Boda Tyohar festival (locally kwown as Magho ko Tyohar), the largest annual celebration for the Hatti tribes of the Trans-Giri region in Himachal Pradesh has started.

• The Hatti tribe resides in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district and parts of Uttarakhand.
• They derive their name from ‘haat,’ meaning markets where they traditionally sold homegrown produce.
• The community is divided into two clans: one in Trans-Giri (Himachal Pradesh) and the other in Jaunsar Bawar (Uttarakhand).
• They are governed by a traditional council called ‘Khumbli,’ which oversees community matters.
• In 2023, the Hatti tribe was granted Scheduled Tribe status under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2023.
• The Boda Tyohar, also known as Magho ko Tyohar, is their largest annual festival, celebrated with traditional fervor.

Recently, the Z morh tunnel is inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The Z-Morh Tunnel is a 6.5 km long bi-directional road tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It connects Gagangir with Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway.
• Situated at an altitude of 2,637 meters, it ensures year-round connectivity.
• Part of the Zoji-La Tunnel project, which connects Srinagar with Ladakh.

Indian Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year.

• Aim : to honor the valiant soldiers of the Indian Army
• Marks the day in 1949when Lieutenant General K.M. Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.

Lahaul-Spiti residents celebrate Halda festival for luck, abundant harvest.

• Halda Festival is celebrated in January in the Lahaul-Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.
• It is dedicated to Shiskar Apa, the Goddess of Wealth, for blessings of prosperity and a good harvest.
• Celebrations are prominent in the Pattan, Gahar, and Chandra valleys.
• Villagers craft torches called Halda from pencil cedar branches, symbolizing male family members.
• Torches are lit and gathered at a central place as part of the rituals.
• The Asur Dance is performed on the last day in Khangsar village, Chandra valley.
• The festival ends with rituals at the temple of Deity Nag Raj.

Future of Jobs Report 2025 has been released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 anticipates a net increase of 78 million jobs by 2030, with 170 million new jobs created and 92 million displaced.
• Technology-related roles, such as Big Data Specialists and Fintech Engineers, are projected to experience the fastest growth.
• Clerical and secretarial positions are expected to see the largest decline in absolute numbers.
• Workers may find that 40% of their current skill sets will become outdated or need transformation between 2025 and 2030.
• The report emphasizes the importance of reskilling and upskilling to adapt to changing job market demands.

India and U.S. will coproduce interoperable sonobuoys for the Indian Navy Initiative is aligned with the objective of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET).

• Sonobuoys are air-launched, expendable electro-mechanical acoustic sensors used primarily in anti-submarine warfare and underwater acoustic research.
• They detect, classify, and track submarines by emitting sound waves and analyzing the echoes (active sonar) or by listening for sounds produced by submarines (passive sonar).
• Sonobuoys are typically around 13 cm (5 inches) in diameter and 91 cm (3 feet) long, designed to be deployed from aircraft or ships.

The Uttarakhand High Court has criticized authorities for failing to regulate soapstone mining in Bageshwar, highlighting environmental and safety concerns.

• Soapstone, also known as steatite, is a metamorphic rock primarily composed of the mineral talc, making it relatively soft and heat-resistant.
• It is soft, dense, and highly heat-resistant, making it suitable for various uses.
• Appearance includes shades of gray, bluish, green, or brown.
• Common applications are in countertops, sinks, hearths, sculptures, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Major reserves in India are in Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%).

India’s first Green Hydrogen Hub was launched in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of ₹1.85 lakh crore by NTPC Green Energy Limited.

• The hub spans over 1,200 acres and aims to produce 1,500 tonnes of green hydrogen daily and 7,500 tonnes of derivatives like green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was announced in January 2023 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Objective: Make India a global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
• Target: Achieve a production capacity of 5 MMT (million metric tonnes) per annum of green hydrogen by 2030.

John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as Ghana’s president for a third term.

• Ghana is situated in West Africa, bordered by Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.
• Capital:
• Ghana is one of the world’s largest producers of gold and cocoa.
• Climate:The country experiences a tropical climate with two main seasons: wet and dry.
• Geographical Features:The highest peak is Mount Afadja, part of the Akwapim-Togo Ranges. Major rivers include the Volta River, Black Volta, White Volta, Pra, and Tano.
• Historical Fact:Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana was the first black African country south of the Sahara to achieve independence from colonial rule in 1957.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, has announced significant initiatives to enhance the capacity of Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) in Gujarat, India, with a total investment exceeding ₹57,000 crores.

• Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) was established in the 1930s with an RCC jetty by Maharao Khengarji.
• Renamed Deendayal Port in 2017 under the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
• Located in the Gulf of Kutch, Kutch District, Gujarat.
• Constructed in the 1950s as a replacement for Karachi Port after partition.
• One of India’s 12 major ports, operational since 1950.
• Serves as a gateway for states like Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
• Ranked India’s No. 1 port in 2007-08 and retained this rank for 14 years.