Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 January 2025

By Priyanka Chaudhary | Last Modified: 21 Jan 2025 15:22 PM IST

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Topic: Corporates/Companies

1. Union Cabinet has approved a ₹11,440 crore revival plan for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

  • It includes equity infusion of ₹10,300 crore and the conversion of ₹1,140 crore in working capital loans into preferred share capital.
  • Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) is a CPSE under the Ministry of Steel with 100% ownership of Government of India.
  • RINL operates the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), it is only offshore steel plant under Government sector in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The equity infusion into RINL will help it in overcoming the operational problems related to raising working capital.
  • It would allow the company to gradually reach its full production capacity.
  • Under the revival plan, RINL will start full production with two blast furnaces in January 2025 and with three blast furnaces August 2025.
  • Steel production is a core sector of the economy. India is the world's second largest producer of steel.

Topic: National News

2. For the deployment of 5G and upcoming 6G services, the cabinet has authorised the refarming of 687 MHz of spectrum from many government ministries.

  • An estimated Rs 2 lakh crore is the total value of the spectrum that has been authorised for refarming thus far.
  • Auctions will now be held for the spectrum.
  • The total spectrum demand for the telecom industry is expected to reach 2000 MHz by 2030. We currently have 900 MHz.
  • With the refarming of 687 MHz spectrum, 1587 MHz of spectrum is now available.
  • The remaining 413 MHz required to meet the 2030 demand would similarly be made accessible within the prescribed timeline.
  • The 328 MHz spectrum will be released right away out of the 687 MHz spectrum that has been approved.
  • Sanchar Saathi has been launched by the department of telecommunications.
  • This app has been launched help citizens to report any suspected fraud communications.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Gukesh D (chess), Harmanpreet Singh (hockey), Manu Bhaker (shooting) and Praveen Kumar (Paralympic high jumper) received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

  • The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given to the athlete who has had the most remarkable and exceptional accomplishment in sports during the last four years.
  • After defeating China's Ding Liren in the title match in Singapore, Gukesh became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion.
  • After winning double bronze in the 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events, Manu became the first Indian athlete to win two medals at the same Games in Paris.
  • In men's hockey, Harmanpreet led India to their second consecutive Olympic bronze medal. 
  • At the Paralympics, Praveen won gold in the high jump T64. He is from Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Arjuna Award was given to thirty-two athletes, including seventeen para-athletes.
  • The Arjuna Award is given for exceptional achievement in sports and games during the preceding four years.
  • Former cyclist Sucha Singh and former para-swimmer Murlikant Rajaram Petkar were given Arjuna Awards (Lifetime).
  • He is India's first Paralympic gold medalist. He won gold medal in the 1972 Summer Paralympics.
  • Deepali Deshpande (shooting), Sandeep Sangwan (hockey) and Subhash Rana (para-shooter) were honored with the Dronacharya Award.
  • Armando Agnelo Colaco (football) and S Muralidharan (badminton) were given Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category.
  • Coaches who consistently perform exceptional and meritorious work and help athletes succeed in international competitions are given the Dronacharya Award.
  • Physical Education Foundation of India was given Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar.
  • Chandigarh University, Lovely Professional University, (PB) and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar received the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.
  • They received this trophy for being overall top performing university in the Khelo India University Games.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. The launch of the Sanchar Saathi App and NBM 2.0 enhanced telecom connectivity in India.

  • On 17 January, Union Communications Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched Sanchar Saathi mobile app, National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 and inauguration of intra circle roaming facility on DBN funded 4G mobile sites.
  • Sanchar Saathi Mobile App is a user-friendly platform designed to strengthen telecom security and empower citizens.
  • Launched in 2023, the Sanchar Saathi initiative has made progress in addressing cyber fraud and telecom security issues.
  • The app provides tools for managing telecom-related concerns, including reporting suspected fraudulent communications, identifying unauthorized mobile connections, and blocking lost or stolen devices.
  • Additionally, the app helps users verify the authenticity of a mobile handset.
  • National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 is based on the success of NBM 1.0, under which around 8 lakh towers were installed.
  • NBM 2.0 will expand optical fibre connectivity to 270,000 villages by 2030, increase broadband speeds to the national average of 100 Mbps, and achieve 30% sustainable energy use for mobile towers by 2030
  • Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) at DBN-funded 4G mobile sites aims to enhance connectivity in rural and remote areas.
  • The initiative allows customers of different telecom service providers (TSPs) to use the same DBN-funded tower.
  • This reduces operators' costs and increases service availability.
  • This facility is currently implemented on around 27,000 DBN-funded towers, providing seamless 4G connectivity to over 35,000 villages.
  • TSPs like BSNL, Airtel and Reliance are participating in this collaboration.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Over 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme distributed by PM Modi.

  • On 18 January, over 65 lakh property cards distributed under the SVAMITVA Scheme by PM Narendra Modi, marking a major milestone in India’s rural empowerment efforts.
  • The distribution will reach property owners in over 50,000 villages across 10 states – Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as well as two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • This is a significant occasion as it marks the day of preparation and distribution of around 2.25 crore property cards under the Swamitva Yojana, with 65 lakh cards being issued in a single day.
  • The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched on April 24, 2020.
  • It aims to provide legal ownership documents to residents of rural areas.
  • Under the scheme, property owners are provided with 'Record of Rights' along with issuance of property cards, which are mapped using advanced drone and GIS technology.
  • Implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, this initiative plays a vital role in promoting rural economic development and enhancing governance by formalizing land ownership.
\Monthly Current Affairs eBooks
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October Monthly Current Affairs 2024 September Monthly Current Affairs 2024

Topic: Indian Economy

6. India's growth has been kept at 6.5 percent by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the upcoming fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027.

  • The IMF maintained the growth rate same as the October forecast in its World Economic Outlook update, which was published on January 17, 2025.
  • Among the biggest economies in the world, India continued to grow at the highest rate.
  • According to IMF projections, global growth will be 3.3% in 2025 and 2026.
  • This is less than the 3.7 percent historical average.
  • The October 2024 World Economic Outlook projection for 2025 is almost unchanged.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. Odisha government and Singapore-based organisations have signed eight MoUs.

  • These MoUs have been signed for collaborations in different fields, which include skill development, green energy, and industrial park development.
  • In Bhubaneswar, the MoUs were signed when Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam were present.
  • This is the first visit of the Singapore President to the state ahead of the ‘Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave,’ scheduled on the 28th and 29th January 2025.

Topic: National News

8. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will launch a centralized online registration system for local cable operators (LCOs).

  • The Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued a notification to amend the Cable Television Network Rules to streamline the Local Cable Operator (LCO) registration.
  • LCOs registrations will now be conducted entirely online. The registration certificates will be issued in real-time.
  • Earlier, the registration process was conducted offline at the local head post office in the area where the LCO’s office was located.
  • Now, LCOs have to apply for a new or renewed registration online through the Broadcast Seva Portal of the Ministry.
  • LCO registrations will be granted or renewed for a period of five years.
  • Before the expiration of registration, renewal applications have to be submitted at least 90 days in advance.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

9. IREDA, SJVN, GMR and NEA signed a partnership agreement for Upper Karnali Hydropower Project in Nepal.

  • For the development of the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydro-electric Project in Nepal, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has finalized a Joint Venture Agreement with SJVN Ltd., GMR Energy Ltd., and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
  • The project will have a 25-year term from its Commercial Operation Date (CoD).
  • The Upper Karnali project will serve as a model of cross-border collaboration for both economic and environmental benefits.
  • This joint initiative will boost regional energy security and support the growth of renewable energy infrastructure.

Topic: National Appointment

10. Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran took oath as Judge of the Supreme Court.

  • On January 16, the oath of office was administered to Supreme Court’s new judge, Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran, by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
  • Justice Chandran was earlier the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
  • His appointment brings the number of judicial members in the Supreme Court to 33, one less than the full sanctioned strength.
  • On January 7, Justice Chandran was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium to the Union Government for appointment as an apex court judge.
  • In November 2011, Justice Chandran was appointed as a Judge of the Kerala High Court and was appointed as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court on March 24, 2023.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives  

11. On National Startup Day 2025, the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge was launched by Piyush Goyal.

  • On January 16, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge for entrepreneurs to mark the completion of nine years of the government's Startup India programme.
  • Bharat Startup Grand Challenge will give an opportunity to startups and innovators to face challenges in different sectors in collaboration with 20 large corporations.
  • This includes renewable energy, agritech, healthcare, robotics, cleantech, blockchain, semiconductor, social commerce etc.
  • To bridge the gap between corporates and startups, the Challenge will provide procurement opportunities, cash prizes, funding and mentoring as well as capacity building measures for startups.
  • The government aims to launch 75 challenges across sectors by the 2026 anniversary of the Startup India programme to boost innovation in the country.
  • The updated Prabhaav guide, a nine-year factbook on DPIIT’s Startup India program highlighting India’s entrepreneurial journey and the rise of women entrepreneurs, was also launched by Goyal.
  • National Startup Day announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 to mark the Startup India initiative launched by the government on January 16, 2016, underlines the growth of Indian startups over the past decade and more.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

12. India has developed the world's most powerful hydrogen train engine.

  • The hydrogen fuel-run train engine developed by the Indian Railways is the most powerful in this category.
  • Indian hydrogen train engine has an output of 1,200 horsepower.
  • The first trial run for this engine is planned on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.
  • Only four countries in the world have hydrogen-powered trains. These train engines have output between 500 to 600 horsepower.
  • India's indigenous technology of hydrogen-powered trains will also pave the way for adapting the innovative way to develop power trains for trucks, tugboats, and other applications.
  • India's first hydrogen-powered train has been developed by the Integral Coach Factory in Tamil Nadu.

Topic: National Appointments

13. Ashok Chandra has been appointed as MD and CEO of PNB and Binod Kumar as MD and CEO of Indian Bank.

  • Both Ashok Chandra and Binod Kumar have taken charge on 16 January 2025.
  • Chandra was an executive director at Canara Bank. He has been appointed for a three-year term.
  • Binod Kumar was an executive director at PNB. He has been appointed for a three-year term.
  • He will be eligible for an extension of up to two more years.
  • The posts of MD and CEO at PNB and Indian Bank became vacant after the tenures of Atul Kumar Goel and SL Jain, respectively, ended on December 31.
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