Daily Current Affairs 20th Jan, 2025: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
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This post contains important daily current affairs of 20th Jan, 2025. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 20th Jan, 2025. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 20th Jan, 2025 Current affairs test.
International News
TikTok Suspends Operations Following U.S. Ban
TikTok experienced a brief shutdown in the U.S. in January 2025 due to a law banning the app over national security concerns. The legislation required ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app to a U.S.-based entity. However, within hours, operations resumed after an intervention by President-elect Donald Trump, who delayed enforcement of the ban via an executive order. This event reflects ongoing challenges TikTok faces in securing its position in the U.S.
Business News
CII Projects 7% GDP Growth for 2025-26 Amid Rising Investments
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) forecasts a 7% GDP growth rate for 2025-26, driven by increased private investments and job creation. According to a national survey by CII, 75% of respondents consider the current economic climate favorable for investments, with 70% of firms planning to expand their investments in the upcoming fiscal year.
National News
Musi River’s Historic Buildings on 2025 World Monuments Watch
Historic structures along Hyderabad’s Musi River have been recognized on the 2025 World Monuments Watch list by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), headquartered in New York. This inclusion underscores the critical need to protect these sites amid environmental issues like the river’s degradation and Hyderabad’s rapid urban expansion. This recognition aligns with the Telangana government’s active efforts to revitalize the river and preserve its heritage, integrating cultural conservation with environmental sustainability.
GI Tag for Virgin Coconut Oil of Andaman
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 118th episode of “Mann Ki Baat” on January 19, 2025, celebrated the achievement of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) from Nicobar district. He emphasized its significance in empowering women and tribal communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through self-help groups (SHGs) and skill-building initiatives. The GI tag elevates the global visibility of this local product, positioning the region as a key player in the international market.
Kokborok Language Protests Call for Roman Script Adoption
In Tripura, the Tribal Students’ Federation (TSF) has renewed its demand for the adoption of the Roman script for the Kokborok language. TSF has long advocated for exam question papers to be available in both Bengali and Roman scripts, citing difficulties faced by students using the Bengali script. These protests aim to amplify recognition and support for Kokborok, a language spoken by a significant portion of the state’s population.
First ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of 2025 by PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast of 2025 on January 20, a week earlier than usual, to avoid overlapping with Republic Day festivities on January 26. This special edition commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Indian Republic and covered topics such as the Constitution, democracy, cultural heritage, advancements in space exploration, and the importance of human-animal harmony.
Banking News
HSBC India Expands: RBI Approves 20 New Branches
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for HSBC India to open 20 new branches across major cities. This move marks the largest expansion approved for a foreign bank by the RBI in over a decade.
Appointments News
Gyanendra Pratap Singh Appointed as CRPF Director General
Gyanendra Pratap Singh, a 1991-batch IPS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Singh, formerly the Director General of Police in Assam, will serve in his new role until his retirement on November 30, 2027, or further notice.
Schemes News
PM Distributes 6.5 Million SVAMITVA Property Cards
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the success of the SVAMITVA scheme during a virtual event, announcing the distribution of over 6.5 million property ownership cards to rural families. By leveraging drone technology for surveys, the scheme ensures legal property documentation, empowering rural communities, boosting economic activities, and unlocking capital for millions of families.
Agreements News
Uttarakhand-Iceland Partnership for Geothermal Energy
The Uttarakhand government has partnered with Iceland, a leader in geothermal energy, to explore and develop the state’s geothermal potential. Through an MoU with Iceland’s Verkis Consulting Engineers, the collaboration aims to harness geothermal resources for electricity generation, advancing India’s renewable energy goals and supporting carbon neutrality by 2070.
Awards News
Urbasi Sinha Wins Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025
Professor Urbasi Sinha from the Raman Research Institute (RRI) has been awarded the Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She is recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Light and Matter Physics field.
Sports News
Axelsen and An Se-young Triumph at India Open 2025
Viktor Axelsen won his third India Open title by defeating Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the men’s singles final, while An Se-young triumphed in the women’s singles by defeating Pornpawee Chochuwong. In doubles, victories went to Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto, and China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
India Dominates Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025
India achieved a historic victory by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025, held at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi. This event featured 23 countries, with 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams competing in the fast-paced format.
Obituaries News
Denis Law, Manchester United & Scotland Legend, Dies at 84
Denis Law, the celebrated Scottish footballer known for his goal-scoring prowess and charm, passed away at the age of 84. Affectionately known as “The King” and “The Lawman,” he remains a beloved icon for Manchester United and the Scotland national team.
Books & Authors News
Pankaj Mishra’s ‘The World After Gaza’: A Guide to Challenging Times
Pankaj Mishra’s new book, The World After Gaza, examines the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and its impact on global morality and human rights. Published by Juggernaut Books, the book provides a sobering analysis of the atrocities of war and offers warnings about the world’s political trajectory.
