IMPORTANT DAYS

National Startup Day 2025 celebrated on 16 January

• National Startup Day is celebrated annually on January 16, marking the importance of startups in driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.

• The day was officially recognized in 2022 to highlight the role of startups in boosting the economy.

• India is home to 1.6 lakh government-recognized startups, ranking third globally in terms of startup ecosystems.

• Startups in India have generated over 1.6 million jobs, contributing significantly to employment.

• To avail benefits, startups must register with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

• Registered startups enjoy various perks, such as self-certification for labor and environmental laws, and patent filing rebates.

• India currently boasts over 110 Unicorns, showing the growing success of its startup culture.

• As of January 2025, over 4,000 startups have received funding through the Startup India Fund of Funds.

AWARDS

Singapore awards the Honorary Citizen Award to Tarun Das, the former head of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

• Tarun Das, former CII head, was awarded Singapore's Honorary Citizen Award for his contribution to strengthening India-Singapore ties.

• The award was presented by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during his state visit to India.

• The Honorary Citizen Award is the highest recognition given by the Singapore government to non-citizens.

• It honors individuals for significant contributions in areas like business, science, technology, education, health, arts, and community service.

• Tarun Das is the second Indian to receive this prestigious award.

• The first Indian to be honored with this award was the late industrialist Ratan Tata.

• The recognition acknowledges Mr. Das's efforts in fostering bilateral relations between India and Singapore.

• The ceremony took place in New Delhi, marking an important moment in India-Singapore diplomacy.

DEFENCE

Exercise Devil Strike will be conducted by Indian Armed Forces from January 16-19.

• Exercise Devil Strike will take place from January 16-19, involving elite airborne troops from the Indian Army and Air Force.

• The exercise will be conducted at designated training areas and firing ranges.

• It aims to validate key drills and improve operational readiness for both forces.

• Focus will be on refining logistic sustenance strategies for complex operations.

• The exercise will assess advanced airborne operations in challenging, hostile environments.

• It is designed to strengthen the preparedness of the Indian Army and Air Force for future operational challenges.

• Overall, the exercise will enhance coordination and operational efficiency between the two services.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India & Spain sign two MoUs during Dr. Jaishankar's visit to Spain

• India and Spain signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance bilateral relations during Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Spain.

• Dr. Jaishankar's two-day official visit took place on January 13-14, 2025, where he met with senior Spanish leaders.

• This was Dr. Jaishankar's second visit to Spain; his first was alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017.

• India-Spain relations have strengthened recently, particularly following the successful visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to India in October 2024.

• During Pedro Sanchez's visit, both countries agreed to mark 2026 as the "Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)."

• The MoUs signed aim to foster deeper cooperation between the two nations in various sectors.

• The growing ties between India and Spain highlight mutual interest in cultural exchange, technology, and tourism.

• The upcoming "Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI" will focus on enhancing bilateral engagement in these areas.

A new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region announced by NATO.

• NATO has launched a new mission to safeguard undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region, amid rising concerns over possible Russian activities.

• The mission, named Baltic Sentry, was announced during a meeting in Helsinki with NATO leaders from Baltic Sea countries.

• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of undersea cables, as they secure over 95% of global internet traffic.

• Over 1.3 million kilometers (808,000 miles) of cables facilitate approximately $10 trillion in daily financial transactions.

• The mission will involve frigates and maritime patrol aircraft to enhance vigilance in the Baltic region.

• Naval drones will be deployed to improve surveillance and provide a deterrence mechanism.

• The mission targets a fleet of aging tankers that evade sanctions, with questionable safety practices and connections to oil revenues funneled to Moscow.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Pixxel became the first private company in India to have its own constellation of satellites.

• Pixxel has become the first private company in India to establish its own satellite constellation.

• The company, along with Digantara, launched its satellites using a SpaceX rocket.

• The satellites will monitor Earth and objects in orbit around it for various applications.

• Pixxel's constellation uses advanced hyperspectral technology, enabling Earth observation across 150+ bands.

• This technology will benefit sectors like agriculture, defense, and more.

• Digantara Aerospace launched the world’s first commercial satellite for object tracking, named SCOT.

• SCOT will track objects as small as 5 cm in orbit, enhancing space operations safety.

• The satellite will help improve surveillance and ensure safer management of space debris.

NATIONAL NEWS

Archaeological Experiential Museum, Prerna Complex, and Vadnagar Sports Complex inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Vadnagar, Gujarat, on January 16.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum, Prerna Complex, and Vadnagar Sports Complex in Vadnagar, Gujarat, on January 16.

• The event also saw the launch of the Heritage Complex Development Scheme, Urban Road Development, and Beautification Program in Vadnagar.

• The Archaeological Experiential Museum, spread across 12,500 square meters, was built at a cost of Rs 298 crore, highlighting Vadnagar's rich cultural history.

• The museum showcases over 2,500 years of continuous human habitation in Vadnagar through archaeological finds.

• It is the first museum in India offering an immersive experience of an archaeological site.

• The museum displays more than 5,000 artefacts, including pottery, tools, coins, jewellery, sculptures, and sports equipment.

• It also features biological materials like food grains, DNA, and skeletal remains.

• On the same day, the Union Home Minister inaugurated the Vadnagar Taluka-level sports complex, developed at a cost of Rs 33.50 crore, spanning 34,235 square meters.

SPORTS

India to defend its ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Title in Malaysia

• India’s U-19 Women's Cricket Team, led by Captain Nikki Prasad, aims to defend its title at the 2nd ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.

• The tournament will take place from January 18 to February 2, 2025, and is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

• India won the inaugural ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023, under the captaincy of Shafali Verma, defeating England in the final.

• The World Cup will feature a 20-over format and is for women cricketers under the age of 19.

• The tournament will be held in Malaysia for the first time in 2025.

• India’s U-19 women's team aims to become the first to successfully defend the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup title.

MISCELLANEOUS

PV Sindhu becomes a brand ambassador for Puma India.

• PV Sindhu has signed a multi-year partnership with Puma India as their brand ambassador.

• Puma will launch a specialized high-performance badminton range in collaboration with Sindhu.

• The partnership will debut at the 2025 India Open.

• Badminton is now the second most popular sport in urban India, after cricket.

• Puma and Sindhu aim to boost the sport's popularity, especially among the youth.

• The collaboration focuses on promoting badminton and inspiring the next generation of athletes.

• The new badminton line will feature specialized equipment for enhanced performance.