Latest News and Developments: January 13, 2025

1. Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform Launched

Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 in New Delhi. This initiative aims to bolster India's clean technology value chains across sectors such as solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage. The platform is expected to promote innovation and help India become a global leader in sustainability.

During the launch, Goyal emphasized the need for self-reliance in the clean energy sector and highlighted India's commitment to achieving the target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: installing 500 GW of clean energy sources by 2030. Notably, India has been one of the best-performing countries in meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

2. National Youth Day Celebrations

India celebrated National Youth Day on January 12, 2025, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. This day, also known as Rashtriya Yuva Diwas, has been celebrated since 1985. Swami Vivekananda, born on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata, is revered as one of India's greatest philosophers and spiritual leaders.

The National Youth Festival was inaugurated on January 11, 2025, by Mansukh Mandaviya, the Sports Minister, at Bharat Mandapam. The event brought together over 3,000 young leaders from across India for thematic discussions and creative competitions.

3. Maha Kumbh 2025 Begins

The Maha Kumbh 2025, one of the largest gatherings of humans in one place, commenced on January 13, 2025, with the first major bathing ritual, or ‘Shahi Snan’, on the auspicious occasion of ‘Paush Purnima’. The event is held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj every 12 years. This year's Maha Kumbh is considered especially auspicious due to celestial permutations and combinations happening after 144 years.

4. Chhattisgarh Encounter

At least three Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on January 12, 2025. The gunfight occurred in the Indravati National Park area during an anti-Naxalite operation. This incident highlights the ongoing conflict between security forces and Maoist insurgents in the region.

5. Political Developments in Delhi

As Delhi prepares for its upcoming assembly elections, several political promises have been made. The Congress party has promised a financial assistance of ₹8,500 per month to educated unemployed youths in Delhi for one year under the ‘Yuva Udaan Yojana’ if voted to power. On the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of Aam Aadmi Party, claimed that if the BJP comes to power, all slum clusters in the city would be demolished.