4 New Wetlands Added to Ramsar List: 2 from Tamil Nadu, 1 from Jharkhand, and 1 from Sikkim.
National
On 31 January 2025, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), announced the inclusion of four new wetlands from India in the Ramsar Convention list, increasing the total number of internationally recognized Ramsar sites in India to 89.
- The newly designated sites are Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary and Therthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu (TN), Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim, and Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand. This marks the first-ever Ramsar sites for both Sikkim and Jharkhand.
- With this addition, Tamil Nadu now has 20 Ramsar sites, the highest in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) with 10.
- Globally, there are 2,529 Ramsar wetlands. Wetlands are vital ecosystems that support diverse species of plants and wildlife, both aquatic and terrestrial.
Main Point :-
(i) India holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia and ranks third globally, following the United Kingdom (UK) with 176 sites and Mexico with 144 sites.
(ii) A wetland must meet at least one of the nine criteria outlined in the Ramsar Convention of 1971 to be designated as a Ramsar site.
(iii) Over the past decade, India's Ramsar sites have significantly increased from 26 to 89, with 47 of them added in the last three years. World Wetlands Day is observed globally on February 2.
About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
Union Minister : Bhupender Yadav
Headquarters : New Delhi
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IIT Indore, in Collaboration with MeitY, Launches 'AgriHub' as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Agritech.
National
In January 2025, the Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT-I), Madhya Pradesh (MP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched 'AgriHub', an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Centre of Excellence (CoE) to foster technological innovation, startup incubation, and industry collaboration in the agritech sector.
- The CoE will leverage AI, Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) to address critical agricultural challenges such as drought, floods, and low productivity while promoting sustainable agriculture in India.
- The inauguration event of AgriHub was graced by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, as the Chief Guest.
- The project is jointly funded by MeitY and the Government of Madhya Pradesh for a period of five years. It is supported by the MP government, ICAR-IISR Indore (MP), ICAR-CIAE Bhopal (MP), and C-DAC Pune (Maharashtra).
Main Point :-
(i) The event was attended by K.K. Singh (Joint Secretary, MeitY), Sanjay Dubey (Additional Chief Secretary, MP), Dr. C.R. Mehta (Director, ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal), Magesh Ethirajan (Director General, C-DAC), and Dr. Kunwar Harendra Singh (Director, ICAR-IISR, Indore).
(ii) AgriHub is a collaborative platform, jointly funded by MeitY and the MP government for 5 years, led by Professors Aruna Tiwari and Pavan Kankar from IIT-I. It aims to develop innovative solutions for Indian agriculture, focusing on resource optimization, drought-resistant crops, precision farming, and AI-driven disease diagnosis, using big data analytics and genome research to support data-driven agriculture.
(iii) The project aims to fast-track the varietal development program by providing an integrated platform for genome sequencing and big data analysis. This will assist in developing new crop varieties capable of withstanding adverse climatic conditions and boosting crop production.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Minister : Ashwini Vaishnaw
Headquarters : New Delhi
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Indian Armed Forces Conducts TROPEX 25 to Assess Combat Readiness.
Defence
In January 2025, senior military officers observed the Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX-2025), which involved joint operations aboard several Indian Navy Ships (INS). The exercise aimed to assess the operational capabilities and readiness of the Indian Armed Forces—comprising the Indian Navy (IN), Indian Army (IA), and Indian Air Force (IAF)—in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The exercise was conducted over two days, from January 30-31, 2025.
- The senior military officers who participated in the exercise included Lieutenant General Johnson P. Mathew (Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC)), Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS)), Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan (Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS)), Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar (S.P.) Dharkar (Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS)), and Lt Gen Ajay Kumar (Director General (DG) of Infantry).
- TROPEX is the Indian Navy's (IN) largest biennial exercise aimed at enhancing coordination among the armed forces and testing readiness against potential threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- The previous exercise, TROPEX 23, included extensive operations such as coastal defense operations (Sea Vigil) and amphibious maneuvers (AMPHEX).
Main Point :-
(i) Senior officers aboard INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, observed fighter jets and helicopters in action, with demonstrations that featured bomb drops, rocket firing, and aerobatic displays.
(ii) On INS Jalashwa, the officers watched Army soldiers and Navy Commandos perform amphibious landing drills, including bunker breaches, combat jumps, and landing troops and vehicles on the shore using specialized boats.
(iii) Air Marshal SP Dharkar participated in a MiG-29K trainer, demonstrating the joint capabilities of the Indian Navy (IN), Indian Army (IA), and Indian Air Force (IAF). Additionally, the officers visited the Naval Base at Karwar (Karnataka) to receive updates on the ongoing construction of new facilities aimed at supporting future naval operations.
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Elon Musk's X Corp Unveils 'X Money', Its First Digital Wallet, in Partnership with Visa.
International
In January 2025, Elon Musk's social media platform, X Corp (formerly known as Twitter, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of X Holdings Corp), introduced its first digital wallet, 'X Money', a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service, in partnership with Visa. The initiative aims to create a real-time payment system, contributing to the development of an "everything application (app)."
- Visa, one of the largest credit card networks in the United States, will be the first partner for X Money's Money Account service, set to launch later in 2025.
Main Point :-
(i) The company will use Visa Direct, Visa's real-time money transfer solution, to fund X Money's wallet, link to a debit card for payments to other users, and enable smooth transfers back to bank accounts.
(ii) X Money will allow users to instantly transfer funds to their bank accounts using Visa Direct.
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Finvasia Joins Forces with YES Bank to Launch AI-Powered Super App 'Jumpp'.
Banking & Finance
In January 2025, Finvasia, a fintech company based in Chandigarh, Punjab, partnered with YES Bank Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to launch 'Jumpp', an AI-enabled super application (app) designed to simplify personal finance.
- The 'Jumpp' app combines banking, savings, payments, investments, and borrowing into a unified, seamless platform. It allows users to effortlessly open savings accounts with YES Bank in just a few minutes.
- Jumpp is specifically designed for online shoppers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, delivering a smooth and user-friendly financial experience.
- The app is connected to India's Account Aggregator (AA) framework, which has exceeded 100 million consents, ensuring secure and streamlined sharing of financial data.
Main Point :-
(i) Jumpp offers multilingual AI-driven assistance in English and Hindi, enabling voice-based interactions for users with limited digital literacy. It also features an AI-powered chatbot that provides personalized financial advice while incorporating advanced fraud prevention mechanisms.
(ii) The app prioritizes data security, strictly complying with regulatory guidelines to protect user information and ensure privacy.
(iii) Finvasia aims to onboard one million users by January 2026, focusing on expanding digital financial services beyond metro cities to reach a wider audience.
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RBI Infuses USD 5.1 Billion Liquidity Through FX Swap Auction.
Banking & Finance
In January 2025, the Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted a dollar-rupee buy/sell FX swap auction for USD 5.1 billion. The auction witnessed significant oversubscription, with total bids reaching USD 25.59 billion from 253 participants, surpassing the offered amount by five times.
- This initiative aims to infuse rupee liquidity into the banking system and aligns with the central bank’s broader strategy to inject approximately Rs. 1.5 trillion into the financial system.
Main Point :-
(i) The transaction will be reversed on August 4, 2025, when the RBI will sell the USD 5.1 billion—acquired through 28 accepted bids—back to the market at the forward rate (currency exchange spot rate plus 96.71 paise) and absorb approximately Rs. 43,784 crores.
(ii) Following the auction results, dollar-rupee forward premiums experienced a slight decline, with the 1-year implied yield moderating its rise to settle at the last quoted rate of 2.24%.
(iii) In an FX swap, the RBI purchases dollars from financial institutions in exchange for rupees, simultaneously increasing rupee liquidity and reducing excess dollar circulation.
About RBI
CEO : Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarter : Mumbai
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Avaada Group Collaborates with Casale to Establish India's Largest Green Ammonia Plant in Odisha.
Economy Business
In January 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Avaada Group partnered with Casale, a company fully owned by Casale Holding and headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, to develop India's largest green ammonia plant in Gopalpur, Odisha.
- This project will support India's shift from fossil fuel-based ammonia production, aligning with the nation's net-zero emission goals.
Main Point :-
(i) The facility will have a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes per day (TPD) and aims to accelerate clean energy adoption, lower carbon emissions, and promote sustainable industrial development.
(ii) Casale will supply the Green Ammonia Process License, engineering designs, key equipment, and technical expertise to set up the facility.
(iii) Casale has licensed a total green ammonia capacity of 5,700 metric tonnes per day (MTD) in India to date.
About Avaada Group
Chairman : Vineet Mittal
Headquarter : Mumbai
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Noel Naval Tata Awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Sussex.
Awards
In January 2025, the University of Sussex, based in England (The United Kingdom, UK), awarded an honorary doctorate to Noel Naval Tata, a prominent business leader from the Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Group and a distinguished alumnus of the university, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to global business leadership.
- Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, presented the honorary doctorate to Noel Tata during a private ceremony in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Noel Naval Tata currently serves as the Chairman of Trent Limited, Tata International Limited, Voltas Limited, and Tata Investment Corporation Limited. He also holds the position of Vice Chairman at Tata Steel Limited and Titan Company Limited.
Main Point :-
(i) Noel Tata graduated in Economics from the University of Sussex in 1978.
(ii) With over 40 years of leadership experience at the Tata Group, Noel Tata has been instrumental in expanding Trent Limited, the group's fashion retail arm, through brands such as Westside, Star Bazaar, and Zudio.
(iii) In 2024, Noel Tata, Ratan Tata's half-brother, was appointed Chairman of Tata Trusts Limited, the philanthropic arm of the Tata Group.
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Hero MotoCorp Names Vikram Kasbekar as Interim CEO.
Appointment
In January 2025, New Delhi (Delhi)-based Hero MotoCorp (HMC) Limited, India's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, appointed Vikram Kasbekar, Executive Director (ED) of the company, as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from May 1, 2025.
- He will succeed Niranjan Gupta, who will step down as CEO of Hero MotoCorp, effective April 30, 2025.
Main Point :-
(i) Ranjivjit Singh, Chief Business Officer (CBO) of Hero MotoCorp, will complete his tenure on April 30, 2025. He will be succeeded by Ashutosh Varma, the current National Sales Head of the India Business Unit (IBU), who will assume the role on May 1, 2025.
(ii) The maker of the 'Splendor+' also confirmed that Ram Kuppuswamy, Chief Procurement Officer (CPO), will take on the additional role of Chief Operations Officer (COO) for manufacturing, effective April 1, 2025. He will also oversee plant and quality functions.
(iii) Hero's Electric Vehicle (EV) & Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU) will transition into a fully independent unit by February 1, 2025.
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DRDO Successfully Conducts Three Flight Trials of Indigenous VSHORADS off Odisha Coast.
Science and Technology
On February 01, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted three consecutive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
- These tests were conducted against high-speed targets flying at very low altitudes.
Main Point :-
(i) During these tests, the surface-to-air missiles intercepted and completely destroyed targets with reduced thermal signatures, simulating low-flying drones in different flight conditions.
(ii) These flight tests were conducted in the final deployment configuration, where two field operators performed weapon readiness, target acquisition, and missile firing.
About DRDO
Chairman : Dr. Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Headquarters : New Delhi
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Indian Navy Launches LSAM 23, the 9th ACTCM Barge, to Enhance Logistics Capabilities.
Defence
In January 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) launched its 9th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, named Landing Ship Ammunition 23 (LSAM 23) (Yard 133), at M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited in Thane, Maharashtra. The launching ceremony was presided over by Commodore (Cmde) Rakesh Anand (Retd.), Group Head of Marine Division.
- The barges facilitate the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles and ammunition to IN platforms, both alongside jetties and at outer harbors.
- The barges have been indigenously designed and constructed by the MSME Shipyard in collaboration with an Indian ship designing firm and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
Main Point :-
(i) Model testing was conducted at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), to ensure the seaworthiness of the barges.
(ii) In March 2021, the contract was signed with M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Shipyard, for the construction of 11 ACTCM Barges.
(iii) The shipyard has successfully delivered eight of these barges to date, which are being used by the Indian Navy for operational evolutions.
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