Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 January 2025

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

1. PM Modi will inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel to provide a year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.

• The Z-Morh tunnel will be the first major milestone to build a strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh.
• After the inauguration of this tunnel, the tourist destination of Sonamarg will remain open for visitors around the year.
• It was built under the Thajiwas Glacier mountain glacier between Gagangir and Sonamarg.
• An intelligent traffic management system will control the flow of vehicles.
• It will open up the Thajiwas Glacier and Sindh River for adventure tourism.
• It has been built at a cost of ₹2,680 crore and is 10.8 metres long, with a modified horseshoe-shaped escape tunnel of 7.5 metres.
• It has a D-shaped ventilation tunnel of 8.3 metres and two major culverts of 110 metres and 270 metres in length.
• The Z-Morh will lead towards the Zojila tunnel.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 started in New Delhi.

• Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 kicked off at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• It has been organized under the leadership of Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.
• This three-day event will provide a platform for young leaders to showcase innovative solutions and engage with policymakers, national icons, and global influencers.
• 3,000 participants have been selected for the event including 1,500 from the Viksit Bharat Track.
• Prominent figures like Anand Mahindra and Jonty Rhodes will take part in the plenary sessions.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a Coffee Table Book having top essays from the event and also unveil a Youth Anthem.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

3. India-made robotic system was used to perform the world's first cardiac telesurgery.

• The world's first two robotic cardiac telesurgeries were successfully performed within two days using India’s first indigenous surgical robotic technology.
• Three surgical robotic systems performed the surgery, and it involved connecting SS Innovations' headquarters in Gurugram with Private Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, spanning a distance of 286 kilometers.
• The telerobotic-assisted internal mammary artery harvesting procedure was conducted remotely and was successfully completed in just 58 minutes.
• It was led by Dr. Sudhir Shrivastava, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SS Innovations International, Inc.
• The surgery was performed from SSI headquarters in Gurugram and was supported by Dr. Lalit Malik, Head of Cardiac Surgery, Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur, and his expert team at the remote location in Jaipur.
• The surgery demonstrated exceptional precision, and the latency was incredibly low, just 35-40 milliseconds (one-twentieth of a second).
• Following this unprecedented procedure, the world’s first Robotic Beating Heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB) procedure, considered to be one of the most complex cardiac surgical procedures, was performed.
• This was performed through telesurgery under the same collaboration, with an extremely low latency of just 40 milliseconds.
• Both surgeries connected Gurugram to Jaipur and demonstrated seamless teamwork over long distances, setting a new standard for remote surgical interventions.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) launched EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan.

• It has been launched in collaboration with India’s largest convenience retail chain, ‘New Shop,’ under its Award to Reward program to empower women retail business owners.
• The objective of this initiative is to empower women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills and resources required to succeed in the organized retail sector.
• Aspiring women entrepreneurs will be helped by EmpowHER Biz to gain experience and receive comprehensive training in retail management, the digital space, financial literacy, and business development.
• Through this collaboration with New Shop, WEP aims to build a strong retail ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs and drives sustainable growth in the sector.
• Under this initiative, fifty participants in the age group of 18-35 years will be selected through an online application process based on specific criteria.
• The top twenty participants among these will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop Franchise fees, giving them the right to own and operate their retail businesses with concessions.
• This program is being launched for women from Delhi National Capital Region, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
• Launched as an aggregator platform in 2018 at NITI Aayog, WEP was converted into a public-private partnership in 2022.
• The 'Award to Reward' initiative under WEP provides a plug-and-play framework for stakeholders to develop impactful programs from the year 2023.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

5. The 'Kumbhvani' FM channel launched by UP CM Yogi Adityanath to broadcast the Mahakumbh spirit to remote areas.

• On his second day in Prayagraj to review the final preparations for the Maha Kumbh, Prasar Bharati's special FM channel, called Kumbhvani, was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
• The radio channel will take Maha Kumbh to all those who are unable to come to Kumbh this time, especially in the rural areas, and will help in spreading the message of Sanatan Dharma among the people.
• Prasar Bharati launched the special FM channel Kumbhvani during the Kumbh festivals in 2013, 2019, and now again in 2025 to meet the challenge of reaching remote areas with limited connectivity.
• The Box FM channel will be broadcast on 103.5 MHz.
• The OTT-based Kumbhavani FM channel will be broadcast from January 10 to February 26 daily from 5.55 am to 10.05 pm.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

6. India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) in 2026.

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced this at the CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting in Guernsey.
• The focus of 28th CSPOC will be on the use of artificial intelligence and social media in parliamentary processes.
• The CSPOC platform was designed as a forum for member nations to exchange parliamentary practices and improve collaboration.
• According to Birla, India's hosting role provides a chance to showcase its customs.
• The Standing Committee talked about the difficulties that parliaments around the world face and established the agenda for the 2026 CSPOC.
• Birla emphasised that the conference had been held in India in 1970–71, 1986, and 2010.
• He invited Commonwealth presiding officers to attend the occasion in New Delhi in 2026.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. A growth of 5.2% has been recorded in India’s Index of Industrial Production in November 2024.

• This is the highest growth rate in the past six months. In October 2024, the growth rate was 3.5%.
• In November 2023, 2.5% growth was recorded in IIP.
• In November 2024, a growth of 5.8% was recorded in manufacturing sector, as against 4.1% in October.
• The manufacturing sector constitutes the largest share of the IIP.
• In comparison to November 2023, 18 out of 23 industry groups within the manufacturing sector showed growth in November 2024.
• A growth rate of 1.9% has been recorded in electricity sector in November 2024.
• Mining sector recorded a growth of 4.4% in November 2024.
• Capital goods production grew by 9% in November, reflecting investment activity in the economy.
• Production of consumer durable increased by 13.1%. This reflects increased demand.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. 2024 became the first year to breach the global warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

• 2024 was the first year in which global mean temperatures crossed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• This was confirmed by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
• The earth’s average temperature in 2024 was 1.6 degrees Celsius higher than in 1850-1900.
• The impacts of climate change are now visible on every continent it is affecting people from the richest to the poorest countries on earth.
• 2024 was the warmest year in global temperature records. It was 0.72 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average.
• Concentrations in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide reached a fresh high of 422 parts per million in 2024.
• Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, Governments promised to prevent average temperatures exceeding 1.5C.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Dr. Syed Anwar Khursheed received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2025.

• Dr Syed Anwar Khursheed has been conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest recognition for overseas Indians by the Government of India.
• This award has been given to Syed Anwar Khursheed for his remarkable contributions to healthcare, community welfare, and strengthening ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
• Dr. Khursheed has served in key roles, including three decades at King Faisal Hospital and a decade at the National Guard Hospital as a Royal Protocol Physician.
• He played a critical role by providing essential healthcare, vaccine advocacy, and round-the-clock consultations to the Indian diaspora.
• He founded the International Indian School in Taif, which will foster academic excellence and cultural integration for Indian expatriates.
• He is also the Vice President of, the Saudi-Indian Healthcare Forum. 

Topic: State News / Himachal Pradesh

10. Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved renaming Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration after Manmohan Singh.

• The suspense continues over the selection of a memorial site for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the national capital.
• However, the Congress government of Himachal Pradesh on January 9, 2025 approved the renaming of an institution after Dr Singh, acknowledging his significant contribution to the development of the hill state.
• The State Cabinet, which met in Shimla under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved renaming Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) as Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration.
• The Cabinet appreciated the transformational contribution of Dr Singh to the nation and Himachal Pradesh and highlighted his role in tackling the economic crisis and laying the foundation of India's financial reforms.
• Apart from this, the establishment of a Special Task Force (STF) to combat drug abuse in the state was approved by the Cabinet.
• The STF will work to dismantle drug trafficking and organised crime networks through a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings

11. India's ranking in Henley Passport Index falls to 85th.

• In the Global Passport Index, India's ranking has dropped five points to 85 this year, with Singapore topping the list for the second consecutive year.
• In 2024, India's ranking in the Henley Passport Index was 80th globally.
• According to the 2025 Index, Pakistan and Bangladesh were ranked 103rd (101st in 2024) and 100th (97th in 2024) respectively.
• This data is taken from the Henley Passport Index, released on January 8, 2025, by citizenship consultancy firm Henley & Partners.
• With 19 years of historical data, the Henley Passport Index is the only index of its kind based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority [IATA].
• The index covers 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

12. Madhya Pradesh government launched the PARTH scheme.

• The main purpose of the scheme is to prepare youths physically and mentally before recruitment in the Indian Army, Police, Para Military etc.
• The full form of the PARTH scheme is Police Army Recruitment Training and Hunar.
• During the closing ceremony of the State Level Youth Festival, this scheme has been launched by CM Mohan Yadav.
• Under this scheme, youth will be given pre-recruitment training for physical fitness and preparation for the written examination.
• The youths will receive the training at the divisional level infrastructure of the sports department.
• The government will create a youth portal, in which interested youth will be able to register themselves.
• The list of training centers will be provided on the portal.

Topic: International Appointments

13. Lebanon parliament elected Joseph Aoun as head of state.

• After a two-year gap, army commander Joseph Aoun has been elected president of Lebanon.
• Aoun received 71 out of 128 votes in the first round, and in the second round, he received 99 votes.
• He also promised to control Lebanon’s borders.
• Joseph Aoun is the fifth former army commander to ascend to Lebanon’s presidency.
• In Lebanon, a president is elected by a two-thirds majority of the 128-member house in the first round of voting or by a simple majority in the next round.
• Joseph Aoun was appointed army chief in March 2017. His term was extended twice during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.