver) for grassroots football.

Government Policies and Schemes

PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme

●​ Approval: The Union Cabinet approved a financial support scheme for

meritorious students.​

●​ Education Loan Demand: Outstanding loans in 2023 reached ₹90,000

crore; ₹36,448 crore disbursed in 2023-24.​
 ●​ Features:​

○​ Covers NIRF-ranked institutions (top 100) and state-run (101-200).​

○​ Collateral-free, guarantor-free loans covering full tuition and

expenses.​

○​ 75% credit guarantee for loans up to ₹7.5 lakh.​

○​ 3% interest subsidy for families with annual income up to ₹8 lakh

(moratorium period).​

○​ CSIS provides a full subsidy for loans up to ₹10 lakh for families
with income under ₹4.5 lakh.​

●​ Budget: ₹3,600 crore (2024-25 to 2030-31).

Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2024 (PMIS)

●​ Goal: Provide 12-month internships in top 500 companies, targeting 10

million youth over 5 years.​

●​ Pilot Phase: ₹800 crore budget, aiming for 1.25 lakh internships in FY25.​

○​ Allowance: ₹5,000/month and a one-time grant of ₹6,000.​

●​ Participation:​
 ○​ 280 companies, including Tata Steel, ITC, ICICI Bank, Mahindra
Group.​

○​ Maharashtra (14,694) and Tamil Nadu (13,263) offered the highest

internships.

Namo Drone Didi Scheme

●​ ₹1,261 crore allocated for 14,500 Women SHGs (2024-26) to enhance

modern farming, boost agricultural efficiency, and promote women’s
entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Operation Dronagiri

●​ Demonstrates geospatial technology applications in agriculture,

livelihoods, logistics, and transport; pilot states include Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Special Dolphin Ambulance Project

●​ ₹1 crore budget under NMCG to rescue endangered Ganga Dolphins,

increase public awareness, and provide community training for
conservation.

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

●​ ₹79,156 crore for holistic tribal village development across 30 states/UTs,

focusing on health, education, livelihood, and infrastructure; includes
₹24,104 crore dedicated to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Centre Doubles Fines for Stubble Burning

●​ Fines for stubble burning have been doubled to curb Delhi's pollution.
Indices and Reports
QS World University Rankings Asia 2025

●​ Top 5 Rankings:​

○​ Peking University (China) topped the list, followed by the University

of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang
Technological University (NTU), and Fudan University (China).​

●​ Indian Institutions:​

○​ Highest ranked: IIT Delhi at 44th place.​

○​ Other top performers: IIT Bombay at 48th, IIT Madras at 56th, IIT
Kharagpur at 60th, IIT Kanpur at 67th, and the University of Delhi
at 81st.​

Henley Passport Index 2024 (October)

●​ Top Performer: Singapore with access to 195 countries.​

●​ Shared 2nd Place: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain, each with
192 visa-free destinations.​

●​ India's Position: Ranked 83rd, with access to 58 countries.​

●​ Least Powerful: Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan.​

Climate Change Performance Index 2024

●​ Top Performers:​

○​ Denmark secured 4th place as the best performer.​

 ○​ The Netherlands (5th) and the UK (6th) followed.​

●​ India's Standing: 10th place, recognized for:​

○​ Low per capita emissions: 2.9 tCO2e, well below the global average
of 6.6 tCO2e.​

○​ Renewable energy advancements: The rapid expansion of solar

power and the Rooftop Solar Scheme.​

○​ EV growth: Increased adoption, especially in two-wheelers.​

●​ Bottom Performers: Russia (64th), UAE (65th), Saudi Arabia (66th), and
Iran (67th).

Sustainable Trade Index 2024

●​ This index assesses trade sustainability based on economic growth, social

progress, and environmental resilience:​

○​ Top 10 Most Sustainable Economies:​

■​ New Zealand scored the highest with an overall score of 100.​

■​ Other leaders included the UK, Australia, and Singapore.​

○​ India's Position: 23rd with a score of 24.​

 ■​ Economic Growth: High, with a score of 62.3.​

■​ Societal Challenges: Low score of 13.3, emphasizing issues

like poverty.​

■​ Environmental Resilience: Score of 43.1, pointing to pollution

and deforestation.​

Important Key Developments

●​ AI Preparedness Index 2023: India ranked 72nd with a score of 0.49,

showcasing an active AI startup ecosystem.​

●​ Himalayan Glacial Lakes Expansion: Increased by 10.81% from 2011 to

2024.​

●​ RBI: Held the repo rate at 6.5%, with CPI inflation at 5.5% as of
September 2024.​

●​ Lahore Pollution: Ranked as the most polluted city in the world with AQI
708.​

●​ Global Rule of Law Index 2024: India ranked 79th out of 142 countries.​

●​ International Students: India overtook China as the leading source of

international students in the U.S., contributing $11.8 billion to the
economy.​

●​ India's Gaming Market: Expected to reach $9.2 billion by FY29, with 66%
of gamers from non-metro cities.​

●​ Renewable Energy Milestone: India’s renewable capacity reached 203.18

GW (46.3% of total power).​

●​ S&P Forecast: India’s economy projected to grow at 6.5%–7% for FY

2024-2027.
Defence
Exercise Details:

●​ Poorvi Prahar: 10-day joint exercise of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air
Force in Arunachal Pradesh, focusing on combat effectiveness and
coordination.​

●​ Sanyukt Vimochan 2024: Multi-agency disaster management and

coordination exercise in Gujarat.​

●​ Sea Vigil-24: Coastal Defence Exercise focusing on coastal security and

infrastructure protection.​

●​ AUSTRAHIND 2024: Joint exercise with Australia, 140 Indian and 120
Australian personnel, held in Maharashtra.​

●​ Vinbax 2024: Joint exercise with Vietnam, involving armies and air
forces, hosted in Haryana.​

●​ VAJRA PRAHAR 2024: Special Forces exercise with the U.S., conducted in
Idaho, USA.

●​ GARUD SHAKTI 24: Special Forces exercise with Indonesia, focusing on

advanced tactics in Jakarta.​
Defence Sector Developments

●​ Atma Nirbhar Bharat Initiative: Boosted defense production to over

₹1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 174% increase since 2014-15.​

●​ Defence Exports: Rose from ₹686 crores in 2013-14 to over ₹21,000 crores
in 2023-24, with significant contributions from the U.S., France, and
Armenia. The private sector contributed 21% to India's defense output.​

Recent Technological and Military Advancements

●​ Guided Pinaka Rocket System: Successfully tested by DRDO, achieving a

range of over 75 km.​

●​ INSV Tarini's NSP-II Expedition: Departed from Fremantle, Australia on

24 Nov 2024, heading to New Zealand, with a mission to promote India’s
maritime heritage and women's empowerment.​

●​ India-Russia Pact: MoU for advanced Pantsir air defence systems

signed, capable of detecting and engaging targets up to 36 km and
altitudes of 15 km.​

●​ First All-Women CISF Battalion: Approved to handle infrastructure

security and VIP protection.​

●​ 'Gyan Shakti' Defence Think Tank: Launched in Rajasthan to bolster

collaboration on defense and security issues.​

●​ Hypersonic Missile: Successfully tested with a range over 1,500 km,

placing India among a select group with hypersonic capabilities.
Science and Technology
Space Exploration and Satellite Missions

●​ SpaceX and ISRO Collaboration: On November 19, SpaceX launched

India's GSAT-20 (also known as GSAT N-2) using a Falcon 9 rocket from
Cape Canaveral, marking ISRO's first significant commercial partnership
with SpaceX, valued at $60-70 million. GSAT-20, weighing 4,700 kg, will
enhance broadband and communication services in India with its 14-year
lifespan and 48 Gbps capacity.​

●​ Other Satellite Launches:​

○​ ZimSat-2: Launched by Zimbabwe's ZINGSA, from Vostochny

Cosmodrome in partnership with Russia’s SWSU, features a
multispectral camera aiding agricultural monitoring.

○​ Koreasat 6A: Successfully launched by SpaceX, replacing the older

Koreasat 6 to offer enhanced communications from 116° East.

Scientific Discoveries and Developments

●​ Black Hole Discoveries: NASA's James Webb Telescope observed

LID-568, a supermassive black hole 1.5 billion years post-Big Bang with
an unprecedented accretion rate exceeding 40 times the Eddington limit.​

●​ New Planet Discovery: Indian scientists identified TOI-6651b, a

Saturn-sized exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star, presenting data crucial for
 understanding planetary formation.​

●​ Unique Flora: A new fire-resilient plant, Dicliptera polymorpha, was found

in the Western Ghats. Additionally, the flower species Crinum andhricum
was discovered in Andhra Pradesh, classified as ‘Data Deficient’ by IUCN.

Technological Advancements

●​ AI Developments:​

○​ Hanooman AI: Launched Everest 1.0, India’s first multi-lingual,

multi-modal AI model supporting 35 languages, showcased at the
NVIDIA GEN AI Summit.​

●​ 6G Technology: IIT Indore developed intelligent receivers for 6G,

enhancing adaptability in noisy and interference-prone environments.

National Affairs
Environmental and Agricultural Initiatives

●​ Sustainability Efforts: Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry created

LignoSat, the first wooden satellite aimed at reducing space pollution and
testing material resilience.​

●​ Agricultural Research: Candidatus Phytoplasma, identified as a cause of

sesame crop diseases in West Bengal, threatens plant health by
preventing proper flowering.

National and Defence Initiatives

●​ ISRO and ASA Collaboration: India and the Australian Space Agency
signed an agreement to support the Gaganyaan mission, focusing on
crew recovery operations in Australian waters.​
 ●​ Antariksha Abhyas - 2024: India's first tri-service space exercise
involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, ISRO, and DRDO was launched,
emphasizing space asset security.

Energy and Sustainability

●​ NTPC's Green Innovation: Partnered with the Indian Institute of

Petroleum to develop a catalyst for converting CO2 into high-purity
methanol, supporting climate goals.​

●​ UAE's Agentic AI in Energy: ADNOC’s collaboration with G42, Microsoft,

and AIQ implemented autonomous AI to optimize seismic surveys and
production forecasts.

Supreme Court Rules on Unauthorized Demolitions

●​ On November 13, 2024, the Supreme Court set new guidelines

regulating government-led demolitions to protect constitutional
rights.​

○​ Required measures include a 15-day notice period, videography of

demolitions, clear reasons stated for the action, and hearings for
contesting the order.​

○​ Violations could result in contempt proceedings and penalties for

responsible officials.

Government Job Recruitment Guidelines

●​ On November 7, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that recruitment rules

cannot be altered mid-process, ensuring fairness under Article 14 of
the Constitution.

Energy and Environment

●​ NTPC Vindhyachal: Achieved a milestone by producing 10 tons of

methanol per day from CO₂, supporting India’s net-zero goals for 2070.​
 ●​ Green Hydrogen Mission: The Government allocated ₹100 crore to set up
Centres of Excellence, part of a ₹19,744 crore initiative.​

●​ New Tiger Reserve: Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

designated as India’s 56th tiger reserve.​

●​ "Bhu-Neer" Portal: Launched to manage groundwater withdrawal with a

centralized database.

Health and Research

●​ ICMR's Innovation Challenge: A global initiative to promote

advancements in vaccines and diagnostics.​

●​ WOAH Status: ICAR-NRC Hisar named a Reference Laboratory for equine

piroplasmosis.​

●​ NPPA Actions: Reduced prices and GST for three anti-cancer drugs to aid
patients.

Civic and Cultural Developments

●​ Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan Chowk: Renamed to Birsa Munda Chowk on the
150th birth anniversary of the tribal leader.​

●​ IFFI 2024: The 18th Film Bazaar in Goa featured 208 films, showcasing
both contemporary and classic works.​
 ●​ Shilp Samagam Mela: Launched at Dilli Haat to promote marginalized
artisans through the ‘TULIP’ e-marketplace.​

●​ Vadtal Dham Stamp: Commemorative stamp released for its 200th

anniversary.

Government Initiatives and Programs

●​ Aimed at skill training for 10,000 youth.​

●​ PM Modi's Inauguration of Jan Aushadhi Kendras: Prime Minister Modi

inaugurated 18 Jan Aushadhi Kendras at various railway stations in states
including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and
Telangana, promoting access to quality medicines.​

●​ Aadhaar-based EPFO Service: Labour Ministry mandated UAN

activation by November 30, 2024.

Other Key Developments

●​ HNLC Banned for 5 More Years: The Union Home Ministry has extended
the ban on the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for
another five years, citing its activities against India's sovereignty. This
decision followed a recommendation by the Meghalaya government
under the UAPA Act.​

●​ Bodoland Mahotsav Inauguration: On November 15, 2024, Prime

Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Bodoland Mahotsav in New
Delhi. This event highlights the cultural and literary heritage of the Bodo
community, who are among the earliest settlers in Assam’s Brahmaputra
valley.
●​ Pravasiya Bharatiya Diwas: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the website for the
18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, scheduled for January 8-10, 2025, in
Bhubaneswar.
○​ Theme: The diaspora’s contributions to a "Viksit Bharat" (developed
India).
Summits and Conferences
2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit

●​ Host & Key Themes: Brazil hosted the 19th G20 Summit from November
18–19 at the Museum of Modern Art, marking the first time Brazil led the
summit and the inclusion of the African Union as a member. The summit
focused on social inclusion, sustainable development, and global
governance reform, with the motto “Building a Just World and a
Sustainable Planet”.

●​ Special Initiatives: Brazil launched the Global Mobilization Against

Climate Change working group to address inequalities.

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

●​ Conference Outcomes: COP29 aimed to tackle urgent climate issues with

nearly 200 countries participating.​

●​ Key Announcements:​

○​ Climate Finance Goal: A new goal was set to triple funding for
developing nations to USD 300 billion annually by 2035.​

○​ Methane Reduction: Over 30 countries endorsed a declaration for

cutting methane emissions from organic waste.​

○​ Carbon Markets Agreement: Finalization of trading mechanisms

under the Paris Agreement to allow bilateral and centralized carbon
 credit exchanges.​

○​ Gender Action Plan: The Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG)

was extended, emphasizing gender equality.​

●​ India’s Position: India, led by Minister Shri Kriti Vardhan Singh, opposed
the new climate finance goal, advocating for at least $1.3 trillion annually,
with $600 billion as grants.

Global and National Initiatives

●​ GBA Secretariat in India: India signed an agreement to host the Global

Biofuels Alliance (GBA) Secretariat.​

●​ ISA Presidency: India was re-elected as President of the International

Solar Alliance (ISA), with France as Co-President.​

●​ Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC) 2024: Held in Zimbabwe,

this event addressed the health impacts of climate change in Africa and
led to new funding commitments.​

●​ Swavlamban 3.0: Raksha Mantri launched ADITI 3.0 and DISC 13

challenges at the seminar, focusing on innovation and defense
capabilities.​

●​ Chanakya Defence Dialogue: This event explored security strategies

aligned with India's vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.​

●​ Asia Clean Energy Summit 2024: Discussed clean energy advancements,

with projects like South Korea's 100MW solar and 291MWh storage in
Australia.​

●​ India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Declaration: Announced joint efforts

to leverage AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to combat global
inequality.​
 ●​ India-CARICOM Summit: Focused on strengthening economic and
environmental ties.​

●​ "Sagarmanthan" Forum: Aimed at sustainable maritime development in

South Asia.

Tech and Innovation Highlights

●​ Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024: Featured over 2,500 startups and focused
on AI, space, robotics, healthtech, and agritech.​

●​ Workshop on Financial Education: Conducted by IEPFA, NCAER, and

BSE, it discussed the role of digital tech in boosting financial literacy.​

●​ Telecom Event: TRAI hosted a conference with South Asian nations,

where Anil Kumar Lahoti became the new SATRC chair.​

●​ Global Cooperative Conference 2024: PM Modi inaugurated this event,

marking the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives 2025, under the
theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.

Other Significant Developments

●​ UN Sustainable Tourism Declaration: More than 50 countries committed

to enhancing climate action in tourism, which contributes significantly to
the global economy and emissions.​
 ●​ India’s Biodiversity Action Plan: Launched at COP 16 in Colombia to halt
biodiversity loss by 2030.​

●​ ILO Governing Body Meeting: Highlighted India's success in poverty

reduction, with over 170 million Indians joining the workforce between
2016-2023.​

●​ Investors' Meet 2024: Focused on fisheries and aquaculture, emphasizing

sustainable practices and partnerships.

MoUs and Agreements

Parties Involved Details
India-Maldives India, Maldives Promote INR and MVR for trade; reduce
Currency MoU costs, enhance trade, strengthen financial ties.
ISRO, Australian Space Agency Collaboration on
ISRO-Australian Gaganyaan crew/module recovery; boost human
Space Pact spaceflight ties.
Mines Ministry-IEA Ministry of Mines, IEA Enhance critical minerals
on Minerals cooperation; data and policy support.
IIT Madras-ISRO IIT Madras, ISRO Establish research center for spacecraft
Fluid Sciences thermal management; ISRO funding.
Tata Power-Noida Tata Power, Noida Airport Develop 10.8 MW wind, 13 MW
Airport Energy solar power; 25-year maintenance.
C-DOT-IIT Roorkee C-DOT, IIT Roorkee Create low-cost, polymer-based 5G
5G Transceiver transceivers for rural use.
Tata
Power-IndusInd Tata Power, IndusInd Bank Collateral-free loans for SMEs
Bank Solar Loans for solar systems.
NTPC-ONGC NTPC, ONGC Joint venture for solar, wind, green
Renewable JV hydrogen, and more.
RITES-SAIL Rail RITES, SAIL Consultancy for Jharkhand rail connectivity;
Project engineering and monitoring.
India-Algeria India, Algeria Enhance defence cooperation and capacity
Defence MoU building.
India-Spain India, Spain MoUs in infrastructure, railways; 2026 as
Infrastructure Ties "India-Spain Year of Culture."
GAIL-VERBIO CBG GAIL, VERBIO Develop CBG plants using agricultural
Projects waste.
NTPC-Indian Army NTPC, Indian Army Solar hydrogen microgrid for Ladakh's
Hydrogen Microgrid off-grid locations.
RITES-NMDC Rail
Project RITES, NMDC Consultancy for NMDC’s rail connectivity.
NTPC-Indian Army NTPC, Indian Army Solar hydrogen microgrid for Chushul,
Microgrid Ladakh.
India-Germany India, Germany MoUs on green hydrogen and technology;
Green Tech $33B bilateral trade.
IndiaAI-Meta
Generative AI IndiaAI, Meta Established "Srijan" at IIT Jodhpur for
Centre generative AI research.

Business and Economy

GST Collection Insights

●​ October 2024 GST Collection: Reached ₹1.87 lakh crore, the highest in six
months, continuing above ₹1.7 lakh crore for eight consecutive months.​

●​ Year-over-Year Growth: 8.9% increase compared to October 2023, and

an 8.1% sequential rise from September 2024.​

●​ Previous High: April 2024 at ₹2.1 lakh crore.

 ​

●​ Breakdown:​

○​ Central GST: ₹33,821 crore​

○​ State GST: ₹41,864 crore​

○​ Integrated GST: ₹99,111 crore​

○​ Cess: ₹12,550 crore

State-wise Performance

●​ Top Growth States:​

○​ Ladakh (30%)​

○​ Kerala (20%)​

○​ Haryana (15%)​

●​ Declining States:​

○​ Arunachal Pradesh (-33%)​

○​ 'Other Territory' category (-37%)​

●​ Top Contributors:​
 ○​ Maharashtra: ₹31,030 crore (14% growth)​

○​ Karnataka: ₹13,081 crore (9% growth)​

○​ Gujarat: ₹11,407 crore (17% growth)

Digital Payments

Change from Previous

Payment System Volume Value Period
16.58
UPI Transactions billion ₹23.5 trillion Up 45% YoY
Single-Day Record 546
(Dhanteras) million - -
467 Volume up 9%, Value up
IMPS million ₹6.29 trillion 11%
345 Volume up 8%, Value up
FASTag million ₹6,115 crore from ₹5,620 crore
126 Volume up 26%, Value up
AePS million ₹32,493 crore 35%

Key Economic Updates

●​ Smartphone Market: India became the second largest globally by unit

volume in Q3 2024, with 15.5% of shipments, trailing behind China. It
ranked third by value with 12.3%.​

●​ RBI KYC Rule Updates: Streamlined to include Central KYC Records

Registry for automated updates, enhancing oversight.​

●​ IDFC FIRST Bank: Introduced real-time tracking for international

transfers, improving transaction transparency.​
 ●​ SBI and Exim Bank: Enhanced trade finance in Africa, supporting over
40 nations.​

●​ PNB MetLife: Launched the Bharat Consumption Fund to target India’s

expanding consumer economy.​

●​ Outward FDI: Increased to $3.24 billion in October 2024 but fell from
September's $3.77 billion.​

●​ D-SIBs: RBI named SBI, HDFC, and ICICI Bank as Domestic

Systemically Important Banks.​

●​ Union Finance Minister: Launched the National MSME Cluster Outreach

Program to improve financial access for MSMEs.

Notable Initiatives and Achievements

●​ Air India and Vistara Merger: Integrated operations under the Air India
brand, with Singapore Airlines holding a 25.1% stake.​

●​ Canara HSBC Life Insurance: Introduced OmniGen AI for better

underwriting and risk management.​

●​ PNB’s PCAF Membership: Demonstrates commitment to carbon

accountability.​

●​ HDFC Life's 'Second Chance' Campaign: Promotes CPR awareness,

following their 'The Missing Beat' initiative.​

●​ UPI 123Pay: Transaction limit increased to ₹10,000 for users without

internet access, adding Aadhaar OTP authentication.
Economic Outlook

●​ GDP Growth: Projected at 7% for FY 2024-25, with a forecast decline to

6.7% in FY 2025-26.​

●​ S&P Global: Maintained India’s GDP growth forecast at 6.8% for FY

2024-25.​

●​ Israel's F-15 Deal with Boeing: Israel secured a $5.2 billion deal for 25
F-15IA fighter jets, with an option for an additional 25. Deliveries are set
to start in 2031, enhancing Israel's air defense capabilities.​

●​ Australia's Social Media Ban Proposal: Prime Minister Anthony

Albanese proposed a ban on social media for those under 16, with
legislation expected this year and enforcement 12 months after
ratification. Platforms, not parents, will bear responsibility for compliance.​

●​ Swiss Burqa Ban: Switzerland’s burqa ban will be enforced starting

January 1, 2025, with violators facing fines up to 1,000 Swiss francs.
This measure follows a 2021 referendum and builds on past restrictions on
minarets.​

●​ Tajikistan's Hijab Ban: Tajikistan passed a law banning hijabs for women,
viewing them as culturally ‘alien.’ Penalties for violations range from $747
to $3,724.​

●​ FTII Student Film Oscars Qualifier: The short film "Sunflowers Were
the First Ones to Know" by Chidananda S. Naik from FTII qualified for
the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category after winning first
 prize at Cannes La Cinef Selection.​

●​ Bengali on New York Ballot: Bengali was featured on the 2024 US

presidential election ballot in New York, highlighting the state's linguistic
diversity.​

●​ Word of the Year 2024: Collins Dictionary chose "brat" as its Word of
the Year, reflecting a shift to a connotation of confident, independent
behavior.

International Awards
Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency

●​ President-elect Donald Trump announced plans for a new department to

reduce bureaucracy and waste, with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
as advisors.

Australia’s Anti-Slavery Commissioner

●​ Chris Evans was appointed as Australia's first Anti-Slavery

Commissioner, tasked with strengthening anti-slavery efforts across
sectors.

Bangladesh’s New Election Commission

●​ A new 5-member election commission was formed in Bangladesh, with

AMM Nasir Uddin as the Chief Election Commissioner.

Bhutan’s Mindfulness City

●​ Bhutan plans to build the Gelephu Mindfulness City to attract global

investment, integrating eco-tourism and green energy.

Canada Ends Fast-Track Student Visa Program

 ●​ Canada concluded the Student Direct Stream visa program affecting
students from 14 countries, including India and China, to address
housing and resource challenges.

Russia-North Korea Military Pact

●​ Russia ratified a mutual military assistance treaty with North Korea, aligning
with UN Charter provisions.

ICC Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu

●​ The ICC issued warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu, former defense minister
Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif over alleged war crimes.

India and World

Reserve Bank of India’s Gold Repatriation

●​ Total Gold Reserves: India’s gold reserves now total 854.73 metric
tonnes, with 510.5 tonnes stored in India (mainly Mumbai) and the
remainder held internationally (314 tonnes in the Bank of England, 10
tonnes at BIS and the Federal Reserve Bank of NY, and 20.3 tonnes in
gold deposits).​

●​ Repatriation Efforts: In October 2024, the RBI repatriated 102 tonnes

from the Bank of England and BIS, continuing to prioritize domestic gold
storage.​
 ●​ Global Standing: India ranks 8th globally in sovereign gold holdings,
making up 9.57% of its forex reserves. The US leads with the highest
gold reserves.

US Returns Looted Artifacts

●​ Artifacts Returned: Over 1,400 looted items, valued at $10 million, were
returned to India by the US. Notable among these is a sandstone
sculpture of a dancer.​

●​ Cultural Property Agreement: Signed in July 2024, the agreement

between India and the US aims to combat antiquities trafficking.​

●​ Total Returns: Since 2016, the US has returned 578 artifacts to India, the
most from any country.

International Relations and Strategic Developments

●​ India’s UNGA Vote: India opposed Pakistan’s resolution on regional

arms control, becoming the only country to do so.​

●​ South Africa’s Visa Scheme: The Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS)
aims to increase Indian tourists in South Africa from 16,000 to 100,000.​

●​ Anti-Money Laundering Collaboration: India and Qatar’s Financial

Intelligence Units met to strengthen anti-money laundering and
counter-terror financing efforts.​

●​ Energy Initiatives:​

○​ Cairn Oil & Gas joined UNEP’s OGMP 2.0 to curb methane
emissions.​

○​ Tata Power and Druk Green Power Corporation signed an MoU

for 5,000 MW of clean energy in Bhutan.​
 ●​ India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership: Launched at the G20
summit, focusing on solar PV, green hydrogen, and energy storage.​

●​ India’s Contribution to Flood Relief: 15 tons of aid were sent to Nigeria

amid severe flooding.

Cultural and Diplomatic Engagements

●​ Gifts to Leaders: PM Modi presented a traditional Sohrai painting to

President Putin and a Warli painting to Uzbekistan’s President.​

●​ Indian Constitution Replica: Displayed at the Sharjah Book Fair,

emphasizing India’s historical and cultural contributions.

Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements

●​ BIMSTEC Energy Centre: India agreed to set up the centre in Bengaluru

to enhance energy connectivity among BIMSTEC nations.​

●​ Trilateral Power Transaction: A new agreement facilitates power flow

from Nepal to Bangladesh via India.

Economic and Trade Developments

●​ Russian Oil Imports: India increased its intake of Russian oil by 3.3% in
October, reaching 1.95 million bpd, the highest in three months.​

●​ Amaravati Project: The World Bank and ADB approved a ₹13,500 crore
loan for sustainable city development.

Recognition and International Presence

●​ General Dwivedi's Honor: Conferred as Honorary General of the Nepali

Army.​

●​ Armenia Joins ISA: Became the 104th member of the International

Solar Alliance on November 15, 2024.
Books and Authors
Book Title Author's Name
Why Bharat Matters EAM S. Jaishankar
Witness Sakshi Malik, Jonathan Selvaraj
Orbital Samantha Harvey
Maa-Mother Dr. Davendra Kumar Dhodawat
The Book of Now Manoj V Jain
Ratan Tata: A Life Thomas Mathew

Obituaries
Name Position/Title Additional Information
Former Allahabad High Known for legal services, Ganga
Giridhar Court Judge, BHU cleaning campaign, and proposing
Malaviya Chancellor PM Modi’s candidacy for Varanasi.
Madan Freedom Fighter, Key Contributed to the Quit India
Mohan figure in Mewar Praja Movement, honored by leaders for his
Somtiya Mandal role in India’s independence.
Passed away at 83; part of the
Mahendra Former BJP MP, Member notable political and royal legacy of
Singh Mewar of the Mewar Royal Family Mewar.
Elevated sarangi to a solo instrument
Pandit in Indian classical music. Padma
RamNarayan Legendary Sarangi Player Vibhushan awardee. Died at 96.
Known as 'Billy', Arjuna Award
recipient, achieved a handicap of
HS Sodhi Former Top Polo Player plus-five. Died at 86.
Kiki Made history as the first Miss World
Hakansson First Miss World, 1951 at the inaugural pageant. Died at 95.
 Contributed to Sanskrit translations,
Chairman of PM’s including Mahabharata and
Bibek Economic Advisory Bhagavad Gita; served on NITI
Debroy Council Aayog till 2019.
Former Judge of
Karnataka High Court, Led the challenge against Aadhaar,
Justice KS Key Advocate for Right to resulting in privacy being deemed a
Puttaswamy Privacy fundamental right.

Days and Events

Date Event Name Theme
National Cancer "Hope, love, and strength: our
November 7 Awareness Day weapons against cancer!"
November 8 World Radiography Day "Radiographers: Seeing the Unseen"
"Giving Kids A Forever Family, One
November 9 World Adoption Day Adoption At A Time"
"Humanly Possible: Immunization for
November 10 World Immunization Day All"
November 11 National Education Day "Inclusive, high-quality education"
November 14 World Diabetes Day "Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps"
November 16 National Press Day "Changing Nature of the Press"
International Day for "Promoting Respect And
November 16 Tolerance Understanding Worldwide"
November 19 World Toilet Day "Toilets - A Place for Peace"
November 19 International Men's Day "Positive Male Role Models"
"India’s Blue Transformation:
Strengthening Small-Scale and
November 21 World Fisheries Day Sustainable Fisheries"
November 21 World Philosophy Day "Philosophy: Bridging Social Gaps"
November 21 World Television Day "Accessibility"
“Transforming Dairying with AI and
November 26 National Milk Day IT”
November 26 Constitution Day of India -
November 28 Red Planet Day -
 Index
●​ Awards and Honours
●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
●​ National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024:
○​ Date Announced: 26th November 2024
○​ Purpose: To recognize individuals and organizations in the
livestock and dairy sector.
○​ Special Award for NER: New award category for North Eastern
Region states this year.
○​ Winners:
■​ Smt. Renu (Haryana)
■​ The Gabat Milk Producers Society (Gujarat)
■​ Shri Bhaskar Pradhan (Odisha).
●​ IFFI Goa 2024:
○​ Dates: 20-28 November
○​ Theme: 'Young Filmmakers – The Future is Now'.
○​ Golden Peacock Award: Won by Toxic (Lithuania), directed by
Saulė Bliuvaitė.
○​ IFFI Awards:
■​ Best Web Series – Lampan (Sony Liv).
■​ Indian Film Personality – Vikrant Massey.
●​ India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024:
○​ Location: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
○​ Theme: “Viksit Bharat @2047”.
○​ IITF Awards:
■​ Gold: Ministry of Mines
■​ Silver: Ministry of Ayush
■​ Bronze: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
●​ National Energy Conservation Awards 2024:
○​ Ahmedabad Airport: Recognized for energy efficiency.
○​ Andhra Pradesh and Tripura: Top in the state categories.
○​ NECA 2024 Highlights:
■​ Bodal Chemicals (Punjab) and Yokohama India (Tire
Sector) recognized for energy conservation.
●​ National Panchayat Awards 2024:
○​ 45 Panchayats honored
○​ Milak Amawati (UP) awarded for carbon-neutral efforts.​

●​ Turner Prize 2024:

○​ Recipient: Jasleen Kaur
●​ Miss India USA 2024:
○​ Recipient: Caitlin Sandra Neil
●​ Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:
○​ Recipient: Michelle Bachelet
●​ Tansen Samman 2023:
○​ Recipient: Pt. Swapan Choudhary
●​ Aster Guardians Award:
○​ Recipient: Nurse Maria Juan (Philippines)
●​ UNEP Lifetime Achievement:
○​ Recipient: Madhav Gadgil
●​ UN Global Excellence Award:
○​ Recipient: Dr. Basant Goel
●​ Norman Lear Award:
○​ Recipient: Taika Waititi
●​ JC Daniel Award 2023:
○​ Recipient: Shaji N Karun
●​ UNESCO Awards:
○​ Recipient: Abathsahayeswarar Temple
●​ TIME Person of the Year:
○​ Recipient: Donald Trump
Appointments
Organization/Position Appointee

National Human Rights Justice V. Ramasubramanian (Chairperson)

Commission (NHRC)

Oil India Limited Abhijit Majumder (CFO)

UN Internal Justice Council (IJC) Justice Madan B Lokur (Chairperson)

Embassy of Nepal in India Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma (Ambassador)

State Bank of India (SBI) Rama Mohan Rao Amara (Managing

Director)

Georgia (President) Mikheil Kavelashvili

Ministry of External Affairs (India) Om Prakash Meena (Ambassador to

Burkina Faso)

Ministry of External Affairs (India) Abhay Kumar (Ambassador to Georgia)

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Shammi Silva (President)

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Nilabhra Sengupta (Chief Vigilance Officer)

RBI Sanjay Malhotra (Governor)

India’s Doubles Badminton Tan Kim Her (Coach)

Team

France (Prime Minister) François Bayrou

Syria’s Government Mohammed Al-Bashir (Transitional PM)

Burkina Faso Government Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo (PM)

Sports
●​ 1st North East Para Sports Meet 2024:
○​ Dates: 27-29 November 2024
○​ Theme: "Seven Sisters" inspired VIBGYOR bird symbols for 7 NE
states.
○​ Slogan: “Let’s Play Together.”
○​ Host City: Assam; Champions: Assam; 1st Runner-up: Arunachal
Pradesh; 2nd Runner-up: Tripura.
○​ Arunachal’s Medal Tally: 15 gold, 21 silver, 17 bronze.​
AIFF President: Kalyan Chaubey
●​ 5th Men’s Junior Asia Cup Title:
○​ Dates: 4 December 2024
○​ Winner: India defeated Pakistan 5-3
○​ Top Scorer: Araijeet Singh Hundal (4 goals in final)
●​ ACC U19 Asia Cup 2024:
○​ Dates: 29 November - 8 December 2024
○​ Winner: Bangladesh defeated India by 59 runs
○​ Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
○​ Player of the Match & Series: Md Iqbal Hasan Emon

●​ Kush Maini Wins F2 Constructors' Title:

○​ Achievement: First Indian to win FIA Formula 2 Constructors'
Championship in Abu Dhabi.
●​ India Wins 6 Medals at Youth Games:
○​ CPSFI athletes secured 2 golds, 3 silvers, and 1 bronze in Thailand.
●​ Asian Esports Bronze in eFootball:
 ○​ Pavan Kampelli won bronze at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in
Bangkok.
●​ Arjun Erigaisi in 2800 Elo Club:
○​ Becomes the second Indian to achieve this, now ranked world
number four.
●​ Max Verstappen Wins Fourth F1 Title:
○​ Clinched after finishing fifth in Las Vegas GP; Russell won the race.
●​ Siddarth Kaul Retires:
○​ Indian pacer ends career with 297 first-class wickets and six
international caps.
●​ Bajrang Punia Suspended for 4 Years:
○​ Banned by NADA for refusing a doping test sample.
●​ Shahu Mane Wins Air Rifle Title:
○​ Claimed men’s 10m Air Rifle national title; Patil set a junior world
record.
●​ Nusrath Fatima Wins Silat Silver:
○​ Secured 58kg silver at Junior World Pencak Silat Championship
in Abu Dhabi.
●​ India Wins U19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup:
○​ Defeated Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur, led by Niki Prasad.
●​ Anahat Singh Wins 9th PSA Title:
○​ Triumphed at Western India Slam 2024 in Mumbai, defeating
Akanksha Salunkhe.
●​ Koyel and Nilam Win Weightlifting Silver:
○​ Claimed silver at Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting in Qatar.
●​ Suruchi Wins Triple Gold in Shooting:
○​ Dominated women’s air pistol at National Shooting
Championship.
●​ Real Madrid Wins Intercontinental Cup:
○​ Defeated Pachuca 3-0 in Qatar for their fourth title.
●​ Rithvik Wins Odisha Masters:
○​ Clinched maiden BWF Super 100 title, defeating Tharun
Mannepalli.
●​ Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Champion:
○​ Defeated Ding Liren to achieve this feat in chess history.
●​ Haris and Wyatt-Hodge Named ICC Players:
○​ Recognized as ICC Players of the Month for December 2024.
 ●​ Vinicius Jr. Wins FIFA Men's Award:
○​ Recognized for pivotal role in Real Madrid's LaLiga and UCL wins.
●​ Aitana Bonmati Retains FIFA Women’s Award:
○​ Second consecutive win for Spain’s star player.
●​ Pranav Venkatesh Wins U18 Chess Titles:
○​ Gold in rapid and blitz categories at FIDE World Youth
Championship.
●​ Mumbai Wins Mushtaq Ali Trophy:
○​ Defeated MP to claim their second title, led by Suryakumar
Yadav.
●​ Sunny Dhillon Banned for Fixing:
○​ ICC bans him for six years over match-fixing attempts in T10
League.

Government Policies and Schemes

●​ One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
○​ Launch Date & Objective: Launches on January 1, 2025, to
provide nationwide access to scholarly research.
○​ Budget: ₹6,000 crore for 2025–2027.
○​ Access: Free access to 30 global journals for 18M students in public
institutions.

●​ India’s PAN 2.0 Project

 ○​ Objective: Modernize taxpayer registration with ₹1,435 crore
investment.
○​ Key Features:
■​ Unified PAN/TAN portal.
■​ Paperless processes and free PAN issuance.
■​ Enhanced data security with PAN Data Vault.
■​ QR code-enabled real-time verification.
●​ Bima Sakhi Yojana
○​ Launch: December 9, 2024, by PM Modi.
○​ Purpose: Financial empowerment of women via LIC agent
training.
○​ Eligibility: Women aged 18–70 with at least a Class 10
qualification; excludes LIC-related personnel.
○​ Benefits:
■​ Stipends: ₹7,000/month (Year 1), decreasing yearly.
■​ Commission: ₹48,000 in the first year (excluding bonuses).
●​ Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024
○​ Objective: Replace the Aircraft Act, 1934, with modern regulations.
○​ Key Features:
■​ Authorities like DGCA, BCAS, and AAIB retained.
■​ Central government appeal mechanism for DGCA/BCAS
decisions.
■​ Single-window clearance for RTR certification by DGCA.
●​ Key Data:
○​ Sex ratio improved from 918 (2014-15) to 930 (2023-24).
○​ Girls' gross enrollment ratio in secondary school increased from
75.51% to 79.4%.
○​ E-Daakhil portal enables consumers to file complaints and track
progress online.
○​ Nayi Chetna 3.0 campaign launched to assist rural women
through self-help groups.
●​ National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
○​ Receives ₹2,481 crore to promote chemical-free farming.
●​ ₹1,115 crore allocated for disaster mitigation projects in 15 states,
including North Eastern states.
●​ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
 ○​ Receives ₹2,750 crore for 2,500 new innovation labs in
underserved regions.
●​ IRISET Kavach Centre of Excellence
○​ Set up for ₹41.11 crore to develop the Kavach train protection
system.
●​ "Ab Koi Bahana Nahi" campaign
○​ Launched to eliminate gender-based violence.
●​ Udaan Yatri Cafe
○​ Launched at Kolkata Airport for affordable food and essentials.
●​ PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
○​ Over 6.3 lakh solar installations completed under PM SGMBY.
●​ NAMASTE scheme
○​ Empowered over 57,000 sanitation workers, providing PPE kits
and Ayushman cards.
●​ Jalvahak scheme
○​ Launched to boost inland waterways cargo on the Ganga,
Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers.

Index and Reports

●​ India's Milk Production 2024
○​ Record Production: 239.3 million tonnes (MT) in FY24, a 4%
increase from FY23.
○​ Per Capita Availability: 471 grams per day in FY24, up from 459
grams in FY23.
○​ Top States: Uttar Pradesh (16.21%), Rajasthan (14.51%), Madhya
Pradesh (8.91%).
○​ Global Rank: India is the largest milk producer, followed by the
US, Pakistan, China, and others.
●​ India State of Forest Report 2023
 ○​ Forest & Tree Cover: Total cover 8,27,357 sq km (25.17% of India’s
area), with 7,15,343 sq km as forest cover.
○​ Top States: Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra,
for both forest and tree cover.
○​ Forest Above 75%: States like Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Arunachal
Pradesh, and Nagaland.
○​ Mangrove Decline: Mangrove cover reduced to 4,991.68 sq km,
Gujarat losing the most.
●​ PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana Highlights
○​ Launch: Initiated on Feb 15, 2024, targeting 10 million rooftop
solar installations by 2027.
○​ Milestones:
■​ 1M by Mar 2025,
■​ 2M by Oct 2025,
■​ 4M by Mar 2026.
○​ Total Installations: 679,000 (538,000 residential, 141,000 in
welfare associations).
○​ Top States: Gujarat (302,000), Maharashtra (139,000), UP
(56,000).
●​ India Leads Gold Purchases (Oct 2024)
○​ RBI bought 27 tonnes, boosting reserves to 882 tonnes; India
topped global central bank purchases.
●​ UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report (2024)
○​ India's billionaire count grew 20% to 185, ranking third globally,
with a 263% wealth increase in the last decade.
●​ AirHelp Global Airline Rankings (2024)
○​ IndiGo ranks 103rd, Air India 61st; Brussels Airlines tops the list,
followed by Qatar Airways.
●​ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Impact
○​ Sex ratio at birth improved from 918 to 930; girls' secondary school
enrollment rose to 79.4%.
 ●​ Network Readiness Index (2024)
○​ India improved to 49th, ranked 1st globally in AI publications and
talent concentration.
●​ India Becomes 3rd Largest Pharma Market
○​ $50 billion industry, exporting $26.5 billion; 7 NIPERs bolster
global standing.
●​ India's Renewable Energy Investment (2023)
○​ Attracted ₹30,255 crore in project finance, with Gujarat and
Karnataka leading.
●​ IIT Kharagpur Ranks 2nd for QS Sustainability 2025
○​ Advanced 147 places to 202nd globally, excelling in sustainability
and employability.

Defence
●​ Military Exercises
○​ HARIMAU SHAKTI:
■​ Dates: December 2, 2024 - Ongoing
■​ Location: Malaysia
■​ Participating Countries: India, Malaysia
■​ Indian Contingent: 78 personnel from the MAHAR Regiment.
○​ CINBAX:
■​ Dates: December 1-8, 2024
■​ Location: Pune, India
■​ Participating Countries: India, Cambodia
■​ Details: Conducted by Indian and Cambodian Armies.
○​ SAREX-24:
■​ Dates: December 2024
■​ Location: Kochi, Kerala, India
■​ Participating Countries: India
■​ Details: 11th edition of National Maritime Search and Rescue.
○​ AgniWarrior 2024:
■​ Dates: November 28-30, 2024
■​ Location: India
■​ Participating Countries: India, Singapore
 ■​ Focus: Artillery proficiency and professional relations.
●​ INS Tushil Commissioned

○​ Date: December 9, 2024

○​ Details: Stealth-guided missile frigate strengthens India's naval
fleet, joining Western Fleet with enhanced warfare capabilities.
●​ Trishakti Sappers' Flood Monitoring System
○​ Details: Developed for real-time water level monitoring using
microcontrollers, UV sensors, and SONAR; recognized post-2023
Sikkim flood.
●​ Launch of 8th ACTCM Barge LSAM 22
○​ Date: November 28, 2024
○​ Details: Indigenously built barge launched, supporting Indian Navy
operations under "Make in India".
●​ Induction of 25T Bollard Pull Tugs
○​ Date: November 28, 2024
○​ Details: Bhishm and Bahubali inducted for ship maneuvers,
firefighting, and rescue operations.
●​ Indian Army's "Eklavya" Training Platform
○​ Details: Offers 96 online courses across 17 Category ‘A’
establishments to foster technological transformation.
●​ India Tests K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
○​ Date: November 28, 2024
○​ Details: Successfully tested, enhancing nuclear deterrence
capabilities with a range of 3,500 km.
●​ Indian Navy Receives INS Nilgiri & INS Surat
○​ Details:
■​ INS Surat: India's first AI-enabled destroyer.
■​ INS Nilgiri: First P17A frigate.
●​ Curtain Raiser - Year of Naval Civilians (2024)
 ○​ Details: Recognizes civilian contributions with initiatives like
insurance, HR reforms, and facility extensions.
●​ Indian Army's AI Incubation Centre in Bengaluru
○​ Details: Launched by the Army Chief to promote AI innovation
and readiness within the force.
●​ INS Nirdeshak Commissioned
○​ Details: Hydrographic survey vessel with 80% indigenous content,
strengthening maritime operations.

Science and Technology

●​ ISRO Successfully Launches Proba-3 Mission
○​ Details: PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launched ESA’s Proba-3 satellites,
demonstrating the world’s first precision formation-flying in
space.
●​ Copernicus Sentinel-1C Launch
○​ Details: Launched via Vega-C rocket, providing high-resolution
radar images for Earth monitoring and maritime tracking.
●​ India's First Indigenous Antibiotic - Nafithromycin
○​ Details: Developed to combat antimicrobial resistance, funded by
₹8 crore under BIRAC’s Biotech Industry Program, with Phase 3
trials.
●​ IIT Kanpur’s Stealth Technology - Anālakṣhya
○​ Details: Meta-Material Surface Cloaking System for radar
invisibility, 90% indigenous, licensed to Meta Tattva Systems for
industrial production.
●​ Nano Bubble Technology for Zoo Waters
○​ Details: National Zoological Park in Delhi adopted Nano Bubble
Technology for water purification.
●​ Study Revises Moon's Age to 4.51 Billion Years
○​ Details: A study suggests the Moon formed 4.51 billion years ago,
supported by zircon mineral and crater analysis.
●​ China Breaks NASA’s Spacewalk Record
 ○​ Details: Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong set a
new spacewalk record with a 9-hour EVA, surpassing NASA’s 2001
record.
●​ India’s First Diabetes Biobank
○​ Details: Launched by ICMR and Madras Diabetes Research
Foundation to tackle the growing diabetes epidemic.
●​ 'Kisan Kavach' for Farmers
○​ Details: DBT scientists developed the pesticide-protective suit,
inspired by PPE kits for farmer safety.
●​ Japan-India Laser Satellite for Space Debris
○​ Details: Orbital Lasers (Japan) and InspeCity (India) are
developing satellite lasers to remove space debris.
●​ Dr. BR Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar’s Space Innovation
○​ Details: Developed advanced space communication products with
ISRO support through its STI Centre.
●​ PM Modi Unveils AI Chatbot for Maha Kumbh 2025
○​ Details: 'Kumbh Sah'AI'yak AI chatbot will assist millions of
pilgrims during the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

National Affairs
●​ PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024
○​ Launch: Conducted on December 4, 2024, to assess India's
educational landscape.
○​ Objective: Evaluates school education effectiveness in line with
NEP 2020.
○​ Assessment Areas: Language, Mathematics, Science, Social
Science, and contextual subjects like The World Around Us.
○​ Target Grades: Students in Grades 3, 6, and 9.
●​ Ratapani Tiger Reserve Notified as the 57th Tiger Reserve of India
○​ Location: Vindhya Hills, Raisen and Sehore districts, Madhya
Pradesh, covering 1271.4 sq km.
○​ Core Area: 763.8 sq km; Buffer Area: 507.6 sq km.
○​ Historical Background: Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1976,
expanded in 1983, and proposed as a tiger reserve in 2008.​
State Representation: It becomes the 8th tiger reserve in Madhya
Pradesh, enhancing the state's "Tiger State" reputation.
●​ Adani Krishnapatnam Port Petroleum Import Approval
○​ Details: Government of India has granted permission for Adani
Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh to import petroleum from
August 28, 2024, to March 1, 2026.
●​ Sardar Patel’s Statue in Jodhpur
○​ Details: Amit Shah unveiled an 11-ft tall statue of Sardar Patel,
made of multiple metals, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
●​ 'Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore' Campaign
○​ Launch: Government launched this initiative during the 4th Good
Governance Week (December 19-24, 2024), focusing on improving
governance in rural areas.
●​ PM e-VIDYA DTH Channel
○​ Details: A new channel for Indian Sign Language (ISL) was
launched to bridge communication gaps for the hearing-impaired.
●​ PM Modi Inaugurated Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav
○​ Details: The festival, celebrating the cultural diversity of Northeast
India, was inaugurated in New Delhi.
●​ 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign
○​ Launch: JP Nadda launched an intensified campaign targeting
tuberculosis reduction across 347 districts.
●​ Anna Chakra & SCAN Portal
 ○​ Launch: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi introduced initiatives to
optimize PDS logistics and automate subsidy claims for faster
processing.
●​ eMaap Portal
○​ Launch: A new portal to streamline legal metrology processes was
launched to enhance transparency and compliance for businesses.
●​ MOIL's Record Performance
○​ Details: Manganese Ore (India) Limited achieved a record
production of 1.63 lakh tonnes of manganese ore in November
2024.
●​ NITI Aayog's 'Trade Watch Quarterly' Publication
○​ Details: The first edition reports a 5.45% growth in India's trade
during Q1 FY’24.
●​ Gujarat’s ‘Gharchola’ GI Tag
○​ Details: Gharchola, a traditional Gujarati handicraft, received the
GI tag, recognizing its cultural significance.
●​ Cabinet Approves Tato-I Hydro Project
○​ Details: A ₹17.5 billion hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh
aims to enhance energy infrastructure and support renewable
energy goals.
●​ Uber's Water Transport Service
○​ Details: Asia’s first water transport service, ‘Uber Shikara’, was
launched on Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir.

●​ Ayush Sector's Growth

○​ Details: The Ayush sector reached a market value of $43.4 billion
in 2023, with exports growing from $1.09 billion to $2.16 billion.
●​ India's Coal Production Growth
 ○​ Details: India achieved 90.62 million tonnes of coal production in
November 2024, marking a 7.2% growth from the previous year.
●​ 1.4 Million Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards Issued
○​ Details: The government issued these cards to senior citizens
under the AB-PMJAY scheme, covering 4.5 crore families.
●​ IIT Guwahati Hosts IISF 2024
○​ Details: IIT Guwahati hosted the 10th India International
Science Festival, marking the first such event in Northeast India.
●​ India’s First Green Hydrogen Fuelling Station
○​ Location: Leh
○​ Details: The station supports emission-free transport, producing
80kg of green hydrogen daily.
●​ TeacherApp Launched
○​ Details: An app for empowering educators with continuous training
and innovative content, aligning with NEP 2020.
●​ ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’ Theme for 2025 Republic Day
○​ Details: This theme will showcase India's cultural diversity and
progress.
●​ India’s First Bio-Bitumen Highway
○​ Location: Nagpur-Mansar Bypass
○​ Details: The bypass became the first bio-bitumen highway using
lignin from crop residues for eco-friendly construction.
●​ EPFO to Launch ATM Withdrawals in 2025
○​ Details: EPFO subscribers will be able to withdraw savings through
ATMs, improving access to retirement funds.
●​ CCI’s Procurement Centres for Cotton
○​ Details: The Cotton Corporation of India set up 499 centres
across 12 states to purchase cotton at MSP.
●​ India’s First Solar Border Village
○​ Location: Masali village, Gujarat
○​ Details: Masali is India’s first fully solar-powered border village
under the PM Suryaghar Yojana.
●​ Green Steel Standards Introduced
○​ Details: A ₹15,000 crore mission was launched to reduce steel
emissions, with a rating system for green steel.
Summits and Conferences
●​ 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to UNCCD
○​ Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (First COP in the MENA region).
○​ Theme: "Our Land, Our Future"
○​ India’s Representation: Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini led the delegation.
○​ Focus Areas: Land restoration, drought resilience, women's land
rights, and SDG integration.
○​ Key Days:
■​ 4 Dec: Land Day
■​ 5 Dec: Agri-food System Day
■​ 6 Dec: Governance Day
■​ 7 Dec: People’s Day
■​ 9 Dec: Science, Technology, and Innovation Day
■​ 10 Dec: Resilience Day
■​ 11 Dec: Finance Day
●​ Rising Rajasthan Investment Summit 2024
○​ Launch: PM Modi inaugurated the summit with the theme "Replete,
Responsible, Ready", focusing on 12 sectors, including water
security, sustainable mining, tourism, and women-led startups.
●​ IBBI International Conclave on Insolvency Resolution 2024
○​ Location: New Delhi
○​ Theme: “Insolvency Resolution: Evolution & Global Perspective”.
●​ 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference
○​ Details: Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the conference, focusing
on "Mission Mausam", India’s initiative in climate and weather
forecasting.
●​ 16th GRIHA Summit 2024: Advancing Climate Action
○​ Theme: “Accelerating Climate Action in the Built Environment”
focused on sustainable urban development and climate
resilience.
●​ 63rd Annual ISAM Conference 2024
○​ Location: Bengaluru
○​ Theme: "Collaborate for Research" on aerospace medicine.
●​ 9th International Conference on Waste to Worth by CII
○​ Details: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the
event, focusing on innovation, technology, and global
partnerships for a circular economy.
●​ World Maritime Conference 2024 in Chennai
○​ Details: The conference, hosted after 15 years, focused on
maritime sector developments, with participation from over 300
delegates from global nations.
●​ 4th Red Sea Film Festival 2024
○​ Details: Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan
attended, featuring the film “Superboys of Malegaon” in the
competition section.
●​ Golden Yusr Awards at the Red Sea Film Festival 2024
○​ Details:
■​ Best Feature Film: “Red Path”
■​ Best Director: Lotfi Achour
■​ Best Actor: Mahmoud Bakri
■​ Best Actress: Mariam Sherif.
●​ India Proposes Multilateral Fund for Plastic Pollution at UNEA
○​ Details: India proposed a multilateral fund at the UN
Environment Assembly’s 5th session, aiming to support
developing countries in managing plastic pollution.
●​ RAK Energy Summit 2024 in UAE
 ○​ Details: Focused on AI, advanced grid systems, energy storage,
and transport, under the patronage of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al
Qasimi.

Business and Economy

●​ FDI Inflows into India Surpass $1 Trillion Mark
○​ Cumulative Growth: FDI inflows between 2014-24 totaled $667.4
billion, a 119% increase from the previous decade.
○​ Top Contributors:
■​ Mauritius: 25%
■​ Singapore: 24%
■​ US: 10%
■​ Netherlands: 7%
■​ Japan: 6%
■​ UK: 5%.
○​ State Contributions:
■​ Maharashtra: $13.55 billion
■​ Gujarat: $4 billion
■​ Karnataka: $3.54 billion
■​ Telangana: $1.54 billion.
○​ 2023-24 FDI: Singapore was the largest source with $11.77 billion
in inflows.
●​ GST Collection for November Rises by 8.5% to ₹1.82 Trillion
○​ Total Collection: ₹1.82 lakh crore (US$ 21.74 billion), an 8.5% rise
from November 2022.
○​ Breakdown:
■​ Central GST: ₹34,141 crore
■​ State GST: ₹43,047 crore
■​ Integrated GST: ₹91,828 crore
■​ Cess: ₹13,253 crore.
○​ Comparison: November 2022 had ₹1.68 lakh crore; October 2024
recorded ₹1.87 lakh crore.
○​ Net GST Collections: ₹1.63 lakh crore (US$ 19.47 billion), an 11%
increase after refunds.
●​ RBI Allows Small Finance Banks to Offer Pre-Sanctioned Credit via
UPI
○​ Details: Small Finance Banks can now offer pre-sanctioned credit
via UPI, enhancing financial inclusion for underserved
communities and businesses.

●​ RBI Cuts GDP Growth Forecast to 6.6% for FY'25

○​ Details: RBI revises India's GDP growth forecast for FY'25 to
6.6%, citing economic slowdown and raising inflation forecast to
4.8%.
●​ RBI Cuts Cash Reserve Ratio by 50 Basis Points to 4%
○​ Details: The RBI reduces the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 4%,
easing liquidity stress and releasing ₹1.16 lakh crore into the
banking system.
●​ India's GDP Growth Forecast by OECD
○​ Details: OECD forecasts India's GDP growth to be 6.8% in FY25,
driven by investments, credit growth, and farm output.
●​ World Bank Approves $188 Million Loan for Maharashtra Growth
○​ Details: The World Bank approves a loan to support economic
growth in Maharashtra's backward districts.
●​ Centre, ADB Sign $50 Million Loan for Water Harvesting in Meghalaya
○​ Details: ADB and India sign a $50 million loan for water
harvesting projects in Meghalaya's 12 districts.
●​ RBI Enhances UPI Lite Limits for Wider Adoption
○​ Details: UPI Lite wallet limit raised to ₹5,000 with per-transaction
limit of ₹1,000, promoting mobile-based instant payments.
 ●​ India's Q2 GDP Growth Hits Seven-Quarter Low at 5.4%
○​ Details: India's GDP growth slows to 5.4% in Q2 FY 2024-25,
driven by weaker manufacturing and mining growth.
●​ Rupee Hits Record Low of ₹85 Against Dollar
○​ Details: The rupee hits an all-time low of ₹85 against the US
dollar, amid economic challenges.
●​ Ind-Ra Projects 6.6% Growth for FY26
○​ Details: India Ratings projects a 6.6% GDP growth for FY
2025-26, backed by investment recovery.
●​ Gross Direct Tax Collection Rises by 20.32%
○​ Details: India’s gross direct tax collection for FY24 rises to ₹19.21
lakh crore, with significant corporate tax refunds.
●​ India's November Exports at $67.8 Billion
○​ Details: India’s November exports dip, leading to a widening
trade deficit of $37.84 billion.
●​ Record Net Profit for PSBs
○​ Details: Public Sector Banks report a record ₹1.41 lakh crore net
profit in FY 2023-24.
●​ RBI Increases Collateral-Free Agricultural Loan Limit
○​ Details: Collateral-free agricultural loan limit raised to ₹2 lakh,
effective January 2025.
●​ BOBCARD Limited Launches Tiara Credit Card for Women
○​ Details: The Tiara Credit Card offers exclusive benefits for women,
including vouchers and reward points.
●​ Consumer Inflation Moderates to 5.5%
○​ Details: India’s retail inflation moderates to 5.5% in November
2024.

International Affairs
●​ Merriam-Webster Names 'Polarization' Word of 2024
○​ Details: Reflecting growing societal and political divides,
particularly after the U.S. election.
●​ UK Joins US and Bahrain in C-SIPA Agreement
 ○​ Details: This agreement aims to improve regional maritime
security, including a Geospatial Acceleration Initiative.
●​ End of Assad Dynasty in Syria
○​ Details: Syrian rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have seized
Damascus, marking the fall of the Assad regime.

●​ Nepal, China Sign Deal on Belt and Road

○​ Details: Nepal and China revive the Belt and Road Initiative to
cooperate on infrastructure projects.
●​ EU Allocates €4.6 Billion for Clean Tech
○​ Details: Funding for electric vehicle manufacturing, renewable
hydrogen, and other net-zero projects.
●​ China Opens Atmospheric Monitoring Station in Antarctica
○​ Details: Aimed at monitoring atmospheric changes and
contributing to global climate action.
●​ Oxford Word of the Year 2024: 'Brain Rot'
○​ Details: Defined as mental deterioration caused by the
overconsumption of trivial online content.
●​ Russia Approves Record Military Spending
○​ Details: Russia allocates $126 billion for national defense in 2025,
marking a significant increase.
●​ South Korea’s Martial Law Decree Reversed
○​ Details: President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree was
overturned by the National Assembly after public opposition.
India and World
●​ India Re-elected to U.N. Peacebuilding Commission
○​ Details: India's two-year term as a founding member of the
commission continues its role in global peacekeeping.
●​ South Africa Declares 'National Disaster' Over Food Poisonings
○​ Details: Over 890 food-borne illness cases linked to contaminated
food, including 23 child fatalities.
●​ Elon Musk Reaches $500 Billion Net Worth
○​ Details: Musk becomes the wealthiest individual, thanks to Tesla
and SpaceX.
●​ Romania and Bulgaria to Join Schengen Area
○​ Details: Starting January 1, 2025, allowing free movement within
the EU.
●​ Bangladesh Supreme Court Stays 'Joy Bangla' as National Slogan
○​ Details: The court’s decision is amid political shifts following the
ousting of PM Sheikh Hasina.
●​ ADB Approves Grant for Solomon Islands Water Project
○​ Details: A $25.45 million grant to improve water and sanitation
infrastructure in Honiara.
●​ Mahatma Gandhi's Bust Unveiled in Nebraska State Capitol
○​ Details: Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen unveiled a bust of
Mahatma Gandhi and declared December 6 as "A Day of
Remembrance for Mahatma Gandhi."
●​ India Sends 2,200 Metric Tonnes of Rice to Myanmar
○​ Details: India sent 2,200 metric tonnes of rice to Myanmar as
humanitarian aid, reinforcing its Act East and Neighbourhood
First policies.
●​ India, Kuwait Sign MoU to Establish Joint Commission for
Cooperation
○​ Details: India and Kuwait signed an MoU to set up a Joint
Commission for Cooperation, focusing on bilateral collaboration
in trade, education, technology, and more.
●​ SheSTEM 2024 Celebrates Youth-Led Innovation
○​ Details: Over 1,000 submissions were received for the SheSTEM
2024 challenge, showcasing innovative ideas in battery technology
and energy storage.
●​ PRAGATI Recognized by Oxford University
○​ Details: The PRAGATI initiative, which has accelerated 340
projects worth $205 billion, was recognized for its governance
excellence by Oxford University.
●​ India, UK Sign Pact for Electric Propulsion Systems for Warships
○​ Details: India and the UK signed an agreement to co-develop
electric propulsion systems for future warships, promoting
indigenous technology and enhancing defense cooperation.
●​ India, ADB Sign $98 Million Loan for Plant Health Management
○​ Details: India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a
$98 million loan to improve access to disease-free planting
materials, enhancing crop yield and resilience.
●​ Kerala Govt, Adani Vizhinjam Port to Sign Supplementary Pact
○​ Details: Kerala signed an agreement with Adani Ports to fast-track
the completion of Vizhinjam Port's final phase by 2028, with a
₹10,000 crore investment.
●​ India-Tanzania Joint Defence Meeting Held in Goa
○​ Details: The 3rd India-Tanzania Joint Defence Cooperation
Committee meeting in Goa focused on strengthening defense ties
and military training cooperation.
●​ Ghana Commissioned First Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line
○​ Details: Ghana's President inaugurated the $447 million
Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line, funded by India Exim Bank, to
enhance transportation.
●​ India Signed Final Act of Riyadh Design Law Treaty
○​ Details: India signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty to simplify
industrial design protection frameworks and aid SMEs and
startups.
●​ India Secures a $500M ADB Loan for Green Infrastructure
 ○​ Details: India secured a $500 million loan to fund green
infrastructure projects, promoting sustainable development.
●​ India Dispatches 1,000 Tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance to Lesotho
○​ Details: India sent 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Lesotho as part
of its humanitarian aid to address food insecurity.
●​ World Bank Approves $800M for Amaravati Development
○​ Details: The World Bank approved an $800 million loan for the
Integrated Urban Development Program in Amaravati, focusing
on climate resilience and job creation.
●​ India and ADB Sign $42M Loan for Maharashtra Coastal Protection
○​ Details: India and ADB signed a $42 million loan for
Maharashtra’s coastal protection, incorporating nature-based
solutions.
●​ Russia's Visa-Free Entry for Indians from 2025
○​ Details: India and Russia agreed to offer visa-free entry to
Indian tourists starting March 2025.
●​ India, Sri Lanka Boost Defence & Energy Collaboration
○​ Details: India and Sri Lanka advanced their defense and energy
cooperation, including a multi-product pipeline and solar
projects.
●​ Moldova Joins International Solar Alliance (ISA)
○​ Details: Moldova joined the ISA to commit to clean energy goals
under the leadership of India and France.
●​ ADB Approves $789 Million Loan for Amaravati Development
○​ Details: ADB allocated $789 million for Amaravati’s development
into a sustainable, smart capital city.
●​ India Sends 60 Tons of Medical Aid to Jamaica
○​ Details: India dispatched medical supplies to Jamaica to support
healthcare infrastructure.
●​ Switzerland Suspends MFN Clause in India Tax Treaty
○​ Details: Switzerland will suspend the MFN clause in its tax treaty
with India starting in 2025.
●​ Hathkargha: Indian Handloom Shines in Dubai Exhibition
○​ Details: The Hathkargha exhibition in Dubai highlighted India’s
textile heritage and cultural preservation.
●​ Riyadh Launched Driverless Metro System with the Help of Indian
Firm
 ○​ Details: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Metro, developed with the help of
Indian firm Larsen & Toubro, features advanced technology and
cultural design.

Books and Authors

Book Title Author

The Unyielding Judge: Life & Legacy of Gauri Grover

Justice A.N. Grover

BRING IT ON: The Incredible Story of My Deepa Malik

Life

Many Ramayanas Many Lessons Anand Neelakantan

Dalai Lama's Secret to Happiness Dr. Dinesh Shahra

Too Good To Be True Prajakta Koli

Beyond the Higgs Boson Manik Kotwal

Obituaries
Name Profession/Achievement Details

Shyam Legendary Filmmaker Passed away at 90. Renowned for Indian New
Benegal
 Wave cinema, including Manthan and
Bhumika. Padma Bhushan recipient.

Om Former Haryana CM Passed away in Gurugram. Served as

Prakash Haryana's CM and MP from Hisar. Known for
Chautala his INLD career.

Tulsi Gowda Environmentalist, Passed away after planting 30,000+

"Encyclopedia of Forest" saplings. Awarded Padma Shri in 2021 for
environmental work.

Pandit Classical Singer, Passed away at 68. Known for classical

Sanjay Harmonium Artist music and harmonium expertise.
Marathe

S.M. Former Karnataka CM Passed away at 92. Served as Karnataka CM

Krishna and Indian Politician and Minister of External Affairs. Padma
Vibhushan recipient.

M.D.R. Former Puducherry CM Passed away at 90. Served as CM and

Ramachan Speaker. Known for welfare schemes.
dran

John World's Oldest Man Passed away at 112. WWII veteran,

Tinniswood recognized as the oldest man in 2024.

Amiya Economic Historian Passed away at 83. Known for works on

Kumar macroeconomic history and imperialism.
Bagchi

Days and Events

Event Date Details

World AIDS Day 1st Theme: "Take the right path: My health, my
December right!" Raises awareness about HIV/AIDS.
2024
International Day of 3rd Theme: "Amplifying the leadership of
Persons with December persons with disabilities." Promotes rights
Disabilities 2024 and inclusivity.

International Volunteer D 5th Theme: "Diverse volunteers, stronger

December communities." Recognizes volunteerism’s
2024 role in SDGs.

World Soil Day 5th Theme: "Caring for soils: measure, monitor,
December manage." Promotes sustainable soil
2024 management.

Human Rights Day 10th Theme: "Our Rights, Our Future, Right
December Now." Celebrates the adoption of the
2024 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

International Mountain 11th Theme: "Mountain solutions for a

Day December sustainable future." Highlights mountains'
2024 role in biodiversity.

National Energy 14th Recognizes energy conservation efforts.

Conservation Day December Promotes awareness of reducing energy
2024 consumption.

Minorities Rights Day 18th Celebrates the adoption of the 1992 UN

December Statement on Minority Rights. Recognizes
2024 six communities in India.

World Meditation Day 21st Theme: "Meditation for Global Peace and
December Harmony." Coincides with the Winter
2024 Solstice.

National Farmers' Day 23rd Honors Chaudhary Charan Singh.

December Theme: "Empowering 'Annadatas' for a
2024 Prosperous Nation."
 Index
●​ Awards and Honours
●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
●​ Padma Awards 2025 Stats
○​ Total: 139 (incl. 1 duo)
○​ Vibhushan: 7 | Bhushan: 19 | Shri: 113
○​ Women: 23 | Foreign/NRI/PIO/OCI: 10
○​ Posthumous: 13
●​ Padma Vibhushan 2025 Awardees
○​ Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy, Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar,
Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia, Lakshminarayana Subramaniam, M. T.
Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous), Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous),
Sharda Sinha (Posthumous).
●​ Padma Bhushan 2025 Awardees
○​ A Surya Prakash, Anant Nag, Bibek Debroy (Posthumous), Jatin
Goswami, Jose Chacko Periappuram, Kailash Nath Dikshit,
Manohar Joshi (Posthumous), Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, Nandamuri
Balakrishna, P R Sreejesh, Pankaj Patel, Pankaj Udhas
(Posthumous), Rambahadur Rai, Sadhvi Ritambhara, S Ajith Kumar,
Shekhar Kapur, Shobana Chandrakumar, Sushil Kumar Modi
(Posthumous), Vinod Dham.

●​ National Sports Awards 24

 ○​ Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 Winners:​
Gukesh D (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Praveen Kumar
(Para-Athletics), Manu Bhaker (Shooting).
○​ Dronacharya Award 2024 Winners:​
Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting), Deepali Deshpande (Shooting),
Sandeep Sangwan (Hockey), S Muralidharan (Badminton),
Armando Colaco (Football).
○​ Arjuna Award 2024 Winners:​
Jyothi Yarraji, Annu Rani, Nitu Ghanghas, Sweety Boora, Vantika
Agrawal, Salima Tete, Abhishek, Sanjay, Jarmanpreet Singh,
Sukhjeet Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Preeti Pal, Jeevanji Deepthi, Ajeet
Singh, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Dharambir, Pranav Soorma, Hokato
Hotozhe Sema, Simran Sharma, Navdeep Singh, Nitesh Kumar,
Thulasimathi Murugesan, Nithya Sre Sivan, Manisha Ramadass,
Kapil Parmar, Mona Agarwal, Rubina Francis, Swapnil Kusale,
Sarabjot Singh, Abhay Singh, Sajan Prakash, Aman Sehrawat.
○​ Lifetime Arjuna Award 2024 Winners:​
Sucha Singh, Murlikant Petkar.
●​ Prime Minister's National Child Award for 2024:
○​ Aditya Vijay Brahmane (Posthumous), Anushka Reader, Arijit
Banerjee, Arman Ubran, Hetavi Kantibhai Khimsuriya, Ishfaq
Hamid, Md Hussain, Pendyala Lakshmi Priya, Suhani Chauhan,
Aryan Singh, Avnish Tiwari, Dignity, Jyotsna Akhtar, Sanyam
Majumdar, Aditya Yadav, Charvi A, Jessica Nayi Saring, Linthoi
Chanambam, R. Surya Prasad.
●​ 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2025:
○​ Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy): Emilia Pérez
○​ Best Motion Picture (Animated): Flow
○​ Best Actress (Drama): Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
○​ Best Actor (Drama): Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
○​ Best Director: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
●​ The United States Presidential Medal of Freedom:
○​ José Andrés, Bono, Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Jane Goodall,
Magic Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy, Ralph Lauren, Lionel Messi, Bill
Nye, George Soros, Denzel Washington, Anna Wintour.
●​ RK Srikantan Award: TV Gopalakrishnan
 ●​ INSA Fellowships (Non-Scientists): Sudha Murthy, Narayana Murthy,
Nandan Nilekani, Krish Gopalakrishnan, Rajendra Singh
●​ INSA Fellowship (Scientists): Dr. Krishna Ella
●​ Honorary Citizen Award from Singapore: Tarun Das
●​ ICC Player of the Month (Dec 2024): Jasprit Bumrah, Annabel
Sutherland
●​ Lokpal Foundation Day Felicitation: Anna Hazare, Santosh Hegde, R.
Venkataramani
●​ Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award: Aparna Sen
●​ Best Bengali Film (WB Film Journalists Award): Manik Babur Megh
●​ National Youth Parliament Award: PM SHRI KV, IIT Kharagpur
●​ Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award: Dr. Syed Anwar Khursheed
●​ Jaipur Int’l Film Festival Lifetime Award: Yash Chopra, Shyam Benegal

Appointments
Name Appointment
Nicolás Maduro President of Venezuela
Joseph Aoun President of Lebanon
John Dramani
Mahama President of Ghana
Micheál Martin Prime Minister of Ireland (2nd Term)
Nawaf Salam Prime Minister of Lebanon
V. Narayanan Chairman of ISRO
Justice Alok Aradhe Chief Justice of Bombay High Court
G.P. Singh Director General of CRPF
Justice Arun Mishra Ombudsman of BCCI
Chairperson: Anju Bobby George; Members:
AFI Athletes Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Krishna Poonia, Sudha Singh,
Commission Neeraj Chopra
Mo Farah International Ambassador for Mumbai Marathon
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Director General of DGCA
Bhuvnesh Kumar CEO of UIDAI
Air Marshal Jeetendra
Mishra Commanding Officer of Western Air Command
Ashish Naithani Judge of Delhi High Court
Ajay Digpaul & Harish
Vaidyanathan
Shankar Judges of Delhi High Court
Devajit Saikia Secretary of BCCI

Sports
●​ 2024 ICC Awards – Winners
○​ Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year: Jasprit Bumrah
○​ Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year: Azmatullah Omarzai
○​ Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year: Arshdeep Singh
○​ Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Kamindu Mendis
○​ Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year: Smriti Mandhana
○​ Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year: Melie Kerr
○​ Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Annerie Dercksen
○​ Umpire of the Year: Richard Illingworth
●​ India Open 2025 Badminton
○​ Men's Singles: Viktor Axelsen (DEN)
○​ Women's Singles: An Se-young (KOR)
○​ Men's Doubles: Goh Sze Fei / Nu Izzuddin (MAS)
○​ Women's Doubles: Arisa Igarashi / Ayako Sakuramoto (JPN)
○​ Mixed Doubles: Jiang Zhenbang / Wei Yaxin (CHN)
●​ 2025 Kho Kho World Cup
○​ Men's tournament:
■​ Winner: India
■​ Runner-Up: Nepal
■​ Player of the match: Mehul (India)
○​ Women's tournament:
■​ Winner: India
■​ Runner-Up: Nepal
■​ Player of the match: Chaithra B (India)
●​ Asian Junior Championships 2024
○​ Silver: Sanjana, Nilam Devi, Maibam Martina Devi, Valluri Ajaya
Babu
○​ Bronze: Payal, Shankar Lapung, Maibam Martina Devi
●​ Asian Youth Championships 2024
○​ Gold: Jyoshna Sabar, Payal, Koyel Bar, Sairaj Pardeshi
○​ Silver: Preetismita Bhoi, Koyel Bar, Sanjana, Sairaj Pardeshi, K
Oviya
○​ Bronze: Payal, Babulal Hembrom, Asmita Dhone, Koyel Bar, Parv
Chaudhary
●​ National Badminton Championships 2024
○​ Men's Singles: M Raghu (Karnataka) defeated Mithun Manjunath
○​ Women's Singles: Devika Sihag (Haryana) defeated Shriyanshi
Valishetty
○​ Men's Doubles: Sanskar Saraswat & Arsh Mohammad
○​ Women's Doubles: Arathi Sara Sunil & Varshini VS
○​ Mixed Doubles: Ayush Agarwal & Shruti Mishra
●​ Gukesh Dommaraju: Became India's top-ranked chess player, 4th
globally after Tata Steel Chess win.
●​ Mumbai Marathon 2024: Eritrea’s Berhane Tesfay & Kenya’s Joyce
Chepkemoi Tele won men's & women's elite races.
 ●​ Novak Djokovic: Set record for most Grand Slam matches played (430),
surpassing Roger Federer.
●​ AFC Asian Cup 2027: Saudi Arabia to host; India placed in Group C for its
fifth appearance.
●​ Anahat Singh: Won U-17 British Junior Open Girls' Singles title, her third
victory at the event.
●​ Kiran Jadhav: Won gold in 10m air rifle at the Lakshya Cup for Navy.
●​ Jasprit Bumrah: Named captain of Cricket Australia’s Men's Test Team of
the Year 2024.
●​ World Blitz Chess 2024: Magnus Carlsen & Ian Nepomniachtchi shared
the title.
●​ Santosh Trophy 2024: West Bengal won its 33rd title, defeating Kerala
1-0.
●​ PKL Season 11: Haryana Steelers won 1st title, defeating Patna Pirates
32-23.
●​ Koneru Humpy: Won second Women's World Rapid and Blitz Chess title,
defeating Irene Sukander.
●​ Vijayveer Sidhu: Won first national title in men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol at
67th NSCC.

Government Policies and Schemes

●​ 8th Pay Commission 2025 Approved by Cabinet:
○​ The Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, approved the
formation of the 8th Pay Commission to revise central government
employees' salaries.
○​ DA Update: Since July 1, 2024, employees & pensioners receive 53%
DA; next revision in Jan 2025.\
○​ Scope: The 8th Pay Commission will update the 7th Pay
Commission's structure (effective Jan 1, 2016).
○​ Expected Changes: The fitment factor may rise from 2.57 to 2.86,
increasing the minimum salary from ₹18,000 to ₹51,480.
●​ 65 Lakh SVAMITVA Property Cards Distributed:
○​ Covered 50,000 villages across 10 states & 2 UTs using drone-based
land mapping.
●​ Solar-Powered Skill Vans Launched:
○​ Initiative by NSDC, Dell Technologies & Learning Links Foundation
to enhance digital literacy.
●​ Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform Unveiled:
○​ Piyush Goyal launched it to boost solar, wind, hydrogen & battery
sectors.
●​ 56 Watershed Projects Approved:
○​ ₹700 Cr allocated under PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for 280,000
hectares in 10 states.
●​ ‘One Student One Mentor’ Program Introduced:
○​ AICTE & Intercell launched mentorship under NEAT 4.0 with
AI-driven career guidance.

●​ Cashless Treatment Scheme Announced:

○​ Covers ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims & ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for
hit-and-run cases.
●​ First Organic Fisheries Cluster Launched:
○​ Established in Soreng, Sikkim under PMMSY for sustainable
fisheries.
●​ Revamped ‘BAANKNET’ E-Auction Portal:
○​ Launched by DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju as a centralized platform
for PSB e-auctions.
●​ PMFBY & RWBCIS Extended Till 2025-26:
○​ ₹69,515.71 Cr outlay approved for continued crop insurance.
●​ ‘Rashtraparv’ Website & App Launched:
 ○​ Defence Ministry’s platform for event details, live streaming & ticket
bookings.
●​ XV Finance Commission Grants Released:
○​ ₹614 Cr for Rajasthan & ₹455 Cr for Odisha for Rural Local Bodies
(FY 2024-25).

Indices and Reports

●​ RBI Payment System Report, Dec 2024:
○​ RBI to publish payment reports every six months.
○​ UPI Dominance: Processed 172 billion transactions worth ₹245 lakh
crore in 2024 (83% of all digital payments).
○​ Overall Growth: Digital retail transactions surged 100x in 12 years,
from 1.6B (FY13) to 164B (FY24).
○​ UPI Growth: CAGR of 90% in 2024; over 63 crore UPI addresses
created, with ~40 crore unique users.
○​ Global Leader: UPI processes 500M transactions daily, 16B
monthly.
○​ Other Digital Payment Trends:
■​ Credit Cards: 10.8 crore active cards, nearly doubled in 5
years.
■​ Debit Cards: 100 crore in circulation, processing 1.8B
transactions (₹5.1 lakh crore).
■​ PPI: 7B transactions worth ₹2.23 lakh crore via wallets, gift
cards.
■​ IMPS: 6B transactions, ₹70.71 lakh crore in 2024.
●​ Expansion of India’s Coastline (2023-24):
○​ States/UTs with Major Growth:
■​ Gujarat: Grew from 1,214 km to 2,340 km, retaining the
longest coastline.
■​ West Bengal: Highest percentage growth (357%), from 157
km to 721 km.
■​ Tamil Nadu: Increased from 906 km to 1,068 km, now
surpassing Andhra Pradesh.
●​ 21st Annual Ranking of the World’s Most Powerful Women:
 ○​ Ursula von der Leyen – President of the European Commission
○​ Christine Lagarde – President of the European Central Bank
○​ Giorgia Meloni – Prime Minister of Italy
○​ Claudia Sheinbaum – President of Mexico (first female president)
○​ Mary Barra – CEO of General Motors
●​ Indian Women on the 2024 List:
○​ Nirmala Sitharaman (Ranked 28)
○​ Roshni Nadar Malhotra (Ranked 81)
○​ Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Ranked 82)
●​ India’s Consumption Share: Expected to rise from 9% (2023) to 16%
(2050), second only to North America (17%).
●​ Coffee Production: India ranks 7th globally; exports hit $1.29B, with
Karnataka leading.
●​ Oxfam Report: UK’s richest 10% extracted $33.8T from India (1765-1900),
part of a $64.82T colonial wealth drain.

●​ Start-Ups: India ranks 3rd globally, with 100+ unicorns.

●​ Global Jobs Gap: Reached 402M, including 186M unemployed.
●​ QS Skills Index: India ranks 2nd globally in job market readiness,
excelling in AI, digital, and green sectors.
●​ PM2.5 Pollution: Dropped 27% (2019-2024); Delhi (107 µg/m³), Byrnihat
(127.3 µg/m³) remain highly polluted.
●​ Women Voters Lead: More women than men in Manipur (1,070), Mizoram
(1,066), Arunachal (1,037), Meghalaya (1,028).
●​ Dubai’s Power City Rank: No.1 in West Asia, 8th globally in 2024.
●​ Cyberattacks: India ranked 2nd globally in 2024 cyber incidents.
Defence
●​ CRPF & CISF Security Updates (2024)
○​ CRPF VIP Security Group:
■​ Parliament Duty Group (PDG) merged into VIP Security
Group (VSG).
■​ CRPF battalion from Jharkhand transferred to VSG.
■​ Over 8,000 personnel now protect 200+ dignitaries, including
Amit Shah & Congress leaders.
■​ Change follows a 2023 Lok Sabha security breach.
○​ CISF Expansion:
■​ Two new battalions approved, increasing strength by 2,050
personnel.
■​ Total CISF battalions rise from 13 to 15.
■​ Led by senior commandants, enhancing high-security
operations.
■​ Mahila Battalion and new posts boost rapid response and
national security.
●​ INS Surat, INS Nilgiri & INS Vagsheer Commissioned (2025):
○​ INS Surat (Destroyer):
■​ Type: Stealth-guided missile destroyer (P15B)
■​ Displacement: 7,400 tons, Speed: 30+ knots
■​ First AI-enabled warship, 75% indigenous, built in 31 months
■​ Supports helicopters: Chetak, ALH, Sea King, MH-60R
○​ INS Nilgiri (Frigate):
■​ Type: Stealth frigate (P17A)
■​ Displacement: 6,670 tons
■​ Armed with: BrahMos missiles, MF-STAR radar, CIWS
■​ Launched in 2019, built for blue-water operations
○​ INS Vagsheer (Submarine):
■​ Type: Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarine (Project 75)
■​ Displacement: 1,565 tons
■​ Features: Stealth, torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, sonar
■​ Future-ready: Can integrate Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)
●​ India Tests Nag Mk 2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile:
○​ Developed By: DRDO under IGMDP
○​ Technology: Third-gen fire-and-forget system
○​ Key Features:
■​ Targets armored vehicles with Explosive Reactive Armor
(ERA)
■​ Successful trials at Pokhran Field Range
■​ Integrated with NAMICA for mobility & deployment flexibility
●​ SANJAY Surveillance System: Rajnath Singh launched an advanced
battlefield surveillance system for real-time awareness, to be deployed by
October 2025.
●​ DRDO Scramjet Test: DRDL successfully conducted a 120-second
scramjet combustor ground test for hypersonic missiles above Mach 5.
●​ MoD Contracts ₹1,560.52 Cr for BLT T-72 Tanks: Heavy Vehicles Factory
signed a contract for 47 BLT T-72 tanks.
●​ MoD Signs ₹2,867 Cr Submarine Contracts: Mazagon Dock gets ₹1,990
Cr AIP contract; Naval Group France gets ₹877 Cr EHWT contract.
●​ Indian Army Daredevils World Record: 40 soldiers formed a
20.4-foot-high human pyramid on 7 motorcycles, traveling 2 km on
Kartavya Path.
●​ Indian Navy Celebrates 'Year of Naval Civilians': Event held at DRDO
Bhawan, New Delhi, with Raksha Mantri as Chief Guest.
●​ 77th Indian Army Day: Celebrated on January 15, marking General
Cariappa’s leadership.
●​ INS Utkarsh Launched by L&T: A multi-purpose vessel for surveillance
and pollution combat.
 ●​ HIMKAVACH Cold Weather Gear: DRDO developed a multi-layered
clothing system for extreme Himalayan conditions (-60°C to +20°C).
●​ 2025 Declared 'Year of Reforms': Defence Ministry aims to modernize the
Armed Forces and enhance combat readiness.
●​ India's Deep Ocean Mission Milestone: First-ever image captured of an
active hydrothermal vent 4,500 meters deep in the Indian Ocean.

Military Exercise

●​ SLINEX 24: Indian Navy & Sri Lankan Navy conducted in

Visakhapatnam, India.
●​ SURYA KIRAN 18: Indian Army (11th Gorkha Rifles) & Nepal Army held in
Saljhandi, Nepal.
●​ Exercise La Perouse 4th Edition: Multinational naval drill with Australia,
France, USA, UK, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada & India (INS
Mumbai).

Science and Technology

●​ SpaDeX Mission: Advancing India's Space Capabilities
○​ On January 16, 2025, India achieved a major breakthrough in
space technology with the successful Space Docking Experiment
(SpaDeX) docking operation. This milestone made India the fourth
nation globally to master space docking technology, placing it
among an elite group.
●​ Mission Overview
○​ Launch Date: December 30, 2024
○​ Rocket: PSLV-C60
○​ Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
●​ Precision Docking Execution
○​ SpaDeX showcased highly accurate docking, moving from a
15-meter hold point to a final 3-meter position. The process involved
capture, retraction, and rigidization to ensure stability.
●​ Mission Objectives
○​ Demonstrate rendezvous and docking capabilities
○​ Test controllability in a docked state
 ○​ Extend operational life of spacecraft
○​ Validate power transfer between docked satellites
●​ SpaDeX Satellites:
○​ SDX01 & SDX02
○​ Weight: 220 kg each
○​ Roles: SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)
○​ Power Systems: Solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, and advanced
power management
●​ Key Features:
○​ Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS): Star sensors, sun
sensors, magnetometers, reaction wheels, magnetic torquers, and
thrusters
○​ Payloads: High-resolution imaging, resource monitoring,
vegetation studies, and radiation environment analysis

●​ India’s First Human Submersible: To explore 500m underwater,

extending to 6,000m next year under the Deep Ocean Mission.
●​ Mission SCOT: Digantara’s SCOT Mission enhances space domain
awareness with ₹1,000 crore funding.
●​ Pixxel’s Firefly Satellites: India’s first private satellite constellation
launched via SpaceX for hyperspectral imaging.
●​ Cabinet Approves Third Launch Pad: ₹3984.86 crore project at
Sriharikota to support future space missions.
●​ IIT Madras Shallow Wave Basin: Asia’s largest wave basin for coastal
and port engineering research.
●​ New Pangolin Species in Arunachal: Indo-Burmese pangolin discovered,
genetically distinct from Indian and Chinese species.
●​ Rare Banded Royal Butterfly in Tripura: Rachana jalindra found in
Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, boosting biodiversity records.
 ●​ Nascent Galaxy Discovered: Ultra-diffuse galaxy found 430 million
light-years away in NGC 3785’s tidal tail.
●​ AI Touch’s 5G RAN Tech: AI-driven network optimization to enhance
India’s 5G performance.
●​ Pune Startup’s AI Ayurveda Device: Nadi Tarangini analyzes 22 health
parameters, India’s first CDSCO-approved Ayurvedic device.
●​ BMW X1 All-Electric Launch: Locally produced EV with 531 km range,
priced at ₹49 lakh.
●​ Stargate AI Data Centers: OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle launch $100B
AI data center project in the US.
●​ 2024 Global Warming Threshold: Earth surpasses 1.5°C warming,
triggering wildfires, floods, and heatwaves worldwide.
●​ 13th-Century Saint’s Idol Found: Narahari Tirtha’s statue discovered in
Simhachalam Temple, Andhra Pradesh.
●​ Andhra Start-Up Tests UHF Tech: N Space Tech successfully tests UHF
communication on ISRO’s POEM-4 mission.

National Affairs
●​ 76th Republic Day 2025 Highlights
○​ Chief Guest: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto honored the
event.
○​ Theme: "Swarnim Bharat – Virasat aur Vikas" (Golden India –
Heritage and Development).
○​ Best Marching Contingents:
■​ Services: Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Contingent.
■​ CAPFs/Auxiliary Forces: Delhi Police Marching Contingent.
○​ Top Three State/UT Tableaux:
■​ Uttar Pradesh: Mahakumbh 2025 – Swarnim Bharat: Virasat
aur Vikas.
■​ Tripura: Eternal Reverence – Worship of 14 Deities (Kharchi
Puja).
 ■​ Andhra Pradesh: Etikoppaka Bommalu – Eco-Friendly
Wooden Toys.
○​ Best Central Ministry Tableau:
■​ Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh.

●​ Revised Appointment Process for Chief Election Commissioner

○​ New Selection Approach: Seniority is no longer the sole criterion
under the CEC & Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service
& Term) Act, 2023.
○​ Background:
■​ Constitutional Basis: Article 324 empowers the President to
appoint the CEC & ECs, subject to Parliamentary law.
■​ Previous System: Appointments were based on the PM’s
recommendations, as no law governed the process.
■​ SC Ruling (2023): Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India
mandated a selection committee of:
■​ The Prime Minister
■​ The Leader of Opposition
■​ The Chief Justice of India (CJI)
○​ New Law: Aligns with the SC’s directive, formalizing the process.
●​ Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) 2025
○​ Theme: “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat” (विकसित भारत क
संकपना म वासी भारतीय का योगदान).
○​ Held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from January 8 to January 10,
2025.
○​ Guest of Honour: Dr. Dev Pragad, CEO of Newsweek.
●​ Supreme Court's Proposal for Ad Hoc Judges: Temporary appointments
under Article 224A to reduce High Court backlog.
●​ Sebi’s 'When-Listed' Trading Platform: Allows IPO share trading before
official listing, reducing grey market reliance.
●​ Kidwai Memorial Institute’s 1,000 Robotic Surgeries: KMIO becomes
the first government hospital to achieve this milestone.
●​ Bhashini Platform at Mahakumbh 2025: Provides multilingual access
and Digital Lost & Found solution.
●​ SECL Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB) Cell: Streamlines pension, provident
funds, and medical services.
●​ National River Traffic & Navigation System: ₹50,000 crore investment
to enhance 21 National Waterways infrastructure.
●​ India’s Non-Fossil Fuel Energy Capacity: Reaches 217 GW, targeting
500 GW by 2030.
●​ iSNR Initiative for Rubber Sustainability: Ensures sustainable rubber
practices in line with EU regulations.
●​ 9th Swachh Survekshan Toolkit & Super Swachh League: Enhances
urban cleanliness and innovation among local bodies.
●​ National Science Drama Festival 2024-25: Promotes science education
through AI, climate change, and water themes.
●​ Ministry of I&B Online LCO Registration: Local Cable Operators can
register via the Broadcast Seva Portal.
●​ NIMHR Inaugurated in Sehore: ₹127 crore mental health institute for
Divyangjan rehabilitation.
●​ ₹11,440 Cr Revival Package for RINL: Government approves package
to boost India’s steel sector.
●​ Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan App: Enhances battlefield tourism and
historic conflict site exploration.
●​ Fast Track Immigration at 7 Airports: Trusted Traveller Programme
expands for seamless international travel.
○​ Airports: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad,
Cochin, and Ahmedabad.
●​ National Turmeric Board: Focuses on turmeric farmers' welfare and
boosting exports.
●​ Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform: Strengthens solar, wind,
hydrogen, and battery storage sectors.
 ●​ Meteorological Centre in Jammu: Enhances weather services and
research collaborations.
●​ Amrit Bharat Trains 2.0: 50 new affordable trains with safety and
comfort upgrades.
●​ India at ArabPlast 2025: Showcased biodegradable plastics and circular
economy initiatives.
●​ India’s First Green Hydrogen Hub: ₹1.85 lakh crore investment in
Visakhapatnam for renewable energy.
●​ Memorial for Pranab Mukherjee: Site designated in Rashtriya Smriti
complex, Rajghat.
●​ Delhi-Srinagar Train Inauguration: Features world’s highest railway
bridge over Chenab River.
●​ BHARATPOL Portal: Connects Indian agencies to INTERPOL’s crime
network.

●​ Gandhi Darshan Art Gallery: 80 artists showcase Gandhian philosophy

at Rajghat.
●​ PM Forum India Chapter: Promotes international best practices in
professional services marketing.
●​ India’s Metro Network Crosses 1,000 km: Becomes the third-largest
metro network globally.
●​ Ayurveda Research Institute Foundation Laid: New Central Ayurveda
Research Institute in Rohini, Delhi.
●​ Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025: Focuses on rural empowerment and
financial inclusion.

Summits and Conferences

●​ India's WASH Innovations at WEF 2025
○​ India showcased progress in water, sanitation, and hygiene,
highlighting Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission.
○​ Rural access to safe drinking water increased from 17% in 2019 to
79.66%.
●​ WEF 2025 Annual Meeting in Davos
○​ Held from January 20-24, 2025, in Davos-Klosters.
○​ Theme: “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”.
○​ Ashwini Vaishnaw represented India.
●​ 2025 Crystal Award Recipients
○​ Riken Yamamoto, Diane von Furstenberg, and David Beckham.
●​ Rajiv Ranjan Singh at Livestock Conclave
○​ Held in Shillong to promote livestock development in Northeast
India, emphasizing policy support and investments.
●​ Piyush Goyal's Bilateral Talks with Belgium
○​ Discussions on trade, renewable energy, life sciences, digital tech,
and food sectors.
○​ India-Belgium trade at $15.07 billion in 2023-24.
●​ TRAI's SATRC Workshop on Spectrum
○​ Held in Goa to improve spectrum management among South Asian
countries.
●​ Divya Kala Mela in Vadodara
○​ A cultural exhibition promoting 'Vocal for Local' with 100+ Divyang
artisans.
○​ Loans and assistive devices were distributed.
●​ African Union CAADP Meeting & Kampala Declaration
○​ 20th anniversary of CAADP focused on agricultural transformation,
food sovereignty, and value chain improvements.
●​ 21st Third Eye Asian Film Festival
○​ Screened 61 films across Asia.
○​ Javed Akhtar won the Asian Cinema Culture Award; Rafiq
Baghdadi and Anil Jhankar were honored for contributions to film
journalism.
●​ PM Modi Inaugurates Bharat Mobility Global Expo
○​ India’s largest mobility expo with the theme “Beyond Boundaries:
Co-creating Future Automotive Value Chain”.
●​ PM Modi to Attend AI Summit in France
 ○​ AI Action Summit in Paris on February 10-11, 2025, hosted by
French President Macron.
○​ Focus on AI innovation and governance.

●​ 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference in Patna

○​ Held on January 20-21, 2025, in Patna, Bihar, after 43 years.
○​ Theme: 75 years of the Indian Constitution.
○​ Chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
●​ India to Host 28th Commonwealth Speakers' Conference in 2026
○​ Announced by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

MoUs and Agreements

Partnerships/Agreements Details
Collaboration to promote manufacturing startups,
launch incubation programs, and offer global
DPIIT & Bhaane Group market insights.
NTPC Green Energy won a 300 MW solar project,
NTPC Green Energy & part of a 1200 MW initiative under competitive
NHPC bidding.
JSW Defence & Telangana JSW Defence to invest ₹800 Crore in Telangana for
Government UAV plant, signed at the World Economic Forum.
Walmart partners with Pune-based KBCols,
Walmart & Indian Startups Chennai's GreenPod Labs, and Bengaluru's Cropin
 for supply chain pilots.
Consultation on AI Readiness in India to align with
global ethical guidelines, focusing on responsible
UNESCO & MeitY AI.
Partnership for vehicle financing solutions,
Ashok Leyland & ESAF offering flexible loan options to Ashok Leyland
Bank customers.
MoU for a FinTech hub in Bhubaneswar to foster
Odisha & Singapore (GFTN) innovation and inclusive InsureTech solutions.
Defence Ministry & Bharat MoU for ₹2,960 crore contract for MRSAM supply
Dynamics for Indian Navy ships.
C-DOT & IIT Mandi/IIT Agreement to develop wideband spectrum sensor
Jammu ASIC chip to enhance spectrum utilization.
Haj Agreement 2025 signed for a quota of 175,025
pilgrims from India, with transport and logistics
New Delhi & Riyadh discussions.
MeitY & IITs Partnership to train professionals for India's
(Semiconductor Skill semiconductor sector, with both domestic and
Development) overseas opportunities.

Business and Economy

●​ India’s Digital Payment Boom: UPI, IMPS, and NETC FASTag Lead the
Way
○​ India’s cashless economy is surging, with UPI, IMPS, and FASTag
driving record digital transactions.
○​ UPI:

■​ Hit 16.73B transactions worth ₹23.25L Cr in Dec 2024, totaling

172B transactions in 2024, a 46% rise from 2023.
○​ IMPS:
■​ Recorded 441M transactions worth ₹6.01L Cr, up from ₹5.58L
Cr in Nov.
 ○​ FASTag:
■​ Saw 381.98M transactions, totaling ₹6,642 Cr in Dec.
●​ GST Revenue December 2024:
○​ ₹1.77L Cr, Up 7.3% YoY: India’s GST collection in December 2024 rose
7.3% YoY to ₹1.77 lakh crore, but declined 3% from November (₹1.82L
Cr), reflecting a slowdown in consumption and higher refunds.
○​ GST Breakdown:
■​ CGST: ₹32,836 Cr
■​ SGST: ₹40,499 Cr
■​ IGST: ₹47,783 Cr (₹18,310 Cr from imports)
■​ Cess: ₹11,471 Cr (₹1,258 Cr from imports)
●​ India’s Space Economy: Expanded to $8B, projected to $44B by 2035,
driven by missions like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4, Shukrayaan, and
an Indian Space Station.
●​ Blinkit Ambulance: Testing a 10-minute ambulance service in Gurgaon,
with plans for expansion.

●​ Govt Borrowing Q4 FY25: Plans to raise ₹3.9T via T-bills, weekly

borrowings at ₹28K-₹33K Cr.
●​ Honda, Nissan & Mitsubishi Merger: Talks for a 2026 merger, creating a
$50B firm with 8M annual sales.
●​ India’s GDP Growth: 6.5% projected for FY25-FY26, Q2 dropped to 5.4%
(Q1: 6.7%), CPI fell to 5.5% (Nov).
International Affairs
●​ UNSC’s 5 New Non-Permanent Members (2025-26):
○​ Pakistan, Somalia, Denmark, Greece, and Panama have joined
the UN Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members from
Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2026.
●​ Election & Regional Representation:
○​ Africa: Somalia
○​ Asia-Pacific: Pakistan
○​ Latin America & Caribbean: Panama
○​ Western Europe & Others: Denmark, Greece
○​ They replace Mozambique, Japan, Ecuador, Malta, and
Switzerland in the 15-member UNSC.
●​ Mexico City Policy:
○​ U.S. halts funding for foreign groups promoting abortion, rejoining
Geneva Consensus Declaration.
●​ EU PFAS Ban:
○​ EU proposes banning PFAS due to environmental and health risks.
●​ Iran-Russia Treaty:
○​ Signed strategic pact covering trade, military, science, and
culture.
●​ China’s Longest Tunnel:
○​ Tianshan Shengli Tunnel (22.13 km) in Xinjiang cuts travel time to
20 minutes.
●​ China-Pakistan Space Ties:
○​ China launched Pakistan's PRSC-EO1 satellite.
●​ Australia's Autism Strategy:
○​ AU$42.3M plan for education, employment, and diagnosis
reforms.
●​ LA Wildfire Emergency:
○​ Mass evacuations as fire threatens NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
●​ Luxor Discovery:
○​ Over 1,000 blocks from Queen Hatshepsut’s temple found.
●​ Ohio Hindu Heritage Month:
○​ October declared Hindu Heritage Month by Ohio governor.
●​ Mount Ibu Eruption:
○​ Ash plume reaches 3 km; Indonesia’s 2nd-most active volcano.
●​ Sevdalinka in UNESCO:
○​ Traditional Balkan-Ottoman love song added to heritage list.
●​ Nepal Elephant Festival:
○​ Sauraha hosted 80 elephants; polo event removed for ethics.
●​ Pakistan Nuclear Plant:​

○​ Approved 1200 MWe Chashma Unit 5, the nation’s largest.

●​ China Tibetan Crackdown:
○​ Surveillance at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy intensifies.
●​ Russia Black Sea Oil Spill:
○​ Tanker split in storm, causing environmental crisis.
●​ UAE Top Africa Investor:
○​ Invested $110B in renewable projects, surpassing China, UK.
●​ China’s J-36 Fighter Jet:
○​ Tailless stealth jet raises Indo-Pacific security concerns.

●​ Rwanda Ends Marburg Virus:

○​ No new cases in 42 days after 66 infections, 15 deaths.
●​ China’s Brahmaputra Dam:
○​ $137B project to generate 300B kWh electricity yearly.
●​ Bald Eagle U.S. National Bird:
○​ Population rebounds after near-extinction.
India and World
●​ Abu Dhabi-Dubai High-Speed Rail:
○​ 350 km/h train cuts travel to 30 minutes, boosting UAE GDP by
Dh145B over 50 years.
●​ India Joins Eurodrone:
○​ Observer in €7.1B program for maritime surveillance with 40-hour
endurance.
●​ India-Sri Lanka Solar Deal:
○​ 135 MW Sampur solar plant to sell energy at 5.97 US cents/kWh.
●​ India-France Maritime Talks:
○​ 7th dialogue focused on Indian Ocean security and international
law.
●​ India-USA Cybersecurity MoU:
○​ Agreement on cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics.
●​ IREDA in Nepal Hydro Project:
○​ Partners with SJVN, NEA for 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydro
Project.
●​ India-Singapore 60 Years Ties:
○​ Unveiled logo, focus on culture, tourism, and AI.
●​ US Lifts India Nuclear Sanctions:
○​ Removes Cold War-era sanctions on BARC, IRE, and IGARC.
●​ India-Spain 'Dual Year' 2026:
○​ Focus on culture, tourism, and AI collaboration.

Books and Authors

Books Authors
How India Scaled Mt G20 Amitabh Kant
The World After Gaza Pankaj Mishra
On That Note: Memories of a Life in Music Sanjay Subrahmanyan
Parliament: Powers, Functions & Privileges Dr. K.S. Chauhan
Homeopathy for Anemia Dr. AK Dwivedi
Obituaries
Name Description
Narendra
Chapalgaonkar Retired Judge & Writer
Wing Commander (Retd.), Founder Director of CABS,
Dr. K Ramchand DRDO
H Lakshmanan TVS Family Veteran
Pritish Nandy Journalist, Filmmaker, Poet
Tomiko Itooka World's Oldest Person
Shigemi Fukahori Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivor
R. Chidambaram Nuclear Scientist
K S Manilal Botanist
Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat Sanskrit Scholar
Jimmy Carter 39th US President, Nobel Winner
Osamu Suzuki Leader of Suzuki Motor
Manmohan Singh Former Prime Minister of India

Days and Events

Date Event Theme/Description
"Protecting Our Birds, Protecting Our
5th January National Birds Day Future"
“Diaspora's contribution to a Viksit
9th January Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Bharat”
"A Global Voice of Unity and Cultural
10th January World Hindi Day Pride"
 "Youth for a Sustainable Future:
Shaping the Nation with Resilience and
12th January National Youth Day Responsibility"
15th January Indian Army Day "Samarth Bharat, Saksham Sena"
"Let's shape the future together - one
16th January National Startup Day innovative idea at a time"
24th January National Girl Child Day "Empowering Girls for a Bright Future"
25th January National Voters Day “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure”
25th January National Tourism Day "Tourism for Inclusive Growth"
26th January Republic Day Swarnim Bharat- Virasat aur Vikas'
30th January World Leprosy Day “Unite, Act, and Eliminate Leprosy”
 INDEX
●​ Awards and Honours
●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
●​ 67th Annual Grammy Awards 2025​

○​ Category | Winner​

○​ Album of the Year | Cowboy Carter - Beyoncé​

○​ Song of the Year | Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar​

○​ Best New Artist | Chappell Roan​

○​ Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Daniel Nigro​

○​ Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album | Triveni - Chandrika

Tandon​

○​ Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical | Amy Allen

●​ Critics Choice Awards 2025​

○​ Best Film Awards:​

■​ Category | Winner​

●​ Best Picture | Anora​

 ●​ Best Actor | Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)​

●​ Best Actress | Demi Moore (The Substance)​

●​ Best Supporting Actor | Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)​

●​ Best Supporting Actress | Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez)​

●​ Best Young Actor/Actress | Maisy Stella (My Old Ass)​

●​ Best Acting Ensemble | Conclave​

●​ Best Director | John M. Chu (Wicked)​

○​ Best Television Awards:​

■​ Category | Winner​

●​ Best Drama Series | Shogun​

●​ Best Actor in a Drama Series | Hiroyuki Sanada

(Shogun)​

●​ Best Actress in a Drama Series | Kathy Bates

(Matlock)​

●​ Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Tadanobu

Asano (Shogun)​

●​ Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Moeka

Hoshi (Shogun)​

●​ Best Comedy Series | Hacks​

●​ BAFTA 2025 Winners​

 ○​ Best Film: Conclave​

○​ Outstanding British Film: Conclave​

○​ Leading Actress: Mikey Madison for Anora​

○​ Leading Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist​

○​ Director: Brady Corbet for The Brutalist

●​ Important Key Pointers​

○​ Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 – NTPC Ltd.​

○​ Global Best M-Gov Gold Award 2025 – Zain Ahmed Samdani and
Faria Zubair​

○​ Hurun Industry Achievement Award – Dr. Raj P Narayanam​

○​ IIFA Outstanding Achievement Award – Rakesh Roshan​

○​ Grande Medaille (Aero-Club de France) – Tom Cruise​

○​ Global M-Gov Award 2025 (Bronze) – Delhi-based students (for

AccessWay)​
 ○​ Sahitya Akademi Award for Dogri – Chaman Arora (Posthumous)​

○​ ‘CA in Public Service’ Award – NSG IG Deepak Kedia​

○​ Mrs. World 2025 – Tshego Gaelae​

○​ Vayu Sena Medal – Wing Commander Akshay Saxena​

○​ Maharaja Hari Singh Award – J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha​

○​ Guinness World Record in Advertising – Amity University​

○​ President’s Medal for Gallantry – Sanjay Potam​

○​ Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award – Christine Carla Kangaloo​

○​ ECI Media Award for Voter Awareness – Doordarshan

Appointments
Name Appointment
Shaktikanta Das Principal Secretary to PM Modi

Sanjay Malhotra RBI Governor

Rekha Gupta Chief Minister of Delhi
Kash Patel FBI Director
V. Anantha Chief Economic Adviser of India
Nageswaran (Extended)
Vivek Joshi Election Commissioner
P. D. Singh CEO, Standard Chartered India
Gyanesh Kumar Chief Election Commissioner
Jotham Napat Prime Minister of Vanuatu
Sports
●​ BCCI Awards 2025​

○​ Award | Recipient Name​

■​ Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award - Men |

Sachin Tendulkar​

■​ Polly Umrigar Award - Best International Cricketer - Men |

Jasprit Bumrah​

■​ Best International Cricketer - Women | Smriti Mandhana​

■​ Best International Debut - Men | Sarfaraz Khan​

■​ Best International Debut - Women | Asha Sobhana​

■​ BCCI Special Award | Ravichandran Ashwin​

●​ 38th National Games 2025

○​ Held in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025.​

 ○​ Game mascot "Mouli" inspired by the Monal, Uttarakhand’s state
bird.​

○​ Tagline: "Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak" (From Resolution to Zenith).​

○​ Total Medals Awarded: 1,523 medals (457 Gold, 455 Silver, 611
Bronze).​

○​ Overall Champions: Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) - 121

medals (68 Gold, 26 Silver, 27 Bronze).​

○​ First Runner-up: Maharashtra - 201 medals (54 Gold, 71 Silver, 76

Bronze).​

○​ Second Runner-up: Haryana - 153 medals (48 Gold, 47 Silver, 58

Bronze).​

○​ Host State Performance: Uttarakhand finished 7th with a record

103 medals, including 24 Gold.​

●​ Important Key Pointers​

○​ R Praggnanandhaa won his first Tata Steel Masters title.​

○​ Pankaj Advani won his 36th national title at the Indian Snooker
Championship in Indore.​

○​ Matthew Breetzke became the first cricketer to score 150+ on ODI

debut for South Africa.​

○​ Dinesh Karthik surpassed MS Dhoni to become the highest

run-scoring wicketkeeper in T20 history.​

○​ Jasprit Bumrah won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s
Cricketer of the Year 2024.​
 ○​ Melie Kerr became ther first New Zealander to win the Rachael
Heyhoe Flint Trophy and ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year 2024.​

○​ Jasprit Bumrah was named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year
2024 after claiming 71 wickets in 13 Tests.​

○​ Azmatullah Omarzai won the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the

Year 2024 for his outstanding ODI performances.​

○​ Odisha Warriors won the inaugural Women’s HIL title with a 2-1
victory over JSW Soorma Hockey Club.​

○​ Simona Halep retired from Tennis.

Government Policies and Schemes

●​ FM Sitharaman Launches MSME Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme:​

○​ Key Highlights:​

■​ Loan Amount: Collateral-free loans up to ₹100 crore for

machinery/equipment purchase.​

■​ Guarantee Coverage: 60% guarantee cover provided by

NCGTC.​

■​ Eligibility: MSMEs with Udyam Registration;

equipment/machinery must be 75% of project cost.​

■​ Repayment Terms:​

○​ Loans up to ₹50 crore: 8-year repayment period

with 2-year moratorium on principal.​
 ○​ Loans above ₹50 crore: Flexible repayment
schedules.​

○​ Upfront Contribution: 5% of the loan amount

required at the time of application.​

■​ Guarantee Fees:​

○​ No fee in the first year.​

○​ 1.5% per annum for the next three years, then 1%

thereafter.​

○​ Scheme Duration: Four years or until a

cumulative guarantee of ₹7 lakh crore is issued.

●​ Government of India Notifies Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard

Time) Rules, 2025:​

○​ Key Highlights:​

■​ Developed by: Department of Consumer Affairs in

collaboration with CSIR-NPL and ISRO.​

■​ Standardization of IST: IST (UTC +5:30) maintained by

CSIR-NPL will be the mandatory reference across all sectors.​
 ■​ Nationwide Synchronization: Time dissemination
infrastructure to be set up at five Legal Metrology
laboratories.​

■​ Critical Sector Implementation: Essential for navigation,

telecom, banking, power grids, digital governance, space
exploration, and cybersecurity.​

■​ Mandatory Adoption: Telecom, internet providers, and

government offices must synchronize with IST using NTP or
PTP protocols.​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Scheme launched in Puducherry,

providing free health insurance up to ₹5 lakh per year for senior
citizens aged 70+.​

○​ GI-Tagged Rice Exports received a new HS code under the 2025-26

Budget to ensure trade continuity despite export bans.​

○​ Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)

allocated ₹3,295.76 crore for 40 projects in 23 states; Haryana
missed the deadline.​

○​ India’s 1st Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig,

Sṛjanam, developed by CSIR-NIIST, launched at AIIMS under the
Waste to Wealth initiative.​

○​ Samudrayaan Mission received ₹600 crore in the Union Budget,

aiming for a 500m deep-sea submersible in 2024 and a 6,000m
mission in 2025.​

○​ Tribal Ministry Budget increased by 45% to ₹14,925.81 crore for

2025-26, with major funding for Eklavya Model Schools and PM
Janjatiya Vikas Mission.​
 ○​ PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana to benefit 1.7 crore farmers by
enhancing agricultural productivity, crop diversification, and
irrigation.​

○​ Govt allocated ₹10,900 crore for PM e-DRIVE, supporting 16.14 lakh

EVs under FAME-II.

Index and Reports

●​ Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025:

○​ India’s Rank: 6th among the top 10 most affected countries

(1993-2023).​

○​ Economic Losses in India: $180 billion.​

○​ Fatalities in India: 80,000+ due to extreme weather events.​

○​ Total Extreme Events in India: 400+ recorded incidents.​

○​ Global Impact (1993-2023):​

■​ Fatalities: 765,000+ worldwide.​

■​ Economic Losses: $4.2 trillion (equivalent to Germany’s GDP).​

○​ Countries Ahead of India in CRI 2025:​

 ■​ Dominica, China, Honduras, Myanmar, Italy.​

○​ Fatalities by Hazard (Last 30 Years):​

■​ Highest from storms, followed by heatwaves, floods,

droughts, and wildfires.​

●​ Devolution Index Report 2024:​

○​ Released by: Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.​

○​ Overall Devolution Increase: 39.9% (2013-14) → 43.9% (2021-22).​

○​ Top-Ranked States:​

■​ Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh.​

○​ Lowest-Ranked States/UTs:​

■​ Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (13.62), Puducherry
(16.16), Ladakh (16.18).​

○​ Assessment Criteria:​

■​ Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity

Building, Accountability.​

●​ Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024:​

○​ India’s Rank: 96th (declined from 93rd in 2023).​

○​ India’s Score: 38 (down from 39 in 2023).​

○​ Published by: Transparency International.​

○​ Assessment:​
 ■​ Evaluates public sector corruption in 180 countries.​

■​ Scale: 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).​

○​ Global Rankings:​

■​ Least Corrupt Countries: Denmark, Finland, Singapore.​

■​ Most Corrupt Country: South Sudan.​

○​ Regional Comparison:​

■​ Pakistan: 135th.​

■​ Sri Lanka: 121st.​

■​ Bangladesh: 149th.​

■​ China: 76th.

●​ Women Billionaires Global List 2025:​

 ○​ Women constitute 13.3% of the global billionaire population in 2025,
per Forbes Billionaire List 2025.​

○​ India’s richest woman: Savitri Jindal & family featured in the global
women’s billionaires list.​

○​ Rank | Name | Net Worth (USD) | Source of Wealth​

○​ 1 | Alice Walton | $112.5 billion | Walmart​

○​ 2 | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family | $74.4 billion | L’Oréal​

○​ 3 | Julia Koch & Family | $74.2 billion | Koch Industries​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ India ranks first in digital well-being with a score of 67/100,

excelling in online safety despite rising cyber threats.​

○​ India leads global passenger load factor for domestic flights at

86.4% in 2024, surpassing the US and China.​

○​ Oceans are warming four times faster than in the 1980s, with
temperatures rising by 0.27°C per decade since 2019.​

○​ IISc Bengaluru ranked 99th globally in Computer Science,

becoming the first Indian institution in the top 100 of THE World
Rankings 2025.​

○​ Asia-Pacific healthcare market to reach $5 trillion by 2030,

driven by India's investment and innovation.​

○​ India’s investment boom: SBI reports ₹32.01 lakh crore in

investment announcements for FY25, a 39% YoY increase, with 70%
from the private sector.​
 ○​ Bain & Nasscom projects India's GDP to reach $23-35T by 2047,
with 8-10% annual growth driven by five key sectors.​

○​ Moody’s forecasts India’s GDP to slow to 6.4% in 2025, down from

6.6% in 2024.​

○​ Reliance ranks 2nd in FutureBrand Index 2024, surpassing Apple,

Nike, and Disney, with Samsung securing the top spot.

Defence
●​ Aero India 2025 Highlights:

○​ Hosted at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, organized by

MoD, HAL, DRDO, and IAF.​

○​ Theme: “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities”.​

○​ Biennial event held every two years.​

○​ Russian Su-57 Felon and US F-35 Lightning II appeared at the same

airbase for the first time.​

○​ UK and India signed an agreement to develop an Integrated Full

Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system for India’s next-gen Landing
 Platform Dock (LPD) fleet.​

○​ Saab and HAL signed an MoU to develop and manufacture the

LWS-310 Electronic Warfare Laser Warning System in India.​

○​ HAL renamed HJT-36 Jet Trainer as 'Yashas', an upgraded aircraft

for Stage II pilot training, capable of counter-insurgency and
armament training.​

○​ Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a contract to

supply Laser Beam Riding MANPADS (VSHORAD).​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ BEL & Safran signed an MoU to manufacture HAMMER

precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India with a 70 km+
standoff range.​

○​ Tata Boeing Aerospace delivered its 300th Apache fuselage,

strengthening India's defense manufacturing capabilities.​

○​ Indian Navy Chiefs' Conclave 2025 held in New Delhi, featuring

discussions on maritime strategy and the launch of "Legacy of
Leadership: Naval Chiefs through Time".​

○​ Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (INS Sujata, INS Shardul,

and ICGS Veera) visited Singapore for professional exchanges and
maritime cooperation.​

○​ DRDO redefined 82 research verticals across 15 DIA-CoEs,

introducing new focus areas like Cryptography and Laser Beam
Combining.​

○​ CDS General Anil Chauhan inaugurated key infrastructure at Naval

Base Karwar under Project Seabird Phase IIA, enhancing India's
naval capabilities.​
 ●​ Military Exercise:​

○​ Exercise | Participants | Location | Focus/Details​

■​ Cyclone 2025 | India (The Parachute Regiment (SF)), Egypt

(Commando Squadron and Airborne Platoon) | Mahajan Field
Firing Range, Rajasthan | Counter-terrorism, reconnaissance,
and special forces skills.​

■​ Ekuverin | Indian Army, Maldives National Defence Force |

Maafilaafushi Island, Maldives | "Ekuverin" means "Friends" in
Dhivehi; bilateral military exercise.​

■​ Dharma Guardian 2025 | India, Japan | East Fuji Maneuver

Training Area, Japan | Interoperability, urban warfare,
counter-terrorism under UN mandate.​

■​ NAVDEX 2025 | India, UAE | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Indian Coast

Guard Ship Shoor participated; maritime cooperation.​

■​ KOMODO 2025 | 39 countries | Bali, Indonesia | Themed

"Maritime Partnership for Peace and Stability"; biennial event
since 2014.

Science and Technology

●​ India’s First Private Supersonic Ramjet Engine "Tezz":​

○​ Developed by Hyprix Aviation, Bengaluru.​

○​ Designed to operate efficiently at speeds between Mach 2 and

Mach 4.​
 ○​ Supported by the National Centre for Combustion Research and
Development (NCCRD) at IIT Madras.​

●​ About Scramjet Engines:​

○​ Jet engines using atmospheric oxygen and fuel to create thrust.​

○​ Used in hypersonic aircraft, space launches, and missiles, operating

at high speeds and altitudes.

●​ India’s First Ferret Research Facility & GARBHINI-DRISHTI Portal

Launched:
 ​

○​ India’s First Ferret Research Facility:​

■​ Inaugurated at the Translational Health Science and

Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana.​

■​ A state-of-the-art facility for vaccine development,

therapeutic testing, and research on emerging infectious
diseases.​

■​ Enhances India's pandemic preparedness and global

research standing.​

○​ Launch of GARBH-INi-DRISHTI:​

■​ DBT Data Repository and Information Sharing Hub at THSTI.​

■​ Contains clinical data, images, and biospecimens from over

12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers.​

■​ Aims to improve maternal and neonatal health through

collaborative research from India's leading institutions.​

○​ Technology Transfer Agreement:​

■​ With M/s Sundyota Numandis Probioceuticals Pvt. Ltd.​

 ■​ Facilitates commercialization of THSTI's synthetic microbial
consortium, Lactobacillus crispatus, isolated from
reproductive tracts of women.​

■​ Potential applications in nutraceuticals for microbiome-based

interventions.​

●​ ISRO & IIT Madras Developed Indigenous Space Chip IRIS:​

○​ Collaboration: Developed by the Inertial Systems Unit of ISRO

(Thiruvananthapuram) and IIT Madras.​

○​ Usage:​

■​ Designed for aerospace, IoT, and strategic computing

systems.​

■​ Meets functional requirements of ISRO mission sensors and

systems.​

○​ Manufacturing:​

■​ Fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in

Chandigarh.​

■​ Packaged by Tata Advanced Systems in Karnataka.​

○​ Architecture:​

■​ Based on SHAKTI processor architecture utilizing RISC-V

(open-source instruction set architecture).​

■​ 64-bit architecture with fault-tolerant internal memory for

enhanced reliability.​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ IIT Kanpur Develops Solar Dehydration for Farmers: Introduced
solar dehydration technology to preserve agricultural produce,
reduce post-harvest losses, and increase farmers' income with
NABARD's support.​

○​ China to Build Deepwater ‘Space Station’ in South China Sea:

China approved the construction of a 2,000m depth research
facility at the South China Sea, set for completion by 2030.​

○​ Biovet's Biolumpivaxin Gets CDSCO License for LSD Treatment:

Biovet received CDSCO approval for Biolumpivaxin, the world’s first
DIVA marker vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease.

○​ NASA Selects SpaceX for Pandora Mission Launch: NASA

awarded SpaceX the launch contract for the Pandora mission,
which will study exoplanets and their host stars alongside the
James Webb Telescope.​

○​ Scientists Create First-Ever Kangaroo Embryo Using IVF:

Australian researchers created the first-ever kangaroo embryos
using IVF, aiming to protect endangered marsupials like koalas and
Tasmanian devils.​

○​ China's Chang’e-7 to Explore Lunar South Pole in 2026: The

Chang’e-7 mission will detect water ice and test technologies for
human habitation at the Moon’s south pole, set to launch in 2026.​
○​ Antarctic Expedition Explores Ross Sea Ecosystem: A 40-day
research expedition is assessing marine biodiversity in the Ross
Sea, a marine protected zone home to the largest emperor penguin
colony.​

○​ New Phytopathogenic Fungi Discovered in India: BHU

researchers identified Epicoccum indicum, a new fungi species
linked to leaf spot disease in vetiver.​

○​ Shenzhou-19's Breakthrough in Artificial Photosynthesis: Chinese

Shenzhou-19 crew achieved the first in-orbit artificial
photosynthesis, converting CO₂ and water to produce oxygen and
ethylene.​

○​ Iceberg A23a Nears South Georgia Island, Raising Concerns:

The trillion-ton iceberg A23a, freed from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice
Shelf, is drifting towards South Georgia Island.​

○​ IIT Madras Unveils India’s First Cancer Genome Atlas: IIT

Madras launched Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas (BCGA) to aid early
detection through analysis of cancer-specific biomarkers.​

○​ NIELIT CoE in Chip Design Launched to Boost Semiconductor

Growth: NIELIT’s Centre of Excellence in Chip Design at Noida
aims to strengthen India's VLSI & semiconductor capabilities.​

○​ Indian Scientists Develop Smart Drug Delivery for Arthritis:

INST Mohali researchers developed a self-actuating drug delivery
system for controlled release of methotrexate, reducing side
effects.
 ​

○​ Stargate AI Data Centers: OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle launch

$100B AI data center project in the US.

National Affairs
●​ Fort William Renamed as Vijay Durg in Indianisation Effort:​

○​ Fort William in Kolkata renamed as Vijay Durg to remove colonial

influences.​

○​ Vijay Durg was a key Maratha naval base under Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj.​

○​ The fort was built by the British in 1781 and originally named after
King William III of England.​

○​ The renaming reflects India’s pride in its indigenous military

heritage.
●​ Other Renaming Initiatives:​

○​ Kitchener House → Manekshaw House in honor of Field Marshal

Sam Manekshaw.​

○​ St. George’s Gate → Shivaji Gate in honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji

Maharaj.​

●​ Four More Wetlands Declared Ramsar Sites in India:​

○​ India now has a total of 89 Ramsar sites, ranking 1st in Asia and 3rd
globally.​

○​ Newly Added Sites:​

■​ Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu (230.495 ha).​

■​ Therthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.​

■​ Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim (first Ramsar site in Sikkim).​

■​ Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand (first Ramsar site in Jharkhand).​

○​ Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India (20
sites).​
●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ Lok Sabha Expands Translation Services: Speaker Om Birla

announced translation services in 6 new languages: Bodo, Dogri,
Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu, and Sanskrit, enhancing accessibility in
Parliament.​

○​ Jindal Nuclear's ₹1.80 Lakh Crore Investment: Jindal Nuclear to

invest ₹1.80 lakh crore for 18GWe nuclear power capacity by 2047,
supporting India's low-carbon economy with CO2-free energy.​

○​ MDA Campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination: Union

Health Minister JP Nadda launched the MDA campaign in 111
endemic districts across 13 states to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis
through door-to-door drug administration.​

○​ NSDC International Academy Launched: Shri Jayant Chaudhary

inaugurated NSDC Academy in Greater Noida for global skill
training, offering AI, VR labs, and foreign language certifications
for 1,000 trainees yearly.​

○​ National IP Moot Court Competition 2025: Piyush Goyal

inaugurated the competition with the theme "AI & Copyright" and
₹3.25 lakh in prize money. Selected students will be sponsored for
international moot court competitions.​

○​ India Surpasses 100 GW Solar Power Milestone: India’s solar

capacity surged from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100.33 GW in 2025, now
accounting for 47% of India’s renewable energy capacity.​

○​ AI-Enabled Consumer Helpline Launched: The Department of

Consumer Affairs launched an AI-powered helpline (1915) for
grievance redressal, with call volume rising from 12,500 in Dec 2015
to 1.5 lakh in Dec 2024.​

○​ North East Investment Roadshow Launched: Minister

Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the roadshow in Chennai to boost
 investments, focusing on key sectors like connectivity, tourism,
agriculture, textiles, and hydropower.​

○​ Oil India Launches Green Energy Subsidiary: Oil India Limited

set up OIL Green Energy Limited for renewable energy projects,
focusing on solar, wind, hydro, and hybrid energy ventures.

○​ Govt Introduces Ayush Visa: Ayush Visa introduced for one year,
extendable up to five years with medical proof, for foreign
nationals seeking traditional Indian treatments.​

○​ WAVES 2025 to Tackle Misinformation with AI: The TruthTell

Hackathon offers ₹10 lakh for AI-based fact-checking solutions,
with over 5,600 global registrations, including 36% women
participants.​

○​ Digi Yatra Surpasses 10 Million Users: The facial

recognition-based air travel app reached 10 million users, with
30,000 daily downloads.​

Summits and Conferences

●​ World Travel & Tourism Festival 2025:​
 ○​ Organized by TV9 Network and Red Hat Communications.​

○​ Inaugurated by Dr. Mahesh Sharma.​

○​ Featured cultural experiences and expert-led discussions from

February 14-16, 2025.​

●​ India Energy Week 2025:​

○​ Saw 70,000+ visitors and 600 exhibitors.​

○​ Highlighted biofuel innovations and LNG partnerships.​

○​ Goa announced as the host for 2026.​

●​ Aadi Mahotsav 2025:​

○​ Inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu.​

○​ Showcased tribal crafts, culture, and commerce.​

○​ Launched National Mission on Tribal Health to eradicate sickle cell

anaemia by 2047.

​
●​ India Hosts First Regional Dialogue on Social Justice:​

○​ Organized by the Ministry of Labour & Employment in collaboration

with CII and EFI.​

○​ Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.​

●​ President Murmu Inaugurates International Women’s Conference:​

○​ The 10th International Women’s Conference, organized by the Art

of Living.​

○​ Focusing on the theme “Just Be.”​

●​ Symposium on Aquatic Animal Diseases:​

○​ Inaugurated by Union Minister Shri George Kurian.​

○​ Focused on challenges in aquatic animal diseases as part of the

14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum.​

●​ Elecs Korea 2025:​

○​ An electric energy conference held in Seoul.​

○​ Showcased advanced power technologies with participation from

260 companies.​

●​ MoHUA Hosts ‘Culinary, Crafts & Clicks – Moods & Magic’ Festival:​

○​ Celebrated India's street food and handicrafts.​

○​ With participation from 40 SHGs and women-led enterprises from

February 8-23, 2025.​

●​ India to Host Next AI Summit, Modi Stresses AI Governance:​

 ○​ Following the AI Summit in Paris, PM Modi emphasized India's role
in AI governance.​

○​ India set to host the next global AI summit.​

●​ India Energy Week 2025: A Major Global Energy Event:​

○​ Held at Yashobhoomi - India International Convention Centre.​

○​ Organized by FIPI and DMG Events under the patronage of the

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

●​ BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025:​

○​ Theme: "Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange".​

○​ Organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Ministry of

External Affairs with Confederation of Indian Industry.​

●​ Medlab Middle East 2024:​

○​ Held at Dubai World Trade Centre.​

○​ Featuring 800 exhibitors from 40 countries.​

○​ Focused on early disease detection and preventive medicine in the

Next Gen Medicine zone.​
 ●​ World Book Fair 2025:​

○​ Organized by NBT India under the Ministry of Education.​

○​ Commemorating India’s 75th anniversary as a republic.​

○​ Russia was the focus country.​

MoUs and Agreements

●​ Partnership/Agreement | Details​

○​ Training Sri Lankan Civil Officers | NCGG (India) & SLIDA (Sri
Lanka) to train 1,500 Sri Lankan civil service officers over five
years.​

○​ Wave Energy Development | BPCL & Eco Wave Power to develop

wave energy projects in India, targeting 40,000 MW ocean energy
potential.​

○​ Sweet Sorghum for Biofuels | BPCL & National Sugar Institute (NSI)
to develop sweet sorghum for bioethanol; INR 5 crores allocated for
R&D.​

○​ Scientific & Tech Cooperation | CSIR (India) & NAST (Nepal) to

collaborate in biological sciences, nanotechnology, environmental
tech, and drug discovery.​

○​ Strategic Partnership & Tax Cooperation | India & Qatar to enhance

trade, energy, tech, and avoid double taxation.​

○​ Battery Manufacturing Expansion | Ministry of Heavy Industries &

Reliance New Energy Battery Ltd. to manufacture 10 GWh ACC
 under ₹18,100 crore PLI scheme.​

○​ AI-Driven Digital Twin Technologies | DoT (India) & ITU to

collaborate on AI, digital twin tech, and ITU-Plenipotentiary
Conference 2030.​

○​ Life-Saving Surgeries | CCL, NCL & Sri Sathya Sai Health &
Education Trust to fund congenital heart disease surgeries under
the ‘Nanha Sa Dil’ initiative.​

○​ Startup Support | DPIIT & Rukam Capital to support startups in

prototype development & international expansion.​

○​ Clean Energy Collaboration | GAIL & Accelera by Cummins to

advance hydrogen production, blending, transportation, and
storage.​

○​ Maritime Infrastructure Development | BPCL & SCI to enhance

crude oil, gas, and petroleum transportation.

Business and Economy

●​ GST Revenue Hits ₹1.95 Lakh Crore in January 2025:​

○​ India’s GST collections reached ₹1.95 lakh crore in January 2025.​

○​ This marks a 12.3% Year-on-Year (YoY) growth, reflecting economic

resilience.​

○​ Key Highlights:​

■​ Domestic GST revenue rose by 10% to ₹1.47 lakh crore.​

■​ GST from imports surged 19.8%, contributing ₹48,382 crore.​

 ■​ Refund disbursements increased by 23.9%, improving
compliance.​

○​ State-Wise Performance:​

■​ Highest growth states:​

■​ Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh.​

■​ Smaller states with remarkable growth:​

■​ Nagaland (26%), Tripura (25%), Sikkim (21%).​

■​ Declines in:​

■​ Himachal Pradesh (-7%) and Mizoram (-10%) due to

economic challenges.​

○​ Category-Wise GST Performance:​

■​ CGST: ₹32,685 crore (January 2024) to ₹36,077 crore (January

2025), 10.4% growth.​

■​ SGST: ₹40,895 crore (January 2024) to ₹44,942 crore (January

2025), 9.9% growth.​

■​ IGST: ₹88,550 crore (January 2024) to ₹1,01,075 crore

(January 2025), 14.2% growth.​

■​ CESS: ₹11,976 crore (January 2024) to ₹13,412 crore (January

2025), 12.0% growth.​

■​ Total GST Revenue: ₹1,74,106 crore (January 2024) to

₹1,95,506 crore (January 2025), 12.3% growth.​

○​ State-Wise GST Growth for Key States:​

 ■​ Maharashtra: ₹28,342 crore (January 2024) to ₹32,335 crore
(January 2025), 14.0% growth.​

■​ Tamil Nadu: ₹9,606 crore (January 2024) to ₹11,496 crore

(January 2025), 20.0% growth.​

■​ Gujarat: ₹10,967 crore (January 2024) to ₹12,135 crore

(January 2025), 11.0% growth.​

■​ Uttar Pradesh: ₹8,596 crore (January 2024) to ₹9,516 crore

(January 2025), 11.0% growth.​

■​ Karnataka: ₹13,320 crore (January 2024) to ₹14,353 crore

(January 2025), 8.0% growth.​

○​ Comparison with Previous Months:​

■​ November 2024: GST collection of ₹1.82 lakh crore, an 8.5%

YoY growth.​

■​ October 2024: GST collection of ₹1.87 lakh crore, a 9% YoY

increase (second-highest on record).​

■​ April 2024: Highest-ever GST collection of ₹2.10 lakh crore.​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ SEBI Launches MITRA for Tracking Inactive MF Folios: MITRA is

a digital platform to help investors track inactive or unclaimed
mutual fund folios, developed by RTAs, ensuring investor protection
and preventing fraudulent redemptions.
 ​

○​ Campa Cola Replaces Thums Up as IPL 2025 Co-Presenter:

Campa Cola secured the IPL 2025 co-presenting rights for ₹200
crore, challenging Coca-Cola’s dominance, while Reliance Consumer
promotes Spinner and RasKik Gluco Energy.​

○​ West Bengal Unveils ₹3.89 Lakh Crore Budget for FY26: West
Bengal's budget focuses on rural roads, river erosion control, a new
Ganga bridge, housing, and a 4% DA hike for state employees.​

○​ Reliance Launches ‘Spinner’ Sports Drink with Muralitharan:

Reliance Consumer introduced ‘Spinner’ sports drink, co-created
with Muttiah Muralitharan, available in flavors like Lemon, Orange,
and Nitro Blue, priced at ₹10 for 150 ml.​

○​ RBI Introduces AFA for International Transactions: RBI has

implemented Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) for
cross-border Card Not Present (CNP) transactions to align
international payments with domestic security standards.​

International Affairs
●​ FAO Launches $95M Climate Project in Somalia:​
 ○​ The Food and Agriculture Organization launched a seven-year, $95
million project to improve Somalia's agrifood systems.​

●​ Operation Devil Hunt: 1,300 Arrested in Bangladesh:​

○​ Over 1,300 arrests were made in Bangladesh as part of a

crackdown on political violence.​

●​ Lebanon Forms First Government Since 2022:​

○​ Lebanon formed a new 24-member government under Prime

Minister Nawaf Salam.​

●​ Argentina Withdraws from WHO:​

○​ President Javier Milei announced Argentina's withdrawal from the

WHO, citing health management differences during COVID-19.​

●​ Australia Passes Strict Hate Crime Laws:​

○​ New laws in Australia impose jail terms for Nazi salutes and
terror-related hate crimes.​

●​ New Map of Arctic Ocean Reveals Vast Area:​

○​ A new Arctic Ocean map adds 1.4 million square kilometers of data,
revealing an area twice the size of France.​

●​ ECOWAS Keeps Door Open After 3 Coup-Hit Nations Exit:​

○​ Despite the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, ECOWAS

continues cooperation, highlighting a legitimacy crisis.
 ​

●​ Niger Becomes First African Nation to Eliminate River Blindness:​

○​ Niger became the first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis

(river blindness), a major cause of blindness worldwide.​

●​ Panama Exits China’s Belt and Road Initiative:​

○​ Panama withdrew from China's Belt and Road Initiative, citing a

strategic reassessment.​

●​ Philippines Declares Food Security Emergency Amid Rising Rice

Prices:​

○​ The Philippines declared a food security emergency due to soaring

rice prices.​

●​ Switzerland to End Aid Programs for Bangladesh, Albania, and

Zambia:​

○​ Switzerland announced a reduction in foreign aid to these

countries, cutting 110 million Swiss Francs for 2025.​

●​ New Zealand Recognizes Mountain as a Person:​

 ○​ Mount Taranaki, now Te Kahui Tupua, was granted personhood
status by New Zealand's parliament, ensuring its protection.​

●​ Pakistan Moves to Criminalize Begging:​

○​ Pakistan amended the Prevention of Tracking in Persons Bill 2024 to

criminalize begging, aiming to address global embarrassment.​

●​ Serbian PM Resigns Amid Protests:​

○​ Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned following mass

protests over a railway station collapse in Novi Sad.​

●​ China Develops Seabed Radar to Detect Aircraft:​

○​ Chinese scientists developed a seabed radar capable of tracking

aircraft at altitudes of 5,000 meters from a depth of 1,000 meters.​

●​ UAE Declares 2025 as ‘Year of Community’:​

○​ UAE's President announced 2025 as the Year of Community to

foster unity and social cohesion across society.​

●​ Iran's First Drone Carrier Joins Revolutionary Guards' Fleet:​

○​ Shahid Beheshti, Iran's first drone and helicopter-launching ship,

joined the Revolutionary Guards.​

India and World

●​ Adani Green Exits $442M Sri Lanka Wind Power Project:​
 ○​ Adani Green Energy Ltd. withdrew from Sri Lanka’s $442M wind
project due to tariff reduction requests and environmental
challenges.​

●​ Sri Lanka Launches 5 Sinhala Translations of Jataka Tales:​

○​ The Indian High Commission and Kelaniya Maha Viharaya

launched five Sinhala-translated Jataka Tales books, with 5,000
copies for distribution.

●​ India Launched EFTA Desk for Strengthened Trade:​

○​ India opened a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Desk to

promote trade relations with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and
Switzerland.​

●​ India Contributes $37.64 Million to UN Budget for 2025:​

○​ India contributed $37.64 million to the UN's 2025 budget and was
recognized for its timely payments.​

●​ 864 km of India-Bangladesh Border Yet to be Fenced:​

○​ 864.482 km of India-Bangladesh border remains unfenced due to

land acquisition and terrain challenges.​
●​ SCO Secretary General Holds Talks with MEA Secretary:​

○​ SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev visited India for talks

on regional cooperation.​

●​ India, UK Hold Consultations on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation:​

○​ India and the UK discussed nuclear, chemical, biological weapons,

and AI in military use.​

●​ Russian Delegation Meets Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla:​

○​ Russian Parliament Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin met Om Birla to

strengthen Indo-Russian diplomatic ties.​

●​ India & Oman Amend DTAA to Boost Tax Cooperation:​

○​ India and Oman amended the Double Taxation Avoidance

Agreement to simplify tax procedures and strengthen economic
ties.​

●​ Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 Resumes with Direct Flights:

○​ India and China resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with direct
flights, aiming to rebuild ties post-COVID.​
 ●​ "Laapataa Ladies" Shortlisted for Japan Academy Film Prize:​

○​ Kiran Rao's film "Laapataa Ladies" contended for Best

International Film at the Japan Academy Film Prize.​

●​ India Sends Aid to Kurdistan Region of Iraq:​

○​ India provided medical supplies to the Kurdistan region, reinforcing

humanitarian efforts and strengthening ties.​

●​ India Sends Aid to Honduras After Storm SARA:​

○​ India dispatched 26 tons of humanitarian aid to Honduras after

Tropical Storm SARA, continuing its role as a first responder in
global crises.

Books and Authors

Book Title Author
Poonam Vaani Poonam Kalra
Guardian of Dr. Biswaroop Roy
Heritage Chowdhury
The Mahatma’s
Manifesto Rajesh Talwar

Obituaries
 Name Description
Milind Rege Former Mumbai Cricket Captain & Selector
Francesco
Rivella Inventor of Nutella
Pratul Bengali Singer & Songwriter, Famous for ‘Ami Banglay Gan
Mukhopadhyay Gai’
C. Krishnaveni Telugu Actor & Producer, Introduced NTR in Mana Desam
Prabhakar Hindustani Classical Vocalist, Winner of Tansen Samman
Karekar (2014) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2016)
Acharya
Satyendra Das Chief Priest, Ayodhya Ram Temple
Sam Nujoma First President of Namibia, Led Namibia’s independence
Kameshwar BJP Leader, Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, Laid first brick for Ram
Chaupal Temple in 1989

Days and Events

Day/Event Theme
Indian Coast Guard "Indian Coast Guard: Innovating, Protecting, and
Day (Feb 1) Serving with Valor"
World Wetlands Day
(Feb 2) "Protecting wetlands for our common future"
World Cancer Day
(Feb 4) "United by Unique" (2025-27)
World Pulses Day (Feb
10) "Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems"
“Innovations in Unani Medicine for Integrative Health
Unani Day (Feb 11) Solutions – A Way Forward"
World Radio Day (Feb
13) "Radio and Climate Change"
World Day of Social “Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps Of Social
Justice (Feb 20) Justice”
World NGO Day (Feb "Empowering Grassroots Movements for a Sustainable
27) Future"
National Science Day “Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in
(Feb 28) Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat”
 INDEX
●​ Awards and Honours
●​ Appointments
●​ Sports
●​ Government Schemes and Policies
●​ Indexes and Reports
●​ Defence
●​ Science and Technology
●​ National Affairs
●​ Summits and Conferences
●​ MoU and Agreements
●​ Banking and Financial Awareness
●​ International Affairs
●​ India and World
●​ Books and Authors
●​ Obituaries
●​ Days and Events
Awards and Honours
●​ 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) – Highlights:

○​ Host: Conan O'Brien​

○​ Location: Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles​

●​ Major Winners:​

○​ Best Picture: Anora​

■​ Directed by Sean Baker​

■​ 5 Oscars: Best Picture, Director, Actress (Mikey Madison),

Original Screenplay, Editing​

■​ Also won Palme d'Or (Cannes) & 2 BAFTAs​

○​ Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)​

■​ 4 Oscars for Anora (Record for single film)​

■​ Won BAFTA for Best Casting with Samantha Quan​

○​ Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)​

 ■​ Previous Oscar: The Pianist (2002)​

■​ Also won Golden Globe & BAFTA​

○​ Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)​

○​ Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)​

■​ Film by Jesse Eisenberg​

■​ Awards: Oscar, BAFTA, Emmy, 2 Golden Globes​

○​ Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)​

■​ French-Spanish musical crime film by Jacques Audiard​

●​ Other Winners:​

○​ Animated Feature Film: Flow​

○​ Animated Short Film: In the Shadow of the Cypress​

○​ Cinematography: Lol Crawley (The Brutalist)​

○​ Documentary Feature: No Other Land​

○​ Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra​

○​ International Feature Film: I’m Still Here (Brazil)​

●​ 19th Ramnath Goenka Awards for Excellence in Journalism:​

○​ Print Awards:​

■​ Business & Economic Journalism: Twesh Mishra (The

Economic Times) – ‘Make in India’ & EV industry​
 ■​ Reporting on Politics & Government: Maitri Porecha (The
Hindu) – Balasore train accident analysis​

■​ Sports Journalism: Shahab Ali & Amarnath Kashyap

(Hindustan) – Story on Asha Kiran Barla’s village​

■​ Investigative Journalism: Nihal AP Koshie, Mahender Singh

Manrala & Mihir Vasavda (The Indian Express) – Protest
coverage post Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh charges​

○​ Broadcast Awards:​

■​ Uncovering Invisible India: Vishnukant Tiwari & Athar

Rather (The Quint) – Witchcraft-related violence in
Jharkhand​

■​ Reporting on Politics & Government: Ashutosh Mishra

(India Today TV) – Reports on ethnic violence in Manipur​

■​ Sports Journalism: Tejas Vaidya & Enakshi Rajvanshi (BBC

Hindi) – Story on disabled women cricketers from Gujarat​

■​ Investigative Journalism: Anurag Dwary (NDTV) –

Investigation into Madhya Pradesh medical college scam

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

 ○​ PM Modi receives Mauritius's Highest Civilian Award - Grand
Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.​

○​ PM Modi awarded ‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’ -

Awarded for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.​

○​ Dr. Suborno Bose Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for

Hospitality – Honored at Vibrant Bharat Global Summit 2025 for
integrating AI into hospitality education.​

○​ Dr. Dinesh Shahra Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from

Harcourt Butler Technical University – Recognized for pioneering
contributions to India’s edible oil industry and sustainability efforts.​

○​ Jay Shah Wins Icon of Excellence at 14th Forbes India

Leadership Awards (FILA 2025) – ICC Chairman became the
youngest-ever to hold the position and was honored for innovations
in cricket governance.​

○​ National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Award Conferred to 3

Practitioners – Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, Vaidya Maya Ram
Uniyal, and Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni received ₹5 lakh
each.​

○​ Maharashtra Govt to Honour Veteran Sculptor Ram Sutar –

Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar, the creator of the Statue of Unity, will
be honored with the Maharashtra Bhushan, the state’s highest
civilian award.

Appointments
Name Appointment
Netumbo
Nandi-Ndaitwah President of Namibia
Ashok Singh Thakur Chairman, INTACH
President, International Olympic Committee
Kirsty Coventry (IOC)
Dr. Shivkumar CEO, Anusandhan National Research
Kalyanaraman Foundation (ANRF)
Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada
Justice Joymalya
Bagchi Supreme Court Judge
CMD, National Mineral Development
Amitava Mukherjee Corporation (NMDC)
Vidya Balan Brand Ambassador, Federal Bank
Ajit Ratnakar Joshi Executive Director, RBI
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs
Ajay Bhadoo CEO, Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
Christian Stocker Chancellor of Austria
Manan Kumar Mishra Chairman, Bar Council of India
Controller General of Defence Accounts
Dr. Mayank Sharma (CGDA)
Ajay Seth Revenue Secretary
Tuhin Kanta Pandey Chairman, SEBI

Sports
●​ Hockey India Annual Awards 2024:​

○​ Major Awards:​

■​ Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded

to the 1975 World Cup squad, along with ₹50 lakh cash prize.​
 ■​ Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the
Year:​

■​ Women’s Category: Savita Punia​

■​ Men’s Category: Harmanpreet Singh​

■​ Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable

Contribution 2024: Prasar Bharati was honored for
significant efforts in promoting and broadcasting hockey
across the nation.

○​ Other Notable Awards:​

■​ Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the

Year: Savita Punia​

■​ Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the

Year: Amit Rohidas​

■​ Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the

Year: Hardik Singh​

■​ Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the

Year: Abhishek​

■​ Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of

the Year (Women Under 21): Deepika​
 ■​ Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of
the Year (Men Under 21): Araijeet Singh Hundal​

●​ Mumbai Indians Won 2nd Women’s Premier League 2025 Title:​

○​ Winner: Mumbai Indians (2nd WPL title)​

○​ Runner-up: Delhi Capitals​

○​ Final Score: Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by 8 runs​

○​ Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai​

○​ Key Performers:​

■​ Harmanpreet Kaur: 66 runs (Player of the Match)​

■​ Nat Sciver-Brunt: All-round performance, including 3 wickets

(Player of the Tournament & Orange Cap)​

○​ Season Awards:​

■​ Chinelle Henry: Highest strike-rate of the season​

■​ Ashleigh Gardner: Most sixes of the season​

■​ Shabnim Ismail: Most dot balls bowled​

■​ Amanjot Kaur: Emerging player of the season​

■​ Gujarat Giants: Fair Play Award​

●​ ICC Champions Trophy 2025:​

○​ Winner: India​
 ■​ India became the first team to win three Champions Trophy
titles.​

■​ Previous Wins: 2002 (joint winners), 2013​

○​ Key Awardees:​

■​ Player of the Tournament: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)​

■​ Highest Wicket-Taker: Matt Henry (New Zealand)​

■​ Highest Scorer: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)

●​ Khelo India Para Games: Jaspreet Kaur Sets National Record:​

○​ Punjab’s powerlifter Jaspreet Kaur became the first athlete in Khelo

India Para Games to break a national record, lifting 101 kg in the 45
kg category to win gold.​

●​ India Qualifies for FIBA Men’s Asia Cup 2025:​

○​ The Indian basketball team qualified for FIBA Men’s Asia Cup 2025
after defeating Bahrain 81-77 in Manama. India will compete in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17.​
●​ Pranati Nayak Wins Bronze in Women’s Vault at FIG World Cup:​

○​ India’s Pranati Nayak won the bronze medal in Women’s Vault at

the FIG World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, with an average score of
13.417.​

●​ India to Host 11th Asian Swimming Championship in Gujarat:​

○​ India will host the 11th Asian Swimming Championship in

Ahmedabad from October 1 to 15, featuring swimming, diving,
artistic swimming, and water polo.​

●​ Bihar Hosts Sepak Takraw 2025 World Cup, 20 Countries

Participating:​

○​ Bihar is hosting the Sepak Takraw 2025 World Cup for the first time,
with 20 countries, including India, competing in the six-day event at
Pataliputra Sports Complex in Patna.​

●​ Seema Wins Gold in Women’s Discus at Indian Open Throws

Competition:​

○​ Seema won the gold medal in women’s discus throw at the Indian
Open Throws Competition 2025 in Navi Mumbai with a 56.39-metre
throw.​

●​ Kabaddi World Cup 2025 to Begin in England:​

○​ The Kabaddi World Cup 2025, hosted for the second time by World
Kabaddi, will take place in England, marking the first edition
outside Asia.​

●​ International Masters League T20 2025: India Masters Becomes

Champion:​

○​ India Masters, led by Sachin Tendulkar, won the inaugural

International Masters League T20 title, defeating West Indies
 Masters by 6 wickets. Ambati Rayudu was named Player of the
Match.

Government Policies and Schemes

●​ Sansad Bhashini initiative:​

○​ Launched by the Lok Sabha Secretariat in collaboration with

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, it aims to
integrate AI technologies to revolutionize parliamentary
operations, formalized through an MoU signed on March 19, 2025.​

○​ Key Objectives of Sansad Bhashini:​

■​ Multilingual Support: Provides seamless translation of

parliamentary content, including debates, agenda files, and
committee meetings, into multiple regional languages,
enhancing accessibility.​

■​ Real-Time Speech Conversion: Features speech-to-speech

conversion with real-time transcription, making
parliamentary discussions instantly available in various
languages.​

■​ AI-Powered Chatbot: An interactive chatbot will assist

Parliament members and officials in quickly retrieving
procedural rules and documents, improving operational
efficiency.​

■​ Speech-to-Text Conversion: Implements speech-to-text

conversion to transcribe verbal debates into text in real time,
ensuring easy access to recorded discussions.​

●​ Ayush Ministry Launches Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva:​

 ○​ The Ministry of Ayush launched the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva
Program to build a citizen-centric workforce, enhancing public
service mindset and promoting “Seva Bhav” through employee
upskilling.​

●​ Centre Approves Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission:​

○​ The government approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission with

an additional ₹1,000 crore to boost milk production and
productivity, aiming to increase farmers’ incomes.

●​ Cabinet Approves Incentive Scheme for Low-Value BHIM-UPI

Transactions:​

○​ The Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme for small

merchants on low-value BHIM-UPI transactions, supporting the
government's goal for a less cash economy and UPI adoption in
rural areas.​

●​ Global Engagement Scheme to Promote Indian Art & Culture:​

○​ The Ministry of Culture launched the Global Engagement Scheme to

enhance India's cultural presence globally, supporting Indian
artists and promoting Indian culture through cultural events and
ICCR programs.​
 ●​ Dedicated App for Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme:​

○​ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a dedicated app for

the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS). Launched under the
Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the scheme focuses on skill
development and practical experience for unemployed youth.

Index and Reports

●​ World Happiness Report 2025:​

○​ Release Date: March 20, 2025 (International Day of Happiness)​

○​ Countries Ranked: 147​

○​ Key Findings:​

■​ Happiest Country: Finland​

■​ Score: 7.736 (Retained its title for the 8th consecutive year)​

■​ Top 5 Happiest Countries:​

■​ Finland: 7.736​

■​ Denmark: 7.521​

■​ Iceland: 7.515​

■​ Sweden: 7.345​

■​ Netherlands: 7.306​

■​ India's Ranking: 118th (Improved from 126th)​

 ■​ Score: 4.389​

■​ Neighboring Countries' Rankings:​

■​ Nepal: 92nd​

■​ Pakistan: 109th​

■​ China: 68th​

■​ Afghanistan ranked as the least happy country, with Sierra

Leone & Lebanon following closely.​

■​ Report Theme: "Caring and Sharing"​

●​ Global Terrorism Index 2025: India Ranked 14th:

○​ Terrorism Hotspots: Sahel region accounts for over 50% of global

terrorism deaths, with Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia,
and Cameroon most affected.​

○​ Terrorist Group Trends: Total deaths from terrorism fell by 13% to

7,555 in 2024. The deadliest groups include Islamic State (IS),
Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP), and al-Shabaab.​
 ○​ Terrorist Attacks in Pakistan: Increased from 517 (2023) to 1,099
(2024), with rising civilian casualties.

●​ India’s Warehousing Demand Surges, Mumbai Leads Growth:​

○​ Warehousing transactions rose 12% YoY to 56.4 mn sq ft in 2024,

with Mumbai leading at 10.3 mn sq ft; Bengaluru, Kolkata, and
Chennai saw 25-29% growth due to rising e-commerce and 3PL
expansion.​

●​ NHB Report Highlights Growth in India’s Housing Sector:​

○​ India’s housing loans hit ₹33.53 lakh crore in Sep 2024, growing 14%
YoY, with middle-income groups holding 44% of loans.​

●​ India Poised to Become Largest Web3 Developer Hub by 2028:​

○​ With 4.7 million developers joining GitHub in 2024, India now

contributes 17% of global Web3 talent, focusing on NFTs, DeFi,
gaming, and real-world assets, ranking third in Web3 startup
founders.​

●​ India’s Venture Capital Funding Surges 43% to $13.7 Billion in 2024:​

○​ VC funding rose 43% YoY, with 1,270 deals, making India

Asia-Pacific’s second-largest VC market; consumer tech led with
$5.4 billion.​

●​ Indian Pharmaceutical Exports Ranked 11th Globally:​

○​ A Bain & Co. report ranked India 11th in pharmaceutical exports in

2023, accounting for 3% of global exports.​

●​ Over 30.68 Crore Workers Registered on e-Shram Portal:​

 ○​ The e-Shram portal, launched in 2021, has registered over 30.68
crore unorganised workers, with women comprising 53.68%.​

●​ India Records 6,300+ River Dolphins in First-Ever Survey:​

○​ India’s first dolphin survey found 6,327 river dolphins across 28

rivers, with UP leading, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.​

●​ India Retains Fastest-Growing Economy Tag in Q3 FY25:​

○​ India’s GDP grew 6.2% in Q3 FY25, with real GDP projected at 6.5%
for FY25.​

●​ Australia, New Zealand Lead in Global Breast Cancer Rates:​

○​ Australia and New Zealand have the highest breast cancer

incidence at 100.3 per 100,000 people in 2022.

Defence
●​ Launch of India's Second Indigenous Frigate, Tavasya

○​ Date: March 22, 2025​

○​ Manufacturer: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)​

 ○​ Specifications of Tavasya:​

■​ Displacement: Approximately 3,600 tons​

■​ Maximum Speed: Up to 28 knots​

○​ Design and Capabilities:​

■​ Multi-role Operations: Anti-ship, anti-submarine, and

anti-air warfare​

■​ Stealth Capabilities: Radar-absorbing materials and

reduced radar cross-section​

○​ Historical Context:​

■​ Name Significance: Named after the mythical mace of

Bhima from the Mahabharata.​

●​ DAC Approves Rs 54,000 Cr Procurement to Boost Defence:​

○​ Defence Acquisition Council cleared procurement of:​

■​ 1350 HP engines for T-90 tanks​

■​ Varunastra Torpedoes for the Navy​

■​ Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft Systems​

○​ Goal: Enhance combat potential and mobility, especially in

high-altitude areas.​

●​ Keel Laying of Second Fleet Support Ship for Indian Navy:​

○​ Location: L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli​

 ○​ Key Detail: The second Fleet Support Ship (FSS) to enhance the
Navy’s Blue Water capabilities, deliveries starting in mid-2027.​

●​ Tejas Successfully Test Fires Astra Air-to-Air Missile:​

○​ Missile: Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)​

○​ Performance: Successfully test-fired from Tejas LCA AF MK1, hitting

a target over 100 km away.​

●​ ICGS Saksham Visits Seychelles to Strengthen Maritime Ties:​

○​ Indian Coast Guard vessel Saksham visited Seychelles for:​

■​ Joint training​

■​ Environmental activities under Puneet Sagar Abhiyan

Military Exercise
●​ TROPEX 2025: Indian Navy's theatre-level exercise across multiple
locations, including:​

○​ AMPHEX​

○​ Cyber & electronic warfare​

○​ Joint workup​

○​ Tactical phases
 ​

●​ KHANJAR-XII: Joint exercise between Indian & Kyrgyzstan Special

Forces in Kyrgyzstan (annual event since 2011).​

●​ Exercise Desert Hunt 2025: Conducted in Jodhpur by IAF, Army Para SF,
Navy MARCOS & Garud, focusing on precision strikes, counter-terrorism &
urban warfare.​

●​ Jal-Thal-Raksha 2025: Multi-agency coastal security drill in Bet Dwarka

involving:​

○​ Army​

○​ NSG​

○​ Coast Guard​

○​ Others​

○​ Aimed at inter-agency coordination & island protection.​

●​ Exercise Sagar Kavach: Coastal security exercise on West Bengal coast

by Coast Guard, Navy, Police & others, simulating hijackings, smuggling,
IED threats, and asset protection.
Science and Technology
●​ Development of Indigenous 32-bit Microprocessors by ISRO:

○​ Collaboration: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and

Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh​

○​ Microprocessors Developed:​

■​ Vikram 3201: First fully indigenous 32-bit processor for

launch vehicles​

■​ Kalpana 3201: 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor​

○​ Software Tools:​

■​ Ada compiler, assembler, linker, and simulator developed

in-house​

■​ C compiler under development​

●​ Astroscale Partner with Digantara, Bellatrix for Space Debris Solution:​

○​ Astroscale has teamed up with Digantara & Bellatrix Aerospace to

provide space debris removal technology.​

●​ Environmental Factors Drive Melioidosis Outbreaks in Odisha:​

 ○​ Findings: Melioidosis infections in Odisha peak during and after the
monsoon season, linked to temperature, rainfall, and solar
radiation.​

●​ New Plant Species Identified in Kerala's Agasthyamala Reserve:​

○​ Species: Uniyala keralensis – A new shrub species with light purple

flowers.​

●​ Supersolid Light: A Quantum Leap in Physics:​

○​ Researchers discovered light can transform into a "supersolid,"

merging solid and superfluid properties, with implications for
quantum computing and optical technologies.​

●​ Shiksha.com Launched ShikshaGPT Chatbot for Student Education

Insights:​

○​ An AI-powered chatbot providing fast, accurate educational

information about college admissions, exams, and careers.

●​ ISRO's Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport to Launch SSLV in 2027:​

○​ ISRO’s Kulasekarapattinam spaceport in Tamil Nadu will launch the

first Small Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2027.​

●​ NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Returned to

Earth:​
 ○​ Returned after a nine-month stay aboard the ISS due to issues with
the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.​

●​ New Jumping Spider Species Discovered in Kerala:​

○​ Two new species (Epidelaxia falciformis and Epidelaxia palustris)

found in Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.​

●​ Intuitive Machines' ‘Athena’ Lunar Lander Heads to Moon:​

○​ The lander is set to land near the Moon’s south pole, aiming for a
March 6 landing.

National Affairs
●​ Madhav National Park Declared India’s 58th Tiger Reserve:​

○​ Date: March 9, 2025​

○​ Location: Spread across 1,751 sq km in Shivpuri district, Madhya

Pradesh​

○​ Tiger Population: 5 tigers (with plans to introduce 2 more)​

●​ Indian Government Launches Aadhaar Good Governance Portal:​

○​ Launched: February 28, 2025, by Ministry of Electronics and

Information Technology​

○​ Key Features:​

■​ Streamlined Approval Process: For Aadhaar authentication

for public interest services​
 ■​ Sectors Benefiting:​

■​ Healthcare​

■​ Education​

■​ E-commerce & Aggregators​

■​ Credit Rating & Financial Services

●​ ₹500 Cr Contingency Fund for Manipur Announced:​

○​ Finance Minister allocated ₹500 crore to enhance financial

resilience, with an overall expenditure of ₹35,103 crore.​

●​ PM Modi Inaugurates ₹2,587 Cr Projects in Daman & Diu:​

○​ Includes the 450-bed NaMo Hospital & Research Center in Silvassa

and the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign.​

●​ ₹4,081 Cr Kedarnath Ropeway Project Approved:​

○​ 12.9 km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath approved to

enhance pilgrimage accessibility.​

●​ ₹2,730 Cr Hemkund Sahib Ropeway Project Cleared:​

 ○​ 12.4 km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji approved,
improving access for pilgrims.​

●​ BharatNet to Expand Broadband in Rural Schools & Health Centers:​

○​ Government secondary schools and primary health centers will get

broadband under BharatNet.​

●​ Tata Motors Conducts First Hydrogen Truck Trials:​

○​ Hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck trials flagged off using

H2-ICE and H2-FCEV technologies for sustainable freight transport.​

●​ IRFC & IRCTC Gain Navratna Status:​

○​ Government granted Navratna status to Indian Railway Finance

Corporation and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.​

●​ Swavalambini Initiative Launched for Women Entrepreneurs:​

○​ Launched by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship &

NITI Aayog to support women-led startups in higher education
institutions.​

●​ Railway Minister Closes Asia’s First Hyperloop Competition:​

○​ Railway Minister Vaishnaw addressed the closing of Asia’s first

Global Hyperloop Competition in Chennai, organized by IIT Madras.​

●​ MoSPI Launches ‘Innovate with GoIStats’ Hackathon:​

○​ A hackathon for students and researchers, encouraging data-driven

solutions.​

●​ TRAI Proposes New Broadcasting Authorization Framework:​

 ○​ Proposals include shifting from licensing to service authorizations
and removing IPTV net worth norms.

Summits and Conferences

●​ COP16 on Biodiversity​

○​ Goal: $200B annual fund by 2030​

○​ Cali Fund: Aims to raise $1B annually​

○​ Support: 30% conservation & restoration targets

●​ World Sustainable Development Summit 2025​

○​ Location: New Delhi (Mar 5–7)​

○​ Theme: “Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development”​

○​ Organized by: TERI​

●​ 10th Raisina Dialogue​

○​ Date: Mar 17–19, New Delhi​

○​ Theme: “Kālachakra – People, Peace, and Planet”​

○​ Participants: 3,500+ delegates from 125 countries​

●​ SCO Defence Meet 2025​

○​ Location: Qingdao, China (Mar 26–27)​

○​ Theme: SCO Year of Sustainable Development​

○​ Note: Tianjin to host Leaders' Summit​

●​ ISHTA 2025​

○​ Location: Bharat Mandapam​

○​ Focus: Evidence-based, affordable healthcare policies​

●​ DBT Biopolymers Webinar​

○​ Topic: Biomanufacturing of biopolymers to promote India’s

leadership in bio-based innovation​

●​ Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav​

○​ Location: Gandhinagar​

○​ Theme: Celebrating Mithila heritage​

○​ Special Attendee: Amit Shah​

●​ Ministry of Tourism at ITB Berlin 2025​

 ○​ Motto: “The Power of Transition lives here”​

○​ Focus: Sustainable tourism​

●​ GRIDCON 2025​

○​ Inaugurated by: Manohar Lal​

○​ Theme: “Innovations in Grid Resilience”​

○​ Organized by: Power Grid Corp​

●​ Trade & Investment Law Conference​

○​ Location: NALSAR, Hyderabad​

○​ Theme: “Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness”​

●​ Sahitya Akademi Festival of Letters 2025​

○​ Inaugurated by: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat​

○​ Focus: Celebrating literary diversity in New Delhi​

●​ Vividhta Ka Amrit Mahotsav​

○​ Inaugurated by: President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan​

○​ Focus: Celebrating India's diversity with a southern focus​

●​ Payment Security Summit 2025​

○​ Location: Mumbai (Mar 4)​

○​ Focus: Cybersecurity in financial transactions​

 ●​ Bharat Calling Conference​

○​ Inaugurated by: Piyush Goyal in Mumbai​

○​ Theme: “Path to Viksit Bharat 2047”

●​ Jahan-e-Khusrau 2025​

○​ Location: Sunder Nursery, Delhi​

○​ Focus: Celebrating Sufi heritage​

○​ Special Attendee: PM Modi​

●​ Conference on Women Peacekeepers​

○​ Location: Manekshaw Centre, Delhi​

○​ Focus: Women’s role in UN peacekeeping

MoUs and Agreements

●​ SIR-IIIM Jammu & HAPICO Industries​

○​ Focus: Development of biopesticides from medicinal plants​

●​ DPIIT & YES Bank​

○​ Focus: Boosting India’s startup ecosystem with funding,

mentorship, and market access​

●​ RDSO & IIT Madras​

○​ Project: ₹20.89 crore Hyperloop R&D under Indian Railways​

●​ India AI Mission & Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation​

○​ Focus: AI solutions in agriculture, healthcare, education, and

climate resilience​

●​ Telangana Govt & McDonald’s​

○​ Objective: Establish McDonald’s Global Capability Centre in

Hyderabad​

●​ Maharashtra Govt & Baden-Württemberg​

○​ Focus: Skill development and manpower training for jobs in

Germany​

●​ India & New Zealand​

○​ Agreements: Defence, education, sports, horticulture, and forestry​

●​ TVS Motor & PETRONAS Lubricants​

○​ Partnership: PETRONAS remains title sponsor for TVS Racing for

the next 3 years​

●​ DPIIT & Estée Lauder​

 ○​ Focus: Support beauty startups in India through BEAUTY&YOU
India initiative​

●​ India & Armenia​

○​ MoU: Cooperation in medical product regulation and digital health​

●​ DBT & Assam Govt​

○​ Project: Establishment of State BioE3 Cell and Assam BioE3 Action

Plan for biotech growth​

●​ CCRH & Adamas University​

○​ Collaboration: Research in homoeopathy​

●​ Airtel & SpaceX​

○​ Agreement: Introduce Starlink’s satellite internet in India​

●​ Dept. of Posts, FSID & IISc​

○​ Project: Development of geo-coded “Digital Address Code”​

●​ Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Kolkata & Jadavpur University​

○​ Focus: Ayurvedic formulation research for diabetes treatment​

●​ Inland Waterways Authority of India & J&K Government​

○​ Project: ₹100 crore river cruise tourism project on Chenab, Jhelum

& Ravi rivers
Business and Economy
●​ RBI’s Financial Literacy Week 2025​

○​ Dates: February 24 to 28, 2025​

○​ Theme: "Financial Literacy: Women’s Prosperity"​

○​ Objective: Enhance financial literacy among women​

○​ Inaugurated by: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra​

○​ Partners: RBI, NABARD, major commercial banks​

○​ Organized by: National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE)​

○​ Activities: Online quizzes and capacity-building programs on

pension planning, credit management, and household budgeting

●​ SEBI Launches 'Bond Central' for Corporate Bonds​

○​ Launch Date: February 27, 2025​

○​ Purpose: Enhance transparency, accessibility, and retail

participation in corporate bond market​
 ○​ Key Features:​

■​ Comprehensive Listings of corporate bonds​

■​ Price Comparison Tools​

■​ Investor-Centric Information​

■​ Standardized Data​

■​ Free Public Access

●​ HDFC Bank Launches Project HAKK with Indian Air Force​

○​ Objective: Skill development and financial training for veterans,

pensioners, and their families​

●​ SIDBI and Federal Bank Partnered to Boost MSME Financing​

○​ MoU: Provide comprehensive financial support to MSMEs​

●​ PhonePe Launches 'Insuring HEROES' Campaign for Women​

○​ Discounts: Up to 30% discounts on life and health insurance plans

for women​

●​ India Secures 9.9% Global Share in Venture Capital Deals for Startups​

○​ Growth: 69.7% surge in funding to $883.2 million in January 2025​

●​ SBI Ecowrap Report: India’s Q3 GDP Growth Expected at 6.2-6.3%​

○​ Projection: India’s GDP growth expected to be between 6.2-6.4% in

Q3 FY25​
 ●​ RBI Raises Loan Ceiling for Urban Co-operative Banks​

○​ Loan Limit: Small loan limit increased to ₹3 crore per borrower​

●​ Canara HSBC Life Insurance Launches ‘Promise2Protect’ Term Plan​

○​ Plan Details: Two variants - Life Secure (pure protection) and Life
Secure with Return of Premium

International Affairs
●​ Vietnam Defines Gulf of Tonkin Baseline Amid Disputes

○​ Date: February 21, 2025​

○​ Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a map defining a

14-point baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin​

○​ Location: From the northern coast of Quang Ninh to the central

province of Quang Tri​

○​ Context: Response to China's unilateral baseline announcement in

March 2024​
 ○​ Gulf of Tonkin:​

■​ Located in the northwestern part of the South China Sea​

■​ Bounded by China, Hainan Island, and northern Vietnam​

■​ The Red River flows into the Gulf​

●​ ‘Cali Fund’ Launched to Boost Biodiversity Finance​

○​ Launch Date: February 25, 2025, at COP16 in Rome, Italy​

○​ Purpose: Supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity

Framework (KMGBF) to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030​

○​ Management: Managed by UNDP and UNEP, with tasks handled by

the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO)​

○​ Benefit Sharing: At least 50% of resources allocated to Indigenous

Peoples and local communities​

○​ Industries Involved: Pharmaceutical, cosmetics, agriculture,

biotechnology sectors​

●​ Iraq’s Zagros Region Slowly Sinking Due to Tectonic Shift​

○​ Cause: Sinking due to the collision of Arabian and Eurasian

tectonic plates​

○​ Research Insights:​

■​ Study by geologist Renas Koshnaw from MIT​

■​ Depressions around the Zagros Mountains are deeper than

expected​
 ■​ Findings published in Solid Earth​

●​ Important Key Pointers:​

○​ Syria’s Interim President Signs Deal with Kurdish-led SDF​

■​ Historic deal to integrate SDF-controlled areas into Syria’s

state institutions​

○​ Lithuania Withdraws from Cluster Bomb Ban Treaty​

■​ Citing security concerns over Russia​

○​ Trump Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve​

■​ Using forfeited assets including bitcoin, ether, XRP, etc.​

●​ Ariane 6 Successfully Deploys French Spy Satellite​

○​ Europe’s Ariane 6 deployed the CSO-3 spy satellite

●​ Cyclone Alfred Hits Australia's Southeast Coast​

○​ Forecast to make landfall north of Brisbane​

○​ Category 2 tropical cyclone, first direct impact since 1990​

 ●​ EU Commission Proposes 800-Billion-Euro Defence Plan​

○​ Focuses on air and missile defence, drones, and military mobility​

●​ Trump Declares English as Official US Language​

○​ Aimed at streamlining communication and promoting unity​

●​ Three Active Cyclones in South Pacific Raise Climate Concerns​

○​ Rising ocean temperatures intensifying cyclones​

●​ Japan's Birth Rate Hits Record Low Again in 2024​

○​ 720,988 births in 2024, the lowest figure since 1899​

●​ Trump’s $5M ‘Gold Card’ Visa for US Citizenship​

○​ $5 million visa for wealthy investors to gain US citizenship

India and World

●​ India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Water Treatment Chemicals​

○​ Duty: Up to $986/tonne on Trichloro Isocyanuric Acid imports

from China & Japan​

●​ India-Bangladesh Joint River Commission Meeting Begins in Kolkata​

○​ Focus: Discussing Ganga water-sharing treaty and river

water-sharing recommendations​

●​ India's Consulate in Seattle Held 1st Indian Film Festival in Montana​

 ○​ Focus: Showcasing India’s cultural diversity through films​

●​ India Leads Sri Lanka's Tourist Arrivals in Early 2025​

○​ Over 80,000 arrivals from India, contributing to Sri Lanka’s strong

start in tourism​

●​ IIFT Signs MoU with APEC to Boost Trade and Logistics Education​

○​ MoU: Enhances collaboration in trade education and logistics​

●​ India and Nepal Strengthen WASH Sector Collaboration​

○​ MoU: Focus on water access, sanitation, and waste management​

●​ Army Chief Pays Tribute to WWI Indian Soldiers in France​

○​ Location: Neuve-Chapelle Memorial in France​

○​ Honoring: Indian soldiers’ sacrifices during World War I​

●​ India, Bangladesh to Enhance Border Security Measures​

○​ Agreement: Increase communication and identify 99 new areas

for border fencing​

●​ Denmark Launches Green Transition Alliance India (GTAI)​

○​ Objective: Strengthen sustainable energy collaboration with

India
 ​

●​ India-UK Resume Free Trade Negotiations​

○​ Focus: Resumption of free trade negotiations between India and

the UK after G-20 Summit

Books and Authors

Book Title Author/Publisher
Trading Blue Gold: A Blueprint for Water Credit
Valuation in India Bisleri International & ORF
Memories and Milestones V. Sriram & Lashman
The Life and Contributions of the Women Members
of the Constituent Assembly Ministry of Law & Justice
Nobel laureate Kailash
Diyaslai Satyarthi
Released by the Ministry of
Sashakt Bharat Defence (MoD)

Obituaries
Name Notable Contribution
George Foreman Renowned boxing legend
Dr. Debendra Pradhan Former Union Minister
Ramakanta Rath Eminent Odia poet
Dr. Shankar Rao
Tatwawadi Senior RSS Pracharak
Veteran actor and
Deb Mukherjee filmmaker
Syed Abid Ali Former Indian cricketer
Garimella Balakrishna
Prasad Noted classical singer
Padmakar Shivalkar Former Indian cricketer
Rose Girone Holocaust survivor
Uttam Mohanty Icon of Odia cinema
Anil Joshi Prominent Gujarati poet

Days and Events

Date Event Theme
World Civil Defence "Civil Defence, Guarantee of Security for the
March 1 Day Population"
Zero Discrimination
March 1 Day "We Stand Together"
"Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in
March 3 World Wildlife Day People and Planet"
"Safety & Well-being Crucial for Viksit
March 4 National Safety Day Bharat"
March 7 Jan Aushadhi Diwas N/A
International "For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality.
March 8 Women's Day Empowerment"
March 14 World Sleep Day "Make Sleep Health a Priority"
National Vaccination
March 16 Day N/A
International Day of
March 20 Happiness "Caring and Sharing"
March 21 World Forestry Day "Forests and Food"
March 21 World Poetry Day "Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion"
March 22 Bihar Diwas "Uttam Bihar, Vikasit Bihar"
March 22 World Water Day "Glacier Preservation"
World Meteorological
March 23 Day "Closing the early warning gap together"
March 27 World Theatre Day "Theatre and a Culture of Peace"