January 2025 Current Affairs: Here’s a roundup of the latest developments in banking & finance, national and international affairs, defence, science & technology, and key appointments & rankings. From India’s strategic banking reforms to major global events, stay informed with these crucial updates.
January 2025 Current Affairs: Latest Updates
BANKING & FINANCE
- India is considering reducing its ownership in 5 state-run banks, including UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, and Punjab and Sind Bank, through stake sales or allowing the banks to sell shares to large investors.
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) raised Rs 5,000 crore through a 10-year infrastructure bond at a coupon rate of 7.23%.
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has expanded the scope of its regulatory sandbox framework to encourage innovation, improve efficiency, and ease of doing business.
- Bank of India is raising its first dollar syndicated loan since 2012, with a target amount of $400 million.
- According to a report by GlobalData, a leading data analytics and research company, 3 Indian banks – HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and State Bank of India (SBI) ranked in the top 25 global banks by market capitalization for Q4 2024.
NATIONAL NEWS
- The Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2025 Event will be held on February 15-24, 2025.
- Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated the National Turmeric Board in New Delhi.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is celebrating a historic milestone of 150 years of dedicated service to the nation.
- India Energy Week (IEW) 2025, the government’s flagship oil and gas sector conference, will be held in New Delhi from February 11-14, 2025.
- The government has re-constituted the Atomic Energy Commission. T.V. Somanathan and Manoj Govil are among the new members.
- The Z-Morh Tunnel is a vital component of the Zojila Tunnel Project, aimed at providing year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries and allowances for central government employees and pensioners.
- To promote tourism and highlight India’s military heritage, the government has opened significant battlefields to visitors.
- 3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference held in Konark, Odisha, with participation from Union Minister Shri
G. Kishan Reddy and Odisha CM Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. - Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2024launched on 20th January 2025.
- Entity Locker, a digital platform for business document management, launched by MeitY.
- Smriti Iraniand Shekhar Kapur join reconstituted Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority launches ₹2,000 crore expansion projects, including solar-powered
boats and tugs. - Livestock Conclave in Shillong inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
- Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme introduced to boost India’s diamond sector, effective April 2025.
- India prepares for eVTOL air taxi trialsto address urban congestion.
- 10th anniversary of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme celebrated, aligning with Viksit Bharat 2047
- India aims for 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.
- Draft e-commerce self-regulation guidelinesintroduced to protect consumers.
- Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber (iSNR)initiative launched in Kottayam, Kerala.
- National Health Mission (NHM)drives progress toward health-related SDGs by 2030.
- Competition Commission of India’s Monetary Penalty Guidelinesnominated for global antitrust award.
- India showcases inclusive growth hand digital transformation at World Economic Forum 2025.
- UNESCO and MeitY collaborate on AI Readiness Assessment to align with global ethical standards.
- INCOIS awarded Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2025 for disaster management
contributions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- The Russian government-owned company Rosatom has shipped the 6th and final unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant being set up in Kudankulam, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, on board a specialised ship from the seaport of Novorossiysk.
- Indonesia has been admitted as a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, the group’s presiding country Brazil announced.
- China has completed the construction of the world’s longest expressway tunnel, known as the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, located in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
- The United States Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) removed three Indian organizations from its Entity List. Indian Entities Removed:
- Indian Rare Earths
- Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center (IGCAR)
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, India
- India has officially joined the Eurodrone programme as an observer state, marking its entry into the OCCAR- managed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS)
- Nepal Pashmina Industries Associationand the Confederation of Nepalese Industries hosted the first International Pashmina Festival in Nepal, showcasing over 150 domestic stalls, including 40 dedicated to pure Nepali Pashmina.
- The Trump administration’s Interior Department announced a rebranding effort. The Gulf of Mexicowas renamed to the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Denali was renamed back to Mount McKinley.
- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyanannounced 2025 as the Year of Community, aiming to promote unity and inclusion across the society.
- The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, marks the beginning of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
APPOINTMENTS/ RESIGNATIONS
- Justice Upadhyay, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has appointed Nawaf Salam, a prominent diplomat and judge, as Lebanon’s new Prime Minister after securing majority support from the Lebanese parliament.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a reshuffle in the portfolios of its three remaining Deputy Governors on January 14, as Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra’s term is set to end on January 15.
- The Ministry of Communications is likely to reappoint Robert Jerard Ravi as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
- President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran, the Chief Justice of Patna High Court, as a judge of the Supreme Court on January 13, 2025.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)reconstituted the Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC) to evaluateapplications for universal banks and small finance banks.
- Usha Vance has made history as the 1st Indian-American and Hindu 2nd Lady of the United States. Herhusband J.D. Vance took the oath of office as the 50th Vice President in Washington, D.C.
- Donald Trump,who took oath as the 47th US President on January 20, 2025.
- Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IPS officerfrom the Tamil Nadu cadre, has been appointed asthe Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF).
- The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)has announced the election of Dhananjay Shukla asits President for the year 2025.
- DigiHaat, a buyer app launched by Nirmit Bharat, a subsidiary of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has announced the appointment of Rahul Vijas its new Chief Operating Officer (COO).
- Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martinhas been confirmed as Prime Minister of Ireland after a vote in the Dáil, Ireland’s lower house of parliament.
- Jitender Pal Singh, who has served as India’s point person for engaging with the Taliban since their capture of power in Afghanistan in August 2021, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to Israel.
- Ayushmann Khurrana has been appointed as the ambassador of ‘FICCI Frames’.
- Alexander Lukashenkohas been re-elected president of Belarus, securing a 7th five-year term.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
- Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the Honorary Citizen Award to Tarun Das in New Delhi.
- Professor Urbasi Sinha, a distinguished faculty member at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in the Light and Matter Physics theme, has been honored with the Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Cambridge, UK.
- The 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) will be held on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los
Angeles. Leading Film: “Emilia Pérez” - The 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting commenced in Davos, Switzerland, recognizing global
leaders with the Crystal Awards for their contributions to social, environmental, and creative progress. The
2025 awardees include: - Riken Yamamoto: For innovating sustainable architecture.
- President Droupadi Murmuconferred gallantry awards to 93 personnel from the Armed Forces and Central
Armed Police Forces (CAPF), recognising their extraordinary bravery, valiant efforts, and selfless service to the
nation. - On the occasion of the 76th Republic Day, President Smt. Droupadi Murmuhas approved the
prestigious President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) for the personnel of the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG). - Shri Hariman Sharma, a pioneering farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has been awarded the prestigious Padma
Shri (2025) for his revolutionary contributions to Indian agriculture. - Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhawas conferred with the prestigious Maharaja Hari Singh Award at a grand
ceremony held at Satyam Resort, Jammu - Uttar Pradesh’s tableau,titled ‘Maha Kumbh 2025 – Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’, has claimed the first
place in the People’s Choice Award category, securing 40% of the votes (25,007).
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
- Ghosh unveils his book Wild Fictions (Essays) with former foreign secretary, Shyam Saran, at India International Centre (IIC).
DEFENCE NEWS
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy.
- The Indian Armed Forces are set to conduct Exercise Devil Strike from January 16 to 19, 2025, a joint exercise involving the elite airborne soldiers from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
- The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mumbai, an indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer, is participating in the 4th edition of the Multinational Exercise La Perouse.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi commissioned three advanced naval combatants: INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer at a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
- Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, has developed Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet)powered hypersonic technology.
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD)has signed a ₹1,561 crore contract with Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) for the procurement of 47 T-72 Bridge Laying Tanks (BLT) for the Indian Army.
- The Keel Laying of the 7th ship (BY 529, Machilipatnam) under the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft(ASW SWC) project was conducted on 29 Jan 25 in the presence of RAdm Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Google has announced a significant advancement in quantum computing as it unveiled its next-generation chip called ‘Willow’.
- India successfully tested its first domestically developed micro-missile system, Bhargavastra, aimed at countering swarm drone threats.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted field evaluation trials of the Nag Mark 2, a third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile, at the Pokhran field range in Rajasthan.
- India’s 1sttactical quasi-ballistic missile, Pralay, is set to debut at the 26 January, 2025 Republic Day parade.
- India has successfully tested its 1stindigenously developed micro-missile system, Bhargavastra, designed to counter the growing threat of swarm drones.
- Sky root Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Telangana government to setup an integrated private rocket manufacturing, integration, and testing facility.
- The ePlane Company, incubated at IIT Madras, has become the first private Indian firm to receive formal acceptance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the Type Certification of its electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the e200X.
- India is set to launch its 1st human underwater submersible (Deep-Sea Manned Vehicle) this year, marking a significant milestone in the country’s scientific capabilities and the blue economy.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in its 100th launch, is set to send a 2,250-kg navigation satellite, NVS-02, onboard GSLV-F15from Sriharikota on January 29 at 06.23 am.
OBITUARIES
- 1964 Ballon d’Or Winner & Manchester United’s 3rd Highest Goal Scorer Denis Law Dies At 84.
- David Lynch, the iconic director renowned for his surreal and haunting vision of America, has passed away.
IMPORTANT DAYS
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti (23rd January) – Observed to honor the birth of Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose. - International Day of Education (24th January) – Declared by the UN in 2018 to recognize the importance of
education. - National Girl Child Day (24th January) – Established in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development to address gender discrimination. - National Voters Day (25th January) – First observed in 2011 to encourage electoral participation, with the 2025
theme: “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure.” - National Tourism Day (25th January) – Highlights the significance of tourism in India’s economy.
- International Day of Clean Energy (26th January) – Declared by the UN in 2023 to promote clean energy and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. - World Leprosy Day (26th January) – Observed on the last Sunday of January to raise awareness about leprosy.
- International Customs Day (26th January) – Established by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in 1983 to
promote customs cooperation. - International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27th January) – Established by the UN in 2005 to honor the victims
of the Holocaust. - Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai (28th January) – Commemorates the life of freedom fighter and social
reformer Lala Lajpat Rai. - Data Protection Day (28th January) – Established by the Council of Europe in 2006 to promote awareness
about data privacy and security. - The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2025is celebrated every year on the 30th of January 2025
- Martyrs Day 2025 is observed on the 30th of January 2025.
RANKING AND REPORTS
- India has emerged as the seventh-largest coffee producer in the world, with its coffee exports reaching $1.29 billion in FY 2023-24, nearly doubling from $719.42 million in 2020-21.
- NITI Aayog released the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) for 18 major states in India, analyzing their fiscal health based on GDP contribution, demography, public expenditure, revenues, and fiscal stability. Odisha topped the index with a score of 67.8, excelling in Debt Index (99.0).
- Chinese AI start up Deep Seekhas made significant strides by overtaking Open AI’s Chat GPT as the most downloaded free app in the on Apple’s App Store.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Law Exams & Legal Awareness
1. What are the recent changes in the banking sector that law aspirants should be aware of?
- India is considering reducing its ownership in five state-run banks, including UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, and Punjab & Sind Bank through stake sales or large investor participation.
- IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has expanded its regulatory sandbox framework to promote innovation in the insurance sector.
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) raised ₹5,000 crore through a 10-year infrastructure bond at a 7.23% coupon rate.
2. How does the government regulate financial markets?
- Regulatory bodies like RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and the Ministry of Finance oversee financial markets.
- The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) was recently released by NITI Aayog to analyze states’ financial health.
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) enforces competition laws to ensure fair business practices.
3. What are the key constitutional provisions related to defense and national security?
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM).
- The Indian Armed Forces will conduct Exercise Devil Strike from January 16-19, 2025, involving joint Army-Air Force operations.
- India’s Atomic Energy Commission has been reconstituted, impacting the country’s nuclear policies and legal framework.
4. What are some recent international legal developments affecting India?
- India has officially joined the Eurodrone Programme as an observer state in the OCCAR-managed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft system.
- The United States Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) removed three Indian organizations, including Indian Rare Earths, IGCAR, and BARC, from its Entity List, which means relaxed trade restrictions for India.
- Indonesia has been admitted as a full member of the BRICS bloc, which may impact international trade and diplomacy.
5. What are the key laws affecting technology and innovation in India?
- India successfully tested its first indigenous micro-missile system, Bhargavastra, designed to counter swarm drone threats.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch India’s first human underwater submersible, impacting maritime and environmental laws.
- Google unveiled a next-generation quantum computing chip ‘Willow’, which raises data protection and cybersecurity concerns.
6. What are some significant legal appointments and resignations?
- Justice Upadhyay, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
- Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran, the Chief Justice of Patna High Court, has been appointed as a Supreme Court judge.
- Donald Trump took oath as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, impacting global legal and trade policies.
7. How is India addressing data protection and consumer rights?
- Draft e-commerce self-regulation guidelines have been introduced to protect consumer rights in online transactions.
- Entity Locker, a digital platform for business document management, has been launched by MeitY, simplifying business compliance.
- Data Protection Day (January 28) is observed to raise awareness about data privacy and security laws.
8. What are some legal aspects of India’s environmental and energy policies?
- India Energy Week (IEW) 2025 will be held in New Delhi from February 11-14, 2025, discussing energy laws and policies.
- India aims to achieve 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030, impacting climate laws and sustainability regulations.
- International Day of Clean Energy (January 26) focuses on global commitments to reducing carbon emissions.
9. How is India promoting legal awareness through national and international events?
- National Voters Day (January 25) encourages electoral participation, with the 2025 theme: “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure.”
- Martyrs’ Day (January 30) is observed to honor those who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) is recognized under UN laws to remember genocide victims.
10. What are the latest books related to law and governance?
- Ghosh unveiled his book Wild Fictions (Essays) at the India International Centre (IIC), discussing legal and political themes.
- The 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland featured discussions on economic laws and global governance.
