TLDR;
This YouTube video by SSC Wallah provides a daily current affairs update and announces new initiatives for the upcoming year. The video covers ten news stories, including the first country to celebrate the New Year, a new hypersonic missile test, and the discovery of clouded leopards in a new reserve forest. Additionally, the video reveals that starting next week, the channel will incorporate statement-based questions after each news item and provide monthly A4 sheets summarizing the data presented in class.
- Kiribati was the first to celebrate the New Year.
- China tested the YJ-20 hypersonic missile.
- Clouded leopards were spotted in the Kakoi Reserve Forest in Assam.
- Statement-based questions and monthly A4 data sheets will be added to the channel.
New Year Celebrations Around the World [3:26]
Kiribati, an island country in the Pacific Ocean, was the first place to celebrate the New Year due to its location on the eastern side of the International Date Line, making it 14 hours ahead of other countries. Kiribati, also known as Christmas Island, has a population of around 130,000 and is a coral atoll island. New Zealand was the second place to celebrate the New Year, while Samoa and Holland Island were the last.
China's YJ-20 Hypersonic Missile Test [7:36]
China recently test-fired its YJ-20 hypersonic missile, which has a speed of over 5 Mach. This anti-ship and anti-submarine missile, also known as Eagle Strike, can destroy ships and submarines. The missile was tested from the Type 055 destroyer ship. India's destroyers include Visakhapatnam, Surat, Imphal, and Mormugao.
China's Military Exercise Against Taiwan [11:17]
China conducted a military exercise called Justice Mission 2025 against Taiwan, showcasing its helicopters, rockets, missiles, warships, and aircraft. Taiwan, with its capital in Taipei, considers itself a free, democratic, and republic country, but China claims it as part of its territory within the South China Sea, marked by the Nine-Dash Line. The United States supports Taiwan. Due to these actions, India has stopped conducting exercises with China, including the Hand-in-Hand exercise.
Clouded Leopard Sighting in Assam's Kakoi Reserve Forest [15:24]
A clouded leopard was spotted in the Kakoi Reserve Forest in Assam for the first time. This reserve forest has limited activities and abundant wildlife. Clouded leopards are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. They are also found in Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, and Nameri National Park in Assam. The Kakoi Jana Forest in Assam is known for golden langurs. Tripura has a national park dedicated to clouded leopards, while Madhya Pradesh is known as the Leopard State, and Bengaluru is the Leopard City.
Bihar's Proposal for a New Tiger Reserve [19:30]
The Bihar government has approved a proposal to convert the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary into a tiger reserve and sent it to the National Tiger Conservation Authority for final approval. The Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Kaimur and Rohtas districts, was established in 1979 and is part of the Satpura Range. Bihar also has the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary. The National Tiger Conservation Authority, formed in 2005, works for tiger conservation. There are currently 58 tiger reserves in India. Nitish Kumar is the current Chief Minister of Bihar, serving his 10th term.
Release of Vultures in Pench Tiger Reserve [24:46]
Vultures were released in the Pench Tiger Reserve, which spans Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The area is known for its tiger reserve and the Pench River. The forest type is semi-deciduous, with trees like teak and mauha. Animal species include sambar deer and nilgai. The J132 vulture was released in Nashik, Maharashtra, near the Godavari River and Anjaneri Hills. The vulture conservation center is located in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana Expansion [27:47]
Delhi and Odisha have joined the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the world's largest health insurance scheme, which was launched in 2018 by PM Modi in Ranchi. The scheme provides ₹5 lakh per annum per family for primary, secondary, and tertiary services. Odisha is the 35th state to join, and Delhi is the 34th. As of 2025, 84.35 crore health cards have been issued under the scheme. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana aligns with Sustainable Development Goal number 3. West Bengal is the only state that has not yet joined the scheme.
Amicus Report on Rare Earth Metal Reserves [31:01]
The Amicus Report indicates the distribution of rare earth metals in different countries. Rare earth metals are 17 metallic elements with unique magnetic and organic features, such as lanthanum. China holds the largest reserve with 44 million tons, followed by Brazil with 21 million tons, and India with 6.9 million tons. India accounts for 6-7% of the global production of rare earth metals.
Appointments: Director General of Foreign Trade and Head of FCI [34:29]
Love Agarwal has been appointed as the Director General of Foreign Trade. R.K. Agarwal has been appointed as the head of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which was established in 1964.
Deepti Sharma's Record in Women's T20 Cricket [35:39]
Deepti Sharma now holds the record for the most wickets in women's T20 cricket, with 152 wickets. She surpassed Meg Lanning, who had 151 wickets. The record was set during a match against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Legal Rights for Amazonian Stringless Bee [37:37]
The Amazonian stringless bee has become the first insect in the world to be granted legal rights, including the right to life and freedom of movement. This bee is found in the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest rainforest.
New Initiatives for Daily Current Affairs [38:35]
Starting next week, the daily current affairs class will include statement-based questions after each news item to prepare students for various exams. Additionally, monthly A4 sheets summarizing the data presented in class will be provided for easy printing and review. The yearly magazine is available on Flipkart and Amazon.
