BRICS: Formation, Expansion & Significance

BRICS Formation and Expansion

• BRICS was initially established in 2009 as BRIC, including Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• South Africa was added in 2010, forming BRICS.
• The inaugural BRIC summit was held in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• In 2023, BRICS expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Indonesia is joining as the 11th member in January 2025, while Saudi Arabia's membership is pending.

BRICS Purpose and Significance

• BRICS aims to counterbalance Western influence in global institutions.
• It promotes a multipolar world order.
• BRICS advocates for emerging economies' interests.
• It promotes a diversified global order.
• BRICS countries represent a significant portion of global population and GDP.
• BRICS challenges the dominance of G7 economies.

New Development Bank (NDB)

• NDB was established in 2014.
• It funds development projects in emerging economies.
• It is an alternative to the World Bank.
• NDB headquarters is in Shanghai, China.
• Dilma Rousseff is the President of the NDB.

Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)

• CRA provides liquidity through currency swaps for short-term balance of payments pressures.
• It functions similarly to the IMF for BRICS nations.

BRICS Currency and 2025 Summit

• Discussions focus on creating a common BRICS currency.
• The goal is to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar, but it remains a complex challenge.
• The upcoming 2025 summit will focus on expanding group influence.
• It also addresses economic cooperation, security, and alternative financial system development.
• Brazil presides over BRICS in 2025.
• The BRICS summit will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July 2025.

BRICS Challenges

• BRICS faces internal divisions.
• It experiences differing geopolitical interests among its members.

Maha Kumbh 2025

• The Maha Kumbh began in Prayagraj on January 13, 2025.
• It attracts millions of devotees.
• It showcases India's cultural and religious traditions.
• The Uttar Pradesh government is using technology and AI to manage the event, calling it a 'Digi-Kumbh'.

Delhi High Court Hearing on Bail Plea

• The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the bail plea of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain on January 13, 2025.
• The case is related to a murder case from the 2020 Delhi riots.
• The plea seeks temporary reprieve for Hussain to participate in the election process.

Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting

• The Quad foreign ministers (Japan, U.S., Australia, and India) are meeting in Washington on January 21, 2025.
• The meeting highlights the significance of international organizations and alliances in global politics.

Stock Market Volatility

• On January 13, 2025, the Indian stock market (Sensex) crashed over 700 points.
• Investors lost over ₹5 lakh crore in the first five minutes of trade.

Adani Wilmar Share Price Crash

• Adani Wilmar's share price crashed more than 9% due to an offer for sale and the Oversubscription Option being exercised by one of the promoters.
• This event is related to corporate law and governance issues, along with securities regulations implementation.

QUAD Formation and Purpose

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) began in 2007.
• It involves the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.
• Initially, it was formed as a response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami for coordinated disaster relief efforts.
• QUAD aims to promote a "free and open Indo-Pacific".
• It also aims to uphold democratic values, ensure maritime security, and counter China's growing influence.

QUAD Membership and Activities

• QUAD member countries are the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.
• Members are democracies with significant economic and military capabilities.
• QUAD conducts joint military exercises like the Malabar Exercise.
• It collaborates on issues like cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, disaster relief, climate change, COVID-19 response, and technological cooperation.
• QUAD stands for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

Shinzo Abe's Role in QUAD plus Australia's Participation

• Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played a key role in forming QUAD.
• He envisioned it as a "democratic security diamond" to safeguard the Indo-Pacific region.
• Australia initially withdrew from QUAD in 2008 due to concerns about its relationship with China.
• However, it rejoined in 2017 as regional dynamics shifted.

Malabar Exercise and QUAD Summit 2025

• The Malabar naval exercise began as a bilateral exercise between India and the U.S. in 1992.
• Japan joined in 2015 and Australia in 2020.
• India hosts the QUAD Leaders' Summit in 2025.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced it.

First QUAD Summit

• The first in-person QUAD Leaders' Summit was hosted by President Joe Biden on September 24, 2021, at the White House.
• The leaders involved were Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan.
• Since March 2021, member states of the Quad and their leaders hosted regular "Leaders Summits".
• The summits have been both online and in-person.
• The summits have aimed to solidify the positions of the member countries.

Supreme Court Ruling on Data Privacy

• The Supreme Court of India reinforced the right to privacy as a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution.
• The court ruled against a state government's data collection practices.
• It emphasized the need for stringent data protection laws.

New GST Reforms

• The Finance Ministry announced GST reforms to simplify the tax structure.
• The reforms aim to increase compliance.
• The reforms include changes in tax slabs and the introduction of a digital compliance system.

India-UK Trade Agreement

• India and the United Kingdom finalized a comprehensive trade agreement.
• It is aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
• The agreement includes provisions for tariff reductions and enhanced cooperation in technology and services

Gender Equality in the Workplace Report

• A report highlights persistent gender disparities in Indian workplaces.
• The report called for the stronger enforcement of existing laws.
• The report called for the introduction of new policies to support women in the workforce

New Regulations on Industrial Emissions

• The Ministry of Environment has introduced stricter regulations on industrial emissions.
• It aims to combat air pollution.
• The regulations mandate the use of cleaner technologies.
• The regulations impose penalties for non-compliance.

India's Forest and Tree Cover (FSI)

• India's forest and tree cover reached a quarter of the country's total geographical area.
• This is according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, released by the Government of India.
• The report is published every two years by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
• FSI operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• The first report was in 1987, released at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun.
• The forest cover is 25.17%, broken down to 21.76% forest cover (7.15 lakh sq km) and 3.41% tree cover (1,289 sq km).
• Total increase since 2021: 1,445 sq. km.

Forest Cover Increase and Tree Cover in India

• Forest cover increased by 156 sq. km.
• Tree cover increased by 1,289 sq. km.
• The Forest Survey of India (FSI) defines “forest cover” as land with tree canopy density exceeding 10%.
• “Forest" in ISFR includes plantations.

Forest and Tree Cover Assessment

• The FSI counts trees outside forests towards the ‘tree cover' if they occupy less than one hectare and lie outside Reserved Forest Areas.
• The FSI has been assessing forest cover since 1987.
• The FSI has been also assessing tree cover since 2001.
• Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under forest and tree cover (85,724 sq. km) since 2021.
• Chhattisgarh recorded the largest increase in this period (684 sq. km).

Top-Performing States

• Top performers in forest and tree cover increases: Chhattisgarh (684 sq. km), Uttar Pradesh and Odisha (559 sq. km each), and Rajasthan (394 sq. km).
• Top gainers in forest cover alone: Mizoram (242 sq km), Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km).
• Odisha was one of the top gainers in ISFR 2021 as well.

State-Wise Leaders and Mangrove Cover

• State-Wise Leaders in Total Area Under Forest and Tree Cover: Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq. km), Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq. km), and Maharashtra (65,383 sq. km).
• Highest Forest Cover by Geographical Area: Lakshadweep (91.33%), Mizoram (85.34%), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (81.62%).
• Four states recorded the maximum loss in forest and tree cover between 2021 and 2023
• Madhya Pradesh (612.41 sq km), Karnataka (459.36 sq km), Ladakh (159.26 sq km) and Nagaland (125.22 sq km).

Forest cover

• Delhi has the largest forest cover among six mega cities.
• 194.15 sq km are in Delhi.
• Mumbai is second highest with 110.84 sq km.
• Bengaluru ranks third with 89.61 sq km.
• Forest cover in the six cities increased by 2.09 sq km compared to ISFR 2021.
• India's mangrove cover decreased to 4,991.68 sq km
• There has been a decrease of 7.43 sq km.
• Gujarat lost the highest area under mangroves.
• There was a loss of 36.39 sq km, compared to the last assessment.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands also show a decrease of about 4.6 sq km of mangrove area.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards

• First given in 1992 to Vishwanathan Anand, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards were granted.
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award til 2021 was the name of the award.
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the revised name.

Recipients of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

• Harmanpreet SIngh (Hockey): India won a bronze in Hockey at the Olympics
• Manu Baker: The first Indian woman after Norman Pritchard (1900 Paris Olympics) to win a back-to-back medal in the same Olympics
• Two bronze medals were secured in the Paris Olympics 2024: one in the 10 m Air pistol shooting and another in the 10 m mixed doubles.
• Praveen Kumar (para athlete) in high jump
• D Gukesh: Won the world championship in Singapore, defeating Din Laren. He became the youngest world champion at 18.

Arjun Awards

• Sucha Singh and Petkar were given the Arjun award (lifetime) in Para swimming.
• The Dronacharya Award (given to coaches) was awarded.
• Major Dhyan Chand was the captain of the Indian hockey team, leading them to their first Olympic gold medal in 1928.

Australian Open

• The Australian Open is played in Melbourne (Victoria's capital).
• The Australian Open starts in 1905 and is played on the hard court.
• Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open the most times.
• Serena Williams and Magareth Court have been awarded the most times in women's tournament.

Sports

• India will host the first 2025 world kho kho championship.
• Dehradun (Uttarakhand) is the starting point for the 38th National Games.
• The mascot is Mauli.
• Australia was victorious in the border Gavaskar trophy 3-1 against India.
• Jasprith Bumrah was the man of the series.
• Shammi Silva is the chief of the Asian cricket council
• The FIFA Men's 2030 World Cup will be held in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal
• The FIFA Men's 2035 World Cup will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• In 2028, the FIFA Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil.
• Rajgir, Bihar, will be the location of the Khelo India youth games.
• Khelo India Winter games will be played in Ladhakh and Kashmir
• Anju Bobby George has succeeded to the position of President of Athletic federation Commission due to her bronze medal at the 2003 World Championship in the long jump.
• Ravichandran Ashwin declared his retirement from international cricket.

Bangladesh Turmoil

• Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post of Prime Minister of Bangladesh
• She landed In India at the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
• She served five terms as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
• She was the world's longest-serving female head of government.
• Party Name: Awami League

Bangladesh: Protests

• Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh's student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) is the main architect of the student protests and the chaos that unfolded thereafter.
• The student protests were a reaction to the High Court reinstating a reservation system for government jobs, preferential treatment was given to those of families that veterans
• The Supreme Court later reversed the decision.
• In 1972, a policy maintaining 30% of government and semi-government employment for freedom fighters and 10% for women was implemented.
• Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 1975, the quotas were suspended.
• The advantages of the freedom fighters' quota were broadened to encompass their children when Sheikh Hasina assumed the position of Prime Minister in 1996.
• The advantages of the freedom fighters' quota were broadened to encompass their grandchildren in 2011.

Bangladesh Quota System

• The reservations for jobs were abolished by the Sheikh Hasina administration following protests by the student
• A petition was filed in 2021 for the High Court to restore the civil services 30% freedom fighters' reservation.
• July 1, 2024: After three years of hearing, the high court reinstated 30%
• After July 2024: the Supreme Court scaled back the quota from freedom fighters to 5 % and 93% were to Bangaldeshis.
• Khaleeda Zioia was ordered to be released on order of President Mohammed Shahabuddin
• Khaleeda served as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006 and the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
• Muhammad Yunus was appointed as Chief Advisor to Bangladesh's interim government on 8 August 2024
• Muhammad Yunus along with 14 interim advisors, took oath.
• In 2006 Yunus won the nobel peace prize - he was convicted of embezzlement of $2 million from Grameen Telecom

India & Trivia regarding Bangladesh

• Pranay Verma is the current Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh
• SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• HQ: Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC.
• The origional name was BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic.
• The BIMSTEC Secretariat is in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Liberation War & Border

• The 50th year anniversary was celebrated on March 26, 2021.
• Political pwer focused on the states - India & Pakistan
• "Urdu and only Urdu was declared by Ali Jinnah
• Banghabandhu lead and demanded for autonomy.
• Sheikh mujibur Rahman's title became Banghabandu.
• Awami League won in 1970.
• Bangabandu initiated in 1971.
• Bangabnadu was arrested on march 25
• On 10th April government had to remove him
• Bangladesh muktu bhani and indian forces united in 21 nov and defeted west pak army
• -Victory declared on 16 Dec 1971

Bangladesh & Borders, Operations

• India's Border Security Force (BSF) has issued a "high alert" along the 4,096 kilometers of the India-Bangladesh border.
• The borders shared by Indian states with Bangladesh are: Assam, West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.
• West Bengal occupies the most land and Tripura has has it West, north and south.
• Bhashan Char Island is a remote, isolated region in the Bay of Bengal. It is also known as Char Piya. Thousands of Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar
• A revised version of the 1974 deal was set in May 7th
• The 100th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was set out.

Important Supreme Court information

• 26 Jan 1950.
• First served inside chamber of princes
• 1958 shifted to Tilak Marg.
• Longest supreme court : Y.V.
• Justice 7 years
• First judge against an impenchment : Veereswami ranaswami

Supreme Court Justice, India

• 51 at CJI Justice :
• Sanjeev knana
• Now including 34 judges
• First Judge : Ana candi
• Fathima Beevi first Judge

Judges Case

• Judges Case (1961)
• Declared cji can be refused
• executive have high power
• Judges Case - Cji ( 1993
• Introduced collegium Cji President of the supreme court

Pravasi Bhartiya and Ghandhi

• Every year at 9th it is called every every two years
• Main Motive : Indian diprosia
• Gandhi came from South Africa
• Main Motive: Indian Dispora
• 2 Main motive 1 : India Diprosia progress
• PBD : Convention in 2003
• Flagship of external of Ministry Affairs of India
• Mohandas Gandhi was born on karanda chamapran. His first ever civil was not to labour some indigo .

Gandhi and Kheda

• His first corporation was kheda satagraan
• Aameddabad Mill strike was his first hunger strike
• Farmers would like to get 50 percent of the harvest
• Gandhi led sataygraha police arrest
• Guandi passed coorparation moement.
• He had one only one president in 1924
• In didi march salt satargaah in 1930. Gandhi attend the second stage with sorondhi Naidoo .
• He was there in 1947
• August for individual staagrah
• 2 October interrnatinal dav non vaiclance birth
• Experiment my truth - author
• Hindi sarwaj - authot

QS World Future Skills

-1025 India raked 25 , its assess how wellequipped nations are market QS are creating for London they are changing markets. It focus with global marke and sustainable

Indexes used to measure country's preparedness

• Skilled India 37 Acadeic India 26 Economicl India 30 Future India 2
• Few Skilla and yojina and the India's rake global are 37

International and Migration , Unicef

• ILOglobal interntional migration workers released and highiugte that labour is improtant in workers . workers in in labour .
• Global number of international workers in labour forve is 2018 % % high level for countiries 2021 %
• Countries for 114 -unceddly workers and Indian are of remittannces . Recevied 191 Billion world

Labour & Geneva,

• Geneva, Switzerland
• It has 187 -
• 1 and Geneva -
• Gubert f African interantional

Unicef's goals.

-The goal in resilint Unicef urgently state need safegurad and assistance in 32 children the war areas almost hlaf children had conflicts

• Only 2.4 climate finace children
• Established UNICEF

Subhash Chadra as President

• Born in cdissa
• He has great leadership and couage
• he has great attittue with his contribution.
• congress 187
• Clash and the president
• He formed a bloc

death of Subhash Candriaa

-He died in taiwan 18th Agust 1945.

• His cotroverery is that is survior fuelled decades
• Legacy and contriubitions
• Names of the islands in Indai is Subhash Chandra Bose
• His birth was narendra Ditta

Facts about Vivekananda

philosophy of and srevice to huanity . cicago , relifions

• He encrouaged and teacghinh - and do it
• he became a symbol of with
• He became symbol pf birth

Nationnal Sports , Chess

• National port 12 jan
• It declared to the and pilspohies of yutgth
• To promtie builng , and spitalitity
• India army bravery - and sacrifise of licuteneat genera kodndana C
• india efficient armt
• General upednreva for chief defence and the
• Chess olympiad 85 gm. shyam nuknil

Chess Teams Women and and Men & Facts

• Men : gukesh , pentula -Women : Hampi
• Garukus pov
• Rajihv gandhu and first pesom d vorrich greatest

World Bank & Global

-Wold Bank gloabl 15jan to provitde glosbal and glba ecoomy

• Sativilation at at modes glosbal economy -Devopoling contribute 71% two years Risk in world policyy - global global
• Advanced Econoimes :Growth

world bank policy & facts

• Domectic reform :
• Releves and resourcrs.
• Date of estbliaht is 1,944.
• Liaotion Esbtaisked hampsjore, -Washington d C

###World Bank & India

• Indian voting quata in 2023
• the system for contriubtion
• the systrm contriubtion
• India's QUTA. 3,7.
• india is one for largest hold
• important report in year

IMF in a Year

• the internatioal monetary
• world economic
• world finacial : Examies
• fisicak monetary india in the Imn, The finace sitarama and alernatuve shakti Kanta

The World Bank

• the imortatn world : Developmrnt
• the wotld towsards global and economic

Masi Revier & Padma Award

• A award cerinomy

• The padama had ceromina -

###Padma Vibusan 19 45

• Shri sadurw , japan Japan
• Shri Vinod Shiri Adjay Shri srmama - Canada
• 2 of constiunt in list seven Hights o uc

Lala Liapt Rai History and awards

-The padms had cerionia

• The Padn had

India , Pakistan & Ljapart awards,.

• India Lahore for protest of against Scott . He died
• He became a leader

Elcetions facts & awards

• the conisutoin of article 44
• the elecrtiucn 334
• the India a consoutuin 17 million
• India is the largest contry -the indian ballot of elceiton

Unifrom India & Awards .

UTTAGAND the Uniform The unifrom law and the

• the 22 and India are
• Ucc :
  • marritages , and livves -the is alws for both -penaltires