In Current Affairs for 18 January 2025, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 18 January 2025
Odisha Govt Signs 8 MoUs With Singapore
- Odisha government signed eight MoUs with Singapore-based organisations for collaborations in different fields, including skill development, green energy, and industrial park development.
- The MoUs were signed in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who arrived on a two-day visit to the state this morning.
- The visit of the Singapore President assumes significance as it is his first visit to the state ahead of the ‘Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave,’ scheduled on the 28th and 29th of this month. Mr Shanmugaratnam is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, members of Parliament, and officials.
New US Consulate In Bengaluru
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said that a new US Consulate in Bengaluru is essential for expanding and deepening ties with the United States of America. Speaking at the opening of the new US consulate in Bengaluru today, the minister pointed out that both the countries have potential to collaborate especially in the areas of technology such as AI, the Space sector, Defence, Drone, and biotechnology among others. He further said that the strategic ties with the US have the potential to establish a trusted supply chain.
- Since Bengaluru has a strong presence in the area of technology, and defence and has organisations like HAL, both India and Bengaluru will benefit from a consulate in Bengaluru. He noted that the Consulate in Bengaluru will help businesses, academia, tech companies and people in general and hoped that the new Consulate will soon start its Visa services here.
- S Jaishankar said that with deepening engagement with the world, India is in favour of countries opening their consulates across the country. He informed that India will soon open its consulate in Los Angeles.
World’s First Mahamrityunjaya Yantra
- World’s first Mahamrityunjaya Yantra, measuring 52 feet in length, width, and height, has been installed at Tapovan Ashram in Jhunsi Havelis, Prayagraj—known as the sacred land of Maha Kumbh.
- This monumental Yantra is a spiritual marvel, believed to connect devotees to the higher consciousness of Lord Shiva. The Mahamrityunjaya Yantra, often referred to as the “Victory over Death” Yantra, is a spiritual tool that: Helps individuals overcome the fear of death, disease, and danger.
- Enhances courage and positivity in devotees. Acts as a divine connector to Lord Shiva’s higher energy. Swami Sahajanand Maharaj, the visionary behind this initiative, emphasized its scientific design and its potential to transform lives by alleviating pollution, stress, and depression.
- Creation and Cost: Built over 52 days at a cost of ₹4 crore. Represents a perfect square design, with dimensions of 52x52x52 feet. A total of 151 Acharyas have been chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra since Makar Sankranti (January 14, 2025).
- The chanting aims to consecrate 11,11,111 Panchmukhi Rudrakshas, which will be distributed free of cost to devotees attending the Maha Kumbh.
- Devotees must register their names and addresses at the ashram to receive a consecrated Rudraksha. Swami Sahajanand announced plans to replicate this Yantra across 12 Jyotirlingas, starting with: Somnath- Gujarat, Kedarnath – Uttarakhand, Bhimashankar- Maharashtra, Trayambakeshwar- Maharashtra.
‘One Plate, One Bag’ Campaign Launched
- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has launched the “One Plate, One Bag” campaign at the Maha Kumbh 2025. This initiative aims to make the world’s largest religious congregation plastic-free by encouraging the use of cloth bags and steel plates and glasses instead of plastic alternatives.
- As part of the initiative, cloth bags and steel utensils are being distributed to pilgrims, replacing disposable and plastic items.
- Emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in combating the plastic menace and urged people to adopt eco-friendly alternatives in their daily lives. “Creating a plastic-free society is a collective effort.
- By making small changes such as switching to cloth bags and reusable utensils, we can significantly contribute to the environment,”.
SVAMITVA Scheme
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute over 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme to beneficiaries through video conferencing today, marking a monumental milestone in country’s rural empowerment and governance journey.
- Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) is a central sector scheme launched in 2020. It was launched with a vision to enhance the economic progress of rural India by providing ‘Record of Rights’ to households possessing houses in inhabited areas in villages through the latest surveying drone technology.
- It also facilitates property monetization, enables access to institutional credit through bank loans, reduces property-related disputes, and supports better property assessments and property tax collection in rural areas.
- The drone surveys have been completed in over 3.17 lakh villages so far, covering 92 per cent of the targeted areas. Nearly two crore 25 lakh property cards have been prepared for more than one lakh 50 thousand villages.
Kokborok Language Protests
- Twipra Student Federation (TSF) protested in Agartala, Tripura, demanding the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language. This movement marks the ongoing struggle for linguistic recognition and cultural justice among the Borok people.
- Kokborok is a Sino-Tibetan language. It is spoken by the Borok people of Tripura. Officially recognised in 1979, it has historical roots dating back to the 1st century AD.
- The name Kokborok combines “Kok” (verbal) and “Borok” (people). According to the 2011 Census, approximately 880,537 people speak Kokborok, accounting for nearly 24% of Tripura’s population.
- Kokborok belongs to the Bodo–Garo branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It is related to Bodo and Dimasa languages and has various dialects, with the Agartala dialect being the official form.
Kampala Declaration On Agriculture
- Extraordinary African Union Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program ( CAADP) concluded in Kampala, Uganda. The summit adopted the Kampala Declaration, which sets a transformative agenda for Africa’s agri-food systems from 2026 to 2035.
- This declaration succeeds the Malabo Declaration, marking shift towards a comprehensive agri-food systems approach to tackle food security and agricultural productivity challenges across the continent.
- The CAADP was launched in July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique. It aimed to address low agricultural productivity and food insecurity in Africa. The Maputo Declaration urged Member States to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture.
- In 2014, the Malabo Declaration expanded CAADP’s framework. It introduced targets such as eradicating hunger, tripling intra-African trade, and enhancing resilience. However, progress has been slow, with no Member State meeting the goal of ending hunger by 2025.
- As of 2024, 20.4% of Africa’s population experiences hunger. The continent faces food security issues, with 58% of people grappling with food insecurity. Malnutrition and rising obesity rates further complicate the situation.
- Kampala Declaration signifies a commitment to modernising Africa’s agricultural sectors. It advocates for climate-smart innovations and technologies to ensure food security for a projected population of 2.5 billion by 2050.
Current Affairs 18 January 2025 Question
- New US Consulate Is Opened In
A. Hyderabad
B. Gandhinagar
C. Bengaluru
D. Chennai
ANSWER: C - SVAMITVA Scheme Is Launched In
A. 2017
B. 2020
C. 2022
D. 2024
ANSWER: B - Malabo Declaration Related To Africa Launched In
A. 2010
B. 2012
C. 2013
D. 2014
ANSWER: D - World’s First Mahamrityunjaya Yantra Installed In
A. Ujjain
B. Haridwar
C. Prayagraj
D. Mathura
ANSWER: C - In India Which Part Has Been Identified As A Key Global Hotspot For
Threatened Freshwater Species By IUCN
A. Eastern Ghats
B. Sundarbans
C. North-East Forests
D. Western Ghats
ANSWER: D - Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launched Which Portal During The Bharat
Climate Forum 2025
A. The Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform
B. Bharat Prakrutkik Jalvayu Bachao Portal
C. Prakriti Sanrakshan Solutions
D. Bharat Green Revolution Portal
ANSWER: A - INROAD Project Aims To Enhance The Quality Of Natural Rubber In Which
Region Of India
A. South India
B. North-East India
C. Northern Plains
D. Western India
ANSWER: B - HIMKAVACH Multi- Layer Clothing System Developed By Which Organization
A. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
B. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
C. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
D. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
ANSWER: B - India Has Joined Which International Body To Enhance Its Engagement With
Big Data And Data Science For Official Statistics
A. United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC)
B. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
C. World Economic Forum (WEF)
D. UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics
ANSWER: D - What Is The Target Renewable Energy Capacity India Aims To Achieve By 2030
A. 400 GW
B. 450 GW
C. 500 GW
D. 600 GW
ANSWER: C - Who Was Elected As The Secretary Of The Board Of Control For Cricket In
India During The Special General Meeting
A. Prabhtej Singh Bhatia
B. Arun Dhumal
C. Devajit Saikia
D. Ashish Shelar
ANSWER: C - Where Is The NTPC Green Hydrogen Hub Being Set Up
A. Hyderabad
B. Anantapur
C. Pudimadaka
D. Vijayawada
ANSWER: C - Which Organization Has Collaborated With IIT Mandi And IIT Jammu To
Develop A Wideband Spectrum-sensor ASIC- Chip
A. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
B. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
C. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
D. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
ANSWER: C - Which Ministry Is Responsible For The Sanctioning Of The Watershed
Development Projects Under PMKSY
A. Ministry of Rural Development
B. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
D. Ministry of Water Resources
ANSWER: A - Blue Flag Certification Is Awarded By Which Organization
A. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
B. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
C. Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)
D. International Blue Sea Association
ANSWER: C - Which Of The Following Is A Key Ingredient In The Pink Fire Retardant Phos-
Chek Which Is Used In California Fires Defense
A. Ammonium nitrate
B. Potassium chloride
C. Sodium bicarbonate
D. Ammonium polyphosphate
ASWER: D - Who Has Been Appointed As Chairperson Of The Athletics Federation Of India
Athletes Commission
A. Anju Bobby George
B. P.T. Usha
C. Neeraj Chopra
D. Vishwanath Anand
ANSWER: A - Which Countries Have Already Achieved The Space Docking Maneuver Before
India’s SpaDeX mission
A. USA, Russia, China
B. USA, Germany, China
C. USA, Russia, Japan
D. Russia, China, India
ANSWER: A - Which Two Beaches In Kerala Received Prestigious Blue Flag Certification
A. Kovalam and Varkala
B. Kappad and Chal
C. Cherai and Marari
D. Alappuzha and Bekal
ANSWER: B - “Sur Sagar”, A Treatise On Music Was Written During The Reign Of Which Of
The Following Mughal Emperors
A. Humayun
B. Akbar
C. Jahanagir
D. Shahjahan
ANSWER: B
