Daily Current Affairs : 01 Feb 2025     

PM Modi Inaugurates 'Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025' and 38th National Games During His Visit to Odisha and Uttarakhand.

National

On January 28, 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Odisha and Uttarakhand to inaugurate the 'Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025' and the 38th National Games.

      - PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, held from January 28 to 29, 2025.

      - Odisha received investments worth ₹16.73 lakh crore, covering 593 industrial projects across 20 sectors.

      - 145 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, totaling ₹12.89 lakh crore across 16 sectors.

Main Point :-   (i) PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 38th National Games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, marking the 25th anniversary of the state’s formation.

      (ii) The theme for the National Games 2025 is 'Green Games', emphasizing sustainability.

(iii) Yoga and Mallakhamb were included in the National Games for the first time.

About Odisha

Chief Minister (CM): Mohan Charan Majhi

Governor: Hari Babu Kambhampati

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Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Presides Over National Conference with State & UT Labour Ministers and Secretaries in New Delhi.

National

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS), chaired a two-day National-level conference with Labour Ministers and Secretaries of States and Union Territories (UTs) in New Delhi, Delhi.

      - The meeting was held from 29th January to 30th January 2025, aiming to align the efforts of the central government, states, and UTs in creating a unified legal and administrative framework for labour reforms benefiting workers and employers.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) The conference highlighted that 18 States/UTs have already implemented most of the labour reforms, while the remaining States/UTs have made significant progress. All 36 States/UTs are expected to complete the pre-publication of unified draft rules in line with the labour codes by 31st March 2025.

      (ii) During the meeting, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched two key initiatives under the e-Shram initiative: State & UT Microsites and Occupational Shortage Index (OSI).

Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E)

Minister : Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Headquarters : New Delhi

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Dr. Jitendra Singh Celebrates CSIR-IITR's Diamond Jubilee in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

National

On January 28, 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC), Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T) commemorated the 60th anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), at its headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

      - During the event, he emphasized the institute's remarkable achievements and its crucial role in tackling public health concerns, advocating for a ‘toxin-free India’ by 2047, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

      - Dr. Jitendra Singh also serves as the Union Minister of Earth Sciences and Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

      - The Union MoS emphasized CSIR-IITR’s efforts in supporting startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through initiatives such as the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)-led Common Research and Technology Hub (CRTDH) Environmental Monitoring Hub and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)-led Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BioNEST) in New Delhi.

Main Point :-   (i) During the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated key facilities at CSIR-IITR, including the Diamond Jubilee Arches, the new Diamond Jubilee Block, the NaMo-ATAL facility, and VV Sansa, a state-of-the-art reference material hub.

      (ii) The minister also launched WARMEST (Water, Air, Radiation Monitoring for Environment Safety Technologies), the third edition of the WARM series, and EARTH-25 (Environmental Awareness Research Towards Health) conferences, reinforcing the institute’s commitment to environmental safety and scientific progress.

(iii) Highlighting CSIR-IITR’s contributions to public health and environmental research, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated the institute’s vital role in fostering innovation and sustainable solutions, aligning with the vision of a ‘toxin-free India’ by 2047.

About CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology (CSIR-IITR)

Director : Bhaskar Narayan

Headquarters : Lucknow

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CCS Approves ₹10,000 Crore+ Project for Procurement of Ammunition for Indian Army's Pinaka MBRL.

Defence

In January 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved a project worth over ₹10,000 crore for the procurement of ammunition for the Indian Army (IA)’s Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher Systems (MBRLs).

      - The ammunition under this project will be manufactured domestically to fulfill the IA’s requirements over the next 10 years.

      - The contract includes the production of two types of ammunition: Pinaka Mk-I (Enhanced) Rocket System (EPRS) and Area Denial Munitions (ADM).

      - These will be manufactured by Pune (Maharashtra)-based Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Nagpur (Maharashtra)-based Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solar Industries India Limited (SIIL).

Main Point :-   (i) The project will be divided between EEL and MIL in a 60:40 ratio, as both emerged as the lowest bidders.

      (ii) Under this project, high-explosive pre-fragmented rocket ammunition and ADM will be produced at a cost of ₹5,700 crore and ₹4,500 crore, respectively.

About Economic Explosives Limited (EEL)

Chairman : Satyanarayan Nuwal

Headquarters : Nagpur, Maharashtra

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MOMSME and ONDC have launched a Rs. 277 crore initiative aimed at empowering 5 lakh small businesses.

National

On January 28, 2025, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) partnered with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), based in New Delhi, to launch the Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative. This program is designed to help Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) join ONDC and grow in the digital world.

      - The initiative has a budget of Rs. 277.35 crore for the next 3 years and aims to onboard 5 lakh micro and small businesses, with 50% of them being women-led.

      - Its goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace digital commerce and increase their market reach.

      - The TEAM Initiative is a part of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program. It focuses on supporting women-owned MSMEs, particularly in smaller cities (Tier 2 and Tier 3).

Main Point :-   (i) The initiative will provide MSMEs with services like logistics, account management, packaging, design, catalog creation, and help with digital operations.

      (ii) It will also provide tools such as digital storefronts, integrated payment systems, and logistics support to help businesses overcome operational challenges and reach more customers.

(iii) With other programs like Startup India, Pradhan Mantri (PM) Vishwakarma Scheme, and the Digital MSME scheme already supporting the MSME sector, the TEAM Initiative will further strengthen these efforts.

About Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Non-Executive Chairperson : Ram Sewak Sharma

Headquarters : New Delhi

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Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurates India's inaugural Organic Fisheries Cluster in Sikkim.

National

In January 2025, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Rajiv Ranjan Singh (also known as Lalan Singh), introduced India’s first Organic Fisheries Cluster in Soreng district, Sikkim, during the North Eastern Region (NER) State Meet 2025, held in Guwahati, Assam.

      - The National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) plays a key role in developing the organic fisheries cluster in Sikkim.

      - This initiative focuses on promoting fish farming using organic methods, which avoid harmful chemicals and support environmentally friendly practices.

      - The goal of these projects is to improve the competitiveness of the fisheries sector.

Main Point :-   (i) The initiative was launched with the presence of Ministers of State (MoS) Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian from MoFAH&D.

      (ii) Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh also launched 50 new projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with a total investment of Rs 50 crores, benefiting all states in the North Eastern Region, except Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

(iii) In 2016, Sikkim became India's first state to be fully certified as organic.

About Sikkim

Chief minister: Prem Singh Tamang

Governor: Om Prakash Mathur

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Union Minister Piyush Goyal Visits Oman, Participates in India-Oman Joint Meetings and Discusses CEPA and DTAA Amendment.

International

Union Minister Piyush Vedprakash Goyal, from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), visited the Sultanate of Oman from January 27 to 28, 2025.

      - During his visit, he took part in the 11th session of the India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and the India-Oman Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting in Muscat, Oman.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) India and Oman discussed the bilateral India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is in its final stages of negotiation.

      (ii) Both countries signed a Protocol to amend the India-Oman Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). This amendment aims to make cross-border taxation easier, simplify tax processes, and encourage cooperation in tax matters.

About Oman

PM & Sultan: Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

Capital: Muscat

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WHO Announces Guinea's Success in Eradicating Sleeping Sickness as Public Health Issue.

International

In January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Guinea has successfully eradicated the gambiense form of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health issue.

      - HAT has become the first Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) to be eradicated in Guinea.This achievement was announced just ahead of the global observance of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (WNTDD) on January 30, 2025.

      - HAT cases in Guinea have fallen below the WHO threshold of one case per 10,000 inhabitants in all endemic areas, marking the disease’s successful elimination as a public health concern.

      - Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It's known for the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, in the southeast.

Main Point :-   (i) Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a vector-borne parasitic disease endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosoma genus and transmitted by infected tsetse flies.

      (ii) It exists in two forms: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (responsible for over 92% of cases) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (responsible for the remaining cases). The disease can cause fever, headaches, joint pain, neurological symptoms, and, if untreated, can be fatal.

(iii) HAT is classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), with WHO playing a key role in assisting countries to eliminate the disease. This effort stems from the adoption of WHO resolutions 50.36 in 1997 and 56.7 in 2003, focusing on eradicating HAT in endemic countries.

About Guinea

Interim President : Mamadi Doumbouya

Capital : Conakry

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Canara Bank has introduced the 'Canara Crest Program' to provide a premium banking experience.

Banking & Finance

In January 2025, Canara Bank, based in Bengaluru (Karnataka), one of India's top Public Sector Banks (PSBs), launched the 'Canara Crest' membership program. This unique initiative offers a personalized and premium banking experience for its customers.

      - The program provides exclusive benefits for eligible customers, including access to service lounges, dining rewards, exclusive hotel stays, unlimited fitness memberships, and more.

      - The program has two membership segments: CREST and CREST PLUS.

      - CREST membership is available for customers with a Quarterly Average Balance (QAB) ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, while CREST PLUS membership is offered to customers with a QAB of Rs 50 lakh or more.

Main Point :-   (i) The membership is offered at zero cost in two ways: through an invitation for existing eligible customers or by opening a new savings account under the Canara CREST segment. There are no minimum balance maintenance charges.

      (ii) Eligible customers can join the program via a simple digital process, assisted by a Relationship Manager (RM).

About Canara Bank

MD & CEO : K. Satyanarayana Raju

Headquarters: Bengaluru

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ABHFL has secured an investment of Rs 830 crore from the IFC through Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs).

Banking & Finance

In January 2025, Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited (ABHFL), a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited based in Varavel, Maharashtra, secured an investment of Rs 830 crore from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) through non-convertible debentures (NCDs).

      - This investment aims to improve financial inclusion and support affordable housing communities.

      - IFC is a member of the World Bank Group, based in Washington, USA.

     

Main Point :-   (i) The funding will be used to provide housing loans to low- and middle-income groups, with a special focus on encouraging women to own homes.

      (ii) Part of the funds will also support small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), especially those led by women, to promote economic growth.

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IPPB (India Post Payments Bank) and PNB MetLife have partnered to expand access to life insurance in India.

Banking & Finance

On January 30, 2025, India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB) based in New Delhi and PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) based in Mumbai, announced a bancassurance partnership to make life insurance more accessible across India.

      - This collaboration combines PNB MetLife’s life insurance products with IPPB’s large network of 650 banking outlets and its customer base of 110 million people.

      - The goal is to provide life insurance to households across India, offering financial protection and supporting financial inclusion.

     

Main Point :-   (i) IPPB and PNB MetLife aim to make life insurance accessible to more families, including those in rural areas that are usually underserved.

      (ii) They offer a variety of products like Child Education, Family Protection, Long-term Savings, and Retirement plans.

(iii) The partnership ensures that even remote areas are covered, supporting the Government of India’s mission to promote financial inclusion.

About India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB)

MD & CEO: R. Viswesvaran

Headquarters : New Delhi

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RBI Harmonizes HFCs' NCD Private Placement Guidelines with NBFC Regulations.

Banking & Finance

In January 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the alignment of regulations for the private placement of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) by housing finance companies (HFCs) with those applicable to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

      - This change replaces the existing framework under Chapter XI of the Master Direction Non-Banking Financial Company Housing Finance Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021, with new guidelines in line with Paragraph 58 of the Master Direction NBFC Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2023.

      - As a result, HFCs will now follow the same rules and guidelines as NBFCs when issuing NCDs, and previous HFC-specific guidelines on NCD issuance have been repealed.

      - The updated guidelines will take effect on January 29, 2025, and will apply to all new private placements of NCDs issued by HFCs with maturities exceeding one year.

Main Point :-   (i) Under the NBFC Scale-Based Regulation, companies must formulate a board-approved policy for resource planning, specifying the planning horizon and frequency of private placements. The minimum subscription per investor is set at ₹20,000, and private placements of NCDs are categorized into two segments: those with a maximum subscription of less than ₹1 crore per investor and those with a minimum subscription of ₹1 crore and above per investor.

      (ii) For NCDs with a maximum subscription of less than ₹1 crore per investor, the total number of subscribers is limited to 200 per financial year, and these subscriptions must be fully secured.

(iii) Non-convertible debentures (NCDs) are fixed-income instruments issued by high-rated companies to raise long-term capital. They offer higher interest rates than convertible debentures and can be invested in by individuals, banks, and institutions but cannot be converted into equity or stock.

About RBI

CEO : Sanjay Malhotra

Headquarter : Mumbai

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Air India and Kenya Airways have entered into a codeshare partnership to enhance connectivity.

Banking & Finance

In January 2025, Air India, based in Gurgaon (Haryana) and owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, formed a codeshare partnership with Kenya Airways Limited. This collaboration aims to expand Air India's network and provide passengers with more travel options. The two airlines will also continue their interline partnership.

      - A codeshare partnership allows an airline to book its passengers on flights of a partner airline, making the travel experience smoother with just one ticket.

      - Under this codeshare agreement, Air India will assign its Artificial Intelligence (AI) designator code to Kenya Airways' twice-daily flights between Nairobi (Kenya) and Mumbai (India).

     

Main Point :-   (i) Passengers can also travel on Air India flights via Mumbai to destinations like Bangkok (Thailand), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Malé (The Maldives), Melbourne (Australia), and Singapore (Singapore).

      (ii) Kenya Airways will assign its code to Air India flights operating between Delhi (India) and Nairobi (Kenya).

(iii) Both airlines plan to gradually expand this agreement by adding more destinations in their networks.

About Air India

MD & CEO : Campbell WilsonMD & CEO:

Headquarters: Gurgaon

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Hardeep Singh Puri Announces Winners of Avinya’25 & Vasudha Startup Challenges at ONGC HQ During ‘Energize India’ Conclave.

Awards

At ONGC headquarters, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the winners of the Avinya’25 and Vasudha startup challenges. UrjanovaC Pvt Ltd won Avinya’25, while Latin Energy Partners Inc. (Paraguay) topped Vasudha. IIT (ISM) – Dhanbad won the Hackathon, with IIT-Guwahati as the runner-up.

      - The Energize India conclave saw strong participation, with Avinya’25 receiving 173 applications from across India and Vasudha attracting global innovators. The winners will showcase their innovations at India Energy Week 2025, where over 70,000 energy professionals from 120 countries will attend.

      - Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted India’s energy diversification, increasing imports from 27 to 39 countries. He also announced that India has reached 19% ethanol blending, nearing its 20% target ahead of schedule, with plans for further expansion.

     

Main Point :-   (i) The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has supported 303 startups with ₹286.36 crore through a ₹547.35 crore fund, fostering India’s startup ecosystem of 110+ unicorns.

      (ii) Panel discussions featured Shri Pankaj Jain (Petroleum & Natural Gas Secretary) and Shri S.C.L. Das (MSME Secretary), addressing energy startup opportunities and regulatory support.

(iii) The winners will gain global exposure at India Energy Week 2025, scheduled in New Delhi from February 11-14, 2025, featuring 700+ companies, 500 speakers, and 6,000+ delegates.

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"Ahmed al-Sharaa Appointed as Syria's Interim President".

Appointment

In January 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa, an Islamist leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was appointed as Syria's interim president following the 'The Conference for Announcing the Victory of the Syrian Revolution' event in Damascus, Syria. He succeeds Bashar al-Assad, the former leader of the Syrian Ba'ath Party, whose government fell on December 8, 2024, after nearly 14 years of efforts to maintain power.

      - Syria's previous constitution and parliament were dissolved, and Ahmed al-Sharaa was granted the authority to establish a temporary legislative council for the transitional phase.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, is the leader of HTS. Initially linked to al-Qaeda, the group has since disavowed its former affiliations.

      (ii) In 2003, he left Syria to join Al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and was subsequently detained for five years, which delayed his advancement within the organization.

(iii) In 2011, amid Syria's civil war, he founded the Al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, which later evolved into HTS. By 2016, Ahmed al-Sharaa distanced himself from al-Qaeda and rebranded HTS as a nationalist force, moving away from its jihadist insurgency roots.

About Syria

Interim President: Ahmed al-Sharaa

Capital: Damascus

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"Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević Resigns.

Appointment

On January 28, 2025, Serbia's Prime Minister (PM) Miloš Vučević resigned from his position, along with Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric, following weeks of anti-corruption protests. These protests were triggered by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people.

      - Miloš Vučević assumed the role of Prime Minister of Serbia in May 2024.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Miloš Vučević is a Serbian lawyer, politician, and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party, currently serving as the President of the Serbian Progressive Party.

      (ii) His political career spans over a decade, during which he served as the Mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022.

(iii) He also served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Defence from 2022 to 2024.

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"CCI Approves Renew Exim DMCC's Stake Acquisition in ITD Cementation".

Banking & Finance

On January 29, 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposal of Renew Exim DMCC, based in Dubai (United Arab Emirates, UAE), to acquire up to 72.64% stake in ITD Cementation India Limited, an Engineering & Construction Company, for Rs. 5,757 crore.

      - Renew Exim DMCC, an Adani group affiliate owned by Vinod Adani, will purchase approximately 46.64% of ITD Cementation India Limited's total equity (around 8,01,13,180 shares) for Rs. 3,204 crore.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) In accordance with the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011, Renew Exim DMCC has made an open offer to acquire up to 4,46,64,772 fully paid-up equity shares, which constitute approximately 26% of the company's shares, for Rs. 2,553 crore, subject to full subscription.

      (ii) ITD Cementation India Ltd, based in Mumbai (Maharashtra), specializes in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects such as dams, bridges, tunnels, and airports.

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GRSE Ltd & AMS Pvt Ltd Forge Partnership for Defence and Aerospace Collaboration.

Science and Technology

On January 30, 2025, Kolkata, (West Bengal, WB) based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Hyderabad (Telangana) based Apollo Micro Systems (AMS) Private Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a 5-year collaboration to enhance cutting-edge technologies and boost India’s Defence and Aerospace capabilities.

      - The partnership aims at joint Research and Development (R&D), co-production, and the supply of advanced Underwater Weapons and Vehicles, Underwater Mines, Underwater Communication Systems, and Air Defence Systems and Vehicles.

      - The MoU was signed between Commodore Shantanu Bose, Indian Navy (IN) (Retired), Director of Shipbuilding, GRSE Limited, and Karunakar Reddy Baddam, Managing Director (MD), AMS Private Limited, in the presence of Commodore P R Hari, IN (Retired), Chairman and Managing Director (MD), Subrato Ghosh, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Indian Coast Guard (ICG) (Retired), and other senior officials from both companies.

      - The collaboration is focused on meeting the current and future requirements of the Indian Defence Forces (IDFs), Paramilitary Forces (PMFs), Police Organizations, Government Agencies at both Central and State levels, the Civil Sectors, and Global Export Markets.

Main Point :-   (i) A crucial aspect of this partnership is the enhancement of both companies' manufacturing infrastructure to produce critical components and sub-assemblies for advanced defence and aerospace systems.

      (ii) The collaboration includes services for the modernization and upgrade of existing systems, ensuring they align with evolving technological requirements and remain state-of-the-art.

(iii) Through this partnership, GRSE reinforces its commitment to strengthening indigenous capabilities and advancing the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

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Australia Clinches ICC Women's Championship Trophy for the Third Time.

Sports

Australia secured the ICC Women's Championship title for the third consecutive time. This was the third edition of the tournament, where each team played three One Day International (ODI) matches against all other teams. The team finishing at the top of the points table at the end of the cycle was declared the winner.

      - Australian captain Alyssa Healy received the championship trophy in Melbourne, Australia. The trophy was presented on behalf of the ICC by Cricket Australia Chair and ICC Director Mike Baird.

      - Australia finished the championship with the highest total of 39 points, securing 17 wins, three no-results, and three losses in 24 matches. India finished in second place with 37 points.

      - The top six teams from the points table have secured direct qualification for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup, which will be hosted by India. Australia topped the standings with 39 points, followed closely by India with 37 points. England secured third place with 32 points, while South Africa finished fourth with 25 points. Sri Lanka and New Zealand also earned direct entry with 22 and 21 points, respectively. These teams will compete in the upcoming World Cup, aiming for the prestigious title on Indian soil.

Main Point :-   (i) Australia holds the record for winning the most ICC Women's Cricket World Cups in the 50-over format, with titles in 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, and 2022.

      (ii) The Australian women's team has also dominated the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, winning the tournament six times in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

(iii) With this latest ICC Women's Championship win, Australia continues to establish itself as the most dominant force in women's cricket, setting high standards for excellence in the sport.

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Olympic Gold Medalist and Long Jump Legend Greg Bell Passes Away at 94.

Obituary

In January 2025, Gregory Curtis Bell (Greg Bell), the American long jump legend and the world's oldest living Olympic gold medalist in athletics, passed away at the age of 94 in Indiana, United States of America (USA). He was born on November 7, 1930, in Indiana.

      - Greg Bell was the world's leading men's long jumper during the 1950s.

      - At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Greg Bell won the gold medal in the long jump with a leap of 7.83 meters (m) under challenging conditions, finishing 15 centimeters (cm) ahead of his compatriot John Bennett.

      - He set a personal best of 8.10 m in Austin, USA, in 1957, which was just 3 cm short of the world record set by Jesse Owens in 1935.

Main Point :-   (i) In 1959, Greg Bell won the silver medal at the Pan American Games in Chicago, USA. He retired after finishing fourth at the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials.

      (ii) He served as the director of dentistry at Logansport State Hospital, USA, for 50 years before retiring in 2020 at the age of 89.

(iii) In 1982, he was inducted into the Indiana University (IU) Hall of Fame and later into the USA Track and Field (USATF) Hall of Fame in 1988.

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A glimpse towards question answer.

Question : Recently, Air India entered into a codeshare partnership with which airline to enhance connectivity?

(1)     Kenya Airways

(2)     Qatar Airways

(3)     Emirates

(4)     Ethiopian Airlines

Ans : Kenya Airways

Question : Who recently announced the winners of the Avinya’25 and Vasudha startup challenges?

(1)     Dharmendra Pradhan

(2)     Piyush Goyal

(3)     Narendra Modi

(4)     Hardeep Singh Puri

Ans : Hardeep Singh Puri

Question : Who was recently appointed as the interim president of Syria?

(1)     Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

(2)     Abu Muhammad al-Jolani

(3)     Bashar al-Assad

(4)     Ahmed al-Sharaa

Ans : Ahmed al-Sharaa

Question : Recently, who inaugurated India's first Organic Fisheries Cluster in Sikkim?

(1)     Rajiv Ranjan Singh

(2)     Narendra Modi

(3)     Amit Shah

(4)     Nitin Gadkari

Ans : Rajiv Ranjan Singh

Question : Who recently visited the Sultanate of Oman and participated in the 11th India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting?

(1)     Piyush Goyal

(2)     Rajnath Singh

(3)     S. Jaishankar

(4)     Nirmala Sitharaman

Ans : Piyush Goyal

Question : Who recently announced that Guinea has successfully eradicated sleeping sickness as a public health issue?

(1)     WHO

(2)     United Nations

(3)     USAID

(4)     CDC

Ans : WHO

Question : Who recently resigned as the Prime Minister of Serbia?

(1)     Ivica Dačić

(2)     Aleksandar Vučić

(3)     Milan Djuric

(4)     Miloš Vučević

Ans : Miloš Vučević

Question : Which body recently approved Renew Exim DMCC's acquisition of a stake in ITD Cementation?

(1)     Ministry of Commerce

(2)     RBI

(3)     SEBI

(4)     CCI

Ans : CCI

Question : Which company recently signed an MoU with AMS Pvt Ltd for a defence and aerospace collaboration ?

(1)     HAL

(2)     ISRO

(3)     DRDO

(4)     GRSE Limited

Ans : GRSE Limited

Question : Which team recently clinched the ICC Women's Championship Trophy for the third consecutive time?

(1)     India

(2)     England

(3)     South Africa

(4)     Australia

Ans : Australia

Question : Who recently passed away at the age of 94, known as the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medalist in athletics?

(1)     Jesse Owens

(2)     Carl Lewis

(3)     Bob Beamon

(4)     Greg Bell

Ans : Greg Bell

Question : Which bank recently introduced the 'Canara Crest Program' to provide a premium banking experience?

(1)     Canara Bank

(2)     HDFC Bank

(3)     State Bank of India

(4)     ICICI Bank

Ans : Canara Bank

Question : Which company recently secured an investment of Rs 830 crore from the IFC through Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs)?

(1)     Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited (ABHFL)

(2)     HDFC Limited

(3)     ICICI Prudential

(4)     Axis Bank

Ans : Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited (ABHFL)

Question : Which payments bank recently partnered with PNB MetLife to expand access to life insurance in India?

(1)     India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

(2)     Jio Payments Bank

(3)     Airtel Payments Bank

(4)     Paytm Payments Bank

Ans : India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

Question : Recently, who inaugurated the 'Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 and 38th National Games ?

(1)     Narendra Modi

(2)     Amit Shah

(3)     Yogi Adityanath

(4)     Rajnath Singh

Ans : Narendra Modi

Question : Which Minister presided over the National Conference with State and UT Labour Ministers and Secretaries in New Delhi recently?

(1)     Narendra Modi

(2)     Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

(3)     Rajnath Singh

(4)     Amit Shah

Ans : Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Question : CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) recently celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in which city?

(1)     New Delhi

(2)     Lucknow

(3)     Bhopal

(4)     Kolkata

Ans : Lucknow

Question : Which system of the Indian Army recently received a project approval for ammunition procurement worth over ₹10,000 crore?

(1)     Smerch MBRL

(2)     Pinaka MBRL

(3)     BrahMos Missile

(4)     Dhanush Artillery Gun

Ans : Pinaka MBRL

Question : The recent initiative launched by MoMSME and ONDC for empowering small businesses is worth how much?

(1)     ₹100 crore

(2)     ₹277 crore

(3)     ₹500 crore

(4)     ₹1,000 crore

Ans : ₹277 crore

Question : Recently, the RBI aligned the private placement norms for non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of housing finance companies (HFCs) with which financial entities?

(1)     NBFCs

(2)     PSBs

(3)     Cooperative Banks

(4)     RRBs

Ans : NBFCs