IMPORTANT DAYS
National Voters’ Day 2025 celebrated on 25 January
• National Voters' Day is celebrated on January 25 each year to raise electoral awareness and encourage voter participation.
• The day marks the foundation of the Election Commission of India, established on January 25, 1950.
• The 15th National Voters' Day is observed in 2025.
• This year’s theme is "Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure," continuing the theme from the previous year.
• National Voters' Day has been celebrated annually since 2011.
• The theme aims to emphasize the importance of voting in a democracy.
• The President received the first copy of the Election Commission’s coffee table book, 'India Votes 2024: A Saga of Democracy.'
• The book highlights the journey and milestones of the 18th Lok Sabha elections.
• National Voters' Day encourages citizens to actively engage in the electoral process and exercise their voting rights.
APPOINTMENTS
Jay Shah has been elected as a new member of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
• Jay Shah was elected as a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Advisory Board on January 23.
• Shah is the current ICC chairman and former BCCI secretary.
• He is one of 13 founding members of the new World Cricket Connects Advisory Board.
• The advisory board will be chaired by former Sri Lanka captain and MCC president, Kumar Sangakkara.
• This new board replaces the World Cricket Committee, which was established in 2006.
• Jay Shah missed the inauguration of the World Cricket Connects Forum in 2024.
• Other founding members include Sourav Ganguly, Graeme Smith, Andrew Strauss, Heather Knight, and Sanjog Gupta.
• The second World Cricket Connects Forum will be held on June 7-8, 2025, at Lord’s, ahead of the WTC Final.
• The MCC is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket and promotes the spirit of the game worldwide.
• Founded in 1787, the MCC is based at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and took responsibility for the Laws of Cricket in 1788.
Michael Martin will return for a second term as Ireland's Prime Minister.
• Michael Martin will begin his second term as Ireland's Prime Minister.
• Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, won 95 votes in favor and 76 against in the recent vote.
• The new coalition will include Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and independent lawmakers.
• Independent lawmakers will replace the Green Party in the coalition.
• The elections were held in November.
• Martin previously served as prime minister from 2020 to 2022.
• According to the agreement, Simon Harris of Fine Gael will become prime minister in 2027.
• Harris will initially step in as deputy prime minister, succeeding Martin.
STATE NEWS
Haryana government launched the ‘Samman Sanjeevani’ app.
• Haryana government launched the ‘Samman Sanjeevani’ app on National Girl Child Day 2025.
• The app was introduced by Haryana’s Women and Child Development Minister, Shruti Choudhry.
• It is part of the ‘Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana’ aimed at supporting women and girls.
• The app will track the delivery of benefits to the scheme’s beneficiaries.
• Sanitary napkins are provided to BPL women and girls aged 10 to 45 under the scheme.
• The benefits are distributed through Anganwadi centers and schools.
• The app will gather data on beneficiaries and update monthly benefit deliveries.
• The state is also marking the 10th anniversary of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme.
• This milestone will be celebrated with various women’s empowerment programs.
• Awareness initiatives will be organized under the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme.
First edition of the World Pickleball League started in Mumbai.
• The first edition of the World Pickleball League (WPBL) kicked off in Mumbai.
• The tournament is being held at the CCI in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Six teams are competing: Mumbai Pickle Power, Hyderabad Superstars, Pune United, Chennai Superchamps, Dilli Dilwale, and Bengaluru Jawans.
• The opening match featured Mumbai Pickle Power against Pune United.
• The league spans 10 days, with the final match scheduled for February 2.
• This inaugural edition marks the beginning of the World Pickleball League.
NATIONAL NEWS
Tri-services tableau will debut in the 76th Republic Day parade.
• The tri-services tableau will make its debut at the 76th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2025.
• It will march under the theme “Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat” (Empowered and Secure India).
• The tableau will represent the spirit of collaboration and integration among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• It will highlight the armed forces' crucial role in national security and operational excellence.
• The tableau will feature the Joint Operations Room, symbolizing seamless communication across all services.
• A dynamic battlefield scenario will showcase coordinated operations on land, sea, and air.
• Indigenous defense platforms like the Arjun tank, Tejas MKII fighter, and INS Visakhapatnam will be displayed.
• The tableau will feature advanced platforms such as the advanced light helicopter and remotely piloted aircraft.
• The display will emphasize multi-domain operational coordination between the services.
• The showcased platforms reflect India's commitment to 'self-reliance' in defense.
DEFENCE
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off Battlefield Surveillance System ‘SANJAY’.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Battlefield Surveillance System ‘SANJAY’.
• ‘SANJAY’ aims to enhance transparency on the battlefield.
• The system is equipped with advanced sensors and analytics to transform future warfare.
• It will be rolled out in three phases, starting in March 2025.
• The system has been indigenously developed by the Indian Army and Bharat Electronics Limited.
• The development cost of the system is ₹2,402 crore.
• ‘SANJAY’ will help monitor borders, prevent intrusions, and provide accurate situational assessments.
• It supports commanders in both conventional and sub-conventional operations within a Network Centric Environment.
RANKING AND INDEX
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Goa are among the top performing states in NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index.
• Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and Jharkhand are top performers in NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index (FHI) for 2022-23.
• The first Fiscal Health Index report was released by NITI Aayog on January 24, 2025.
• The FHI report ranks 18 major states based on their contribution to India's GDP, demographics, public expenditure, revenue, and fiscal sustainability.
• Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala were the worst-performing states, categorized as 'aspirational.'
• Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka were ranked as 'Front Runners.'
• Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Haryana are listed as 'Performers.'
• Odisha achieved the highest composite index score of 67.8, excelling in fiscal health.
• The report evaluates states using five sub-indices: Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation, Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability.
• The aim is to assess the fiscal health of states and identify areas for improvement.
• The report also provides insights into state-specific challenges in managing finances.
BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE
India's share in global consumption is projected to be 16% by 2050.
• By 2050, India's global consumption share is expected to rise to 16%, up from 9% in 2023.
• North America will have a slightly higher share at 17% by 2050, surpassing India's consumption.
• These projections are based on purchasing power parity, adjusting for price differences across countries.
• India’s growing and youthful population, along with rising incomes, will drive its consumption increase.
• By 2050, only 26% of the global population will live in first-wave regions, down from 42% in 1997.
• India’s labor force will contribute to two-thirds of global working hours by 2050.
• India's share of the global population will decrease from 23% in 2023 to 17% by 2050.
• The growth in India's consumption is fueled by demographic trends and improving economic conditions.
• Global consumption trends will shift, with India playing a major role due to its expanding middle class.
