Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 7th January 2025

Abdali Missile:

Amid rising tensions in India-Bangladesh relations, Dhaka is reportedly mulling to purchase the Abdali Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) aka the Hatf 2 missiles, from Pakistan.

• Abdali (Hatf 2) is a short-range, road-mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile.
• Developed by Pakistan’s Space Research Commission (SUPARCO), the Abdali missile system is designed for quick-reaction battlefield scenarios.
• It measures 6.5 m in length, 0.56 m in diameter, and weighs 1,750 kg at launch.
• It can range 180-200 km while carrying a variable 250-450 kg warhead.
• It likely carries a high explosive or submunition payload.
• The Hatf 2 is equipped with an inertial guidance system and has a CEP of 150 m.
• It uses a single-stage solid propellant engine.
• It is carried on a road mobile Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle.
• Its relatively small warhead limits its destructive capability, but its accuracy is sufficient to target military bases and airfields or critical infrastructure such as power plants and industrial facilities.

Banihal Bypass : Completion

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways recently announced the completion of a 4-lane, 2.35 km Banihal Bypass on NH-44.

• Banihal Bypass is a four-lane, 2.35 km bypass to Banihal town in Jammu & Kashmir, a section that was riddled with chronic traffic snarl-ups.
• It was built at a cost of Rs 224.44 crore.
• Strategically located on the Ramban–Banihal section of NH-44, the bypass features 4 viaducts spanning 1,513 meters and 3 culverts, effectively addressing the persistent bottleneck caused by roadside markets and shops.
• This critical infrastructure ensures unhindered traffic flow, significantly reducing travel time and congestion for both tourists and defense vehicles en route to the Kashmir Valley.
• NH44, also known as the Old NH 7, is the longest national highway in India.
• It ranks 22nd among the longest national highways globally.
• It stretches for a whopping 3,745 kilometers (2,327 miles), connecting Srinagar in the northern tip of Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari at the southernmost point of India.

Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0:

Lok Sabha Speaker is set to inaugurate ‘Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0’ at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

• Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0 will be organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The programme is being organised in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the revered tribal leader and freedom fighter.
• It will bring together 502 elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes across 22 states and Union Territories.
• Its primary focus is to empower these women representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions by enhancing their understanding of constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedures, and governance.
• The programme also aims to recognise the contributions of these representatives in areas such as education and rural development.
• It will include workshops, sessions, and a guided tour of key locations such as the new Parliament House, Samvidhan Sadan, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• The Lok Sabha Speaker will also lead the delegates in reading the Preamble to the Constitution of India during the event.
• This program builds on the success of the Panchayat Se Parliament 2024 initiative, which engaged 500 women sarpanch from across India.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025:

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, the largest gathering of the Indian diaspora, will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from January 8 to 10, 2025.

• PBD is celebrated to recognize the contributions of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to India’s growth and development.
• Observed annually on January 9, marking Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa in
• Started in: First celebrated in 2003 and revised to a biennial event in 2015.
• Ministry: Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• Aim: To strengthen engagement with the Indian diaspora and celebrate their achievements globally.
• 2025 Host City: Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Theme 2025: “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”, emphasizing the diaspora’s role in building a developed India.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2025:

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is a special occasion that honors the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru of Sikhism.

• Celebrated with devotion by Sikhs worldwide, this day reflects his teachings of courage, equality and selflessness.
• Known for founding the Khalsa Panth and promoting justice, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s legacy continues to inspire people to live with faith, compassion and bravery.
• In 2025, Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti will be celebrated on Monday, January 6.
• This date follows the Nanakshahi calendar, where the festival falls on the Saptami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Poh (Paush)
• Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born on December 22, 1666, in Patna Sahib (now in Bihar, India). He became the Guru at the young age of nine after the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who sacrificed his life to protect religious freedom.
• Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s leadership during challenging times inspired courage and faith in his followers. His life was dedicated to upholding justice, equality and spirituality.
• This days reminds us of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s teachings and their relevance in today’s world. Here are some key aspects of his legacy:
  • Founder of the Khalsa Panth: In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji established the Khalsa Panth, a group of dedicated Sikhs committed to equality, justice and selfless service. The Khalsa symbolizes strength, unity and devotion.
  • Advocate of Religious Freedom: Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought against oppression and and defended the right of people from all religious. His life was a shining example of standing up for justice and protecting humanity.
  • A Saint and Scholar: Guru Gobind Singh Ji was just a warrior but also a poet and thinker. He wrote spiritual and inspiring texts, including parts of the Dasam Granth, emphasizing courage, wisdom, and devotion to God.

Special Category Visas : Introduced

The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced two special category visas namely ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ visa for international students intending to pursue higher education in the country.

• The two new visas namely; ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Eligible international students registered on the Study in India (SII) portal can access the e-student visa facility, while dependents of e-student visa holders are eligible for the e-student-x visa.
• Foreign nationals admitted to full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, or other formal programs at recognised educational institutions in India are eligible for e-student visas.
• These visas are issued for durations of up to five years, depending on the course length, and can be extended. Holders of valid e-student visas can enter India through any immigration check post.

Vriksh Pathshala Library:

In Bihar’s Gaya district, Patwa Toli’s 24×7 Vriksh Pathshala library inspires IIT-JEE aspirants. Once famed as the “Manchester of Bihar” for its weaving industry, it now earns recognition as a “factory of IITians,” producing over 300 IITians since the 1990s.

• 24×7 Vriksh Pathshala Library Provides a quiet, resource-rich environment for students preparing for competitive exams, especially IIT-JEE.
• It Offers free study materials, online/offline coaching, food, and lodging for students from economically weaker sections.
• It is Run by locals and alumni, funded through donations from former students, banks, and organizations.
• Over 100 IITians and 1,000 engineers have emerged from Patwa Toli, with many students from other districts joining the library.

PanchPran:

Vice-President addressed the NCC Republic Day Camp 2025, highlighting PanchPran as the foundation of India’s national transformation.

• PanchPran refers to five core principles that guide India’s progress, ensuring a balanced and holistic approach to national development.
  1. Social Harmony: Promotes unity by transforming India’s diversity into national strength.
  2. Family Enlightenment: Strengthens patriotic and moral values at the grassroots level within families.
  3. Environmental Consciousness: Advocates sustainable development by conserving and protecting nature.
  4. Swadeshi: Encourages self-reliance and prioritization of indigenous products as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  5. Civic Duties: Instils responsibility among citizens to actively contribute to the nation’s progress.

KM3NeT Project:

Scientists are deploying two telescopes which are part of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope or KM3NeT to detect high-energy neutrinos, also known as ghost particles, under the Mediterranean Sea.

• KM3NeT Project is a research infrastructure housing the next generation neutrino telescopes with a volume of at least one cubic kilometre.
• It uses Cherenkov radiation (light that neutrinos produce when they interact with a water or ice molecule) to study neutrinos.
• As a European research infrastructure, it is located in the Mediterranean Sea and involves collaboration among multiple countries.
• Key components:
  • ARCA (Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss): It will help scientists in searching neutrinos from distant astrophysical sources such as supernovae, gamma ray bursters or colliding stars. It is located offshore Sicily, Italy.
  • ORCA (Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss): This telescope is the instrument for KM3NeT scientists studying neutrino properties exploiting neutrinos generated in the Earth’s atmosphere. It is located offshore of France.
• These telescopes are much like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, which can detect high-energy neutrinos from deep space but is under the frozen ice in the Antarctic rather than being in the water.
• Arrays of thousands of optical sensors will detect the faint light in the deep sea from charged particles originating from collisions of the neutrinos and the Earth.

Third-Party Audits for Smart Cities Mission:

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on housing and urban affairs has called for third-party assessments of projects under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM).This is aimed at addressing gaps in implementation, especially in smaller cities.Third-party evaluations offer an unbiased analysis of project progress and impact under the SCM, helping to identify implementation gaps and areas for improvement.They also enhance transparency, fostering trust among stakeholders, including citizens, government bodies, and investors.

Winter Char Dham:

Uttarakhand has launched the Winter Char Dham circuit to promote year-round tourism and attract visitors to the state during the off-season winter months.Char Dham shrines (4 revered shrines) are four holy sites i.e., Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath and are located in the Garhwal Himalayas. They are traditionally visited between May and November.The Char Dham Project aims to enhance connectivity to the Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri by improving conditions of highways

Jammu Railway Division:

Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly established Jammu Railway Division, fulfilling a long-standing demand for better rail management in India’s northernmost region.A railway division is an administrative unit under Indian Railways, managing operations, maintenance, and infrastructure within its jurisdiction.

Cancel Coal Case:

South Africa’s High Court blocked a 1,500 MW coal power plan, affirming constitutional rights and sustainable energy in the Cancel Coal case led by civil society groups.A youth-led movement against South Africa’s plan to expand coal-fired power generation, focusing on environmental and health concerns.South Africa, heavily reliant on coal for energy, contributing to 71% of its total energy supply in 2022.

38th National Games Torch Tejaswini:

The 38th National Games will be hosted by Uttarakhand for the first time, marking a significant event in the state’s sports history. The torch, named ‘Tejaswini,’ has begun its journey across the state, spreading excitement and awareness about the games. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the torch rally from Haldwani, and it is expected to cover 3,823 km, visiting 99 locations in 13 districts before reaching the capital, Dehradun.

‘Faral Sakhi’ Initiative:

The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), has launched the ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative to empower women entrepreneurs in traditional snack production.‘Faral Sakhi’ provides comprehensive training and support to women engaged in producing traditional festive snacks, known as ‘Faral’. A central kitchen established by MBMC enables women from self-help groups (SHGs) to prepare these snacks professionally.

82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards:

The 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, held on January 5, 2025, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, celebrated the achievements of the film and television industries over the past year. From performances to direction, scriptwriting, and musical achievements, the event highlighted exceptional talent and groundbreaking works in both the motion picture and television sectors. Winners included Adrien Brody for Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama for The Brutalist, and Zoe Saldaña for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Emilia Pérez.

Dr. R. Chidambaram Passes Away at 88:

Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, a towering figure in the field of atomic energy, passed away at the age of 88 at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai on January 4, 2025. His contributions to India’s nuclear program and scientific advancements have left an indelible mark on the country’s technological and strategic development. Dr. Chidambaram was integral to India’s nuclear journey, from the first peaceful nuclear test in 1974 to leading Operation Shakti in 1998, which solidified India’s position as a nuclear power.

Hanoi Declared World’s Most Polluted City:

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, has recently been identified as the world’s most polluted city, with PM2.5 levels reaching 266 micrograms per cubic meter. This alarming air quality has raised significant health concerns among residents and prompted government action.On January 3, 2025, AirVisual reported that Hanoi’s PM2.5 levels were the highest globally, indicating severe air pollution.