The World Trade Organization (WTO) celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025.

• WTO was established in 1995 after the Marrakesh Agreement, succeeding GATT (1948).
• It is the only global organization governing trade rules between nations.
• Its goal is to ensure smooth, predictable, and free trade flows.
• Key bodies include the Ministerial Conference (highest decision-making) and Dispute Settlement Body.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members: 166, representing 98% of world trade.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced the ‘Sanskriti Utsava’ from January 2 to January 26, 2025.

• It celebrates the state’s foundation day and aims to promote emerging talent in various art forms.
• Theme:‘Uttar Pradesh Parv – Hamari Sanskriti-Hamari Pehchaan’

Celebrated on 6 January every year,

• The day highlights the plight of children orphaned due to wars and conflicts.
• It aims to raise awareness about their struggles, including lack of education, healthcare, and emotional support.

Commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.

This year it falls on January 06.

• Guru Gobind Singh was born on December 22, 1666, in Patna, Bihar.
• He became Guru at the age of nine after the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
• He founded the Khalsa in 1699, emphasizing justice, equality, and devotion.
• Finalized the Guru Granth Sahib and declared it the eternal Guru in 1708.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed an affordable device to diagnose and manage tinnitus. 

• Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source, commonly described as ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears.
• It is often caused by underlying conditions such as age-related hearing loss, ear injuries, or circulatory system issues.
• Symptoms can include sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, irritability, and significant impacts on mental health and social life.
• Treatment options may include hearing aids, sound-masking devices, medications, and strategies to cope with the noise.

Indians continue to dominate the list of H-1B visa recipients, accounting for more than 70% of total approvals.

• H1-B visa was introduced in 1990 to address skill gaps in the U.S. by allowing employers to hire foreign workers for specialized occupations requiring high skill levels.
• The visa is valid for up to six years. After this period, the visa holder must leave the U.S. for at least 12 months or apply for permanent residency.

West Bengal government decided to supply water to farmlands through pipelines from the Teesta River and its canals, aiming to enhance irrigation efficiency without acquiring additional land for new canals.

• The Teesta River is approximately 400 km long, serving as a right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River, and flows through both India and Bangladesh.
• It originates in the Himalayas near the Tso Lhamo Lake, in Sikkim and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
• Major tributaries of the Teesta include Lachung Chhu, Chakung Chhu, Zemu Chhu, and Rangit.
• The Teesta Barrage Project, one of the largest irrigation projects in West Bengal, aims to create 9.22 lakh hectares of irrigation potential across six northern districts and generate 67.50 MW of hydropower from canal falls.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the ‘Financial Stability Report, December 2024,’ a biannual publication assessing the stability of the Indian financial system.

• The report projects India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow at 6.6% in 2024-25, driven by a revival in rural consumption, government spending, and services exports.
• The central government’s debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decrease from its pandemic peak of 62.7% in 2020-21 to 56.8% by 2024-25.
• States’ outstanding liabilities are projected to decline from 31% to 28.8% during the same period.
• Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) have shown improved soundness, with strong profitability, declining non-performing assets (NPAs), and adequate capital and liquidity buffers.
• The report notes that under baseline stress scenarios, the Gross Non-performing Asset (GNPA) ratio could increase from 2.6% in September 2024 to 3% by March 2026.
• The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is a non-statutory body set up by the Government of India in 2010 as the apex-level forum.
• The FSDC is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and includes heads of financial sector regulators such as the RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA, and FMC, along with the Finance Secretary.

Koneru Humpy secured her second Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship title in New York, scoring 8.5 points over 11 rounds.

• She defeated Indonesia’s Irene Sukander in the final match.
• At 37 years old, Humpy is the top-ranked Indian player and the second woman to win this title more than once.

Maharashtra’s first made-in-India surgical robot, the SSI Mantra, has been installed at Noble Hospital and Research Centre in Pune.

• The system features five robotic arms and a 3D HD headset for surgeons, enhancing precision and control during surgeries.
• It was used for a robotic right extended hemicolectomy on a patient with colon carcinoma.
• The SSI Mantra was developed in 2017 by Dr. Sudhir Srivastava.
• The robot is designed for various surgeries, including general surgery, cardiac and thoracic operations, urology, gynecology, and complex procedures.