The government of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), has launched the URJAVEER program, which is one of the energy efficiency initiatives in the state.

1. Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion by defeating Ding Liren(China) in the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship held in Singapore. 

At just 18 years old, Gukesh's victory marks a historic moment for India,

Gukesh became 2nd Indian to win this title after Viswanathan Anand.

The 4th Mekong-Ganga Dhammayatra pilgrimage commenced on December 6, 2024, with over 20 Buddhist scholars from Thailand participating. 

This event aims to strengthen cultural ties between Southeast Asia and India, following the theme "From the Mekong River Basin to the Great Ganga."

 It is yatra Indian Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat met with the Thai delegation

Why ? 

To commemorates the 97th birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand 

 Mohammed al-Bashir has been appointed as Syria's new transitional Prime Minister following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. Under his leadership, signs of normalcy are returning in Damascus, with shops reopening. 

Google Partners with NCERT: Google has partnered with NCERT to launch educational YouTube channels in 29 Indian languages, aiming to improve access to quality education for students from grades 1-12

( NCERT = National Council for Educational Research and Training )

India Skills Report 2025

Published by Wheebox in collaboration with AICTE, CII, and the Association of Indian Universities.  “Highest employabilities rates” Ranks :- Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh , Kerala. 

overall employability in India continued - 54.81%

Lowest employability rate :- Madhya Pradesh 2.6% 

(AICTE = All India Council for Technical Education)

India is on the verge of finalizing a significant 4 billion dollar defence agreement with Russia to acquire an advanced long-range early warning radar system.

Called Voronezh radar system 

Detection Range -  Up to 8,000 kilometers

60% of the radar’s components to be manufactured domestically

We got first s400 air defense system from russia in dec 2022 and remaining two units are expected to be delivered by 2026

Renowned poet Nikki Giovanni from the USA passed away on December 9, 2024, at the age of 81. 

She was a significant figure in the Black Arts Movement and known for her powerful poetry about race and love.

What is the Black arts movement? - 

It is a movement in The US during the 1960s and 1970s that expressed Black pride, identity, and political consciousness through various art forms, including literature, music, theater, and visual arts.

first nuclear powered battery 

Scientists in the UK have created the world's first carbon-14 diamond battery. This new type of battery can last for thousands of years by using carbon-14, a radioactive material. 

It is safe and could power medical devices like pacemakers, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Kush Maini made history by becoming the first Indian to win the FIA Constructors' World Championship in F2 at the Dubai race. He also became the first Indian to claim an F2 pole position.

 Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) used the UVI telescope onboard the AstroSat satellite to spot far ultraviolet emissions from novae in the Andromeda galaxy.

GenCast is an AI model introduced by Google DeepMind, designed to provide highly accurate weather forecasts, surpassing the leading ECMWF system.

India has received over $1 trillion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from April 2000 to September 2024. Major investors include Mauritius, Singapore, the US, and Japan.

Gorakhpur will launch India’s first Integrated Waste Management City-cum-Learning Centre by September 2025. The facility will process 700 tons of waste per day and produce products like charcoal and Bio-CNG.

 These two projects from India were awarded the prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024. The Abathsahayeswarar Temple is in Tamil Nadu, and the BJPCI project is in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The 4th Edition of the Eagle Nest Bird Festival will be held from January 17-19, 2025, at Khellong and Thongre villages in West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. The festival celebrates the rich biodiversity of the region.

 Payal Kapadia made history as the first Indian director to be nominated in the Best Director (Motion Picture) category at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards for her film All We Imagine As Light. The film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – (Non-English Language).

Notre Dame Cathedral reopened to the public on December 7, 2024, after five years of restoration following a devastating fire in 2019. 

Why important ?

• It is UNESCO world heritage site 
• Notre Dame church is the central landmark of paris 
• It is built in 12th century 
• Coronation of Napoleon happen here 
• Resorted by global support in 5 years