6th January Current Affairs

Ranking/ Report/ Indices

News-1

India Ranked 123rd out of 143 Countries in Readiness for a Rapidly Aging
Society
ते जी से वृद्ध होते समाज के लिए तै यारी में 143 दे शोों में भारत 123वें स्थान पर

Report Global Aging Index

Published by National University of Singapore (NUS) & Columbia University
Domains  well-being (25%)
 productivity and engagement (20%)
 equity (18%)
 cohesion (17%)
 security (20%)

Highlights of the report:

 India ranked at 123rd position among 143 countries (accounting 95.4% of
the world’s population) worldwide in terms of its readiness to tackle the
challenges posed by an aging population.
 वृ द्ध होती जनसों ख्या द्वारा उत्पन्न चु नौलतयोों से लनपटने की तत्परता के सों दभभ में भारत
लवश्व भर के 143 दे शोों (लवश्व की 95.4% जनसोंख्या) में 123वें स्थान पर है ।
 Switzerland has secured 1st position with the highest score of 82.3,
followed by Norway and Denmark ranked at 2nd and 3rd position,
respectively.
 स्विटजरिैं ड ने 82.3 के उच्चतम स्कोर के साथ प्रथम स्थान प्राप्त लकया है , इसके बाद
नॉवे और डे नमाकभ क्रमशः दू सरे और तीसरे स्थान पर हैं ।
 As per the report, the number of people over 65 years across the world is
expected to double from 703 million (in 2019) to 1.5 billion (in 2050).
 ररपोटभ के अनु सार, दु लनया भर में 65 वर्भ से अलिक आयु के िोगोों की सों ख्या 703
लमलियन (2019 में) से दोगु नी होकर 1.5 लबलियन (2050 में) होने की उम्मीद है ।
Ranking of top 5 and last countries:

Rank Country
1 Switzerland
2 Norway
3 Denmark
4 Sweden

5 Iceland
143 Rwanda

Ranking of India and its neighbouring countries:

Rank Country
86th Bangladesh
94th Sri Lanka
102nd Nepal
118th Pakistan

123rd India

India's Rankings in Different Indices:

Report Published by India’s Rank 1st Rank

2024 Network Portulans 49 United States of

Readiness Index Institute and America
Saïd Business
School
Interdisciplinary Times Higher Anna University Massachusetts
Science Rankings Education (42) Institute of
(ISR) 2025 (THE) Technology (MIT)
 2025 QS QS Rankings Indian Institute University of
Sustainability of Technology Toronto (Canada)
Rankings Delhi (171st)
Network Readiness Portulans 49 United States
Index 2024 (NRI Institute
2024)

Appointment & Resignation

News-1

Anup Kumar Sinha Reappointed As Non-Executive Chairman of Bandhan

Bank
अनूप कुमार लसन्हा को बोंिन बैंक के गै र-कायभकारी अध्यक्ष के रूप में पु नः लनयुक्त लकया गया

Appointed Anup Kumar Sinha

Person
Appointed as Non-Executive (Independent) Chairman of the Bandhan
Bank Limited
Tenure January 07, 2025 to July 04, 2026

About Bandhan Bank

Incorporated in 2014
Started Operations 2015
HQ Kolkata
MD & CEO Partha Pratim Sengupta
Tagline Aapka Bhala, Sabki Bhalai
Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

Appointed Person Appointed as

Manish Jain Executive Director (Whole-Time Director) of YES
Bank
Rama Mohan Rao Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI)
Amara
R Subramaniakumar Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of RBL Bank Limited
Amitava Chatterjee Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Bank
Rajat Verma CEO of DBS Bank India

News-2

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Appointed as DGCA Director General

फैज अहमद लकदवई डीजीसीए के महालनदे शक लनयुक्त

Appointed Senior IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai

Person
Appointed as Director-General (DG) of the Directorate General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA)
Replaced Vikram Dev Dutt

Extra info Joint-DG D.C. Sharma held additional charge of the DGCA
before Kidwai’s appointment

About DGCA
ESTD 1931
HQ New Delhi
Banking/ Finance/ economy

News-1

Government Forms Committee to Update WPI Base Year

सरकार ने WPI आिार वर्भ को अद्यतन करने के लिए सलमलत गलित की

Committee Committee to revise the base year of the Wholesale Price

Index (WPI) from 2011-12 to 2022-23
Member 18
Chaired by Professor Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog
Report The committee is expected to submit its final report within
submission 18 months
Extra info The last revision of the WPI occurred in 2015, updating the
base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12

News-2

Assam Signed MoU with SBI & UBI for Insurance Benefits
असम ने बीमा िाभ के लिए एसबीआई और यूबीआई के साथ समझौता ज्ञापन पर हस्ताक्षर
लकए

Extra Points
  The Government of Assam signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the State Bank of India (SBI) and Union Bank of India (UBI) to
offer insurance benefits to state government employees.
 असम सरकार ने राज्य सरकार के कमभचाररयोों को बीमा िाभ प्रदान करने के लिए
भारतीय स्टे ट बैंक (एसबीआई) और यूलनयन बैंक ऑफ इों लडया (यूबीआई) के साथ एक
समझौता ज्ञापन (एमओयू) पर हस्ताक्षर लकए।
 The agreements aim to provide zero-premium insurance coverage and
additional benefits to more than four lakh permanent state government
employees.
 समझौतोों का उद्दे श्य चार िाख से अलिक स्थायी राज्य सरकार के कमभचाररयोों को शून्य
प्रीलमयम बीमा कवरे ज और अलतररक्त िाभ प्रदान करना है ।

Key Benefits:

Term Life Insurance A minimum coverage of Rs.10 lakh for natural

death, which includes death due to illness or
accidents
Accidental Death A minimum coverage of Rs.1 crore
Insurance
Permanent Total Coverage of up to Rs.1 crore
Disability insurance
Permanent Partial Coverage of up to Rs.80 lakh
Disability insurance
Air Accidental Minimum coverage of Rs.2 crore for deaths caused
Insurance by air crashes

About Assam

Capital Dispur
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor Lakshman Acharya
Classical Satriya Nritya
Dance
National Kaziranga National Park, Dibru - Saikhowa National Park, Rajiv
Park Gandhi Orang National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri
National Park

About State Bank of India (SBI):

Established 01 July 1955
in
HQ Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
MDs Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Ashwini Kumar Tiwari, Alok
Kumar Choudhary & Vinay M. Tonse

About Union Bank of India

ESTD 1919
HQ Mumbai
MD & CEO A. Manimekhalai
Tagline Good People to Bank with

News-3

Federal Bank Launches Digital Platform FedOne for Corporate Banking

फेडरि बैंक ने कॉपोरे ट बैंलकोंग के लिए लडलजटि प्लेटफॉमभ फेडवन िॉन्च लकया

Platform FedOne, an advanced transaction banking platform

Launched Federal Bank
by
Developed Nucleus Software Exports Limited and FinnAxia solution
by
Objective To enhance Federal Bank’s digital transformation and elevate
the quality of services offered to corporate customers
Extra info It currently supports over 200 financial institutions across 50
countries,managing USD 500 billion in loans in India alone and
over USD 700 billion globally (excluding India)and processing
more than 26 million daily transactions through its transaction
banking platform

About Federal Bank

ESTD 1931
HQ Kochi, Kerala
MD & CEO KVS Manian
Tagline Your Perfect Banking Partner

Recently launched schemes/features by Banks/Financial Institutions:

Bank Name Scheme Name

Federal Bank Kaliyum Karyavum

Axis Bank ARISE Women’s

Savings Account
Life Insurance Corporation Bima Sakhi Yojana

Life Insurance Corporation of India Golden Jubilee (GJF)

Scholarship Scheme
2024
BharatPe Shield

YES Bank Limited & Federation of Indian YES PowherUp

Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI)
Ladies Organisation (FLO)

News-4

NPCI extends market cap deadline for UPI apps till 2026
एनपीसीआई ने यूपीआई ऐप्स के लिए माकेट कैप की समयसीमा 2026 तक बढाई
Extra points
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced an extension
of the deadline for implementing a 30% market share cap for Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) providers by another two years to December
31, 2026.
 भारतीय राष्ट्रीय भु गतान लनगम (एनपीसीआई) ने यू लनफाइड पे मेंट्स इों टरफेस
(यूपीआई) प्रदाताओों के लिए 30% बाजार लहस्सेदारी सीमा को िागू करने की समय
सीमा को दो साि बढाकर 31 लदसोंबर, 2026 तक करने की घोर्णा की।
 This marks the third time the NPCI has extended the deadline for
enforcing the market share cap.
 यह तीसरी बार है जब एनपीसीआई ने बाजार लहस्से दारी सीमा िागू करने की
समयसीमा बढाई है ।
 The NPCI proposed a 30% market share cap in November 2020, giving
providers two years to comply. Due to industry opposition, the deadline
was moved to 2022, and it was extended to December 31, 2024.
 एनपीसीआई ने नवों बर 2020 में 30% बाजार लहस्से दारी की सीमा प्रस्तालवत की थी,
लजसके तहत प्रदाताओों को अनुपािन के लिए दो साि का समय लदया गया था। उद्योग
के लवरोि के कारण, समय सीमा को 2022 तक बढा लदया गया था, और इसे 31 लदसोंबर,
2024 तक बढा लदया गया था।
 As of November 2024, Walmart Inc backed PhonePe, commanded
approximately 47.8% of UPI transactions,and Google LLC’s Google Pay,
which holds 37.02%.
 नवों बर 2024 तक, वॉिमाटभ इों क समलथभत फोनपे के पास िगभग 47.8% यू पीआई
िे नदे न का लनयोंत्रण था, और गू गि एिएिसी के गू गि पे के पास 37.02% लहस्सेदारी
थी।
 In 2024 alone, UPI transactions surged by 46% , totalling 172 billion, up
from 118 billion in 2023.
 अकेिे 2024 में , यू पीआई िे नदे न 46% बढकर 172 लबलियन हो जाएगा, जो 2023 में
118 लबलियन से अलिक है ।

About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

ESTD 2008
HQ Mumbai, Maharashtra
CEO & MD Dilip Asbe

News-5

RBI Reports 98.12% of ₹2,000 Notes Returned

आरबीआई ने बताया लक 2,000 रुपये के 98.12% नोट वापस आ गए

Extra Points
 As of December 31, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced
that 98.12% of the ₹2,000 denomination banknotes have been returned to
the banking system, with ₹6,691 crore still held by the public.
 31 लदसों बर, 2024 तक, भारतीय ररज़वभ बैंक (RBI) ने घोर्णा की लक ₹2,000 मू ल्यवगभ
के 98.12% बैंक नोट बैंलकोंग प्रणािी में वापस आ गए हैं , लजनमें से ₹6,691 करोड़ अभी
भी जनता के पास हैं ।
 On May 19, 2023, the RBI announced the withdrawal of ₹2,000
denomination banknotes from circulation.
 19 मई, 2023 को आरबीआई ने 2,000 रुपये मू ल्यवगभ के बैं क नोटोों को प्रचिन से वापस
िे ने की घोर्णा की।
 At that time, the total value of these notes in circulation was ₹3.56 lakh
crore.
 उस समय प्रचिन में इन नोटोों का कुि मूल्य ₹3.56 िाख करोड़ था।
 By December 31, 2024, this amount had decreased to ₹6,691 crore,
indicating a significant return of currency to the banking system.
 31 लदसों बर, 2024 तक यह रालश घटकर ₹6,691 करोड़ हो गई, जो बैं लकोंग प्रणािी में
मुद्रा की महत्वपू णभ वापसी का सोंकेत है ।

About RBI

ESTD 1 April 1935

HQ Mumbai
Governor Sanjay Malhotra
Deputy T. Rabi Sankar, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Dr. M. D. Patra,
Governors Swaminathan Janakiraman
News-6

MoF Kept Interest Rate on Small Savings Schemes Unchanged for Q4FY25
लवत्त मोंत्रािय ने लवत्त वर्भ 25 की चौथी लतमाही के लिए िघु बचत योजनाओों पर ब्याज दर
अपररवलतभत रखी

Extra Points
 Department of Economic Affairs (DEA-Budget Division), Ministry of
Finance (MoF) has kept the interest rate on Small Savings Schemes
(SSS) unchanged for its 4th Quarter of Financial Year 2024-25( Q4 FY25)
i.e. from 1st January 2025 to 31st March 2025 from those notified for
Q3FY25.
 लवत्त मों त्रािय (एमओएफ) के आलथभ क मामिोों के लवभाग (डीईए-बजट प्रभाग) ने लवत्तीय
वर्भ 2024-25 की चौथी लतमाही (लवत्त वर्भ 25 की चौथी लतमाही) यानी 1 जनवरी 2025 से
31 माचभ 2025 के लिए िघु बचत योजनाओों (एसएसएस) पर ब्याज दर को लवत्त वर्भ 25
की तीसरी लतमाही के लिए अलिसूलचत दरोों से अपररवलतभत रखा है ।
 This is for the straight 4th consecutive quarter of FY25 that interest rate
on SSS remains unchanged.
 यह लवत्त वर्भ 2025 की िगातार चौथी लतमाही है जब एसएसएस पर ब्याज दर
अपररवलतभत बनी हुई है ।

Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for Q4FY25:

Instruments Rate of Interest from 1st January,

2025 to 31st March, 2025

Savings Deposit 4.0%

1-Year Post Office Time Deposits 6.9%

(POTD)

2-Year Post Office Time Deposits 7.0%

(POTD)

3-Year Post Office Time Deposits 7.1%

(POTD)
 5-Year Post Office Time 7.5%
Deposits
(POTD)

5-Year Post Office Recurring 6.7%

Deposits (PORD)

Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) 7.5% (will mature in 115 months)

Public Provident Fund (PPF) 7.1%

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) 8.2%

National Savings Certificate 7.7%

(NSC)

Senior Citizens’ Savings 8.2%

Scheme(SCSS)

Post Office Monthly Income 7.4%

Scheme (PO-MIS)

Mahila Samman Savings 7.5%

Certificate (MSSC)

National News

News-1

1st Phase of ONOS Scheme to Empower India’s Research Ecosystem

ने भारत के अनुसोंिान पाररस्वस्थलतकी तों त्र को सशक्त बनाने के लिए ओएनओएस योजना का
पहिा चरण शुरू लकया

Scheme First phase of the ‘One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS)’

Launched by Ministry of Education(MoE)
Objective To provide access to world-class scholarly articles and
journals for government-run Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) and Central Government (CG) Research and
Development (R&D) centers across India
Outlay Rs 6,000 crore
Tenure Three years, from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2027
Coordinated INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network), an Inter-
by University Centre based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Benefit It will provide access to over 13,000 journals for more than
6,300 government academic and R&D institutes including
central and state-govt universities and colleges
Extra info The subscription fees for journals from 30 publishers under
ONOS Phase I will be centrally managed by INFLIBNET

About Ministry of Education

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary & Sukanta Majumdar

International News

News-1

Romania & Bulgaria become full member of EU’s Schengen area

रोमालनया और बुल्गाररया यूरोपीय सोंघ के शेंगेन क्षेत्र के पू णभ सदस्य बन गए

Extra Points
 Romania and Bulgaria have officially become full members of the
European Union’s (EU) Schengen area.
 रोमालनया और बुल्गाररया आलिकाररक तौर पर यू रोपीय सों घ (ईयू ) के शें गेन क्षे त्र के पू णभ
सदस्य बन गए हैं ।
 Until now both countries had partial membership of the Schengen area.
 अब तक दोनोों दे शोों को शें गेन क्षे त्र की आों लशक सदस्यता प्राप्त थी।
  Now 25 out of the 27 member countries of the European Union are
members of the Schengen area except Cyprus and Ireland.
 अब साइप्रस और आयरिैं ड को छोड़कर यूरोपीय सोंघ के 27 सदस्य दे शोों में से 25 दे श
शेंगेन क्षेत्र के सदस्य हैं ।
 Romani and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007. They partially
joined the Schengen area in March 2024.
 रोमानी और बुल्गाररया 2007 में यूरोपीय सोंघ में शालमि हो गए। वे माचभ 2024 में
आों लशक रूप से शेंगेन क्षेत्र में शालमि हो गए।

About Schengen area

Created in 1985
Composition 29 members (25 of the 27 EU member states as well as
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)

About Romania

Capital Bucharest
Currency Romanian Leu
President Klaus Iohannis

About Bulgaria

Capital Sofia
Currency Bulgarian Lev
President Rumen Georgiev Radev

Sports News

News-1

West Bengal Wins 78th Santosh Trophy Title in Hyderabad

पलिम बोंगाि ने है दराबाद में 78वी ों सोंतोर् टर ॉफी का स्वखताब जीता
Extra Points
 West Bengal (WB) claimed the 78th Santosh Trophy 2024 title by
defeating Kerala in the final at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad,
Telangana.
 पलिम बों गाि (डब्ल्यू बी) ने ते िोंगाना के है दराबाद में जीएमसी बाियोगी स्टे लडयम में
फाइनि में केरि को हराकर 78वी ों सोंतोर् टर ॉफी 2024 का स्वखताब जीता।
 This victory marked WB’s record 33rd title win in the history of the
tournament.
 इस जीत ने टू नाभ मेंट के इलतहास में वे स्ट बों गाि की ररकॉडभ 33वी ों स्वखताबी जीत दजभ की।

About Santosh Trophy

Started in 1941
Organised by All India Football Federation
Teams 31
Most successful team West Bengal (33 titles)
2023 winner Meghalaya
2024 edition 78th
2024 Champion West Bengal (33rd title)
2024 Runner up Kerala
Awards of 2024

Top scorer Robi Hansda (West Bengal) (12

goals)
Tulsidas Balaram player of the final Robi Hansda (West Bengal)
match
Peter Thangaraj player of the Robi Hansda (West Bengal)
championship

Awards & Honours

News-1

Sai Paranjpye to Receive Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award

सई पराोंजपे को पद्मपालण िाइफटाइम अचीवमेंट पु रस्कार लमिे गा

Award Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner Sai Paranjpye, a legendary director and writer in Indian cinema
Awarded Upcoming 10th edition of Ajanta-Ellora International Film
at Festival (AIFF) 2025 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Awarded Recognizes her extensive contributions to both Indian cinema
for and Marathi literature
Prize A Padmapani memento, a letter of honour, and a monetary
reward of Rs 2 lakh

Recent Awards & Winners

Awards Winner
Five-star SVAGRIHA (Simple Intermodal Terminal (IMT) at Kalughat in
Versatile Affordable GRIHA) Bihar, developed by the Inland
rating Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
Gold Award at the Andhra Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
Pradesh State Energy
Conservation Award 2024
Bahrain’s ‘Medal of Dr.Ravi Pillai
Efficiency’(First Class)
Gangadhar National Award for Odia poet Prativa Satpathy
Poetry 2023
International Astronomical Twelve students and two teachers from
Search Collaboration (IASC) Dyal Singh Public School in Karnal,
Haryana

Defense News

News-1

DRDO’s 67th Foundation Day

डीआरडीओ का 67वाों स्थापना लदवस

Day January 1, 2025

Celebrated 67th Foundation Day of Defence Research and Development
as Organisation (DRDO)
Extra info Established in 1958, DRDO has grown from a small entity with
10 laboratories to a vast network of around 52 laboratories and
5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs) across India

About DRDO

ESTD 1958
HQ New Delhi
Chairman Sameer V. Kamat

Important Days

News-1
World Braille Day: 4 January
लवश्व ब्रेि लदवस: 4 जनवरी
Day 4 January

Day Name World Braille Day

Theme Celebrating Accessibility and Inclusion for the Visually

2025 Impaired

List of Important Days:

Day Day Name Theme 2024

24 National Consumer Day Virtual Hearings & Digital
December Access to Consumer Justice

25 Good Governance Day

December

27 International Day of Epidemic

December Preparedness

26 Veer Bal Divas A Day of Valor

December And Righteousness

1 January Global Family Day One World, One Family: Building

Bridges Across Generations
State/UT News

News-1

Maharashtra government launches 15 day reading campaign amongst Student

महाराष्ट्र सरकार ने छात्रोों के बीच 15 लदवसीय पिन अलभयान शुरू लकया
Extra Points
 The Maharashtra government has launched a 15 day “ reading campaign
amongst students” starting 1 January 2025.
 महाराष्ट्र सरकार ने 1 जनवरी 2025 से 15 लदवसीय “छात्रोों के बीच पिन अलभयान”
शुरू लकया है ।
 The scheme was announced by the Minister for Higher and Technical
Education Minister of Maharashtra government Chandrakant Patil.
 इस योजना की घोर्णा महाराष्ट्र सरकार के उच्च एवों तकनीकी लशक्षा मों त्री चों द्रकाोंत
पालटि ने की।
 According to the Maharashtra government the 15 days reading campaign
will target college and universities students.
 महाराष्ट्र सरकार के अनु सार 15 लदवसीय पिन अलभयान का िक्ष्य कॉिे ज और
लवश्वलवद्यािय के छात्र होोंगे।

About Maharashtra

Capital Mumbai
CM Devendra Fadnavis
Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan
National Gugamal National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Tadoba
Park National Park, Chandoli National Park, Navegaon National Park

News-2

Chhattisgarh first state to link forest ecosystem with Green GDP

छत्तीसगढ वन पाररस्वस्थलतकी तों त्र को हररत सकि घरे िू उत्पाद से जोड़ने वािा पहिा राज्य
बना
Extra Points
 In a first, the Chhattisgarh state has introduced an innovative plan that
connects the ecosystem services of its forests with the Green Gross
Domestic Product (Green GDP).
 छत्तीसगढ राज्य ने पहिी बार एक अलभनव योजना शु रू की है , जो इसके वनोों की
पाररस्वस्थलतकी सेवाओों को हररत सकि घरे िू उत्पाद (ग्रीन जीडीपी) से जोड़ती है ।
 The action plan is designed to ensure that economic development is
achieved while preserving the pristine environment for future
generations.
 कायभ योजना यह सु लनलित करने के लिए तै यार की गई है लक भावी पीलढयोों के लिए
प्राचीन पयाभवरण को सोंरलक्षत रखते हुए आलथभक लवकास प्राप्त लकया जाए।
 Chhattisgarh with 44 per cent of its land covered by forests, the state's
natural resources are central to the livelihoods of millions of people.
 छत्तीसगढ का 44 प्रलतशत भू भाग वनोों से आच्छालदत है तथा राज्य के प्राकृलतक सों सािन
िाखोों िोगोों की आजीलवका का आिार हैं।

About Chhattisgarh

Capital Raipur
Cm Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor Ramen Deka
National Parks Indravati National Park, Kanger Ghati National Park

Recent First States/UTs:

State Name Reason

Kerala India's first digital court for handling cheque bounce cases,
called 24*7 ONCOURTS, was inaugurated in Kollam
Madhya Conducted a paperless voting process for the first time in
Pradesh India
Himachal Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park, the first zoo in India to
Pradesh receive certification from the Indian Green Building Council
Uttarakhand First Indian state to implement a dedicated Yoga Policy

Punjab 1st state to enact Development and Promotion of Sports Act

2024