Current Affairs - Hajela's IAS Academy (HIA)

President Murmu gave 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025' to 27 people

President Draupadi Murmu presented 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025' to 27 people today on 10 January.

The Ministry of External Affairs had announced the names of the award winners for the year 2025 on January 3.
The awardees include President of Trinidad-Tobago Christine Carla Kangalu (in the public category), B Usha Kumari Parashar from the UK (in the field of politics) and Dr Sharmila Ford from the US (in the field of community service).
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is the highest honour given to non-resident Indians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated this conference on 9 January.

Legendary Malayalam singer and National Award winner P Jayachandran has passed away at the age of 80.

P Jayachandran was a well-known voice in Malayalam as well as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi cinema.
In his career, Jayachandran sang around 16 thousand songs.
In 1986, he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer.
Apart from this, he also received 5 Kerala State Film Awards, 4 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, The JC Daniel Award from the Government of Kerala and the Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited on January 9 handed over the sixth Scorpion class submarine of Project P - 75 'VAGHSHEER' to the Navy.

'Vaghsheer' is equipped with advanced stealth features, such as sound deadening and improved hydrodynamic design.
Due to the stealth feature, the submarine cannot be detected by radar and other detection techniques.
It is capable of launching torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
Additionally, this submarine is capable of performing many tasks including intelligence gathering and surveillance.
Vagsheer differs from the previous five submarines in that it is equipped with indigenously developed air conditioning plant and internal communication and broadcasting systems.
The six submarines include Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanja, Vela, Vaghir and Vagsheer.

India's passport has slipped to 85th position in The Henley Passport Index 2025.

This year, India's ranking has slipped five places, from 80th position earlier.
According to the index, Indian passport holders can now travel to 57 countries without visa.
India shares this ranking with Equatorial Guinea and Niger.
Whereas, neighbouring country Pakistan is ranked 103rd.
Singapore has topped the list of the world's most powerful passports for the second consecutive year.
According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, a Singapore passport holder can travel to 195 countries without a visa.
Japan is second on the list, with its passport holders able to travel visa-free to 193 countries.

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment BL Verma inaugurated the 23rd Divya Kala Mela held in Vadodara.

Divya Kala Mela is being organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
About 100 disabled artisans, craftsmen and entrepreneurs from 20 states and union territories are participating in this fair.
In this, the best skills and products of disabled artisans and entrepreneurs from all over the country will be presented.
Products like handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery works and packaged foods will be sold in it.
This initiative provides an important platform to the Divyangjans for marketing and presentation of their skills and products.