IMPORTANT DAYS

World Braille Day 2025 observed on 04 January

• World Braille Day is observed on January 4 every year to honour Louis Braille's birthday.

• Louis Braille, born in France in 1809, invented the Braille script.

• The United Nations declared January 4 as World Braille Day in 2019.

• The day raises awareness about the significance of Braille for blind and partially sighted individuals.

• Braille is a universal system, not a language, used to write and read various languages like Sanskrit, Arabic, and Spanish.

• Braille uses six dots to represent letters and numbers in a tactile format.

• It is the key tool that enables visually impaired individuals to lead dignified lives.

• On this day, the National Federation of the Blind held a program in New Delhi, including Braille competitions for visually impaired students.

NATIONAL NEWS

The Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on 4 January.

• The Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on January 4.

• The event will run for six days, from January 4 to 9.

• Its goal is to highlight rural India’s entrepreneurial potential and cultural heritage.

• The theme focuses on "Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2047."

• Organized by NABARD under the Department of Financial Services, the event aims to enhance rural infrastructure and promote self-sufficiency.

• The program includes workshops, sessions, and classes led by industry experts.

• Key focus areas include financial inclusion, sustainable agriculture, and rural economic stability, especially in Northeast India.

• The event will also support rural women’s entrepreneurship and foster interactions between government representatives, business owners, and artisans.

Government notified amendment in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.

• The government has notified an amendment in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.

• The amendment includes Para 1.07A and 1.07B to provide legal backing for stakeholder consultations.

• The changes aim to encourage stakeholder participation in the policy-making process.

• The amendment ensures that feedback, views, and suggestions from relevant stakeholders are considered.

• A mechanism is introduced to inform stakeholders about reasons for not accepting their feedback.

• The objective is to enhance inclusiveness in trade-related decision-making.

• The new provisions will improve transparency and accountability in policy formulation.

• The amendment strengthens the interaction between the government and stakeholders in shaping trade policy.

• This initiative marks a shift towards a more collaborative approach in India's trade policy.

STATE NEWS

Jammu is to be the 69th Railway Division of the Indian Railway

• The Union Ministry of Railways will establish its 69th division at Jammu under the Northern Railway Zone.

• The official announcement was made on January 1, 2025, via the ministry's communication to the Northern Zone.

• Currently, Indian Railways has 68 divisions; Jammu will become the 69th division once the notification is issued.

• India ranks fourth in the world for the largest rail network, after the USA, China, and Russia.

• Indian Railways is the largest railway system globally under a single management.

• It is also the world’s largest employer, with around 1.25 million employees.

• Indian Railways operates through 17 Zones to manage its extensive network.

• Divisions are created within these Zones to handle the operations more efficiently.

• Northern Railway Zone is the largest zone in Indian Railways.

AWARDS

Odia poet Prativa Satpathy will be honoured with the Gangadhar National Award

• Odia poet Prativa Satpathy will receive the Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2023.

• The award will be presented by Sambalpur University on its 58th foundation day.

• Prativa Satpathy is a Sahitya Akademi Award winner.

• Her Odia writings have been translated into various Indian and foreign languages.

• The Gangadhar National Award was established by Sambalpur University in 1989.

• The award includes a citation, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000.

• Previous recipients of the award include renowned poets like Gulzar and Kedar Nath Singh.

• The award recognizes excellence in the field of poetry.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

India world’s sixth largest exporter of Textile & Apparel in 2023

• India is set to become the 6th largest exporter of textiles and apparel globally in 2023.

• The country's share in the global textiles and apparel market stood at 3.9% in 2023.

• China remains the top exporter of textiles and apparel, followed by the European Union and Bangladesh.

• For the April-October period of FY 2024-25, India's export of textiles, apparel, and handicrafts reached USD 21.358 billion.

• During the same period, India’s imports amounted to USD 5.425 billion.

• India primarily imports textiles and apparel for re-exporting purposes.

• Imported textiles often serve as raw materials for India’s manufacturing sector.

• The textile and apparel sector plays a significant role in India’s economy and trade.

• India’s growing share in global exports reflects its expanding influence in the textile industry.

SPORTS

International Championship of Handball (IHF) Trophy Men’s Youth and Junior (Continental Phase – Asia) has begun.

• The International Handball Federation (IHF) Men’s Youth and Junior Championship (Asia) has started in Lucknow.

• The tournament is being held at the KD Singh Babu Stadium for the first time.

• Four countries are participating: Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and India.

• On the opening day, Kazakhstan defeated Bangladesh in both youth and junior categories.

• India played against Uzbekistan in both categories on the first day.

• This is a qualification tournament for the World Handball Championship.

• The winner of the tournament will secure a spot in the World Championship.