The Pangsau Pass International Festival (PPIF) 2025 was held from January 20 to 22 in Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh.

• It marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
• The festival celebrates the cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh, featuring tribal traditions, music, dance, crafts, and sports.
• Chief Minister Khandu announced plans to restore World War II remnants in Nampong to boost heritage tourism.
• Pangsau Pass is located on the India-Myanmar border at an altitude of 3,727 feet (1,136 meters).
• It lies on the crest of the Patkai Hills and is part of the historic Ledo Road (Stilwell Road), built during World War II.
• The pass is named after Pangsau, a village in Myanmar located 2 km east of the pass.
• Historically, Pangsau Pass served as a vital trade route, fostering cultural and economic exchanges between India and Myanmar.

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) included the Musi River Historic Buildings in Hyderabad in its 2025 World Monuments Watch list, highlighting the need for urgent preservation.

• The WMF initiative focuses on sites at risk due to climate change, conflict, and neglect, advocating for heritage conservation.
• This recognition aims to preserve the river’s ecological health and historical significance while enhancing tourism and community engagement.
• The Musi River is a key tributary of the Krishna River, originating in the Ananthagiri Hills near Vikarabad in Telangana.
• It flows eastward, passing through Hyderabad, dividing the city into the Old City and newer areas.
• The river turns south at Chittaloor and merges with the Krishna River at Vadapally near Miryalaguda in Nalgonda district.
• Historically called Muchukunda, it feeds two artificial lakes, Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar, which once supplied drinking water to Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
• The Telangana government is working on the Musi River Rejuvenation Project to clean the river and develop it into a navigable waterway with a riverfront.

India has been recognized as the second most prepared job market globally, following the United States, according to the QS World Future Skills Index 2025.

• India ranks 25th in the QS World Future Skills Index, recognized as a “future skills contender.”
• It is the second most prepared job market globally, after the United States.
• India excels in the Future of Work category, scoring 99.1, just behind the US.
• In Academic Readiness, India ranks 26th, reflecting moderate alignment between education and industry needs.
• India ranks 37th in Skills Fit, indicating gaps between workforce skills and employer requirements.
• Economic Transformation ranking is 40th, showing challenges in innovation and workforce adaptability.
• Strengths include robust GDP growth, a youthful population, and a vibrant start-up ecosystem.
• India is highly prepared for recruiting in digital roles and integrating AI into industries.

The Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet has recently approved the construction of a flood protection wall along the Krishna River, aiming to mitigate recurring flooding issues that affect local communities.

• The wall is expected to protect areas such as Sundarayya Nagar and Mahanadu Colony from future flooding during monsoon seasons.
• The Krishna River is one of India’s major river systems, flowing approximately 1,400 km through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is the second-largest east-flowing river in Peninsular India.
• The river originates from Mahabaleshwar near Jor village in Satara district, Maharashtra.
• It is bounded by the Balaghat range (north), Eastern Ghats (south/east), and Western Ghats (west).
• Important tributaries include the Tungabhadra, Koyna, Bhima, Musi, and Malaprabha rivers.
• The Krishna River is crucial for agriculture and industry, supporting millions of people.
• Major dams built on the river are Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, and Almatti dams.

“In Pursuit of Democracy: Beyond Party Lines” authored by Dr. Najma Heptulla, a prominent Indian parliamentarian.

• Heptulla served as Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha for 17 years, making significant contributions to parliamentary processes.
• The book reflects on her political career, interactions with leaders from Indira Gandhi to Narendra Modi, and her advocacy for democracy and social justice.
• It highlights her experiences as a woman in politics and offers insights into India’s democratic evolution.

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.