Daily GK One Liners: January 1, 2025
Stay updated with today’s key highlights across International, Banking, National, Business, Science, and Sports categories. 🌟
International News 🌍
- Japanese Sake Added to UNESCO Cultural Heritage List: Japan’s traditional rice wine, sake, earns recognition for its cultural and ceremonial significance.
Banking News 🏦
- RBI Governor Optimistic About India’s Economic Growth in 2025: Sanjay Malhotra cites strong consumer and business confidence driving positive forecasts.
- ICICI Prudential and RGA Launch Women-Centric Health Insurance: New product addresses critical illnesses unique to women, offering up to 100% insured payout.
National News 🇮🇳
- MNRE Establishes ₹100 Crore Payment Security Fund for Renewable Energy: Fund ensures timely payments under rooftop solar schemes, boosting investment confidence.
- Pharma Sector Faces Challenges with New GMP Norms Implementation: MSMEs struggle with compliance as revised guidelines come into effect in January 2025.
- Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Launches SWAR Platform: Speech and Written Analysis Resource bridges language gaps, enhancing citizen-government communication.
Science & Technology News 🔬
- China Reveals CR450, World’s Fastest High-Speed Train Prototype: The new model achieves speeds of 450 km/h, surpassing the previous CR400 Fuxing.
Business News 📈
- Dharavi Redevelopment Project Renamed to Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt. Ltd: Adani-backed company rebranded to avoid confusion with the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority.
Sports News 🏅
- Adarsh Singh Wins Gold at National Shooting Championship: Secures victory in the men’s 25m standard pistol event with a seven-point lead.
Important Days 📅
- Global Family Day Observed on January 1: Celebrates global unity and fosters peace among communities worldwide.
📚 Daily Current Affairs January 1, 2025 Explore the full article and stay updated.
🎯 Ready to challenge yourself? Take the Daily GK Quiz for January 1, 2025 here.
Quick Summary: Russia Implements New Tourist Tax to Boost Tourism Infrastructure
Key Highlights 🌍
- Effective Date: The tourist tax comes into effect on January 1, 2025, replacing the previous resort fee.
- Tax Rates:
- Initial rate: 1% of lodging costs in 2025.
- Gradual increase: Reaches 3% by 2027.
- Minimum daily charge: 100 rubles (approximately 0.9 USD).
- Purpose: Funds will be used to strengthen regional tourism infrastructure and support local economies.
- Legislative Framework: Introduced through amendments to the Russian Tax Code in July 2024 under a new chapter titled “Tourist Tax.”
- Regional Flexibility: Regional authorities are empowered to tailor the tax based on local tourism needs.
- Collection Mechanism: Hotels and lodging providers collect the tax, passing the cost on to travelers.
Why Read the Full Article? 🤔
• Understand the Framework: Learn how the new tourist tax replaces the resort fee with a more structured and scalable approach.
• Explore Regional Benefits: Discover how this tax empowers regions to enhance tourism infrastructure and competitiveness.
• See Global Impact: Understand how this phased tax implementation aligns with international best practices and supports sustainable tourism growth.
📚 Click here to explore the full article and gain insights into how Russia’s new tourist tax is set to modernize its tourism sector while boosting regional economies.
Quick Summary: PM CARES Fund – Contributions Decline but Focused Relief Efforts Continue
Key Highlights 💰
- Establishment and Peak Contributions: Created in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund received a record ₹7,184 crore in voluntary contributions in 2020-21, alongside ₹495 crore in foreign donations.
- Declining Donations: Contributions dropped to ₹1,938 crore in 2021-22 and further to ₹912 crore in 2022-23, with foreign donations shrinking to just ₹2.57 crore in 2022-23.
- Expenditure in 2022-23:
- ₹346 crore allocated to the “PM Cares for Children” initiative, supporting children orphaned by COVID-19.
- ₹92 crore spent on oxygen concentrators to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.
Comparison of Financial Trends 📊
- 2020-21: Record contributions driven by global urgency during the pandemic's peak.
- 2021-22: Decline as the pandemic stabilized.
- 2022-23: Contributions fell sharply as public and global focus shifted away from the crisis.
Significance of Fund Allocations 🏥
- Support for Vulnerable Populations: Continued focus on orphaned children and long-term pandemic recovery initiatives.
- Healthcare Enhancements: Investments in oxygen concentrators and medical infrastructure reflect a commitment to strengthening emergency response.
Why Read the Full Article? 🤔
• Understand Trends: Explore the rise and decline in contributions to the PM CARES Fund over three financial years.
• Discover Impact: Learn how the fund continues to address the long-term effects of COVID-19 through targeted initiatives.
• Analyze Public Engagement: Gain insights into how public perception and urgency influence contributions to crisis funds.
📚 Click here to explore the full article and gain a deeper understanding of the PM CARES Fund’s evolution and its ongoing role in pandemic recovery.
