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10 January, 2025
GK Update
Fri 10 Jan, 2025
National News
Kumbhvani
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the “Kumbhvani” channel of Akashvani dedicated to Mahakumbh 2025 and Kumbh Mangal Dhwani, in Prayagraj.
Mahakumbh Mela
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23rd Divya Kala Mela
- Union Minister of State B.L. Verma inaugurated the 23rd Divya Kala Mela at Akota stadium in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Major Initiatives for Welfare of Divyangjans
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Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue
- Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, began on 10th January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Skill India Mission
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Officials from Undivided India
- The government has invited officials from all countries, including Pakistan, that were once part of undivided India to mark 150 years of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
IMD
| Estb: 1875 | HQ: New Delhi | Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences |
State Special
Tax on BH-series
- The Kerala High Court held that the State governments are free to levy tax in respect of Bharat Series (BH-series) non-transport vehicles at the rate prescribed under their respective Legislation.
Kerala
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Uttar Pradesh Open Network for Agriculture
- The Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoU with Google Cloud (India) to launch the Gemini-powered and Beacon-enabled Uttar Pradesh Open Network for Agriculture.
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One District One Cuisine Scheme
- Uttar Pradesh government will launch ODOC (One District One Cuisine) scheme on the lines of ODOP.
- For this, mapping of special food, its cultural importance and its makers will be done in each district.
Uttar Pradesh
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International News
Digital e-visa system for India by Israel
- The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) has launched a digital e-visa system for Indian travelers, starting January 1, 2025.
Israel
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17th edition of ArabPlast
- The 17th edition of ArabPlast, West Asia’s premier trade exhibition for plastics and petrochemicals, opened in Dubai.
UAE
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Science and Tech
5G Use Case Test Lab
- Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the ‘5G Use Case Test Lab’ at the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) in Ranchi, aimed at advancing the coal sector’s Digital Transformation and technological landscape.
Genome India Data Conclave
- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled the Indian Genomic Data Set and launched the ‘Framework for Exchange of Data Protocols (FeED)’ and the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) Portals, making 10,000 whole genome samples accessible to researchers across India and the globe, at Genome India Data Conclave, held in New Delhi.
GenomeIndia Initiative
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AST SpaceMobile
- The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO)'s LVM3 rocket will launch communication satellite "AST SpaceMobile" of US-based firm in March, aiming for space-based cellular broadband services.
- It will deploy BlueBird Block-2 satellites under a contract with the US-based AST SpaceMobile.
ISRO
| Estb: 15 Aug 1969 | HQ: Bengaluru | Chairman: V Narayanan |
Autism spectrum disorder and Epilepsy
- A team of researchers, led by Viji Santhakumar, has identified a gene that contributes to the behavioural changes associated with autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.
Epilepsy
| It is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes repeated seizures due to abnormal electrical signals produced by damaged brain cells. |
Isothermal Amplification Lamp Kit
- Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel felicitated Purulia-based scientist Shyam Sundar Nandi for invention of 'Isothermal Amplification Lamp Kit', for rapid detection of monkeypox virus, at the 'Health Research Excellence Summit 2024', held in New Delhi.
About mpox
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Economy and Banking
8th edition of NPOP
- Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal launched the 8th edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) at Pusa in New Delhi.
- TraceNet 2.0, APEDA, NPOP, Organic Promotion and AgriXchange portals also unveiled.
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MoU between AWBI and NALSAR University of Law
- The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NALSAR University of Law, to train Animal Welfare Representatives, in Hyderabad.
AWBI
| Statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare in the country. | Established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (No. 59 of 1960). |
Length of India's National Highway network
- According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the length of India's National Highway network has surged by 60% in the last 10 years from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,195 km in 2024.
- India's National Highway network became the second largest road network in the world.
WESP 2025
- According to ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025, (WESP)’, released by the United Nations, India would be the fastest growing large economy in the world with a projected annual growth rate of 6.6%.
PHEP-II
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) has successfully commissioned two units of the 6x170 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan.
Bhutan
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Environment and Biodiversity
Gaddi
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBAGR) has recognised the Gaddi, an indigenous dog breed from the Himalayas.
Gaddi
| The Gaddi is spread across the Himalayan range from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. It is also known as the Bhote Kukur or Bhotia dog. |
2024: Hottest Year
- According to Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), 2024 was the hottest year since 1850.
C3S
| It supports society by providing authoritative information about the past, present and future climate in Europe and the rest of the World. |
Defence
INS Vaghsheer
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. has delivered the sixth Scorpene submarine 'INS Vaghsheer' of Project P-75 , to the Indian Navy.
Indian Navy
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Co-production of U.S. sonobuoys for UDA
- India and the U.S. announced cooperation on co-production of U.S. sonobuoys for Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy, a high-end technology that allows tracking submarines in the deep seas and oceans.
United States of America
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Awards and Honours
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards
- President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards in Odisha.
- Total 27 individuals and organisations were honoured from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Major Awardees
| Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar from the UK in the field of politics | Dr Sharmila Ford from the US for community service | Dr Syed Anwar Khursheed from Saudi Arabia in the field of Medical Science. |
“Excellent” Rating to SECI
- Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) has achieved "Excellent" rating for its performance under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the financial year 2023-24, with a score of 96 out of 100.
SECI
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Art and Culture
Hindu Heritage Month
- US state of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'.
Books and Authors
My Head for a Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi
- "My Head for a Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi", the World’s First Eco-Warriors has been written by Martin Goodman.
Reports and Indexes
Henley Passport Index 2025
- India's ranking has dropped by five spots from 80th to 85th in Henley Passport Index 2025, released by citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners.
- India's passport allows travel to 57 countries without requiring a visa.
| Top Rank: Singapore (Visa-free access to 195 destinations)
2nd Rank: Japan (visa-free access to 193 destinations) |
China: 60th Rank (Visa-free access to 85 destinations)
Afghanistan (Bottom Rank): 106th Rank (Visa-free access to only 26 destinations)
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Major Appointments
B.N. Sri Krishna
- The former Supreme Court judge Justice B.N. Sri Krishna (retd.) will chair the newly formed Advisory Board of the ID verification and data sharing platform Equal.
Joseph Aoun
- Army Chief Joseph Aoun elected as Lebanon's new president.
Lebanon
| Capital: Beirut | Currency: Lebanese pound |
Actor Kishore
- Actor Kishore has been named as the brand ambassador for the 16th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes).
Sadhna Rani Thakur
- Retired Justice Sadhna Rani Thakur has been appointed as the Chairman of the U.P. Public Services Tribunal.
Person in News
Martin Guptill
- New Zealand Cricketer, Martin Guptill announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 38.