Daily GK One Liners: January 18, 2025

Your quick summary of the day’s top headlines across International, National, Business, Science, Sports, and more. 🌟

International News 🌍

China Launches Pakistan’s First Electro-Optical Satellite: PRSC-EO1 deployed by Long March-2D rocket, enhancing Pakistan's Earth observation capabilities.

National News 🇮🇳

DoT Launches NBM 2.0 and Sanchar Saathi App: Aims to connect 170,000 villages with broadband and enhance digital security.
Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan App Promotes Battlefield Tourism: Explore India’s historic war sites, from the Siachen base camp to Galwan Valley.
Lokpal of India Celebrates First Foundation Day: Marking 11 years of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

Business News 📈

Government Approves ₹11,440 Crore Package for RINL: Revival plan includes equity infusion and working capital loan conversion to boost Vizag Steel’s operations.
IMF Lowers India’s FY25 Growth Forecast to 6.5%: A cautious outlook amidst inflationary pressures and global uncertainties.

Appointments News 📋

Justice Arun Mishra Appointed BCCI Ombudsman: Former Supreme Court judge to oversee ethical practices in Indian cricket.

Banking News 🏦

RBI Permits Overseas Banks to Open INR Accounts: Policy aims to increase INR use in global trade and investment.
RBI Records Highest Monthly Forex Intervention: $20.2 billion sold in November 2024 to stabilize the rupee amid foreign outflows.

🌐 Explore More and Test Your Knowledge!

📚 For detailed insights into today’s highlights, check out our full post here.

🎯 Ready to challenge yourself? Take the Daily GK Quiz for January 18, 2025 here.

Science & Technology News 🔬

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Completes Maiden Flight: Prototype satellite launched successfully, strengthening competition in space exploration.
ISRO Grows Black-Eyed Peas in Space: Breakthrough in sustainable food cultivation for long-term space missions.
Zombie Deer Disease Raises Concerns for Human Health: No confirmed human cases, but hunter exposure to infected meat warrants caution.
ZSI Discovers New Indo-Burmese Pangolin Species: Manis indoburmanica adds to biodiversity conservation efforts in the Indo-Burma region.

Sports News 🎾

Novak Djokovic Sets Grand Slam Record: Plays his 430th Grand Slam match at the Australian Open, surpassing Roger Federer.

Obituaries News 🕊️

Renowned Filmmaker David Lynch Passes Away at 78: Celebrated for his surreal storytelling in works like Twin Peaks and multiple award-winning films.

Quick Summary: India Unveils National Broadband Mission 2.0 and Sanchar Saathi App

Key Highlights 🌐

National Broadband Mission 2.0 (NBM 2.0):
- Ambitious Goals: Aims to connect 1.7 lakh unconnected villages and ensure 60% of rural households achieve 100 Mbps broadband speed.
- Inclusive Growth: Builds on the success of NBM 1.0, which installed 8 lakh telecom towers and increased broadband subscriptions to 94 crore.
Sanchar Saathi App:
- Fraud Reporting: Simplifies reporting of suspicious calls and SMS to combat telecom fraud.
- Resource Management: Tracks mobile connections under a user's name to prevent misuse.
- Device Security: Facilitates blocking and recovery of lost or stolen devices, and verifies handset authenticity.
Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR): Introduced at DBN-funded 4G sites, enabling users of multiple telecom providers to access services from shared infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and efficiency.

Why Read the Full Article? 🤔

• Understand Digital Expansion: Explore how NBM 2.0 is bridging the digital divide in rural India and fostering inclusive growth.

• Discover Security Innovations: Learn how the Sanchar Saathi app enhances user empowerment and telecom fraud prevention.

• Learn About Connectivity Improvements: Gain insights into how infrastructure-sharing initiatives like ICR improve network accessibility and consumer choice.

📚 Click here to explore the full article and discover how these initiatives are driving India’s secure and inclusive digital transformation!

Quick Summary: First Foundation Day of Lokpal of India – A Decade of Anti-Corruption Efforts

Key Highlights ⚖️

Event Overview: Celebrated on January 16, 2025, marking 11 years since the Lokpal’s establishment under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
Notable Attendees: Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Anna Hazare (virtually), Attorney General R. Venkataramani, and representatives from institutions like the CBI, CVC, and CAG.
Chairperson’s Address: Justice A.M. Khanwilkar reflected on the Lokpal’s evolution and announced strategies such as simplified complaint processes, use of AI and forensic tools, and collaboration with key anti-corruption agencies.
Chief Justice’s Remarks: Justice Sanjiv Khanna highlighted the Lokpal’s role in maintaining public trust and democratic accountability, emphasizing independence and integrity as its cornerstone.
Future Vision: The Lokpal aims to integrate advanced technologies, recruit specialists, and strengthen inter-agency collaborations to tackle corruption more effectively.

Why Read the Full Article? 🤔

• Reflect on Progress: Learn how the Lokpal has shaped India’s fight against corruption over the past decade.

• Explore Strategic Insights: Understand how new technologies and collaborative efforts will redefine anti-corruption mechanisms.

• Grasp Its Democratic Role: Delve into the Lokpal’s significance in fostering transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.

📚 Click here to explore the full article and gain a deeper understanding of the Lokpal’s journey and its vision for a corruption-free India!

Quick Summary: Novak Djokovic Sets Record for Most Grand Slam Matches Played

Key Highlights 🎾

Historic Record: Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer by playing his 430th Grand Slam match, setting a new record in tennis history.
Impressive Career Stats: Djokovic’s Grand Slam record stands at 379 wins and 51 losses (.881 winning percentage), compared to Federer’s 429 matches with a .860 winning percentage.
Most Grand Slam Titles: Djokovic holds the record for 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any man in history.
Dominance in Finals: He has played in 37 Grand Slam finals, setting another benchmark in the sport.

Upcoming Milestones 📅

25th Grand Slam Title: Djokovic is closing in on a record-extending 25th major title.
Matching Margaret Court: He could tie Margaret Court’s record of 11 Australian Open titles.
Oldest Grand Slam Winner: Djokovic has a chance to surpass Ken Rosewall as the oldest male Grand Slam champion.
100 Tour-Level Titles: With 96 titles, Djokovic is approaching the elite 100-title club.

Challenges and Changes 🔄

Tough Matches: Faced stiff competition from younger opponents in the early rounds of the Australian Open.
New Coaching Partnership: Djokovic has begun working with Andy Murray, marking a new phase in his career.