Recently, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), set up its 6th new regional office in Varanasi.
Earlier, IWAI had five regional offices in Guwahati, Patna, Kochi, Bhubaneswar & Kolkata.

• IWAI is a statutory body established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act (1985), functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
• It is responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation in India.
• The authority undertakes projects for the development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways using grants from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

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 Insure Tech innovation and support India’s “Insurance for All” vision by 2047.
• The Global Competency Centre will 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 silenceat 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.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), often called “Zombie Deer Disease,” has been detected in Georgia for the first time.

• Recent reports indicate that CWD has been detected in wild pigs, raising concerns about its potential spread to domestic pigs and possibly humans through the pork supply.
• CWD is a fatal prion disease affecting deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. It damages the brain, leading to neurological degeneration.
• Symptoms: The disease causes weight loss, behavioral changes, drooling, stumbling, and a lack of coordination, which gives the appearance of a “zombie” deer.

Transmission: It spreads through contact with infected saliva, feces, urine, or carcasses. The prions that cause CWD can remain in the environment for long periods, increasing the risk of transmission.

Forbes presents the 2024 World’s Billionaires List.

• Total billionaire wealth: $14.2 trillion (up by $2 trillion from 2023).
• Top 20 billionaires added $700 billion since 2023.
• S.: 813 billionaires worth $5.7 trillion.
• China: 473 billionaires worth $1.7 trillion (real estate losses wiped $300 billion).
• India: 200 billionaires, ranking 3rd globally.

Top 10 Richest People (2025)

1. Elon Musk: $433.9B (Tesla, SpaceX, U.S.)
2. Jeff Bezos: $239.4B (Amazon, U.S.)
3. Mark Zuckerberg: $211.8B (Facebook, U.S.)
4. Larry Ellison: $204.6B (Oracle, U.S.)
5. Bernard Arnault & Family: $181.3B (LVMH, France)
6. Larry Page: $161.4B (Google, U.S.)
7. Sergey Brin: $154.0B (Google, U.S.)
8. Warren Buffett: $146.2B (Berkshire Hathaway, U.S.)
9. Steve Ballmer: $126.0B (Microsoft, U.S.)
10. Jensen Huang: $120.2B (NVIDIA, U.S.)

Top 5 Richest Indians (2025)

1. Mukesh Ambani: $95.4B (Reliance Industries, 18th globally).
2. Gautam Adani: $62.3B (Adani Group, 25th globally).
3. Shiv Nadar: $42.1B (HCL Enterprise, 37th globally).
4. Savitri Jindal & Family: $38.5B (O.P. Jindal Group, 41st globally).

Dilip Shanghvi: $29.8B (Sun Pharma, 59th globally).

Tropical Cyclone Sean formed over the Indian Ocean off Western Australia, bringing record-breaking rainfall to the Pilbara region.

• The cyclone caused significant flooding, particularly affecting the Pilbara coastline, leading to extensive rescue operations.
• Karratha recorded a record 274mm of rain, prompting multiple flood warnings across Kimberley and Pilbara Districts.
• The cyclone disrupted operations at Rio Tinto’s East Intercourse Island port facility, potentially halting the operation of a railcar dumper for three to four weeks.

• Gujarat has been selected to host the inaugural Olympic Research Conference in March 2025.
• The conference aims to bring together scholars, athletes, and officials to discuss advancements in sports science, policy, and management.
• Topics will include athlete performance optimization, sports technology innovations, and the role of sports in societal development.