In Current Affairs for 17 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 17 January 2025
8th Pay Commission
- Government announced the setting up of the 8th Pay Commission for the Central government employees and pensioners. An announcement in this regard was made by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi. He was briefing the media about the Cabinet’s decision. The Minister said that the term of the 7th Pay Commission is going to end in 2026 and the setting up of the 8th Pay Commission now will give enough time to receive recommendations of the Pay Panel.
- He said the appointment of the Chairman and two members of the Commission will be made soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the decision on the 8th Pay Commission will improve quality of life and give a boost to consumption. In a social media post, Mr Modi lauded the efforts of all Government employees, who work to build a Viksit Bharat.
- The leaders of Railway Unions have thanked the Central government for the announcement of the constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The decision will benefit more than 45 lakh central government employees and more than 68 lakh pensioners.
- In another decision, the Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Third Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at a cost of 3985 Crore rupees.
- The TLP project envisages the establishment of the launch infrastructure at Sriharikota for the Next Generation Launch Vehicles of ISRO and also to support as standby launch pad for the Second Launch Pad there. It will also enhance the launch capacity for future Indian human spaceflight missions. It will boost the Indian Space ecosystem by enabling higher launch frequencies and the national capacity to undertake human spaceflight and space exploration missions.
India Singapore
- President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam held a wide range of discussions with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi this evening. The discussions covered avenues for further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Singapore.
- During the meeting, President Murmu and President Shanmugaratnam unveiled a joint logo to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- The joint logo incorporates colours from the Indian and Singaporean national flags and national flowers, which symbolize the enduring friendship, mutual trust, and shared values between the two countries.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met the President of Singapore. During the meeting, they extensively reviewed the bilateral partnership and also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The President of Singapore is on a five-day visit to India. This is his first visit to India as the President of Singapore.
QS World Future Skills Index
- QS World Future Skills Index Ranked India 2nd For Digital Skills, Ahead Of Canada & Germany. PM Modi Said, Over The Last Decade, The Government Has Worked On Strengthening The Country’s Youth By Equipping Them With Skills That Enable Them To Become Self-reliant And Create Wealth.
- Insights From The QS World Future Skills Index Are Valuable As The Country Moves Further On The Journey Towards Prosperity And Youth Empowerment. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Said, Skilling India Is A Mission Taken Up By The Central Government On The Path Towards Viksit Bharat.
Successful Space Docking Of 2 Satellites
- Indian Space Research Organisation has achieved a historic milestone today after the successful space docking of its two satellites named Chaser and Target under the SpaDex mission.
- After the stupendous success of the indigenously developed Bharatiya Docking System by ISRO, India has become the fourth country to use this technology after the USA, Russia and China.
- Docking technology is critical in assembling the space station and in crewed missions. It provides crucial facilities including in-orbit refueling and assembling heavy infrastructure in microgravity.
Israel & Hamas
- India has welcomed the announcement of the agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, this agreement will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. It said that New Delhi has consistently called for the release of all hostages, a ceasefire, and a return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.
India To Set Up 60 Smart Classrooms In Sri Lanka
- India and Sri Lanka have signed an agreement to set up 60 smart classrooms in plantation regions on the island. The project is funded by a grant of 508 million Sri Lankan rupees from the Indian government.
- The deal was signed by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Sri Lanka’s Secretary in the Ministry of Plantation, B.K. Prabhath Chandrakeerthi. The initiative will benefit 48 schools in Nuwara Eliya and six schools each in Kandy and Badulla. It aims to integrate technology into classrooms and improve education for students.
- It is notable that India has been a key partner in Sri Lanka’s development, especially in the field of education, contributing over USD 5 billion. Past projects include renovating schools, setting up computer labs, and training teachers which have been carried out under grant assistance. Recently, over 2,000 teachers from plantation schools received training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics also called STEM. The smart classroom initiative underscores India’s commitment to fostering education and empowerment in Sri Lanka.
US Removes 3 Indian Nuclear Entities
- US has lifted sanctions on three Indian entities including Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The other two companies are Indian Rare Earths and Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center.
- US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) said that the sanctions, which were imposed during the Cold War era, have been removed to enhance US’s foreign policy goals. It is that this decision will support shared energy security needs and joint efforts in science and technology between India and US.
- BIS said, that in recent years, India and US have strengthened their collaboration in peaceful nuclear cooperation and related research activities, benefiting numerous partner countries globally.
- Simultaneously, the US has added 11 Chinese companies to the Entity List due to activities deemed contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests. The Entity List is a US government compilation of foreign individuals, companies, and organizations deemed a national security concern.
Pixxel And Digantara
- India’s private space sector, two Indian start-ups, Pixxel and Digantara, launched their satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket. These pioneering missions are aimed at addressing pressing global challenges such as agriculture, defence, and space sustainability.
- Pixxel’s launch introduces a constellation of satellites for advanced Earth observation, while Digantara’s SCOT satellite focuses on real-time tracking of space objects.
- Pixxel became the first Indian private company to deploy a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites. The “Firefly” satellites provide high-resolution imagery in over 150 spectral bands, offering six times the resolution of standard systems.
- These satellites monitor vegetation health, water quality, atmospheric conditions, and chemical compositions with a 5-meter hyperspectral capability.
- Pixxel plans to expand its constellation with three additional satellites, followed by 18 more. Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging has transformative potential for agriculture, defence, and climate action.
- Digantara launched SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking), the world’s first commercial satellite for tracking space objects as small as 5 cm in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- SCOT’s persistent monitoring capabilities address space congestion and satellite debris, which traditional sensors often struggle with due to weather and geography limitations.
- SCOT is key for safer, more sustainable space operations and is part of Digantara’s vision for a hybrid surveillance network.
- These launches showcase India’s growing space capabilities and enhance the country’s role in the global space ecosystem.
- The advancements have wide-ranging applications in climate action, agriculture, defence, and space sustainability.
- Both companies are setting the stage for innovative solutions to Earth and space monitoring challenges.
Current Affairs 17 January 2025 Question
- Chairman Of The 7th Pay Commission Is
A. Justice Rohan Tyagi
B. Vivek Rae
C. Rathin Roy
D. Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur
ANSWER: D - Which Country Has Developed Electrokinetic Mining (EKM) For Eco-friendly
Extraction Of Rare Earth Elements
A. Myanmar
B. China
C. Japan
D. India
ANSWER: B - Name Of Portal Launched By Government To Make Genome Data Accessible
To Researchers In India And Abroad
A. Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) Portal
B. Indian Genomic Repository (IGC) Portal
C. Genome Access Portal
D. Life Science Data Bank
ANSWER: A - Which Organization Released The World Economic Situation And Prospects
2025 Report
A. United Nations (UN)
B. World Bank
C. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
D. Asian Development Bank
ANSWER: A - Mount Ibu, Is Located In Which Country
A. Philippines
B. Vietnam
C. Malaysia
D. Indonesia
ANSWER: D - Project Veer Gatha 4.0 A Joint Initiative Of Which Ministries
A. Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Youth Affairs
B. Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education
C. Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Defence
D. Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sports
ANSWER: B - Desert National Park Is Located In Which City
A. Pushkar
B. Bikaner
C. Jaisalmer
D. Jodhpur
ANSWER: C - Which Ministry Has Launched National River Traffic And Navigation System
A. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
C. Ministry of Jal Shakti
D. Ministry of Defence
ANSWER: B - Zoran Milanovic Has Been Elected As President Of Which Country
A. Croatia
B. Bulgaria
C. Romania
D. Bosnia
ANSWER: A - Neduntheevu Island, Is Located In Which Country
A. Bangladesh
B. Myanmar
C. Sri Lanka
D. Indonesia
ANSWER: C - Which City Is The Host Of Kho Kho World Cup 2025
A. Bengaluru
B. New Delhi
C. Hyderabad
D. Chennai
ANSWER: B - Indravati National Park Is Located In Which State
A. Odisha
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Jharkhand
D. Chhattisgarh
ANSWER: D - Neptune Missile Is Developed By Which Country
A. Ukraine
B. China
C. Iran
D. Israel
ANSWER: A - Diego Garcia Island, Is Located In Which Ocean
A. Indian Ocean
B. Atlantic Ocean
C. Pacific Ocean
D. Arctic Ocean
ANSWER: A - Ranthambore Tiger Reserve Lies At The Junction Of Which Two Mountain
Ranges
A. Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
B. Satpura and Vindhyas
C. Aravallis and Vindhyas
D. Himalayas and Shivaliks
ANSWER: C - Prime Minister Ilza Amado Vaz, Recently Announced Her Resignation, Belongs
To Which Country
A. Cameroon
B. Sao Tome and Principe
C. Chad
D. Democratic Republic of the Congo
ANSWER: B - Name Of India’s First Indigenous Micro-missile System Designed To Counter
Swarm Drones
A. Bhargavastra
B. Agni
C. Vayu
D. Saryu
ANSWER: A - Pavana River, Flows Through Which State
A. Odisha
B. Telangana
C. Maharashtra
D. Bihar
ANSWER: C - Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Rajasthan
D. Gujarat
ANSWER: A - Which city will host the AI Action Summit 2025
A. New York
B. Paris
C. Geneva
D. Tokyo
ANSWER: B
