Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (Jan 01st to 07th Jan 2025)

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of Jan 01st to 07th Jan 2025. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2025 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• Global Family Day 2025 is observed on the 1st of January 2025.
• World Braille Day is observed annually on January 4 to honour Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system, which has had a profound impact on the literacy, independence, and inclusivity of visually impaired individuals.
• World Day of War Orphans 2025 is observed on the 6th January 2025.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) is proposing a significant revamp to the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, a key pillar of India’s Rs 76,000-crore semiconductor incentive programme.
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme 2024 deadline by one month, moving it from December 31, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
• The revised Schedule M guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), effective January 2025, have put significant pressure on India’s pharmaceutical industry, especially on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), along with the National Election Watch (NEW), has released a report analyzing the self-declared affidavits of India’s 31 Chief Ministers.
• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has unveiled new guidelines establishing a ₹100 crore Payment Security Fund (PSM) to support the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) and Utility-Led or State-Led Aggregation (ULA) models under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is conducting a study to analyze competition issues in the renewable energy sector across BRICS nations.
• India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in February 2025.
• The government is focusing on increasing the number of installations under the newly launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the disbursal of subsidy to the households has somewhat been delayed.
• The Union Home Ministry has amended the Model Prison Manual, 2016, and the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, to address caste-based discrimination in prisons
• Tata group airline Air India has rolled out Wi-Fi internet connectivity services on board domestic and international flights operated by select aircraft in its fleet.
• The Centre has extended the special subsidy of ₹3,500 per tonne on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) for another year, from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025
• Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will introduce its revamped software system, EPFO 3.0, by June 2025
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of transformative infrastructure and redevelopment projects in Delhi.
• The Central Government is nearing approval for the construction of three new greenfield airports in Parandur (Tamil Nadu), Kota (Rajasthan), and Puri (Odisha).

• Blinkit, a quick-commerce platform, has introduced a 10-minute ambulance service in select areas of Gurgaon.

• The government has constituted an 18-member working group, led by NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand, to revise the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture, and Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced three major Cabinet decisions aimed at supporting Indian farmers, ensuring their prosperity, and advancing the vision of a developed India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) unveiled the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act draft rules.
• During the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, President Droupadi Murmu lauded the institution for its innovative approach to integrating Yoga and Ayurveda into the treatment of mental health.
• The National Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, inaugurated ‘Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0’ at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) connecting Delhi and Meerut, drastically reducing travel time to just 40 minutes.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for establishing five to six more cooperatives like Amul to ensure better prices for farmers’ produce and enhance their income.
• Rural poverty has sharply reduced to 4.86% in FY 2024 from 25.7% in 2011-12.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Japan’s traditional rice wine, sake, has been inducted into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
• The new tourist tax in Russia came into effect on January 1, 2025, replacing the previous resort fee.
• The purchase of BrahMos missiles is a key item on the agenda for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during his proposed visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations later this month.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the SWAR (Speech and Written Analysis Resource) platform on December 25, 2024, marking the occasion of Good Governance Day.
• Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) will be renamed in honor of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as announced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during the institute’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.
• The Uttarakhand Forest Department has developed an ethnobotanical garden, named “Mahabharata Vatika”, in Haldwani, spread over one acre of land.
• Chhattisgarh has introduced a plan that connects the ecosystem services provided by its forests to the Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP), marking a first in the state.
• The largest Eri silk spinning mill in the Northeast is in Baksa district, Assam.
• The Gujarat government will conduct India’s first-ever census of coastal and wader birds at the Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar from January 3 to 5.
• The Gujarat government has decided to split Banaskantha district into two parts, creating a new district named Vav-Tharad, with its headquarters at Tharad.
• MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, announced a $1 million cash prize for individuals or organizations that successfully decipher the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) script.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Ltd (DRPPL), backed by the Adani Group, has been renamed Navbharat Mega Developers Private Ltd (NMDPL) to avoid confusion with the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority (DRA), a Maharashtra government entity.
• The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), India has proposed the introduction of a faceless GST audit system as part of its Budget 2025 recommendations
• Collection from Goods & Services Tax (GST) dipped to a 3-month low in December to ₹1.76 lakh crore.
• The Indian government has received ₹48,376 crore in dividend receipts from Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other investments, amounting to 86% of the annual target for the current financial year.
• According to the Crypto Outlook 2024-2025 report by Blue Aster Capital and Crebaco Global, India should establish a Digital Asset Regulatory Authority (DARA) by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
• Nomura has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 down to 6.7%, from the earlier estimate of 6.9%.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND ECONOMY

• Despite facing global uncertainties, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra is optimistic about India’s economic prospects, citing high consumer and business confidence in 2025 and expecting an improvement in the second half of the financial year.
• The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) has partnered with Vivifi Finance to launch a pilot project aimed at providing unsecured loans to gig workers.
• India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) marginally reduced to 1.2% of GDP in Q2 FY25, compared to 1.3% in the same quarter of the previous year.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates that Authorized Dealer Category-I Banks report gold derivative transactions to the Clearing Corporation of India Limited. (CCIL) trade repository.
• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has partnered with Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) to launch a unique health insurance product.
• The Finance Ministry urged public sector banks (PSBs) and insurance firms to speed up the resolution of public grievances.
• IDBI Bank has approved the issuance of Long-Term Bonds to finance Infrastructure and Affordable Housing projects, raising up to ₹10,000 crore.
• Indian Bank aims to maintain a 3.4% net interest margin (NIM) in FY25, with a possible variation of ±10-15 basis points.
• India’s external debt reached $711.8 billion in September 2024, a rise of 4.3% compared to June 2024. This represents an increase of $29.6 billion over the June-end 2024 level.
• According to the latest data by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), In December 2024, Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions reached an all-time high of 16.73 billion, surpassing the previous record of 16.58 billion in October 2024.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued guidelines for lenders participating in Government Debt Relief Schemes (DRS), focusing on the sacrifice of interest, principal, and loan account status.
• The banking system slipped into a liquidity deficit in December 2024, marking the first such occurrence since June 2024.
• Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) extended the deadline for compliance with the “maximum three-lenders per borrower” rule by three months, now applying until the end of March 2025.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has implemented revised norms requiring deposit-taking housing finance companies (HFCs) to maintain higher levels of liquid assets against their deposits.
• Starting January 1, 2025, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are required to return the full deposit amount to depositors within three months in case of an emergency withdrawal, though such withdrawals will not accrue any interest.
• On January 1, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a circular allowing the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) to participate as an All-India Financial Institution (AIFI) in financial markets.
• Federal Bank, one of India’s largest private sector banks, launched FedOne, a new digital transaction banking platform.
• State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a TAB-based digital onboarding process for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to facilitate the opening of NRE (Non-Resident External) and NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts.
• State Bank of India (SBI) has launched two new deposit schemes “Har Ghar Lakhpati” and “Patrons” .
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted lending restrictions on Arohan Financial Services as of October 21, 2024.
• Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, launched revamped e-auction portal ‘Baanknet’ in New Delhi.
• Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched free tools and resources on its investor website and Saarthi App to promote investor education.
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is expected to roll out its Bharat BillPay for Business offering by March.
• Enlighten Angel Fund has received Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approval to operate as an Alternate Investment Fund (AIF).
• Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the crucial role of public sector banks (PSBs) in driving rural empowerment by providing collateral-free loans to small businesses and artisans through various Central Government schemes.
• Punjab & Sind Bank plans to launch an instant loan scheme for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with loans up to ₹25 lakh.
• The World Bank is set to approve a $20 billion indicative lending package for Pakistan under a 10-year initiative called the Pakistan Country Partnership Framework 2025-35.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• The Indian government has announced the recipients of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2024, honouring athletes who have made exceptional contributions to sports in the country.
• At just 17 years old, Kaamya Karthikeyan, a student from Navy Children School in Mumbai, achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest female in the world to conquer the Seven Summits, a challenge involving scaling the highest peaks on all seven continents
• President Joe Biden has awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honour in the United States, to 20 individuals, including members of the congressional committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
• President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 honorees, recognizing their contributions to entertainment, sports, activism, and diplomacy.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• South Korea’s National Assembly voted to impeach Acting President Han Duk-soo.
• K N Renuka Pujar has become the first transgender person to be appointed as a guest lecturer at a university in Karnataka, specifically Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University.
• Dr. Sandip Shah, an eminent medical professional and visionary leader, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI).
• State-owned NMDC Limited, formerly National Mineral Development Corporation, announced the extension of Amitava Mukherjee’s tenure as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) for an additional year, effective from November 20, 2024.
• The Centre appointed Vitul Kumar, a 1993-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer, to officiate as the Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from January 1, 2025.
• Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra assumed command of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command on 1st January 2025.
• Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) announced the appointment of industry expert Manish Singhal as its new Secretary General.
• Arif Mohammad Khan was sworn in as the 42nd Governor of Bihar, succeeding Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who was appointed Kerala Governor.
• Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was sworn in as the 23rd Governor of Kerala on January 2, 2025.
• Pakistan began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 1, 2025.
• Hari Babu Kambhampati was sworn in as the 27th Governor of Odisha at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.
• Ajay Kumar Bhalla, former Union Home Secretary, was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Manipur during a function at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.
• Matrimony.com, the Chennai-based Wed-Tech company, has signed actor Anil Kapoor as its brand ambassador to widen the reach of its community-based matrimony services.
• General insurance provider TATA AIG General Insurance Company has appointed Amit Ganorkar its new managing director and chief executive officer.
• Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, an IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• Indian-origin executive Kevan Parekh has assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Apple, effective January 1, 2025.
• Jyoti Sharma has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nasscom Foundation, effective immediately, replacing Nidhi Bhasin.
• A historic event as 6 Indian Americans were sworn in as members of the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 2025, marking the largest number of Indian-American representatives in U.S. history.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a ‘Maharatna’ PSU under the Ministry of Power, has signed a significant green loan agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).
• Uttarakhand government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to promote tourism in the border areas of the state.
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has entered into a historic collaboration with the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an influential industry body representing India’s new-age companies
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has partnered with Stride Ventures, a leading venture debt firm, to catalyze the growth of Indian startups and expand their global reach.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2024 report highlights the performance of states and Union Territories (UTs) in logistics, a vital factor for boosting exports and economic growth.
• India ranked second globally for cyberattacks in 2024, with 95 entities targeted in data theft incidents, according to the CloudSEK ThreatLandscape Report 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITION AND MERGERS

• SBI Life’s board has approved the acquisition of a 10% stake in Bima Sugam India Federation for ₹6.6 crore.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the merger of National Co-operative Bank (Bangalore) with Cosmos Co-operative Bank (Maharashtra), effective January 6, 2025.
• BharatPe, a new-age non-bank lender, plans to sell between 10% and 25% of its stake in Unity Small Finance Bank (SFB), depending on buyer interest.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) granted automatic approval for the Avenue-Mavco acquisition of MHM Holding GmbH under the Green Channel route.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved HDFC Bank’s plan to acquire an aggregate stake of up to 9.5% in Kotak Mahindra Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, and Capital Small Finance Bank.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

• 15 January 2025 is set to become a landmark day in India’s history as the Indian Navy prepares to commission three frontline combatants – Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class; Surat, the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class; and Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the Scorpene-class project – together at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
• The Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the “Year of Reforms” to modernize India’s armed forces and prepare them for future challenges.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• China unveiled its CR450 prototype, a high-speed bullet train designed to achieve 450 km/h during test runs, making it the world’s fastest high-speed train.
• China launched a new amphibious assault ship, named Sichuan, designed to enhance the navy’s combat capabilities, particularly in distant seas.
• Tata Elxsi has announced a collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to develop virtual models of Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions for cloud-native application development aimed at accelerating the adoption of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) in next-gen mobility.
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay researchers have identified bacteria that can consume toxic pollutants in the soil and produce helpful nutrients as byproducts.
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• Adarsh Singh was in top form, clinching the men’s 25-metre standard pistol gold with a seven-point margin over Udhayveer Sidhu, Omkar Singh and Olympian Gurpreet Singh in the 67th National shooting championship at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad.
• Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi’s decision to share the World Blitz Championship title at the FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York has sparked widespread debate and criticism in the chess community
• Hemanth Muddappa, celebrated as the “Drag King” of Indian motorsport, etched his name in history by achieving a triple crown during the final round of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship at the Madras International Circuit (MIC).
• R Vaishali, a rising star in Indian chess, ended 2024 with an outstanding achievement by winning a bronze medal at the World Blitz Championship in New York.
• Kiran Jadhav of the Navy emerged victorious in the 10m air rifle event at the 15th Lakshya Cup held in Mumbai, securing his first gold medal after consistently making finals since 2018.
• Luke Littler, 17, became the youngest-ever World Darts Champion after defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace, London.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

• Acharya Kishore Kunal, a retired IPS officer, passed away due to cardiac arrest in Patna.
• Charles F. Dolan, founder of some of the most prominent U.S. media companies, passed away at the age of 98.
• Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia.
• Osamu Suzuki, the man behind India’s automobile revolution and former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, passed away at the age of 94.
• Dr. K.S. Manilal, an esteemed botanist, passed away on January 1, 2025, at the age of 86 after battling illness.
• Agnes Keleti, the world’s oldest Olympic champion and Holocaust survivor, has passed away at the age of 103.
• Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who ushered the country into the European Union’s single currency in 2001, passed away at the age of 88.
• Na. D’Souza, a well-known novelist from the Malnad region, passed away at the age of 87 in Mangaluru due to old age-related health issues.
• Krishan Datta, an eminent sports journalist, passed away at the age of 93 on Saturday morning at his South Delhi residence.
• Dr Rajagopala Chidambaram, who was the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, when India did the crucial Pokhran-II nuclear tests, passed away.

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