💼 Business & Economy
India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation increased to 2.37% in December 2024, up from 1.89% in the previous month.
Inflation Trend:
| Month | WPI Inflation |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | 2.37% |
| November 2024 | 1.89% |
Key Drivers of Rise:
- Manufactured products price increase
- Non-food items cost escalation
- Fuel and power sectors price rise
- WPI (Wholesale Price Index) measures price changes at the wholesale level
- Reflects supply-side pressures in the economy
- Different from CPI which measures retail inflation
WPI inflation increased to 2.37% in December 2024 from 1.89% in November.
CRISIL Intelligence projected India’s GDP growth for FY25 (2024-25) at 6.7%, showing improvement over current fiscal performance.
GDP Growth Comparison:
| Fiscal Year | GDP Growth Rate |
|---|---|
| FY25 (2024-25) – Projected | 6.7% |
| FY25 (Current Estimate) | 6.4% |
| FY24 (2023-24) | 8.2% |
Source: CRISIL Intelligence report
- FY25 refers to Fiscal Year 2024–25 (April 2024 to March 2025)
- GDP growth reflects overall economic performance
- CRISIL is a leading credit rating and analytics company
CRISIL expects India’s GDP to grow at 6.7% in FY25.
🇮🇳 National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched IMD Vision-2047 during the India Meteorological Department’s 150th Foundation Day celebrations.
Vision Details:
- Launch Occasion: IMD’s 150th Foundation Day
- Launched by: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Target Year: 2047 (India’s centenary of independence)
- Objectives:
- Strengthen meteorological capabilities
- Advanced weather detection systems
- Enhanced disaster preparedness
- Improved climate monitoring
- IMD was founded in 1875
- Plays a key role in cyclone warnings and climate monitoring
- Functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
- 2047 marks 100 years of India’s independence
IMD Vision-2047 aims for advanced weather detection by India’s centenary year.
The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 establishes a formal framework for appointing election authorities.
Key Features:
- Act Name: Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023
- Purpose: Formalizes selection framework for CEC and Election Commissioners
- Focus Areas:
- Transparency in appointment process
- Accountability mechanisms
- Standardized selection criteria
- Applicability: Appointment of CEC and Election Commissioners
- Election Commission of India is a constitutional body (Article 324)
- CEC and ECs oversee free and fair elections
- The Commission is independent of executive control
- Currently consists of Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners
New 2023 Act formalizes appointment process of CEC and Election Commissioners.
The Gaan-Ngai festival, the largest post-harvest celebration of the Zeliangrong community, was observed in Manipur with traditional fervor.
Festival Details:
- Community: Zeliangrong tribe
- State: Manipur
- Type: Largest post-harvest festival
- Celebrations Include:
- Cultural performances
- Traditional rituals
- Community gatherings
- Significance: Promotes unity and preserves tribal traditions
- Tribal festivals are often linked to harvest cycles
- Zeliangrong is a collective term for three Naga tribes: Zemei, Liangmei, and Rongmei
- Such festivals preserve indigenous cultural heritage
Gaan-Ngai is the major post-harvest festival of Zeliangrong community in Manipur.
Thalai Pongal, marking the first day of the Tamil month and the major harvest festival, was celebrated with diverse regional variations across India.
Celebration Details:
- Main Region: Tamil Nadu
- Significance: First day of Tamil month and harvest festival
- Regional Variations:
- Tamil Nadu: Thalai Pongal
- Tripura: Known as “Hangrai”
- Themes: Agricultural prosperity and cultural unity
- Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in January
- Celebrated during Thai month in Tamil calendar
- Coincides with Makar Sankranti in other parts of India
- The four days: Bhogi, Surya, Mattu, and Kaanum Pongal
Thalai Pongal celebrates harvest and unity; known as Hangrai in Tripura.
The Hatti tribe celebrated their major annual festival Boda Tyohar (also called Magho ko Tyohar) in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh.
Festival Details:
- Alternate Name: Magho ko Tyohar
- Location: Trans-Giri region, Himachal Pradesh
- Community: Hatti tribe
- Participants: Over three lakh (3 lakh) tribal members
- Duration: Month-long celebration
- Timing: Marks the end of Magha month (Hindu calendar)
- Hatti tribe recently gained Scheduled Tribe status
- Primarily inhabit the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh
- Trans-Giri region refers to areas beyond the Giri River
Boda Tyohar is the major annual month-long festival of Hatti tribe in Himachal Pradesh.
The Ministry of Education launched APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry), India’s unified student identification system.
Key Features:
- Full Form: Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR)
- Initiative: “One Nation One Student ID Card”
- Launched by: Ministry of Education
- Digital Repository for:
- Academic degrees
- Scholarships
- Awards and achievements
- Academic credits
- Purpose: Centralized academic record system for all students
- Promotes digital governance in education
- Facilitates seamless transfer of academic records
- Part of India’s education digitization efforts
- Linked to Academic Bank of Credits (ABC)
APAAR ID is India’s One Nation One Student ID initiative for centralized academic records.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched the National Turmeric Board with its headquarters in Nizamabad, Telangana.
Board Details:
- Launched by: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister
- First Chairperson: Shri Palle Ganga Reddy
- Headquarters: Nizamabad, Telangana
- Objective: Promote and develop the turmeric sector in India
- Focus Areas:
- Quality improvement
- Market development
- Farmer support
- Export promotion
- Turmeric is known as India’s “Golden Spice”
- Nizamabad in Telangana is known as the “Turmeric City of India”
- India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric
- Major turmeric-producing states: Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
National Turmeric Board established in Nizamabad with Palle Ganga Reddy as first Chairperson.
🏆 Awards & Recognitions
Renowned filmmaker and actress Aparna Sen received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the West Bengal Film Journalists Association (WBFJA).
Award Details:
- Recipient: Aparna Sen
- Award: Lifetime Achievement Award
- Presented by: West Bengal Film Journalists Association (WBFJA)
- Event Location: Priya Cinema, Kolkata
- Special Tribute: Event also paid tribute to Raj Kapoor on his birth centenary
- WBFJA is one of India’s oldest film critics’ associations
- Aparna Sen is an acclaimed filmmaker, screenwriter, and actress
- Known for films like “36 Chowringhee Lane,” “Mr. and Mrs. Iyer,” and “The Japanese Wife”
- Won National Film Awards and international recognition
Aparna Sen received Lifetime Achievement Award at WBFJA ceremony in Kolkata.
🛡️ Defence
The second Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) named ‘Utkarsh’ was launched for the Indian Navy at the L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai.
Launch Details:
- Launch Date: January 13, 2025
- Vessel Name: ‘Utkarsh’
- Type: Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV)
- Builder: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard
- Location: Kattupalli, Chennai
- Chief Guest: Rajesh Kumar Singh (Defence Secretary)
Significance:
- Supports indigenous defence manufacturing
- Part of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative
- Enhances Indian Navy’s operational capabilities
- MPV stands for Multi-Purpose Vessel
- Used for various naval operations including survey, dive support, and search & rescue
- L&T is a major private sector player in India’s defence shipbuilding
- Demonstrates India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing
Second Multi-Purpose Vessel ‘Utkarsh’ launched for Indian Navy at L&T Kattupalli shipyard.
🤝 Summits & Conferences
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) in January 2026.
Conference Details:
- Event: 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC)
- Scheduled: January 2026
- Host Country: India
- Announced by: Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker
- Key Focus:
- Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in parliamentary processes
- Role of social media in legislative functions
- Parliamentary cooperation among Commonwealth nations
- CSPOC promotes parliamentary cooperation among Commonwealth nations
- Provides platform for sharing best practices in legislative governance
- Commonwealth comprises 56 member countries
- Conference focuses on strengthening democratic institutions
India to host 28th CSPOC in January 2026, focusing on AI and social media in parliaments.
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