Jan 17, 2025 | Current Affairs for UPSC, State PCS & other Govt. Exams

India was ranked second in terms of "preparedness for jobs of the future including artificial intelligence (AI) and green skills", only behind the United States, as per the QS World Future Skills Index 2025.

Overall though, India ranked 25th across all indicators, which also include the alignment between skills and employer needs, academic readiness, and economic transformation.

A recent UNICEF report, titled "Prospects for Children in 2025 – Building Resilient Systems for Children's Futures," highlights the escalating crises faced by children globally in 2025.

It underscores the profound impact of climate change, economic instability, and conflict on their lives and futures, emphasizing the urgent need for resilient systems to safeguard children and provide adequate support.

Key findings of the report include:

- 473 million children live in conflict-affected areas, representing 19% of the global child population—nearly double the percentage from the 1990s.
- Nearly 400 million children reside in countries struggling with debt, with some African nations spending more on debt repayment than on education.
- Only 2.4% of global climate finance is allocated to child-responsive initiatives.
- In Africa, only 53% of youth have internet access, with significant disparities for girls and children with disabilities.

The report calls for integrated systems that prioritize children’s rights and ensure their needs are met in the face of growing global challenges.

On January 16, 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy at a cost of approximately Rs 2,960 crore.

With an emphasis on "Aatmanirbhar Bharat," the missiles will be supplied by BDL under the "Buy (Indian)" category, featuring largely indigenous content.

The Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) has a range between 1,000 km and 3,000 km.

- Jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
- Manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
- Designed to counter airborne threats, including helicopters, combat jets, cruise missiles, and aircraft.
- The land-based version of the MRSAM is known as BARAK-8.

Renowned mridangist T.V. Gopalakrishnan has been honored with the RK Srikantan Trust Award during the Sankranti Music Fest.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released its Global Risks Report, which categorizes risks into five domains: economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological.

The report evaluates these risks over short-term (1-2 years) and long-term (10 years) horizons, providing a comprehensive analysis of the challenges shaping global priorities.

The Hon'ble Minister of Textiles inaugurated the India Pavilion at Heimtextil 2025, held at Messe Frankfurt.

The world's first Mahamrityunjaya Yantra, measuring 52 feet in length, width, and height, has been installed at Tapovan Ashram in Jhunsi Havelis, Prayagraj, a place revered as the sacred land of the Maha Kumbh.

The Union Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Gujarat State Government, inaugurated a state-of-the-art Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar, Gujarat, showcasing the town's 2,500-year-old cultural and historical heritage.

Farmers in India continue to protest against the World Trade Organization (WTO) policies, arguing that these regulations undermine their livelihoods. The protests, particularly strong in Punjab, have expanded beyond the demand for legalizing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to a call for India to withdraw from the WTO.

Farmers claim that WTO rules disproportionately benefit developed countries, threatening food security and smallholder incomes in India.

WTO regulations restrict agricultural subsidies and public procurement, jeopardizing India's food security. The public distribution system, crucial for affordable food, is threatened by these policies.

C-DOT and IIT Bombay are collaborating to develop an Optical Transceiver Chipset for High-Bandwidth 6G Wireless Links. This initiative is part of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).

PM Modi inaugurated the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 on January 17 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Recognized as India's largest mobility event, the expo spans three venues and features over 1,500 exhibitors, nine concurrent shows, and more than 20 conferences.

The venues for the event are:

Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in New Delhi
India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that 2024 was the hottest year in India since records began in 1901. This extreme heatwave was part of a global trend, with 2024 being declared the hottest year worldwide. The report highlighted significant temperature anomalies across different seasons and regions.

Key findings include:
- The average land surface air temperature in 2024 was +0.65°C above the long-term average (1991-2020).
- Monthly averages were above normal for all months except March.
- October recorded the highest anomaly at +1.23°C.
- Heatwaves affected various regions, with some areas experiencing temperature anomalies exceeding 4°C.
- In addition to the heatwaves, four cyclonic storms formed over the northern Indian Ocean, including two severe storms – Remal and Dana.

States with the highest weather-related fatalities in 2024 were - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released its World Employment and Social Outlook Report for 2025, highlighting the ongoing struggles in global labour markets.

The report reveals that geopolitical tensions, climate change costs, and unresolved debt issues continue to hinder economic recovery. Despite a slight decrease in the global jobs gap, challenges remain, particularly for low-income countries and vulnerable populations.

The global jobs gap reached 402 million in 2024. This includes 186 million unemployed, 137 million temporarily unavailable, and 79 million discouraged workers.

The global unemployment rate remained steady at 5% in 2024. Youth unemployment is particularly concerning, standing at 12.6%. Labour force participation rates have declined in low-income nations while rising in high-income countries.

The labor force participation rate (LFPR) is the percentage of people aged 15 and older who are economically active.

The rates of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) have risen. In low-income countries, young men's NEET rates increased by 4 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels.

Global economic growth slowed to 3.2% in 2024, down from previous years. A similar growth rate is anticipated for 2025.

Although inflation has decreased, it remains high, impacting wage values.

Job growth potential exists in green energy and digital technologies. Many countries lack the infrastructure to fully utilize digital advancements.

President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Sports Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan, honoring India's top athletes for their outstanding achievements.

The awards included the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards 2024, Dronacharya Awards 2024, Arjuna Awards 2024, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2023, Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2024, and the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 2024.

The Arjuna Awards were conferred on 32 sportspersons, while the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was presented to 4 athletes. Additionally, Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) for outstanding performance in sports and games were awarded to 2 individuals. The Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in sports and games was presented to 3 individuals in the Regular Category and 2 in the Lifetime Category.

In the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards category, Manu Bhaker was honored for her exceptional achievements in shooting. D. Gukesh, the youngest World Chess Champion; Harmanpreet Singh, the men’s hockey team captain; and Praveen Kumar, for his remarkable achievements in para-athletics, were also awarded.

The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was presented to the Physical Education Foundation of India for promoting sports.

The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy was awarded to Chandigarh University, Lovely Professional University, and Guru Nanak Dev University.