Daily GK One Liners: January 14, 2025

Get up-to-date with today’s key headlines across International, National, Business, Science, and Sports categories. 📢

International News 🌍

6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southwestern Japan: The Hyuga-Nada Sea off Miyazaki Prefecture experienced a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on January 13, triggering tsunami advisories, which were later lifted.
Nicolas Maduro Begins Third Term Amid Election Controversy: Venezuela’s President was sworn in despite claims of election fraud and international sanctions.
Pink Fire Retardant Deployed to Combat California Wildfires: Concerns grow over the ecological impact of this long-used firefighting method.

National News 🇮🇳

SECL Launches Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB) Cell: Aims to provide a one-stop service for retired employees under 'Mission Sambandh.'
Uttar Pradesh Explores Privatizing Two Power Distribution Firms: Plans underway to privatize Dakshinanchal and Purvanchal power firms to improve efficiency.
Odisha Implements Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Odisha joins the national healthcare scheme, improving access to healthcare for its residents.
Avaniyapuram Jallikattu Festival Kicks Off in Tamil Nadu: Celebrated during Pongal, showcasing traditional bull-taming sport and Tamil heritage.

Agreements News 🤝

C-DOT and IIT Mandi Collaborate on Spectrum Sensor Chip: Partnership under TTDF aims to enhance broadband services, especially in rural areas.

Business News 📈

India’s Direct Tax Revenue Grows by 15.88% in FY25: Net direct tax collections reached ₹16.90 lakh crore as of January 12.
Retail Inflation Drops to 5.22% in December: A four-month low attributed to reduced food price increases.
₹700 Crore Sanctioned for 56 Watershed Development Projects: PMKSY initiatives to boost agriculture and climate resilience in ten states.

Awards News 🏆

Kappad and Chal Beaches Receive Blue Flag Certification: Kerala beaches recognized for environmental conservation and sustainable tourism.

Sports News 🏅

Anju Bobby George Appointed Chairperson of AFI Athletes Commission: The commission includes prominent athletes like Neeraj Chopra, marking gender balance progress.
Kho Kho World Cup 2025 Commences in New Delhi: 23 nations participate in the inaugural event celebrating India’s indigenous sport.

Science & Technology News 🚀

ISRO Advances Space Docking Technology with SpaDeX Mission: Successful maneuvers position India to become the fourth nation to master docking procedures.

Important Days 📅

Makar Sankranti 2025 Celebrated on January 14: Marks the Sun’s transition to Capricorn, symbolizing light overcoming darkness.

📚 Daily Current Affairs January 14, 2025 Explore the full article and stay updated.

🎯 Ready to challenge yourself? Take the Daily GK Quiz for January 14, 2025 here.

Quick Summary: Makar Sankranti – Celebrating Light, Harvest, and Togetherness 🌞

What’s the Occasion?

Makar Sankranti, celebrated on January 14, 2025, marks the Sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makar Rashi). This auspicious festival signifies longer days, a prosperous harvest, and spiritual renewal.

Key Highlights 🏮

Main Time for Rituals: 09:03 AM to 5:46 PM
Best Time for Holy Bath and Donations: 09:03 AM to 10:48 AM

Significance of Makar Sankranti 🌾

Victory of Light: Celebrates the transition to longer days, embodying light's triumph over darkness.
Spiritual Importance: Marks the start of Uttarayana, a six-month auspicious period for spiritual growth.
Harvest Gratitude: Farmers express thanks for bountiful crops, symbolizing prosperity and sustenance.

Mythological Legends 📖

Surya and Vitality: Surya, the Sun God, is honored as the life-giver and sustainer of the universe.
Samudra Manthan: Symbolizes divine blessings through the churning of the cosmic ocean for Amrit (nectar).
Ganga’s Descent: Celebrates King Bhagirath’s efforts to bring the Ganges to Earth, embodying devotion and purification.

How Makar Sankranti is Celebrated 🎉

Kite Flying: Popular in Gujarat and Punjab, filling skies with colorful kites.
Traditional Foods: Special dishes like til ladoo (sesame-jaggery sweets) and khichdi enhance the celebrations.
Holy River Baths: Dips in rivers like Ganga and Yamuna are believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings.
Bonfires: Symbolize burning away negativity and welcoming light and warmth.

Themes of the Festival 🌏

Unity and Gratitude: Promotes togetherness, shared joy, and thankfulness for nature’s bounty.
Spiritual Cleansing: Aimed at renewal, positivity, and dispelling negativity.
Cultural Diversity: The festival is celebrated with varied traditions across Indian states, each adding its unique flavor.

Why Read the Full Article? 🤔

✔️ Explore fascinating legends that enrich Makar Sankranti’s meaning.

✔️ Learn about diverse celebrations across India, from kite-flying to bonfires.

✔️ Discover the spiritual and communal essence of this vibrant festival.

📚 Click here to uncover the timeless traditions and joy of Makar Sankranti 2025!

Quick Summary: ISRO's SpaDeX Mission – India’s Breakthrough in Space Docking Technology 🚀

What’s the Mission?

ISRO’s SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) is a pioneering mission to demonstrate spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking capabilities – a crucial milestone for future space exploration.

Mission Details 🛰️

Launch Date: December 30, 2024
Satellites: SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)
Objective: Test spacecraft docking for missions like lunar landings, sample returns, and the future Indian Space Station.

Achievements and Challenges 🔭

Docking Milestone: On January 12, 2025, satellites maneuvered to within 3 meters of each other.
Challenge Overcome: Initial drift postponed docking from January 7. ISRO resolved this, showcasing advanced satellite maneuvering skills.

Significance of SpaDeX 🌌

Technological Milestone: Positions India alongside global space leaders like the USA, Russia, and China in mastering docking capabilities.
Enabler for Future Missions: Advances India’s manned lunar missions, sample return projects, and development of an Indian Space Station.
Global Recognition: Cements India’s status as a key player in the international space community.

Why SpaDeX Matters for India's Space Future 🌍

Indian Space Station: Docking is vital for assembling and maintaining a space station, enabling India to have a permanent presence in orbit.
Manned Lunar Missions: Paves the way for sending Indian astronauts to the Moon, a major step in ISRO’s ambitions.
Deep Space Exploration: Key for future interplanetary missions, including Mars exploration and sample return from celestial bodies.
Global Collaboration: Strengthens India’s potential as a partner in joint international space projects, expanding opportunities for cooperative missions.