• 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.

Recently, Flamingo Festival 2025 concluded  in Sullurupeta, Andhra Pradesh.

• The event celebrated biodiversity, focusing on migratory flamingos visiting Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary.
• It was held from January 18 to 20 across multiple locations, including Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Sullurupeta, and Sri City in Tirupati district.

• Devajit Saikia, an advocate and former wicket-keeper batsman from Assam, has been appointed as the new secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• He succeeds Jay Shah in this role.

• Sanjiv Ranjan, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as the next Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• He is currently serving as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Ranjan is expected to assume his new role shortly, where he will focus on enhancing regional cooperation among IORA member states.

• Observed annually on 29 January to honor the beginning and significance of newspapers in India.
• The day raises awareness about the role of print media in shaping public opinion, educating the masses, and providing information.

• Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2025 was awarded to Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad.
• The award honors exceptional contributions to disaster management and is announced annually on January 23, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.
• INCOIS, founded in 1999, plays a key role in India’s disaster management strategy, providing early warnings for ocean-related hazards.
• The award includes a ₹51 lakh cash prize and a certificate.
• INCOIS operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, provides cyclone and storm surge forecasts, and offers search and rescue tools.