20 January 2025

• International: Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th US President on 20 January 2025. USA announced withdrawal from WHO.
• Culture: Kalaripayattu was added to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. BRICS expansion update: Indonesia joined as a full member in 2025.
• Environment: Olive Ridley nesting season in full swing on India's east coast.
• Heritage: Konark Sun Temple and its 24 elaborately carved wheels discussed in preparation for Republic Day visibility.
• Sports: BRICS expansion to 10 members formally completed with Indonesia's accession in 2025.

GS area: International Relations, Health

President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the USA from the World Health Organization on his first day in office.

• Funding impact: The USA contributed approximately 20% of WHO's budget. Withdrawal would significantly impact WHO's operations and disease surveillance.
• Procedure: Under WHO's Constitution, established in 1948, withdrawing a member state must give one year's notice. Full legal withdrawal therefore cannot take effect immediately.
• Context: Trump also attempted a WHO withdrawal in 2020, reversed by President Biden in January 2021.
• WHO role: Coordinates global health responses, sets international health standards, monitors epidemics, and runs programmes including polio eradication, malaria control, and vaccine access.

Static linkage: International organisations, global health governance (GS Paper 2).

GS area: International Relations

BRICS formally completed its expansion with Indonesia joining as a full member in 2025.

• Original BRIC (2009): Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa joined in 2010.
• 2024 expansion: Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and UAE joined on 1 January 2024.
• 2025: Indonesia joined as the 10th full member.
• Partner countries (2024): Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Nigeria (as a partner country).
• NDB: New Development Bank established in 2014 by the original BRICS-5 with an initial authorised capital of $100 billion.
• 2025 BRICS theme: Strengthening multilateralism for equitable global development and security.

Static linkage: International organisations, BRICS (International Relations, GS Paper 2).

GS area: Indian History, Culture

Kalaripayattu, Kerala's ancient martial art, was in the news in the context of intangible cultural heritage discussions.

• Origin: Kerala. Considered one of the oldest martial arts systems in the world.
• National ICH list: Added to India's National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.
• Three stages of training:
  • Maippayattu: Body conditioning and flexibility exercises.
  • Kolthari: Wooden weapons training.
  • Angathari: Metal weapons training.
• Healing tradition: Kalaripayattu includes a medicinal tradition (Kalari chikitsa) for treating injuries.
• Women practitioners: Historically included women warriors.

Static linkage: Indian martial arts, intangible cultural heritage (Culture, GS Paper 1).

GS area: Art and Architecture

Konark Sun Temple was highlighted in Republic Day preparations as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Location: Konark, Odisha, near the Bay of Bengal.
• Construction: 1238-1264 CE by King Narasimha Deva I of the Ganga dynasty.
• Architecture: Conceived as a colossal chariot of the Sun God Surya.
  • 24 elaborately carved wheels: Each 3 metres in diameter. They function as sundials; the spokes cast shadows that show the time.
  • Seven sculpted horses: Represent the seven days of the week or the seven rays of the Sun.
• UNESCO World Heritage: Inscribed in 1984 on the World Heritage List.

Static linkage: Temple architecture, UNESCO sites (Culture and Art, GS Paper 1).

GS area: Defence, International Relations

The multilateral naval exercise La Perouse was hosted by France in the Indian Ocean.

• Host: France. Led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
• Participating nations (9): India, France, USA, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and UK.
• Location: Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits, which connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• Purpose: Maritime safety, naval interoperability, and upholding the rules-based Indo-Pacific order.

The Malacca Strait is the world's busiest maritime chokepoint. About 80-90% of China's oil imports pass through it. India's participation in La Perouse signals its commitment to Indo-Pacific maritime security.

Static linkage: Maritime security, India-France relations (International Relations, GS Paper 2).

• Konark Sun Temple: The "Black Pagoda" (as Portuguese sailors called it, mistaking its dark stone for a lighthouse). The main sanctum collapsed long ago; the entrance hall (Jagamohana) survives.
• Olive Ridley mass nesting (Arribada): The mass nesting event at Rushikulya in Odisha was expected in January-February. Arribada is the Spanish word for arrival; it describes the simultaneous mass nesting of thousands of turtles. India has three major Olive Ridley nesting sites: Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, and the Devi river mouth, all in Odisha.