DAILY GK 28-29 JAN 2025
1. 55TH ANNUAL MEETING OF WEF
·
The 55th Annual
Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF 2025) was held
in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
·
Theme “Collaboration for the
Intelligent Age”
·
Five Sub-Themes: Reimagining growth, Industries in
the intelligent age, Investing in people,Safeguarding the planet and Rebuilding
trust.
·
The
Indian delegation to the WEF 2025 was headed by Union Minister AshwiniVaishnaw,
Ministry of Railways(MoR), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) and
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) with a vision of the
country’s growth as One Nation, One Voice.
·
He led
the largest ever Indian delegation to the forum, with 5 Union ministers, 3
Chief Ministers(CMs) and several other state leaders.
·
13 new industrial clusters from Australia, Brazil, Colombia,
India(5), the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, and the
United Kingdom (UK) have joined the WEF’s Transitioning
Industrial Clusters initiative, bringing the total to 33 across 16 countries
and 5 continents.
·
Edelman
Trust Barometer was
launched during the WEF 2025 in Switzerland.
·
According
to the report, India slipped to 3rd spot in terms
of the trust of the general population
in the government, businesses, media and NGOs.
·
China topped the list followed by
Indonesia at the 2nd spot.
·
The 31st Annual Crystal Award was announced at the WEF 2025 in Davos-Klosters.
·
The
recipients of the award included Riken Yamamoto from Japan, Diane
von Furstenberg from Belgium, and David Beckham from UK.
·
During
the WEF 2025, 7 countries from Africa – Angola,
Bangladesh, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania–
joined the Global Plastic Action
Partnership (GPAP), bringing a total to 25 countries
with a combined population of over 1.5 billion people.
·
Indian-origin
South African filmmaker Anant
Singh has been appointed to the Global
Arts and Culture Council (GACC) at
the GACC’s inaugural meeting held at WEF 2025.
·
World
Economic Forum (WEF) President and CEO– Borge Brende(Norway)
·
Headquarters– Cologny, Switzerland
·
Founded– 1971
2. WHO DECLARES GEORGIA AS THE 45TH
MALARIA-FREE COUNTRY
·
The
World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Georgia officially
certified as malaria-free
·
It
has become the 45th country and the first in
the WHO European Region to attain malaria-free status.
·
WHO
has certified a total of 45 countries
and 1 territory as malaria-free.
·
WHO
grants certification of malaria elimination to a country when it can
demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that indigenous transmission has been
interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years.
·
Georgia
President –
Mikheil Kavelashvili
·
Capital – Tbilisi
3.
GFP 2025 MILITARY STRENGTH RANKING
·
·
The
United States of America (USA) leads the ranking,
followed by Russia in second place and
China in third.
·
These top four military powers—USA,
Russia, China, and India—have consistently
held their ranks since 2006.
·
At
the bottom of the list, Bhutan is
ranked 145th
·
It
is preceded by Benin ,Somalia and Kosovo
·
The GFP 2025 evaluates the military capabilities of 145 countries
based on more than 60 factors.
·
The factors include troop strength, military hardware, economic stability,
geographic positioning across land, sea air and access to natural resources.
·
According to the Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), based in Stockholm, Sweden,
global military spending reached a
record USD 2.4 trillion in 2023.
·
According to Global Firepower Analysis(GFA) for defence allocation in 2025,the USA allocates
the highest budget to its military, amounting to USD 895 billion.
·
It is followed by China with a defense
budget of USD 296 billion, Russia at USD 126 billion.
·
India’s defence allocation
amounted to USD 75 billion for the year 2025.
4.
THE WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2025 BY SUBJECTS
·
The Times Higher Education (THE) has
released the ‘World University Rankings by Subject 2025’.
·
The Indian
Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, Karnataka
stands out as the only Indian institution in the top 100 for
Computer science (CS), securing the 96th
position for the first time.
·
University of Oxford (UK) has topped
among all universities followed by the University of
Cambridge(UK), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(USA).
·
The
rankings ranked over 11,000 universities across 11 subjects,
including arts, business, computer science(CS), engineering, law, life
sciences, medical and health, physical sciences, psychology, and social
sciences.
5.
NITI AAYOG’S FISCAL HEATH INDEX (FHI)
·
Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of
16th Finance Commission (FC) launched the inaugural issue of National
Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog’s
report titled ‘Fiscal Heath Index
(FHI) 2025 for the Financial Year 2022-23 (FY23)’ in New Delhi
·
As per the report, Odisha has
outperformed all other states with
cumulative score of 67.8 out of 100, followed by Chhattisgarh (55.2) and Goa (53.6).
·
Bottom
five are Punjab(18th), Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala,
Haryana(14th)
·
The
report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the fiscal health of 18 major Indian states that
drive the Indian economy in terms of their contribution to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), demography, total
expenditure, revenues, and overall fiscal stability.
·
The report ranked states based on 5 key sub-indices such as:Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation,
Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability.
·
NITI Aayog CEO – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
·
Established in- 2015
6. FORBES 50 OVER 50 GLOBAL LIST 2025
·
Forbes, an American global media company
has unveiled its first Forbes “50 Over 50” Women Global
list 2025
·
Quarraisha
Abdool Karim,
expert in infectious diseases
epidemiology and one of the top researchers on Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is ranked first,
·
Rafaela
Aponte-Diamant is
the co-owner of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) based in Geneva,
Switzerland, ranked 2nd.
·
The
list features three remarkable Indian women: Urmila Asher, popularly
known as ‘Gujju Ben’ and the founder
of Gujju Ben Na Nasta, ranked 3rd; Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a
billionaire and founder of Biocon India Private Limited, ranked 32nd; and Sheela
Patel, a renowned activist, ranked 37th.
7.
PADMA AWARDS 2025
·
Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA) announced the Padma Awards for 2025.
·
A total of 139 people from across the country were selected for the
highest civilian awards in various categories.
·
The official list
released comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113
Padma Shri Awards.
·
Among the awardees 23 are
women
·
10 awardees belong to the
category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI.
·
13 are posthumous
awardees.
·
Padma Vibhushan
|
SN |
Name |
Field |
State/Country |
|
1 |
ShriDuvvurNageshwar Reddy |
Medicine |
Telangana |
|
2 |
Justice (Retd.)
ShriJagdish Singh Khehar |
Public Affairs |
Chandigarh |
|
3 |
Smt.
KumudiniRajnikantLakhia |
Art |
Gujarat |
|
4 |
ShriLakshminarayanaSubramaniam |
Art |
Karnataka |
|
5 |
Shri M. T. Vasudevan Nair
(Posthumous) |
Literature and Education |
Kerala |
|
6 |
Shri Osamu Suzuki
(Posthumous) |
Trade and Industry |
Japan |
|
7 |
Smt. ShardaSinha
(Posthumous) |
Art |
Bihar |
·
Padma
Bhushan (19) The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest
civilian award in India, given annually to individuals who have made
exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
|
SN |
Name |
Field |
State/Country |
|
1 |
Shri A Surya Prakash |
Literature and Education-Journalism |
Karnataka |
|
2 |
ShriAnant Nag |
Art |
Karnataka |
|
3 |
ShriBibekDebroy
(Posthumous) |
Literature and Education |
NCT Delhi |
|
4 |
ShriJatinGoswami |
Art |
Assam |
|
5 |
Shri Jose
ChackoPeriappuram |
Medicine |
Kerala |
|
6 |
ShriKailashNathDikshit |
Others-Archaeology |
NCT Delhi |
|
7 |
ShriManohar Joshi
(Posthumous) |
Public Affairs |
Maharashtra |
|
8 |
ShriNalliKuppuswamiChetti |
Trade and Industry |
Tamil Nadu |
|
9 |
ShriNandamuriBalakrishna |
Art |
Andhra Pradesh |
|
10 |
Shri P R Sreejesh |
Sports |
Kerala |
|
11 |
ShriPankaj Patel |
Trade and Industry |
Gujarat |
|
12 |
ShriPankajUdhas
(Posthumous) |
Art |
Maharashtra |
|
13 |
ShriRambahadurRai |
Literature and
Education-Journalism |
Uttar Pradesh |
|
14 |
SadhviRitambhara |
Social Work |
Uttar Pradesh |
|
15 |
Shri S Ajith Kumar |
Art |
Tamil Nadu |
|
16 |
ShriShekharKapur |
Art |
Maharashtra |
|
17 |
Ms. ShobanaChandrakumar |
Art |
Tamil Nadu |
|
18 |
ShriSushil Kumar Modi
(Posthumous) |
Public Affairs |
Bihar |
|
19 |
ShriVinodDham |
Science and Engineering |
USA |
·
Padma Awards were instituted in 1954.
·
The awards were suspended during 1978,
1979, and 1993 to 1997.
·
Awards are given in disciplines such as art, social work, public affairs, science
and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education,
sports, civil service, etc.
·
The
Padma Awards Committee, constituted by the Prime Minister,
reviews these nominations.
·
This committee includes the Cabinet
Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and several eminent
members from various fields.
8. INDIAN SHORT FILM ‘ANUJA’ NOMINATED
FOR 97TH ACADEMY AWARDS
·
The Indian short film ‘Anuja’,
received a nomination in the ‘Best Live Action Short Film’ category
for the 97th Academy Awards 2025.
·
The film is backed by Indian actress Priyanka Chopra and producer GuneetMonga as executive producer, with Hollywood
star-writer Mindy Kaling as producer.
·
This marks
GuneetMonga’s third Oscar nomination, after ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ and
‘Period: End of Sentence’, both of which won Academy Awards.
·
The
film also won the top honor at the HollyShorts Film Festival in
2024.
·
The
97th Academy Awards 2025, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place at Dolby
Theatre in Los Angeles, USA in March,
2025.
9.
ICC AWARDS 2024
·
The International Cricket Council (ICC)
announced the winners of the ICC Awards 2024, with 3 Indian
cricketers making their mark on the honours list.
·
Men’s
Cricketer of the Year 2024 -Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah
(Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy’)
·
Men’s
ODI Cricketer of the Year -AzamtullahOmarzai
(Afhanistan)
·
Men’s
T20 Cricketer -Arshdeep Singh Aulakh
(India)
·
Emerging
Men’s Cricketer -
KaminduMendis (Sri Lanka)
·
Women’s
Cricketer of the Year 2024 -
Amelia Kerr Charlotte (New Zealand) ,
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
·
Women’s
ODI Cricketer - Smriti Mandhana
(India)
·
Women’s
T20I Cricketer -
Melie Kerr (New Zealand)
·
Emerging
Women’s Cricketer -
AnnerieDercksen (South Africa)
·
ICC
Umpire of the Year 2024. -
V.Richard Keith Illingworth (England) ,David Shepherd
Trophy’
10. AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS 2025
·
World
No. 1 Jannik Sinner (Italy) won his 2nd consecutive
Australian Open title after defeating
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev (Germany).
·
Madison Keys (USA) secured her first-ever
Grand Slam title after defeating defending
champion Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
·
The
total prize money for the tournament was USD 96.5 million.
·
India’s PrithviSekhar won
the men’s singles title by defeating France’s Olivier Grave at the Australian Open
Deaf Championships 2025
·
IN
MENS DOUBLES : Harri Heliovaara (Finland) and Henry Patten (Britain)
defeated Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori
·
IN
WOMENS DOUBLES : Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) and Taylor
Townsend (USA) won after defeating JelenaOstapenko (Latvia) and
Hsieh Su-wei (Taiwan)
·
IN MIXED DOUBLES
: Australian pair Olivia Gadecki and John
Peers defeated their compatriots John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly
Birrell
·
Australian
Open was first held in 1905 and is
played on hard courts.
11. 9TH JOHOR INTERNATIONAL CHESS TITLE
·
Grandmaster
(GM) IniyanPanneerselvam from Erode, Tamil Nadu (TN), won
the 9th Johor International Open Chess Tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
·
Indian
International Master (IM) V.S.Raahul and
Chinese IM Li Bo secured second and third places, respectively.
12.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE TITLE 2025
·
Odisha Warriors won the 1st ever ‘Inaugural
Women’s Hockey India League Title 2025’ by defeating JSW ((Jindal South West) Soorma Hockey Club of Punjab and
Haryana.
·
The ‘Odisha Warriors’ secured 2-1 in the
final tournament held at MarangGomkeJaipal Singh Munda AstroTurf Hockey Stadium
in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
·
Best
Goalkeeper – SavitaPunia (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
·
Player
of the Tournament – JyotiRumavat (JSW Soorma Hockey Club)
13.
JYOTHI YARRAJI SETS NATIONAL RECORD IN 60M HURDLES
·
JyothiYarraji,
Indian track and field athlete from Visakhapatnam, (AP) clinched the Gold
medal in the women’s 60 meter(m) hurdles held at the Elite Indoor Meeting in Nantes, France.
·
JyothiYarraji, broke her own National
Record twice in one day and clocked 8.07 seconds in
the heats and 8.04 seconds in the final, setting a
new National Record for India.
·
Her
previous record was 8.12 seconds, set at the 2024 Asian
Indoor Championships in Tehran (Iran) where she also won Gold medal in the 60m
hurdle.
·
On
January 17, 2025, she was awarded the ‘Arjuna Award 2024’ for
her performance in the 100 m hurdles in athletics at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New
Delhi
14.
SANJAY – THE BATTLEFIELD SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
·
‘SANJAY’, the Battlefield
Surveillance System (BSS) has been indigenously and jointly developed by the Indian Army (IA) and
Bengalurubased Bharat Electronics
Limited (BEL), establishing a favorable environment
for the realization of “Aatmanirbharta” as a sequel to the IA’s “Year of Technology Absorption.”
·
An automated system called SANJAY
combines the data from all battlefield sensors, both aerial and ground-based,
processes it to ensure its accuracy, avoids duplication, and combines it to
create a Common Surveillance Picture of the battlefield via the Army Data
Network and Satellite Communication Network.
15. ISRO COMPLETES 100TH MISSION
·
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
successfully launched GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission,
carrying the NVS-02 satellite, from the Second
Launch Pad (SLP) SatishDhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh (AP).
·
With the successful launch of this
mission, ISRO completed its 100th launch
from Sriharikota spaceport.
·
This mission marks the 17th flight
of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and 11th flight
with indigenous cryogenic stage.
·
It is also the 8th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage.
·
Since 1979, ISRO has conducted 99 launches
with Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carrying out 62 launches, followed
by GSLV (16), Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)(7), Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle (ASLV) (4), among others.
·
The
GSLV-F15 rocket is equipped with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage has
successfully placed the NVS-02 satellite into the intended Geosynchronous
Transfer Orbit (GTO).
·
NVS-02
is 2nd out of the 5 second-generation Navigational
Satellite (NVS) series (NVS-01/02/03/04/05), which are designed to augment
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)base layer constellation with
improved features for ensuring the continuity of services.
·
ISROChairman- V Narayanan
·
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
·
Established– 1969
16. RBI INJECT RS
1.50 LAKH CRORE INTO THE BANKING SYSTEM
·
The
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a series of steps to
inject about Rs 1.5 lakh crore into the banking
system in a phased manner.
·
The
main objective of these steps is to
address the liquidity shortfall caused by the RBI’s intervention in selling dollars to stabilize the Indian
Rupee (INR).
·
RBI will purchase Government
Securities (G-secs) through
Open Market Operations (OMO) worth Rs 60,000 crore in
three tranches of Rs 20,000 crore each.
·
RBI
has further announced a 56-day Variable
Rate Repo (VRR) auction
for a notified amount of Rs 50,000 crore which is
scheduled to be held on February 7, 2025.
·
RBI announced a USD/INR Buy/Sell
Swap auction
of USD 5 billion for a tenor of 6 months to be held on January
31, 2025.
·
Under
this swap arrangement, RBI will borrow
dollars in exchange for rupees, with the interest cost determined by the
price at which it agrees to repurchase the dollars at the end of the tenure.
·
VRR: It acts as a means to infuse short-term liquidity into the
banking system.
·
It
is a process through which RBI allows banks to borrow at a rate determined by
the market generally lower than Repo rate for a maximum period of 14 days.
·
OMO: It is a quantitative tool of RBI’s Monetary Policy, which is used to
maintain liquidity in the banking system. It involves buying or selling of
G-secs from or to the public and banks.
·
The
RBI last conducted a USD/INR Buy/Sell Swap auction on March 26, 2019. Then
the swap was for USD 5 billion for 3 years.
·
As of January 24, 2025, the banking system faced a significant liquidity deficit of Rs.2.82
lakh crore.
