Current Affairs January-VI 2025

Explanation: India has been ranked as the 4th most powerful military in the world according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. The top 3 countries are United States of America, Russia and China. Bhutan ranked lowest at 145th, while Pakistan dropped from 9th to 12th position. The top four countries’ rankings remain unchanged from 2024. The Global Firepower Index compares 145 countries military power based on their war-making capabilities and excludes a country’s nuclear weapon capability.

Explanation: Raman Rajamannan, the tribal king of the Mannan community in Kerala, will participate in the Republic Day parade in Delhi. The Mannan community is a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in Kerala and the only tribal dynasty with a kingship in South India. Their language is a Tamil dialect without a script, reflecting strong Tamil cultural ties. They follow a matrilineal descent system, elect their king, and practice Hinduism. Main occupations include agriculture, and festivals include Kalavoot, Meenoot, and Mutthiamman. Mannankoothu is their unique ritual art form performed during worship, harvest, and weddings.

Explanation: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended capping Internet tariffs for Wi-Fi service providers under the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme at twice the rate of retail broadband. The PM-WANI scheme was launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecommunication. The scheme aims to expand public Wi-Fi hotspots, especially in rural areas. It seeks to enhance digital infrastructure, increase employment for small entrepreneurs, and provide low-cost internet to underserved urban and rural households. The scheme encourages local shops to offer Wi-Fi for last-mile delivery without requiring a license or registration fee.

Explanation: Mount Ibu, a stratovolcano in Indonesia, has erupted frequently in January 2024. Stratovolcanoes are cone-shaped volcanoes built from layers of lava and ash. They are known for their explosive eruptions due to the thick, slow-moving lava. Mount Ibu is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of high volcanic activity. It is characterized by frequent eruptions, including lava flows and ash plumes.

Explanation: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad has been awarded the prestigious Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for 2025 in the Institutional Category. This award recognizes INCOIS’s significant contributions to disaster management in India, particularly in tsunami early warning, cyclone forecasting, and coastal risk mitigation. INCOIS operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), recognized globally by UNESCO. The organization has developed innovative tools like SARAT and SynOPS to enhance disaster response capabilities. This award highlights India’s advancements in disaster management and the crucial role of institutions like INCOIS in safeguarding lives and livelihoods.

Explanation: INS Sarvekshak of the Indian Navy completed the final phase of a hydrographic survey in Mauritius, covering 25,000 square nautical miles. Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located east of Madagascar. It has an area of 2,040 sq. km, with the capital being Port Louis. The country includes the main island and outlying islands like Ambre, Est, and Cerfs. Formed by volcanic activity 8 million years ago, it has Mount Piton as its highest peak (828 m). The chief water source is Lake Vacoas, and the climate is maritime subtropical.

Explanation: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) observes January 24 as International Day of Education to highlight education’s role in peace and development. It was declared on December 3, 2018, through resolution 73/25, co-written by Nigeria and 58 other countries. The 2024 theme is “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” focusing on education’s role in adapting to AI and technology. The day emphasizes education’s power in promoting peace, achieving global goals like SDG 4, and fostering global collaboration. UNESCO leads the celebration to advocate for accessible, high-quality education worldwide.

Explanation: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 in Ladakh on 23 January. The event features 19 teams and includes ice hockey and skating contests. The second phase, focusing on snow sports, will be in Jammu and Kashmir from February 22-25. Ladakh is hosting for the second time, with 594 participants, including 428 athletes. The events will be broadcast live on Doordarshan Sports.

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 on 17 January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The first expo was held in February 2024 in New Delhi. The event unites the entire mobility sector, including automobiles, transportation infrastructure, electric vehicles, and digital technologies. It highlights India’s role as a global mobility hub, showcasing cutting-edge innovations. The expo is hosted at Bharat Mandapam, Yashoboomi in Delhi, and Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, from 17-22 January 2025.

Explanation: Around 59 people in Pune have been affected by Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder. GBS occurs when the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, affecting muscle movement, pain, temperature, and touch sensations. It is also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) and usually affects people aged 30-50. The exact cause is unclear but often follows infections, vaccinations, or major surgery. Symptoms include fever, weakness, and potential paralysis, with severity varying widely. There is no cure, but intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment helps suppress the immune system’s attack on the nerves.