IMPORTANT DAYS

Statehood day of Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya: 21 January

• January 21 marks the Statehood Day for Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

• PM Modi extended congratulations to the people of these states on their 53rd Statehood Day.

• The three states celebrate 53 years of statehood in 2025.

• They gained statehood under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

• The Act came into effect on January 21, 1972.

• Manipur and Tripura were originally princely states, joining India in October 1949.

• Initially, both were made union territories.

• In 1970, Meghalaya was granted autonomy within Assam.

• Full statehood was granted to Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya in 1972 under the Reorganisation Act.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Amitabh Kant authored the book ‘How India scaled Mt. G20′.

• Amitabh Kant authored the book How India Scaled Mt. G-20.

• On 21 January, PM Modi praised the book, highlighting its importance.

• Dr. S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, wrote the foreword.

• The book showcases India’s determination and collaborative efforts during the G-20 presidency.

• It highlights the success of the G-20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023.

• The summit became one of the largest global gatherings of the decade.

• A key achievement of the summit was the consensus on the Joint Declaration.

• The book underscores India’s leadership in making the G-20 presidency a success.

Pankaj Mishra released his latest book 'The World After Gaza.'

• Pankaj Mishra’s latest book, The World After Gaza, delves into the ongoing conflict in Gaza and its global ramifications.

• Published by Juggernaut Books in India, this book offers a critical exploration of the devastating war.

• It examines how the conflict challenges fundamental ideas of human rights and exposes a growing moral decline worldwide.

• Mishra is a renowned essayist and author, with a rich portfolio of nine books spanning fiction and non-fiction.

• His writing has earned him the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prize for non-fiction in 2014.

• In 2024, he was also honored with the Weston International Prize.

• The World After Gaza serves as a timely and essential read for those seeking a deeper understanding of current global tensions.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Nigeria has become a BRICS partner country.

• Nigeria has joined the BRICS group as a partner country.

• Nigeria becomes the ninth BRICS partner, alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

• BRICS was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.

• The group was established to counterbalance the dominance of the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized nations.

• Saudi Arabia has been invited to join, with Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE added in 2023.

• Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey have formally applied to join BRICS.

• Nigeria is the sixth most populous country globally and Africa’s most populous nation.

• Last year, former US President Trump threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they weakened the US dollar.

India is currently the world's seventh-largest producer of coffee.

• India ranks as the seventh-largest coffee producer globally.

• Coffee exports from India reached $1.29 billion in the last fiscal year, nearly doubling the $719 million from 2020-21.

• Italy, Belgium, and Russia were the top importers of India’s coffee, which totaled 9,300 tonnes in the first half of this month.

• India primarily exports unroasted coffee beans, with increasing demand for roasted and instant varieties.

• Karnataka is the largest coffee producer in India, with 248,000 metric tonnes in 2022-2023, followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

• Domestic coffee consumption in India grew from 84,000 tonnes in 2012 to 91,000 tonnes in 2023.

• Rising disposable incomes, the café culture, and a shift towards coffee over tea are driving this growth.

• India's coffee export success is fueled by the global demand for high-quality coffee.

• The launch of the critical mineral block auctions highlights India’s push to enhance its mining sector.

SPORTS

Karnataka clinched the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the fifth time.

• Karnataka secured its fifth Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a 36-run win over Vidarbha.

• The final was played at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

• Karnataka finished the group stage with only one loss from seven matches, advancing after victories over Baroda and Haryana.

• This marks Karnataka’s first title since their inaugural win in the 2013-14 season.

• Other teams with multiple titles include Tamil Nadu (3), Mumbai (2), and Saurashtra (2).

• The Vijay Hazare Trophy, also known as the Ranji One-Day Trophy, was established to honor the legendary cricketer Vijay Hazare.

• Karnataka's latest triumph adds to its legacy in domestic one-day cricket.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

SIAM’s 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circularity was held in New Delhi.

• The 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circularity was held in New Delhi.

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav addressed the Special Ministerial Session of the conference.

• The conference was organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

• The theme of the event was ‘Nature Positive Recycling’.

• Key stakeholders from the automotive industry gathered to discuss sustainable development and circularity.

• Bhupender Yadav emphasized the three key benefits of circularity:

✓ Economic growth by reducing raw material dependence and production costs.

✓ Environmental sustainability by minimizing ecosystem harm and emissions.

✓ Social impact through green job creation and promoting sustainable practices.

• The conference highlighted the importance of adopting circularity in the automotive sector.

3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference was organized by the Mines Ministry.

• The 3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference was organized by the Mines Ministry in partnership with the Odisha Government.

• The conference, held in Konark, featured the launch of the Mining Tenement System (MTS), a digital platform aimed at improving efficiency and transparency in mineral resource management.

• The event also saw the introduction of the Fifth Tranche of Critical Mineral Block Auctions.

• This tranche will make 15 critical mineral blocks across eight states available for auction.

• The conference served as a platform for State Mining Ministers to share their plans and vision for the mining sector in their states.

• MTS aims to streamline mining operations and ensure better resource management.

MISCELLANEOUS

ASI Archaeologists found a 1,200-year-old Buddhist monastery at Ratnagiri Buddhist site in Jajpur district.

• ASI archaeologists uncovered a 1,200-year-old Buddhist monastery at the Ratnagiri site in Jajpur district.

• Excavations revealed a Buddhist monastery complex, stone Buddha sculptures, votive stupas, inscribed stones, pottery, and beads.

• A five-foot monolithic elephant sculpture was among the remarkable finds.

• The site also yielded a colossal Buddha head and fragments of Buddhist deity sculptures.

• Excavation began in December 2024, led by ASI Deputy Superintendent Prajnaprati Pradhan.

• The excavation aims to uncover more artefacts to shed light on the history and cultural influence of Buddhism in Odisha.

• Ratnagiri started to decline in the 13th century due to invasions by Muslim rulers.

• Known as the "Hill of Jewels," Ratnagiri was first documented in 1905 by Manmohan Chakravarty.

• The findings contribute significantly to the understanding of Odisha's Buddhist heritage.

National Critical Mineral Mission would be launched by the Centre, said Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.

• The Centre will launch the National Critical Mineral Mission, as announced by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.

• The mission aims to boost offshore mining auctions, enhance domestic production, and reduce import dependency.

• Reddy emphasized the need for collaborative efforts from all governments to support sustainable mining operations.

• He inaugurated the 3rd National Mining Ministers' Conference in Konark, with key officials in attendance.

• Telangana’s Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, Bihar’s Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, and Odisha’s CM Mohan Charan Majhi were present.

• The mission is expected to receive Cabinet approval, according to Minister Reddy.

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned the mission during her Union Budget 2024–25 speech.

• Reddy confirmed that no import taxes are levied on essential minerals anymore.

• 24 of the 48 critical mineral blocks available for auction have already been successfully allotted.

• During the conference, Reddy and Majhi launched the Mining Tenement System (MTS) and awarded top-performing states in mining block auctions.

• Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra led the auctions for FY 2023–2024.

• Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements are a focus of the mission.