Current Affairs Today: 01st February 2025 | Daily GK Update
National News
1. How many new Ramsar Wetlands were added in India, and which states received their first recognitions?
Answer: Four new sites were added, bringing India’s total to 89 Ramsar Wetlands. Jharkhand and Sikkim received their first-ever recognitions, along with sites from Gujarat and the northeast region.
2. How much has the Centre allocated for disaster mitigation projects?
Answer: ₹3,027.86 crore was approved by a High-Level Committee chaired by Amit Shah, targeting lightning safety, drought-prone areas, and forest fire management.
3. What is the purpose of the newly launched ‘SwaRail’ SuperApp by Indian Railways?
Answer: To consolidate railway services into a single platform, enhancing user experience. It’s currently in beta phase on Android and iOS.
International News
4. Which African country became the first to eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness)?
Answer: Niger, as declared by the World Health Organization, joining Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico in eliminating the disease.
State News
5. What event did Goa CM Pramod Sawant inaugurate on January 30, 2025?
Answer: The Sci-Fi Science Film Festival in Panaji, themed “Green Revolution,” honoring Dr. M. Swaminathan.
6. What action was taken after the Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj?
Answer: A 3-member judicial panel was formed to investigate the tragedy that claimed 30 lives and injured over 60 people.
Economy News
7. What is the total expenditure outlined in the Union Budget 2025–26?
Answer: ₹50.65 lakh crore, focusing on infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and social welfare.
8. What is the new income tax exemption limit under Budget 2025?
Answer: No income tax for earnings up to ₹12 lakh under the new tax regime; ₹12.75 lakh for salaried individuals with standard deduction.
9. How much has been allocated to healthcare in Budget 2025?
Answer: ₹98,311 crore, with focus on medical tourism, cancer care, and life-saving drug exemptions.
Summits & Conferences
10. What BRICS event will India host in March 2025?
Answer: The BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Meet, themed “Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth,” from March 3–7, 2025.
Science & Technology
11. What spacewalking record did astronaut Sunita Williams achieve?
Answer: She logged 62 hours and 6 minutes across nine spacewalks, becoming the woman with the longest spacewalking time.
Sports News
12. Who received the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024?
Answer: Sachin Tendulkar, honored for his legendary contribution to Indian cricket.
13. Which cricketers won the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer?
Answer: Jasprit Bumrah (Men, 2021–22) and Smriti Mandhana (Women, 2020–21 & 2021–22).
Current Affairs Today: 01st February 2025 | Daily GK Update
National News:
- Four new Ramsar Wetlands were added to India’s list, raising the total to 89 Ramsar Wetlands. The newly recognized sites include Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand, Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu, and Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim. Jharkhand and Sikkim received their first-ever Ramsar recognitions, while Tamil Nadu continues to have the highest number of Ramsar sites with 20 in total.drishtiias+1
- The Centre approved ₹3,027.86 crore for disaster mitigation projects through a High-Level Committee chaired by Amit Shah. These projects focus on lightning safety, drought-prone areas, and forest fire management.ddnews+1
- Indian Railways launched the ‘SwaRail’ SuperApp in beta phase for Android and iOS. This app consolidates multiple railway services such as reserved and unreserved ticket booking, train and PNR enquiries, parcel booking, food orders on trains, and complaint management into a single platform aimed at enhancing user experience.indiatoday+1
International News:
4. Niger became the first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness), as declared by the World Health Organization. Niger is the fifth country globally and the first in Africa to interrupt the transmission of this parasitic disease, joining Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico in this achievement.who+1
State News:
5. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Sci-Fi Science Film Festival in Panaji from January 29 to February 1, 2025. The festival theme was “Green Revolution,” honoring Dr. M. Swaminathan. This was the 10th edition of the festival, which aims to promote science and innovation among youth.gomantaktimes+1
6. Following the Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj that caused 30 deaths and over 60 injuries on January 29, 2025, a three-member judicial panel was formed. The panel, led by retired High Court judge Harsh Kumar, includes retired IAS officer D.K. Singh and former DGP V.K. Gupta, to investigate the causes and suggest preventive measures.currentaffairs.adda247
Economy News:
7. The Union Budget 2025–26 outlined a total expenditure of ₹50.65 lakh crore with a focus on infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and social welfare programs.prsindia
8. The new income tax exemption limit under the 2025 Budget was set to no income tax for earnings up to ₹12 lakh under the new tax regime, and ₹12.75 lakh for salaried individuals considering the standard deduction.economictimes+1
9. Healthcare allocation in Budget 2025 was ₹98,311 crore, with emphasis on medical tourism, cancer care initiatives, and exemptions on life-saving drugs.prsindia
Summits & Conferences:
10. India will host the BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Meet from March 3 to 7, 2025, with the theme “Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth” (Note: The specific URL mentioning BRICS Youth Meet was not found in search but is noted from the prompt).studyiq
Science & Technology:
11. Astronaut Sunita Williams achieved a spacewalking record, logging 62 hours and 6 minutes across nine spacewalks, becoming the woman with the longest spacewalking time (Note: Specific URL was not directly found but is referenced in prompt).studyiq
Sports News:
12. Sachin Tendulkar received the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for his legendary contributions to Indian cricket (Note: Specific URL not found in search, based on prompt).studyiq
13. The Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer was awarded to Jasprit Bumrah (Men, 2021–22) and Smriti Mandhana (Women, 2020–21 & 2021–22) (Note: Specific URL not found in search, based on prompt).studyiq