NEWS 12-01-2025. News For 20th-Jan (Monday) Summary of December *National* 1.Govt. has launched *Kisan Kavach,* India's first bodysuit to protect farmers from harmful pesticides. 2, *Former Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur* is appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC). His term will end on Nov 12 2028. 3.PM Narendra Modi launched the Ken-Betwa river link project in Madhya Pradesh. 4.The Union Cabinet has approved bill to amend the Constitution to implement *"one nation, one elections".* The draft legislations has been introduced in Parliament. 5.Gujarat is leading in installations of *Rooftop Solar System* under PM- Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. *International* 1.Kuwait gave its highest national award, *The Order of Mubarak Al-Ka eer,* to PM Modi. 2.The India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce, and Transit has established a free trade regime. This will allow duty-free transit of Bhutanese exports to third countries. 3.India has invited Israeli startups to partner with Indian institutions to co- develop critical quantum technologies. 4.India has surpassed China as the biggest 2- wheelers market in the world. 5.India has been *re-elected to the UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2025-26*, reaffirming its commitment to global peace. 6.India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a 98 million US dollar loan to improve the horticulture crop of farmers in India. *Defence* 1.Two indigenously designed and built Indian Navy warships, destroyer Surat, and frigate Nilgiri were delivered on December 20, 2024. *Note* - A *frigate* is a smaller, lighter ship used mostly for protection, like guarding other ships or fighting submarines. A *destroyer* is a bigger, more powerful ship built for attacking and defending against air, sea, and missile threats. 2.Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared two major projects worth around Rs 20,000 crore for *12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets for the IAF and 100 K-9 Vajra Self- propelled howitzers* for the Indian Army. 3,The Indian Army has inducted *Nagastra-1, an indigenous loitering munition by Solar Industries.* 4.Adani Defence has delivered a second *Drishti-10 Starliner surveillance drone* to the Indian Navy in Gujarat, boosting its maritime surveillance. 5.India’s *Antariksha Abhyas 2024*, was held between Nov 11 & 13. This marked the country’s first comprehensive military space defense exercise. It aims to strengthen space infrastructure and space warfare capabilities. 6.The Indian Coast Guard held its second bilateral meeting with the Philippine Coast Guard in New Delhi. 7.The Indian Army conducted drone warfare drills in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. 8.India has successfully tested its K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from INS Arighaat, with a range of 3,500 km. This is the first launch from the newly commissioned submarine. 9.IAF contingent carried out month long, *Tactical Leadership Program*, in Nov 2024, in Egypt. The program focussed on enhancing tactical skills in large-scale force & multi-aircraft operations. 10.India and China have implemented a pact sealed in Nov '24, on patrolling in Depsang and Demchok along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh as per agreed modalities and timelines. 11.The Indian Navy *commissioned INS Tushil*, a multi-role stealth guided-missile frigate, in Russia. The 3,900-ton frigate features Indian and Russian technologies for enhanced stealth and stability. *Sports* 1.India won the first U19 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, beating Bangladesh by 41 runs. 2.Bihar will host the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in March 2025 for the second time. 3.Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, has become the youngest world chess champion, defeating China's Ding Liren in Singapore. 4.The Asian Women's Handball Championship was conducted in New Delhi. India has hosted the handball competition for the first time. < < Back