We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 29 January 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.
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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Overview of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo’s visit to India from January 23-26, 2025
President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, visited India from January 23 to 26, 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi. This visit marked his 1st bilateral trip to India commemorating the 75th Anniversary of India-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations.
- On January 26 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo attended the 76th Republic Day celebration of India as the Chief Guest held at Kartavya Path, New Delhi (Delhi).
Highlights of the visit:
i.During his visit, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo held bilateral discussions with Narendra Modi, PM of India and Droupadi Murmu, President of India.
ii.On January 25 2025, the 3rd India-Indonesia Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Forum held in New Delhi(Delhi) on the sidelines of the Indonesian President’s visit to India.
iii.The visit of Indonesian President to India witnessed the signing and renewal of five Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) covering diverse areas such as health, traditional medicine, and maritime security.
About Indonesia:
President- Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo
Capital- Jakarta
Currency- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
>> Read Full News
MoF Notified Unified Pension Scheme for Central Government Employees, to be Effective from April 01, 2025 
In January 2025, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) notified the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) as an option for central government employees who are already covered under the National Pension System (NPS). The scheme aims to offer retirees assured pension, ensuring financial security and dignity post-retirement.
- As per MoF, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will monitor UPS regulations and provide operational guidelines.
- The scheme will come into effect from April 01, 2025.
i.It is voluntary for existing employees under NPS and those opting for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) under NPS, to switch to UPS or not. But, once switch is made to UPS then, it cannot be reversed.
ii.The scheme is contributory in nature, wherein the central government employees will be required to contribute 10% of their basic salary and Dearness Allowance (DA).
- The central government has increased its contribution from 14% (currently under NPS) to 18.5%.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
55th Annual Meeting of WEF held in Switzerland from January 20-24, 2025 : Part I
The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF 2025) was held from January 20-24, 2025 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
- The annual meeting is based on the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age” with the event organized around five sub-themes: Reimagining growth, Industries in the intelligent age, Investing in people,Safeguarding the planet and Rebuilding trust.
- The Indian delegation to the WEF 2025 was headed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways(MoR), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) with a vision of the country’s growth as One Nation, One Voice. He led the largest ever Indian delegation to the forum, with 5 Union ministers, 3 Chief Ministers(CMs) and several other state leaders.
i.13 new industrial clusters from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, India(5), the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom (UK) have joined the WEF’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative, bringing the total to 33 across 16 countries and 5 continents.
ii.The 25th edition of Edelman Trust Barometer was launched during the WEF 2025 in Switzerland. According to the report, India slipped to 3rd spot in terms of the trust of the general population in the government, businesses, media and NGOs. China topped the list followed by Indonesia at the 2nd spot.
iii.The 31st Annual Crystal Award was announced at the WEF 2025 in Davos-Klosters.
- The recipients of the award included renowned architect and 2024 Pritzker Prize laureate Riken Yamamoto from Japan, celebrated fashion designer, philanthropist and champion of women’s rights Diane von Furstenberg from Belgium, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and global advocate for children’s rights David Beckham from UK.
iv.During the WEF 2025, 7 countries – Angola, Bangladesh, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania– joined the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), bringing a total to 25 countries with a combined population of over 1.5 billion people.
v.Indian-origin South African filmmaker Anant Singh has been appointed to the Global Arts and Culture Council (GACC) at the GACC’s inaugural meeting held at WEF 2025.
About World Economic Forum(WEF):
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Børge Brende(Norway)
Headquarters– Cologny, Switzerland
Founded– 1971
>> Read Full News
WHO Declares Georgia as the 45th Malaria-Free Country
In January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Georgia officially certified as malaria-free, celebrating a major achievement in the country’s nearly century-long fight against the disease.
- It has become the 45th country and the first in the WHO European Region to attain malaria-free status.
Note: Globally, WHO has certified a total of 45 countries and 1 territory as malaria-free.
Background:
i.Despite being malaria-free for 25 years, Georgia experienced a re-emergence of the disease in 2002.
ii.In 2005, Georgia, along with nine other countries in the WHO European Region, signed the Tashkent Declaration, renewing its commitment to eliminating malaria.
iii.In 2015, Georgia reported zero indigenous cases of malaria, successfully interrupting the transmission of the three main malaria parasite species: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax.
About WHO malaria-free certification:
WHO grants certification of malaria elimination to a country when it can demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years.
- The final decision on certification is made by the WHO Director-General (DG), based on recommendations from the independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC) and validation from the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG).
About Georgia
President – Mikheil Kavelashvili
Capital – Tbilisi
Currency – Georgian Lari (GEL)
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI Announced Series of Steps to Inject Rs 1.50 lakh Crore into the Banking System
On January 27 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a series of steps to inject about Rs 1.5 lakh crore into the banking system in a phased manner. The main objective of these steps is to address the liquidity shortfall caused by the RBI’s intervention in selling dollars to stabilize the Indian Rupee (INR).
Other Key Measures:
i.RBI will purchase Government Securities (G-secs) through Open Market Operations (OMO) worth Rs 60,000 crore in three tranches of Rs 20,000 crore each.
- The OMO auctions will be held on January 30, February 13, and February 20, 2025.
ii.RBI has further announced a 56-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction for a notified amount of Rs 50,000 crore which is scheduled to be held on February 7, 2025.
- The VRR aims to ensure liquidity requirements of banks till March 31, 2025.
iii.As part of various steps to manage liquidity conditions, RBI announced a USD/INR Buy/Sell Swap auction of USD 5 billion for a tenor of 6 months to be held on January 31, 2025.
- Under this swap arrangement, RBI will borrow dollars in exchange for rupees, with the interest cost determined by the price at which it agrees to repurchase the dollars at the end of the tenure.
Important Terms:
i.VRR: It acts as a means to infuse short-term liquidity into the banking system. It is a process through which RBI allows banks to borrow at a rate determined by the market generally lower than Repo rate for a maximum period of 14 days.
ii.OMO: It is a quantitative tool of RBI’s Monetary Policy, which is used to maintain liquidity in the banking system. It involves buying or selling of G-secs from or to the public and banks.
Points to Note:
- The RBI last conducted a USD/INR Buy/Sell Swap auction on March 26, 2019. Then the swap was for USD 5 billion for 3 years.
- As of January 24, 2025, the banking system faced a significant liquidity deficit of Rs.2.82 lakh crore.
- The 1st such VRR was conducted on January 16, 2025 worth Rs 50,000 crore and standalone primary dealers were allowed to participate in the auction with other eligible bidders.
iSPIRT Launches PSLAI to Strengthen MSME Financing
In January 2025, the Indian Software Product Industry Round Table (iSPIRT), a think tank for India’s software industry, launched the Priority Sector Lenders Association of India (PSLAI) which was formed under Section 8 of the Companies Act 1972.
- PSLAI will be headed by Priyashmita Guha as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and run with the help of an accomplished Board of Directors(BoD).
- PSLAI aims to streamline and enhance the availability of loans under Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms, a critical financial sector for banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India.
i.The founding members include lending institutions like UGRO Capital Limited, India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL), and fintech companies like GetVantage Private Limited and GetGrowth Capital Private Limited.
>> Read Full News
HSBC India Launches ‘HSBC TravelOne Credit Card’ for Frequent Travelers
In January 2025, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (HSBC India) introduced ‘HSBC TravelOne Credit Card, to provide convenient and valuable benefits to those who travel frequently.
- This card offers a variety of benefits, such as the ability to instantly redeem rewards across airline and hotel partners.
- The joining fee of the card is Rs.4,999. Afterwards, the annual fee is Rs.4,999, or free if you spend more than Rs.800,000 a year.
i.New users who spend Rs 10,000 within the first 30 days will receive Rs 1,000 cashback, Rs 3,000 in PostCard vouchers, and a three-month EazyDiner Prime Membership.
- Users who spend over Rs 12 lakh annually will receive an additional 10,000 bonus reward points.
ii.The card also provides purchase protection of up to USD 20,000 annually.
iii.The card offers 6 local and 4 international airport lounge visits each year, along with discounts on holiday bookings, car rentals, and lifestyle experiences.
YES Bank Launches Frictionless Finance Accelerator Programme in Partnership with RBIH and SPJIMR
In January 2025, YES Bank Limited, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in partnership with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) in Mumbai, launched the Frictionless Finance Accelerator Programme on the occasion of National Startup Day(January 16 2025).
- This initiative aims to assist fintech startups in overcoming challenges, scaling their innovations, and promoting financial inclusion in India.
i.The programme will focus on innovations in digital lending, Artificial Intelligence (A)I-powered risk management, blockchain-based payments, and financial inclusion (FI).
ii.Startups will receive support from RBIH, SPJIMR, and YES Bank, with platforms like YES Connect helping them navigate regulations, improve business models, and foster growth through partnerships with fintechs, industry leaders, and regulators.
iii.The programme is in line with the growing investment in global venture capital, which reached USD 314 billion in 2024, and the projected USD 20 trillion global digital economy by 2030.
RBI Penalizes J&K Bank, BoI, Canara Bank for Regulatory Non-Compliance
In January 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed penalties on 3 major banks for failing to comply with regulatory guidelines.
- The banks include the Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir based Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited (J&K Bank), Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Bank of India Limited (BoI) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Canara Bank Limited.
i.J&K Bank was fined Rs 3.31 crore for violations related to financial inclusion, particularly in areas like Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) norms, Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, and loan and advance restrictions.
ii.BoI faced a penalty of Rs 1 crore for non-compliance with specific provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
iii.Canara Bank received a penalty of Rs 1.63 crore for deficiencies in priority sector lending, deposit interest rate regulations, and financial inclusion measures, specifically around BSBDA.
BIMTECH launches Blockchain-Based Digital Currency “BIMCOIN”
In January 2025, Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP), a top Indian business school, launched ‘BIMCOIN’, a blockchain-based digital currency for its ecosystem.
- Following the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, (Tamil Nadu,TN), BIMTECH has become the 1st business management institute in India to launch a blockchain-based digital currency.
- This initiative aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 aims to streamline payments and transactions among students, vendors, and administrators through a secure, transparent, and decentralized platform.
i.BIMCOIN operates on a blockchain, offers features like decentralization, transparency, and smart contracts.
ii.It enhances security, protects against fraud, and promotes ethical practices while serving as a comprehensive educational tool for students to gain hands-on experience in blockchain technology and digital currencies.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Three Indian Women Make It to Forbes 50 Over 50 Global List 2025, with Quarraisha Abdool Karim Ranking First
In January 2025 Forbes, an American global media company has unveiled its first Forbes “50 Over 50” Women Global list 2025 celebrating the achievements of inspiring women from 32 countries and territories across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central America.
- Quarraisha Abdool Karim, expert in infectious diseases epidemiology and one of the top researchers on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is ranked first, while Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the co-owner of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) based in Geneva, Switzerland, ranked 2nd.
- The list features three remarkable Indian women: Urmila Asher, popularly known as ‘Gujju Ben’ and the founder of Gujju Ben Na Nasta, ranked 3rd; Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a billionaire and founder of Biocon India Private Limited, ranked 32nd; and Sheela Patel, a renowned activist, ranked 37th.
About Forbes:
Chief Operating Officer (CEO)– Sherry Phillips
Headquarters– New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
Established– 1917
>> Read Full News
SPORTS
Australian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner & Madison Keys Win Men’s and Women’s Singles Title
i.Jannik Sinner of Italy won the Men’s Singles title while Madison Keys of United States of America (USA) won the Women’s Singles title at the Australian Open (AO) 2025 held at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.
- This was the 113th edition of the Australian Open, the 57th in the Open Era, and the first major of 2025 and was held from 12th January to 26th January 2025.
Prize Money:
The total prize money for the tournament was USD 96.5 million.
Key Highlights:
i.India’s Prithvi Sekhar won the men’s singles title by defeating France’s Olivier Grave at the Australian Open Deaf Championships 2025 in Melbourne.
- This is his 2nd consecutive title after winning it in 2024.
ii.World No. 1 Jannik Sinner (Italy) won his 2nd consecutive Australian Open title after defeating World No. 2 Alexander Zverev (Germany).
- He won 1st major singles title in Australian Open in 2024.
iii.Madison Keys (USA) secured her first-ever Grand Slam title after defeating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) in the finals.
iv.Harri Heliovaara (Finland) and Henry Patten (Britain) have won their 2nd major title at the Australian Open after defeating Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the finals.
v.Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) and Taylor Townsend (USA) won their 2nd Grand Slam title as a team after defeating Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) and Hsieh Su-wei (Taiwan) to the women’s doubles titles on the finals.
vi.Australian pair Olivia Gadecki and John Peers defeated their compatriots John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly Birrell to win the mixed doubles final.
- This was 1st mixed doubles title for Gadecki’s while it was 2nd Peers.
About Australian Open:
i.The Australian Open is a tennis tournament organized by Tennis Australia annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.
- It is chronologically the first of the 4 Grand Slam tennis events every year, held before the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
ii.It was first held in 1905 and is played on hard courts.
>> Read Full News
Indian GM Iniyan Panneerselvam wins 9th Johor International Chess title
In January 2025, 22-year-old Grandmaster (GM) Iniyan Panneerselvam from Erode, Tamil Nadu (TN), won the 9th Johor International Open Chess Tournament, organized by the Johor Chess Association, held at Fairview International School in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
- He defeated Vietnamese GM Nguyen Van Huy in the final round.
- Indian International Master (IM) V.S. Raahul and Chinese IM Li Bo secured second and third places, respectively.
i.Iniyan scored an impressive 8.5 points over nine rounds in the tournament.
ii.He finished 1.5 points ahead of his nearest rival, achieving victories against four IMs and one GM.
Note: Earlier in January 2025, Iniyan won the 15th Chennai Open International GM Chess Tournament 2024
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Leprosy Day – January 26 2025
World Leprosy Day (WLD) is observed annually on the last Sunday of January across the globe to raise awareness about leprosy and to celebrate the resilience of those affected by the disease, combat stigma and discrimination. The day also serves as a reminder to eradicate leprosy and improve the lives of those impacted by it.
- 26 January 2025 marks the 72nd observance of the WLD.
- The theme for WLD 2025 is “Unite. Act. Eliminate.” which highlights the need to urge governments, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), and individuals to work together and eliminate the disease & its associated stigma.
- In 2024, WLF was observed on 28 January and in 2026, WLD will be observed on 25th January.
Note:In India, WLD is observed on January 30 every year, coinciding with the death anniversary (January 30 1948) of Mahatma Gandhi in recognition of his legacy, social justice and the welfare of people affected by leprosy.
Background:
i.WLD was founded in 1954 by Raoul Follereau, a French philanthropist and writer to raise global awareness about leprosy.
- The first-ever WLD was observed on 31st (Last Sunday of January)1954.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General (DG)- Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Established- April 7, 1948
>> Read Full News
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust 2025 – January 27
The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (International Holocaust Remembrance Day) is observed annually on 27 January across the globe to honor the memory of victims of the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah.
- The theme of International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust 2025 is, “Holocaust remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights.”
Background:
i.On November 1, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/60/7, and proclaimed January 27 as an annual ‘International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust’.
ii.The 1st International Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed on January 27, 2006.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General (SG)– António Guterres
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1945
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
“Samman Sanjeevani” App launched in Haryana on National Girl Child Day
Shruti Choudhry, the Women & Child Development (WCD), Irrigation & Water Resources Minister, Government of Haryana, launched the ‘Samman Sanjeevani‘ app for the ‘Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana‘ in Chandigarh, Haryana on National Girl Child Day, January 24, 2025.
- The app ensures timely delivery of services by collecting beneficiary data and updating monthly benefits.
- It will track the scheme’s facilities to make sure beneficiaries receive their benefits on time.
i.Under the ‘Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana,’ sanitary napkins are distributed to women and girls aged 10 to 45 years from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
ii.These benefits are provided through Anganwadi centers and schools.
iii.The Minister also highlighted that the WCD Department is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme, with various programs planned to promote women’s empowerment and raise awareness about the importance of daughters.
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