We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 23 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
MoC&I: India becomes World’s 7th Largest Coffee Producing Country; Exports Soar to USD 1.29 Billion in FY24
According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), India became the world’s 7th largest coffee producing country with exports reaching USD 1.29 billion in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24), from USD 719.42 million recorded in FY21.
- The Ministry further revealed that India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee in the 1st half of January 2025, with top buyers including Italy, Belgium and Russia.
ii.As per MoC&I, domestic consumption of coffee has increased from 84,000 tonnes (in 2012) to 91,000 tonnes (in 2023).
iii.India’s coffee is primarily grown in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats. Karnataka topped in terms of coffee production, contributing 2,48,020 Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu (TN).
Note:Top 5 coffee producing countries: Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia.
About Coffee Board of India (CBoI):
Chairman- M.J. Dinesh
Headquarters -Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established- 1942
>> Read Full News
Seven Products from Andaman and Nicobar Islands Granted GI Tags
In December 2024, the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), under the Department for Promotion Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), granted GI tags to seven indigenous and distinctive products from the Andaman and Nicobar(A&N) Islands, recognizing their cultural and traditional importance.
- The seven products are: Nicobari Mat (Chatrai-hileuoi), Nicobari Hut (Chanvi Pati – Nyi hupul), Nicobari Hodi craft, Padauk Wood Craft, Nicobar Coconut, Nicobari Tavi-i-Ngaich (Virgin Coconut Oil) and Andaman Karen Musley Rice.
- This is the first time in the country that a single Union Territory ( UT) has been granted GI tags for seven products in a single instance.
About Geographical Indications (GI) Registry:
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN)
Established – 2003
>> Read Full News
India’s Rubber Board unveils ‘iSNR’ & ‘INR Konnect’ to Boost Rubber Production
In January 2025, the Kottayam (Kerala) based Rubber Board (RB) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) unveiled two initiatives’ iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber)’ and ‘INR Konnect’ platform during the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act, 1947, and the Rubber Growers’ Conference held in Kottayam.
- These initiatives aim to strengthen India’s global position in the rubber industry and increase domestic production.
i.The iSNR initiative aligns Indian rubber production with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) standards.
ii.INR Konnect is a web-based platform designed to connect owners of untapped rubber plantations with adopters to enhance productivity.
About Rubber Board (RB) of India:
Executive Director (ED) – M. Vasanthagesan
Headquarters – Kottayam, Kerala
Founded – 1947
>> Read Full News
DARPG Launched Scheme and Portal for PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2024
In January 20 2025, the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions (MoPP&P) officially launched the scheme and web-portal for the Prime Minister (PM)’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2024.
- The registration on PM’s Awards web portal has started from January 20, 2025. Submission of nominations will commence from January 27, 2025. The last date for submission of nomination is February 14, 2025.
i.The scheme for PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration for 2024, will recognize the contribution of civil servants under 3 categories through 16 awards.
ii.The award will comprise of a Trophy, Scroll and an incentive of Rs 20 lakh to the awarded district or organisation to be utilized for implementation of project/programme or bridging the gap of resources in any area of public welfare.
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPP&P):
Union Minister- PM Narendra Modi (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Minister of State (MoS)- Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir, J&K)
>> Read Full News
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Announces Updates to OMSS(D) Policy for 2024-25
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) , has announced updates to the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS(D)] for 2024-25. These changes aim to enhance food security and streamline rice distribution across the country.
- The revised price allows State Governments, their corporations, and community kitchens to procure rice without undergoing electronic (e)-auctions.
i.The reserve price of rice is set at Rs 2,250 per quintal (applicable across India). This is a reduction from the earlier price of Rs 2,900 per quintal, which was set in August 2024.
ii.Ethanol distilleries can also purchase rice at the reduced reserve price of Rs.2,250 per quintal.
iii.This policy reflects the government’s dedication to welfare initiatives, food security, and boosting ethanol production.
India & USA Sign MoU to Boost Cybercrime Investigation Cooperation
In January 2025, the Government of India (GoI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the United States of America (USA) to enhance collaboration in cybercrime investigations.
- The MoU was signed by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and Acting USA Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristie Canegallo in Washington DC, the USA.
i.This agreement aims to bolster India-USA security cooperation, addressing interconnected issues like terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and other common security challenges linked to cybercrime.
ii.In India, the implementation of the agreement will be handled by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
iii On the USA side, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with its agencies like the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crimes Center, (C3) will oversee the execution of the pact.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI Introduced Revised Guidelines for ARC-Borrower Settlements
On January 20 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced revised guidelines for the settlement of dues payable by borrowers to Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) under the Master Direction- Reserve Bank of India (Asset Reconstruction Companies) Directions, 2024. These guidelines came into force with immediate effect.
- These revised guidelines were issued through a circular in exercise of powers given by Sections 9 and 12 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security(SARFAESI ) Act, 2002 (54 of 2002).
- These revised norms aimed to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in settlement processes carried out by ARCs.
i.For Borrowers with outstanding dues more than 1 crore: In this case, settlement of dues will be done only after the proposal is thoroughly examined by an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC), which shall comprise professionals with expertise in finance, law, or technical fields.
ii.For Borrowers with outstanding dues of Rs 1 crore or below: In this case, settlements can be approved by an official who was not part of the acquisition (as an individual or part of a committee).
>> Read Full News
RBI Sets Up MK Jain-Led Committee to Evaluate UB and SFB Applications
On January 20 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) formed a five-member Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC) chaired by the former Deputy Governor of RBI, Mahesh Kumar (MK) Jain to evaluate the applications for Universal Banks (UBs) and Small Finance Banks (SFBs).
- The committee has a three-year tenure, supported by the Department of Regulation, RBI for secretarial assistance.
i.The other 4-members of the committee are Revathy Iyer, Director of Central Board of RBI; Parvathy V Sundaram, former Executive Director (ED) of RBI; Hemant G Contractor, former Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI) and former Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and NS Kannan, former MD & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited.
ii.Under the licensing guidelines, the RBI will first assess the eligibility of applications for UBs and SFBs. After that, the committee made up of experts in banking, finance, and related fields, will evaluate the applications.
>> Read Full News
Bajaj Finance, Bharti Airtel partner to launch digital financial services platform
In January 20 2025, Bharti Airtel, telecom services provider and Bajaj Finance, a private-sector Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), have partnered to develop one of India’s largest digital platforms for financial services to ensure faster last mile delivery.
- The platform will offer Bajaj Finance’s diversified suite of 27 product lines to Airtel’s 375 million customers.
i.Airtel will initially offer Bajaj Finance’s retail financial products on its Airtel Thanks Application(App) for easy and safe customer experience, and thereafter through its nation-wide network of stores.
ii.Two products of Bajaj Finance have been tested on the Airtel Thanks App and four products will be available to customers by March 2025.
- These include Gold Loan, Business Loan, a co-branded Insta EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) Card and Personal Loan.
iii.Airtel-Bajaj Finserv EMI card users will be provided with flexible EMI options and payment plans for purchasing various goods and can be used for e-commerce transactions on multiple platforms.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
HSBC Hurun Global Indians List 2024: Microsoft’s satya Nadella topped
According to the 1st edition of ‘HSBC Hurun Global Indians List’ , published by HSBC(Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) and Hurun India, Microsoft’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Satya Nadella has secured the top spot with a company valued at USD 3,146 billion.
- Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai (USD 2,107 billion) and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan (USD 455 billion) secured the 2nd and 3rd spots, respectively.
i.The combined value of the top 10 individuals is equal to 73% of the total combined value of the list. Notably, 5 companies in the list belong to the software and services sector.
ii.The list includes 12 women led by Reshma Kewalramani of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, followed by Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks, and Leena Nair, the global CEO of Chanel, who are recognised as the most influential women of Indian origin.
>> Read Full News
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Donald Trump Sworn in as 47th President of the USA, JD Vance Takes Office as Vice President
On January 20, 2025, Donald John Trump took the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States of America ( USA) at Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., USA. This marked the beginning of his second term in office. He succeeded Joe Biden after securing victory in the November 2024 election.
- James David (JD) Vance sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States, succeeding Kamala Harris.
About Donald Trump:
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in New York City, USA. In 2016, Trump won the presidential election in the United States and went on to serve as the 45th President from 2017 to 2021.
Policy Agenda for Second Term:
i.Key actions during President Trump’s second term include issuing nearly 1,600 pardons for those involved in the 2021 USA Capitol riots, withdrawing the USA from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO), and ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders.
ii.Additionally, he proposed a 100% tariff on goods from BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries, which could significantly impact India, and a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico starting February 1.
iii.He also declared a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico and reversed 78 executive orders issued by former President Joe Biden.
iv.He imposed travel bans on certain countries and repealed several executive orders that supported diversity initiatives and aimed to promote equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community.
v.On behalf of Government of India External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended Donald Trump’s grand inauguration ceremony.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
CCI Approvals on January 21 2025
On January 21 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals:
- Acquisition of 100% shareholding of Gurugram (Haryana)-based Del Monte Foods Private Limited (DMFPL) by Gurugram based Agro Tech Foods Limited (ATFL), worth Rs 1,300 crore.
- Merger of 9 entities with pharmaceutical firm Sequent Scientific Limited (SSL).
- Acquisition of 100% shareholding of Cyprus-based investment holding company of Advent International Group, AI Lenarco Midco Ltd. by Singapore-based Majesty II Pte. Limited.
About Competition Commission of India(CCI):
It is a statutory body constituted under Competition Act, 2002.
Chairman- Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2003
>> Read Full News
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISRO Successfully Demonstrated Restarting of Vikas Liquid Engine
In January 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully demonstrated the restart of its Vikas liquid engine at a test facility at the Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu (TN).
- The test marks a significant milestone in the development of stage recovery technologies, paving the way for reusability in future launch vehicles.
Key Points:
i.The Vikas engine is the reliable workhorse that drives the liquid stages of ISRO’s launch vehicles.
ii.In this test, the engine was fired for 60 seconds, then shut off for 120 seconds before being restarted and fired again for 7 seconds.
iii.All engine parameters during the test were within normal limits and met expectations.
iv.Further tests are planned in the coming days to optimize the engine’s performance under restart conditions.
V Narayanan Flags Off Core Liquid Stage of ISRO’s LVM3 Launch
In January 2025, V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO flagged off the core liquid stage (L110) of ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) to the launch complex at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
- The stage was designed and developed by the Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) based Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) as part of the development of the LVM3 launch vehicle.
Key Points:
i.It is designated for the LVM3 mission under a commercial agreement between Bengaluru (Karnataka) based NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and United States of America (USA) based AST SpaceMobile & Science, Limited Liability Company (LLC) to launch their BlueBird Block 2 satellite.
ii.It is powered by twin Vikas engines, with a propellant loading capacity of 110 tonnes (t).
iii.It is the tenth L110 liquid stage integrated at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, TN.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – V. Narayanan
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1969
SPORTS
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Karnataka defeats Vidarbha to win record 5th time
In January 2025, Karnataka Cricket Team secured their 5th title after defeating Vidarbha Cricket Team by 36 runs in the finals of 2024-25 edition of Vijay Hazare Trophy(VHT) held at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Gujarat.
- Karnataka was captained by Mayank Anurag Agarwal while Vidarbha was captained by Karun Kaladharan Nair.
- The 23rd edition of Vijay Hazare Trophy was held, from 21st December 2024 to 18th January 2025, with 38 teams competing in 135 matches.
Note: Karnataka has won their previous 4 titles in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Key Highlights:
i.Smaran Ravichandran secured his 2nd List A hundred that made Karnataka reach a total of 348 for 6 in the finals.
- Karnataka finished the group stage with just one loss in seven matches and then defeated Baroda and Haryana in the knockouts before finals with Vidarbha, which was their first final in over 5 years.
ii.Vidarbha captain Karun Nair was named Player of the Tournament for scoring 779 runs while India and Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh topped the bowling charts with 20 wickets.
iii.Karnataka’s Smaran Ravichandran claimed the Player of the Match award for his century in the final (101 runs in 92 balls).
iv.Karnataka received a prize money of Rs 1 crore and the runner-up Vidarbha was awarded with Rs 50 lakh.
About Vijay Hazare Trophy(VHT):
i.The VHT (officially known as the IDFC First Bank VHT), is the annual One day domestic tournament organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
ii.It is a domestic 50-over tournament which was established as a national tournament as the Ranji One Day Trophy in the 2002-03 season from its previous zonal format.
iii.The tournament was renamed as Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2007-08 edition, named after Indian batsman Vijay Samuel Hazare.
iv.2023-24 edition of VHT was won by the Haryana men’s cricket team.
OBITUARY
Dr. K. Ramchand, Founder & Director of CABS passed away
In January 2025, Wing Commander Dr. K. Ramchand (Retd), the founder and director of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab in Bengaluru, Karnataka, passed away at the age of 82 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
i.He led the team at the DRDO for the indigenous design and development of the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
- The aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2017 and was used during the 2019 airstrike on Balakot (Pakistan), providing air cover to Mirage 2000 jets.
ii.He authored the book “The Incredible Journey of the Indian Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)”, released at Aero India in 2019.
iii.During his over 20-year career in the IAF, he served as IAF Communication Squadron(COM Squadron) and flew several Very Important Persons (VIPs) as a crew member.
iv.The crew transported senior Indian Army officers during the surrender of the Indo-Pakistan war ending on December 16, 1971.
v.He is the recipient of the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). And also received “Scientist of the year award” in 1985
IMPORTANT DAYS
UNESCO & WMO Declare 2025 as International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation
On January 21 2025, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have jointly declared 2025 as International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation(IYGP) in Geneva(Switzerland), emphasizing the global urgency to safeguard glaciers, which are critical sources of freshwater for over 2 billion people worldwide.
- This international year focuses to gain worldwide support, encourage research, and make cryosphere data more accessible, all with the goal of reducing the impacts of rapid glacier melting.
- The first World Glacier Day will be celebrated on March 21, 2025, aligning with World Water Day, observed annually on March 22.
- An International Conference on Glacier Preservation will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in May 2025.
Background:
The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 (IYGP 2025) was established through resolution A/RES/77/158, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during its 77th session in December 2022, with the leadership of UNESCO and the WMO.
About World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
Secretary General – Professor Celeste Saulo
Founded –1950
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Parent Organization – United Nations (UN)
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
Chhattisgarh Launches ‘Deendayal Upadhyay Bhoomiheen Krishi Majdoor Kalyana Yojana’ for Landless Labourers
On January 20 2025, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Vishnu Deo Sai launched the ‘Deendayal Upadhyay Bhoomiheen Krishi Majdoor Kalyana Yojana’ scheme in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
- The scheme aims to provide financial support to landless agricultural labourer families, helping them to improve their net income and enhance their overall quality of life.
About Deendayal Upadhyay Bhoomiheen Krishi Majdoor Kalyana Yojana :
i.The scheme was designed to provide financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually to landless agricultural labourers, Baigas, Gunias, and other landless families in the state.
ii.The scheme benefits 5.62 lakh landless agricultural laborers across Chhattisgarh and a total of Rs 562 crore has been allocated to support these beneficiaries.
iii.This initiative also includes forest produce collectors, shepherds, carpenters, blacksmiths, cobblers, barbers, washermen, and other landless families connected with the Pauni-Pasari system.
iv.The scheme also extends to tribal temple worshippers like Pujari, Baiga, Gunia, and Majhi families in scheduled areas.
Key Points:
i.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Vishnu Deo Sai also participated in the ‘Nagar Vikas Ke Sopan’ program in Raipur and laid the foundation stone of 813 works worth Rs 155.38 crore.
ii.He also inaugurated 70 works worth Rs 15.25 crore in various urban bodies of the state, including the foundation stone of water supply schemes to be built at a cost of Rs 270 crore under Amrit Mission-2.0 in 6 urban bodies.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister (CM)– Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor- Ramen Deka
Capital- Raipur
Dams-Dudhawa Dam, Gangrel Dam & Sondur Dam
Gujarat CM inaugurates GIFT IFI and Innovation Hub in Gandhinagar
In January 2025, Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the GIFT International Fintech Institute (GIFT IFI) and the GIFT International Fintech Innovation Hub (GIFT IFIH) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- Both the institutions are supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and aim to develop the fintech sector.
i.GIFT IFI has been set up with collaboration of Ahmedabad University(Gujarat), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar(Gujarat), and the University of California, San Diego(the United States of America, USA)
- It will offer programs in areas like Fintech Foundations, Technology for Fintech, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Fintech.
ii.GIFT IFIH will provide support to fintech startups through an incubator and accelerator programme which will include mentorship, resources, and access to networks.
- Its first batch includes 10 startups from India, Singapore, the USA, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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