Observed annually on 23 January.

• Born on 23 January 1897in Cuttack, Odisha, Subhas Chandra Bose was a prominent leader in India’s freedom struggle.
• Known for his leadership in forming the Indian National Army (INA)or Azad Hind Fauj, which fought against British colonial rule.
• Bose sought international support for India’s independence, collaborating with Axis Powers during World War II to challenge British forces.
• Famous for the slogan, “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom”, which inspired millions in the fight for independence.

Recently, Home minister launched Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) at seven major airports across India : Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad.

• It aims to speed up immigration clearance through electronic gates.
• Phase 1: Covers Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders.
• Phase 2: Will include foreign travelers.
• The program will be expanded to 21 major airports across India.
• Registration: Applicants must apply online and complete biometric enrollment at designated airports.
• The program is free of charge for eligible travelers.
• It is part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and managed by the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Karnataka Cabinet Sub-Committee has approved the declaration of four forest areas as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary, Uttaragudda Wildlife Sanctuary, and Arsikere Bear Sanctuary.

• ESZs are areas with unique environmental resources that require special conservation, as per the National Environment Policy (2006).
• ESZs are proposed by states based on MoEFCC 2011 guidelines.
• ESZs regulate local activities like agriculture and construction but do not prohibit them unless specifically stated.
• ESZs act as “shock absorbers” for ecosystems and serve as transition zones from high protection areas to areas with lesser protection.

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh for launching Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLVs).

• The TLP will support the launch of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)with a semi-cryogenic stage and facilitate horizontal & tilted integration of NGLVs.
• It will enable higher launch frequencies and increase capacity for future human spaceflight & space exploration
• Sriharikota was selected for the TLP due to its strategic location on the eastern coast, proximity to the equator, and safety factors like being near the sea and uninhabited areas.
• ISRO is developing the NGLV (Soorya Rocket), a three-stage rocket with a reusable first stage and semi-cryogenic propulsion.
• The NGLV will have three times the current payload capacity and is designed for low-cost access to space.

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has finalized a joint venture agreement with SJVN Ltd., GMR Energy Ltd., and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for the development of this 900 MW Karnali Hydropower Project.

• The Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project in Nepal is a run-of-river hydropower project, utilizing the natural flow of the Karnali River to generate electricity without needing large dams or reservoirs.
• The project aims to export electricity from Nepal to India and Bangladesh.
• The Karnali River originates from the Tibetan Himalayas and flows through Nepal, joining the Ghaghara River in India.
• The Karnali is Nepal’s longest and largest river, playing a crucial role in the country’s ecology and economy.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released its World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025 report, highlighting key global labor market trends and challenges.

• Global unemployment remains at 5% in 2024, showing stability but with high youth unemployment (12.4% for young men, 12.3% for young women).
• Global economic growth slowed to 2% in 2024, with a continued deceleration expected.
• Key challenges for labor markets: geopolitical tensions, rising climate change costs, and unresolved debt issues.
• The ILO, founded in 1919, is the only tripartite UN agency, with 187 member states, focused on labor standards, policy creation, and promoting decent work.
• The ILO’s headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

Journalist Manisha Pande’s book, Middle Class India: Driving Change in the 21st Century, explores the evolution of India’s middle class across three distinct periods:

• Pre-Independence Era (1757–1947): Examines the role of the middle class during British colonial rule.
• Post-Independence to Pre-Liberalization (1947–1991): Focuses on the middle class’s influence in the early years of independent India.
• Post-Liberalization (1991–Present): Analyzes the impact of economic reforms on the middle class.
• The book provides a comprehensive analysis of how the middle class has driven change in India over the past century.

Pakistan’s largest international airport, the New Gwadar International Airport, officially commenced operations.

• It is located in the Balochistan province, the airport is a significant component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $42 billion project aimed at enhancing trade and regional connectivity.
• The airport has a capacity to handle 400,000 passengers annually and features a runway suitable for wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A380.

Recently, tribute has been paid to the martyrs of the Kuka Movement.

• The Kuka Movement, or Namdhari Movement, was founded by Satguru Ram Singh in 1857 at Bhaini Sahib, Punjab.
• The movement aimed to promote religious purity, social reforms, and economic self-reliance among Sikhs, including the abolition of the caste system and the improvement of women’s status.
• Namdhari followers wore white, hand-spun clothing and saffron turbans, promoting vegetarianism and a simple lifestyle.
• In 1871, the Kukas attacked cow slaughterhouses in Amritsar and Raikot, opposing British policies that allowed cow killing.
• The Kuka Movement was an early anti-colonial uprising in India, emphasizing religious purity, social reforms, and laying the groundwork for future independence movements.

The Yala Glacier in Nepal retreated by 680 meters and reduced in area by 36% between 1974 and 2021.

• Projections indicate that Yala Glacier may vanish by the 2040s due to ongoing climate change impacts.
• Yala Glacier, located in Nepal’s Langtang region, is a plateau glacier spanning elevations from 5,170 to 5,750 meters above sea level.
• It is the only glacier in the Himalayas included in the Global Glacier Casualty List (GGCL), a project initiated in 2024 by Rice University, University of Iceland, Iceland Glaciological Society, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Glacier Monitoring Service, and UNESCO.
• Glacier retreat refers to the shrinking of glaciers due to melting, evaporation, or other processes.
• Glaciers already lost include Pico Humboldt Glacier (Venezuela, 2024) and Sarenne Glacier (France, 2023).
• The Dagu Glacier in China is expected to disappear by 2030.
• Glaciers and ice sheets store 70% of the world’s freshwater, crucial for ecosystems and human survival, especially for 240 million people in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.