Daily GK One Liners: January 13, 2025

📢 Daily GK One Liners: 13th January 2025

Stay updated with today's most important news across international affairs, national developments, science, business, and sports.

🌍 International News

🌋 Mount Ibu Eruption in Indonesia: The eruption emitted ash clouds 4,000 meters high and lava flows 2 km from the crater. Authorities issued safety warnings.
🇺🇸 Dr. Jaishankar to Attend Trump’s Inauguration: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent India at Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration on January 20, 2025.

🇮🇳 National News

🌿 INROAD Project Launched for North-East Rubber Sector: ₹100 crore project aimed at improving natural rubber quality and farmer training.
🌦️ Regional Meteorological Centre Announced for Jammu: IMD will establish a center for enhanced weather forecasting and disaster management.
⚡ India Achieves Record 30 GW Renewable Energy Capacity in 2024: 113% growth, advancing towards the 500 GW target by 2030.
🔋 Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform Launched: Strengthens India’s clean energy supply chain in solar, wind, hydrogen, and batteries.

📊 Summits & Conferences News

📈 India Joins UN Big Data Committee: Strengthening the role of data for policymaking and SDG monitoring.
⛈️ India Meteorological Department Celebrates 150 Years: Founded in 1875, IMD marks its anniversary with weather and disaster forecasting advancements.

💼 Business News

💻 India Advances IT Hardware Manufacturing with Syrma SGS Plant: Chennai’s new laptop assembly line boosts local IT manufacturing.
🏗️ Adani Group Announces ₹75,000 Crore Investment in Chhattisgarh: Expanding energy and cement sectors, boosting regional economy.

🔬 Science & Technology News

🧥 DRDO Unveils HIMKAVACH for Extreme Cold Weather: Multi-layered clothing tested in -60°C temperatures enhances soldier efficiency.
🌊 Western Ghats Recognized as Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspot: IUCN identifies its significance for global freshwater conservation.

🏆 Sports News

🏏 Shreyas Iyer Named Punjab Kings Captain for IPL 2025: Announcement made on the reality show ‘Bigg Boss.’
🎖️ Devajit Saikia & Prabhtej Singh Bhatia Elected to BCCI Leadership: Saikia as Secretary, Bhatia as Treasurer after Jay Shah and Ashish Shelar’s resignations.

🗓️ Important Days

🎉 National Youth Day Celebrated on January 12: Honoring Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary.

📚 Daily Current Affairs January 13, 2025 Explore the full article and stay updated.

🎯 Ready to challenge yourself? Take the Daily GK Quiz for January 13, 2025 here.

🔥 Quick Summary: California's Use of Pink Fire Retardant in Wildfire Defense

What’s Happening?

California firefighting authorities are increasingly using pink fire retardant, such as Phos-Chek, to combat wildfires. However, environmental and health concerns, along with debates on effectiveness, are raising controversies.

🔍 Key Highlights

💡 Pink Fire Retardant: What Is It?

🧪 Definition: A chemical mixture (mainly ammonium polyphosphate) used to slow or stop wildfires.
🔥 Function: Sprayed aerially to create a protective coating on vegetation, cutting off oxygen needed for fires to spread.
🎨 Color Purpose: The pink hue enhances visibility for firefighters to monitor treated areas effectively.

🌱 Environmental Concerns

⚠️ Toxic Metals: Contains harmful elements like chromium and cadmium, which pollute water and harm aquatic life.
🌊 Water Contamination: Runoff leads to degraded water quality, threatening ecosystems and wildlife.
📊 Heavy Metal Emissions (2009-2021): 400 tons of heavy metals introduced into the environment due to fire retardant use.

⚠️ Health Risks

🏥 Human Impact: Linked to cancer, kidney, and liver diseases due to prolonged exposure to toxic metals.
🏡 Communities at Risk: People living near treated areas are particularly vulnerable.

🔥 Effectiveness of Fire Retardant

📌 Factors Impacting Success: Weather, terrain, and type of fire significantly affect efficacy.
🌎 Climate Change: Narrowing the operational window for effective fire retardant use.
📈 Usage Scale (2009–2021): Over 440 million gallons deployed across U.S. lands.

⚖️ Debate and Controversy

🌍 Environmentalists: Argue the ecological damage outweighs the benefits.
🏛️ Authorities & Manufacturers: Defend its use as essential for wildfire suppression.
📢 Public Questioning: Rising concern over balancing immediate firefighting needs with long-term environmental costs.

📖 Why Read the Full Article?

💡 Learn about the balance between necessity and sustainability in wildfire management.
📚 Explore the science behind fire retardants, their limitations, and potential alternatives.
🌿 Understand the urgent call for more eco-friendly solutions to protect both people and ecosystems.

🔗 Click here to explore the full article.

🌍 Quick Summary: Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform Launch

What’s Happening?

Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 to strengthen India’s clean energy value chains.

🔍 Key Highlights

⚡ Platform Objectives

🔋 Strengthen critical sectors: solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage.
🤝 Foster collaboration: Encouraging co-innovation among Indian companies.
📊 Boost manufacturing scale: Enhancing India's ability to meet clean energy demands.
💰 Promote financing: Creating opportunities for cleantech investments and resource-sharing.

🌎 India’s Clean Energy Leadership

⚡ 200 GW milestone: Achieved 8 years ahead of the 2022 target.
🔋 500 GW target: On track to reach by 2030.
🏆 Global recognition: Among the top performers under the Paris Agreement for climate commitments.

👨‍💼 Shri Piyush Goyal’s Vision

🛠️ Self-Reliance: Push for self-sustaining cleantech growth beyond government subsidies.
🚀 3S Approach: Focus on Speed, Scale, and Skill to accelerate cleantech development.
🏗️ Innovation-Driven Growth: Position India as a leading cleantech business destination.

🌟 Benefits of the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform

🤝 Collaboration and Innovation: Development of cutting-edge clean energy technologies.
💰 Financing and Resource Optimization: Efficient use of resources and funding for cleantech ventures.
🌍 Global Leadership: Strengthening India’s role as a major exporter of renewable technologies.

🏆 Why It Matters

⚡ Accelerating Energy Goals: Critical for India’s 500 GW by 2030 target.
💼 Economic Boost: Positions India as a hub for cleantech manufacturing, fostering jobs and investments.
🌱 Sustainability Leader: Aligns with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

📖 Why Read the Full Article?

🌱 Learn how India’s cleantech platform can redefine global renewable energy.
💡 Explore Shri Piyush Goyal’s vision for self-reliance and innovation.
📈 Understand how this initiative aligns with global climate commitments and India’s sustainability goals.