PM Narendra Modi inaugurate Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2024 is the theme of the Mahotsav. “Ensuring a dignified life for the people of rural India is the priority of my Government”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. He noted that previously, villagers had to spend more than 50% of their income on food, but for the first time since independence, the expenditure on food in rural areas has fallen below 50%. The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary were present among the dignitaries.

IIT Bombay researchers found bacteria that can consume toxic soil pollutants.

The IIT Bombay’s researchers have discovered bacteria that are able to consume toxic pollutants in the soil and produce helpful nutrients as a by-product. Researcher’s used the power of specific bacterial species to remove organic pollutants from the soil. These bacteria were also found to help boost the growth hormones of the plants, help in the growth of harmful fungi, and help in making essential nutrients readily available to plants, it stated. Soil contamination from aromatic compounds in the form of pesticides is one of the major challenges for the agriculture industry. The researchers further found that when a mixture of bacteria from the Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter genera is used, they also boost the growth and yield of crops like wheat, mung bean, spinach, fenugreek, among others, by up to 45-50 per cent.

Agnes Keleti, oldest olympic champion passed away at 103.

Agnes Keleti, the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medalist and a Holocaust survivor, has passed away at the age of 103. The Hungarian gymnast, marked by resilience and unparalleled achievements. She is five-time Olympic champion. Her first Olympic gold came at the age of 31 during the 1952 Helsinki Games. Born in Budapest on January 9, 1921, won her first Hungarian gymnastics championship in 1940. During World War II, Keleti narrowly escaped deportation to Nazi death camps by assuming a false identity. Keleti moved to Israel in 1957. She was a symbol of resilience, proving that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, greatness is possible.

World day of war Orphans celebrated on 6th January 2025.

World Day of War Orphans is dedicated to raising awareness about the children who have lost their parents during the wars. January 6 marks the World Day of War Orphans, This day acknowledge the hardships faced by children who lose their parents to war. Millions of children face the devastating impacts of war, climate change, displacement, and poverty. World Day of War Orphans was founded by the French organisation SOS Enfants en Détresses. The theme for this year is not announced yet.

IIT Madras and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare jointly launched Project VISTAAR.

Project VISTAAR focused to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural services and enhance the overall productivity of the agriculture sector. It will provide farmers required information and resources as per their needs. This agreement will enrich the VISTAAR platform with vital information on agricultural start-ups. Start-ups are playing the leading role in introducing innovative technologies in agriculture and allied sector. The Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing at IIT Madras has presented data on over 12,000 start-ups in the agriculture sector. YNOS Venture Engine is an incubated start-up at IIT Madras.

Vitenam’s Hanoi declared world’s most polluted city.

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi is at the top of a list of the world’s most polluted cities. Levels of hazardous small particles PM2.5, were measured at 266 micrograms per cubic metre in Hanoi. Vietnam, a regional manufacturing hub and one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, has reported severe air pollution in its major cities for years, particularly in Hanoi. Thick smog is mostly caused by heavy traffic, trash burning and industrial activities. Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha called for an accelerated transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the efforts to reduce pollution.

West Bengal won 33rd Santosh trophy football championship.

West Bengal beat kerala by 1-0 margin to win the 2024-25 santosh trophy football championship for record 33rd time. Robi Hansda scored the only goal of the match in the added-time at the Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad. Kerala has won this tournament 7 times. Peter Thangaraj became the player of tornament. Tulsidas Balaram won Player of the Match award. Prestigious inter-state football championship was started in the year 1941. West bengal was the first team to won this championship by defeating Delhi by 5-1.