In Current Affairs for 02 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 02 January 2025
New Year Celebrations: First And Last
- Earth is divided into 24 time zones, based on longitudes. Each time zone has its own standard time, so countries celebrate New Year at different times. India uses Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Universal Time (UTC + 5:30). Many countries are east of India, so they celebrate the New Year before India does.
India’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- India’s efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions have borne fruit, as the country’s emissions fell by 7.93 per cent in 2020 compared to the previous year. Data submitted to the UN climate change office reveals a decline in the emission intensity of India’s GDP by 36 per cent from 2005 to 2020.
- The fourth Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) shows total national emissions in 2020 at 2,959 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, excluding land use change. However, emissions are still up by 98.34 per cent since 1994.
- India is on track with its climate goals, aiming to reduce GDP emission intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and achieve 50 per cent electric power capacity from non-fossil fuels. With a significant share of emissions arising from energy production, agriculture, and industry, India continues to decouple economic growth from emissions, seeking to maintain its development trajectory while addressing environmental concerns.
Warmest Year On Record
- India Meteorological Department (IMD) today informed that 2024 was the warmest year on record in the country since 1901. Briefing media virtually, Director General of IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that minimum temperatures are expected to be higher than normal in most parts of the country in January, except in some areas of the eastern, northwest, and west-central regions.
- Mr. Mohapatra, said that maximum temperatures are also expected to be higher than normal in most parts of the country. He added that western and northern parts of Central India are expected to experience more cold wave days than usual during January. The IMD further informed that rainfall in north India during January to March is likely to be below normal.
India, Pakistan
- India and Pakistan exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between both countries.
- The list was exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. The Agreement was signed on 31st December 1988 and entered into force on 27th January 1991.
- It provides that India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every year.
- India and Pakistan exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July.
- External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that India has shared names of 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Pakistan has shared names of 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian. India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody.
- Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 183 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence.
- Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 18 civilian prisoners and fishermen in its custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India.
India’s Total Renewable Energy Capacity
- The government continued its remarkable journey toward transforming India’s energy landscape in 2024. This progress is in line with India’s commitment to achieving its 500 Giga Watt of non-fossil fuel energy in line with the Panchamrit goals set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- India crossed the 200 Giga Watt milestone of total installed Renewable Energy capacity in September 2024, marking a 14 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
- In February 2024, the government launched the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to install rooftop solar panels in one crore households. India’s cumulative installed solar energy capacity has reached over 94 GigaWatt.
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of 600 crore rupees was also launched to reduce fossil fuel imports by one lakh crore and cut carbon emissions by five Million Metric Tonnes by 2030.
- This mission aims to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, creating over 6 lakh jobs and attracting investments worth 8 lakh crore rupees by 2030.
Schengen Border Free Zone
- Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the EU’s Schengen zone, eliminating land border controls with other member states. The move allows residents to travel freely without passport checks.
- Austria, a key opponent, vetoed Romania’s and Bulgaira’s entry to the zone in 2022. While controls on air and sea borders were lifted earlier last year, the European Union only decided to remove border controls for the two countries after Austria dropped its veto last month.
- Schengen zone consists of 29 European countries that have eliminated internal border controls. Established in 1995, it functions like a single state for international travel, featuring unified external border controls and shared visa policies.
Top-10 Global Crisis
- War in Ukraine
- Hamas-Israel Conflict
- The Syrian Crisis
- Climate Disasters
- Global Food Shortage
- Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
- Conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia
- Military Crackdown in Myanmar
- Starvation and Repression in North Korea
- Global Economic Recession
World’s Fastest High-Speed Train Prototype
- China has introduced the CR450, the world’s fastest high-speed train prototype, with test speeds reaching 450 km/h. Surpassing the current CR400 Fuxing trains (350 km/h), the CR450 marks a breakthrough in rail technology, combining speed with advancements in energy efficiency, safety, and passenger comfort.
- This innovation aligns with China’s ambitious plans to expand its high-speed rail network to 70,000 km by 2035, cementing its leadership in global rail systems.
- CR450 surpasses its predecessors with a maximum commercial operating speed of 400 km/h and test speeds of 450 km/h, achieved after rigorous testing spanning 200,000 km, 3,000 simulations, and 2,000 platform tests.
- Equipped with water-cooled permanent magnet traction systems and high-stability bogie systems, the CR450 reduces energy consumption by over 20% and ensures operational stability at unprecedented speeds.
- Featuring noise reduction technologies, expanded cabin spaces, and storage for items like bicycles and wheelchairs, the CR450 prioritizes passenger comfort and accessibility.
- China’s high-speed rail journey, which began in the early 2000s, has transitioned from following global trends to setting them. The CR450 follows iconic projects like the Shanghai Maglev (430 km/h) and international initiatives like the Laos-China Railway, which links Kunming to Vientiane.
- Future plans include extending high-speed networks through Southeast Asia, connecting Kunming to Singapore via Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. With over 47,000 km of high-speed rail already operational, the CR450 prototype reinforces China’s ambition to redefine rail travel by cutting major travel times—such as reducing the Beijing-Shanghai route from 4.5 hours to just over 3 hours.
- Expected to debut commercially as early as 2025, this project showcases China’s pursuit of sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced rail systems.
World Blitz Chess Championship title 2024
- In the World Blitz Chess Championship 2024, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the title after their final match ended in a tie in New York.
- Carlsen, who led 2-NIL, needed a draw in the third game to win the title. However, Nepomniachtchi came back to level the score 2-2, forcing tiebreaks. After three draws in sudden-death games, Carlsen proposed sharing the title, which was accepted.
- In the Women’s section, China’s Ju Wenjun defeated her compatriot Lei Tingjie in the final to win the World Blitz Championship, completing a double after drawing five games.
- India’s lone hope in the knockouts, R. Vaishali started with a loss in the quarterfinal against China’s Zhu Jiner but turned around quickly to win the matchup 2.5-1.5 after four games. In the semifinal, she was handed a rather one-sided 0.5-2.5 loss by China’s Ju Wenjun.
Current Affairs 02 January 2025 Question
- What Record Does Kaamya Karthikeyan Achieve
A. First Indian to climb Mount Vinson
B. Youngest female to scale the Seven Summits
C. Fastest ascent of the Seven Summits
D. Youngest female to climb Mount Everest
ANSWER: B - Where Was The Statue Of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Unveiled By The Indian
Army In December 2024
A. Siachen Glacier
B. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
C. Kargil
D. Pangong Tso, Ladakh
ANSWER: D - Which Government Department Partnered With Boat To Support Startups
A. Ministry of Electronics and IT
B. Department of Science and Technology
C. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
D. NITI Aayog
ANSWER: C - Where Is The Kagyed Chaam Dance Festival Primarily Celebrated
A. Darjeeling
B. Gangtok
C. Tawang
D. Leh
ANSWER: B - What Is The Primary Objective Of The SWAR Platform Launched By Gujarat
A. To overcome language barriers and improve communication
B. To provide financial assistance to citizens
C. To distribute government schemes digitally
D. To develop a platform for online education
ANSWER: A - Whose Death Anniversary Is Commemorated During The Annual Urs In Ajmer
A. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
B. Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
C. Hazrat Baba Fariduddin
D. Hazrat Amir Khusro
ANSWER: B - Where Is The 18th Elephant And Tourism Festival Being Held In Nepal
A. Kathmandu
B. Pokhara
C. Sauraha, Chitwan
D. Lumbini
ANSWER: C - What Does The Term “Urs” Signify In Sufism
A. Birth anniversary of Sufi saints
B. The establishment of a Sufi order
C. Death anniversary of Sufi saints
D. A festival for spiritual renewal
ANSWER: C - Which Indian Player Won Bronze Medal At The King Cup International
Badminton 2024
A. Lakshya Sen
B. HS Prannoy
C. Sathish Kumar
D. Priyanshu Rajawat
ANSWER: A - Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Is Located In Which State
A. Odisha
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Manipur
D. Assam
ANSWER: D - Which Country Is The Host Of World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit
(WAVES) 2025
A. France
B. India
C. China
D. Russia
ANSWER: B - Which Country Has Reported The Norovirus Outbreak In December 2024
A. France
B. United States
C. China
D. Russia
ANSWER: B - Who Becomes Youngest Female To Climb Highest Peaks In All 7 Continents
A. Pragati Bisht
B. Kaamya Karthikeyan
C. Sanaya Gupta
D. Kirti Rawat
ANSWER: B - Blockchain Based Project Launched By NPCI
A. Falcon
B. Grape
C. Pay See
D. Orange
ANSWER: A - SURYA KIRAN Is A Joint Military Exercise Between India And Which Country
A. Myanmar
B. Nepal
C. Thailand
D. Vietnam
ANSWER: B - Aleppo City, Is Located In Which Country
A. Syria
B. Israel
C. Iran
D. Kuwait
ANSWER: A - Which Organization Recently Released The International Debt Report 2024
A. World Bank
B. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
C. World Trade Organization (WTO)
D. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
ANSWER: A - All India Home Price Index (HPI) Is Released By Which Institution
A. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
B. Ministry of Finance
C. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
D. State Bank of India
ANSWER: C - Which State Government Launched The Urajveer Scheme To Promote The
Energy Efficient Appliances
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Gujarat
C. Maharashtra
D. Karnataka
ANSWER: A - Which Among The Following Movements Started With Breaking The Salt Law
A. Non-cooperation Movement
B. Civil Disobedience Movement
C. Quit India Movement
D. Home Rule Movement
ANSWER: B
