Welcome to SaralStudy’s Weekly Current Affairs roundup for the week of 13th to 19th January. This week witnessed several noteworthy events shaping the political, economic, and scientific landscapes globally and nationally. From major government announcements and international developments to achievements in sports, technology, and culture, we’ve compiled all the essential updates to help you stay informed.
Weekly Current Affairs For Your Competitive Exams
Whether you’re preparing for competitive exams or just want to stay updated with the latest happenings, this comprehensive summary has got you covered. Dive in and keep yourself ahead with the key highlights of this week!
1. Mission Mausam
On the occasion of 150 years of foundation day of IMD (IMD stands for Indian Meteorological Department), PM Modi addressed IMD on 14th january as “Symbol of India’s Scientific journey” and launched “Mission Mausam”. The PM also launched a postal stamp and commemorative coin during the address to IMD on 14th january 2024..
What is Mission Mausam?
- Mission Mausam is an effort to strengthen weather monitoring and forecasting systems in order to make India a climate-smart country. Mission is launched to make India a weather ready nation.
- The project’s initial two years of being implemented will cost 2000 crore.
- With support of maximised efficiency of meteorology a country can cope with disaster management and can mitigate impact of any natural disaster.
What will Mission Mausam do?
- The project will focus on improving knowledge of weather and climate mechanisms.
- It will provide data on air quality to guide long-term weather management strategies.
- The mission’s goal is to improve India’s weather department’s forecasting, demonstrating, and broadcasting.
- This mission will directly benefit sectors like agriculture, aviation, defence, disaster management, tourism and health.
What else Mission Mausam will do?
Additionally, the mission will “supervise” various weather conditions, enhancing or lowering rainfall, hail, fog, and eventually, strikes of lightning as needed.
Important points to be remembered for competitive exams on Mission Mausam
- IMD stands for Indian Meteorological Department.
- Headquarter of IMD situated at New Delhi.
- Indian Meteorological Department established on 15th january, 1875.
- The Initial Budget of Mission Mausam for two years is 2000 crore.
- Mission Mausam’s aim is to cover all aspects of weather and forecasting. Sectors like agriculture, defence, tourism, health, aviation will be its direct beneficiaries.
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2. Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
The wildlife panel of the Centre has sanctioned a proposal on 13th january for conducting oil and gas exploration within the ecologically sensitive area of the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam’s Jorhat district.
Important points to be remembered about Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Assam’s Jorhat district.
- Previously it was also known as Gibbon wildlife sanctuary or Hollongapar reserved forest.
- The sanctuary was established in 1997.
- It covers an area of 8.1 sq.mi(20.97sq. km).
- The flora of this sanctuary’s upper, middle and lower canopy consisted of Hollong tree, Nahar tree and evergreen shrubs and herbs.
- In Assemmes these gibbons are called Holou Bandor.
- These Gibbon are the only ape found in India.
- Its IUCN status is Endangered species(species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future).
- Scientific name for Hollongapar Gibbon is Hoolock hoolock.
- This species is found in Northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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3. Phos-Chek (Pink Fire Retardant)
Authorities are using planes to distribute plenty of brightly pink colored fire retardant to extinguish the numerous wildfires that continue to spread in Southern California.
What is Pink Fire Retardant?
- The Pink Fire Retardant is a mix of chemicals which is commonly used to extinguish the fire.
- It is a mix of ammonium phosphate or ammonium polyphosphate, fertilizer, water and iron oxide (used for its colour).
- Salts like ammonium polyphosphate are used in this mix because it remains longer and does not evaporate as quickly as water.
- In order for firefighters to identify the fire retardant against the landscape, bright color often gets added.
- It is used to control fires in forests, grasslands and protect residentials buildings from wildfire.
Environmental Concerns associated with Pink Fire Retardant:
- According to environmental experts, this chemical mix is a major cause of pollution for rivers and streams.
- In financial terms, employing airplanes to spray fire retardant is inefficient and costly.
- Toxic metals used in this retardant can cause cancer, can affect the liver and kidney.
- These toxic metals can affect aquatic life very badly.
4. Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh
Encounter of maoists in Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary on 13th january, Chhattisgarh. Five maoists and two women were killed in the encounter with security forces. (The Indian Express)
10 important facts on Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary
- Indravati wildlife sanctuary, the most famous wildlife park of Chhattisgarh is situated in Bijapur district.
- Indravati river from which this sanctuary derived its name flows from it and makes a northern boundary with Maharashtra state.
- It is also known as Indravati Tiger Reserve.
- It is home to one of the last populations of rare wild water buffalo.
- It was established in1975.
- It covers an area of 2799 sq. km.
- The flora of this Sanctuary is Bamboo, Sal, Teak, Mahua, Tendu, Siras, Arjun and Palas.
- In Fauna mainly Asian Elephant, Gaur, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Tiger, Leopards, Sloth Bear, Freshwater Crocodile and Indian Lizard comprises it.
- The park’s landscape is primarily made up of uneven terrain with hills that range in elevation from 177 to 599 meters above sea level.
- The types of forests found in Indravati sanctuary are Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest without Teak and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.
5. Cleantech Manufacturing Platform
Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, introduces the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform on January 10, on Friday at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 in New Delhi.
What is a Cleantech Manufacturing Platform?
Products or services that increase operational performance, productivity, or efficiency simultaneously lowering expenses, inputs, energy use, waste, or contamination of the environment are known as cleantech products or services.
- It is an attempt to strengthen India’s cleantech value chains in the fields of battery storage, wind, solar as well as hydrogen
- The Platform will allow Indian firms to work together, co-innovate, and share resources, ideas, and technology.
- It will also assist create a platform for funding. This will make India an appealing commercial opportunity and a world leader in cleantech and sustainability.
- In terms of fulfilling the Nationally Determined Contributions (NCDs) made to the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015, India has been among the top performers.
Aims of India regarding Clean Energy
- To achieve the target of 500 Gigawatt of clean energy sources by 2030.
- India has the largest interconnected grid in the world.
- India has already achieved the target of setting up 200 gigawatt clean energy in which 3S: speed, scale and skill for the renewable energy program, plays a crucial role.
6. 8th Pay Commission
Cabinet approved 8th pay commission for government employees in a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16,2025. The chairman and two employees of the commission will be appointed soon as announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
7th pay commission was established in 2016 and will continue upto December 2025. Revise salaries and allowances to pensioners for 8th pay commission will start from 2026.
In total there are 49 lakhs central government employees and 65 lakhs pensioners.
What to expect from 8th pay commission
The minister added that the establishment of the new Pay Commission in 2025 will make sure that its recommendations are implemented well before of the seventh pay panel’s completion.
Pay Commission History
The government has established seven pay commissions since 1947. In determining pay scales, perks and allowances for government employees, the pay commission plays a crucial role. The majority of state-owned organisations adhere to the commission’s recommendations.
To revise the salary structure for its employees, the central government appoints a pay commission once every ten years. Each pay commission has a term of reference (ToR), which generally outlines its purpose, in addition to updating the pay structure. Pension payments are also determined by pay commissions.
7. Maiya Samman Yojana
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren transferred more than ₹1,400 crore to 5661791 women bank accounts under the Maiya Samman Yojana on January 7, 2024.
All about Maiya Samman Yojana (झारखण्ड मुख्यमंत्री मंईयां सम्मान योजना):
- This Yojana is an initiative to provide financial assistance to women of Jharkhand.
- Allowance of ₹2,500 will be given per woman aged 18 to 50 under this scheme.
- To get benefit from this scheme it requires women to have bank accounts. It will help to bring millions of women into the formal banking system.
- Aim of the government is to engage women in economic activities to boost the state’s economic development. (News source: XXXXX)
8. Vembnand lake
Vembnand lake is reducing: Climate change and pollution from slaughterhouses and shrimp peeling sheds are suffocating the Vembanad lake’s ecology, which is quickly reducing in size.
- Vembanad lake is a Ramsar Site.
- It is the longest lake in India (83.9 km ) as well as the largest Backwater lake in India.
- This lake is situated in Kerala.
- The area of this lake is 230 square Kilometers.
- It is also called Vembnand Kayal as kayal stands for backwater body.
- A snake boat race called Vallam Kali is held every year in the month of August.This boat race also called The Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
- This lake is also known as Punnamada lake.
- Lake is formed from four rivers named- Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa, and Manimala.
- A Bird Sanctuary named Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on its coast.
Conclusion
That concludes the weekly current affairs roundup for 13th to 19th January 2025. Staying informed about current events is essential for personal growth, competitive exams, and understanding the world around us. Keep visiting SaralStudy every week for well-curated updates across diverse topics. Stay curious, stay informed, and stay ahead!
