CURRENT AFFAIRS
23 January, 2025
1. 9TH ANNIVERSARY OF STARTUP INDIA INITIATIVE –
• 16th January 2025 marked the 9 years of completion of Startup India Scheme since it was launched on 16th January 2016.
• This day has been recognized as National Startup Day. Startup India initiative aims to cultivate innovation, support startups, and stimulate investments.
• The Startup India initiative is a government program launched in 2016 that supports entrepreneurs and startups in India.
• The goal of the initiative is to create a strong ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship that will drive economic growth and employment by supporting startups through measures such as tax benefits, easier compliance, and access to funding.
2. THE UNION GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE FORMATION OF THE 8TH PAY COMMISSION, A MOVE THAT WILL BENEFIT 4.5 MILLION CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND 6.8 MILLION PENSIONERS, INCLUDING DEFENCE PERSONNEL –
• Pay Commission (PC): It assesses the pay scales, allowances, and benefits for central government employees, taking into account inflation and its impact on remuneration and the cost of living.
• A new PC is established every 10 years under the Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance) to revise salaries and pensions, ensuring fair compensation for government employees. Usually, a retired Supreme Court judge heads the PC. Its recommendations are often adopted by state-owned organizations as well.
• Historical Context of Implications of PC: Since 1947, the Indian government has established 7 Pay Commissions, with the 7th Pay Commission (2016-2026) under the chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur.
• The 7th Pay Commission led to an increase of Rs 1 lakh crore in government expenditure in fiscal year 2016-17.
• 8th Pay Commission: It will likely propose formulas for revising the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for employees and pensioners to counter inflation.
3. INDIA TO HOST FIDE CHESS WORLD CUP 2025 –
• The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 27, 2025. This tournament is of paramount importance as it features a knockout format with over 200 players from around the world. It also serves as a vital gateway to the Candidates Tournament, offering three qualification spots.
• These spots are highly coveted as the Candidates Tournament determines who will challenge the reigning World Chess Champion.
• Originally, FIDE, the international chess governing body, had listed India as the host nation in its 2025 calendar. However, the announcement was retracted on Monday, with a “to be announced” status replacing it.
4. USHA VANCE, THE FIRST INDIAN-AMERICAN AND HINDU SECOND LADY OF THE UNITED STATES –
• On January 20, 2025, Usha Vance made history by becoming the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady of the United States.
• Her husband, J.D. Vance, was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States, marking a significant milestone in American politics. Usha’s journey, deeply rooted in her Indian heritage and her remarkable accomplishments, has garnered widespread attention and admiration.
5. PARAKRAM DIWAS 2025 –
• On January 23, 2025, India celebrates Parakram Diwas to honor the 128th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a visionary freedom fighter and one of India’s greatest leaders.
• Known for his indomitable spirit and revolutionary ideas, Netaji’s legacy continues to inspire generations.
• While his contributions to India’s independence are widely known, here are 10 lesser-known facts about him that shed light on his extraordinary life.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which Indian state is the host of 1st International Olympic Research Conference ?
a) Kerala
b) Maharashtra
c) Gujarat
d) Karnataka
Q2. What rank does India hold among the world’s largest coffee producer, according to the Commerce Ministry ?
a) Fifth
b) Sixth
c) Seventh
d) Eighth
Q3. Which northeastern states celebrate their Statehood Day on January 21 ?
a) Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura
b) Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura
c) Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram
d) Meghalaya, Assam, and Nagaland
Q4. Consider the following statements:
1. Recently, India and France have agreed to enhance their partnership into high end technologies.
2. High end technologies refer to complex technologies such as defence, and cyber technologies.
3. France is third largest arm supplier to India after USA and Russia.
How many statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
Statement 1 is correct. India and France have agreed to enhance their partnership in high-end technology sectors during the bilateral meeting to review the India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
Statement 2 is correct. High end technologies refer to complex and Industrial 4.0 technologies such as defence, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI).
Statement 3 is incorrect. France is second largest arm supplier to India after Russia.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme:
1. The BBBP scheme was launched on January 22, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Panipat, Haryana.
2. The primary objective of BBBP is to improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by at least two points annually.
3. The scheme aims to reduce dropout rates among girls at the primary school level.
4. BBBP has been instrumental in promoting the enrollment and retention of girls in secondary education.
Which of the above statements are correct ?
a) Only 1, 2 and 4
b) Only 2, 3, and 4
c) All four
d) Only 1 and 4
Explanation-
Statement 1 is correct. The BBBP scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana.
Statement 2 is correct. Improving the SRB by at least two points annually is one of the main objectives of the scheme.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The scheme focuses on reducing dropout rates at the secondary and higher secondary levels, not the primary level.
Statement 4 is correct. The BBBP scheme has promoted the enrollment and retention of girls in secondary education.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | C | B | B | A |