Call Support +91-85588-96644
TCYonline

Login

Sign Up

Please enter a Username or Email ID
Please enter a password
Keep me logged in
Please enter your name
Please enter your mobile number
You can't leave Captcha Code empty
By submitting this form, you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy.
OR

Sign Up via Facebook

Sign Up via Google

Sign Up via Twitter

Download Software
Tests given

Download TCY App

App Image
 
loading

General Awareness

googleplus facebook

Daily G.K. - Top Stories

14 Jan 2025

DAILY G.K. TEST

Start Test

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Japan Tightens Sanctions on Russia over Ukraine War

  • In a decisive move to reinforce international pressure on Russia over its continued military actions in Ukraine, Japan announced a new series of sanctions targeting Russian entities and individuals, as well as organisations in other countries accused of aiding Russia in evading existing sanctions.
  • The Japanese government froze the assets of 11 individuals, 29 organizations, and three banks within Russia. Additionally, a North Korean trading company executive and a Georgian bank, both allegedly involved in circumventing sanctions, have been subjected to asset freezes.
  • This latest round of sanctions underscores Japan's commitment to the collective efforts of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in responding to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasised that these measures represent Japan's contribution to international endeavors aimed at achieving global peace and resolving the challenges arising from the Russian invasion.

ICJ President Nawaf Salam is Lebanon's New Prime Minister

  • Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, was named as Lebanon's new Prime Minister.
  • Two-thirds of the 128 members of parliament nominated the 71-year-old judge for the post - reserved for a Sunni Muslim under a sectarian power sharing system - during consultations with newly elected President Joseph Aoun. Caretaker PM Najib Mikati got 9 votes.
  • His appointment is another blow to Hezbollah, which had sought to reappoint Mikati but ended up nominating no candidate.
  • Salman became a member of the ICJ - the UN's top court - in 2018, and was elected president for a three-year term last February. He took over as the ICJ heard a case brought by South Africa that accused Israeli forces of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israel dismissed the allegation as baseless.
View Month Wise

ENVIRONMENT

Srinagar Meteorology Centre Completes more than 100 Years of its Existence, Designated as Centenial Centre

  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh designated Srinagar Meteorology Centre as Centennial Centre on completion of more than 100 years of existence.
  • Addressing a landmark event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), he announced the establishment of a Regional Meteorological Centre in Jammu. This significant move is set to bolster meteorological services in Jammu and Kashmir, further enhancing disaster preparedness and climate resilience in the region.
View Month Wise

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Avenue Supermarts Appoints Anshul Asawa as CEO Designate

  • Avenue Supermarts Limited, which operates the DMart hypermarket chain in India, appointed Unilever's Anshul Asawa as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) designate with effect from March.
  • Asawa, an IIT Roorkee and IIM Lucknow alumnus, has played a pivotal role in creating a portfolio and driving demand for Unilever's e-commerce home care segment. He was the company's Global Vice President for digital, e-commerce, and customer development.

C-DOT and IIT Mandi Sign Agreement for Developing Semiconductor Chip

  • In a step towards developing Indigenous state-of-the-art next-generation telecommunications technology, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT Jammu), for the development of 'Wideband Spectrum-Sensor ASIC-Chip for Enhancing the Spectrum Utilization'.
  • According to the Ministry of Communications, the agreement is signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.

INROAD Project: Enhancing Natural Rubber Quality in India's North-East

  • The INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) project in the North East received financial support of Rs. 100 crore for improving the quality of natural rubber.
  • This initiative focuses on skill development for rubber growers and the establishment of model infrastructure, with support from key players in the tyre industry, demonstrating a unique collaboration between agriculture and manufacturing.
  • INROAD is a pioneering initiative in the global tyre industry, focusing on improving the quality of natural rubber through direct involvement from tyre manufacturers. The project is financially supported by four major companies – Apollo, Ceat, JK, and MRF. The Rubber Board of India oversees its implementation.
View Month Wise

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Bhilai Unveils Anti-Fraud Device, Aiming To Secure UPI, E-Commerce and Banking

  • Cyber fraud has become one of the biggest problems people face these days in India and around the world. To address this growing issue, IIT Bhilai has made an innovation. A team from IIT Bhilai created a device that is claimed to make online monetary transactions more secure. It is said that, with the use of this device, transactions from UPI, e-commerce, and net banking will become more secure. This device, which resembles a pen drive, is named 'Trust Token'. Given the increase in cyber fraud cases in recent years, this device could be of great use.
  • Dr Dhiman Saha, Principal Investigator of the 'Trust Token' Project and a faculty member of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Bhilai, stated that the first phase of this device, being developed in different stages, has been completed. The work on the second phase is also nearing completion. Dr Saha explained that the device looks like a pen drive, but it functions as a dongle that adds an extra security layer. As long as this device is not connected to a computer, laptop, or mobile device, no transaction will be possible.
View Month Wise

SPORTS

Bangladesh Cricketer Tamim Iqbal Announces Retirement from International Cricket

  • Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from international cricket. This is the second time he has called time on his career, having previously retired in July 2023 in an emotionally charged press conference, only to reverse the decision within 24 hours after intervention from Bangladesh's then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Kho Kho World Cup 2025 in New Delhi

  • The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 kicked off with the opening ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on January 13 and will conclude with the men's and the women's finals on January 19.
  • The inaugural edition of the kho kho competition, backed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), features 20 men's and 19 women's teams.
  • The Indian men's team is in Group A with Nepal, Peru, Brazil and Bhutan while the women's team is in Group A with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia and Republic of Korea. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Tyson Fury Announces Retirement from Boxing

  • Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury announced his retirement from boxing just weeks after suffering a second straight defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.
  • The "Gypsy King" last fought in December 2024 when he lost his rematch against WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk in Riyadh.
  • Fury enjoyed two stints as heavyweight champion and retires with a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.
View Month Wise

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Department of Biotechnology Hosts the Fifth Webinar in its Webinar Series on Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative

  • The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Government of India held its fifth webinar in the Biofoundry and Bio-manufacturing Initiative series. This event took place on January 13, 2025, and focused on the theme "Bio-manufacturing for Climate Resilient Agriculture." This topic is a vital component of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy, which aims to position India as a global leader in bio-based innovations. Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the BioE3 Policy emphasises sustainable bio-manufacturing across various sectors, including agriculture. The initiative seeks to support economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability.
  • The webinar served as a platform for academia, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers to discuss advancements and opportunities in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for climate resilience in agriculture. As climate change poses significant threats to food security, it is essential to sustain agricultural yields and improve quality while protecting the environment. The entire agricultural value chain, from production to waste management, requires a comprehensive overhaul to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.

PM Modi Launches Mission Mausam to Make India more Weather-Ready

  • Prime Minister Modi launched 'Mission Mausam', an ambitious initiative to significantly enhance India's capabilities in weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster management. The mission will focus on the development of cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation weather radars, high-resolution atmospheric observations, satellites, and advanced high-performance computing systems.
  • The IMD, which will turn 150 on January 15, has lined up a series of events, workshops, and activities to highlight its achievements, its pivotal role in building climate resilience, and the contribution of government institutions in delivering essential weather and climate services.

India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee Meeting on Trade trAnsit and Cooperation Concludes in Kathmandu

  • The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade was held in Kathmandu in January 2025.
  • Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Sunil Barthwal led the Indian delegation which included senior officials from various Ministries and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The Nepali side was headed by Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal, Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, accompanied by representatives from different Nepali Ministries and Departments.
  • This meeting of the IGC, a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties, carried out a comprehensive review of the whole gamut of bilateral trade and economic relationship. Both sides reviewed mutual market access issues, IPR and duty related issues. The agenda also included discussions on review of the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, proposed amendments to existing agreements, the harmonisation of standards and the synchronised development of trade infrastructure including the electrification of the Raxaul-Birgunj rail line.
View Month Wise

DEFENCE

Defence Minister, CDS Anil Chauhan Attend Armed Forces Veterans' Day Event in Jammu

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan attended the ninth Armed Forces Veterans' Day event in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with senior military and civil officials also attended the event be held at the Tanda artillery brigade in Akhnoor under the aegis of the army's Northern Command to honour the force veterans and "veer naris".
  • About 1,000 armed forces veterans from Jammu, Akhnoor, Pallanwala, Rakhmuthi, Naushera and Sunderbani attended the function, which will also included the hoisting of a 108 feet national flag and the inauguration of a heritage museum in Akhnoo.
  • The event reflected the army's respect and unwavering commitment to care for the war widows and veterans who served the nation with pride and dedication.

India Tests New Version of Anti-tank Guided Missile 'Nag Mk 2'

  • India successfully carried out field evaluation trials of indigenously-developed third-generation anti-tank guided missile Nag Mk-2. The trials were conducted recently at a firing range in Rajasthan's Pokhran in the presence of senior Army officers.
  • "During the three field trials, the missile systems destroyed precisely all the targets, maximum and minimum range, thus validating its firing range.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Army and industry for the successful field evaluation trials of the entire weapon system of Nag Mk 2.

CRPF Launches Online Platform to Adopt Retired K9s for Second Life

  • The CRPF launched a first-ever online service that allows common people to adopt retired sniffer and assault dogs from the country's largest paramilitary force to give these four-legged soldiers a comfortable second life.
  • This is probably the first time that any security force has decided to offer their trained dogs for public adoption, as this move was always fraught with the dangers of misuse of these highly-skilled and motivated dogs by anti-national elements.
  • Till now, the central forces and state police were handing over their retired dogs to registered NGOs or reputed organisations for their care.
  • More than 30 canines from four breeds — Belgian Shepherd Malinois, German Shepherd, Labrador and the indigenous Mudhol Hound — can now be adopted through a rigorous process that will be monitored by the CRPF's specialised Dog Breeding and Training School (DBTS) near Bengaluru.
View Month Wise

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES

Odisha Integrates with Ayushman Bharat

  • Odisha became the 34th state to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), marking a significant advancement in the state's healthcare landscape. This integration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Health Authority (NHA) of the Union Ministry of Health and Odisha's Department of Health and Family Welfare.
  • The AB PM-JAY will operate in conjunction with Odisha's existing Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY). This unified scheme offers a health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually, with an additional Rs. 5 lakh specifically for women members. Approximately 1.03 crore families are expected to benefit, with 67.8 lakh families receiving support from the Union Government.
  • Previously, residents of Odisha had access to around 900 empaneled hospitals. With this integration, they can now avail cashless treatment in over 29,000 government and private empaneled hospitals nationwide.
View Month Wise

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION

IIM Sambalpur Launches MBA in Business Analytics with Dual Degree Option

  • IIM Sambalpur introduced an MBA programme in Business Analytics at its Delhi Campus. The course will impart students with knowledge in management education with analytical and technological competencies. Candidates with a high CAT (Common Admission Test) percentile and a STEM academic background with one year of relevant experience can apply for the admission process.
  • The institute signed an MoU with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand for a dual-degree course to provide students with interdisciplinary education.
  • The dual-degree programme will have a STEM education framework wherein Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines will be taught in conjunction with management principles.
View Month Wise

ART AND CULTURE

Hatti Tribes of Himachal Begin Boda Tyohar Festival in Trans-Giri Region

  • The vibrant Boda Tyohar festival, the largest annual celebration for the Hatti tribes of the Trans-Giri region in Himachal Pradesh, kicked off with much enthusiasm and traditional fervour. The festival, which holds immense cultural significance for the three lakh-strong Hatti community, is set to continue throughout the month and will culminating in the end of the 'Magha' month (February 2025).
View Month Wise

LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Centre Appoints Justice Ashutosh Kumar as Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court

  • The Central Government notified the appointment of Justice Ashutosh Kumar as the acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
  • This development came after the Union Government notified the appointment of Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran as a judge of the Supreme Court of India.
View Month Wise
Share on
Keep Yourself updated on Latest PTE Exam Pattern

Avail Free Topic-wise Tests and various other offers.