Current Affairs 25 January 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 25 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.

Our Current Affairs January 2025 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2025 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert – English | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 24 January 2025

Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Empowering India’s Daughters: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Completed 10 YearsThe Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, a flagship initiative led by the Government of India (GoI) which aims to protect, educate, and empower the girl child in India, has completed 10 years of successful implementation.

• The scheme was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015 in Panipat, Haryana.

i.It is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) with 100% funding by the Central Government in all the districts of the country under Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti.
ii.Initially, It was a collaborative effort of MoWCD (Ministry of Women and Child Development) with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and Ministry of Education (MoE);

• Later, MWCD collaborated with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), to expand the scope of BBBP.

iii.On January 22 2025, Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, MoH&FW and Union Minister Annpurna Devi, MoWCD jointly inaugurated the 10 years anniversary celebration of BBBP at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
iv.Following an oath-taking ceremony, a compendium of BBBP practices, Mission Vatsalya portal, Mission Shakti portal, and mobile application (app) of Mission Shakti were also launched at the event.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD):
Union Minister- Annpurna Devi (Constituency- Kodarma, Jharkhand)
Union Minister of State (MoS)- Savitri Thakur (Constituency- Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
>> Read Full News

ICRIER Report: India’s Digital Economy to Contribute One-Fifth of GDP by 2030In January 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released a comprehensive report titled ‘Estimation and Measurement of India’s Digital Economy’, prepared by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). This marks the first attempt to quantify the digital sector’s impact on India’s income and employment.

• According to the report, India’s digital economy is projected to grow nearly twice as fast as the overall economy, contributing to almost one-fifth of national income by 2029-30.

i.The report estimates that India’s digital economy accounted for 11.74% of India’s income in 2022-23, contributing Rs. 28.94 lakh crore (Approximately USD 368 billion) in Gross Value Added (GVA) and Rs. 31.64 lakh crore (Approximately USD 402 billion) in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
ii.In 2022-23, the digital economy accounted for 14.67 million workers or 2.55% of India’s workforce
About Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER):
ICRIER is an autonomous, policy-oriented, not-for-profit, economic policy think tank.
Chairman – Pramod Bhasin
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)
Founded – 1981
>> Read Full News

MNRE : Total RE Installed Capacity Rises 15.84% to 209.44 GW in 2024According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India has made significant strides in its Renewable Energy (RE)  journey, strengthening its position as a global leader in clean energy.

• As of December 2024, India’s total RE installed capacity has reached 209.44 Gigawatt (GW), a 15.84% increase compared to 180.80 GW in December 2023.
• The total capacity added during 2024 amounted to 28.64 GW, representing a significant Year-on-Year(YoY) increase of 119.46% compared to the 13.05 GW added in 2023.

i.Solar energy dominated, with 24.5 GW of new capacity installed and its cumulative installed capacity increased to 97.86 GW in 2024 from 73.32 GW in 2023.
ii.Wind energy also contributed significantly to India’s RE goals. A total of 3.4 GW of wind capacity was added in 2024.
About Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE):
Union Minister – Pralhad Joshi(Constituency – Dharwad, Karnataka
Minister of State(MoS) – Shripad Yesso Naik(Rajya Sabha – North Goa)
>> Read Full News

India & South Korea Conducted Exchange of Notes for NCERT’s Technical Cooperation Project In January 2025, India and South Korea conducted an exchange of notes for the technical cooperation project titled ‘Strengthening Vocational Education and Training in Mechatronics in India’ in New Delhi(Delhi).

• The Exchange of Notes was signed by Manisha Sinha, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF) and H.E. Lee Seong-ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India for the Republic of Korea.
• The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) of the Government of Republic of Korea.

Key Points:
i.This project spans over a two-year and will be carried out in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP).

• This is the first project being implemented with the assistance of KOICA in India.

ii.Under this partnership, South Korea will invest USD 2 million (approximately 2.9 billion KRW) by 2027 to launch a large-scale initiative aimed at enhancing India’s vocational and technical education capabilities.

• This marks the first-ever grant-based development cooperation project between South Korea and India.

iii.It aims to create a strong framework for vocational education in mechatronics by developing curriculum, textbooks, and teacher manuals, and providing necessary equipment.
iv.This partnership would be further strengthened and consolidated with the signing of the exchange of notes for the NCERT project.
Points to Note:
i.In October 2016, the Republic of Korea was designated as India’s official development assistance (ODA) partner for development cooperation.
ii.In 2015, the bilateral relationship between the two nations was upgraded to a “Special Strategic Partnership.”
About South Korea:
President – Yoon Suk Yeol
Capital – Seoul
Currency – South Korean Won (KRW)

FIEO and Credlix Signed MoU to Empower Indian Exporters with Financial and Logistical SupportIn January 2025, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body for exporters in India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based Credlix, a global leader in supply chain financing solutions, to boost the growth of Indian exporters and strengthen their international presence.

• This collaboration aims to streamline global trade by providing exporters with innovative financial solutions, logistical support, and other critical resources.

Key Points:
i.The partnership also aims to address key challenges faced by exporters by combining the extensive network of FIEO with expertise of Credlix in financial services.
ii.Various initiatives such as workshops, training, financing advisory and technological support will be provided to help businesses enhance operations effectively.
iii.As per the MoU, technological and logistical solutions from Credlix, such as warehousing and supply chain management will be used to address operational hurdles faced by the exporters.
iv.FIEO will actively promote the initiative, encourage participation of exporters, and guide businesses in navigating complex international markets.
Note: In Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24), the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector contributed 45.73% of India’s exports.
About Credlix:
It is the digital supply chain financing platform from Moglix (Mogli Labs Private Limited), one of Asia’s largest Business-to-Business (B2B) commerce companies. It is dedicated to providing innovative financial solutions to Small Micro Enterprises (SMEs) across the world.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rahul Garg
Headquarters- Singapore, Singapore
Established- 2015
About Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO):
It was constituted by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I) in 1965, with its member contributing nearly 70% of India’s exports.
President- Ashwani Kumar
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi

MoD signs Rs 1,561 crore deal with Heavy Vehicles Factory for 47 T-72 Bridge Laying Tanks
In January 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Rs 1,561-crore deal with Chennai(Tamil Nadu, TN) based Heavy Vehicles Factory(HVF), a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited(AVNL), for the acquisition of 47 Tank (T)-72 Bridge Laying Tanks (BLTs) for the Indian Army(IA).

• The contract was signed by the senior officials of the MoD and HVF, AVNL, in the presence of Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the MoD.
• T-72 BLTs are manufactured by HVF under the license from Russia.

i.The deal is categorized as Buy IDDM(Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) procurement category, introduced in India’s Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016.
ii.The T-72 BLTs is an important equipment that is used by the Mechanised Forces of the IA to launch bridges during both offensive and defensive operations.
iii.The T-72 BLT, also known as BLT T-72, features a scissors-type bridge that can be deployed in two configurations: a 20-meter(m) span supporting vehicles up to 60 tons, and a 22m span supporting vehicles up to 70 tons.

NITI Aayog & NASSCOM Foundation Partner to digitally empower One lakh People
In January 2025, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) Foundation have entered into a partnership to provide digital skills to one lakh individuals with an aim to reduce the issue of digital divide.

• The collaboration comes under the Aspirational Blocks Programme(ABP), and is aligned with the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA).
• The project will focus on marginalized groups including women and tribal communities to improve their access to essential digital tools and e-governance services.

i.It will initially target 60 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) blocks in its first phase, promoting digital literacy and awareness of government schemes and will expand to include all 500 aspirational blocks for a broader digital inclusion.
ii.The program focuses on training individuals between 12-60 years in essential computer skills, cybersecurity, and internet usage.
iii.It will also integrate local community members as trainers and digital ambassadors and will conduct door-to-door campaigns and community mobilization to raise awareness about the benefits of digital literacy and government schemes.

BANKING & FINANCE

PNB MetLife Partners with Truhome Finance to Offer Group Credit Life Insurance 
In January 2025, Mumbai based PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) partnered with Chennai based Truhome Finance (formerly known as Shriram Housing Finance Limited) to offer Group Credit Life insurance to home loan customers of Truhome Finance.
i.The partnership is a major step towards PNB MetLife’s mission of Milkar Life Aage Badhein, highlighting the dedication to broadening its reach and improving financial inclusion.
ii.The Group Credit Life Insurance solutions provide home owners and their families with financial security by covering outstanding loan liabilities in the event of an emergency at 165 Truhome Finance branches in 17 states of India.
iii.This collaboration contributes to the vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ by ensuring financial security within reach for more individuals and families.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Jio Financial Services and BlackRock Expanding Into Stock Broking Sector
In January 2025, Mumbai based Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) announced that its joint venture, Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Private Limited, has established a wholly owned subsidiary called ‘Jio BlackRock Broking Private Limited’ to enter the broking business, subject to regulatory approvals.
i.Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Private Limited was established with the primary goal of providing investment advising services.
ii.In September 2024 JFSL and US based BlackRock, Inc. contributed Rs 3 crores each to the joint venture.  iii. In October 2024, Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Private Limited received approval from Securities Exchange Board of India(SEBI) to start its Mutual fund business.

NTPC Partners with Sri Lanka for Major Solar Project
In January 2025, New Delhi(Delhi) based NTPC Limited(formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) has partnered with Ceylon Electricity Board of Sri Lanka to develop a 50 Megawatt (MW) (extendable to 120 MW) solar project in Sampoor, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

• Trincomalee Power Company Limited (TPCL) which is a joint venture (JV) between NTPC Limited and the Ceylon Electricity Board, will see the establishment of the solar facility in Sampoor.

i.After discussions with a number of Sri Lankan stakeholders, the tariff for the project has been fixed at 5.97 US cents per unit.
ii.This solar project would diversify Sri Lanka’s energy mix by significantly increasing Sri Lanka’s clean energy capacity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
iii.With this initiative, NTPC, India’s leading power generation company under the Ministry of Power (MoP), makes a significant step toward sustainable energy practices and strengthens regional ties.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Forbes 2025 Billionaires list: Elon Musk Emerges as the Richest Individual in 2025According to the World’s Billionaires List 2025 released by Forbes, Elon Musk secured the top spot with a net worth of USD 433.9 billion largely driven by SpaceX’s valuation of USD 350 billion.

• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has secured the 2nd position with USD 239.4 billion while Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg bagged the 3rd spot by surpassing Oracle founder Larry Ellison net worth of USD 211.8 billion.

i.Elon Musk has become the first individual in history to cross a net worth of USD 400 billion, mainly due to SpaceX’s valuation of USD 350 billion.
ii.According to Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List 2025, the United States of America (USA) is on the top with a record 813 billionaires, followed by China with 473 and India on the 3rd spot with 200 billionaires.
>> Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Amrit Mohan Prasad to Hold Additional Charge as BCAS DGOn 22 January 2025, Amrit Mohan Prasad, the Director General (DG) of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), was given the additional charge of DG of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for six months.

• The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) with effect from 1 November 2024, or till the joining of the regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is the earlier.
• He succeeded Zulfiqar Hasan, who retired on 31 October 2024.

Key Points:
i.Amrit Mohan Prasad is a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Odisha cadre.
ii.He had held the position of Jail DG and served as the Special DG in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
About the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS):
i.BCAS is the regulating body for civil aviation security in India. It was reorganized as an independent department within the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on 1 April 1987.
ii.It is the proper authority for implementing Annexure-17 to the Chicago Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and it is led by an officer of the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) and is designated as DG.
iii.DG of BCAS is in charge of developing, implementing, and maintaining the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP).
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1978

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO Dispatches Crew Module for First Uncrewed Mission of Gaganyaan In January 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) dispatched the Crew Module for the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan (G1) to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP). It has completed the integration of the liquid propulsion system.
Key Points:
i.The Crew Module Propulsion System (CMPS) is a bi-propellant Reaction Control System (RCS) designed for precise three-axis control (Pitch, Yaw, and Roll) for the crew module.

• The control will be initiated following separation of service module during the descent and re-entry phase until the deployment of parachute-based deceleration system.

ii.It has 12 thrusters, each producing 100N (Newton) thrust, as well as a propellant feed mechanism and high-pressure gas bottles.

• The 100 N thrusters are small rocket motors used for spacecraft propulsion.

iii.The Crew Module Uprighting System (CMUS) designed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) was also included into the module at LPSC.
v.The Crew Module will also go through additional integration operations including avionics package assembly, electrical harnessing, and tests at VSSC, before being delivered to the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru,  for the last step of Orbital Module integration.
About Gaganyaan :
Gaganyaan, a crewed spacecraft being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The first crewed flight is planned for 2026.

• India would become the 4th nation to launch its own crewed spacecraft, after  Russia, the United States of America(USA), and China.
• Gaganyaan will consist of two parts, the Crew Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM), which together will form the orbital module.

About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – Dr. V. Narayanan
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1969

Sarla Aviation Unveiled India’s 1st Air Taxi Prototype ‘Shunya’, Expected to be launched by 2028In January 2025, Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based aerospace startup company,  Sarla Aviation Private Limited unveiled India’s 1st electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi prototype, ‘Shunya’, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025,  held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.

• For the initial phase, the company aims to launch the electric air taxi in Bengaluru by 2028 to become the 1st to introduce urban air transport in India.

Key Points:
i.The company further plans to gradually extend the electric air taxis services to cities like: Mumbai (Maharashtra), Delhi (Delhi), Pune (Maharashtra) and other major Indian cities.
ii.Sarla Aviation also plans to introduce a free air ambulance service, to address the urgent medical transportation requirements in urban areas.
iii.The company is expected to offer air taxi services at prices competitive with existing premium taxi services.
iv.Sarla Aviation also announced plans to launch a free air ambulance service to address urgent medical needs in urban areas.
About Shunya Prototype:
i.It is designed basically for short trips within the range of 20 to 30 kilometers (kms) and can reach a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour (kmph).
ii.The vehicle will have the capacity to accommodate up to 6 passengers and carry a maximum load of 680 kilogram (kg).It is the highest payload eVTOL vehicle currently in the market.
iii.Shunya will help to address the challenges like: traffic congestion and pollution, which are generally faced by most of the major Indian cities.
About Sarla Aviation Private Limited:
The startup company was founded in October 2023 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan. It is named after Sarla Thakral, 1st female pilot in India. She received her pilot license at the age of 21 in 1936.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Adrian Schmidt
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka

ENVIRONMENT

Researchers Discovered Two New Goby Fish Species in AP
In January 2025, Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two unrecorded goby fish species, ‘Hemigobius hoevenii’ and ‘Mugilogobius tigrinus’, at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh (AP).

• This discovery is significant as it is the first time Mugilogobius tigrinus has been observed along India’s eastern coastline.

i.Both species belong to the group of fish commonly known as “gobies”. Most gobies are found in estuarine areas, especially around mangroves.
ii.Gobies are small, carnivorous fish that live on the bottom and are found throughout the world, but they are especially common in tropical areas.
iii.They have a significant impact on the ecosystem. They can be used as indicators of environmental health and occupy different levels in the food chain.
iv.Of the 135 goby species found along India’s coasts, 95 species are recorded in Indian mangroves, with 53 species found in the Coringa wildlife sanctuary.

OBITUARY

Former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes Passed AwayIn January 2025, Former El Salvador President Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena passed away at the age of 65 in Managua, Nicaragua. He was born on 18 October 1959 in San Salvador, El Salvador.

• He served as the President of El Salvador from 2009 to 2014.

About Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena:
i.Mauricio Funes is a television journalist. He began his career as a Cable News Network (CNN) correspondent and war reporter.
ii.He was well-known for his in-depth interviews with politicians and for exposing corruption on his popular interview show.
iii.He ran in the 2009 presidential race for the former leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front(FMLN).

• He won the presidential elections, defeating Rodrigo Ávila of the conservative National Republican Alliance, known as Arena.

iv.He was plagued by charges of corruption. In 2016, he fled to Nicaragua, where he spent his last nine years in the protection of Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua.
About El Salvador:
President – Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez
Capital – San Salvador
Currency – United States Dollar(USD)

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Education 2025 – January 24 The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Education (IDE) is annually observed across the globe on 24 January to celebrate the role of education in peace and development.

• 24 January 2025 marks the 7th observance of the IDE.
• The 2025 theme of IDE is “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation”.

Background:
i.On 3 December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/73/25 proclaiming 24 January of every year as International Day of Education.

• The resolution was co-authored by Nigeria and 58 other UN Member States.

ii.The 1st ever International Day of Education was celebrated on 24 January 2019.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organisation(UNESCO):
Director-General (DG)- Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Member Nations- 194
Established–1945
>> Read Full News

National Girl Child Day 2025- January 24 National Girl Child Day (NGCD) is annually observed across India on 24th January to promote awareness about the rights of a girl child and to promote the importance of their education, health, and nutrition.The day addresses issues like child marriage, discrimination and other challenges faced by girls in Indian society.

• 24th January 2025 marks the observance of 18th NGCD.
• The theme of the NGCD 2025 is “Empowering the Future of India”.

Background:
i.NGCD was established in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
ii.The first ever NGCD was observed on 24th January 2008.
>> Read Full News

*******

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)

Aspirant: Does Affairscloud covers all the Current affairs topics related to examinations?
Affairscloud: We Guaranteed All the Important topics related to examination are covered in Our Daily CA content and Daily CA Quizzes.
Aspirant: Why is there a delayal in news?
Affairscloud: As some of the major news sites doesn’t provide the required data on the exact day, we take extra time for important data to be presented to the aspirants on the examination basis to ensure nothing is missed.
Example:  In ‘Important Days’ topics the International Organisations publish their reports and Rankings in the evenings, to make sure every data is covered, we delay the topics to the next day.