India's crude oil imports surged in December 2024 due to reduced Russian supplies, boosting Iraq and UAE exports. India's growing population and industrialization have led to a lack of petroleum reserves. However, Russia's domestic demand constraints exports, prompting Indian refiners to source oil from Middle Eastern countries.
Interpol has launched its first 'Silver Notice', a pilot project involving 52 countries, to trace assets laundered across international borders. The initiative aims to help countries locate and recover assets linked to crimes like fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and environmental crimes, which can be seized or confiscated based on national laws.
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has announced that central government employees who donate organs will receive 42 days of special casual leave to cover recovery time, hospitalization, and post-surgery recovery. It applies to all types of organ donation operations and can be taken one week before the procedure with doctor's approval.
Political parties accuse each other of manipulating electoral rolls before the Delhi Assembly elections, reviving debate on linking voter IDs/EPICs with Aadhaar numbers. The National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Program (NERPAP) was launched in 2015 to address duplicate entries. The Supreme Court's Puttaswamy case (2018) upheld the Aadhaar Act's constitutional validity.
The MEA faces challenges in staffing, structure, and specialization to support India's global influence and foreign policy ambitions. With 850 officers managing 193 embassies and consulates, India needs decades to reach 1,500 officers. Addressing staffing involves lateral hiring, restructuring territorial divisions, balancing generalist and specialist roles, and hiring domain specialists in emerging fields.
Utricularia, the most diverse genus of carnivorous plants, features small hollow pouches that trap and digest tiny animals. Found in lakes and wetlands, they lack roots and capture prey using rapid trap mechanisms. Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, a UNESCO World Heritage and Ramsar site, hosts diverse flora and fauna, including migratory birds.
The Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam is India's only sanctuary dedicated to gibbons, hosting the densest gibbon populations in the state. Located in Jorhat district, it features diverse flora and fauna, including hoolock gibbons, Bengal slow loris, elephants, tigers, and several other species, making it a critical biodiversity hotspot.
BHEL has commissioned the first two units of the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan, located in Wangdue district. This greenfield project, under a bilateral agreement between India and Bhutan, aims to meet Bhutan's energy needs and export surplus power to India, enhancing regional energy security.
The Hatti tribes, primarily from the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and Jaunsar Bawar in Uttarakhand, are known for their agricultural livelihood and traditional markets. They maintain rich cultural practices, including distinctive attire and governance through a council. The community was granted Scheduled Tribe status in 2023.
Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), a revered Hindu spiritual leader and philosopher, inspired global recognition of Vedanta and Yoga. Known for his Chicago speech in 1893, he championed youth empowerment, universal religion, and service to humanity. His teachings of self-realization, tolerance, and cultural pride continue to inspire, honored annually as National Youth Day on January 12.
The Kumbh Mela, a sacred Hindu festival held every 12 years, celebrates the mythological story of amrita spilling at four locations: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik. It combines spiritual significance, astrological alignments, and historical roots, evolving into a platform for nationalism during India's independence movement.