Current Affairs - January 26, 2025 Current Affairs

The Indian Navy conducted a hydrographic survey of Mauritius’ waters, mapping 25,000 square nautical miles. This survey, carried out by INS Sarvekshak, provided nautical charts to enhance Mauritius' maritime infrastructure and coastal resource management. The initiative reflects the strong India-Mauritius partnership and aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy, which emphasizes regional cooperation in maritime security and development. This survey strengthens Mauritius’ maritime capabilities and reinforces India’s role in supporting Indian Ocean littoral states.

Thailand made history on January 23, 2025, by becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act, passed in 2024 and ratified later that year, grants LGBTQ+ couples equal legal rights, including adoption, inheritance, and medical decisions. This landmark decision reflects a growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights in Thai society. The law’s enactment was celebrated nationwide, with over 1,800 couples registering their unions on the first day, showcasing the societal significance of this progressive milestone.

National Tourism Day is observed every year on January 25 to promote responsible, sustainable, and accessible tourism across India. The day celebrates India’s diverse cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and tourist destinations. It also highlights tourism's role as a key driver of economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. National Tourism Day emphasizes the importance of preserving India’s cultural and natural assets while promoting inclusivity and eco-friendly tourism practices.

The bid from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), in collaboration with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), cleared the technical evaluation for the ₹43,000 crore P-75I submarine project. The project involves the acquisition of six advanced conventional submarines with a focus on indigenous content and technological upgrades. MDL-TKMS’s offering is based on the Class 214 submarine design, known for its operational success and proven Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module, a key criterion for qualification. With commercial negotiations set to begin, this bid emphasizes the importance of indigenization in India’s defence capabilities.

The theme for Republic Day 2025 was ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’, which translates to ‘Golden India: Heritage and Progress’. This theme highlighted India’s rich cultural heritage while emphasizing its strides in development and progress. The celebration also featured Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the Chief Guest, symbolizing India’s commitment to fostering international relations.

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the 25th-anniversary edition of FICCI Frames, India’s premier global media and entertainment convention. This marks a significant milestone for the event, and Ayushmann expressed his honour and commitment to promoting the theme “RISE: Redefining Innovation, Sustainability, and Excellence” to celebrate and propel the media and entertainment industry’s contributions globally.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, conducted a study on how climate change affects dengue outbreaks. The study identified key climate factors like rainfall, temperature, and humidity as contributors to mosquito prevalence. IITM also developed an early warning system using AI and machine learning, enabling dengue outbreak predictions two months in advance. This predictive system helps authorities implement timely preventive measures, highlighting IITM’s role in combining climate research with public health solutions.

ISRO’s 100th mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre will launch the GSLV–F15 rocket on January 29, 2025. The GSLV–F15, equipped with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, is designed to place satellites in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This mission will deploy the NVS-02 satellite, part of the NavIC initiative, India’s independent regional navigation system. The mission demonstrates India’s strategic autonomy in space technology, showcasing advanced satellite and launch vehicle capabilities while contributing to sectors like defence, disaster management, and civil navigation.

Maharashtra recorded the highest number of farmer suicides in 2022, accounting for 38% of the total farmer suicides in India. The state's Marathwada region has been particularly affected, with over 800 farmer suicides recorded in 2024 alone. The crisis is attributed to a combination of factors, including debt, weather extremes, and regional disparity.

The Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary is located in Karnataka and is the state’s first wolf sanctuary. Spanning 332 hectares, it provides a protected habitat for the Indian grey wolf, an endangered species under the IUCN and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972. The sanctuary features scrub forests, hills, and caves suitable for wolves, and it also supports diverse wildlife, including leopards and blackbucks. As India’s second dedicated wolf sanctuary, it plays a crucial role in conserving these apex predators in semi-arid and grassland ecosystems, addressing their declining population of 2,000–3,000 individuals.