Table of Contents
National News
Musi River’s Historic Buildings on 2025 World Monuments Watch
The Musi River Historic Buildings in Hyderabad have been included on the prestigious 2025 World Monuments Watch list, an initiative by the New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF). The selection of these buildings highlights the urgent need for their preservation amidst ongoing environmental challenges, including the degradation of the Musi River and rapid urban development in the city. This recognition comes at a critical juncture when the Telangana government is actively working to rejuvenate the river and its heritage structures, combining efforts for both heritage conservation and environmental sustainability. Below are key details about this initiative.
First ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of 2025 by PM Modi
The first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of 2025 was conducted by the Prime Minister on January 20, a week earlier than usual, to accommodate the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. This special broadcast marked the 75th anniversary of the Indian Republic and included discussions on the Constitution, democracy, cultural traditions, advancements in space technology, and human-animal harmony.
International News
TikTok Suspends Operations Following U.S. Ban
TikTok’s brief shutdown in the United States occurred in January 2025 due to the enforcement of a law banning the app due to national security concerns. The law, passed with bipartisan support, required ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app to a U.S.-based entity. However, within hours of the shutdown, TikTok was restored, thanks to an intervention by President-elect Donald Trump, who promised to delay the enforcement of the ban through an executive order. This article highlights the major events surrounding the shutdown and the app’s subsequent restoration, along with the long-term challenges TikTok faces in securing its future in the U.S.
State News
GI Tag for Virgin Coconut Oil of Andaman
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 118th episode of “Mann Ki Baat” on January 19, 2025, highlighted the empowerment of women involved in the production of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This initiative aims to economically empower tribal communities through self-help groups (SHGs) and specialized training in marketing and branding. The recent Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Virgin Coconut Oil from Nicobar district is a significant milestone in promoting local products on the global stage. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that this move would help position Andaman and Nicobar as a leading contributor in the global market.
Kokborok Language Protests Call for Roman Script Adoption
The Tribal Students’ Federation (TSF) has renewed its protest in Tripura, demanding the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language. This demand is not new, as the TSF has been advocating for years to have question papers prepared in both Bengali and Roman scripts. The protests are aimed at addressing the challenges faced by students who are required to write exams in Bengali script despite Kokborok being officially recognized. This movement highlights the need for greater recognition and support for Kokborok, which is spoken by a significant portion of the state’s population.
Economy News
CII Projects 7% GDP Growth for 2025-26 Amid Rising Investments
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) anticipates India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow by 7% in the fiscal year 2025-26, driven by an uptick in private investments and employment generation. A recent pan-India survey by CII reveals that 75% of respondents view the current economic climate as favorable for private investments. Notably, 70% of the surveyed firms plan to invest in FY’26, indicating a potential surge in private sector participation in the coming quarters.
Banking News
HSBC India Expands: RBI Approves 20 New Branches
HSBC India has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish 20 new branches across key cities, marking the largest expansion granted to a foreign bank by the RBI in over a decade.
Schemes News
PM Distributes 6.5 Million SVAMITVA Property Cards
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a virtual event on Saturday, highlighted the importance of providing property ownership records to rural populations. The distribution of over 6.5 million property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme is a key step in ensuring legal ownership for families in rural areas. Modi emphasized that addressing property documentation issues is crucial for empowering villagers, boosting their economic activities, and unlocking substantial capital. The scheme uses advanced drone technology to survey rural areas and provide legal property documents, benefiting millions of families.
Agreements News
Uttarakhand-Iceland Partnership for Geothermal Energy
In a significant step toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2070, the Uttarakhand government has initiated a collaboration with Iceland, a global leader in geothermal energy, to harness the geothermal potential in the state. This partnership aims to explore the vast geothermal resources of Uttarakhand, paving the way for sustainable energy solutions. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iceland’s Verkis Consulting Engineers, the state is set to leverage geothermal energy for electricity generation, marking a crucial milestone in the development of renewable energy resources in India.
Appointments News
Gyanendra Pratap Singh Appointed as CRPF Director General
On January 18, 2025, the Indian government appointed Gyanendra Pratap Singh, a 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, as the Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Singh, who was serving as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam, will assume his new role immediately, with his tenure extending until his superannuation on November 30, 2027, or until further orders.
Awards News
Urbasi Sinha Wins Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025
Professor Urbasi Sinha, a distinguished faculty member in the Light and Matter Physics theme at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), has been awarded the prestigious Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at Cambridge, UK.
Sports News
India Dominates Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025
India has made history by clinching both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, held from January 13 to 19 at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi. This landmark event featured 23 countries across six continents, with 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams competing in the fast-paced seven-a-side format.
Axelsen and An Se-young Triumph at India Open 2025
Viktor Axelsen and An Se-young clinched the men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, at the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament in New Delhi. Axelsen secured his third India Open title by defeating Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in straight games, 21-16, 21-8, in just 41 minutes. An Se-young showcased her dominance by overcoming Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-9. In the doubles events, Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto, and China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin emerged victorious.
Books and Authors News
Pankaj Mishra’s ‘The World After Gaza’: A Guide to Challenging Times
Pankaj Mishra’s latest book, The World After Gaza, is a poignant exploration of the ongoing war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, a conflict he describes as a devastating blow to the ideals of human rights and morality. Published by Juggernaut Books, this treatise delves into the atrocities and systematic injustices of the war, presenting a stark reflection on global moral decay. In an exclusive interview, Mishra shares insights into the book’s genesis, its context, and its warnings about the dangerous trajectory of global politics.
Obituaries News
Denis Law, Manchester United & Scotland Legend, Dies at 84
Denis Law, the iconic Scottish footballer renowned for his prolific goal-scoring and charismatic presence, passed away on January 17, 2025, at the age of 84. Affectionately dubbed “The King” and “The Lawman,” Law’s illustrious career left an indelible mark on both Manchester United and the Scotland national team.
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