National News

31st National Children’s Science Congress

• Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav inaugurated the 31st National Children’s Science Congress in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

National Children’s Science Congress

State Special

Unique identification for infrastructure projects in Maharashtra

• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that all infrastructure projects in the state will have unique identification, to help streamline the system and bring transparency.

Maharashtra

Veer Savarkar College in DU

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Veer Savarkar College in Najafgarh as part of Delhi University's expansion.

Delhi University

“Beyond the Badge” Podcast Series

• The Uttar Pradesh Police launched a podcast series titled, ‘Beyond the Badge’, the inaugural episode featured an interview with retired Director General of the Crime Branch (CID) Satya Narayan Sabat.

Uttar Pradesh

Constitution Gallery on the banks of the Sangam

• President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a ‘Constitution Gallery’ dedicated to the Indian Constitution on the banks of the Sangam.

International News

Fencing at Myanmar Border

• India has completed the fencing of over nine kilometres of its border with Myanmar at Moreh in Manipur.

Myanmar

Palestine temporarily suspended Al Jazeera broadcasts

• The Palestinian Authority has temporarily suspended Al Jazeera broadcasts, citing incitement and biased coverage amid clashes in Jenin.

Palestine

UNSC Non-permanent Member

• Pakistan began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2025-26 term on 1 January 2025.
• Other five countries elected as non-permanent members Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.

UNSC

Act of terrorism in USA

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said, “the U.S. Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers acted alone,”an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group.

United States of America:

Child Marriage Free Nepal

• Nepal launched 'Child Marriage Free Nepal' campaign to end practice of child marriage.

About Nepal

Economy and Banking

Employment

• According to the Labour and Employment Ministry, over 17 crore additional jobs were created from 2014 to 2024, growth of 36% during the last ten years.

Sectors of Economy

5 lakh dollars aid to Vanuatu

• India has provided five lakh dollars aid to Vanuatu for relief and reconstruction after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck its coast in December 2024, causing significant destruction and loss of life.

Vanuatu

10-minute Ambulance Service in Gurugram

• Blinkit launched a 10-minute ambulance service in Gurugram, operational with five fully equipped ambulances

Blinkit

India: 6th largest exporter of textiles

• India is a sixth-largest exporter of textiles and apparel worldwide, holding a 3.9% share in global trade, also makes up 8.21% of India’s total exports.

Schemes related to Textiles sector

Environment and Biodiversity

India’s first-ever ‘Coastline-Waders Bird Census’

• India’s first-ever ‘Coastline-Waders Bird Census’, jointly organized by the Department of Forest and the Bird Conservation Society, has begun at Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Protected Areas in Gujarat

Lahore: World’s most polluted city

• According to IQAir’s latest rankings, Lahore has been declared the world’s most polluted city, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 354. Karachi, Pakistan ranked 13th on the list, with an AQI of 164, categorizing it as “Unhealthy.”

IQAir

Science and Tech

Coimbatore Scientists Developed Nutrient-Rich Sugarcane Juice Powder

• Scientists at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore have prepared sugarcane juice powder full of nutrients, which has made it possible to taste sugarcane juice in every season.

Project VISTAAR

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare on Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), to improve the efficiency and efficacy of agricultural extension systems through digitalisation.

Project VISTAAR

Nano-formulation of Melatonin

• Researchers have found that a nano-formulation of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness, could be a promising treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Parkinson Disease

IIT Bombay developed bacteria to combat soil pollution

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed a bacteria capable of consuming toxic pollutants in the soil and producing essential nutrients as byproducts.

IIT-G and the Bose Institute developed injectable hydrogel for cancer treatment

• Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) and the Bose Institute, Kolkata have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel for localised cancer treatment.

Hydrogels

Awards and Honours

National Sports Awards 2025

• The awardees will receive their awards from the President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025.

Awardee

Important Days

DRDO Foundation Day

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 67th foundation day on 1st January.

DRDO

Person in News

Khalid Khurshid Khan

• An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Gilgit-Baltistan’s former chief minister Khalid Khurshid Khan to 34 years in prison for threatening the region’s security agencies.

Pakistan

K.S. Manilal

• Dr. K.S. Manilal, the esteemed botanist who brought the ancient botanical treasure Hortus Malabaricus to the modern world, passed away on January 1, 2025, in Thrissur, Kerala.

K.S. Manilal