Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla has inaugurated Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0. to commemorate Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary.

• Organized by the National Commission for Women (NCW), Lok Sabha Secretariat, and Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The program brings together 502 women representatives from Scheduled Tribes across 22 states and Union Territories.
• It aims to empower these women by enhancing their understanding of constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedures, and governance.
• The program includes workshops, sessions, and guided tours of the new Parliament House, Samvidhan Sadan, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• It builds on the success of the first edition held in 2024.

The Banihal Bypass, a 2.35 km section of NH-44 in Jammu and Kashmir, has been completed at a cost of ₹224.44 crore.

• It is part of the Ramban–Banihal section and will help alleviate traffic congestion.
• The bypass will reduce travel time between Kharpora, Banihal, and the Navyuga Tunnel to just seven minutes.
• It features 4 viaducts spanning 1,513 meters and 3 culverts.
• Banihal Pass is a key mountain pass in the Pir Panjal range, located at an altitude of 2,832 meters, connecting Jammu to the Kashmir Valley.

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, became a full member in January 2025.

• Other new members include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
• BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with South Africa joining in 2010.
• Aims to reform global governance and enhance South-South cooperation.
• The group seeks to reduce U.S. dollar dominance by promoting trade in local currencies.

BRICS represents over 40% of the global population and a significant share of the global economy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatpol portal, developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to enhance India’s law enforcement capabilities.

• Bharatpol facilitates real-time information sharing among state police and central agencies, streamlining international assistance requests through Interpol, including the issuance of Red Notices and other notices.
• The portal aims to expedite investigations into transnational crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking by providing a centralized platform for law enforcement agencies to connect with Interpol.
• Key modules of Bharatpol include Connect, INTERPOL Notices, References, Broadcast, and Resources, enhancing collaboration and communication among agen

The Ministry of Jal Shakti released the Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2024, conducted annually since 2022 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs.

• Recharge:Total annual groundwater recharge decreased slightly from 449 BCM in 2023 to 446.90 BCM in 2024; rainfall contributes approximately 61% to this recharge.
• Extraction:Annual extractable groundwater resources decreased marginally from 407.21 BCM to 406.19 BCM; the overall stage of groundwater extraction increased from 59.21% to 60.47%.

Categories:

• Safe assessment units increased from 73% in 2023 to 73.4% in 2024.
• 05% of assessment units are Critical.
• 1% of assessment units are Over-exploited.

Over-exploited Units Concentration:

• North West: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh.
• West: Rajasthan, Gujarat.
• South: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the Indus Valley Civilization script, which remains undeciphered despite numerous attempts over the past century.

• Indus script (~3300–1300 BCE) is the earliest writing system in the Indian subcontinent, undeciphered to date.
• Found at ~60 sites; ~3,500 specimens on seals, pottery, and amulets.
• Inscriptions are short (average 5 signs), written right to left, occasionally boustrophedon.
• Contains pictographic signs, human/animal motifs, and a unique ‘unicorn’ symbol.
• Deciphering could reveal links to Vedic practices and Dravidian/Indo-European languages.
• Key sites: Harappa, Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan.
• Timeline: Early Harappan (3500–2600 BCE), Mature Harappan (2600–1900 BCE), Late Harappan (1900–1300 BCE).

1. Narayanan has been appointed as the new ISRO Chairman, succeeding S. Somanath.

• He will assume office on January 14, 2025, for a two-year term.
• Narayanan has led key rocket launches and development of liquid propulsion systems at ISRO.
• ISRO, founded in 1969, is India’s space agency responsible for satellite launches, space exploration, and scientific research.
• ISRO has achieved significant milestones like the Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan missions.

• Observed on January 9 every year.
• It marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915.
• The 18th edition will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from January 8 to 10, 2025.
• The theme for 2025 is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”

The Haryana Steelers secured their first Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) title, with a 32-23 victory over the Patna Pirates at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.

Key Highlights of The Game

• Final Score: Haryana Steelers 32-23 Patna Pirates
• Venue: Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune

Farmers in Telangana will receive ₹12,000 per acre annually under the Rythu Bharosa scheme.

• The scheme is set to launch on January 26, 2025, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations.
• This initiative replaces the previous Rythu Bandhu scheme, which provided ₹5,000 per acre, effectively increasing the support by ₹7,000 per acre.
• Approximately 70 lakh farmers in Telangana are expected to benefit from this scheme.
• To finance the scheme, the Telangana government plans to raise ₹30,000 crore through market borrowings in the last quarter of the financial year 2024-25.