1 India became the country with the third largest metro rail network in the world
The metro rail network in India is expanding rapidly. Now the total length of the metro rail network in the country has increased to 1000 km. With this large network, India has now become the country with the third largest metro rail network in the world after China and America . Delhi started its metro journey in 2002 , when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave the first metro to the people of Delhi and today Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gifting new metro projects and Namo India to the people of Delhi. The metro network has grown threefold in the last decade. The metro network has grown from only 248 km in 2014 to 1000 km now. Today 23 cities in 11 states have metro rail network. In 2014 it was only in 5 states and 5 cities. In 1984 the first metro line in India opened in Kolkata, which was 3.4 km long between Esplanade and Bhawanipur. This was the beginning of metro life in India. In 2002, the DMRC opened its first metro corridor between Shahdara and Tis Hazari in Delhi, setting the stage for one of the largest metro networks in the country.
2 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new building of Central Ayurveda Research Institute at Rohini, New Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Central Ayurveda Research Institute at Rohini , terming it “ the next big leap for Ayurveda ” as a significant step towards advancing health care and promoting traditional medicine. Established in 1979, Central Ayurveda Research Institute has been a pioneer in clinical research in Ayurveda, particularly focusing on preventive cardiology and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Institute has been operating from rented premises at Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi for many years.
3 Exchange of nuclear and prisoner lists between India and Pakistan
Recently India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations and shared details of prisoners and fishermen despite strained diplomatic relations. The exchange of lists of prisoners and fishermen is mandatory under the Consular Access Agreement of 2008 , which takes place every two years on January 1 and July 1. The exchange of lists of nuclear installations was done under the Agreement on Prohibition of Attack on Nuclear Installations, 1988. This was the 34th consecutive exchange, the first exchange having taken place on January 1, 1992. The agreement, signed on December 31, 1988 and effective from January 27, 1991, requires India and Pakistan to exchange details of nuclear installations every year on January 1. However, neither country has disclosed details of nuclear installations. Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 mandates that foreign nationals who are arrested or detained should be promptly informed of their right to notify their embassy or consulate.
4 Renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial inaugurated
Recently, the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu inaugurated the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial at Vaikom , an important site commemorating the contributions of Tamil reformist E.V. Ramasamy Nayakar , popularly known as Thanthai Periyar . The memorial is built in memory of Thanthai Periyar, who played a key role in the Vaikom Satyagraha, known as the first organised movement for the rights of ‘untouchable’ communities in India, in April 1924. Periyar’s activism landed him in prison twice for participating in the movement, earning him the title ‘Vaikom Veeran’. The renovated memorial houses a new library and materials detailing Periyar’s biography, the history of the Dravidian movement and his relations with prominent leaders. Vaikom Satyagraha, a peaceful protest held in Vaikom, Kerala from 30 March 1924 to 23 November 1925, was led by visionary leaders TK Madhavan, KP Kesava Menon and K. Kelappan. He started the Self-Respect Movement and the Dravidar Kazhagam and is known as the ‘Father of the Dravidian Movement’.
5 The number of elephants in Assam increased to 5,828
The elephant population in Assam has increased and the number has reached 5,828 . This was announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , informing that the Assam Forest Department has recently completed the elephant population estimation for 2024 in the state. Chief Minister Sarma said that recently the elephant population estimation for 2024 has been done in Assam. In this survey conducted after 7 years, the number of elephants has increased from 5,719 to 5,828. He also praised the efforts of the Forest Department in the conservation of elephants. This survey was conducted after a gap of seven years. According to the report, 82 percent of the total population (4,777 elephants) reside in five elephant reserves, which underlines their important contribution to conservation. The Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve recorded the highest density with 79 elephants per 100 sq km.
6 Sai Paranjpe will receive the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award
Renowned Indian cinema director and writer Sai Paranjpe will be honoured with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF) 2025. Known for her true-to-life films like Sparsh, Chashme Badoor, Katha, and Saaz, Paranjpe is considered a leading figure in India’s parallel cinema movement, which gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. The award recognises her extensive contribution to Indian cinema and Marathi literature. The 10th edition of the AIFF will be held from 15 to 19 January 2025 at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where Paranjpe will be presented with the prestigious honour during the opening ceremony.
7 AICTE’s 2025 ‘Year of AI’
Recently, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has designated the year 2025 as the ” Year of Artificial Intelligence ” to establish India as a global leader in AI . AICTE aims to promote AI in education through updated curriculum, faculty workshops, and collaboration with AI-powered companies for real-world exposure. The key elements of this initiative include AI Affirmation Pledge, comprehensive AI integration, AI awareness campaigns, faculty development and industry partnerships, excellence recognitions. The initiative will impact more than 14,000 colleges and 40 million students, aiming to integrate AI in higher education and promote innovation and leadership. The government launched AI-enabled tools and safeguards to enhance consumer protection, including the National Consumer Helpline, e-Map portal and Jago-Grahak-Jago mobile application and guidelines to regulate deceptive marketing in e-commerce.
8 Polar sundial at VSSC
Recently a polar sundial designed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) has been displayed in the ‘ Rocket Garden ‘ of the Space Museum at Thumba, Kerala . This sundial serves as an educational tool, demonstrating complex astronomical concepts in a visually appealing manner. The sundial features analemmatic correction, allowing it to accurately display Indian Standard Time (IST) and date. Unlike conventional sundials, this sundial replaces the straight hour lines with an inverted analemma curve, which automatically converts local solar time to mean solar time throughout the year. The analemma correction is based on the figure-eight-shaped pattern formed by the Sun in the sky during a year, due to the Earth’s inclination and elliptical orbit. The sundial is designed with a polar configuration, where the sundial plate is aligned parallel to the Earth’s polar axis and attached to a wedge-shaped structure based on the latitude of Thumba. This sundial features a 1.6-feet tall, 3D-printed miniature version of the RH200 sounding rocket from the Rohini series.
9 Nomura cuts India’s FY25 GDP growth forecast to 6.7%
Nomura has lowered its forecast for India’s FY25 GDP growth to 6.7% from 6.9% . The revision comes after the slow growth data for the April-June quarter, where GDP growth was recorded at 6.7%, down from 7.8% in the previous quarter.
10 Manish Singhal appointed General Secretary of ASSOCHAM
The Association of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (ASSOCHAM) , one of India’s oldest apex business chambers ( founded 1920 ), has appointed Manish Singhal as its new Secretary General. Singhal, who has over 35 years of experience, succeeds Deepak Sood , who served for five years and left a strong financial foundation behind by improving the Chamber’s operations. Singhal’s career spans leadership roles at prestigious organisations such as Tata Motors, Eicher (Volvo), and FICCI, where he was Deputy Secretary General.
11 Blinkit started a new service in Gurgaon, ambulance will be available in 10 minutes
Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa has announced the launch of a quick ambulance service in Gurugram , where residents can book ambulances through the Blinkit app, which will arrive within 10 minutes. The initiative is aimed at meeting the critical need for emergency medical transportation in urban areas. The service, which includes Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances , is a significant step towards providing fast and reliable medical assistance.
12 SBI launched two schemes
State Bank of India has launched two new schemes. Both these schemes will provide interest and many other facilities to the customers. These two schemes of SBI are Har Ghar Lakhpati RD scheme and SBI Patrons FD scheme . Har Ghar Lakhpati is a pre-calculated recurring deposit scheme designed to help customers deposit Rs 1 lakh or its multiples. ‘SBI Patrons’ is a fixed deposit scheme, which is especially for senior citizens aged 80 years and above.
