Important Current Affairs- 04 January 2025

National News:

The RBI has approved the merger of Bangalore-based National Co-operative Bank with Cosmos Co-operative Bank of Maharashtra, effective January 6, 2025, as part of ongoing banking sector consolidation. Post-merger, National Co-operative Bank branches will function under Cosmos Co-operative.

SBI has launched two new deposit schemes: Har Ghar Lakhpati, a recurring deposit plan helping customers save ₹1 lakh or more, and SBI Patrons, a fixed deposit scheme offering higher interest rates for senior citizens aged 80 and above.

India is revising its GDP base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23 to better reflect the current economic landscape. This update, aimed at improving the accuracy of national accounts, will be implemented by early 2026.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated India’s first glass bridge in Kannyakumari, connecting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue. Built under a Rs 37-crore project by the Tamil Nadu government, the bridge aims to enhance tourism in the region.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has recently amended the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. This amendment introduces new provisions aimed at enhancing stakeholder engagement in the formulation and amendment of trade policies.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has successfully rolled out its Centralised Pension Payments System (CPPS) across India. This initiative benefits over 68 lakh pensioners and modernises the pension disbursement process.

The Gujarat government is preparing to launch India’s inaugural census of coastal and wader birds. This landmark event will occur at the Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar from January 3 to 5, 2025.

In December 2023, Odisha experienced unprecedented unseasonal rainfall, leading to crop damage. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced this weather event as a natural calamity during the ‘Krushi Odisha Conclave’ in Bhubaneswar. This declaration aims to expedite compensation for farmers affected by the rainfall, allowing access to the state disaster response fund (SDRF).

International News:

Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was re-elected as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on the first day of the new Congress, despite facing opposition from hard-right Republicans. His victory, supported by President-elect Donald Trump, comes amid challenges like a narrow majority.

NASA has recently introduced the Mars Chopper, a new drone designed to succeed the Ingenuity helicopter. Ingenuity operated on Mars for nearly three years, far exceeding its initial mission parameters.

A concerning rise in tularemia cases, also known as rabbit fever, in the United States. The disease, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, has seen over a 50 per cent increase in reported cases. This rise is particularly notable among children aged 5-9, older men, and American Indians or Alaska Natives. 

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