Current Affairs - January 11, 2025 Current Affairs

Telangana Police introduced an innovative QR code-based citizen feedback system to improve transparency, accountability, and public satisfaction in its services. The system gathers feedback on services like FIR registrations, traffic e-Challans, petitions, and passport verifications through QR codes and a dedicated call centre. Promoted with posters in police stations, this initiative is managed by the Centre of Excellence for Cybercrime Investigation and Digital Forensics (CoE-CID), reflecting Telangana's commitment to citizen-centric policing.

Dr Jitendra Singh announced the establishment of a Regional Meteorological Centre in Jammu to enhance weather forecasting and related services in the region. Collaborative agreements with institutions such as Jammu University and SKUAST aim to advance research in meteorological sciences. With this initiative, Jammu and Kashmir now have double the number of Automated Weather Stations, reflecting significant progress in meteorological infrastructure. These developments are part of the IMD's 150th-anniversary celebrations, concluding on January 15, 2025, with PM Modi as the chief guest.

The 57th Annual Convention of the Indian Water Works Association, themed "Water-360 Degrees," began in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The event, inaugurated by Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, emphasizes the importance of water conservation and management for sustainable development. The three-day convention aims to promote innovative strategies for effective water management, ensuring the resource is preserved for future generations.

In 2024, global temperatures exceeded the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time, averaging 1.6°C, as reported by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. This marked a significant milestone in the ongoing climate crisis, with devastating impacts like wildfires, floods, and heatwaves affecting regions worldwide, including the U.S., Bolivia, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the urgent need for global climate action.

The 21st Third Eye Asian Film Festival began in Mumbai, featuring 61 films, including the award-winning Chinese drama The Black Dog. South Korea is the focus country with six showcased films, while the Asian Spectrum section includes contributions from China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and more. Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar is set to receive the Asian Cinema Culture Award, and Rafique Baghdadi will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award, highlighting the festival's emphasis on Asian cinema and cultural appreciation.

India is set to host the 28th CSPOC in 2026, as announced by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This conference will emphasize the integration of AI and social media into parliamentary processes. It will also highlight India’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, and commitment to inclusive governance. This marks the fourth occasion India will host CSPOC, with previous events held in 1970-71, 1986, and 2010.

India has joined the UN Committee on Big Data and Data Science for Statistics, marking a significant step in shaping global standards for using big data in official statistics. India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation highlighted pioneering initiatives such as the Data Innovation Lab, focusing on leveraging alternative data sources for enhancing statistical processes. This effort aligns with India's commitment to monitoring and reporting on sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the global level.

Retired Justice B.N. Srikrishna, renowned for chairing India's first data protection law committee, has been named the chair of Equal's advisory board. Equal focuses on ID verification and secure, consent-driven data sharing, collaborating with account aggregator firm OneMoney. The board includes other distinguished members, such as retired RBI Deputy Governors and former UIDAI CEOs, emphasizing its commitment to responsible data governance and security.

National Youth Day is celebrated annually on January 12 to honour the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, whose ideals emphasize the immense potential of youth in shaping the nation. Recognizing youth as India's most dynamic resource, comprising 40% of the population, this day inspires leadership and empowerment. In 2025, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue was also organized on January 11-12 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to mark the occasion.

PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT Kharagpur, was declared the national winner at the 34th National Youth Parliament competition for Kendriya Vidyalayas. The event, officiated by Kiren Rijiju, emphasized the importance of understanding parliamentary democracy and the role of Kendriya Vidyalayas in fostering character and personality development among students, further strengthening youth participation in democratic processes.

In Hindi Diwas 2025, Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Indian High Commission and the Open University of Sri Lanka, launched its first Hindi Certificate Course via open and distance learning. This initiative, inaugurated in Colombo, symbolizes the strengthening of cultural and linguistic ties between India and Sri Lanka. The Bharat-Sri Lanka Hindi Sammelan, attended by over 400 participants, further celebrated this collaboration on World Hindi Day, January 10, 2025.

Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic and six-time world champion, has been appointed as the international event ambassador for the 20th Mumbai Marathon. Known for his unparalleled achievements in retaining 5000m and 10000m Olympic and World Championship titles, Farah brings global attention to this World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, which anticipates participation from 60,000 runners starting from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Akashvani's Kumbhvani channel in Prayagraj to provide updates and promote the spirit of Mahakumbh 2025. This initiative aims to reach remote areas with cultural and event-related information through live telecasts by Prasar Bharati, ensuring the message of unity and harmony transcends boundaries of caste and creed.

The Sonamarg Tunnel, located in Jammu & Kashmir, is a 12-km-long project built at a cost of over Rs 2,700 crore. It bypasses landslide-prone areas, enhances winter tourism, and supports adventure sports in Sonamarg. Along with the Zojila Tunnel, it will improve NH-1 connectivity, significantly reducing travel time and boosting defence logistics in the region. The Prime Minister's visit on January 13 underscores its importance for regional development.