03rd January, 2025

1. Renowned Botanist K.S. Manilal Passes Away at 86
2. Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through The Ages’ Book Launched by Amit Shah
3. Project VISTAAR: A Digital Revolution in Indian Agriculture
4. SBI Enhances NRI Account Opening with TAB-Based Digital Onboarding
5. National Sports Awards 2024 Announced
6. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees Announced
7. Global Family Day: A Celebration of Unity, Love, and Peace
8. Magnus Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi Share Blitz Title: Controversy Ensues
9. Switzerland Enforces Facial Covering Ban, Raises Pensions in New Year
10. Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Assumes Command of IAF’s Western Air Command
11. Tourist Tax Rolled Out in Russia From Jan. 1
12. India’s Coffee Exports Surge to Record High in FY24
13. India Achieves 36% Reduction in GDP Emission Intensity from 2005 to 2020
14. Manish Singhal Appointed Secretary General of ASSOCHAM
15. India Ranked 123rd out of 143 Countries in Readiness for a Rapidly Aging Society
16. Sevdalinka: Bosnia’s ‘Balkan Blues’ Gains UNESCO Recognition
17. Haryana: Karnal Students Honoured by NASA for Asteroid Discovery
18. Sanjiv Ranjan Appointed as Secretary General of IORA
19. Renowned French Indologist and Padma Shri Awardee Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat Passed Away
20. Former Indian Wicket-Keeper Syed Kirmani Releases His Autobiography in Karnataka
21. Ministry of Defence Declared 2025 as “Year of Reforms”

International News

1. Russia Introduces New Tourist Tax in 2025
   • What:
     • Russia has introduced a new tourist tax starting January 1, 2025, replacing the previous resort fee.
   • Why:
     • This initiative aims to enhance regional tourism infrastructure and support local economies.
   • Tell me more:
     • Travelers will pay an additional 1% of their lodging costs, increasing to 3% by 2027.
     • A minimum daily charge of 100 rubles (approximately $0.9 USD) is set.
     • The tax was enacted through amendments to the Russian Tax Code in July 2024.
     • The tax will be included in lodging costs, ensuring no extra administrative burden for travelers.

2. Bosnia’s Sevdalinka Recognized by UNESCO
   • What:
     • Bosnia’s Sevdalinka, known as “Balkan Blues,” has been recognized as part of UNESCO’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
   • Why:
     • This recognition aims to preserve and celebrate diverse cultural traditions that are endangered by globalization.
   • Tell me more:
     • UNESCO’s National Inventory was established in 2003 and came into force in 2006 to safeguard cultural practices and knowledge systems.
     • To qualify, a practice must be important for cultural identity, involve community participation, and align with human rights principles.
     • There are three types of lists under this inventory: Representative List, List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

Source: DD UN

Banking and Economy

1. SBI Introduces Digital Onboarding for NRIs
   • What:
     • State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a TAB-based digital onboarding process for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to simplify the opening of NRE and NRO accounts.
   • Why:
     • The initiative aims to enhance efficiency and convenience in the account opening process by eliminating physical paperwork.
   • Tell me more:
     • The digital process will be available at SBI branches in India and select foreign offices.
     • A “TAB-based digital onboarding process” involves onboarding new customers or users digitally through a tablet device.
     • The entire process, including account creation, identity verification, and information collection, occurs on the tablet screen. This eliminates the need for paper forms.

Source: HBL

Reports and Indices

1. India Submits 4th Biennial Update Report on Climate Change
   • What:
     • India submitted its 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the UNFCCC on December 30, 2024.
   • Why:
     • The report updates India’s National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory and outlines the country’s climate actions and needs.
   • Tell me more:
     • The BUR-4 includes information on India’s national circumstances, mitigation actions, and an analysis of constraints and finance needs.
     • Lower Emission Intensity: India reduced its GDP’s emission intensity by 36% between 2005 and 2020, showing economic growth with fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
     • Rise in Renewable Energy: As of October 2024, 46.52% of India’s installed electricity generation capacity comes from non-fossil sources. Total renewable power, including large hydropower, is 203.22 GW. Renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) grew 4.5 times, from 35 GW in 2014 to 156.25 GW.
     • Increased Forest and Tree Cover: Forest and tree cover in India now make up 25.17% of the total land area. From 2005 to 2021, this contributed an extra carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent

2. India Ranks Low in Readiness for Aging Population
   • What:
     • India ranks 123rd out of 143 countries in readiness to address the challenges of an aging population, according to a survey published in ‘Nature Aging’.
   • Why:
     • The survey aims to assess how prepared countries are to handle the issues related to aging, especially as populations grow older.
   • Tell me more:
     • Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark topped the list, while India’s neighbors like Bangladesh (86th) and Sri Lanka (94th) ranked better.
     • The study evaluated five key areas: well-being, productivity and engagement, equity, cohesion, and security.
     • India’s performance was particularly poor in well-being (141st), cohesion (127th), and life satisfaction (137th).

Source: TOI

Defence News

1. Year of Reforms Declared for Ministry of Defence
   • What:
     • Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting with Defence Ministry Secretaries to announce 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
   • Why:
     • The initiative aims to transform the Armed Forces into a technologically advanced and combat-ready force capable of multi-domain operations.
   • Tell me more:
     • Key areas for reform include enhancing jointness and integration, focusing on cyber and space domains, and simplifying acquisition procedures.
     • The reforms will also promote public-private partnerships and improve collaboration across the defence ecosystem.
     • The goal is to position India as a credible exporter of defence products and ensure veteran welfare.
       Source: PIB

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. India Achieves Record Coffee Exports in FY24
   • What:
     • India’s coffee exports reached $1,146.9 million between April and November FY24, marking a 29% increase from the previous year.
   • Why:
     • The growth in exports is driven by high global prices for Robusta coffee and increased demand from European buyers ahead of new regulations.
   • Tell me more:
     • Global Robusta prices peaked at $4,667 per metric ton in June 2024 due to supply issues in Brazil and Vietnam.
     • Karnataka leads India’s coffee production with 2,48,020 MTs, followed by Kerala (72,425 MTs) and Tamil Nadu (18,700 MTs).
     • The European Union accounts for nearly 50% of India’s coffee exports, with Italy, Belgium, and Germany as major buyers.

Source: IE

Awards

1. National Sports Awards 2024 Announced
   • What:
     • The National Sports Awards are a set of six sports awards given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India.
   • Why:
     • These awards recognize outstanding achievements in sports and promote sports development in the country.
   • Tell me more:
     • The awards are presented by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Since 2004, the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award has also been included.

   Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy:

   • Established in 1956–1957 for top performance in inter-university tournaments.

• Instituted in 1961 for consistent outstanding performance over four years, includes a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.
  • Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in sports and games: A total of 32 winners.
  • Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) for outstanding performance in sports and games: 2 winners

Dronacharya Award:

• Established in 1985 for coaches who produce medal winners at international events, also includes ₹15 lakh.

Regular Category:

Lifetime Category:

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna: 

• Considered India’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna was established in 1991-92 as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award before it was renamed to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.

Dhyan Chand Award: 

• The sports ministry has replaced the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement with the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) to simplify sports honors from October 2024 onwards.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar

• Instituted in 2009 for organizations and individuals promoting sports development.

Winner: Physical Education Foundation of India

Source: PIB OC WIKI

2. Students Discover Asteroid Recognized by NASA
   • What:
     • Twelve students and two teachers from Dyal Singh Public School, Karnal, Haryana have been recognized by NASA’s International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) for discovering a main belt asteroid named TD40.
   • Tell me more:
     • The discovery was made using data from the Pan-STARRS telescope.
     • Diksha, a Class XI student, was part of the team that registered 11 near-Earth objects, with one officially recognized as an asteroid.
       Source: HT

Important Days

1. Global Family Day – January 1
   • The United Nations declared Global Family Day an annual event in 2001.
   • The history of Global Family Day dates back to 1997 when the UN initiated the International Decade for the Culture of Peace.
   • The first Global Family Day was celebrated on January 1, 2000, with the release of the book “One Day in Peace.”
     Source: N18

Sports

1. World Blitz Championship 2024
   • Magnus Carlsen (Norwegian) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russian) shared the World Blitz Championship title after three tie-breaking matches.
   • World Blitz Chess Championship 2024 was an over-the-board chess tournament held in New York City on 30 and 31 December 2024.
   • It was the 2024 edition of the World Blitz Chess Championship and comprised an Open section and a Women’s section.
     Source: TOI

Appointments

1. Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Takes Command of IAF
   • Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has officially taken charge as the Commander of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command.
   • IAF MOTTO: Touch The Sky With Glory
   • Headquarters: Located in New Delhi, commanded by the Chief of Air Staff. Controls all administrative functions of the IAF and exercises control over the Commands.
   • The Indian Air Force (IAF) has seven commands – Western, South Western, Southern, Central, Eastern, Training, Maintenance – headed by an Air Officer Commander-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) with the rank of Air Marshal.
     Source: TOI IAF
2. Manish Singhal Appointed New Secretary General of ASSOCHAM
   • What:
     • Manish Singhal has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
   • Why:
     • The appointment aims to leverage Singhal’s extensive experience to enhance ASSOCHAM’s impact on policy advocacy and international business.

3. Sanjiv Ranjan Appointed as Secretary General of IORA
   • Shri Sanjiv Ranjan will be the next Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
   • The IORA is an inter-governmental organisation (HQ: Mauritius) which was established on 7 March 1997.
     Source: MEA IORA

Miscellaneous

1. Eminent Botanist K S Manilal Passes Away
   • What:
     • K S Manilal, a renowned botanist and Padma Shri awardee, has died at the age of 86 due to age-related ailments.
   • Tell me more:
     • Manilal was the former head of the Department of Botany at the University of Calicut.
     • He translated “Hortus Malabaricus,” a 17th-century botanical treatise, into English and Malayalam.
     • He published over 200 research papers and introduced many new plant species.
     • K S Manilal received the Padma Shri award in 2020 for his contributions to science.
       Source: TOI
2. Amit Shah to Release Book on Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh
   • What:
     • Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah, will be the Chief Guest at a book release for the book titled ‘Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages’.
   • Tell me more:
     • It is published in both Hindi and English.
     • The publication is a collaborative effort between the National Book Trust, India, and the Indian Council of Historical Research.
     • Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, will be the Guest of Honour at the event.
       Source: pib
3. Renowned French Indologist and Padma Shri Awardee Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat Passed Away
   Source: PIB
4. Former Indian Wicket-Keeper Syed Kirmani Releases His Autobiography in Karnataka
   • The book is titled Stumped: Life Behind and Beyond the Twenty-Two Yards, and the author is Syed Kirmani, with co-authors Debashish Sengupta and Dakshesh Pathak.’
     Source: NIE

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