Stay informed and up-to-date with the most significant legal changes of the month. Legal Bites January 2025.

Welcome to the Legal Bites Monthly Legal Updates for January 2025! This edition offers a comprehensive overview of the latest judgments, regulations, and key legal developments in India, along with a few significant international updates. Stay informed and up-to-date with the most significant legal changes of the month.

January 2025: Key Legal, National, and International Highlights

  1. 2025 Declared as 'Year of Reforms' in Ministry of Defence:
    Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting with MoD Secretaries to review progress on schemes, projects, and reforms. It was decided to designate 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms' to accelerate ongoing and future initiatives. (January 1, 2025)
  2. HIPA Renamed After Former PM Manmohan Singh: During the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) in Shimla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced its renaming in honour of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a decision later approved by the state cabinet.
    (January 1, 2025)
  3. How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of The G20 Presidency: This book is a testament to India’s growing influence on the global stage. Amitabh Kant’s firsthand account provides invaluable insights into the complexities of global governance and the strategic acumen required to lead a diverse forum like the G20. (January 1, 2025)
  4. Maintenance of Senior Citizens: In the case of
    Urmila Dixit v. Sunil Sharan Dixit & Ors., the Hon’ble Supreme Court highlights the broader societal issue of neglect and exploitation faced by senior citizens, emphasizing the importance of a purposive interpretation of welfare legislation. (January 2, 2025)
  5. Home Minister Amit Shah released a book in New Delhi: The book, Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages,
    aims to narrate the history of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, offering a perspective accessible to both experts and general readers. (January 2, 2025)
  6. Blinkit's 10-Minute Emergency Ambulance Service in Gurgaon: Blinkit offers an affordable 10-minute emergency response ambulance service in Gurgaon, ensuring quick transportation to hospitals for those in need. (January 2, 2025)
  7. Prime Minister Inaugurated Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 in New Delhi:
    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event’s theme, "Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2024," highlighted the pivotal role of rural India in shaping a prosperous and self-reliant nation. (January 4, 2025)
  8. Chhattisgarh’s Green GDP Initiative: Chhattisgarh has become the first Indian state to integrate the ecological services of its forests into its economic framework by adopting the Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP) model.
    (January 4, 2025)
  9. Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025: Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by defeating India 3-1 in the five-match series. The hosts secured the series victory with a six-wicket win over India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. (January 4, 2025)
  10. Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme: The UJALA scheme, launched by PM Narendra Modi on January 5, 2015, marked its
    10th anniversary in 2025. Over a decade, it distributed 368.7 million LED bulbs, boosting energy efficiency in Indian households. (January 5, 2025)
  11. Rights of Juveniles: The Supreme Court, in the case of Om Prakash @ Israel @ Raju @ Raju Das v. Union of India & Anr., recognized the failure of the judicial system to address his juvenility claim, a constitutional mandate rooted in the principle of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of juveniles.
    (January 8, 2025)
  12. Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims: The Court's directives in S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India & Ors. aim to bridge the gap between legislative intent and practical implementation. By enforcing the framing of a cashless treatment scheme and streamlining claim settlement processes, the judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to safeguarding the fundamental right to life.
    (January 8, 2025)
  13. Promotion Criteria in Medical Cadre: The Supreme Court judgment Dr. Sharmad v. State of Kerala and Others deals with a contentious issue of promotion in the medical education service under the Kerala Health and Family Welfare Department. The dispute centred on the interpretation of eligibility criteria for promotion to the post of Associate Professor, highlighting the interplay between executive orders and general rules such as the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules (KS and SSR)
    (January 10, 2025)
  14. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025: PBSA Conferred on 27 Individuals: The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention was held from January 8 to 10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. During the valedictory session on January 10, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) on 27 distinguished individuals from 24 countries for their outstanding contributions in various fields.
    (January 10, 2025)
  15. PARTH Yojana: The Madhya Pradesh government launched the PARTH Yojana (Police Army Recruitment Training & Hunar) to prepare the state's youth for recruitment into the Indian Army, Police, and Paramilitary forces. (January 10, 2025)
  16. INS Tushil Arrives in Lagos, Nigeria: On January 12, 2025, the Indian Navy's guided missile stealth frigate, INS Tushil, arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, during its deployment to the Gulf of Guinea. The ship was escorted by a Nigerian naval vessel and warmly welcomed by Nigerian Navy officials, Indian High Commission representatives, and the Indian diaspora.
    (January 12, 2025)
  17. Yuva Shakti's Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched "Yuva Shakti's Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047" at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025. The book highlights youth aspirations and perspectives on India's development journey toward 2047. (January 12, 2025)
  18. Telangana Police Introduce QR-Based Feedback System: To improve public engagement and service delivery
    , the Telangana Police have launched a QR code-based feedback system. Citizens can share their experiences by scanning QR codes placed at police stations, offices, and key locations. (January 12, 2025)
  19. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana : Odisha became the 34th state to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA).
    (January 13, 2025)
  20. Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: A Sacred Gathering: Held every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu festival where millions of pilgrims bathe at the confluence of three rivers, seeking spiritual purification and liberation. The 2025 edition began on January 13 and will conclude on February 26. (January 13, 2025)
  21. Ira Jadhav Creates History with Triple Century in U-19 Cricket:
    In January 2025, 14-year-old Ira Jadhav from Mumbai became the first Indian to score a triple century in Under-19 cricket. Playing in the BCCI Women's U-19 One-Day tournament, she smashed an unbeaten 346 off 157 balls, leading Mumbai to a record 544-run victory over Meghalaya. (January 13, 2025)
  22. India and Spain to Celebrate 2026 as 'Dual Year' Focused on Culture, Tourism, and AI: India and Spain have announced that 2026 will be observed as a 'Dual Year,' highlighting culture, tourism, and artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to enhance bilateral relations and foster mutual understanding between the two nations.
    (January 14, 2025)
  23. Kappad and Chal Beaches in Kerala Awarded Blue Flag Certification: Kerala's Kappad Beach in Kozhikode and Chal Beach in Kannur have recently received the prestigious Blue Flag certification, increasing India's total to 13 certified beaches. (January 14, 2025)
  24. Singapore Honours Tarun Das with Top Award: Singapore conferred its highest non-citizen honour, the Honorary Citizen Award
    , on Tarun Das, former CII Director General. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the award in New Delhi, recognizing Das's contributions to Singapore-India relations over the decades. (January 15, 2025)
  25. Smriti Mandhana Smashes Fastest ODI Century by an Indian Woman: During the third Women's ODI against Ireland in Rajkot, Smriti Mandhana set a new record by scoring a century in just 70 balls, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur's previous record of 87 balls against South Africa in 2024.
    (January 15, 2025)
  26. RBI assigns M. Rajeshwar Rao to lead monetary policy department: M. Rajeshwar Rao, the senior-most deputy governor of RBI, has assumed charge of the Monetary Policy Department, along with the Departments of Economic and Policy Research, Statistics and Information Management, and the International Department. (January 15, 2025)
  27. Pixxel Launches India's First Private Satellite Constellation:
    In January 2025, Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel launched three satellites of its "Firefly" constellation, India's first private earth imaging network, via a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. (January 16, 2025)
  28. 8th Pay Commission: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries and pensions of central government employees and pensioners.
    (January 16, 2025)
  29. FTI-TTP Inaugurated at Seven Major Indian Airports: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, and Ahmedabad airports. Initially launched at Delhi's IGI Airport in June 2024, the program aims to streamline immigration for Indian citizens and OCI cardholders, ensuring faster and more secure international travel.
    (January 16, 2025)
  30. "One Plate, One Bag" Initiative for Maha Kumbh 2025: Ahead of Maha Kumbh 2025, the RSS launched the "One Plate, One Bag" initiative at Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam to promote eco-friendly practices. The campaign, inaugurated by RSS leader Krishna Gopal, encourages the use of reusable cloth bags and steel utensils over single-use plastics. (January 17, 2025)
  31. China launched Pakistan's Satellite:
    On January 17 at 12:07 p.m. (Beijing Time), China launched Pakistan's first domestically produced Earth observation satellite, PRSC-EO1, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-2D rocket. (January 17, 2025)
  32. Gukesh Honoured with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: Gukesh was conferred with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award by President Droupadi Murmu on January 17.
    (January 17, 2025)
  33. New Ombudsman of BCCI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed former Supreme Court judge, Justice Arun Mishra, as its Ombudsman and Ethics Officer. (January 18, 2025)
  34. National Science Drama Festival: The National Science Drama Festival 2024-25 was held on January 18, at the National Science Centre, Delhi, organized by NCSM, with participation from over 40,000 students across India.
    (January 18, 2025)
  35. India Dominates Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025: India clinched both the men's and women's titles at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The men's team defeated Nepal 54-36, while the women's team secured a commanding 78-40 victory against the same opponents. (January 18, 2025)
  36. Vijay Hazare Trophy: The 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy concluded on January 18, 2025, with Karnataka clinching their fifth title by defeating Vidarbha by 36 runs in the final held at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. (January 18, 2025)
  37. AIPOC 2025 Held in Patna: The 85th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC) took place in Patna, Bihar, on January 20-21, 2025, marking Bihar's third time hosting the event. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the conference, which focused on the 75th anniversary of the Constitution and the role of legislative bodies in upholding constitutional values. (January 20, 2025)
  38. Uttarakhand Signs MoU with Iceland for Geothermal Energy Development: In January 2025, the Government of Uttarakhand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iceland's Verkís Consulting Engineers to explore and develop geothermal energy in the state. The agreement was formalized in Dehradun, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Iceland's Ambassador to India, Dr. Benedikt Hoskuldsson, participating virtually. (January 20, 2025)
  39. Pangsau Pass International Festival 2025: The Pangsau Pass International Festival 2025 was held from January 20 to 22 in Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh, marking its return after a four-year hiatus. (January 20, 2025)
  40. 53rd Statehood Day: The northeastern Indian states of Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura celebrated their 53rd Statehood Day, commemorating their attainment of full statehood on January 21, 1972, under the North Eastern Region (Reorganization) Act of 1971. (January 21, 2025)
  41. Government Launches Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme: The Department of Commerce, Government of India, introduced the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme to boost India's diamond sector competitiveness. Effective from April 1, 2025, it allows duty-free import of natural cut and polished diamonds under 0.25 carats, with a 10% value addition to export obligation. Eligible exporters must hold Two Star Export House status or higher with annual exports of at least $15 million. (January 21, 2025)
  42. Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court: Justice Alok Aradhe was sworn in as the 48th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. The oath of office was administered by Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan at a ceremony held in Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. (January 21, 2025)
  43. Odisha Tops NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index 2025: Odisha has secured the top position in NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025, achieving an overall score of 67.8. The state excelled in debt management, leading both the Debt Index with a score of 99.0 and the Debt Sustainability ranking at 64.0. (January 25, 2025)
  44. Dibrugarh to become the second capital of India: In a major announcement on Republic Day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed plans to designate Dibrugarh as the state's second capital. (January 26, 2025)
  45. 76th Republic Day Celebrations in India: India marked its 76th Republic Day with grand celebrations in New Delhi, highlighting the nation's military prowess and rich cultural heritage. The event honoured the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto gracing the occasion as the chief guest, upholding the tradition of inviting foreign dignitaries. (January 26, 2025)
  46. Uttarakhand Leads as the First State to Adopt the Uniform Civil Code: Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), marking a significant development in the country's legal and social framework. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who emphasized that the UCC aims to provide equal rights and responsibilities to all citizens, irrespective of their religion, caste, or gender. (January 27, 2025)
  47. International Saraswati Mahotsav 2025: The International Saraswati Mahotsav 2025 began on January 29 at Adi Badri in Haryana's Yamunanagar district. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the festival, which showcases India's rich cultural heritage and civilization. (January 29, 2025)
  48. ISRO’s 100th Launch: NVS-02 Satellite: The successful deployment of the NVS-02 satellite not only enhances India’s regional navigation system but also marks a historic moment with the 100th launch from Sriharikota. ISRO’s continued commitment to innovation and space exploration solidifies India’s position as a key player in the evolving global space. (January 29, 2025)
  49. Rajasthan High Court Imposes Contractual Obligation on Live-In Partners: The case (Reena v. State of Rajasthan) highlights the conflict between personal liberty and societal norms, requiring judicial intervention to clarify the legal standing of such relationships. (January 29, 2025)
  50. Sunita Williams Sets New Spacewalk Record: NASA astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams completed her ninth spacewalk, setting a new record for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut. The 5-hour, 26-minute EVA with Barry "Butch" Wilmore aboard the ISS brought her total EVA time to 62 hours and 6 minutes, surpassing Peggy Whitson's record. (January 30, 2025)
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