SANJAY is an advanced Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) jointly developed by the Indian Army and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

• It integrates inputs from ground and aerial battlefield sensors, processes data to remove duplication, and creates a unified battlefield surveillance picture.
• The system operates via a secured Army Data Network and Satellite Communication Network, enhancing real-time situational awareness.
• SANJAY will be deployed in all operational Brigades, Divisions, and Corps of the Indian Army in three phases from March to October 2025.
• It enables commanders to operate effectively in network-centric environments, supporting decision-making and modernizing military operations.

The system integrates with the Indian Army Decision Support System, providing centralized web-based inputs to Command and Army Headquarters.

The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025, launched by NITI Aayog, provides a comprehensive assessment of the fiscal health of 18 major Indian states.

This annual publication aims to offer data-driven insights to inform state-level policy interventions, thereby enhancing overall fiscal governance, economic resilience, and national stability.

Key Findings of FHI 2025:

• Top Performing States: Odisha leads with the highest overall index score, excelling in both the Debt Index and Debt Sustainability rankings.
• Revenue Mobilization Leaders: Goa, Telangana, and Odisha are at the forefront in generating revenue from their own sources.
• Capital Expenditure Allocation: States categorized as ‘Achiever’ and ‘Front Runner’ allocate approximately 27% of their Developmental Expenditure to Capital Expenditure. In contrast, ‘Performer’ and ‘Aspirational’ states allocate around 10%.
• Debt Sustainability Concerns: States like West Bengal and Punjab are experiencing increasing debt burdens, raising concerns about their debt sustainability.

• Celebrated annually on 31 January to raise awareness about the conservation of zebras and their habitats.
• Aims to highlight the challenges zebras face, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
• Focuses on protecting zebra species like the Plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra, and the Mountain zebra, which are increasingly endangered.

• Hariman Sharma, known as the “Apple Man of India,” has been conferred with the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to agriculture.
• He developed the HRMN-99apple variety, which can thrive in tropical and subtropical regions with summer temperatures up to 46°C.
• Sharma started his journey in 1990, initially with a small nursery in Paniyala village, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh.
• The HRMN-99apple has a striped red-over-yellow skin and soft, juicy pulp, with plants producing up to 75 kg of fruit.
• His work has helped cultivate apples in regions previously thought unsuitable, benefiting farmers in 27 states and boosting exports to countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Germany, and South Africa.
• Sharma has received 15 national awards and 10 state awards for his horticultural achievements.

The upcoming Bollywood film Chhava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has sparked controversy over a scene where the Maratha king is depicted performing the Lezim dance.

• Lezim dance is a traditional folk dance originating from Maharashtra, performed with a handheld instrument made of wood and metallic jingles.
• It is mainly performed during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, marriage processions, and cultural celebrations, especially in Maharashtra and along the Konkan coast.
• The dance involves energetic movements, including stepping, squatting, and jumping, often in synchronized patterns.
• Instruments like the dhol or dhalgi accompany the dance, with occasional song additions.
• It represents community spirit and is practiced as physical exercise in schools across Maharashtra.

Recently, RBI released the annual report for the Ombudsman scheme for the period 2023-24.
The 2023-24 annual report showed a 33% increase in complaints compared to FY23.

• Loan-related complaints increased by 43%in FY24, constituting 29% of total grievances.
• Complaints related to mobile and internet banking also saw a rise due to greater digital adoption.
• The ombudsman resolved 67.8%of maintainable complaints, with 1% settled through mutual agreement and 40.8% rejected due to no service deficiencies.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)launched the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) in 2021 to streamline grievance redressal for RBI-regulated entities, implementing the “One Nation One Ombudsman”
• The scheme integrates three previous ombudsman schemes: the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006, the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018, and the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019.
• It covers a wide range of financial entities, including commercial banks, regional rural banks, cooperative banks, NBFCs, payment system participants, and credit information companies.

• Odisha signed an MoU with Singapore’s Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)in January 2025 to establish a FinTech hub in Bhubaneswar.
• The hub will focus on InsureTech innovationand support India’s “Insurance for All” vision by 2047.
• The Global Competency Centrewill drive financial inclusion and innovation in FinTech solutions.
• The initiative aims to position Odisha as a key player in the global FinTech sector.
• The agreement was signed during Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s visit, marking 60 years of diplomatic ties between India and Singapore.

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27, 2025.

The decision was approved by the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

The UCC sets a uniform legal framework for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships.

Minimum marriage age is set at 18 years for women and 21 years for men, with mandatory marriage registration.

• Uniform grounds for divorce include cruelty, adultery, desertion, and mental illness.
• Equal inheritance rights are given to sons and daughters, removing the distinction between ancestral and self-acquired property.
• Mandatory registration of live-in relationships ensures legal protection and inheritance rights for children born in such relationships.
• Polygamy is completely banned across all religions.
• The law aims to promote gender equality and remove discriminatory practices but has sparked debates over its cultural impact.

• Observed annually on 30 January to honor the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.
• The day marks the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on 30 January 1948.
• It also remembers the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, who were hanged on 23 March 1931 by the British for their involvement in the freedom movement.
• The nation observes a two-minute silence at 11:00 AM in memory of those who gave their lives for India’s freedom.
• Shaheed Diwas is a tribute to all revolutionary leaders and unsung heroes who fought for independence.

• Hariman Sharma, known as the “Apple Man of India,” has been conferred with the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to agriculture.
• He developed the HRMN-99apple variety, which can thrive in tropical and subtropical regions with summer temperatures up to 46°C.
• Sharma started his journey in 1990, initially with a small nursery in Paniyala village, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh.
• The HRMN-99apple has a striped red-over-yellow skin and soft, juicy pulp, with plants producing up to 75 kg of fruit.
• His work has helped cultivate apples in regions previously thought unsuitable, benefiting farmers in 27 states and boosting exports to countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Germany, and South Africa.
• Sharma has received 15 national awards and 10 state awards for his horticultural achievements.