NATIONAL NEWS

Government is aiming to introduce ‘One Nation, One Time’ for Standardized IST

• The government draft rules for ‘One Nation, One Time’ initiative to ensure uniform time usage across India.

• The Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025 have been released for public consultation.

• The initiative aims to mandate IST across all sectors, ensuring consistency in timekeeping.

• Developed in collaboration with NPL & ISRO, it will enable IST dissemination with millisecond to microsecond accuracy.

• Expected to enhance key sectors like telecom, navigation, power grid synchronization, banking, and digital governance.

• The new rules will introduce a strong regulatory framework, covering synchronization, time-stamping, and cybersecurity protocols.

• Strengthens national security by ensuring real-time coordination of critical infrastructure.

• The draft rules are open for public feedback until February 14, 2025.

APPOINTMENTS

M. Mohan Appointed Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)

• M. Mohan has been appointed as the new Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).

• He previously served as the Director (Projects) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

• The position became vacant after Dr. V. Narayanan, the former LPSC director, was appointed as ISRO Chairman.

• M. Mohan was the Director of the Human Space Flight Centre from June 2023 to June 2024.

• He also led the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) project as the system leader for the Chandrayaan-1 mission.

• Throughout his career, Mohan has held key roles, including Associate Director (R&D) at VSSC and Project Director for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

SPORTS

Diya Chitale and Manush Shah won national table tennis champions titles.

• Diya Chitale and Manush Shah claimed the national singles titles at the 86th Senior National Table Tennis Championship.

• In the finals, Diya defeated Sreeja Akula, and Manush triumphed over Payas Jain.

• The Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium in Surat hosted the event.

• Manush Shah, hailing from Vadodara and representing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), won in a dominant five-game match.

• Diya, a paddler from Mumbai and also with RBI, emerged victorious in the women’s singles.

• A day before, Diya and Sreeja Akula won the doubles championship.

• In mixed doubles, Akash Pal and Poymantee Baisya defeated Taneesha Kotecha and Jash Modi.

STATE NEWS

Assam to Have Dibrugarh as Second Capital

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Dibrugarh will become the state’s second capital by 2027.

• Dibrugarh, historically known for its role in tea, oil, and coal trade, will also have an Assembly complex.

• The decision aims to enhance Ease of Living and improve connectivity in the region.

• Similar initiatives were announced for Tezpur and Silchar.

• Tezpur, in north-central Assam, will be developed as the cultural capital and house a Raj Bhavan.

• Silchar in southern Assam will host a Mini Secretariat and the Chief Secretary’s office.

• The Department of Startups will be created to support the state's economic growth.

• The permanent Assembly building in Dibrugarh will begin construction on January 25, 2026, with annual Assembly sessions set to take place there from 2027.

Tripura Signs MoU with Bhashini for Multi-lingual Governance

• Tripura becomes the first North East state to sign an MoU with Bhashini for Multi-lingual Governance.

• The MoU was signed with the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) during the ‘Bhashini Rajyam’ workshop at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala.

• Tripura is now the 8th state in India to enter into an MoU with Bhashini.

• The integration of Bhashini with Tripura's e-Governance systems will help bridge the digital divide.

• Bhashini will offer cost-effective translations, enhance inclusive policy execution, and support regional identity.

• Bhashini will integrate with systems like the CM Helpline, eVidhan, Kisan Sahayata App, and e-Districts for multilingual communication.

• Bhashini is part of the Digital India initiative, aiming to ensure seamless communication and internet accessibility in 22 Indian languages.

First-Ever Pashmina Festival Held in Kathmandu

• The first International Pashmina Festival was organized in Kathmandu by the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries.

• The three-day event focused on Pashmina, a delicate and warm natural fiber obtained from Chyangra or Pashmina goats.

• The exhibition, running until January 25, featured over 150 stalls, with 40+ stalls dedicated to pure Nepali Pashmina.

• Nepal is a major producer of authentic Pashmina, often branded as Chyangra Pashmina to emphasize its quality and authenticity.

• Traditional weaving methods passed down through generations are used in Pashmina production.

• Genuine Nepali Pashmina is certified with a government label as Chyangra Pashmina.

• In India, Pashmina products are made in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, while machine-woven Pashmina is produced in Amritsar.

• Pashmina's global popularity is due to its softness, warmth, and intricate handmade designs.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Joins Eurodrone as Observer

• India has officially joined the Eurodrone programme as an observer.

• The Eurodrone initiative is led by Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

• The program is spearheaded by Airbus Defence and Space (Germany), with major contributors such as Leonardo (Italy), Dassault Aviation (France), and Airbus (Spain).

• The initiative is managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).

• In November 2023, Japan became the first official OCCAR observer in the MALE RPAS (Eurodrone) programme.

• India formally requested to join the program in August 2024.

Alexander Lukashenko Wins Belarus Presidential Election for Seventh Time

• Alexander Lukashenko, leader of Belarus, secured a seventh term in the presidential election, extending his 31-year rule.

• The Central Election Commission declared Lukashenko the winner with a landslide victory, securing nearly 87% of the vote.

• Since taking office in 1994, Lukashenko's authoritarian regime has earned him the title of “Europe's last dictator”.

• The European Union has threatened new sanctions, denouncing the elections as illegal.

• Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.

• It shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.

• The capital of Belarus is Minsk, and its official currency is the Belarusian ruble.

RANKING AND INDEX

The 2025 World University Rankings by Subject has been released by the Times Higher Education.

• The Times Higher Education released the 2025 World University Rankings by Subject, showcasing global university performance.

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru is ranked 99th in computer science, making it the first Indian institution to enter the top 100 in this field.

• IISc had been ranked between 251-300 last year, showing significant improvement.

• Delhi University has earned recognition as one of the top universities in law and psychology globally.

• The number of Indian universities in the computer science category increased to 53, up from 47 in 2024.

• IISc ranked 96th in computer science.

• Indian universities in business and economics increased from 15 in 2024 to 24 in 2025.

• JNU and Delhi University moved up in the arts and humanities category, now ranking in the 401–500 range, compared to the 501–600 range last year.

• A total of 14 Indian universities have made it to the top ranks in social sciences.

• The top three global universities across all subjects are MIT, Stanford, and Oxford.

• The rankings cover 11 categories: arts and humanities, business and economics, computer science, education studies, engineering, law, life sciences, medical and health, physical sciences, psychology, and social sciences.

AWARDS

Christine Carla Kangaloo Receives Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

• Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of Trinidad and Tobago, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by India.

• The recognition honors her exceptional achievements in public life and her efforts to enhance India's international reputation.

• Kangaloo, an Indo-Trinidadian, was the chief guest at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention.

• The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention took place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from January 8–10, 2025.

• In her speech, she highlighted the historical ties between India and Tobago, dating back to 1845, when Indian indentured labourers arrived in Trinidad.

• She also acknowledged that after Trinidad and Tobago's independence in 1962, India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations.

• The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is the highest honor given to Indians abroad for their exceptional contributions in various fields.

MISCELLANEOUS

WHO Declares Georgia Malaria-Free

• Georgia has officially been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• Turkey is now the only country in the WHO European Region still facing malaria.

• After decades of effort and a century-long battle, Georgia has achieved this significant milestone.

• With this status, Georgia joins 45 other nations and one territory in achieving malaria-free certification.

• Historically, three parasite species were common in Georgia, making malaria a major issue.

• In the 1920s, 30% of Georgia's population was affected by P. vivax malaria.

• The WHO certification is based on evidence of no indigenous malaria transmission for at least three years.

• Georgia’s success brings Europe closer to being the first malaria-free region in the world.