In Current Affairs for 20 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 20 January 2025
National Disaster Response Force Raising Day
- The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrates January 19 as its raising day. Since the official formation of the rescue force in 2006, this day has been marked as the National Disaster Response Force Raising Day.
- The Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Assam Rifles are among the battalions that comprise the specialised, multi-skilled rescue force.
- NDRF, which has 16 battalions and 13,000 men dispersed around the country, has rescued over 7 lakh stranded people and saved more than 1.44 lakh lives.
- Through a variety of rescue efforts, the NDRF reportedly saved about 12,000 lives in 2021 alone. It is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It is a fund managed by the Central Government to meet the expenses for emergency response, relief, and rehabilitation due to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
- NDRF is constituted to supplement the funds of the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in SDRF.
- It is placed in the “Public Account” of the GOI under “reserve funds not bearing interest”. Since it is placed in the public accounts, the government does not require parliamentary approval to take money out of this fund.
World Economic Forum 2025 In Davos
- 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting will begin at Davos in Switzerland. During the five-day event, India’s model of inclusive growth and digital revolution will be highlighted.
- The Indian delegation will be spearheaded by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw along with Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary.
- Minister emphasized the global interest in India’s transformative digital journey under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India programme. He said, the world is keen to understand India’s economic policies, digital transformation and the way technology has been democratized to empower citizens across all strata of society.
- WEF is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
- It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Foundation: Klaus Schwab, a German professor with a background in mechanical engineering and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard, founded WEF in 1971, originally known as the European Management Forum.
Donald Trump To Take Oath As 47th President Of US
- Donald Trump will take oath as the 47th President of the United States. The presidential oath will be held in the presence of United States Chief Justice John Roberts in Washington DC.
- JD Vance will be sworn in as US Vice President. Several foreign leaders are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony. They include Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck.
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the ceremony. The guests will also include Elon Musk of Tesla, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Tim Cook of Apple and Sam Altman of OpenAI.
- Ahead of his oath, 78-year-old Trump addressed supporters at a victory rally in Washington DC last night. He told a packed arena that he plans to sign a host of executive orders on the first day of his presidency
“Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan”
- In a significant initiative to connect civilians with the valorous history of India’s armed forces, the government has launched the “Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan” app, coinciding with Army Day celebrations in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Developed jointly by the Ministries of Defence, Tourism, and the Indian Army, the app allows civilians to visit key battlefield locations, including those of the 1962, 1971, and 1999 wars, and significant conflict zones like Siachen base camp and Galwan valley. This effort aims to transform border regions into tourist hubs, offering citizens a closer connection to India’s military history and its soldiers’ sacrifices.
- Tourist Locations
- 1962 War Sites: Rezang-La (Ladakh) and Kibithoo and Bum-La (Arunachal Pradesh).
- 1971 War Zones: Select locations yet to be detailed.
- 1999 Kargil War: Key areas in Kargil, Batalik, and Drass to be accessible for trekkers.
- Siachen Base Camp: The world’s highest battlefield.
- Galwan Valley: Site of the 2020 clash.
- Doklam: Scene of the 73-day standoff between India and China in 2017.
Swachh Survekshan Toolkit Launch
- Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, revealed a new toolkit for the ninth edition of Swachh Survekshan, the largest urban cleanliness survey globally.
- This edition introduces a simplified and systematic approach, promoting urban sanitation through citizen engagement and third-party validation. The launch event brought into light the introduction of the Super Swachh League, which recognises cities excelling in cleanliness.
- Swachh Survekshan was initiated in 2016 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). It aims to enhance urban sanitation through public participation.
- The survey evaluates cities based on cleanliness and sanitation metrics.
- The new category, Super Swachh League, was introduced to acknowledge top-performing cities. It creates a competitive environment among cities that have ranked in the top three for at least two of the last three years (2021-2023).
- Assessment Criteria : To stay in the Super Swachh League, cities must maintain a score of at least 85% to retain their position. They will also be evaluated on additional aspirational indicators.
Sri Lanka To Receive Largest FDI From China
- Sri Lanka is set to receive its largest foreign direct investment from China, amounting to $3.7 billion for an oil refinery. This investment comes during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China and is integral to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- The project raises concerns regarding potential debt traps and regional geopolitical tensions, particularly with India. China’s Sinopec will build the refinery with a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day.
- The agreement was signed between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Energy and Sinopec. The project aims to meet domestic fuel demand and generate foreign currency through exports.
- The refinery is located near the strategic Hambantota port, previously leased to China for 99 years. This location heightens regional tensions, as India views Chinese influence in Sri Lanka as a direct threat to its interests in the Indian Ocean.
- Sri Lanka has faced financial challenges, partly due to debts incurred from Chinese loans. The Hambantota port deal is often cited as a classic example of a “debt trap,” where countries lose control of assets due to inability to repay loans.
- India has responded to China’s growing influence by proposing its own energy projects, including a $1.2 billion fuel pipeline to Trincomalee. Indian Oil Corporation is fuel supplier in Sri Lanka, holding a 20% market share.
Kho Kho World Cup 2025
- In the inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup, Indian Women’s and Men’s teams were crowned as the World Champions. Women Team India secured a commanding victory with a score of 78-40 against the Nepal women’s team in the final match of the World Cup 2025 at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
- Later, in the Men’s Final match, India defeated Nepal by 54-36 at the same venue.
Current Affairs 20 January 2025 Question
- Name Of The Rocket Launched By Blue Origin On Its Maiden Test Flight
A. Falcon 9
B. New Shepard
C. New Glenn
D. Saturn V
ANSWER: C - Name Of Isro’s Module Used For This Space Agriculture Experiment
A. Space AgriLab
B. Orbital Farming Station
C. Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS)
D. Agricultural Research in Space Module (ARSM)
ANSWER: C - Name Of App Launched To Connect Civilians With India’s Military History
A. Bharat Sainik Darshan
B. Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan
C. Veer Bharat Connect
D. Indian War Memorial Tour
ANSWER: B - On What Date Did The Lokpal Of India Celebrate Its Inaugural Foundation Day
A. January 14, 2025
B. January 15, 2025
C. January 16, 2025
D. January 17, 2025
ANSWER: C - What Is The PRABHAAV Factbook
A. A financial report for startups
B. A guide to India’s startup ecosystem achievements (2016-2024)
C. A mentorship program for women entrepreneurs
D. A regulatory guide for startup compliance
ANSWER: B - What Is The Bharat Startup Challenge
A. A program promoting agriculture startups exclusively
B. A collaboration with international venture capitalists
C. A networking event for Tier I city startups
D. A competition offering 75 challenges across diverse sectors
ANSWER: D - Where Is Heimtextil 2025 Being Held
A. London, UK
B. Frankfurt, Germany
C. Paris, France
D. Milan, Italy
ANSWER: B - What Is The Current January 2025 Judicial Strength Of The Supreme Court Of
India After Justice Chandran’s Appointment
A. 30
B. 32
C. 33
D. 34
ANSWER: C - Kirkuk Which Was Seen In The News, Is Located In Which Country
A. Israel
B. Iraq
C. Australia
D. Greece
ANSWER: B - Umiam Lake Seen In The News, Is Located In Which State
A. West Bengal
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Meghalaya
ANSWER: D - Who Is Appointed As Secretary Of The Department Of Higher Education In The
Ministry Of Education
A. Ravi Mohan
B. Dammu Ravi
C. Vineet Joshi
D. Amit Khare
ANSWER: C - Where Will The Third Launchpad Of ISRO Be Established
A. Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport
B. Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
C. Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
D. Chandipur Test Range
ANSWER: B - Which Ministry Is Responsible For The Kalagram For Mahakumbh 2025
A. Ministry of Culture, Government of India
B. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
C. Indian Council for Cultural Relations
D. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
ANSWER: A - Who Has Been Appointed As The Ombudsman And Ethics Officer Of The BCCI
A. Justice Arun Mishra
B. Justice Sanjiv Khanna
C. Justice N. Santosh Hegde
D. Justice R. Banumathi
ANSWER: A - Primary Objective Of The National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0
A. To establish a universal 5G network across India
B. To connect the remaining 1.7 lakh villages in India with broadband
C. To replace all existing telecom towers with 4G towers
D. To create a nationwide Wi-Fi network
ANSWER: B - Name Of New Pangolin Species Discovered By The Zoological Survey Of India
A. Manis Pentadactyla
B. Manis Crassicaudata
C. Manis Javanica
D. Manis Indoburmanica
ANSWER: D - Tungabhadra River, Is Tributary Of Which River
A. Godavari
B. Kaveri
C. Krishna
D. Narmada
ANSWER: C - Siachen Glacier, Is Located In Which Mountain Range
A. Karakoram Range
B. Zanskar Range
C. Pir Panjal Range
D. None of the Above
ANSWER: A - Where Was The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 Inaugurated
A. New Delhi
B. Hyderabad
C. Chennai
D. Bengaluru
ANSWER: A - Which Among The Following Is An Anti Inflationary Measure
A. Stagflation
B. Hyper inflation
C. Disinflation
D. Deflation
ANSWER: C
