14 January 2024

• Culture: Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu), Uttarayan, and Lohri were celebrated across India, marking the sun's northward transit.
• Defence: Army Veterans Day (8th edition) was observed on 14 January, honouring Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa.
• Economy: WPI inflation rose to 0.73 per cent in December 2023 from 0.26 per cent in November, driven by food inflation at 9.38 per cent.
• International: Denmark crowned Crown Prince Frederik X as the new king after Queen Margrethe II stepped down after a 52-year reign.

GS area: Art and Culture, Society

14 January is the day most Hindus across India celebrate Makar Sankranti. The festival marks the sun's transit from Sagittarius into Capricorn (Makara), beginning the sun's northward journey known as Uttarayan.

• Pongal (Tamil Nadu): a four-day harvest festival. Starts with Bhogi (burning old items), then Thai Pongal (boiling the first rice-milk dish as an offering), Mattu Pongal (honouring cattle), and Kaanum Pongal (outings and family visits).
• Magh Bihu / Bhogali Bihu (Assam): features the construction of makeshift cottages called "Bhelaghar" from bamboo and straw, community feasts, traditional games, and bonfires the following morning.
• Uttarayan (Gujarat): kite flying festival. The sky fills with kites; international kite festivals are held in Ahmedabad.
• Lohri (Punjab): celebrated on the eve of Makar Sankranti. Bonfires, folk songs, and distribution of sweets like rewari, gajak, and popcorn.
• Armed Forces Veterans Day: also observed on this date, marking the day in 1949 when General K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.

Static linkage: cultural geography, festivals, art and culture.

GS area: Economy (inflation)

Wholesale Price Index inflation rose to 0.73 per cent in December 2023 from 0.26 per cent in November. Food inflation within WPI climbed to 9.38 per cent from 8.18 per cent.

• WPI vs CPI: WPI measures inflation at the producer level, covering raw materials and semi-finished goods. CPI measures retail-level prices including services. The RBI uses CPI for monetary policy.
• WPI releases: WPI is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, typically around the 14th of each month.
• Contributors to December rise: machinery, equipment, electronics, and optical products contributed alongside food.

Static linkage: inflation indices, economic data, monetary policy.

GS area: Governance, Social welfare

The first instalment under the PM-JANMAN scheme was released to 1 lakh beneficiaries, amounting to Rs 540 crore. The total value of sanctioned projects under the scheme is over Rs 4,700 crore across nine ministries.

• PM-JANMAN: the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). PVTGs are the most marginalised among Scheduled Tribes, characterised by declining populations, pre-agricultural technology, and geographic isolation.
• Components: housing (PMAY-G), drinking water, healthcare, nutrition, education, and connectivity.
• PVTG count: India has 75 PVTGs spread across 18 states and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Static linkage: tribal welfare, government schemes.

GS area: International Relations, Economy

The 14th ministerial meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum was held in New Delhi. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai co-chaired the meeting.

• Key outcome: agreement to establish a Joint Facilitative Mechanism against non-tariff barriers.
• Bilateral trade 2023: India-US bilateral trade in goods and services exceeded $200 billion.
• Collaboration areas: critical minerals, supply chain resilience, and high-technology trade.

Static linkage: India-US relations, trade policy.

• BRO Group Term Insurance: the Border Roads Organisation extended group term life insurance to Casual Paid Labourers with coverage of Rs 10 lakh per worker. Funeral assistance was raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000.
• Denmark's new king: Crown Prince Frederik X became King of Denmark on 14 January, succeeding Queen Margrethe II after her 52-year reign. His wife Mary was the first commoner to become Queen of Denmark. Denmark's monarchy is traceable to 958 AD.
• Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus chanco): classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in the first-ever assessment of this subspecies. Estimated population 2,275-3,792. Indian Himalayan population around 227-378 individuals. Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and CITES Appendix I.