MONTHL

CURRENT
AFFAIRS
JANUARY-FEBRUARY2025

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 INDEX
Page No.

1 Rajasthan Affairs 1 – 26
2 National Affairs 27
3 Economic Affairs 28 – 40
4 International Affairs 41 – 46
5 Science and Technology 47 – 52
6 Sports 53 – 55
7 Awards and Honors 56 – 60
8 Person in News 61 – 63
9 Places in News 64 – 73
10 Indexes and reports 74 – 77
11 Important days and weeks 78 – 80

CURRENT AFFAIRS
JANUARY - FEBRUARY : 2025

Near Riddhi-Siddhi Circle, Gopalpura Bypass, Jaipur

 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [1]

1. RAJASTHAN AFFAIRS
January Gleeful Initiative
• Event: 21 January 2025, Jaipur (Indira
'Karmabhoomi Se Mathrubhumi' campaign
Gandhi Institute of Panchayati Raj and Rural
• Construction of recharge shaft structures Development).
with the help of Bhamashahs and migrant • Programme: Under Nav Bharat Literacy Programme.
Rajasthanis. • Volunteer learning model:
• Improvement of ground water table, surface o Free education to non-literates of 15
water harvesting and ensuring water years and above.
availability. o Volunteers teach without honorarium.
• Inspired by the 'Catch the Rain' concept.
Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign 2025
• Work started in Sirohi, Pali, Jodhpur, Bhilwara,
Jhunjhunu, Jaipur districts. • Event: 30 January – 13 February 2025.
• Financial support from crowd funding and CSR • Organizer: State Medical and Health
funding. Department.
• Theme: "Let's all work together to raise
Ladesar Campaign awareness, dispel misconceptions and provide
• Initiatives of Jaipur District Administration. all possible help to leprosy affected people".
• Start: 14 January 2025. • Implementation: Leprosy prevention programmes
• Objective: To improve the condition of up to district, block and panchayat level.
malnourished and severely malnourished Land Pooling Scheme
children.
• The first scheme under the Rajasthan Land
• Monitoring of nutrition of underweight and
Pooling Scheme Act-2016 will be launched in
extremely underweight children.
Jaipur.
Suposhan Maa Abhiyan (3rd Phase) • Provision has been made to give 45% of the
• Start: 3 January 2025, Kota. land to the farmers .
• Objective: To provide nutrition and health • Modern town planning will be done.
security to pregnant women. • After successful implementation, it will be
• Beneficiaries: 1500 needy pregnant women. implemented in other cities as well.
• 125 Kg Nutrition Kit (Ghee, Flour, Lentils, Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana - New
Jaggery, Peanuts, Dates, Oil etc.). Provisions
• Services: Monthly nutrition kits, free medicines, • New provisions come into effect from 1st
vaccination, medical consultation. February 2025 for families in the paid category.
• Launched: March 1 , 2020 (Initiative of Lok • The policy for new registration will be effective
Sabha Speaker Om Birla). after 90 days.
• In the first two phases, 1 lakh nutrition kits • The policy for families paying Rs 850 will be valid
were distributed to 15,000 pregnant women . from 1st February 2025 to 31st January 2026.
Rajasthan Desert Flight Initiative • Pre-registered families will get the policy from
• Start: 9 November 2024, Barmer (by Collector 1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026 if they renew by
Tina Dabi). 15 February 2025.
• Objective: To increase women empowerment Agristack Scheme
and self-reliance. • Central Government Project to Develop Digital
• 11 Major Events: Infrastructure in Agriculture Sector.
o Self Defense, Driving, Cancer • A database of crop surveys, farmer registry,
Awareness, Financial Management, and geo-referenced maps will be created.
Digital Literacy, Entrepreneurship. • Schemes like Kisan Credit Card and PM Kisan
• Statewide expansion: Applicable from 9 Samman Nidhi will be easy for farmers to access.
January 2025 across Rajasthan. • Pilot project started in Sikar on 13 December
• It will act as a model for women empowerment. 2024, implemented in Rajasthan from
• The trained women will inspire other women. February 2025.
• Cooperation in mental, physical health and • Phased camps will be organized for farmer
skill development. registry at Gram Panchayat level.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [2]
RIICO Direct Plot Allotment Scheme • Representation:
• Allotment of plots without auction under • Lok Sabha: 1 MP (Rajkumar Roat, Banswara-
Rising Rajasthan MoU. Dungarpur Lok Sabha seat).
• Priority based on investment, employment • Vidhan Sabha: 4 MLAs (Anil Katara - Chaurasi,
and export potential. Umesh Damor - Aaspur, Thawar Chand Damor
• Land will be made available to industries at an - Dhariawad, Jai Krishna Patel - Bagidaura).
affordable and quick rate. Criteria for obtaining state-level party status
• The application process from the online portal
is simple. • In the Assembly Elections:
• 50% of the plots in rural areas reserved for o 6% Valid Votes + At least 2 seats, or
MSMEs. o 3% of the total seats or 3 Seats
• Provision of application for a maximum of 3 (whichever is higher).
plots. • In the Lok Sabha elections:
o 6% Valid Votes + At least 1 Lok Sabha
Swamitva scheme - 1.5 lakh cards distributed in seat.
Rajasthan
o Winning at least 1 seat out of every
• On 18 January 2025, PM Modi distributed 65 25 seats .
lakh Swamitva cards across the country. • Additional Criteria (Applicable since 2011):
• In Rajasthan, 1.50 lakh beneficiaries got o Securing 8% of total valid votes (in Lok
ownership cards and pattas.
Sabha or Assembly elections).
• Objective: To provide legal documents of
property in rural areas. 8 new Zila Parishads to be formed in Rajasthan
• So far, property cards of 2.25 crore people • The Rajasthan government approved the
have been made. proposal for restructuring of 8 new Zila
• Survey by drone technology, land ownership Parishads.
by digital mapping. • Related Districts: 8 New Districts + 12 Affected
• Drone survey of 35,955 villages completed in Districts.
Rajasthan . • The proposal will be prepared: the concerned
Rajasthan Navprasar Niti 2025 District Collector.
• Released for the first time in Rajasthan on 5 • Under the Panchayati Raj Act, proposals
January 2025. for reorganisation and restructuring of new
• Objective: To involve social media influencers Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats will
in the promotion of public welfare schemes of also be prepared.
the state government. Third Session of 16th Rajasthan Legislative
• Policy Implementing Department: Department Assembly
of Information and Public Relations.
• Start: 31 January 2025.
Categories of Influencers: • Notification Released: 8th January 2025.
• Governor Haribhau Bagade addressed the
Category A Category B nation on 31st January.
• Influencers with 1 • Influencers with • Office bearers of the Assembly:
lakh subscribers / 7,000 to 1 lakh o Legislative Assembly Speaker: Vasudev
more followers . subscribers/ Devnani.
• Selection of 2 followers. o Leader of the House (Chief Minister):
Influencers at Divi- • Selection of 1
Bhajan Lal Sharma.
sion level . Influencer at
Division level and o Minister of Parliamentary Affairs:
• Honorarium of Rs.
25,000 per month . 1-1 Influencer at Jogaram Patel.
District level . o Principal Secretary of Vidhan Sabha:
• Honorarium of Rs. Bharat Bhushan Sharma.
15,000 per month. Rajasthan to become model state for 3 new laws
• This policy was announced in the changed • 3 new laws: Indian Judicial Code, Indian Civil
budget of 2024-25 for the promotion of public Defence Code and Indian Evidence Act
welfare schemes. • Rajasthan was chosen as a model state, where
Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) gets state-level party status these laws will be implemented first.
• The Election Commission of India granted • Provision for making police station, jail, and
the status of a state-level party to the Bharat court proceedings online.
Adivasi Party (BAP).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [3]
Restructuring, Redemarcating and Restructuring Range Areas Covered
of Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ajmer Range Ajmer, Bhilwara, Beawar, Tonk,
• Population Standards (2011 census base).
Nagaur and Didwana-Kuchaman
• Gram Panchayat:
o Common Area: 3,000 to 5,500 Bikaner Range Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Hanuman-
o Special Area (Sahariya, Desert, garh, Churu
Scheduled): 2,000 to 4,000 Bharatpur Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Deeg,
• Panchayat Samiti: Range Sawai Madhopur
o Restructuring if there are 40+ gram
panchayats or 2 lakh+ population. Jaipur Range Jaipur Rural, Kotputli - Behror,
o The reconstituted Panchayat Samiti Dausa, Alwar, Khairthal - Tijara,
will have at least 25 Gram Panchayats. Bhiwadi, Jhunjhunu, Sikar
• Gram Panchayat Changes: Jodhpur Range Jodhpur Rural, Phalodi, Jaisalmer,
o Villages located within 6 km can be Barmer, Balotra, Pali, Sirohi, Jalore
included in another Gram Panchayat
Kota Range Kota City, Kota Rural, Bundi, Ba-
(on demand from villagers).
ran, Jhalawar
Cabinet Sub-Committee on Restructuring of
Udaipur Range Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh,
Panchayati Raj Institutions
Rajsamand, Dungarpur, Banswara
• Chairman: Madan Dilawar (Minister of
and Salumbar
Education).
• Members: Gajendra Singh, Avinash Gehlot, Krishna Poonia
Sumit Godara and Jawahar Singh Bedham.
• Former Olympian Krishna Poonia was elected
• Rights: The right to review, approve or reject
unopposed to the Athletics Federation of
proposals.
India's (AFI) 5-member Athletes' Commission.
Sarpanch will become the administrator of the • Other members: Anju Bobby George
Gram Panchayat for the first time (Karnataka), Bahadur Singh (Punjab),Jyotirmoy
• Sarpanch administrators will be appointed in Sikdar (West Bengal),M.D. Valsamma (Kerala)
gram panchayats ending on 31 January 2025. • Objective: Solving the problems of the players.
• An administrative committee will be
constituted, in which deputy sarpanch and
Rajesh Nirvan
ward panch will be members. • Rajesh Nirwan, a 1992 batch IPS officer of
• The Collector has the power to appoint an Rajasthan cadre, was appointed as the Director
administrator and constitute a committee. General (DG) of BCAS.
• Financial Powers: • He is currently working as DG Home Guard in
o Administrators (Sarpanches) and Rajasthan.
Village Development Officers will Rajasthan High Court appoints 3 new judges
operate the accounts and do financial
• 3 new judges appointed from judicial officer
work.
• Tenure: One day before the first meeting of quota
the newly elected Gram Panchayat. 1. Chandra Shekhar Sharma
• On the lines of states like Madhya Pradesh, 2. Pramil Mathur (Former High Court
Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. Registrar General)
3. Chandra Prakash Shrimali
Restructuring of Police Range in Rajasthan • Total number of judges: 34 (including the Chief
• Home Department abolished 3 Police Ranges Justice).
(Sikar, Pali, Banswara). • Recommendation: Supreme Court Collegium
• Now Rajasthan will have a total of 7 police (December 2024).
ranges and 2 police commissionerates.
• The police commissionerate in Jaipur and Neeraj Chaudhary
Jodhpur will operate separately. • Rajasthan mountaineer Neeraj Chaudhary has
• Number of Police Ranges: been declared the 'State Icon' of the Rajasthan
• Jaipur and Jodhpur have the highest number of Election Department.
8-8 police ranges. • They will participate in voter awareness
• Note: The police commissionerates of Jaipur campaigns.
and Jodhpurare separate from the police • Chief Electoral Officer: Naveen Mahajan.
range.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [4]
Mahendra Singh Rajasthan's first heritage-based Centre of
• Squadron Leader Mahendra Singh Garati of Excellence
Pathana village in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district • It is Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance
was appointed as the Parade Commander of and Social Sciences, Jaipur that has been
the Air Force in the Republic Day 2025 parade. established.
• Cost: Approx. ₹355 crore.
Dr. Ram Niwas MD • Structure: Schools, colleges, libraries, tinkering
• On the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas labs, learning centres, hostels and academic
(10 January 2025) in Bhubaneswar, President blocks.
Droupadi Murmu conferred the 'Prestigious • Aadhaar: On the lines of Tata Institute of Social
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman-2025'. Sciences, Mumbai and Maharashtra Institute
• Educated in Rajasthan, currently teaching of Technology, Pune.
Sanskrit to monks in Myanmar. Flying school approved in Bhilwara
Dr. Dashrath Singh MD • Hamirgarh airstrip will be developed and a
• 'Most Educated Person of the World' flying school will be opened.
• Dr. Dashrath Singh Shekhawat has entered • Objective: To strengthen local training and
the UN Book of World Records with 108 aviation infrastructure in the state.
academic degrees. • Proposal: Flying schools to be opened in
• A resident of Khirod village in Jhunjhunu Pratapgarh and Banswara.
district of Rajasthan. • Rajasthan's first flying school: Kishangarh
• This is his 8th world record. (Ajmer).
• First Record (2015): 'Most Qualified Soldier of • Launch: Under the Civil Aviation Policy-2024.
India' (19 degrees). Rajasthan's First History Sheet-Hardcore
• Degrees: History, Philosophy, Sociology, Monitoring Cell
Astrology, Vedas, Yoga, Politics, Law, • Venue: Jaipur Commissionerate (West).
Economics, Psychology, Cybercrime, National • Objective: Continuous monitoring of habitual
Security etc. in 50+ subjects. offenders (history-sheeters and hardcore
• Current Post: Senior Legal Adviser in the Indian crooks).
Army. Major Functions:
• Monitoring the activities of criminals.
Vikram Singh Rathore
• Ensuring confiscation and legal action of illegal
• Rajasthan government appoints brand properties.
ambassador for residential plot allotment drive
for nomadic, semi-nomadic and denotified Ajmer's Regional Driving Training Centre gets
castes.
international recognition
• A resident of Taratara village in Barmer district. • Location: Singwal, Ajmer.
• Objective: To ensure wide public participation • Specialty: Country's first International Driving
in this campaign. Test Centre declared.
• Agreement: Between the Indian and Saudi
Udaipur among 31 wetland cities in the world Arabian governments.
• Udaipur (Rajasthan) and Indore (Madhya • Significance: Indians interested in driving in
Pradesh) were declared wetland cities by the Saudi Arabia must take a driving test here.
Ramsar Convention of UNESCO. • After successful test: will get a driver's license
• Wetland cities cover not only the reservoir, and visa from the Saudi Arabian government.
but also the entire environmental, aquatic and • Training Facility: Testing facility required for
thalia habitat. overseas employment under the skill verification
program of Skill Development Corporation.
Rajasthan's largest organic cotton yarn exporting
hub Rajasthan's first solar lift irrigation project
• Bhilwara became the largest exporter of • Location: Mej River of Bundi District.
organic cotton yarn. • Objective: To generate electricity from solar
• India produces 50% of the world's organic energy and sell it to discoms and provide free
water to farmers.
cotton yarn.
• Technical Features:
• 5 spinning units of Bhilwara are producing
o 2 solar plants of 167 kW each .
organic cotton yarn.
o 522 Solar Power Plates Installed.
• Organic cotton is beneficial for the environment • Benefits: Irrigation facility to farmers, energy
and skin, with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. savings and revenue enhancement.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [5]
Jaipur and Udaipur selected in PM-e drive scheme • Location: Nachna Tehsil, Village Bodana.
• Objective: Development of e-charging 31 M-Sand unit to be set up in Rajasthan
infrastructure. • As an alternative to gravel in Rajasthan, 31 m
• Selection: 40 cities including Jaipur and Udaipur . sand units will be set up in 15 districts.
• Significance: Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities were also
included. 3M Sand Units Bundi, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh
• Subsidies: 2M Sand Units Ajmer, Nagaur, Sirohi, Udaipur,
o 80% subsidy by the Central Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu,
Government; Up to 100% in special Baran, Pali and Sikar
circumstances .
o As many as 72,300 charging stations 1M Sand Units Kotputli and Dausa
will be set up across the country. Note: The new M Sand policy in Rajasthan was
• Basis of EV Charging Station Selection: Number launched on 4th December 2024.
of Electric Vehicles in Cities.
• Ranking: Delhi is at the top and Jodhpur and Girls Sainik Schools at Thabukara (Jodhpur) and
Udaipur are at the bottom of the list. Ramganjmandi (Kota)
Kharagada village of Dungarpur has a special • Announcement: Provision to open Sainik
place in water conservation. Schools in each division under Rajasthan
Budget 2024-25.
• Announcement: By Union Jal Shakti Minister
C.R. Patil. Land Allotment for Rajasthan Petro Zone
• Significance: Special place on the portal of the • Location: Pachpadra Tehsil (Balotra).
Ministry of Jal Shakti due to the remarkable • Land Allotment:
work in the "Catch the Rain" campaign. o Village Boravas: 97 hectares.
Integrated Skill Development Rehabilitation o Village Bagundi: 26 hectares.
Centre for Persons with Disabilities Industrial Park in Bhiwadi-Neemrana
• Location: Jamdoli, Jaipur. • Proposal: Singapore's industrial park developer
• Objective: To provide employment and company by Sembcorp.
rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. • Location: Khushkheda-Bhiwadi-Neemrana
• Speciality: Cross Disability Intervention Centre Investment Region (KBINR).
where medical and education facilities are • Area: 500-600 hectares.
available. • Objective: To develop an international level
• Estimated Cost: ₹30 Crore integrated and sustainable industrial park.
Traffic Park in Srikaranpur (Sriganganagar) EPCH 's First Domestic Fair
• Establishment: By Srikaranpur Municipality. • Event: January 23-26.
• Objective: To reduce accidents by raising road • Venue: Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC),
safety awareness. Boranada (Jodhpur).
• Attributes: • Importance:
o Traffic rules information, indicators, o Handicraft furniture exports reach ₹45,000
wall paintings. crore in 35 years
o The damage caused by the violation State level celebration of Republic Day in Rajasthan
was symbolically displayed.
• Location: Udaipur.
Land Allotment for Rajasthan Petro Zone • Events on the Eve:
• Location: Near Pachpadra Refinery. o "At Home" program.
• Land Allotment: o Cultural events.
o Village Sindhi ki Dhani: 74.50 hectares. Kishorepura Thana (Kota) – Best Thana Award
o Village Khemababa Nagar: 102
hectares. • Location: Kota District.
• Award: Awarded after verification by the
New Industrial Area at Piplund in Bhilwara District Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Announcement: Under Rajasthan Budget • Base:
2024-25. o Sanitation, facilities for prisoners and
• Location: Jahazpur Tehsil, Village Piplund. policemen.
• Land allotment: 31 hectares. o Crime rate and crime control action.
2,000 MW solar project in Jaisalmer's Bodana village o Reduction in crime rate (40% decline
from the previous year ).
• Institution: Rajasthan Solar Park Development
Limited.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [6]
Udaipur Airport – Bal Chaupal for Kids • Achievement: Highest number of 31 major
• Location: Maharana Pratap Airport, Dabok mineral blocks auctioned in the country.
(Udaipur). o 22 Mining Lease.
• Speciality: o 9 Composite License.
• Special game area for children under 3 years old. • Mineral Distribution:
• AAI's first airport to develop such a field. o Limestone – 22 blocks.
o Basemetal – 5 blocks.
Mathuradhish Corridor (Kota)
o Iron – 4 blocks.
• Location: Nandgram (Patanpol),Kota.
• Corridor to Mathuradheeshji (Prathamesh) Jaipur's Mona Agarwal wins Arjuna Award
Temple of Vallabh Kul Sampradaya. • Draw Date: 17 January 2025.
• Nandgram will be given a heritage look. • Awarded: Mona Agarwal (Para Shooter, Jaipur).
• The temple will be connected to the Chambal • Attainment:
riverfront. o Bronze medal in the 10m air rifle
• Cost: ₹125 crore standing SH1 event at the Paris
• The construction will take place in three phases. Paralympics 2024.
Jaipur Sculpture Park – Fifth Edition • Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in
Para-Shooting.
• Location: Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur.
• Organizer: Jaigarh Public Charitable Trust. 6 Water Warriors from Rajasthan to be Special
• Exhibition: Guests at Republic Day Parade in Delhi
o Diversity of Contemporary Sculpture. • Achievement: Outstanding contribution to Jal
o Sculptures of bronze, stainless steel, Jeevan Mission.
plastic, ceramic, stone, fibre and wood. • Awardees: Dhapu Devi, Arjun Kumar Suman,
• First Sculpture Park: 2017, Nahargarh Fort. Mohini Devi, Hindu Singh, Sonia Kumari Saini
Rajasthan's largest runway and Mukesh Gurjar.
• Kota will get a greenfield airport. • Invitation: Republic Day Celebrations, Delhi (by
• Runway length: 3,200 metres (Rajasthan's Central Government).
largest). Rajasthan Youth Icon Award
• Attributes: • The award was given by the state government
o State-of-the-art Instrumental Landing on January 12, 2025.
System (ILS). • Areas: Art & Culture, Social Work, Science &
o Emergency landing facility in Kota Technology, Innovation, Education, Environment,
after Jaipur. Women Empowerment, Sanitation etc.
o Landing of small to large aircraft • Age group: 15-29 years.
possible in all weather.
Award Winners
Padma Shri 2025 award to 3 from Rajasthan
• 139 personalities will be honoured with the Winner District
Padma Awards 2025 by the Central Government. Prince Tiwari, Tanu Prajapat, Dharma Jaipur
• The 3 personalities who have been awarded Padma
Jat, Priya Rathod, Yash Garg
Shri 2025 from Rajasthan include the following-
Jaideep Panchal Alwar
SN Name Field District Pooja Sharma & Vanshika Sharma Jhunjhunu
1. Shri Sheen Kaf Literature & Jodhpur Nitesh Kumar Sharma Nagaur
Nizam (Shiv Kishan Education
Gauri Maheshwari Ajmer
Bissa)
Yudhishthira Meena Bhilwara
2. Smt. Batool Begum art Jaipur
3. Shri Baijnath Ma- spiritual Sikar Maj Gen Alok Raj gets Environment Protection Award
haraj knowledge • Honours: Honoured by Governor Haribhau
Kishanrao Bagde.
Rajasthan wins first prize in Major Mineral Block • Location: Sapta Shakti Command, Jaipur
Auction Military Station.
• Award: Exemplary Performance in Mineral • Honored for contribution to environmental
Block Auction (2023-24). protection and social service.
• Location: Konark, Odisha. • Planted 50,000+ trees in the last 3 years.
• Recipient: Shri T. Ravikant, Principal Secretary, • Post: Chairman of Rajasthan Staff Selection
Rajasthan Mines Department. Board.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [7]
IG Satyendra Singh and Satyapriya Singh Para Asia Cup – 2025
• Award: President's Police Medal (for • Location: Bangkok, Thailand (February 2-11 ).
distinguished service). • Selected Players: Shyam Sundar Swami
• Selector: Union Ministry of Home Affairs. (Compound Category) and Dhanaram Godara
• 16 police officers and employees, including IG (Recurve Category) from Bikaner.
Vikas Kumar, have been awarded police medals. • Shyam Sundar Swamy has also participated in
ADG S. Sengathir and Sachin Mittal the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• Event: Republic Day, Maharana Bhupal
Jaipur Open Chess Tournament
Stadium, Udaipur.
• President's Police Medal Awardee Officers: • Date: January 25-26, 2025.
o ADG S. Sengathir. • Winner: Grand Master Mitrabha Guha of West
o Sachin Mittal. Bengal.
MoU with Vedanta Group for construction of • Rajasthan Players:
Nand Ghar o U-9: Greetings Bhaduka (1st).
o U-7: Vithika Kaushal (1st).
• Draw Date: 20 January 2025.
• Partnership: Government of Rajasthan and o Best Rajasthan Player: Vikramaditya
Vedanta Group (Anil Agarwal Foundation). Mukhija (1st), Rishen Jilova (2nd),
• Aim: Pratik Chaudhary (3rd).
o To set up 25,000 new Nand Ghars in Table Tennis – Indian Masters Championship
the state.
o Eradicate malnutrition and promote • Location: Mumbai.
early childhood education. • Medals: Rajeev Agarwal and Shrikishan
• Features: Maheshwari won bronze medals.
o Smart Learning Tools, Digital Facilities, Vedanta Hindustan Zinc Invitation Cup
Electricity, Clean Drinking Water, Toilets.
o Announcement: By Anil Agarwal at the
• Best CII Golfer: Jaswant Singh Miles.
Rising Rajasthan Summit. • Other Awards:
o Best Veteran Golfer: Anshuman Gupta.
DISCOMs and Tata Power Renewable Energy MoU o Best Lady Golfer: Ritu Oberoi
for Rooftop Solar
o Handicap (18-24): Gaurav Rungta
• Draw Date: 31 January 2025. (Winner).
• Objective: Promotion of PM Surya Ghar Free
Electricity Scheme. Wellingdon Open Squash Championships
• Partners: All three Power Distribution • Rajasthan's Divyanshi Jain (U-13 Girls
Corporations of Rajasthan (DISCOMs) and Tata Champion).
Power Renewable Energy. • Final: beat Kyara Gada of Maharashtra 11-4,
• Target: To install solar rooftop plants on 5 lakh 11-6, 11-2
houses in the state.
• Advantages: Making the process from All India Senior Badminton Ranking Tournament
registration to installation simple and effective. • Location: Bengaluru.
Rajasthan Government and Bank of Baroda and • Gold Medal Winners: Mohammad Aman
Bank of Maharashtra MoU (Tonk) & Dinku Singh (Manipur) – Men's
Doubles Category.
• Draw Date: 6 January 2025.
• Loan Provision: • Final match: Beat Delhi's Bhavya Chhabra and
o Bank of Baroda: ₹20,000 crore per
Param Chaudhary 21-13, 21-12
annum by 2025-2030 (for 6 years ) 43rd Senior National Shooting Ball Championship
o Bank of Maharashtra: ₹10,000 crore • Location: Puri, Odisha (17-19 January 2025).
per annum • Medal: Rajasthan's men's team won the bronze
o Total: Loans of ₹30,000 crore every year. medal. (Year 2024 – Gold Medal)
• Utility: • Women's Team Performance: 4th place.
o Infrastructure development.
o Investment in Power and Renewable Sub-Junior National Judo Championships
Energy, Roads, Drinking Water and • Location: Pune (18-20 January 2025).
Sanitation. • Medals of Rajasthan: 1 gold, 2 bronze.
• Project: 5 years action plan under 'Developed • Gold Medal: Rahul Kharol (Boys, 60kg ).
Rajasthan 2047' . • Bronze medal:
• Goal: To upgrade infrastructure and increase o Drishti (Girls category, 44 kg).
the state's economy to $350 billion. o Krishna Malakar (Girls category, over 57kg).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [8]
Chess – Open Classical FIDE Rating Rapid Khwaish Sharma
Championship • Location: Bhopal.
• Venue: Jaipur (25-26 January 2025, held for • Event: 67th National Shooting Championships.
the first time). • Medals: 1 gold and 1 silver medal.
• Organizers : JHW, Jaipur District Chess
41st NTPC Sub Junior National Archery
Association, Care Health Insurance, Narayana
Health. Championship
• Participant: • Location: Jaipur (Rajasthan).
o Age Limit: 3 to 85 years. • Medal Winners (for Rajasthan):
o Number: 500+ chess players. o Individual 30m event: Pratibha
o Special Players: 20+ Internationally Kandara – Gold medal.
rated players. o Student Team Event: Shobhit Jangid,
National Para Archery Championships Himesh Yuvraj, Yatin Ninama – Silver
Medal.
• Location: Jaipur (11-13 January 2025).
o Mixed Team Event: Shobhit Jangid and
• Participants: 250+ Para Archers from across
Pratibha Kandara – Silver Medal.
the country.
o Team Event: Sachin Cheji, Devansh
• Events: Recurve, Compound, Indian Round
(Women & Men). Singh, Pradyuman Yadav – Bronze
• Key players: Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi, Medal.
15 international players. Divansh Singh
• Attendance: Paralympic Committee of India • Event: 41st NTPC National Archery
President Devendra Jhajharia. Championship.
National Kickboxing Competition • Compound Event Individual: Gold medal by
• Location: Goa. defeating Manav Yadav (Maharashtra).
• Medal Winner: Amish Shivdas – Gold and • Compound Men's Team: Bronze Medal.
Bronze Medal (for Rajasthan). • Recurve Category: 2 Silver Medals.
67th National Shooting Championships Senior National Judo Championship
• Location: New Delhi. • Event: 4-6 January, in New Delhi.
• Medal Winners (for Rajasthan): • Rajasthan won the overall trophy for the first
o Trap Senior Man Team: Vivaan Kapoor, time (2 gold, 1 silver).
Ali Aman Elahi, Aditya Bhardwaj – Gold • Gujarat Runners-up (2 Gold, 2 Bronze).
Medal. • Medal Winner (Rajasthan)
o Trap Junior Man Individual: Vinay
o Gold: Monika Chaudhary (48kg), Akash
Pratap Singh Chandrawat – Gold Medal. (81kg ).
o Trap Junior Man Team: Vinay Pratap
o Silver: Himanshu Chaudhary (60kg ).
Singh Chandrawat, Uddhav Singh,
Prithviraj Singh Rathore – Silver Medal. 69th Senior National Volleyball Championship
o 10m Pistol Individual Junior Men: Akash • 7-13 January, in Jaipur.
Bhardwaj, Omprakash Mitharwal, • Men's Category: Kerala Winner.
Yogesh Kumar – Silver Medal. • Women's category: Railway winners.
o 10m Pistol Junior Man Civilian
Asian Roll Ball Championship (Goa)
Championship: Mayank Chaudhary,
Aryan Kumar, Anshul – Bronze medal. • Gunjan Kumawat (Rajasthan) won the gold medal.
o 10m Pistol Junior National Championship: • The Indian team defeated Iran 3-2 in the final .
Ajit Sharma, Sandeep Bishnoi, Umesh 50th Junior National Kabaddi Championship
Chaudhary – Bronze medal. (Haridwar)
Anushka Bhati • Both the men's and women's teams of
• Event: 67th National Shooting Championships. Rajasthan won bronze medals.
• Double Trap Senior Team Event: Silver medal National Boxing Championships (Bareilly)
with Geetanjali and Rudrakshi. • Harsh Chaudhary (Rajasthan) won bronze
• Individual event: Bronze medal. medal in 85-90kg weight category.
Harshvardhan Kaviya Anil Joshi
• Event: Double Trap Competition. • He is from Bikaner (Rajasthan).
• Medals: 2 silver medals (individual and team • Appointed coach of Indian Para Archery team
event).
for Para Asia Cup (2-11 February, Bangkok).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [9]
Amateur Soft Hockey Federation of India • Rajasthan's first women battalion "Hadi Rani"
• Dr. Ashutosh Pant (January 19 ) was elected as was established in Ajmer in 2008.
the new president. • With the new battalions, Rajasthan will have a
• Ramesh Singh again became the secretary of total of 4 women battalions.
the federation. • Other special battalions, including 14 battalions
• The 2025 National League will be held in Jaipur, of Rajasthan RAC , are also operational.
Gwalior, Panaji. Plans to raise Industrial Security Force (RISF)
World Para Throwball Federation scrapped
• Nirmala Rawat (Jaipur) appointed as new • The Rajasthan government scrapped the
president. previous government's plan to set up RISF on
Rajasthan State Wrestling Association the lines of the CISF.
• Rajiv Dutta appointed Chairman, Umaid Singh • In Budget 2022-23, the establishment of
as Secretary. RISF in Bhiwadi, Balotra and Chittorgarh was
• Rajiv Dutta has previously served as OSD to Lok announced.
Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Model of Eternal Yogic Farming
Heatwave declared as "State Specific Natural • The Agriculture and Rural Development
Calamity" Division of the Brahma Kumaris institution
• On 23rd December 2024, the state government launched this model on 28 January 2025 in
issued the notification. Jahota, Jaipur.
• Announced by the Department of Disaster • Objective: To motivate farmers for natural and
Management, Assistance and Civil Defence. organic farming.
• The affected people will be given relief as per • Also inaugurates Rajrishi Didi's Rasoi and
SDRF norms. Poshan Vatika as part of Women Empowerment
• This decision is an important step towards Initiative.
ensuring timely and appropriate assistance. • This will help in empowering rural women
Rabies declared as notified disease economically and promoting organic agriculture.
• Notified under the "Rajasthan Epidemic Formation of State Testing Agency (STA) in
Disease (Rabies) Regulations - 2024".
Rajasthan
• Rabies reporting mandatory for government
and private hospitals. • The state government will create a State
• Provisions for Prevention and Surveillance: Testing Agency (STA) on the lines of NTA.
o Formation of Zoonotic Committee and • Nodal Department: State Personnel Department.
City Task Force at the district level. • In the first phase under STA, there will be
o State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination examinations like Pre D.El.Ed, PTET.
2030 implemented. • In the second phase, entrance examinations
o Ensuring anti-rabies vaccine and
for PhD, PG and management courses will be
immunoglobulin availability at PHCs conducted.
and CHCs. • The government will set up a district testing
agency in each district under the STA.
o • Appointment of Monitoring and
Inspection Officers by the State Nodal Youth Parliament on the theme of National
Officer. Environment
Approval for women battalions in Sikar, Alwar • Event: 24-25 January 2025, Rajasthan
Legislative Assembly.
and Barmer
• Initiative: Rajasthan Assembly Speaker
• Approval for raising of new women police Vasudev Devnani.
battalions. • Organizer: Commonwealth Parliamentary
1. Padmini Battalion – Sikar Association, Rajasthan Branch.
2. - Kalibai Battalion – Alwar • Objective: To raise awareness of the
3. Amrita Devi Battalion – Barmer environment and develop sensitivity towards
• These battalions were announced in the 2024- natural resources.
25 budget.
• Each battalion will have a commandant.
Passport Mobile Van Service
• Currently there are 18 battalions, after the • Launched on 16 January 2025 in Kota.
new battalions the total number will be 21. • Initiative: Under Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's
"Student Connect Programme".
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [10]
• Objective: To provide passport application, • 9 new international chapters: Dubai (UAE),
biometric and verification facility to students Munich (Germany), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia),Tokyo
in school and college. (Japan), Singapore, Doha (Qatar),Melbourne
Additional allocation of 5,000 MW (Australia),Nairobi (Kenya),Kampala (Uganda).
• Objective: To strengthen relations with the
• The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Overseas Rajasthanis.
Energy has approved an additional allocation • The 12 existing chapters will also be revived.
of 5,000 MW to Rajasthan under the PM • Note: On 10 December 2024, the Pravasi
KUSUM Yojana (Component-A). Rajasthani Conference was held at 'Rising
• This will give a boost to the setting up of solar Rajasthan' Global Investment.
plants in the state.
• By the year 2027, the target of providing Rajasthan-Haryana Joint Task Force for Yamuna
electricity to farmers during the day will be Water Treaty
helped. • Decision in the meeting held in New Delhi on 7
January 2025.
Cabinet Sub-Committee for Reorganization of • The task force will prepare the DPR and the
Urban Bodies Upper Yamuna River Board will provide
• The Rajasthan government on 16 January 2025 technical support.
constituted a cabinet sub-committee for the • Tripartite agreement between Rajasthan,
reorganization of urban wards and bodies. Haryana and Central Government on 17
• Convener: UDH Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra. February 2024.
• Members: Water Resources Minister Suresh • First phase: Drinking water supply in Churu,
Singh Rawat, Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and other areas.
Minister of State for Cooperatives Gautam • Phase II:
Kumar Dak. o Churu: 35,000 hectares of irrigation
• In 2019, two municipal corporations were area.
created in place of one in Jaipur, Jodhpur and o Jhunjhunu: 70,000 hectares of
Kota. irrigation area.
International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) - State 150 seed banks to be set up in Rajasthan
Level Apex Committee • 150 Seed Banks for Seed Collection of Rare
• The IYC State Apex Committee was formed Nutritious Grasses and Fodder Trees .
under the chairmanship of Chief Minister • Emphasis on seed collection of Sevan, Dhaman
Bhajan Lal Sharma. grass and forest fodder plants.
• Objective: To monitor, support and ensure • Operations by Institutions:
effective implementation of the programmes o Forest Department: 32 seed banks.
of the Year of Cooperatives 2025. o Watershed Development Department:
• This committee will play an important role in 72 Seed Banks.
strengthening the cooperative movement in o NGO: 46 seed banks.
the state. • Major Districts:
o Udaipur (30), Jaipur (13), Chittorgarh
State Level Committee for 8th Economic Census
(10), Bhilwara (11), Rajsamand (16),
• As per the directions of the Union Ministry of Bikaner (2), Jodhpur (5) etc.
Statistics and Programme Implementation, • Benefits: Planting of grass and tree seeds in
the 8th Economic Census (2025-26) will be barren pastures and forest areas, availability
conducted by the Directorate of Economics of fodder to shepherds.
and Statistics.
• State level coordination committee formed National Road Safety Month 2025
under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary • Event period: 1 to 31 January 2025.
Sudhanshu Pant. • Theme: 'Caring'.
• Under the economic census, information • National Road Safety Week: 11-17 January
related to the status, ownership, financial 2025.
management, and employment of industrial • Events: Awareness campaigns, workshops,
units, enterprises of the state will be compiled. events on traffic rules and road safety.
Rajasthan Foundation launches 14 new chapters Western Rajasthan Udyog Handicrafts Festival
for migrant Rajasthanis • Inauguration: 9 January 2025, Jodhpur
• 5 new domestic chapters: Bhubaneswar, Delhi, • Objective: To encourage handicrafts and
Pune, Ranchi, Guwahati. artisans of the state
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [11]
Initiatives to promote handicrafts International Camel Festival 2025
• Rajasthan Export Promotion Policy 2024 • Event: 10-12 January 2025, Bikaner
and One District, One Product (ODOP) Policy • Organizer: Tourism Department & District
Implemented Administration, Bikaner
• 2% additional grant by state government • Special Events: Heritage Walk, Kabaddi, Sand
in central government's PM Vishwakarma Art, Kho-Kho, Horse Racing, Tug of War etc.
scheme CSIR-CEERI's Semiconductor Chip Technology
• PM Unity Mall to be set up in Jaipur
• Institute: CSIR-CEERI Pilani (Jhunjhunu)
• 50 new clusters of handicrafts, handloom and
• Speciality:
MSMEs to be developed
o Capable of generating red, blue, green,
India Solar Expo 2025 and white light
• 4th edition: January 17-19, Sitapura (Jaipur) o Indigenous power efficient LED technology
• Organizer: Department of Energy and o Useful in automobile, medical, agriculture,
Rajasthan Solar Association (RSA) communications, defense and space
• Solar companies across the country sign 125 sectors
MoUs worth Rs 10,000 crore • Director: Dr. P.C. Panchariyas
Global Conference of Startups (TiE Global Summit) Development of Indigenous Endoscopes
• Event: December 2025, Jaipur • Institute: CSIR-CEERI, Pilani
• 5,000 registered startups in Rajasthan • Speciality:
• State Government's Startup Funding: o 5 times Better Quality than Foreign
o Pre-seed grant: Rs. 2.40 lakh (additional Endoscopes
Rs. 60,000 for women startups) o Portable and advanced image quality
o Viability grant: Rs 60 lakh o Helpful in surgery
o Scale-up Fund: Rs 2 crore Recognition of 8th breed of Bhimthadi horses
o Equity funding: Up to Rs. 5 crore
• Institute: National Research Centre on Equines,
Global Stone Technology Forum (GSTF) 2025 Bikaner
• 10th Edition: 9-10 January 2025, Kishangarh • Speciality:
• Industrial land auction process ends, direct o Official recognition of Bhimthadi breed
allotment by RIICO by the central government
• Key discussion topics: o Published in the Gazette, thereby
o Stone Industry Waste Management ensuring the rights of breeders
o Advanced Technology in Stone Processing
• Participation of 500 entrepreneurs from across Jaipur is the second fastest growing city in the
the country country
National Women and Child Development Camp • In the Colliers Report 'Top 30 Emerging Cities
in India', Nagpur has been ranked first and
• Event: 10-12 January 2025, Udaipur
Jaipur second.
• Topic: Discussion on Schemes, Innovations
and Implementation related to Women and • Criteria of Assessment: Infrastructure,
Children Population and Economic Factors.
• Participants: Ministers, Secretaries and Top-5 Cities:
officials of the Department of Women and 1. Nagpur
Child Development of all states
2. Jaipur
Jaipur International Film Festival 2025 3. Lucknow
• Event: 17-21 January 2025, Rajasthan 4. to be filled
International Centre (RIC), Jaipur 5. Kochi
• Specialty: For the first time Bhojpuri films
included Rank of Rajasthan in the Duration of Assembly
• Major Awards: Session
o Best Actor: Devesh Ranjan, Prakash Jha • Rajasthan ranked 8th in the 2017-2023 analysis.
o Best Actress: Seema Biswas • Average Assembly Session: 29 days per annum
o Best Children's Film: Kaikuttai Rani (should be 60 days as per rules ).
Handkerchief Queen • Top State: Kerala (44 days per annum)
o Best Short Documentary: Made in Paradise • States with the least number of sessions:
o Best Director: Parthasarathy Mahanta Haryana, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand
(Unheard Chinkhe) (10-15 days).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [12]
Abha ID creation in Rajasthan • Women in South India feel more secure at
• Abha IDs of about 6 crore people were created. workplace.
• Second place in the country. • List of 5 cities of Rajasthan
• 11,571 institutions functional as Ayushman 1. Jaipur – 16th position
Arogya Mandir. 2. Jodhpur – 34th position
3. Ajmer – 39th position
MoU Ranking at Rising Rajasthan Summit 4. Kota – 42nd position
• Investment MoUs worth Rs 35 lakh crore (with 5. Udaipur – 84th position
10,640 companies).
• Investment proposals worth Rs 26 lakh crore Bird Census in Rajasthan (January 28 - February
in energy sector, Rs 9 lakh crore in other 2, 2025)
industries . • Organizer: Rajasthan Forest Department.
• Proposals worth Rs 3.28 lakh crore in the • Aim:
manufacturing sector . o Counting of migratory (aquatic) and local
• Tourism sector ranks 5th in investment. birds in reservoirs.
o Record of rare species recorded.
Field Investment Proposal MoU o Estimation of number of birds region-wise.
(in Rs. crore)
Online Investor Interface (launched by BIP)
energy 26,07,804.45 531
• Institution: Bureau of Investment Promotion
Manufacturting 3,28,151.8 3675 (BIP), Department of Industry.
Mining 1,72,709.46 1034 • Aim:
Urban Infra 1,21,617.08 637 o To encourage and provide guidance to
tourism 73,813.91 1156 investors.
o Monitoring of MoU held at Rising
Nirogi Rajasthan Dawa Yojana Rajasthan Summit.
• Bikaner ranks first in the December 2024 o Investors have the flexibility to check the
ranking of the Chief Minister's Free Nirogi status of the MoU, make suggestions,
Rajasthan Dawa Yojana (MNNRDY) released by and make appointments with secretaries.
the Medical Department of Rajasthan. • Significance: Investors will get updated
• Jaipur is at 10th position, while Jaisalmer information and quick resolution.
district is at 34th position.
February
Top-5 Districts
1. Bikaner Rajasthan Textile and Apparel Policy-2025
2. Hanumangarh • Approved by the State Government on 5th
3. Sriganganagar February 2025.
4. Dungarpur • Implemented with the aim of making
5. Sikar Rajasthan a global garment manufacturing
Rajasthan Lokayukta Annual Report (2025) hub.
• The policy will promote sustainable
• Presentation: Submitted to Governor Haribhau
growth, employment generation, skill
Bagade on January 1, 2025.
• Content: Action, investigation and findings by
development, innovation, productivity and
the Lokayukta. exports.
• Current Lokayukta: Justice Pratap Krishna • The efficiency and reliability of local textile
Lohra. producers will increase.
• Headquarters: Jaipur. • The state is expected to attract investment
• Procedure: The Governor will present the worth about Rs 40,000 crore and create
report to the Assembly. new employment opportunities.
Work Place Report 2024 Rajasthan Data Centre Policy-2025
• Issuer: Workplace Culture Consulting Firm • Approved by the State Government on 5th
'Avatar'. February 2025.
• Heading: Top Cities for Women in India-TCWI। • Moving towards making Rajasthan a major
• 5 safest cities for women : Bengaluru, Chennai, hub of data centre industry.
Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [13]
• Incentives will be given for setting up data • The entire process of permissions, licenses
centres in the private sector. and permits is online, automated approvals
• Efficiency, security and reliability will be ensured.
ensured under the policy. • License Fee: 5% of the annual guarantee
• This includes various financial and policy amount will be charged.
exemptions such as asset creation • Bar Opening Permission:
incentives, interest subvention, stamp • Acceptance at airports and hotels with 10+
duty and relief in electricity duty. rooms.
• Investment of about 20 thousand crore • Seasonal bar license facility in tourist areas
rupees likely in the next five years. (Jaisalmer, Mount Abu, Kumbhalgarh,
Rajasthan Logistics Policy Pushkar).
• The Rajasthan government approved the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandi Shramik Kalyan
policy on 5th February 2025. Yojana
• Objective: To stimulate industrial • Beginning: 2015
development, enhance connectivity and • Objective: Improving the standard of living
reduce logistics costs. of workers in agricultural produce markets.
• There will be mapping of logistics facilities. • Marriage assistance: The assistance
• Attracting private investment will boost amount for the marriage of two daughters
job creation. of workers was increased from ₹50,000 to
• Warehouses, silos, cold storages, inland ₹75,000.
container depots, air freight stations, cargo Shiksha Sanjeevani Bima Yojana
terminals, trucker parks and logistics park
• Launch: 26 February 2025, from Udaipur.
developers will get capital subsidy, interest
• Beneficiaries: 1.3 lakh students of
subvention and tax concessions.
• A maximum of 10 acres or 10% of the land
government schools in Udaipur division.
• Insurance Cover: Personal Accident
will be reserved for logistics facilities in the
upcoming industrial areas of RIICO. Insurance of ₹1 lakh.
• Innovation: Personal Accident Insurance
Rajasthan Youth Policy-2025 for School Students Launched for the First
• The Rajasthan government approved the Time in Rajasthan.
policy on 5th February 2025. • Insurance Providers: Wonder Cement,
• It will replace the Rajasthan Youth Zurich Kotak Insurance, State Bank of India.
Policy-2013. • Expansion Plan: Benefit 1 crore school
Aim: children in future.
• To ensure access to quality education, skills, Kota Cares: Student Welfare Improvement Program
health, employment, entrepreneurship • Launched: 24 February 2025, by Kota
and basic rights of the youth. District Administration.
• To promote the participation of youth in • Aim: To reduce stress and suicide cases
social, economic, political and cultural fields. among students preparing for competitive
• To support emerging talents in arts, sports, exams.
culture and literature. Attributes:
New Rajasthan Excise and Alcohol Restraint Poli- • Joint initiative of district administration,
cy (2025-2029) coaching institutes, hostel associations
• Policy Period: Applicable from 1st April and local communities.
2025 to 31st March 2029. • Comprehensive reforms will be
Key Provisions: implemented for student welfare.
• Timely amendments and amendments to Agro Clinic Scheme in Rajasthan
the rules through annual reviews. • Agro clinics will be set up in 20 districts in
• The number of liquor shops will remain the initial phase.
7665, restructuring under cluster model in • Objective: Timely investigation of pest
districts. diseases and infestation in crops.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [14]
• Districts covered: Jhunjhunu, Churu, Sikar, • The games have been allocated to 33
Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Dholpur, districts of Rajasthan.
Dausa, Tonk, Bikaner, Pali, Udaipur, • Chairman of Rajasthan Sports Council:
Hanumangarh, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Neeraj K. Pawan.
Karauli, Jodhpur, Kota and Sriganganagar.
Sport District
• Cost: ₹11 lakh per clinic.
• Plant disease and agricultural research Kabaddi Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Nagaur, Jaipur
officers will be appointed at each clinic. Women's Alwar, Bharatpur
Wrestling
Chief Minister Sportsperson Insurance Scheme
2024 Volleyball Barmer
• Run by Rajasthan State Sports Council.
Football Baran, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur
• Players native to Rajasthan under the age Basketball Bhilwara, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Pali,
of 60 are eligible. Sikar
• Benefits to medal winners of Olympic, Archery Bikaner, Banswara, Sirohi
Paralympic, World Cup, Commonwealth, Athletics Bundi, Churu, Jalore, Sriganganagar,
Asian and South Asian Games. Tonk, Pratapgarh
“Medication at Your Doorstep” Plan Hockey game Dungarpur, Dholpur, Hanumangarh,
• Scheme prepared by Rajasthan Health Rajsamand
Department. Gymnastics Jodhpur, Jaisalmer
• More than 64 lakh people above60 years Wrestling Kota
of age will be provided 1668 medicines at Swimming Udaipur
their homes. Tennisball Karauli
• The supply and management of the drug Cricket
will be done through e-medicine software.
• Pharmacists and delivery workers will Digital map project in 10 cities of Rajasthan
prepare medicines through the portal or • Launched on 18th February 2025 under the
app. Digital India Land Record Modernization
• This scheme is beneficial for senior citizens Programme.
suffering from various diseases. • The Rajasthan government chose Bhiwadi,
Kishangarh, Beawar, Sawai Madhopur,
District Agri-Rural Transformation Plan (DARTP) Jaisalmer, Pushkar, Bagru, Behror,
• A scheme run by the NITI Aayog, which aims Nawalgarh and Nathdwara.
at the overall development of agriculture • Digitization of land records will be done
and rural economy. through drone survey.
• Focuses on income growth, job creation • This will accurately record the demarcation
and improving the standard of living. of properties and ownership information.
• Implemented in seven districts of seven Operation Cyber Shield
states, including Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. • Cyber security campaign conducted in Ra-
Agristack Scheme jasthan from2nd to 31st January.
• Objective: Cyber crime prevention and
• The pilot project will start from Sikar in
December 2024. making citizens aware of cyber security.
• Information was given on prevention of
• Farmer registry campaign started at the
online fraud, identity theft and other cyber
state level from 5 February 2025. crimes.
• Ensuring affordable credit to farmers,
high-quality inputs, access to markets and Operation Vajra
benefits of government schemes. • Launched on 23rd February 2025 in Jaipur.
• Organizing camps at Gram Panchayat level. • Campaign against illegal vehicles by RTO
and traffic police.
“One District-One Sports” Scheme
‘Neenv–Ladkiyan Bhaage Sabse Aage’Program
• The «One District One Sports» scheme has
• Under the initiative Beti Bachao, Beti
been implemented by the Rajasthan Sports
Padhao campaign organized by the Baran
Council.
district administration.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [15]
• Objective: To promote the physical, men- • Campaign to raise awareness about proper
tal and social development of the girl child. management of waste and sanitation.
• Operated by ‹Hamari Laado Foundation’. • The Municipal Corporation and the
• Students of classes 6, 7 and 8 were given Fineloop team together formed 7 teams.
special training for 10 weeks. • Awareness programmes on management
TB Mukt Gram Panchayat Campaign and proper disposal of dry and wet waste.
• Operated by the State Decay Section, IIFA Green Challenge Campaign
Rajasthan, will run till 24 March 2025. • Tree plantation in the name of each person
• Objective: To strengthen TB eradication, participating in IIFA 2025 Jaipur.
timely detection, treatment and • Objective: To promote environmental
prevention. protection and greenery.
• 15,000+ trees will be planted, including
‘Meri Policy Mere Hath’ Campaign
Arjuna, Badam, Gulmohar, Teak, Neem,
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Kachnar etc.
launched in Rajasthan on 4 February 2025.
• The name of the person related to each
• Policy distribution in camps at Gram Pan-
tree will be added.
chayat headquarters from 5 February to
• A dedicated portal will be developed for
15 March 2025.
monitoring of tree plantation.
• The scheme will be publicized through
• Local administrations and institutions will
Kisan Pathshala.
assist in care.
Revised PKC (Ramjal Setu) Project
‘Babul Ki Bitiya’ campaign
• Agreement between Rajasthan, Madhya
• Launched by Pratapgarh Collector Dr.
Pradesh and Central Government on 5th
Anjali Rajoria.
December 2024.
• Goal: To make single women self-reliant by
• 17 districts of Rajasthan will get 4102.6
providing administrative support.
MCM water for drinking water, irrigation
• Formation of Special Survey Teams at
and industry, out of which 522.60 MCM
Gram Panchayat level.
will be recycled.
• Assistance will be provided by identifying
• Rajasthan will get 3580 MCM water, out
eligible women receiving pension and
of which 3310 MCM will be used and 270
disadvantaged.
MCM will be stored in Dungri dam.
• Madhya Pradesh will get 3120.09 MCM Sankalp Project
water. • Launched in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan.
• Surplus water from the tributaries of • Objective: To reduce neonatal mortality
Chambal will be diverted to other rivers. and ensure safe delivery services.
• Powered by the National Health Mission
Mukhyamantri Shikshit Rajasthan Abhiyan (MSRA)
(NHM), Rajasthan.
• Under the National Education Policy 2020 ,
• Support of ICMR, Bill & Melinda Gates
the goal is to develop Rajasthan as an ideal
Foundation and other development
state.
agencies.
• Calls for increasing enrolment and
improving quality of education in Rahul Sharma
government schools. • Represented India at the BIMSTEC Summit
• Out of 202 works of policy, 185 works are (19-24 February 2025) in New Delhi.
included in this campaign. • He led a 16-member international team and
• Improving the education system through was the chairman of the recommendation
actions divided into four key areas. committee.
Swachhta Halla Bol Campaign Madan Rathore
• Organized by the Municipal Corporation • BJP elected as Rajasthan BJP chief.
Jaipur Greater, the Swachh Survekshan • Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan.
2024 focused on increasing public • Appointed as BJP president in July 2024,
participation. term three years.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [16]
Rajiv Singh Thakur Two pilots from Rajasthan in Suryakiran aerobat-
• Rajiv Singh Thakur, a 1995 batch IAS officer ics team
of Rajasthan cadre , has been appointed as • Two pilots from Rajasthan join IAF’s Surya
an advisor to NITI Aayog. Kiran aerobatics team
• The Appointments Committee of the 1. Akhil Charcreek (Jaipur)
Cabinet temporarily upgraded this post to 2. Rajesh Prajapat (Sikar)
the post of Additional Secretary. • 14 pilots of the team participated in many
• Earlier, in December 2024, IAS Sanjay
prestigious shows of the IAF.
Malhotra was appointed as the RBI governor.
• Created global recognition by participating
Justice Manish Sharma in more than 750 aerobatics shows.
• On 17 February 2025, Chief Justice of
Rajesh Sharma
Rajasthan High Court Manindra Mohan
Srivastava administered the oath of office • Retired IAS Rajesh Sharma was appointed
to Manish Sharma. as the chairman of Rajasthan Electricity
• Became a judge from the advocate quota, the Regulatory Commission (RERC).
central government issued the appointment • He is currently a member of the
notification on 14 February 2025. Commission.
• Appointed on the recommendation of the
IPS Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary
Collegium with the approval of the President.
• The number of judges in the Rajasthan • For the first time in Rajasthan, a senior IPS
High Court is now 34. officer has been demoted.
• 2009 batch IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary
Sanjay Agarwal
demoted after investigation into family
• Elected President of CII Rajasthan.
case.
• Rajnish Bhandari appointed vice-president,
• Pay from Level 11 to Level10 for 3 years.
tenure 2025-26.
• The Level 10 series gets fresher IPS officers.
C.P. Joshi
Imran Khan
• MP from Chittorgarh.
• Chairman appointed to Lok Sabha • Imran Khan, a resident of Alwar, is the top
Committee on Petitions. 10 finalist of the Global Teacher Prize at
• Member of Committee on Public the World Government Summit.
Undertakings and Committee on Energy. • He was the only teacher from India, though
Vaidya Tarachand Sharma could not win the award.
• He shared the experiences of the app
• Awarded Ayurveda’s highest Dhanvantari
Award. developed during the Corona epidemic.
• Received the honor at the Dhanvantari Goal
Award distribution ceremony in Mumbai, • 10-year-old Lakshya (a class 5 student)
20 February 2025. campaigned against drugs.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, • More than 50,000 people were
a citation, a shawl and a scroll. administered the pledge not to take drugs.
Kapil Dev • Honored by the Governor.
• Kapil Dev Meena, Controller of Accounts • The Sriganganagar district administration
and Director of the Indian Meteorological appointed him as the brand ambassador.
Department, was included in the Antarctica
Expedition-2025. Sushil Sharma
• Expedition Operations from Cape Town • Rajasthan’s Sushil Sharma (founder and
(South Africa) to Antarctica. CEO of Marwari Catalysts) has been
Aim: appointed as the vice-president of the
• The study of the effects of climate change startup wing of the BICS Chamber of
and global warming. Commerce and Industry.
• Analysis of environmental and scientific • Objective of the wing: To provide financial
aspects of Antarctica. and strategic support to potential startups.
• Improvement in weather forecasting and • Promote coordination between investors
research. and startups.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [17]
Kamla Bhil • In the first phase, the trial will be
• Died on 12 February 2025. conducted in 10 districts including Jaipur,
• He was a three-timeMLA from Sagwara Ajmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Kota, Al-
from 1980 to 1992. war.
• From 1981 to 1989, she was a Minister • According to theICMR report, liver cirrhosis
of State and Deputy Minister in various is the leading cause of death in Rajasthan.
departments. Largest Panchakarma Centre in India – Jodhpur
Dr. Mahendra Bhanawat (Demise) • An international level Panchakarma centre is
• Eminent folk art expert, former Director of being set up at Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Bharatiya Folk Kala Mandal (Udaipur). Ayurveda University, Jodhpur.
• Compositions: ‹Rajasthan Swar Lahiri’, • Construction at a cost of ₹43 crore in 2.80
‘Nirbhay Meera’. hectare area.
• Construction of 100 Panchakarma Huts
Honour:
(Super Deluxe, Deluxe and General) and
• Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi’s Distinguished artificial lake.
Literary Award. • Diseases like insomnia, joint pain, skin
• Marwar Ratna Komal Kothari Award by diseases and paralysis will be treated with
former Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur. Panchakarma therapy.
• Dr. Komal Kothari Folk Art Award by West
Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur. Biological Park approved in Pushkar
• The Central Government approved the
Rajasthan’s first film city
Biological Park in Pushkar (Ajmer).
• It will be located in the Jawai dam area • The Central Zoo Authority of India approved
near Sumerpur in Pali district. 12 enclosures.
• Total cost 500 crores, area 152 acres. • Four species of deer – Chinkara, Black
• The third largest film city in the country Buck, Chital, Sambar and Bengal Tiger,
(after Hyderabad’s Ramoji and Mumbai). Lion, Panther, Desert Fox, Indian Wolf will
• The target is to complete the construction be kept.
in three years.
• Located between Marwar and Mewar Tata Power’s Solar Project
(Jodhpur-Udaipur). • Established by Tata Power Renewable
• Studios, academies, sports centers, urban Energy Limited in Bhanipura (Bikaner).
and rural locations will be available. • Total capacity 300 MW AC, two units (100
MW AC + 200 MW AC).
7 districts of Rajasthan included in Cheetah Cor-
• Increased efficiency and production from
ridor glass-to-glass solar modules.
• Plan under the Action Plan of the National
Tiger Conservation Authority. 1.89 MW Solar Power Plant in Nagaur
• A 17,000 sq km corridor on the Rajasthan- • Established at Muwana (Nagaur),under
Madhya Pradesh border, of which 6,500 sq Rising Rajasthan MoU.
km is in Rajasthan. • Developed by Solar 91 Cleantech Ltd.
• Baran, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Bundi, • Solar power generation with modern
Kota, Jhalawar and Chittorgarh in technology, reduction in carbon emissions.
Rajasthan. Rajasthan’s first Carbon Zero hotel
Country’s first ‘Mission Liver Smile’ clinic • ‘The Eco Sattva’ begins at Hotel Kota.
• Rajasthan will become the first state to • Net Carbon Zero Hotel, 63 rooms in total.
open liver clinics in every district hospital. • Operated by Eco Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
• ‹Mission Liver Smile’ clinics will be set up in Panorama of Veer Tejaji Maharaj
all district hospitals for non-alcoholic fatty • Grand panorama construction proposed at
liver. Sursura (Kishangarh, Ajmer).
• Liver fibrosis and severity of the disease • The place of nirvana of Veer Tejaji Maharaj.
will be detected with FIB-4 score, CBC, LFT • A huge fair is held on Bhadrapada Shukla
screening. Dashami.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [18]
Establishment of Sports University at Achrol Shri Fatehsinh Rathore Memorial Wildlife Con-
• Rajasthan Budget 2024-25 announces servation Award
Maharana Pratap Sports University at a • Dr. Kamlesh Sharma was awarded the
cost of ₹ 250 crore. «People and Nature» Services to Wildlife
• It will be set up in Achrol, Jaipur, focusing on Award.
preparing sports coaches and specialists. • Awarded by Tiger Watch Institution
• At the divisional level, sports colleges will (Ranthambore).
be started in temporary buildings at a cost • Award for Wildlife Conservation and
of ₹ 50-50 crore. Awareness through Photography on
• Budget also allocated for ‹Ultra Fitness Environmental Issues.
Centre’ in Jaipur. ‘Best Creative Film Award’
Rajasthan’s first Zero Liquid Discharge Plant • Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2025 was
• Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plant for water held in Mumbai from 30th January – 1st
conservation installed at Jaipur Dairy at a February 2025.
cost of ₹20 crore. • Rajasthan Tourism was awarded the ‹Best
• Saving 6.5 lakh litres of water every day Creative Film Award’.
and 24 crore litres annually. • The award-winning film ‹Romance of
• Established for the first time in Rajasthan Rajasthan’ showcases the cultural heritage,
through the National Dairy Development natural beauty and tourism of the state.
Board (NDDB). State-level Republic Day Celebration 2025 – Best
National Criminal Sciences University (NFSU) – Tableau Award
Jaipur • In the ceremony held in Udaipur, the
• The new campus of the National Forensic tableau of Banswara district stood first in
Science University (NFSU) will be set up in the district category.
Jaipur. • The theme of the tableau was «Tribal,
• The main campusis located in Gandhinagar, Religious and Historical Places».
Gujarat. • The tableau of the Tourism Department
• NFSU campuses will be opened in 9 states got the first place in the department
including Rajasthan by the Union Home category, whose theme was «Pride of
Ministry. India, Rajasthan».
Creation of Oxygen Zone in Pali Best Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award
• An oxygen zone will be developed on 30 bighas • The award was given to Bhilwara Krishi
of land in Giradara village of Pali district. Vigyan Kendra (KVK).
• More than one lakh saplings of 100 species o The centre is functioning under MPUAT,
will be planted, which will be 2 feet apart. Udaipur and ICAR-ATARI, Jodhpur.
• With the Akira Miyawa technique, the • Awarded for contribution to innovation
plants will grow up to 40 feet in three years. and technological transfer in agriculture.
• This will reduce the temperature by 10 • The award was presented at the Interna-
degrees Celsius and provide pure oxygen tional Conference on Agriculture-2025 on
to the local people. February 20-21 in Sangrur, Punjab.
NIA Jaipur wins first prize in ‘Prakriti Parikshan IDA Award to Ramchandra Choudhary
Abhiyan’ • The Indian Dairy Association (IDA)
• The National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), announced the IDA Fellowship Award
Jaipur bagged the first prize in the first to Ramchandra Chaudhary, Chairman of
phase of the central government’s «Prakri- Ajmer Dairy.
ti Parikshan Abhiyan». • The award will be given for his contribution
• Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sanjeev Sharma to dairy production, processing and
received three citations and awards in the marketing.
campaign organized by the Ministry of
AYUSH and NCISM. Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) 2025
• In the category of PG colleges, NIA Jaipur • Held in Mehrangarh, Jodhpur from 1-5
ranked first in the country, while in terms February 2025.
of numerical terms, it secured the fourth • Theme: «Cinema Spaces – Panorama of
position. Cinema in Rajasthan».
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [19]
• Best Rajasthani Language Film – ‘Plot No. 302’. Panchayat Samiti has been fixed at 1.50
• Best Director – Dharmendra Upadhyay lakh population, in which 15% relaxation
(‹Mhari Bindani’). will be given.
• Best Actor – Altaf Hussain • Collectors were instructed to prepare
New Norms for Restructuring of Municipal Cor- proposals on the basis of the 2011 census.
porations in Rajasthan New guidelines for restructuring of panchayats
• In Rajasthan, the process of reorganization • Panchayati Raj Department issues new
of wards of urban bodies has been initiated. guidelines to Collectors for reorganization,
• Survey and ward delimitation will be done restructuring and re-demarcation.
for reorganization. • Population relaxation up to 20% in
• The purpose of the reorganization is Panchayat formation in Jodhpur, Barmer,
to increase the efficiency of the city Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Churu, Balotra and
administration and carry out administrative Phalodi.
reforms. • In other districts, collectors can make
New Standards of Ward Reorganisation: changes in population up to 15%.
• Guidelines for preparation of proposals of
population ward Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and
Zila Parishads on the basis of 2011 census
15,000 20 Wards have been prescribed.
25,000 25 Wards Allocation to Rajasthan in Union Budget
80,000 45 Wards • Rajasthan has been allocated Rs 85,716
crore from central taxes this year, an in-
1 Lakh 55 Wards
crease of Rs 10,000 crore from last year.
2 Lakh 60 Wards • The state received a 6.26% share in total
central taxes.
3.5 Lakh 65 Wards
• Rs 9,960 crore has been allocated for rail-
5 Lakh 70 Wards way infrastructure development.
• This is 14.5 times more than the average
10 Lakh 80 Wards
annual allocation of 2009-2014 (Rs 682
13 Lakh 100 Wards crore).
15 Lakh 110 Wards Important Decisions of Rajasthan Government
25 Lakh 130 Wards • The Rajasthan Land Revenue (Amendment
Validation) Bill has been approved, which
35 Lakh 150 Wards will settle the cases related to land
allotment in the industrial areas of RIICO.
New Guidelines for Restructuring and Restructur- • The Rajasthan Board of Taxes will be
ing of Panchayats merged with the Board of Revenueto
• New instructions were issued to the ensure time-bound disposal of revenue
Collectors to facilitate the reorganization and tax appeals after the implementation
and restructuring of Gram Panchayats, of GST.
Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads. • The post of Chief Editor was created in the
• Reorganization of Gram Panchayats will be Assembly Secretariat.
given a relaxation of 15% on the basis of
Change in designation of Vice-Chancellors
population.
• The Panchayat Samiti has been set as a 2 • The Rajasthan Universities Laws
lakh population, in which there will be a (Amendment) Bill-2024 has been approved.
provision of 15%. • In State Universities, the designation of «Vice-
• The minimum population for the gram Chancellor» will be «Kulguru» and «Pro-Vice-
panchayat was fixed at 3,000 and the Chancellor» will be «Prati Kulguru».
maximum at 5,500. • In the English version, the designations of
• In the desert area (parts of Bikaner, Barmer, Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor
Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Baran), the scale of will remain the same.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [20]
Key Decisions of the Council of Ministers (8 Feb- 13. Mallakhamb 0 0 2 2
ruary 2025)
14. Yogasana 0 0 2 2
• The bhog amount in 593 temples of the
Devasthan department was fixed at Rs 3,000. 15. Judo 0 0 1 1
• The remuneration of part-time priests will 16. Squash 0 0 1 1
be increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500 per 17. Volleyball 0 0 1 1
month.
18. Handball 0 0 1 1
MoU between Bikaner Engineering College and
Equine Research Centre 19. Badminton 0 0 1 1
• A partnership agreement (MoU) was signed • Wushu: Rajasthan won the maximum 4
between Bikaner Engineering College and gold medals, Shubham Gaura won the
Equine Research Center. record gold medal.
• Aim: To develop a device to control the • Weightlifting: Harcharan Singh (109 kg
diet of donkeys and horses. category) won the gold medal with a lift
• Technical base: Use of electronic, of 347 kg.
embedded and IoT (Internet of Things) • Canoeing and Kayaking: Pradyuman Singh
technologies Rathore won the gold medal.
• Archery: Rajat Chauhan won the individual
Rajasthan at 38th National Games 2025 gold medal in the compound event.
• Held: January 28 - February 14,
Uttarakhand. • Beach Kabaddi:
• Motto: «From Resolution to Summit».
o The Rajasthan men’s team won the
• Mascot: Mauli (Himalayan Monal Bird).
gold medal for the first time.
• Torch: Tejaswini.
o They beat Haryana 44-42 in the final.
• Competitions: 32 sports and 4 • Shooting: Anantjeet Naruka won gold
demonstration events (Mallakhamb, medal in skeet event.
Kalaripayattu, Rafting, Yogasana). Bronze medal in Kalaripayattu
• Participants: Total 11,354 players. • Gurunidhi Singh Ranawat and Harshvardhan
• From Rajasthan: 421 players and 110 Singh Rathore won Rajasthan’s first bronze
officials. medal in Kalaripayattu.
• Medal Tally: 9 Gold, 11 Silver, 23 Bronze • This sport was included as an exhibition
(Total 43 Medals). sport, so did not add to the total medals.
• Rajasthan finished 15th in this competition.
Para Asia Cup Archery (Bangkok, Thailand)
Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total • Dhanaram Godara and Harvinder Singh
1. Wushu (Most 4 1 7 12 won the gold medal in the recurve team
Medals Won) event.
2. Shooting 1 2 0 3 • Shyam Sundar Swami (Bikaner) won a total
of 2 gold and 1 silver medal
3. Kabaddi 1 0 1 2 o Individual event – Gold medal.
4. Archery 1 0 1 2 o Mixed Team Event (with Sarita Kumari)
5. Weightlifting 1 0 0 1 – Gold Medal.
o Compound Team Event (with Rakesh
6. Canoeing and 1 0 0 1 Kumar) – Silver Medal.
Kayaking • Shyam Sundar Swami finished second in
7. Cycling 0 3 1 4 the compound event with 689 points.
8. Taekwondo 0 1 1 2 • Dhanaram Godara finished third in the
recurve event with a score of 634.
9. Boxing 0 1 1 2
10. Netball 0 1 1 2
Soft Hockey National Senior and Sub-Junior
Championships
11. Athletics 0 1 1 2
• 4th National Soft Hockey Championship:
12. Wrestling 0 1 0 1 21-23 February 2025, Faridabad.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [21]
• Rajasthan won gold medals in senior men’s • Gold medal in the Under-23 Singles
and sub-junior boys’ category. (Distance Event).
• Senior Men’s Category: Rajasthan beat • Silver medal for Rajasthan in the team
Haryana 3-0 event.
• Sub-Junior Boys Category: Rajasthan beat • Bronze medal in individual target event
Haryana 3-2. and team event.
• Junior Boys category: Rajasthan beat • Ritika is the country’s first transgender
Punjab 2-1, silver medal. player.
Junior National Archery Championship 2nd National Sub-Junior & Senior Legrooge Cham-
• Event: Bholpur, West Bengal. pionship (Udaipur, Rajasthan)
• Performance of Rajasthan: • Rajasthan won the title in the senior
• Men’s team: Bronze medal by defeating category (women and men).
Haryana. • Women’s category: Rajasthan beat
• Women’s team: Bronze medal by defeating Haryana 16-3 in the final.
Andhra Pradesh. • Sunita Meena and Jula Kumari Gurjar (17
71st Senior National Kabaddi Championship goals each ) joint-best scorers.
• Men’s section: Rajasthan beat Odisha 14-3
• Event: Mormajra, Karnal (Haryana).
in the final.
• The Rajasthan women’s team won the
• Rajasthan captain Mohanlal Gameti (21
bronze medal, it was their fourth bronze
goals) is the best scorer.
medal.
• Sub-Junior Category: Haryana Winner,
• President of Rajasthan Kabaddi Association:
Rajasthan Runner-up.
Tejashwi Singh Gehlot.
• President of Rajasthan Lakerose
National Para Athletics Championship Association: Ashok Parnami.
• Event: 18-20 February, Chennai. 68th National School Girls Cricket Tournament
• Rajasthan won a total of 63 medals:
(Under-19) (29 January - 3 February, Udaipur)
o 14 Gold, 23 Silver, 26 Bronze.
• Maharashtra defeated Uttar Pradesh by
2nd National Senior Legrugge Competition 16 runs to finish first.
• Event: Udaipur. • Pranjali was adjudged Player of the Match
• Rajasthan won the gold medal. in the final.
Asian Youth Lakros Championships • Uttar Pradesh was the runner-up,
Rajasthan finished third.
• Organized: February 20-23, Okinawa, Japan.
• Selected players from Rajasthan: Mohanlal Junior National Archery Championship
Gameti, Khumaram Gameti, Pranay • Rajasthan’s men’s and women’s teams
Tripathi. won bronze medals.
Junior Asian Track Cycling • Men’s team: Won medal by defeating
Haryana.
• Event: Nilei, Malaysia.
• Women’s team: Won medal by defeating
• Harshita won 4 medals: 2 silver, 2 bronze.
Andhra Pradesh.
11th National Ice Stock Championship (1-2 Febru-
National Table Tennis Championship
ary, Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir)
• Aarna Sawhney won the silver medal in the
• Rajasthan won a total of 4 medals.
under-11 girls category.
• Jaipur’s transgender player Nandini Sindhi
• The championship (UTT 86th Junior & Ca-
won 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. det) was held at Indore.
• Ritika Singh, a transgender player from
• In the final, Keshika, Purkar of Maharashtra
Malpura in Tonk, won 1 gold and 1 silver lost 3-1.
medal (along with Nandini Sindhi in the
team event). Karate State Championships
• Juhi Sharma won the gold medal in the
Achievements of Ritika Singh
state championship for the 7th time in a
• Won 4 medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
row.
in the National Ice Stock Championships.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [22]
• Secured first place in the under 12 age group. Cancer vaccine manufacturing in Rajasthan
• She also won a gold medal at the • The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI)
International Karate Championship (58 kg gave permission to Mahatma Gandhi
category) in Kolkata. Medical College in Jaipur to manufacture
Om Prakash Choudhary dendritic cell vaccine.
• This will be the first medical college in
• Om Prakash Chaudhary has been appointed
as the coach of the Indian Air Pistol team. the country where cancer vaccine will be
• He was the national champion for 10 manufactured.
• The Government of India provided a grant
consecutive years.
• Won a gold medal at the 2024 Asian
of ₹ 3 crore for this project.
Shooting Championships (Jakarta). Catchment Tour in Rajasthan
• In 2010, he won the ‹Best South Asian • The Catchment Journey started from 5th
Shooter’ award. February 2025.
National Senior Yogasana Competition • State level programme organized in Baran
• Dr. Satish Chaudhary (Udaipur) was
under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
appointed as the referee. 2.0.
• 149 projects (7.50 lakh hectares) approved
• The competition was held in
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). in the State from 2021-22 to 2026.
• The yatra will pass through 107 projects
• 49th National Senior Men’s and Women’s Yo-
gasana Competition (13-16 February 2025). and 214 gram panchayats in 27 districts.
• Aim: To increase awareness and public
Rajasthan State Judo Association Elections participation of catchment activities. **
• On 25 February 2025, Harish Chandra
Hybrid Barrage in Ramjal Setu Project
Sharma was elected unopposed as the
• The hybrid barrage will be built under
Speaker.
• Vice Presidents: Agra Ram Chaudhary,
the «Ramjal Setu Project» at Sripura in
Gauri Chaudhary. Chittorgarh.
• ERCP Corporation floats tender worth
• Secretary General: Mahipal Grewal.
₹693.64 crore.
Sairaj Bahutule • Objective: To conserve the wastewater of
• Sairaj Bahutule becomes the new spin the Brahmani River and connect it with the
coach of Rajasthan Royals. Banas River.
• He was previously associated with • Water will be supplied to the Brahmani
Rajasthan Royals (2018-21). river by canal from Rana Pratap Sagar.
• He played 2 Tests and 8 ODIs for India. • The tunnel will transport water to Bisalpur,
• Scored 600+ wickets and 6000+ runs in do- 140 km away from Sripura Brahmani Bar-
mestic cricket. rage.
• Coached for KKR and Gujarat Lions in IPL.
E-vehicle promotion fund
• Rajasthan Royals Head Coach: Rahul Dravid.
• The Rajasthan government set up an
Special Committee for Media Monitoring e-vehicle promotion fund of ₹200 crore
• The Election Department constituted under the Electric Vehicle Policy-2022.
a 4-member committee under the • The fund was created to reimburse
chairmanship of Assistant Chief Electoral and grant the State GST amount to the
Officer at the state level. buyers of electric vehicles as per FAME-II
• The committee will coordinate action to guidelines.
be taken at the district level on misleading • Applicable to electric vehicles purchased
information and wrong facts. after 1st September 2022 and registered in
• A 6-member committee (DMCMC) headed Rajasthan.
by District Election Officer is working in all • To get the subsidy, the purchase of the
the districts. vehicle from the state of Rajasthan is
• Chief Electoral Officer of Rajasthan: mandatory.
Naveen Mahajan.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [23]
First National Lok Adalat of the year 2025 • Topic: «Towards Circular Societies:
• It will be held on 8 March 2025 at Rajasthan Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in
High Court, Jodhpur. Asia-Pacific».
• Objective: To settle the pending cases with • Aim: To promote the 3R (Reduce, Reuse,
mutual consent. Recycle) and Circular Economy, share
policy information.
Anti-drone system on India-Pakistan border
• Combination: Launched by UNCRD in 2009.
• Anti-drone systems will be installed on the
border adjacent to Rajasthan and Punjab First All India Conference of Transgenders
to prevent drone infiltration from Pakistan. • Location: Ajmer,Rajasthan.
• These systems will be installed in Barmer, • Event Period: 17-26 February 2025.
Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Sriganganagar. • Organizer: Gaddipati Saloni Nayak (in
• Sriganganagar and Bikaner have the memory of Guru Anita Bai).
highest number of drugs and weapons • Purpose: To discuss the rights, traditions
smuggled by drones. and spirituality of the transgender
• A total of 1,096 km of roads will also be community.
constructed in Rajasthan. • Importance: To strengthen social and
cultural identity.
National Productivity Week
• National Productivity Day was observed on State Level Conference on Dam Safety and Reha-
12-18 February 2025. bilitation
• Objective: To increase quality, efficiency • Event: 17 February 2025, Udaipur,
and competitiveness by optimizing the use Rajasthan.
of resources. • Topic: «Dam Safety, Rehabilitation and
• Organizers: National Productivity Council Dam Safety Act, 2021».
(Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. • Program: Detailed discussion on dam
of India) & Rajasthan State Productivity development in technical sessions by
Council, Jaipur. experts.
• Theme: «Protecting Intellectual Property Season spring festival
for Competitive Startups, From Idea to • Location: Shilpgram, Udaipur.
Impact.» « • Event Date: February 28 - March 2, 2025.
Contact Portal 2.0 • Organizer: West Zone Cultural Centre,
• Launch: Sampark Portal 2.0 will be Udaipur.
launched in Rajasthan. • Highlights: Classical music and dance
• The grievance redressal system will be performances to welcome the spring season.
made more effective with innovative ESDM Skill Conclave-2025
techniques. • ESDM: Electronics System Design &
• The online tracking system will be more
Manufacturing.
transparent. • Location: CSIR-CEERI, Pilani, Jhunjhunu.
• The complainant will get every update of
• Organizer: Vijnana Bharati-Rajasthan.
the resolution process.
‘Water Vision 2047’ National Conference
Fifth Vande Bharat Express in Rajasthan
• Event: 18-19 February 2025, Udaipur.
• Operations started from February 2025 • Organizer: Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
between Bikaner to Delhi. • Objective: Discussion on maximum use of
• First: April 2023, Ajmer-Delhi. **
water sources and interlinking of rivers.
• 2nd: July 2023, Jodhpur-Ahmedabad. **
• Participants: Union Minister of Jal Shakti,
• 3rd: September 2023, Jaipur-Udaipur. **
Chief Minister, Minister of Water Resources
• Fourth: September 2024, Udaipur-Kota-
and other officials.
Agra.
United Official Language Conference (North, Cen-
12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum
tral, West Zone)
• Event: 3-5 March 2025, Rajasthan
• Inauguration: 17 February 2025, Jaipur (by
International Centre, Jaipur.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [24]
• Special Guest: Union Minister of State for Krishi Mahotsav
Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. • Location: Hanumangarh.
• Organizer: Central Department of Official • Event Date: 8-10 March 2025.
Languages. • Theme: Prosperous Farmers, Developed
• Objective: To promote Hindi as the official Rajasthan.
language.
• Objective: To inform farmers about
• Main Activities: Honoring those who have
done excellent work in Hindi, distribution advanced agricultural techniques,
of 110 prizes, Rajbhasha Exhibition. management and farmer welfare schemes.
Conservation Capability Festival “Enabled” 2025 31st National Conference on Agricultural Efficien-
• Event: Jaipur. cy-Animal Welfare
• Organizer: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural • Location: Udaipur.
Gas and Oil & Gas Companies. • Event Date: 26-28 February 2025.
• Inauguration: 14 February 2025 (by • Topic: Precision Livestock Management
Governor Haribhau Bagade). Techniques for Agricultural Efficiency and
• Key Points: Emphasis on promoting Animal Welfare.
sustainable fuel sources (e.g. ethanol • Participants: 400 scientists and livestock
blends). experts.
Jalore Festival 2025 Indian Conference on MedTech Innovations 2025
• Launch: 15 February 2025, Jalore.
• Event: AIIMS and IIT Jodhpur.
• Organizer: Tourism Department, District
• Winner: Dr. Deepak Kumar Meena (AIIMS
Administration and Jalore Development
Committee. Jodhpur, Department of Neurosurgery).
• Contribution: Presented the idea of a new
• Aim: Promotion of folk dance, folk music,
cultural heritage and local products. device to identify complications of the
respiratory system.
Desert Festival 2025
• Event: 10-12 February 2025, Jaisalmer. State-level National Science Day 2025 Celebration
• Organizer: Tourism Department & District • Venue: Apex University, Jaipur.
Administration, Jaisalmer. • Event Date: 27-28 February 2025.
• Objective: To promote traditional folk • Composition: Department of Science &
arts, to provide a platform to artists and Technology, Vijnana Bharati Rajasthan and
musicians. other institutions.
• Honours: Dheeraj Purohit (Jaisalmer) – • National Science Day: 28 February
Marusree, Komal Siddh (Bikaner) – Miss (commemorating C.V. Raman’s «Raman
Mumal. Effect» discovery).
Baneshwar Fair 2025 • Theme: «Empowering Youth for Global
• Event: 8-12 February 2025, Dungarpur. Leadership in Science and Innovation for
• Organizer: Tourism Department & District Developed India».
Administration, Dungarpur. 75th Diamond National Jamboree of Bharat
• Significance: Called the «Kumbh Mela of
the Adivasis», showcases the rich culture Scouts & Guides
of the Bhils. • Organized: 28 January - 3 February 2025,
• Main Event: Cultural & Sports Events Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
(Organized by Tourism & Tribal • Achievements of Rajasthan:
Development Department). • Watching Tower (51 feet):1st position
IIFA Awards 2025 under the leadership of Shailesh Kumar
• Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan for the first
Palod of Parbatsar, Nagaur.
time. • First Aid Competition: First place at the
• Date: 8-9 March 2025. national level under the leadership of Dr.
• Theme: «Silver is the New Gold». Pooja Sharma.
• Special Initiatives: Film Tourism Policy • Color Party Leadership: Jai Pratap Singh.
launched to promote Rajasthan as a film • March Past: Arnav Sinha (1st position at
destination. the national level).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [25]
Country’s first patient monitor system National Ranking of Jaipur Airport
• Developer: Central Electronics Engineering • In 2024 :13th busiest airport.
Research Institute (CEERI),Pilani, Jhunjhunu. • In December 2024: 11th place, passenger
• Feature: Equipped with indigenous numbers 5.90 lakh.
equipment, economical as compared to • Passenger Growth in 2024: 9% (58.73 lakh
foreign systems. passengers).
• Experiment: Assessment of the condition Rajasthan’s progress in Jal Jeevan Mission
of patients in hospitals. • Target: Deliver tap water to all households
• Significance: Helpful in prognosis in severe by 2028.
cases like cardiac arrest. • Achievement so far: 46% of rural
Indo-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise “Cy- households have tap connections.
clone-III” • Remaining works: Connecting 47 lakh
• Event: 10-23 February 2025, Mahajan Field houses in the next 3 years.
Firing Range, Bikaner. JJM Top Five Circles (in Slippery Circle in JJM
• Format: Annual military exercises, the
percentage) (in percentage)
location changes alternately.
• Last edition: January 2024, Anshas, Egypt. 1. Dudu96.49 1. Barmer: 18.18
• Objective: Practice the tactics of counter- 2. Shahpura: 95.73 2. Deeg :24.57
terrorism operations in desert and semi- 3. Ganganagar: 90.86 3. Chittorgarh: 28.68
desert areas. 4. Hanumangarh: 4. Dungarpur: 28.77
84.60 5. Pratapgarh: 31.61
Rajasthan first inPPR vaccination
5. Deedwana -
• Achievement: Rajasthan ranks first in the Kuchaman : 83.96
country in PPR (Pasty des Petitz Ruminants)
eradication and surveillance programme. Status of Ground Water Exploitation in Rajasthan
• Vaccination Percentage: About 78% of the • In Rajasthan, 150 per cent groundwater is
animals in the state have been vaccinated. being exploited.
• Position in Animal Number: • In the latest assessment report of the
o First in the country in the number state’s groundwater resources, 2024 , a
of goats. total of 302 units, including 295 Panchayat
o Third place in the country in sheep Samitis (blocks) and 7 urban areas, were
offspring. assessed.
• Out of these, 214 blocks are over-exploited,
District Level Ranking on Sampark Portal (2024)
27 blocks are sensitive, 21 blocks are semi-
• Grievance redressal and satisfaction rate in sensitive, 37 blocks are safe and 3 blocks
Rajasthan: 62%. are in saline category.
• Top District: Banswara (71.66% • Note: The Atal Bhujal Yojana has been
achievement) stood first with 1st position. implemented in Rajasthan from April 1,
• Procedure: The complaint is allotted to the 2020.
concerned department when it is filed.
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024
Ajmer Railway Division Ranks Top in ‘Rail Madad’ • According to this report, the position
Portal of children in basic mathematics skills in
• Achievement: First place at the national government schools of Rajasthan is weak.
level in resolving the problems of rail • The mathematical ability of children in
passengers. Rajasthan was found to be low. Only
• Duration: FY 2024-25 till January 2025. 20% of the students of class 3 can do the
• Satisfactory Feedback: 76.01%. number of subtraction. Only 22% of the
Rajasthan ranks 11th in air passenger numbers students of class 5 are able to divide.
• The pupil-teacher ratio in Government
• Total Air Passengers (2024-25): 64.33 lakh.
• Top states with air passenger load: Delhi
schools in Rajasthan has improved.
(5.86 crore). o In 2022, 68.5 per cent of schools
had this ratio as per standards,
• Jaipur Airport Passenger Number: 43.93
which has now increased to 81.6
Lakhs.
per cent in 2024.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [26]
• There is a decrease in the class teacher • In the next phase of Rajasthan Digital
ratio. Health Mission, a single window
o In 2022, the ratio was 77.3 per registration system will be implemented
cent of schools conforming to stan- for IPD patients.
dards, but in 2024, it came down • The MA scheme and RGHS portal will be
to 70.6 per cent. linked under IHMS (Integrated Health
• A number of playgrounds have come to Management System).
the government schools in Rajasthan. Sports & Youth Development
o In 2022, 77.3 per cent of schools
• Camps organized at district and block
had playgrounds available, which
level for preparation of 2,500 participants
has come down to 76.1 per cent in
participating in Rashtriya Jamboree
2024.
(Chhattisgarh).
Note: The Rajasthan Budget 2024-25 is attached • Construction of Hockey Academy (Jaitaran-
with the Economic Review. Beawar) and Multipurpose Stadium
Budget 2025-26: Key announcements during dis- (Ajmer).
cussion • Establishment of Sports Stadium
(Ausian-Jodhpur, Marwar Junction-Pali,
Administration & Innovation Pratapnagar-Jaipur and Deedwana).
• Establishment of high-performance Facilities for students with special needs
computing infrastructure for AI, ML, VFX,
• Academic buildings will be made accessible.
Gaming, Advanced Analytics and Image
• Construction of portable ramps, disabled-
Processing.
friendly toilets and cineges.
• ‹Rajdhara 2.0’: Remote sensing and GIS
platform to be linked to AI at a cost of Rs 35 Environmental Protection and Agricultural Devel-
crore for optimum utilization of resources. opment
• Integrated Human Resource Management • Green Growth: Conservation of rare,
System: A provision of Rs 15 crore has threatened and endangered species by es-
been made for online work related to tablishing 40 plant micro reserves in biodi-
posting, promotion and service rules of versity hotspots.
government officers and employees. • Govind Guru Tribal Scheme: Establishment
Promoting youth and innovation of Forest Rights Cell in 18 districts.
• Pest management: The production capacity
• Atal Innovation Awards: Encouraging
of 10 laboratories will be increased to 100
innovation to solve problems related to
metric tons.
society.
• Bio-Informatics Database: For
• India Young Leaders Dialogue and Youth
improvement of suitable species suitable
Festival Organized.
for agro-climatic zones.
• Rajasthan Digi Fest organized, collaboration
with TiE Global. Agriculture & Animal Husbandry
Industrial & Cultural Development • As many as 3,236 small dams will be
re-transferred to the Water Resources
• Establishment of Industrial Park (Shahpura-
Department.
Bhilwara) and Wood Park (Lalsot-Dausa).
• Proposal to set up a College of Veterinary
• Saundh Mati Heritage Documentation
Sciences in Kota.
Scheme: Initiatives to preserve art, culinary
• Establishment of agricultural markets: Fruit
arts, historical sites and paintings of tribal
and vegetable markets in Riyabari (Nagaur),
artists.
Makhupura (Ajmer),Bar (Beawar).
Health Services
Tribal Development Schemes
• Under the MAA scheme, high-tech
• Tribal Sub Plan Fund: Budget increased
procedures such as robotic surgery, neuro
from Rs 1500 crore to Rs 1750 crore.
surgery, plastic surgery and cardiothoracic
• PM Janman Yojana: 17 multi-purpose
surgery are covered in government
centers approved in Sahariya area of Baran
hospitals.
district.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [27]

2. NATIONAL AFFAIRS
January February
Right to property is constitutional and human President’s rule imposed in Manipur
right : Supreme Court • President’s rule was imposed in Manipur from
• Verdict: The right to property is no longer a 13 February 2025 due to 21 months of unrest
fundamental right, but a constitutional right in the state.
and human right. • The assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has
• Amendments: After the 44th Constitution- also been suspended.
al Amendment Act, 1978, it ceased to be a • The move was taken under Article 356.
fundamental right. • Influence: All government departments and
• Current Status: Constitutional rights under powers are now under the President.
Article 300A and recognized as human rights in
National Green Financing Institute to be set up in
a welfare state.
the country
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) comes into force in Ut- • This institute will support India in achieving
tarakhand the net-zero target by 2070.
• Applicable: From 27th January 2025, • NITI Aayog is analysing the framework
Uttarakhand became the first state to imple- mechanism for operationalisation of a
ment UCC. potential National Green Financing Institution.
• Objective: To ensure equal rights to all citizens. • India aims to reduce its GDP emission inten-
• Affected Class: All citizens except Scheduled sity by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005
Tribes. levels.
• Provision: • India has also set a target to achieve 50 per
o Uniform laws on marriage, divorce, cent of its installed electric power capacity
succession and inheritance. from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
o Registration of all marriages and live-
International Conference on Innovations in Unani
in relationships is mandatory.
Medicine
Wayanad landslide: Central government declares • Held in New Delhi.
calamity of 'severe nature' • Theme: «Innovations in Unani Medicine for
• Declaration: The central government declared Integrated Health Solutions – Way Forward».
it a calamity of 'severe nature'. • Event: Central Council for Research in Unani
• Influence: Medicine (CCRM).
o The State will get financial assistance • Inauguration: By President Droupadi Murmu.
for rehabilitation.
o Facility to raise funds from funds
including MPLADS fund.
o Financial assistance available from
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [28]

3- Economic Affairs
January • Coverage:
o More than 1.8 crore students will get
Cabinet approves setting up of 8th Pay Commission access to research papers published in
• Approval: 16 January 2025, by the Union Cabinet. top international journals.
• Composition: Chairman and two members to o In the first phase, 13,400+ international
be appointed. journals are available.
• Role: Determination of salaries and compensation • Financial Provisions:
of central government employees. o A budget of Rs.6,000 crores for 3 years.
• Effective Date: Effective January 1, 2026. o Annual financial assistance of Rs. 150
• Previous Pay Commission: The 7th Pay Com- crore for publication in good quality
mission came into effect in 2016, valid till 2026. open access journals .
Implementation of Integrated Pension Scheme (UPS) Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative
• Declaration: Officially implemented by the • Launched: By the Ministry of MSME.
government. • Objective: To help MSMEs adopt digital commerce.
• Effective Date: 1 April 2025. • Budget: Rs 277.35 crore (for 3 years).
• Applicable: Central government employees • Aim:
covered under the National Pension System o Connecting 5 lakh MSMEs to the
(NPS). ONDC platform.
• Option: o To support women entrepreneurs
o Employees can continue NPS or from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
o You can opt for UPS under NPS. • Connection: A sub-scheme under the RAMP
program.
Constitution of Working Group for Revision of
WPI Base Year First Green Hydrogen Centre under National
• Decision: Constitution of a Working Group to Green Hydrogen Mission
change the base year of WPI from 2011-12 to • Project Location: Pudimdaka, Visakhapatnam.
2022-23. • Foundation Stone: 8 January 2025, by Prime
• Leadership: NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand. Minister Narendra Modi.
• Role: To make suggestions on the commodity • Significance: First centre set up under National
basket of WPI and Producer Price Index (PPI) Green Hydrogen Mission.
for the base year 2022-23. • Developed by NTPC Green Energy Limited.
• Existing WPI:
"Cashless Treatment" Scheme
o Start: May 2017 (2011-12 base year).
o Items: 697 (Primary articles - 117, Fuel • Launch: By Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
& Power - 16, Manufactured products • Objective: To provide financial assistance to
- 564) road accident victims.
• Profit:
Producer Price Index (PPI) o Free treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh
• Definition: An indicator that measures the for 7 days, provided the accident is
change over time in prices received by reported to the police within 24 hours.
domestic producers. o Ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh to the families of
• Publication: U.S. Monthly by the Bureau of those killed in hit and run cases .
Labor Statistics. • Management: Implementation by the National
Health Authority (NHA) through the IT platform.
"One Nation, One Membership" Scheme
• Start: Implemented by the government from Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme
1st January 2025. • Applicable: Effective 1 April 2025.
• Objective:Seamless digital access to research • Objective: To promote duty-free import of
papers, journals and academic materials natural cut and polished diamonds.
through a single subscription. • Provision:
• Beneficiaries: Students, researchers, and higher o Duty-free import of diamonds less
education institutions from across the country. than 1/4 carat (25 cents).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [29]
o Export Obligation: 10% value addition o Organised to commemorate the 150th
mandatory. birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa
o Eligibility: Two-star export houses or Munda.
diamond exporters exporting more o As many as 502 elected ST women
than $15 million annually. representatives from 22 States and
• Significance: To provide a level playing Union Territoriesparticipated.
field to Indian diamond exporters in global • Organizer:
competitiveness. o Parliamentary Democracy Research
and Training Institute (PRIDE) of the
Extension of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Lok Sabha Secretariat.
(till 2025-26) o In collaboration with National
• Explanation: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Commission for Women and Ministry
Yojana and Restructured Weather Based Crop of Tribal Affairs.
Insurance Scheme were extended till 2025-26.
• Budget: Rs 69,515 crore. India ranks 6th in textiles and apparel exports
• Contribution to global trade: 3.9% market share.
National Mission on Critical Minerals (NCMM) • Share in India's total exports: 8.21%.
• Approval: By the Union Cabinet. • Main export destinations: US and EU (47%).
• Announcement: In the Union Budget of 23 July • Imports (2023-24): Textiles and apparels worth
2024. USD 8,946 million.
• Financial Provisions:
o Expenditure of ₹16,300 crore. Mission Mausam
o Likely investment of Rs.18,000 crore by • Launched: By Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
PSUs . 14 January 2025.
• Aim: • Objective: To make India a weather and climate
o Covering mineral exploration, mining, resilient nation.
beneficiation, processing and recovery • Technological Initiatives:
of final products. o High-resolution atmospheric observations.
o Fast-track regulatory approval process o Next-generation radars and satellites.
for mining projects. o High-performance computers.
• Main benefits: Useful for agriculture, disaster
MSME Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme management, defence, environment, aviation,
• Profit: water resources, power, tourism and shipping
o Credit facilities up to ₹100 crore. sectors.
o 60% Guarantee Coverage (by National • Implementing Agencies:
Credit Guarantee Trustee Company - o India Meteorological Department
NCGTC ). (IMD).
• Key Provisions: o Indian Institute of Tropical
o It is mandatory to spend 75% of the Meteorology (IITM).
loan on machinery and equipment. o National Centre for Medium-Range
o Maximum repayment period for loans Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
up to ₹50 crore is 8 years (including
principal moratorium period of 2 PLI Scheme 1.1 (for Specialty Steel)
years). • Launched: 6 January 2025, by the Union
o Flexible repayment plan on loans Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries.
above ₹50 crore. • Objective: To boost domestic production and
• Eligibility: MSMEs must have an enterprise reduce import dependence.
registration number. • The limit of investment and capacity
• Member Lending Institutions: Scheduled requirements was reduced.
Commercial Banks registered with CGTC, • CRGO (Cold-Rolled Grain-Oriented Steel) : Type
NBFCs and AIFIs. high value products included
• Duration: Applicable from FY 2025-26 to 2029-
Panchayat to Parliament 2.0 Programme 30.
• Launched: By Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 6 • Included Product Categories:
January 2025 in New Delhi. o Coated/Plated Steel Products.
• Objective: To educate 500+ women Panchayati o High-strength/wear-resistant steel.
Raj representatives on the Constitution and o Special Rail.
Parliamentary procedures. o Alloy steel products and steel wire.
• Attributes: o Electrical steel.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [30]
EmpowHER Biz – The Flight of Dreams sector.
• Launched: By NITI Aayog's Women o LPPI evaluates all major and non-
Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), under the major ports in bulk (dry and liquid) and
Awards to Reward (ATR) programme. container categories.
• Partner: New Shop – India's largest 24/7 • India Global Ports Consortium launched
convenience retail chain.
o Objective: To strengthen global trade.
• Objective: To provide women entrepreneurs
• In addition, the MAITRI logo (Master
with the skills and resources required for
Application for International Trade and
success in the organized retail sector.
Regulatory Interface) was also launched.
• Key features:
• It will streamline business processes, reduce
o Guidance and training on retail
redundancy of bureaucracy and expedite
management, digital tools, financial
clearances.
literacy and business development.
• The Union Minister also announced the India
o Widespread support for aspiring
Maritime Week to be held from October 27 to
women entrepreneurs.
31, 2025 in Mumbai.
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP): Es-
tablished in 2018 at NITI Aayog as an aggregator Reclassification of minor minerals into List of ma-
platform. jor minerals
Launch of National Turmeric Board • The Union Ministry of Mines has removed
• Launched: 14 January 2025, by Union Minister the following from the list of minor minerals
of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in and reclassified them into the list of major
New Delhi. minerals:
• Chairman: Palle Ganga Reddy. 1. Barite
• Headquarters: Nizamabad, Telangana. 2. Felsper
• Speciality of Turmeric: Famous as 'Golden 3. Asbestos
Spice'. 4. Quartz
• India is the largest producer, consumer and • This decision has been taken after the Union
exporter of turmeric (62% share in global trade ). Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral
• Functions: Focus on welfare of turmeric Mission.
farmers ( in 20 states including Maharashtra, • These minerals have an important role to
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, play in various new technologies, energy
Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya) and promote transitions, spacecraft industries, healthcare
R&D of new turmeric products. sector, etc.
• To promote the quality of turmeric products • Exploration and scientific mining of these
and strengthen international marketing. minerals will increase after they are classified
• 2023-24 Product Statistics: as major minerals.
o Total area under turmeric cultivation: NAKSHAProgram
3.05 lakh hectares.  Union Minister for Rural Development and
o Production: 10.74 lakh tonnes. Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj
February Singh Chouhan launched the National Geospa-
tial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban
Launch of 'One Nation-One Port' Habitations-'Naksha' programme at a function
• Launch: 27 February 2025. held in Raisen (Sanchi), Madhya Pradesh on
• This initiative has been launched by the Minis- 18th February.
try of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) • The Naksha programme will be implemented
to standardize and streamline operations in by the Department of Land Resources under
major ports of India. the Rural Development Ministry.
• Objective: To modernize India's maritime • The main objective of the programme is to
infrastructure and strengthen its global trade modernize land survey processes in urban
presence. areas.
• This will remove inconsistencies in • Its main objective is to create and update land
documentation and processes. records, ensure accurate documentation of
• In addition, the Logistics Port Performance land ownership, improve urban planning, and
Index (LPPI) for FY 2023-24 – SAGAR Assess- reduce land-related disputes.
ment was also launched to enhance efficiency  It was launched as a pilot project in 152 urban
and global competitiveness in India's maritime local bodies across 26 states and 3 Union Ter-
ritories.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [31]
 A digital map of the land will be prepared by • In Budget2025, the government has announced
drone survey. that up to 100 per cent of the state's
 Citizens will get a systematic digital record of production, procurement of tur (arhar),urad
their property. and masoor will be continued for the next four
' Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs years.
(MCGS)' 'AI for Entrepreneurship' Micro-Learning Module
• Launch: 17 February 2025 from Mumbai. • It has been launched by the Ministry of Skill
• MCGS-MSME is a schemeunder which Micro, Development and Entrepreneurship, National
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will Skill Development Corporation and Intel India.
be provided with term loans of up to Rs 100 • The program aims to encourage entrepreneurial
crore from eligible lending institutions. thinking among young Indian entrepreneurs
• Other Highlights of MCGS-MSME and clarify AI concepts.
• Trust/ Fund: The Mutual Credit Guarantee • By 2025, it aims to equip one million
Fund - MSME (MCGF-MSME) has been created young people with the skills required for a
to manage this scheme. technologically advanced economy.
• It has been constituted by the Department • This includes AI for creative problem-solving,
of Financial Services (DFS) of the Ministry of entrepreneurial strategy, and business
Finance. development.
• The National Credit Guarantee Trustee India's first dedicated GCC policy has been re-
Company Limited (NCGTC) will manage the leased by Madhya Pradesh.
scheme. It is a wholly-owned company of DFS.
• Madhya Pradesh became the first state to
• Guarantee coverage: 60% guarantee cover-
launch the Dedicated Global Capacity Centre
age will be provided by the NCGTC to Member
(GCC) policy.
Lending Institutions (MLIs) for loans sanc-
• A designated nodal agency will be responsible
tioned under MCGS – MSME.
for its implementation.
• Member Credit Institutions (MLIs): These will
• The policy targets sectors such as IT, finance,
be financial institutions like commercial banks,
engineering, human resources, and emerging
NBFCs registered with the NCGTC under the
technologies.
scheme.
• The policy aims to attract more than 50 GCC
• Eligible Borrowers:
and create more than 37,000 jobs.
»» MSMEs with valid enterprise
• The policy isIndia's first dedicated framework
registration;
to promote GCC development in tier-II cities.
• Must not have non-performing assets with any
lender; RBI cutsrepo rate by 0.25%
• Apparatu/ The minimum for machinery should • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced
be 75% of the project cost. the repo rate from 6.5% to 6.25%.
• Scheme Duration: Available for 4 years or • This can make all loans cheaper and the EMI
till a guarantee of Rs 7 lakh crore is issued will also decrease.
(whichever is earlier). • The interest rate at which RBI lends to banks is
The Union Government approved the extension called repo rate and banks give loans to their
of the Integrated "Pradhan Mantri Annadata customers from this loan.
Income Protection Campaign (PM-AASHA)" • The rate at which RBI pays intereston deposits
scheme till 2025-26 from banks is called reverse repo rate.
• The integrated PM-AASHA scheme was National committee to be formed to promote
launched in 2018. It aims to implement crop natural farming
procurement operations more effectively. • A committee will be formed at the national
• Ministry of Implementation: Union Ministry of level to give the National Natural Farming
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Mission the shape of a movement in the
• Objectives: country.
• To provide price assurance to farmers for their • This committee will work towards increasing
crop produce. awareness among farmers and training them
• To reduce price fluctuations of essential to adopt natural farming methods.
commodities. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
• Crop coverage: Pulses, oilseeds and copra.
• It was approved by the central government in
November 2024.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [32]
• The NMNFaims to introduce natural farming in • The programmewill be launched as a
an area of 7.5 lakh hectares and set up 10,000 pilot project on February 22 in Kozhikode
need-based bio-input resource centres (BRCs) Corporation and Ulliery Panchayat (District
in 15,000 clusters across all states and union Kozhikode) and then it will be implemented
territories. across the state.
• Under the scheme, about 2000 NF Model o Step 1: Household Storage
Demonstration Farms will be set up at Krishi o Step 2: Permanent Storage Center
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Univer- o Step 3: Coordination with Local Bodies
sities (AUs) and farmers' fields and will be  The collected medicines will be sent to Kerala
supported by experienced and trained Farmer Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL), a garbage
Master Trainers. treatment facility approved by state and
• This mission will train 18.75 lakh farmers in central environmental authorities.
natural farming and the same farmers will
SIDBI &A.F.D. (France) signed Credit Facility
train one crore farmers.
Agreement
Scientific Disposal of Pharmaceutical Waste in • Objective: To promote green finance solutions
Kerala for Indian MSMEs.
 The 'nPROUD' (New Programme for Removal • Under this, a credit line of $100 million will be
of Unused Drugs) initiative will be launched by provided to SIDBI by the AFD (Agence Française
the Kerala Drugs Control Department. de Développement).
 Kerala will be the first state in India to • It will be used to expand access to affordable
scientifically arrange for collection and disposal financing for MSMEs.
of expired and unusable drugs at the house- • A.F.D.is a French public financial institution,
hold level. which implements France's development and
nPROUDInitiative international solidarity policies.
• Enproud: New Programme for Removal of Un-
used Drugs

Union Budget 2025-26

• The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate the following broad principles of developed
Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented India in this budget:
the Union Budget 2025-26 in Parliament on • Freedom from poverty; 100% Good Quality
February 1, 2025. School Education; Access to excellent,
• This is the first full-fledged budget of the affordable and universal health services;
third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meaningful employment with 100 per cent
government. skilled workers; Seventy percent of women in
• This is Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s economic activity; And the farmers who make
8th consecutive budget. our country the ‹Food Basket of the World’.
o Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, • In this budget, the proposed development is
former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram spread over the following 10 broad areas-
and Pranab Mukherjee are among the top i. Accelerating the growth and productivity of
budgeters before Sitharaman. agriculture;
o Morarji Desai had presented the budget ii. Rural affluence and adaptive construction;
10 times while being the finance minister. iii. Taking everyone along on the path of inclusive
Between 1959 and 1964, he presented five progress
consecutive full budgets and one interim iv. Increasing manufacturing in India and taking
budget. He then went on to present four Make in India further;
budgets between 1967 and 1969. v. Support to MSMEs;
o Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram vi. Enabling growth through employment;
had presented the Union Budget 9 times. vii. Investing in the public, the economy, and
Pranab Mukherjee had presented the innovation;
budget 8 times. viii. Ensuring energy supplies;
• The Union Budget 2025-26 focuses on ix. Promote exports; and
employment, skill training, MSMEs and the x. Nurturing innovation.
middle class. The Finance Minister has outlined
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [33]

Budget Estimates 2025-26

• Total Receipts other than Borrowings: ₹ 34.96 lakh crore
• Total expenditure: ₹ 50.65 lakh crore
• Net Tax Receipts: ₹ 28.37 lakh crore
• Fiscal deficit: 4.4 percent of GDP
• Gross Market Borrowings: ₹ 14.82 lakh crore
• Capex expenditure: ₹ 11.21 lakh crore (3.1% of GDP)
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [34]
The Budget aims at transformative reforms in the following six areas:
(1) Taxation;
(2) Power Sector;
(3) Urban Development;
(4) Mining;
(5) Financial Sector; and
(6)Regulatory reforms.
• The Union Budget highlights agriculture, MSMEs, investment and exports as the engines of India’s journey
towards developed India.

Agriculture as the First Engine of Growth

• Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana: Developing Agriculture District Programme: The scheme will
be launched with the participation of the states.
• It will cover 100 districts with low productivity, low yields and below average credit norms through conver-
gence of existing schemes and specific interventions.
• Rural Prosperity and Adaptation Building: This comprehensive multi-sectoral programme will be launched
in partnership with the States.
• In the first phase, 100 developing agricultural districts will be included.
• This will address underemployment in agriculture through skilling, investment, technology and revitalizing
the rural economy.
• Self-Reliant Mission in Pulses: This 6-year missionwill be launched with special focus on tur, urad and
lentils.
• Under this, the central agencies (NAFED and NCCF) will procure these pulses from farmers during the next
4 years.
• The Budget has also envisaged measures for a comprehensive programme for vegetables and fruits.
• Makhana Board: Makhana Board will be set up in Bihar to improve the production, processing, value ad-
dition and marketing of makhanas.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [35]
• National Mission on High Yielding Seeds: The Investment as a Third Engine of Growth
mission will be launched with the objective
of strengthening the research ecosystem, I. Investing in people
targeted development and dissemination of • Cost norms for Anganwadi and Nutrition
high yielding seeds and making more than 100 Support under Poshan 2.0 will be suitably
varieties of seeds commercially available. enhanced.
• Fisheries: The Budget has announced the • Atal Tinkering Labs: In the next 5 years, 50,000
introduction of a framework to promote Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in govern-
sustainable fishing in the Indian Exclusive ment schools.
Economic Zone and deep seas, with special • Broadband connectivity: Under the Bharat
focus on islands such as Andaman and Nicobar Net project, broadband connectivity will be
and Lakshadweep. provided to all government secondary schools
• Loans through Kisan Credit Card: The Finance and primary health centers in rural areas.
• Indian Language Book Scheme: The scheme
Minister has announced to increase the limit
has been announced in the budget to provide
of loan through Kisan Credit from ₹ 3 lakh to ₹
books in digital form in Indian languages for
5 lakh under the revised interest scheme.
school and higher education.
• Urea plant in Assam: A plant with an annual
• National Centre of Excellence in Skills: 5
production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes
National Skill Excellence Centres will be set up
will be set up at Namrup in Assam. with global expertise and partnerships to equip
• Cotton Productivity Mission: A 5-year mission our youth with the skills required for ‘Make for
has been announced to substantially improve India, Make for the World ‹ manufacturing.
the productivity and affordability of cotton • A Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence
farming. It will promote more long staple for Education will be set up with a total outlay
varieties of cotton. of ₹ 500 crore.
MSMEs as a second engine of growth • In the next 3 years, facility will be provided to
• Investment and turnover limits for classification set up day-care cancer centers in all district
of all MSMEs will be increased to 2.5 and 2 hospitals. In the year 2025-26, 200 centers will
times, respectively. be established.
• 10 lakh customised credit cards with a limit of • PM SVANidhi: The scheme will be renewed
up to ₹ 5 lakh will be issued in the first year with UPI linked credit cards and capacity
building support with a limit of ₹ 30,000 aug-
for micro enterprises registered on the Udyam
mented credit from banks.
portal.
• Social Security Scheme for Welfare of Online
• Credit guarantee cover: The credit guarantee
Platform Workers: Under this, the government
cover will be increased to improve access to
will provide identity cards for gig workers and
credit. Under this-
registration on e-Shram portal and provide
o For micro and small enterprises, the health care under PM Jan Arogya Yojana.
limit has been increased from ₹5
crore to ₹10 crore, for start-ups from II. Investment in the Economy
₹10 crore to ₹20 crore. • Infrastructure Ministries will be set up for
o Term loans up to ₹20 crore will be giv- 3-year pipeline projects in Public Private Part-
en to exporting MSMEs. nership.
• The budget has announced a new scheme • The budget has proposed an allocation of ₹1.5
to provide term loans of up to ₹2 crore over lakh crore for 50 years of interest-free loans to
the next 5 years to 5 lakh women, first-time states for capital expenditure and incentives
entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Castes for reforms.
and Scheduled Tribes. • Asset Monetisation Scheme 2025-30: Building
• Plan to make India a ‘Global Toy Hub’ with on the success of the first asset monetisation
unique and eco-friendly high quality. scheme announced in2021, the second asset
• National Institute of Food Technology monetisation scheme for the year 2025-30 will
Entrepreneurship and Management: This be launched for capital investment of ₹ 10 lakh
institute will be set up in Bihar. crore in new projects.
• National Manufacturing Mission: The mission • Jal Jeevan Mission: The mission, which started
will be set up with the objective of promot- in 2019, has been announced to be extended
ing ‹Make in India’ by involving small, medium till 2028 with an increased total outlay.
and large industries. • Urban Challenge Fund: The government will
set up an Urban Challenge Fund of ₹1 lakh
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [36]
crore to implement proposals for ‘Cities as • Deep Tech Fund of Funds The possibility of
Growth Centres’, ‘Creative Redevelopment of Deep Tech Fund of Funds will be explored to
Cities’, and ‘Water and Sanitation’. encourage the next generation of startups.
• Nuclear Power Mission for Developed India: • Prime Minister’s Research Fellowships:
Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the 10,000 fellowships will be provided for tech-
Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act. nological research in IITs and IIs with enhanced
o A Nuclear Power Mission will be set up financial support.
for Research & Development of Small • Gene Bank for Crops Germplasm: A second
Modular Reactors (SMRs) with an gene bank with 10 lakh germplasm lines will
allocation of ₹20 thousand crore. be set up for future food and nutritional secu-
o The budget proposes to operate 5 rity.
indigenously developed SMRs by the • National Geospatial Mission: The National
year 2033. Geospatial Mission will be launched to develop
• A shipbuilding financing policy will be basic geospatial infrastructure and data.
revampedwherein large ships beyond • Gyan Bharatam Mission: This mission will
the specified size will be included in the be launched for surveying, documenting and
preserving manuscript heritage with educa-
Infrastructure Appropriate Master List (HML).
tional institutions, museums and private col-
• Maritime Development Fund: The budget has
lectors.
proposed to set up a Maritime Development
• It will include more than 1 crore manuscripts.
Fund with an allocation of ₹ 25 thousand crore.
o The government will contribute 49 per Export as the IV engine of development
cent of this, the remaining contribution • Export Promotion Mission: It is proposed to
will have to be made by ports and the set up an Export Promotion Mission jointly run
private sector. by the Ministry of Commerce, MSME and the
• UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme: A Ministry of Finance.
modified UDAN scheme has been announced o Under this, targets will be set for
to enhance regional connectivitywhich will different sectors and ministries.
also support helipads and small airports in hilly • Bharat TradeNet: Bharat TradeNet (BTN)
and north-eastern region districts. will be set up for international trade as a
• Greenfield Airport in Bihar: The Finance joint platform for trade documentation and
Minister announced a greenfield airport in financing solutions.
Bihar in addition to expansion of capacity of • A national framework will be developed as a
Green Patna Airport and Brownfield Airport in guide to States to promote global competence
Bihta. centres in emerging Tier-II cities.
• Western Koshi Canal Project in Mithilanchal: • The FDI limit in the insurance sector has
Financial assistance has been announced for been increased from 74 to 100 per cent for
the Western Koshi Canal ERM project in Bihar. companies investing full premium in India.
This will benefit farmers cultivating more than • Rural Credit Score: The ‹Rural Credit Score’
50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal framework will be developed to meet the
region. credit needs of public sector banks, SHG mem-
• SWAMIH Fund 2: The Finance Minister has bers and people in rural areas.
• The Budget proposes setting up of a High Level
announced the creation of this fund of ₹ 15
Committee for Regulatory Reforms to review
thousand crore with the aim of expediting the
all non-financial sector rules, certifications,
completion of 1 lakh more housing units with
licenses and permissions.
contribution from banks and private investors.
• Investment Friendly Index of States: This
• Tourism for Employment-Driven index will be launched in the year 2025 to fur-
Development: Top 50 tourist destinations in ther the spirit of competitive coordinated fed-
the country will be developed in a Challenge eralism.
Mode with the participation of States. • Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0: The Jan Vishwas Bill
o Mudra loan will be provided for 2.0 proposes to decriminalise more than 100
homestays. provisions.
III. Investing in Innovation Defence Budget
• ₹20 thousand crore will be allocated to im- • The Ministry of Defence has been allocated ₹
plement the private sector-driven research, 6,81,210.27 crore keeping in mind the creation
development, and innovation initiatives of ‘Atmanirbhar’ armed forces.
announced in the July 2024 budget.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [37]
• This amount is 9.53% more than the budget estimate for FY 2024-25 and 13.45% of the Union Budget,
which is the highest among all the ministries.
• India has the fourth largest defense budget after China, America and Russia.
Railway Budget
• The budget has a provision of ₹ 2,55,445 crore for the Ministry of Railways , in which ₹ 3,445 crore will be
spent in revenue expenditure and ₹ 2,52,000 crore in capital expenditure.
• 17,500 general coaches will be manufactured along with 100 Amrit Bharat, 50 Namo Bharat, 200 Vande
Bharat trains.

Tax Reforms
• Under the new tax regime, income up to ₹ 12 lakh (i.e. average income of ₹ 1 lakh per month excluding
specific rate such as capital gains ) will not be payable income tax.
o For salaried taxpayers, this limit will be ₹ 12.75 lakh due to standard deduction of Rs 75,000.
• The exemption on interest income for senior citizens has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
• The limit of TCS on remittances abroad under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) has been
increased from ₹7 lakh to ₹ 10 lakh.
• TDS deduction limit for rental income increased from ₹2.40 lakh to ₹6 lakh.
• The time limit for individuals filing updated Income Tax Returns (ITR) for any assessment year was also
increased to four years.
• Foreign Direct Investment for Insurance Sector to be increased from 74 per cent to 100 per cent.
• In the Budget, 36 life saving drugs and medicines have been fully exempted from basic customs duty.
• Exemption has been given on 35 additional capital items for manufacturing of batteries of electric vehicles
and 28 additional capital items for manufacturing of mobile phone batteries.
• Basic customs duty has been exempted for the next 10 years on shipbuilding raw materials, components,
consumables or parts.

Economic Survey 2024-25

• Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey
2024-25 in Parliament on January 31, 2025, the main points of which are as follows:
• India’s real GDP growth is expected to be 6.4% in FY 2025 (as per advance estimates of national income).
• In 2023, the global economy grew at 3.3 percent.
• Central Government’s capital expenditure in key infrastructure sectors increased by 38.8 percent from
2019-20 to 2023-24.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [38]
• India’s current account deficit (CAD) stood at 1.2% of GDP in the second quarter of FY 2025.
• Real Gross Value Added (GVA) is estimated to be 6.4% in FY 2025.
• Real GDP growth will rise between 6.3 and 6.8 per cent in FY26.
• Retail inflation (headline) declined from 5.4% in FY 2024 to 4.9% in April-December 2024.
• Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports stood at 9.1% in April-December 2024.
• India’s insurance market (total insurance premium) grew at a rate of 7.7% in FY 2024, reaching ₹11.2 lakh
crore.
• In the first 9 months of FY 2025, total exports (trade + services) registered a growth of 6 percent (year-
on-year).
• India accounts for 10.2% of the global export market of telecom, computer and information services sec-
tor. (According to UNCTAD, India ranks second in the world in this area.) )
• Gross Foreign Direct Investment: It has increased from $47.2 billion in the first 8 months of FY2024 to
$55.6 billion in the same period of FY2025, (a year-on-year growth of 17.9%).
• India’s foreign exchange reserves (as in December 2024): $640.3 billion (sufficient for 10.9 months of
imports and 90 per cent of the country’s external debt ).
• It is stable at $634.6 billion as of 3 January 2025.
• Retail Inflation in India: 4.9% in FY 2025 (April-December, 2024)
• It was 5.4% of FY 2024. India’s consumer price inflation will remain at 4% in FY 2026.
• Private final consumer spending at constant prices is projected to grow at 7.3 per cent.
• Food inflation determined by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) increased from 7.5% in FY 2024 to
8.4% in FY 2025 (April-December).
• According to the RBI and IMF, consumer price inflation will be around 4 per cent in FY26.
• The Total Tax Revenue (GTR) has increased by 10.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis during April-Novem-
ber, 2024
• The revenue expenditure of the states has increased by 12 percent (YoY) during April-November 2024.
• The increase in subsidy and discharge of responsibilities was 25.7 per cent and 10.4 per cent, respectively.
• Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) in the banking system have declined to a 12-year low of gross loans
and 2.6 per cent of advances.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [39]
Investment and Infrastructure
• The central government’s capital outlay on key infrastructure sectors has increased at the rate of 38.8 per
cent in FY 2020-2024.
• In FY 2025 (April-December), 5853 km of national highways were constructed.
• The energy sector network has grown by 7.2 percent year-on-year to 456.7 gigawatts as of November
2024.
• The share of renewable energy in India’s total installed capacity has increased to 47 percent.
• Year-on-Year Growth in Renewable Energy Capacity of Solar and Wind Energy (till December, 2024):
15.8% Since the inception of the Jal Jeevan Mission, 12 crore households have received the facility of
drinking water supply from the tap. Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (Phase-II): Total number of ODF+
villages has gone up to 3.64 lakh.
• In the model category, 1.92 lakh villages were declared ODF+ by April-November, 2024.
• Metro and rapid rail systems are operational or under construction for more than 1000 km in 29 cities
of the country.
Industry Sector
• The industrial sector has registered a growth of 6.2 per cent in FY25 (1st Advance Estimates).
• Domestic sales in the automobile sector grew by 12.5 percent in FY 2024.
• From FY 2015 to FY 2024, domestic production of electronic goods grew at a compound annual growth
rate of 17.5%.
• 99% of smartphones are now being manufactured in the country domestically.
• According to the WIPO Report 2022, India is among the 10 countries filing patents in the world.
• For equal monetary support in the MSME sector, the government has set up ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Fund’
with a fund of ₹ 50 thousand crore.
Service Sector
• The services sector is expected to grow by 7.2 percent in FY 2025.
• Contribution of Services Sector to Gross Value Added (GVA): It has reached 55.3% in FY 2025 (First Ad-
vance Estimates ). (FY 2018) As of 2014, it was 50.6% :)
• In 2023, India ranked 7th in the world with a 4.3% share of global services exports.
• Average growth rate in the services sector: It stood at 8% till pre-pandemic (FY 2013-2020 ). Post-pandemic
(FY 2023-2025) it has been 8.3%.
• Services exports: India’s services exports are projected to grow by 12.8% in FY 2025 (April-November ).
o In FY24, it stood at 5.7 per cent.
• Computer-Based Services: The sector grew by 12.8% in the decade FY 2013-2023.
o With this, its share in Gross Value Added (GVA) has increased from 6.3% to 10.9%.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [40]

• Indian Railways: Indian Railways has recorded a record growth of 8% in traffic since FY 2024.
• In FY 2024, freight traffic has earned a revenue of 5.2%.
• In the area of railway connectivity, 2031 km of railway network was added between April 2024 and
November 2024.
• 17 new Vande Bharat additions have been added to Indian Railways. Tourism Sector The sector’s
contribution to GDP has reached 5% in the financial year 2023 from the pre-pandemic level.
Agriculture and Food Management
• The agriculture sector is projected to grow by 3.8% in FY 2025. Contribution: Agriculture and allied sectors
contributed 16 per cent to GDP on a current basis in FY2024 (preliminary estimates ).
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) covered an area of 95.58 lakh hectares, which is about
104.67% higher than the pre-PDMC period.
• Kharif food grain production in the year 2024 is expected to reach 1647.05 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) (an
increase of 89.37 LMT over the previous year).
• This is 5.7% higher than in 2023-24 and 8.2% higher than the average food grain production during the
last 5 years.
nal Affairs

Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [41]

4- International Affairs
January • Features: Water-cooled permanent magnet
traction, high-stability bogie system.
Indonesia becomes full member of BRICS group • Purpose: To increase China's high-speed rail
• Declaration: On 6 January 2024 by Brazil, which capabilities.
is the Chair of BRICS in 2024. India joins UN-CEBD
• Approval: During the BRICS Summit in August
• India became a part of the United Nations' Big
2023. Data and Data Science Expert Committee (UN-
• Newest partners: Nigeria, Belarus, Bolivia, CEBD).
Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, • Role: Contributing to shaping global standards
Uzbekistan. of big data and statistics.
• BRICS formation: joined in 2009by Brazil, • UN-CEBD Formation: 2014, under the auspices
Russia, India, China; in 2010 by South Africa. of UNSC.
• Current members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, • First President: Australia.
South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Indonesia. • Members: 31 countries, 16 international
• Pending Application: Saudi Arabia (invited). organizations.
India-Indonesia Bilateral Cooperation US lifts sanctions on Indian nuclear installations
• Summit: Discussion between Prime Minister • Institutions: IREL, BARC, IGCAR.
Narendra Modi and Indonesian President • Reason: Strengthening Indo-US nuclear
Prabowo Subianto. cooperation.
• Agreements: On health, digital infrastructure • The result: simplification of licensing
and defence cooperation. procedures in nuclear energy and research.
• Technical Cooperation: Fintech, Artificial
India becomes observer of Eurodrone programme
Intelligence, Internet of Things, Digital Public
Infrastructure. • Announcement: by OCCAR on 21 January 2025.
• Declaration of 2025 as India-ASEAN Year of • Benefits: Indian defence industries will get a
Tourism. technological advantage.
• India's Republic Day Celebration of the Year • Eurodrone Features:
2025 : o Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)
o In 2025, President Prabowo Subianto Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS).
will be the chief guest. o €7 billion four-country initiative (Germany,
France, Italy, Spain).
o Indonesia was the first chief guest in
o India is the second Asia-Pacific observer
1950.
country after Japan.
Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project (Bhutan) o Other defense projects under OCCAR:
• Project: 6×170 MW Punatsangchhu- A400M Atlas airlifter, Tiger attack
IIhydroelectric project. helicopter, FREMM frigate.
• Company: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). Romania and Bulgaria became full members of
• Partnership: Under the bilateral agreement the Schengen Area
between the Government of India and the • Change: Land border control abolished, full
Royal Government of Bhutan. membership gained.
• Location: In Wangdu District of Bhutan. • Symbolic step: the barrier on the Danube
India to host 28th CSPOC Conference (2026) Bridge was removed.
• Announcement: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla • Current status: The Schengen area now has 25
made in Guernsey, United Kingdom. European Union (EU) member states (excluding
• Topic: Use of Artificial Intelligence and Social Cyprus and Ireland).
• Impact: Free movement of 425 million EU
Media in Parliamentary Processes.
citizens possible.
• Pre-hosted: 1970-71, 1986, 2010.
• Exclusive: The largest free movement zone in
China unveils CR450 high-speed train the world.
• Speed: 450 km/h (400 km/h more than the • Previous status: Partial membership in March
CR100 ). 2024 (limited to air and sea route only).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [42]
Israel-Hamas Gaza Ceasefire Agreement • Attributes:
• on January 19, 2025. o Solving complex problems in
• Duration: 42 days. chemistry, math, coding.
• Impact: Release of Israeli detainees and o "Open-weight" systems – allowing
Palestinian prisoners, ceasefire in Gaza, researchers to analyze algorithms and
increased humanitarian aid. improve.
o Cost: Developed at $6 million, while
Expanding the Global Plastics Action Partnership Meta's Llama 3.1 405B model needed
(GPAP) $60 million and 11 times more
• Founder: World Economic Forum (WEF), computational power.
September 2018.
• New achievement: Now 25 countries included, February
covering a total population of 1.5 billion. 16th Session of the United Nations Convention
• New members: Angola, Bangladesh, Gabon,
on Biological Diversity (UN-CBD) (COP16)
Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania.
• Objective: To promote circular plastics • Event: From February 25 to 27, 2025.
economy (recycling and reuse). • Location: in Rome (Italy).
• The conference was part of the initial COP16
55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Fo- meeting held in Cali (Colombia) in 2024.
rum (WEF) • Objective: To resolve pending issues related
• Event: 20-24 January 2025, Davos, Switzerland. to the financial mechanism to implement
• Objective: Discussions on global and regional the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity
challenges. Framework (GBF).
• The 'Cali Fund' was launched at the confer-
India's Participation ence.
• Representation: Five Union ministers (Ashwini • The Cali Fund will seek financial support from
Vaishnaw, C.R. Patil, K. Rammohan Naidu, private companiesthat use genetic data in
Chirag Paswan, Jayant Chaudhary). their industries.
• State representatives: Andhra Pradesh, • The Kelly Fundwill accelerate biodiversity
Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar conservation efforts globally.
Pradesh, Kerala.
• Objective: To strengthen global partnerships, Green Transition Alliance India (GTAI) Initiative
attract investment, strengthen India's position • This initiative has been launched by Denmark
in sustainable development and technological to strengthen cooperation on sustainable
innovation. energy solutions with India.
• This will help in the commitment to achieve
Georgia declared malaria-free by WHO global carbon neutrality.
• WHO certification: Mandatory interruption • It will create an ecosystem promoting
of indigenous malaria transmission for three cooperation between businesses, government
years. bodies, research institutions and financial
• Status: Turkey is now the only European stakeholders of both countries.
country where malaria is present. • The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the
• History: Three parasitic species were active in Indo-Danish Chamber of Commerce (IDCC),
Georgia in the 20th century. the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), and
• Result: Georgia joins 45 other countries and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
one region. Energy Consortium are the partners of this
The United States withdrew from theWHO alliance.
• Factor: India and Qatar have agreed to elevate their
o Alleged flaws in COVID-19 bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
management. • His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-
o Lack of freedom from political influence. Thani, Emir of the Kingdom of Qatar paid a
o The Trump administration has State Visit to India from 17-18 February 2025.
imposed a 90-day moratorium on US • This was the second state visit of His Highness
foreign aid . the Emir to India.
DeepSeek-R1 (China's AI startup) • A 'Bilateral Strategic Partnership Establishment
• Developer: DeepSeek, China. Agreement' was signed between the two sides.
• Competition: With OpenAI's O1 model. • Two agreements and five MoUs were signed
during the state visit of the Emir of Qatar.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [43]

Agreement on Establishment of Bilateral Stra- • Germany has a democratic and parliamentary

1. system like India.
tegic Partnership
• Germany's Lok Sabha is called the Bundestag,
Revised Agreement for the Avoidance of Dou- which has 630 seats.
2. ble Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion • In India, the head of government is the Prime
with respect to Tax on Income and its Protocol Minister, while in Germany the Chancellor is
MoU between the Ministry of Finance of the the Chancellor.
Republic of India and the Ministry of Finance
3. Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day Celebrations
of the Republic of Qatar on Financial and Eco-
nomic Cooperation • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the
chief guest at the Mauritius National Day
MoU on Cooperation in the field of Youth and celebrations.
4.
Sports • Mauritius' National Day celebrations will be
MoU for Cooperation in the field of Documents held on March 12.
5.
and Archives • Mauritius celebrates its National Day on March
6. MoU between Invest India and Invest Qatar 12 every year, which marks its independence
from British rule in 1968.
MoU between Confederation of Indian Indus-
7. • Mauritius is an island nation in the western
try and Qatar Traders' Association
Indian Ocean.
Gold Card Investor Visa Program Bay of Bengal Intergovernmental Organization (
• The United States has announced a new BOBP-IGO)
program for wealthy immigrants. • Event: 20 to 22 February 2025 in Lankafinolhu,
• US President Donald Trump announcedthe Maldives.
new visa program called 'Gold Card' on • India assumed the Presidency of BOBP-IGO on
February 25, 2025. 21st February 2025.
• This new 'Gold Card' visa can be purchased for
$ 5 million (44 crore Indian rupees). BOBP-IGO
• This program will replace the existing IB-5 visa. • Origin: 2003
• EB-5 grants immigration privileges to people • Objective: It is an inter-governmental
investing between $800,000 and $1.05 million. organization that promotes cooperation and
Election results in Germany 2025 provides technical advice for sustainable
coastal fisheries in the Bay of Bengal region.
• In Germany, a coalition of conservative • Members: Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri
opposition leader Friedrich Mertz's Christian Lanka
Democratic Union (CDU) party has won 208 • Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand
seats. (28.5% Votes) are non-contracting associate parties.
• In addition, the far-right party (AFD) has won
151 seats. (20.8% votes) Operation Huscknight
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social • It is a military operation against Boko Haram by
Democrats Party (SDP) came third, winning the country of Chad.
just 121 of the 630 seats. (16.5% of the Vote) • The operation took place in Boko Haram
• For the first time since World War II, a radical strongholds in the Lake Chad region
right-wing party has won so many seats in • Boko Haram: It is a terrorist group based in Ni-
Germany. geria, which aims to enforce Islamic law in the
• In Germany, 315 seats are required for a country. Its name means "Western education
majority. Therefore, there is a possibility of is forbidden." "
forming a coalition government. • Lake Chad: Located in northwest Africa, the
Lake Chad region extends to Nigeria, Camer-
oon, Niger, and Chad.
Brazil will host the BRICS summit in Rio de Janei-
ro in July 2025.
• The Brazilian government has announced that
the next BRICS summit will be held in Rio de
Janeiro on July 6-7, which will be attended by
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and
other member states.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [44]
• The summit will be attended by leaders of 20 • The 4th India-EU Urban Forum focused on
member and partner countries. strengthening India-EU cooperation towards
• BRICS aims to strengthen relations with devel- sustainable urban development.
oping countries and reform Brazilian-led global India-EU Urban Forum:
institutions.
• It is a high-level forum for coordination and
• The BRICS grouping was founded in 2009 by
cooperation between India and the European
Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Afri- Union (EU) on Smart and Sustainable Urbaniza-
ca included in2010 as a counterbalance to the tion.
Group of Seven major industrialized nations. • It was established as part of the 2017 Joint
• In 2024, the group has been expanded to Declaration on Partnership for Smart and Sus-
add Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab tainable Urbanization.
Emirates. • Objective: To facilitate discussion among offi-
World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting cials, experts and stakeholders in order to ex-
2025 change best practices, policies and innovative
solutionsfor sustainable urban development.
• The WEF 2025 meeting concluded in Davos,
• Target Areas: Urban Alliance and Integrated Ap-
Switzerland, with representatives from various
proaches, Innovation and Inclusive Urban Mo-
countries discussing key global issues on the bility.
theme "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age".
International Maritime Shipping Assistance
India's Participation in WEF 2025:
Organization
• India received investment commitments of
• The first General Assembly ofIALA was held in
more than Rs 20 lakh crore.
Singapore between 18 and 21 February 2025.
• Contribution of States: • India was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Inter-
o Maharashtra received about 80% of the national Maritime Shipping Assistance Organi-
total investment. sation (IALA) in Singapore.
o Telangana attracted investments worth • Shri T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of
Rs 1.79 lakh crore. Ports, Shipping and Waterways led the Indian
o Kerala gave priority to its industrial delegation to the meeting.
transformation. • India will host the IALA Council meeting in De-
o Uttar Pradesh underlined its goal of cember 2025 and the IALA Conference and
becoming a ZerPoverty Free and USD 1 General Assembly in Mumbai in September
trillion economy by 2029. 2027.
World Economic Forum (WEF): International Maritime Shipping Assistance Orga-
• Founded: Founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab nization (IALA):
(German engineer and economist) as the • It was established in 1957 as a Non-Govern-
European Management Forum, renamed WEF mental Organization (NGO).
in 1987. • It is an international organization, dedicated to
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. coordinating and standardizing the means that
8th Indian Ocean Conference aid maritime navigation.
• Event: Took place on 16-17 February in Muscat, 9th Asia Economic Dialogue
Oman. • Event: Pune, Maharashtra.
• The event was organised by the Bharat Foun- • The theme of this dialogue was "Economic Re-
dation in collaboration with Oman's Ministry of silience and Resurgence in an Age of Fragmen-
Foreign Affairs. tation".
• The theme of the conference was "Journey to • It discussed contemporary topics – Artificial
New Horizons of Maritime Partnership". Intelligence (AI) and Automation, Economic Es-
• Later this year, Bangkok, Thailand will host the sentials of Cyber Security etc.
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Tech- • It aims to address issues of economic fragmen-
nical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) tation and identify actionable pathways for re-
Summit on April 2-4. silience and revival.
• Bangladesh will next chair the BIMSTEC Summit. First Edition of Soul Leadership Conclave
4th India-EU Urban Forum • Event: 21-22 February in Delhi.
• Inauguration: By Prime Minister Modi on Feb-
• Held on 13th February 2025 in New Delhi
ruary 21.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [45]
Chief Guest: Bhutan's Prime Minister Dasho • India emphasized global solidarity in dealing
Tshering Tobgay with terrorism and reiterated its proposal for a
• It aims to broaden the landscape of political permanent secretariat of NMFT in New Delhi.
leadership in India through formal training. No Money for Terror Conference:
• It aims to include those in politics who move • Inception: It was launched by France in 2018.
forward not just through hereditary politics but »» Previous conferences: France (Paris, 2018),
through merit, commitment and passion for
Australia (2019) and India (2022).
public service.
• Objective: It aims to promote international co-
MoU signed for Lithium Mining and Exploration operation in curbing the financing of terrorism.
• between India and Argentina. 61st Munich Security Conference
• Meeting: Held in New Delhi.
• Held in Munich (Germany) from February 14
• Objective: To enhance cooperation in the min-
to 16, 2025. On behalf of India, External Affairs
ing industry, particularly in the areas of invest-
ment opportunities and lithium exploration. Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar participated in this
conference.
Tri-Nation Buddhist Motorcycle Expedition
About Munich Security Conference
• It began in February 2025 in Lumbini (the
birthplace of Lord Buddha),Nepal. • It is the world's leading diplomatic forum for
• It isa historic initiative uniting Nepal, India discussing international security policy and im-
and Sri Lanka through their shared Buddhist portant security concerns.
heritage. • It provides a space for diplomatic initiatives,
• The route of this journey includes the following both official and non-official.
major Indian Buddhist sites: • Motto: Establishing Peace through Dialogue
o Sarnath- Buddha's First Teaching Place • Establishment : In the year 1963
o Bodh Gaya - Buddha's Enlightenment • Objective:To contribute to the peaceful reso-
Place lution of conflicts by maintaining continuous,
o Nalanda - Ancient University orderly and informal dialogue within the inter-
o Nagarjuna Sagar - Buddhist Education national security community.
Centre
PRAKRITI 2025 - International Conference on Car-
o Udayagiri - Buddhist Monastic Site
bon Markets
o Karnataka - Various Buddhist Sites
• Organizer: In collaboration with the • ‘PRAKRITI’ Full Form: Promoting Resilience,
International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Awareness, Knowledge, and Resources for In-
the Land Ports Authority of India (Ministry of tegrating Transformational Initiatives
Home Affairs) and Nalanda University, Rajgir. • 'Prakriti' Full Name: Promoting
empowerment, awareness, knowledge and re-
First Regional Dialogue on Social Justice
sources to integrate transformative initiatives.
• Inauguration: 24-25 February 2025 in New • Event: By the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
Delhi. under the Ministry of Power, Government of
• It was held under the aegis of the Global
India.
Coalition for Social Justice.
• A premier forum for in-depth discussion on
Global Coalition for Social Justice global carbon market trends, challenges and
• Established by the International Labour Orga- future pathways.
nization (ILO) in 2023. • Objective: To understand the role of carbon
• Objective: To address the gaps in social justice markets and develop effective strategies to
and promote progress towards the Sustainable combat climate change.
Development Goals. • It brought together national and international
• Its membership is voluntary and India is a experts, policy makers, industry leaders,
member. researchers and businessmen.
• It is for governments, organizations, businesses
and academia. Carbon Market:
• It is an arrangement where carbon credits
4th No Money for Terror Conference are bought and sold to control and reduce
 The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
participated in the 4th No Money for Terror
Conference (NMFT) in Germany on 13th Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
February 2025. • Founded: on March 1, 2002.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [46]
• Formation: The Government of India under 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum
the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, (AFAF)
2001. • Inaugurate: Union Minister of Fisheries,
Women's Peacekeepers Conference Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati
• The first conference for UN women peace- Raj in New Delhi.
keepers was held in New Delhi on 24 and 25 • India hosted this forum for the second time.
February 2025 • Earlier in 2007, the 8th AFAF was held in
• The conference was attended by 35 countries. Kochi (Kerala).
• India is the second largest contributor to UN • Events and Participation: The Asian Fisheries
peacekeeping operations. Society (AFS) organized the event in
• Organizer: Ministry of External Affairs, collaboration with ICAR, Department of
Union Ministry of Defence, United Nations Fisheries (Government of India),and Asian
Peacekeeping Centre of the Indian Army (CUN- Fisheries Society Indian Branch (AFSIB),
PK) (Auxiliary) Mangalore.
• Theme: "Women in Peacekeeping: A Global • Theme of 14th AFAF: "Greening the Blue
South Perspective" Growth in Asia-Pacific"
• Objective: To explore the emerging role of • AFAF is a global fisheries and aquaculture
women in UN peacekeeping operations. conference, organized every 3 years by the
Asian Fisheries Society (AFS).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [47]

5- Space & Defence Technology

January o Helpful for human space flight missions
such as Gaganyaan and Deep Space
Space Technology Exploration.
o Capable of handling semi-cryogenic
100th launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
stages and large configurations of LVM3.
• Launch: 29 January 2025) o Utilization of existing launch pad
• Mission: GSLV-F15 NVS-02. infrastructure with maximum industry
• Attributes: participation.
o Satellite placed in Geosynchronous
Transfer Orbit with Indigenous Existing launch infrastructure at Sriharikota:
Cryogenic Stage. • First Launch Pad (FLP):
o Launch from the second launch pad of o In operation for 30 years.
the space center. o Mainly used for PSLV and SSLV missions.
• NVS-02 Satellite: • Second Launch Pad (SLP):
o Part of the NavICsystem. o Active for 20 years.
o Designed, developed and integrated o Supports GSLV and LVM3 missions.
at the UR Satellite Centre (URSC). o Acts as a backup for PSLV.
o India and provides precise navigation Launch of India's first private satellite constellation
services within a radius of 1,500 km. 'Firefly'
• Background: The first second-generation • Company: Bengaluru-based space-tech
satellite NVS-01 was launched on 29 May 2023 company Pixel .
onboard GSLV-F12. • Launch location: Vandenberg Space Force
Historic Docking Success of ISRO's SpaDeX Base, California (USA).
Mission • Mission: Launch on SpaceX's Transporter-12
rideshare mission.
• Mission: Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX). • Attributes:
• Launch: 30 December 2024, PSLV-C60 rocket, o Fireflies are the world's most high-
Sriharikota. resolution commercial-grade
• Major Achievement: hyperspectral satellites.
o Successful control of two satellites o 5-meterresolution, 30 times clearer than
after docking. existing 6-meter resolution satellites .
o India became the fourth country (after o India's first commercial hyperspectral
America, Russia, China). satellite constellation.
• SpaDeXDocking Process:
o PSLV-C60launched two small World's Most Powerful Hydrogen Fuel Train
spacecraft - 'Chaser' (SDX01) and Engine (Indian Railways)
'Target' (SDX02) (220 kg per vehicle). • Specialty: A 1,200 horsepower hydrogen train
o Installed in an orbit of 470 km, capable engine developed by Indian Railways, which is
of docking-undocking. the most powerful in the world.
• Significance: The groundbreaking technology • Trial Route: Early trial on Jind-Sonipat route in
for future on-orbit servicing and space stations Haryana.
will be developed. • Comparison: Hydrogen engines from other
countries (Germany, France, Sweden, China)
Cabinet approves setting up of Third Launch Pad are of 500-600 HP.
(TLP) at Sriharikota Green Hydrogen
• on 16 January 2025. • Hydrogen generated from renewable energy
• Venue: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), sources, which is considered the fuel of the future.
Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. • Production method: By water electrolysis
• Features of Launch Pad: process, which does not emit carbon dioxide.
o Designed for Next Generation Launch • National Initiative: Government of India's
Vehicles (NGLVs). 'National Green Hydrogen Mission' (launched
o will act as a standby for the second – 4 January 2023).
launch pad (SLP).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [48]
ISRO 's CROPS test (study of plant growth in • Speciality:
space) o The fourth and last destroyer ship of
• Test Objective: Germination of cowpea seeds the P15B project.
to study plant growth in space. o One of the largest and most advanced
• पेलोड: CROPS (Compact Research Module for destroyers in the world.
Orbital Plant Studies) o Equipped with advanced network-
• Projection: PSLV-C60 via POEM-4. centric capabilities and state-of-the-
• Developer: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre art weapons.
(VSSC). o Capable of facing threats from air,
surface and underwater.
India's First Space Robotic Arm (ISRO)
• Technique: Relocable Robotic Manipulator- INS Nilgiri
Technology Demonstrator (RRM-TD). • Category: P17A stealth frigate.
• Specialty: Robotic arm with 7 degrees of • Speciality:
freedom (DoF). o The first ship of the P17A project.
• Developer: IISU ( under ISRO). o Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship
Design Bureau.
SCOT Mission (by Indian startup Digantara) o Equipped with advanced stealth,
• Company: Indian space startup Digantara. seaworthiness and survivability.
• Launch: Under SpaceX's Transporter-12 o Proficient in anti-submarine, surface
mission. warfare and other maritime missions.
• Aim:
o More efficient monitoring of the INS Waghsheer
Earth's Low Orbit (LEO). • Class: P75 Scorpene submarine.
o Identification of objects smaller than 5 • Speciality:
centimeters in length. o The sixth and final submarine under
o Helpful in increasing Space Positioning the P75 project.
Awareness (SSA). o Built in collaboration with the Naval
Group of France.
Defence Technology o Equipped with advanced stealth and
Indian Army's first 'Bhargavastra' anti-drone mi- underwater warfare capabilities.
cro-missile o Suitable for anti-ship, anti-submarine,
• Project: Developed the first micro-missile intelligence and surveillance missions.
system of the Bhargavastra counter-drone Amulya & Renewable Fast Petrol Vessel (FPV)
system. launched
• Objective: Protection against swarm drones • Launch Date: 05 January 2025, Goa.
(mass drone attacks). • Manufacturer: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
• Successful Tests: Two tests at the Gopalpur • Usage: Indigenously designed and
Seward Firing Range (GSFR) in Odisha. manufactured for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• Manufacturer: Economic Explosives Limited • Attributes:
(part of Solar Industries India Limited). o The third and fourth vessels in a fleet
• Technical Feature: of eight FPVs built by GSL.
o Ability to penetrate targets at a o The first two ships of the same series
distance of more than 2.5 km. (Adamya and Akshar) will be launched
o Ability to identify and neutralize small in October 2024.
aerial vehicles at a distance of more
than 6 km. Flourishing multi-purpose ship
o Ability to launch 64+ micro missiles • Launch Date: 13 January 2025, L&T, Kattupalli,
simultaneously. Chennai.
o Cost-effective solution against large- • Manufacturer: L&T Shipyard.
scale drone attacks. • Ministry of Defence Agreement: 25 March 2022.
• Attributes:
INS Nilgiri, INS Waghsheer and INS Surat o The second of two multi-purpose ships
• Commissioning Date: 15 January 2025, built for the Indian Navy.
Mumbai Naval Dockyard. o Maximum speed of 15 knots.
• Prime Minister: Chaired by Shri Narendra o The ability to pull ships, launch and retrieve
Modi. various targets.
INS Surat o Use as a test platform for operating unmanned
• Category: P15B guided missile destroyers. autonomous vehicles and indigenous weapons.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [49]
Indo-US Interoperable Sonobuoy Development SSI Mantra – India's Indigenous Surgical Robotic
• Objective: To strengthen the Undersea Domain System
Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy. • Achievement: Two robotic heart surgeries
• Technique: For tracking submarines in the were successfully performed through
deep sea and oceans. telesurgery at a distance of 286 km.
• Cooperation: • Surgery Location: At Manipal Hospital, Jaipur,
o by Ultra Maritime (UM) and Bharat Controlled from Gurugram.
Dynamics Limited (BDL). • Developer: SS Innovations.
o Under the US-India ICET initiative • Attributes:
(May 2022), advanced sonobuoys o SSI Mantra 3 is the world's only robotic
adapted for the Indian Ocean will be system that received regulatory
developed. approval for telesurgery and tele-
proctoring.
Trajan 155 mm towed artillery gun system
• Co-Developer: India (L&T) and France (KNDS Himkavach – Multi-layer Textile System devel-
France). oped by DRDO
• Trial by the Indian Army. • Introduction: Designed for use in cold weather
• Export: for the military.
o Armenia decided to include it in its army. • Attributes:
o Armenia also purchased the Pinaka o Effective in temperatures from +20°C
multi-barrel rocket launcher system and to -60°C.
other defence equipment from India. o Suitable for military operations in
Himalayan regions.
Sanjay – Battlefield Surveillance System (SAN- o Completed all user tests successfully in
JAY-BSS) actual operation.
• Launch Date: 24 January 2025, New Delhi. CAR T-Cell Therapy QuartemApproved
• Introduction: An automated system that • Developer: Immuneel Therapeutics.
integrates input from all ground and air • Purpose: For the treatment of adult B-cell
battlefield sensors. non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL).
• Attributes: • Approval: Central Drugs Standard Control
o Prevents duplication by verifying the Organisation (CDSCO).
authenticity of the input. • India's First CAR-T Therapy:
o Common surveillance images are o NexCAR19, developed by Tata
created through secure military data Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT.
networks and satellite communications. o Launch: 4 April 2024, at IIT Bombay, by
o Helpful in increasing battlefield President Droupadi Murmu.
transparency and strategy formulation.
o The command and the army will CAR-T Cell Therapy
provide the decision support system • T-cells manage the immune response and
to the headquarters. destroy cells infected with pathogens.
o Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors • White blood cells detect disease and infection
and analytics. throughout the body.
Successful test of third generation anti-tank mis- Prototype of India's first air taxi 'Zero' launched
sile 'Nag Mk-II' • Developer: Bengaluru-based startup Sarala
Aviation.
• Date: 14 January 2025.
• Target: Electric flying taxi launch in Bengaluru
• Manufacturer: Defence Research and
by 2028.
Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Attributes:
• Test site: Pokhran Field Range.
o 20-30 km Flight range, maximum
• Attributes:
speed 250 km/h.
o Third generation 'Anti-Tank Fire and
o Maximum capacity of 6 passengers,
Forget Guided Missile'.
680 kg load carrying capacity.
o Designed to deal with modern armored
o Based on EVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-
threats.
off and Landing) technology.
o Fire-and-Forget Technology: The operator
can lock the target before launch. Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)
o Accurate attack capability in complex • Recent cases: Confirmed in two infants in
battlefields. Karnataka and Gujarat.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [50]
• Introduction: Common respiratory virus, • It will study the chemical composition of the
causes upper respiratory infections (colds). soil in the south polar region of the Moon.
• Seasonality: more active in winter and early • The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial
spring, similar to RSV and flu. Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme.
• Risk groups: children, people with weakened
immune systems, and the elderly.
Technology Adoption Fund (TAF)
• Mode of infection: Spread through contact • Launch: By Indian National Space Promotion
with an infected person or infected surface. and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe).
• It is a funding project for India’s space startups
IIT Bombay develops bacteria to tackle soil pollution and MSMEs.
• Objective: To reduce soil pollution and • Objective: To accelerate the development
promote agriculture. of indigenous space technology to reduce
• Attributes: dependence on imported solutions
o Destroys toxic pollutants of the soil • Amount: Rs 500 crore
and produces nutrients. • The fund will provide financial assistance up
o Breaks down harmful substances and to 60% of the project cost and 40% for large
promotes growth hormone. industries.
o Helpful in preventing the growth of • Under this, a maximum of Rs 25 crore per
harmful fungi. project will be funded.
• This will accelerate future R&D from the de-
Excercises velopment of new space products to the cre-
ation of intellectual property.
La Peros multilateral exercise
• Host: France Indian National Space Promotion and Authoriza-
• Participating Countries: Australia, Canada, tion Centre (IN-SPACe)
France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, • Establishment : In the year 2020.
U.K., U.S. • An autonomous agency under the Department
• Location: Malacca, Sunda and Lombok Straits of Space, Government of India
(Strategic area between the Indian Ocean - • Objective: To enable the participation of the
Pacific Ocean) Indian private sector in space activities.
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
Surya Kiran Exercise 2024
• Type: Indo-Nepal Military Exercise FEASTSoftware
• Duration: 31 December 2024 - 13 January 2025 • Launch: By Indian Space Research Organisation
• Location: Saljhandi, Nepal (ISRO).
• Feast: Finite Element Analysis of Structure.
Mount Aconcagua Joint Expedition • Objective: To promote indigenously developed
• Partnership: Indian Army and Argentine Army finite element analysis software.
• Duration: 3 - 20 January 2025 • The ‘Feast’ software has been developed by IS-
• Location: Cerro Aconcagua, Argentina RO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• Significance: It is the highest peak in South • It is a structural analysis software based on the
America (6,995 m). Finite element method, which will be used to
Practice Devil Strike analyze the behavior of structures under differ-
• Participants: Distinguished Airmen of the ent loads in the fields of aerospace, automo-
Indian Army and Indian Air Force bile, civil, mechanical and marine engineering.
• Duration: 16 – 19 January 2025 • It will help engineers to conduct virtual testing
• Objective: testing advanced airborne of designs before physical construction.
operations and logistical strategies in hostile Discovery of the most energetic neutrinos
terrain.
• Scientists have discovered the highest-energy
• Location: training area and firing range.
neutrinos using the KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre
February Neutrino Telescope) observatory in the Med-
iterranean Sea.
NASA’s Moon mission Athenalaunched • It is 30 times more energetic than any particle
• The US space agency NASA launched the lunar seen in the past.
mission ‹Athena’ on February 26, 2025. • It is 10,000 times more powerful than the
• It will land on the surface of the moon on Large Hadron Collider particle, the world’s
March 6, 2025. largest particle accelerator.
• It was launched from a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket. • Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT):
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [51]
KM3NeT is a European research facility under Majorana 1
construction in the Mediterranean Sea, which • Microsoft has launched a chip called Majorana
studies neutrinos. 1.
o It is designed to detect neutrinos • It is the world’s first quantum chip powered
coming from distant sources and the by topological core architecture. The aim of
Earth’s atmosphere. which is to revolutionize quantum computing.
• :
Note India’s Neutrino Observatory project will be • It is the first quantum chip that uses topological
set up in a 1,200-metre-deep cave in Pottipuram superconductors (topoconductors).
village in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. • It is made of indium arsenide (semiconductor)
• Neutrinos are electrically neutral, almost and aluminum (superconductor), which
massless subatomic particles that rarely improves quantum stability and performance.
interact with matter. • It has eight qubits, but its topological core
o They are also called «ghost particles». structure enables error-resistant scaling up to
Indigenous semiconductor chip developed by IIT one million qubits.
Madras for ISRO Successful wet test of fourth generation deep-
• Significant step in indigenous semiconductor ocean manned scientific submersible ‘Mat-
technology under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. sya-6000’
• ‘IRIS’ (indigenous RIS-V controller) developed • The test was carried out under the
from ‹Shakti’ processor, which is useful in IoT Samudrayaan project.
and computing systems. • As part of the Deep Ocean Mission initia-
• ISRO’s Inertia Systems Unit (IISU) and IIT tive, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has com-
Madras collaborated on the chip design. missioned the National Institute of Ocean
• The project was supported under the ‹Digital Technology to develop a fourth generation
India RISC-V’ (DIR-V) initiative. deep-sea submarine Matsya-6000 under the
Defence Ministry signs contract worth Rs 10,147 Samudrayaan project.
crore for Pinaka • This test is a significant step towards conduct-
ing the test in shallow waters up to a depth of
• The Defence Ministry signed a Rs 10,147 crore
500 meters by the end of 2025.
deal for the Indian Army’s Pinaka multi-launch-
• This state-of-the-art submarine with a diame-
er rocket system.
ter of 2.1 meters is designed for operation of
• The Defence Ministry has signed the contract
with Nagpur-based Economic Explosives Ltd three persons.
and Pune-based Municisons India Ltd. Samudrayaan Project
• It will be supplied by Economic Explosives Lim- • It has been launched under the Deep Ocean
ited to Area Denial Munitions (ADM). Mission (DOM) of the Ministry of Earth
• Municiens India Limited will make long-range Sciences.
rockets for the army. • The Deep Ocean Mission is a central sector
• Area denial will help prevent enemy tanks, ve- scheme. It aims to carry out Deep Ocean Survey
hicles and soldiers from advancing, while mu- and Exploration; To support Blue Economy
nitions advanced range rockets will be able to initiatives such as Deep Ocean Mining.
penetrate deep into enemy territory and carry • Objective: To send three persons to a depth
out precision strikes. of 6000 meters in the sea on a vessel named
World’s largest 10-ton propellant mixer launched ‹Matsya 6000’. These will search for resources
• India has developed the world’s largest such as minerals in the deep sea.
10-tonne propellant mixer for solid rocket mo- • Implementation period: 5 years (2020-2021 to
tors in a major technological breakthrough. 2025 2026).
• ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre has de- Lumpy skin disease vaccine ‘Biolumpivexin’ approved
signed the mixer in collaboration with the Cen- • The Drug Regulatory Authority of India (CDSCO)
tral Institute of Manufacturing Technology in approved Bharat Biotech’s lumpy skin disease
Bengaluru. (LSD) vaccine BioLumpivacin.
• The mixer weighs 150 tons and has a height of • The vaccine has been developed by Bharat
8.7 meters, a length of 5.4 meters and a width Biotech group company Biovet for dairy cattle
of 3.3 meters. and buffaloes.
• This ensures precise and safe mixing of sol- • Biolumpivaccine is the world’s safest DIVA (Dif-
id propellant material required for rocket ferentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals)
launch. marker vaccine.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [52]
• This indigenous live-attenuated marker Multilateral Naval Exercise ‘Komodo’
vaccinehas been developed in collaboration • The fifth multilateral naval exercise Komo-
with ICAR-NRCE, Hisar and Biovet. do hosted by the Indonesian Navy began
• Lumpy skin disease is a transboundary animal
on February 16.
diseasethat has affected cattle health and the
dairy industry. • It is scheduled to take place from February
16 to 22, 2025.
Excercises • More than 30 ships from over 15 coun-
tries are participating in the exercise.
Sixth “Dharma Guardian 2025” Exercise • Russia, China, India and the United States
• It is a joint Indo-Japan military exercise. are participating in the exercise.
• The exercise will be held from 24 February to • The theme of the exercise is “Maritime
9 March 2025 at the Eastern Fuji Training Area Partnership for Peace and Stability”.
in Japan.
• The main objective of this military exercise is
to enhance inter-operability in urban warfare
and counter-terrorism operations under the
United Nations mandate.
Indo-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise
«Cyclone-III”
• The joint Special Forces Exercise
«Cyclone-III» between India and
Egypt began on 10 February 2025
at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in
Rajasthan.
• The previous edition was held in An-
shas, Egypt in January 2024.
• Objective: To practice and validate the
tactics of counter-terrorism operations
in desert and semi-desert areas.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [53]

6- SPORTS
January India Open 2025 Badminton
• Venue: K.D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
(14-19 January 2025)
• Host: Australia (22 November 2024 – 5 January • Conqueror:
2025) o Men's Singles: Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
• Winner: Australia (Win over India 3-1) o Women's Singles: An Se-young (Korea)
• Speciality: Test cricket series played between o Men's Doubles: Sez Phi Goh and Noor
India and Australia. Izzuddin (Malaysia)
World Blitz Chess Championship 2024 o Women's Doubles: Arisa Igarashi and
Ayako Sakuramoto (Japan)
• Location: New York, U.S. (30-31 December 2024)
o Mixed Doubles: Zheng Bang Jiang & Ya Xin
• Winners: GM Magnus Carlsen and Ian
Wei (China)
Nepomniachtchi (jointly)
• Women's Category: 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025
o Indian chess player R Vaishali won the • Venue: Tamil Nadu (17-20 February 2025)
bronze medal. • Participants: About 1,700 para-athletes
o In the semi-finals, Xu Wenjun of China lost. Australian Open 2025
Anahat Singh – British Junior Open Squash Cham-
pionships 2024 Class Winner Runners-up
• Title: U-17 Girls Singles Winner Men's Singles Janick Sinner Alexander Zverev
• Location: England Women's Madison Keys Aryna Sabalenka
• Final: India's Anahat Singh beat Egypt's Malika Singles
El Karoxi 3-2. Men's Harry Heliowara Simone Bolelli
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 Doubles / Flickr Henry Andrea Vavassori
• Winner: Karnataka (beat Vidarbha by 36 runs) Patton
• Final Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara Women's Katerina Hsih Su-wei /
• Trophy Identification: Also known as the Ranji Doubles Siniakova | Flickr Jelena
One-Day Trophy. Taylor Townsend Ostapenko
• Karnataka 1st Trophy: 2013–14
mixed By Olivia By Kimberly
o Total wins: 5th time winner
doubles Gadecky John Birrell John-
Santosh Trophy 2024-25 Pearce Patrick Smith
• Final Venue: GMC Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad Spanish Super Cup 2025
(31 December 2024)
• Winners: West Bengal (beat Kerala 1-0 ) • Winner: Barcelona (beat Real Madrid 5-2 ).
• West Bengal won the title for the 33rd time. • Barcelona's first trophy led by manager Hansi
Flick.
Kho Kho World Cup 2025 • Lewandowski: 26 goals in 27 matches in all
• 1st edition: 13-19 January 2025, Indira Gandhi competitions.
Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. • Tournament debut (1982): Competition
• Winner: India (both men's and women's between La Liga and Copa del Rey winners.
category) First Women's Hockey India League
• Men's Final: India beat Nepal 54-36. • Winner: Odisha Warriors (beat Surma Hockey
• Women's Final: India beat Nepal 78-40 Club 2-1 in the final ).
• Team participation: 20 men's and 19 women's • Final place: Ranchi
teams. • Main Prizes:
• Indian Men's Team: o Best Goalkeeper: Savita (JSW Surma Hockey
o Captain: Prateek Waikar, Coach: Club).
Ashwini Kumar Sharma o Emerging Player: Sonam (JSW Surma
• Indian Women's Team: Hockey Club).
o Captain: Priyanka Ingale, Coach: Sumit o Best Player: Jyoti (JSW Surma Hockey Club).
Bhatia
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [54]
FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 • At the closing ceremony, the flag of the National
• Host: India (31 October – 27 November 2025). Games was handed over to Meghalaya, which
• India last hosted it in 2002 in Hyderabad. will host the 39th Summer National Games in
• Winner in 2002: Viswanathan Anand. 2027.
• Mascot: "Mauli" – Monal, the state bird of
86th Senior National Table Tennis Championships Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
• Conqueror: • For the first time in the history of sports,
o Women's Singles: Diya Chitale (beat competitions will be held in 7 cities of a state.
Sreeja Akula in final). o 7 cities: Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital,
o Men's Singles: Manush Shah (beat Haldwani, Rudrapur, Shivpuri and New
Payas Jain in final). Tehri.
• Venue: Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Indoor • It includes 32 sports as well as four
Stadium, Surat. demonstration events.
• Dia Chitale: A paddler from Mumbai, she plays o 4 Demonstration Events: Mallakhamb,
for the RBI. Kalaripayattu, Rafting, Yogasanas.
Khelo India Winter Games 2025 o Mallakhamb and Yogasana were first
kept as demonstration sports, but
• 1st place: Ladakh (7 medals including 4 gold ). later these were included in the medal
• 2nd place: Tamil Nadu (5 medals including 3 games.
gold ). o Kalaripayattu and rafting
• 3rd place: Maharashtra (10 medals but only 2 demonstrations were played, in which
gold). no medals were awarded.
• Key Performances: o A total of 35 sports were held – 33
o Ladakh Women's Ice Hockey Team: medal sports and 2 non-medal sports.
Beat ITBP 4-0 to win gold.
o Indian Army beat ITBP 2-1 to retain Army team to win Raja Bhalinder Singh Trophy
men's ice hockey title. for 5th time
o Tamil Nadu's Yashasri: Gold in women's • The 'Raja Bhalinder Singh Trophy' is given to
500m skating event. the team that wins the most gold medals in the
• Phase 1: 27 January 2025, NDS Stadium, Leh. Summer National Games.
• Phase 2: 22-25 February 2025, Gulmarg, • Services (Services Sports Control Board) won
Jammu and Kashmir. this trophy 5 times – 2007, 2011, 2015, 2022
Indian Winners at the 20th ICC Awards 2024 and 2025.
• The services team comprises players from the
• ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year: Arshdeep
Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
Singh
• In the previous edition (2023), Maharashtra
• ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year: Jasprit
won the trophy by topping the medal tally.
Bumrah
• ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year: Smriti Medal tally of the 38th Summer National Games
Mandhana
• Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian to Rank Team Gold Silver Bronze Total
win the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year 1 Services 68 26 27 121
award for the second time. Sports Control
Board (Army)
February 2 Maharashtra 54 71 73 198
38th Summer National Games 2025 3 haryana 48 47 58 153
• Uttarakhand hosted the games in 12 cities 4 Karnataka 34 18 28 80
from 28 January to 14 February 2025. 5 Madhya 33 26 23 82
• The Games are organised by the Indian Olympic Pradesh
Association (IOA) and hosted by the State/UT 15 Rajasthan 9 11 23 43
Governments. 33 Sikkim 0 0 2 2
• Opening Ceremony: 28 January 2025, took
place in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Prime Minister 39th Summer National Games 2027
Narendra Modi inaugurates the event. • The Indian Olympic Association chose Megha-
• Closing Ceremony: 14 February 2025, held laya to host the 39th National Games to be held
at International Sports Complex, Haldwani, in February/March 2027.
Uttarakhand. Union Home Minister Amit Shah • Meghalaya will host the National Games for the
was the chief guest. first time.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [55]
• The northeastern states have previously hosted The first edition of the Olympic eSports Games
Manipur (1999, 30th National Games) and will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
Assam (2007, 33rd National Games). • The first Olympic eSports Games 2027 will be
Mohun Bagan win second ISL Shield title held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Mohun Bagan Super Giant Football Club won • The IOC is setting up a dedicated commission
the Indian Super League (ISL) Shield title in to explore opportunities for the younger
the final held in Kolkata on February 23. generation involved in gaming.
• Mohun Bagan defeated Odisha FC Club 1-0 in • A six-member committee has been formed
the final. to include sports in the first edition of the
• This is Mohun Bagan Super Giant's second eSports Olympics.
consecutive title. • Note: Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Football
• He has also become the first team to win this World Cup.
title twice. Pankaj Advani wins Indian Snooker Champion-
Indian Super League (ISL) ship
• It is a club-based football competition.
• 36th National and 10th Men's Snooker Title at
• - All India Football Federation (AIFF)
Yashwant Club.
Virat Kohli • Scored an impressive break of 84 in the bout.
• Virat Kohli became the first batsman in the • The Asian Snooker Championship begins on
world to score 14,000 ODI runs in the shortest February 15.
innings during the Champions Trophy 2025 India wins 3rd SABA Women's Championship
match against Pakistan in Dubai on February
2025 title
23.
• Virat Kohli achieved this feat in 287 innings.  Recently, India won the 3rd SABA Women's
(Sachin Tendulkar (350 innings)) Championship 2025.
• Kohli is only the third batsman in the world to  India won the championship by defeating
score 14,000 runs in ODIs, after Tendulkar and Maldives in the final.
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (378 innings).  The match was played at the KD Jadhav Indoor
• Kohli scored his 51st century in this match Stadium in New Delhi.
(record for most centuries in ODIs)  The Indian team participated in the SABA
• In this match, Virat became the highest catcher Women's Championship for the first time.
in ODIs. (158 catches) 3rd SABA Women's Championship 2025
 - Held: February 23-26
Mohammed Shami  Organizer: South Asian Basketball Association
• Mohammed Shami has become the second and Basketball Federation of India
fastest bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets.  Host: India
• Before him, only Mitchell Starc (102 matches)
Wriddhiman Saha
had achieved this feat.
• Shami took 202 wickets in 104 ODIs at an • Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman
average of 23.63. ' Saha has announced his retirement from all
• Shami has taken 200 ODI wickets in just 5,126 forms of cricket.
balls, making him the fastest bowler to do so • The 40-year-old Saha, who made his
according to balls. international debut in February 2010,
• He achieved the feat on February 20 in Dubai represented India in 49 matches including 40
in the ICC Champions Trophy match between Tests and nine ODIs.
India and Bangladesh. • Saha played his last international match
• Also, Mohammed Shami became India's against New Zealand in 2021.
highest wicket-taker in ICC ODI tournaments • In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Saha has
with 60 wickets. played for several franchises.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [56]

7- Awards & Honours

January
Padma Awards 2025
• A total of 139 names have been announced for the Padma awards for the year 2025.
• The list includes 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.
• Among the awardees, 23 are women and the list includes foreigners in the category/category. NRIs / NRIs
Pio/ There are also 10 individuals from the OCI and 13 posthumous awardees.
• The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian awards in India.
• It is awarded in three categories, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
Padma Vibhushan (7)
S.No. Name Field State/Country
1. Sri Duvvur Nageswara Reddy medicine Telangana
2. Shri Justice (Retd.) Shri Jagdish Singh Khehar Public Affairs Chandigarh
3. Smt. Kumudini Rajinikanth Lakhia art Gujarat
4. Shri Lakshminarayan Subramaniam art Karnataka
5. Mr. M. T. Vasudevan Nair (posthumously) Literature & Education Kerala
6. Mr. Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous) Trade & Industry Japan
7. Smt. Sharda Sinha (Posthumous) art Bihar
Padma Bhushan (19)
S.No. Name Field State/Country
1. Shri A. Surya Prakash Literature & Education-Journalism Karnataka
2. Shri Anant Nag art Karnataka
3. Shri Bibek Debroy (Posthumous) Literature & Education NCT Delhi
4. Shri Jatin Gaswamy art unequal
5. Mr. Jose Chacko Periyappuram medicine Kerala
6. Shri Kailash Nath Dixit Other-archaeology NCT Delhi
7. Shri Manohar Joshi (Posthumous) Public Affairs Maharashtra
8. Sri Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetty Trade & Industry Tamil Nadu
9. Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna art Andhra Pradesh
10. Shri P.R. Sreejesh sport Kerala
11. Shri Pankaj Patel Trade & Industry Gujarat
12. Shri Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous) art Maharashtra
13. Shri Ram Bahadur Rai Literature & Education-Journalism Uttar Pradesh
14. Sadhvi Ritambhara social work Uttar Pradesh
15. Shri S. Ajith Kumar art Tamil Nadu
16. Mr. Shekhar Kapur art Maharashtra
17. Ms. Shobhana Chandrakumar art Tamil Nadu
18. Shri Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous) Public Affairs Bihar
19. Shri Vinod Dham Science & Engineering United States
National Sports Awards 2024
• President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to the winners of the National Sports Awards 2024 on
17 January 2025.
• These awards were announced recently by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [57]
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 21. Shri Nitesh Kumar Para-Badminton
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award,
22. Ms. Tulsimathi Murugesan Para-Badminton
formerly known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award. 23. Ms. Nitya Shri Sumathi Sivan Para-Badminton
• It is the country's highest sporting honour. 24. Ms. Manisha Ramdoss Para-Badminton
• The award was instituted in 1991–92.
• The winner of this award is given ₹ 25 lakh as 25. Shri Kapil Parmar Para-Judo
prize money. 26. Ms. Mona Agarwal Para-Shooting
• This year, four sportspersons were given the
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. These 27. Ms. Rubina Francis Para-Shooting
players are- 28. Shri Swapnil Suresh Kusale marksmanship
SN Player Name Competition 29. Shri Sarabjot Singh marksmanship
1. Mr. Gukesh D chess 30. Shri Abhay Singh squash
2. Shri Harmanpreet Singh hockey game 31. Shri Sajan Prakash Act or art of
3. Shri Praveen Kumar Para Athletics swimming
4. Ms. Manu Bhaker marksmanship 32. Mr. Aman wrestling

Arjuna Award Dronacharya Award

• The Arjuna Award is given to the best • The Dronacharya Award is given to those
performing players for four consecutive years. coaches who have won medals in international
• This award was started in 1961. events.
• The Arjuna Awardee receives a statuette, a • The award was instituted in 1985.
certificate and a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh. • The Dronacharya (life) award carries a cash
• This year, Arjuna Awards were given to 32 prize of Rs. 15 lakh and a regular Dronacharya
sportspersons. These players are- awardee of Rs. 10lakhs.
SN Player Name Competition Dronacharya Award 2024
• This year Dronacharya Awards (regular and
1. Ms. Jyoti Yaraji athletics
life-long) were given to 5 coaches. These
2. Ms. Annu Rani athletics coaches are:
3. Ms. Neetu boxing Dronacharya Award: Regular Category
4. Ms. Sweety boxing
S. No. Coach's Name Competition
5. Ms. Vantika Agarwal che
1. Shri Subhash Rana Para-Shooting
6. Ms. Salima Tete hockey game
2. Ms. Deepali Deshpande marksmanship
7. Mr. Abhishek hockey game
3. Mr. Sandeep Sangwan hockey game
8. Mr. Sanjay hockey game
Dronacharya Award: Lifetime Achievement Category
9. Shri Jarmanpreet Singh hockey game
10. Shri Sukhjit Singh hockey game S. No. Coach's Name Competition
11. Shri Rakesh Kumar Para-Archery 4. Shri S. Muraleedharan badminton
12. Ms. Preeti Pal Para Athletics 5. Mr. Armando Agnelo Colaco football
13. Ms. Jiwanji Deepti Para Athletics Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in
14. Shri Ajit Singh Para Athletics Sports
15. Shri Sachin Sarjerao Khilari Para Athletics • The Dhyan Chand Award is given to sports
persons who have made special contributions
16. Mr. Dharambir Para Athletics
in the field of sports. Dhyan Chand
17. Shri Pranav Surma Para Athletics • The awardee will receive a statuette, a
18. Mr. H. Hocato Sema Para Athletics certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh.
• This year 2 players will be given this award.
19. Simran Ji Para Athletics These are:
20. Mr. Navdeep Para Athletics
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [58]

S. No. Player Name Competition  Best Series (Drama)

 Best Actress (Drama)
1. Shri Sucha Singh athletics  Best Actor (Drama)
 Best Supporting Actor
2. Shri Murlikant Rajaram Para-Swimming o "The Brutlist" – 7 nominations, Adrien
Petkar
Brody won the Best Male Actor in a
• Chandigarh University was awarded the Motion Picture-Drama.
Maulana Abbul Kalam Azad MAKA Trophy for o "The Last Showgirl" – Pamela Anderson
its highest performance in the Khelo India won the award for Best Female Actor
University Games. in a Motion Picture-Drama.
Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management o "El Mal" ("Emilia Perez") – Best Original
Award 2025 Song.
• Institutional Category Winner: Indian National o "Flow" – winner in the motion picture-
Centre for Ocean Information Services (IN- animated category.
COIS). • Indian film: Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine as
• Establishment: Union Ministry of Home Light" received two nominations, but no awards.
Affairsfor outstanding work in disaster Lionel Messi – Presidential Medal of Freedom
management. Winner
• Announcement Date: 23 January (Netaji • Honor: The highest civilian honor of the United
Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti). States.
• Prize Money: • Contribution: Contribution to the prosperity,
o Institution: ₹51 Lakh + Certificates. security, world peace, or society of the United
o Individuals: ₹5 lakh + certificates. States.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information • The first male footballer to win this honor.
Services (INCOIS) • Second player: Earlier this honor was received
• Establishment: 1999, Hyderabad, Telangana. by female footballer Megan Rapinoe.
• Recognized as the top tsunami service provider Republic Day 2025 – Best Tableau Awards
by UNESCO. • Best Tableau: Uttar Pradesh – "Mahakumbh
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2025 2025 – Swarnim Bharat: Heritage and
Development".
Dr. Syed Anwar Khurshid
• 2nd place: Tripura – "Eternal Faith: Worship of
• Honours: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. 14 Gods in Tripura – Kharchi Puja".
• Contributions: Healthcare, community • 3rd place: Andhra Pradesh – "Attikoppaka
wellness, strengthening India-Saudi Arabia Bommalu-Eco-friendly wooden toys".
relations. • Best Union Ministry Tableau: Ministry of Tribal
Christine Carla Kangalu Affairs – "Year of Tribal Pride".
• Country: President of Trinidad and Tobago. • Marching Detachment Category: Jammu &
• Contributions: Exceptional achievements Kashmir Rifles (Best among the Services).
in public life and contribution to enhancing • Special Prizes:
India's international prestige. o Central Public Works Department –
• Chief Guest at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas "75 Years of the Indian Constitution ".
Convention. o "Jayati Jai Mam: Bharatam" Dance
• Conference Venue & Date: 8-10 January 2025, Group.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Tarun Das – Singapore's Honorary Civilian Award
Indian short film "Anuja" nominated at Oscars 2025 • Honours: Singapore's highest honorary citizen
• Category: Best Short Film (Live Action). award.
• Direction: Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai • Provider: President of Singapore Tharman
• Contributors: Guneet Monga (two-time Oscar Shanmugaratnam.
winner),Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling. • Contribution: Outstanding contribution to
Singapore's development and economic growth.
82nd Golden Globes Awards (2025) • Second Indian Winner: Earlier this honor was
• Event: January 5, Los Angeles. given to Ratan Tata.
• Key Winners: • Post: Former Director General of Confederation
o "Shogun" (Television Category) – 4 of Indian Industry (CII).
Awards
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [59]
Krishna Ella – INSA India Fellowship 2025 • He was awarded the United Kingdom's "Order
• Honours: Indian National Science Academy's of Outstanding (Civil Division) of the British
(INSA) Prestigious India Fellowship 2025. Empire", which is given to those who have
• Post: Co-founder and Executive Chairman of made special contributions to social service, art,
science, and business.
Bharat Biotech International.
• Other international celebrities who received
• Contribution: this prestigious honor include names like
o Development of new vaccine Dagmar Dolby, Eric Schmidt, Jason Furman and
technologies . Rajinder Datta.
o Significant improvements in existing
technologies. Sunil Bharti Mittal gets honorary knighthood medal
o Contribute to new scientific discoveries • Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman
and knowledge enrichment. Sunil Bharti Mittal was awarded an honorary
knighthood medal by the United Kingdom.
February
• This honor was given for furthering business
Purnima Devi Burman named Time magazine's relations between the United Kingdom and
'Woman of the Year' India.
• Indian biologist and wildlife conservationist • He was given the insignia of the "Knight
Purnima Devi Barman has been named Time Commander of the Most Outstanding Order of
magazine's 'Woman of the Year'. the British Empire" (KBE).
• Purnima Devi Barman is the only Indian woman NTPC Wins Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025
on this year's list. • NTPCLimited was awarded the Forward Faster
• The list includes 13 women, including actress Sustainability Award 2025 in the 'Water Tensile
Nicole Kidman and France's Gisele Pelicot. Category'.
• Purnima Devi is known for her tireless efforts • The award was given by UN Global Compact
in protecting the endangered Greater Adjutant Network India, which was received by NTPC
Stork , locally known as Hargila. representatives Shri Harekrushna Dash and
• It is one of the rarest storks in the world. Shri K Karthikeyan.
Manu Bhaker named BBC Indian Sportswoman of • The award is in recognition of NTPC's efforts
the Year in water conservation and sustainable water
management.
 Recently, Olympian Manu Bhaker was chosen
• The Forward Faster Sustainability Awards
as the winner of the BBC Indian Sportswoman
honours organisations that promote
of the Year Award 2024
sustainability and are aligned with the United
BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 Inception: Year 2020 (by BBC India) • NTPC has achieved self-sufficiency in the use of
 Aim: To highlight the achievements of Indian freshwater at its RGPPL plant.
women players and motivate them to move • Note: NTPC is established as India's largest
forward. integrated power unit.
'Vantara' wins National Animal Friend Award National Dhanvantari Ayurveda Award
• On February 27, 2025, the Central Govern- • The awards were presented by the Ministry
ment gave the 'National Animal Friend' Award of AYUSH, Government of India to 3
to 'Vantara', an organization related to animal physicians for the year 2025.
welfare, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. • The awardee received a citation, a trophy
• Vantara of the Reliance Group Foundation bearing the statue of Lord Dhanvantari and a
is an organisation dedicated to the rescue, cash prize of ₹5 lakh.
treatment and lifelong care of elephants. Award Recipients:
• It is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
1. Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma (Famous Nadi
• The world's largest elephant hospital has also
Vaidya and Writer)
been established by Vantara.
2. Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal (Experience
Natarajan Chandrasekaran gets honorary knight- and Ayurveda contribution in the field of
hood Dravyaguna)
• Tata Sons chief Natarajan Chandrasekaran 3. Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni (Founder
has been awarded an honorary knighthood by of World Grammarmala National Conference
the UK for his contribution to UK-India trade and World Ayurveda Prabodhini)
relations.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [60]
Banaras Lit Fest Awards 2025
 The awards were officially announced by the Banaras Lit Fest, a prestigious platform of literature and
culture, on 23 February 2025 in New Delhi.
 These awards will be given at the grand Banaras Lit Fest to be held from 7 to 9 March 2025 at Hotel
Taj, Banaras.
 One of the highest honours in Indian literature, these awardsare given to writers who have made
outstanding contributions in poetry, fiction, non-fiction prose and translation.
 Each winner will receive a cash prize of Rs. 10,000.A cash prize of Rs. 51,000, certificates and trophies will
be awarded.
 Renowned author Raj Kamal Jha has been awarded the 'Ruskin Bond Fiction Book Award' for his novel
"The Patient in Bed No. 12".
 Eminent writer of Hindi literature Kashinath Singh will be honoured with the 'Bhartendu Harishchandra
Lifetime Achievement Award'.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [61]

8- Person in news
January Devjit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia
• Devajit Saikia – Secretary of BCCI.
V. Narayanan – ISRO Chairman • Prabhtej Singh Bhatia – Treasurer of BCCI.
• Appointment: Appointed Chairman of Indian • Selection: Unopposed.
Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Tenure: For two years with effect from 14 Donald Trump
January 2025. • He became the 47th President of the United
• Other positions: Secretary of the Department of States .
Space and Chairman of the Space Commission. • Sworn in: On 20 January 2025, he became the
• Predecessor: S. Somnath. 47th President of the United States.
• Specialization: Rocket and spacecraft propulsion. • Predecessor: Joe Biden (46th President).
• Sworn Officer: Chief Justice John Roberts.
Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran • Vice President: JD Vance (50th Vice President).
• He became a judge in the Supreme Court . • Representing India: External Affairs Minister S.
• Sworn in: 16 January 2025 by CJI Sanjiv Khanna. Jaishankar.
• Previous post: Chief Justice of Patna High • Exclusive: Usha Vance becomes first Indian-
Court. American Second Lady.
• Judicial Strength: Now 33 judges in the
Supreme Court . John Mahama
• Appointment: Became President of Ghana for
Bahadur Singh Sagoo the third time.
• Appointment: President of the Athletics • Predecessor: Nana Akufo-eddo.
Federation of India (AFI). • First oath: In July 2012.
• Predecessor: Adile Sumariwalla.
• Other appointments: Sandeep Mehta was Zoran Milanović
elected secretary of the federation. • Re-elected President of Croatia.
• Sports Achievement: Asian Games Gold Medalist. • Opponent: Defeated the ruling Conservative
Party candidate.
Gyanendra Pratap Singh • Policy stances: Critics of the EU and NATO.
• Appointment: Director General of CRPF appointed. • Capital: Zagreb.
• Batch: 1991, IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya
cadre. Michael Martin
• Tenure: Till 30 November 2027. • He became the Prime Minister of Ireland.
• Approval: By the Appointments Committee of • Party: Fianna Fáil Party leader.
the Cabinet. • Previous tenure: Prime Minister from 2020 to
2022.
M. Mohan
• Appointment: Director of the Liquid Propulsion Lukashenko
Systems Center (LPSC). • Became President of Belarus.
• Previous post: Director (Project) at Vikram • Election Victory: Elected President for the
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). seventh time.
• Predecessor: Dr. V. Narayanan. • Vote percentage: about 87%.
• Special Task: System Leader of the Moon Im- • Tenure: President continuously since 1994.
pact Probe (MIP) of the Chandrayaan-1 mission. • Belarus is located in Eastern Europe.
Bhuvnesh Kumar Joseph Aoun
• Appointment: CEO of Unique Identification • Election: Elected President by the Parliament
Authority of India (UIDAI). of Lebanon.
• Assumed office: 1 January 2025. • Background: Fifth former army commander to
• Other Posts: Additional Secretary in the become President of Lebanon.
Ministry of Electronics and Information • Chief of Army Staff: Appointed in March 2017.
Technology (MeitY). • Justin Trudeau
• Predecessor: Amit Agarwal. • On 6 January 2025, he resigned as Prime Minister
of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [62]
• Tenure: Became Prime Minister in 2015 at the SEBI
age of 44.  Founded: 12 April 1988
• Interim role: Will remain in office until the  Statutory Body Formed: 1992
election of a new leader.  Headquarters: Mumbai
Demises Shaktikanta Das
• Shaktikanta Das was appointed as the second
K. S. Manilal
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister on
• Died: 1 January 2025 February 22.
• Botanist, Padma Shri awarded. • His appointment was approved by the
• The ancient Latin text "Hortus malabaricus" Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
was translated into English and Malayalam. • His tenure will coincide with the prime
• He was a former head of the Department of minister's term or until further orders,
Botany at the University of Calicut. whichever is earlier.
Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram • Shaktikanta Das is a retired IAS officer of Tamil
• Died: At the age of 88 Nadu cadre.
• He was an Indian nuclear scientist. • He has been the 25th Governor of RBI.
• Contribution: • He has also been a member of the G-20 Sherpa
o Playing a key role in India's nuclear of India and the 15th Finance Commission.
weapons programme. • PK Mishra is also currently serving as the
o The chief scientist of the first nuclear Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
tests of 1974 and the Pokhran-II tests B V R Subramaniam
of1998. • The government has extended the tenure of
February NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) BVR
Subramanian by one year.
Gyanesh Kumar • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
• President Droupadi Murmu has appointed approved the extension of Subramanian's
Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as the tenure as CEO of NITI Aayog.
new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). • He was appointed CEO of NITI Aayog in
• He will retire on January 26, 2029. He is the February 2023 for two years.
26th Chief Election Commissioner of India. Rekha Gupta
• He replaced Rajiv Kumar.
• She was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of
• CEC Gyanesh Kumar is a former IAS officer. He
Delhi on February 20.
is a 1988 batch officer of Kerala cadre.
• Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena
• President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Dr.
administered the oath of office and secrecy.
Vivek Joshi as the newly appointed Election
• Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma was sworn in as
Commissioner.
Deputy Chief Minister.
• He is a 1989 batch IAS officer of the Haryana
• Six cabinet ministers were also sworn in along
cadre.
with him.
 Gyanesh Kumar is the first CEC to be appointed
• Rekha Gupta is the ninth Chief Minister of
under the new law.
Delhi and the fourth woman Chief Minister.
 Selection Committee: Prime Minister, Leader
• Former women Chief Ministers of Delhi:
of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Cabinet Ministers
Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit and Atishi Singh.
 Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
• Rekha Gupta is a first-time MLA from Shalimar
will continue in his post.
Bagh in Delhi.
Tuhin Kanta Pandey becomes new SEBI chairman • Earlier, she has also been elected as a member
• Recently, India's Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
Pandey has been appointed as the 11th chair- • Rekha Gupta is the 18th woman Chief Minister
man of the Securities and Exchange Board of of India.
India (SEBI). • Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman Chief
 His tenure will be for three years. Minister of India.
 He will replace Madhabi Puri Buch, who was • Delhi Assembly seats: 70
the first woman chairman of SEBI o The BJP won 48 seats and the Aam
 Tuhin Kanta Pandey is a 1987 batch IAS Aadmi Party won 22 seats.
officer of Odisha cadre. • Note: The Chief Minister of Delhi is appointed
by the President.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [63]
V. Ananth Nageswaran Jotham Napat
• The tenure of the Chief Economic Advisor • Jotham Napat was elected as the new Prime
(CEA) of India, V. Anantha Nageswaran, has Minister of Vanuatu on 11 February 2025.
been extended till March 2027. The decision • He was elected by voting in Parliament in Port
was taken by the Appointments Committee of Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.
the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister • Napat will lead a coalition government made
Narendra Modi. up of five political parties – Leaders Party,
• The office of the Chief Economic Advisor Vanuaku Party, Greon Mo Justice Party,
is tasked with advising the government on Reunification Movement for Change and Iuko
various economic policies and drafting the Group.
Economic Survey. • In addition, Johnny Konapo Russau has been
appointed as Deputy Prime Minister.
P D Singh
• Standard Chartered has announced the Constantine Tasoulas
appointment of PD Singh as its Chief Executive • Former Parliament Speaker Constantine
Officer (CEO) for India. Tassoulos was elected as the new President of
• He will replace Zareen Daruwala, who will Greece on 12 February 2025 by the Parliament
retire on March 31. of Greece.
• Standard Chartered is a British multinational • He will succeed the first female President of
bank that operates in wealth management, Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
corporate and investment banking, and • On 13 March 2025, he will be sworn in as the
treasury services. head of the state.
Charanjot Singh Nanda Kash Patel
• Charanjit Singh Nanda has been appointed • He has become the 9th director of the Federal
as the new chairman of the world's largest Bureau of Investigation of the United States.
accounting body, the Institute of Chartered • He is the first Indian-origin director of the FBI.
Accountants of India (ICAI) for the term 2025- • The Senate of the USA (upper house of
26. the United States Congress) approved his
• The Central Council of ICAI, who was earlier appointment on February 20, 2025.
serving as the Vice-President of ICAI, elected
him as the 73rd President during a meeting in
New Delhi. Demises
• D. Prasanna Kumar, a chartered accountant
from Andhra Pradesh, was elected as the vice- Mayadhar Raut
president. • He was a Odissi dancer, who passed away at
• Arjun Ram Meghwal, who is currently serving the age of 92.
as the Minister of State for Law and Justice and • Mayadhar Raut is considered as the "Father of
Parliamentary Affairs, administered the oath Odissi Dance".
of office. • He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010, the
Shikhar Dhawan Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985), the
• Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).
appointed by the International Cricket Council • He was the first to present the Geeta Govinda
as the event ambassador for the upcoming ICC 'Ashtapadi' on stage, depicting the Shringar
Champions Trophy. Rasa.
• The tournament will be held from February 19
to March 9 in Pakistan and Dubai.
• Pakistan's 2017 Champions Trophy-winning
captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, former Australian all-
rounder Shane Watson and New Zealand fast
bowler Tim Southee have been named as the
other three ambassadors.
• Dhawan is India's highest run-scorer in the
history of the Champions Trophy, having
scored 701 runs in two editions.
• He is the only player to win consecutive Golden
Bats to score the most runs in the tournament.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [64]

9- Places in news
January 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025
• Event: 8-10 January 2025, Bhubaneswar
Indore & Udaipur – Ramsar Wetland Recognized City (Odisha).
• Indore and Udaipur became the first two • Theme: ‹Contribution of Overseas Indians to
Indian cities to be included in the list of global Developed India’
wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention. • Chief Guest: President of Trinidad and Tobago
• Ramsar Convention: Christine Carla Cangaloo.
o An intergovernmental treatythat • Inauguration: By Prime Minister Narendra
ensures the conservation and Modi.
sustainable use of wetlands and their • Concluding: President Droupadi Murmu joined
resources. on January 10.
• Global Situation: • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD):
o Thirty-one new cities were recognized, o It is celebrated on 9th January every
bringing the total number to 74. two years .
o China (22 cities) and France (9 cities) o It is celebrated on 9 January 1915
lead the list. when Mahatma Gandhi returned to
• In India: India from South Africa.
o At present, 85 wetlands are protected o Launched: 2003, by the Atal Bihari
under the Ramsar Treaty. Vajpayee government.
o This recognition is given only to citiesthat
meet the six international criteria. India’s First Organic Fisheries Cluster
• Location: Soreng District, Sikkim.
Inauguration of Sonamarg Tunnel (Z-Morh Tunnel) • Launch: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal
• Location: Located in Ganderbal district of Husbandry and Dairying.
Jammu and Kashmir. • Key features:
• Inauguration: 13 January 2025, by Prime o First of its kind organic fisheries cluster
Minister Narendra Modi. in India.
• It was formerly called the Z-Morh Tunnel. o Developed under Pradhan Mantri
• Length: about 12 km. Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Construction cost: Over ₹2,700 crore o Fisheries systems free of harmful
• The distance from Gagangir to Sonamarg on chemicals, antibiotics and pesticides.
the Srinagar-Leh highway has been reduced o The National Bank for Agriculture
from 1 hour to 15 minutes. and Rural Development (NABARD) is
• The Sonamarg tunnelis part of the Zojila tunnel playing a major role in this.
project.
Dibrugarh will be the second capital of Assam
Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on the banks of Pangong • Announcement: Dibrugarh will become the
Lake second capital of Assam by 2027.
• Location: Eastern Ladakh, on the banks of • Key Developments:
Pangong Lake. o An assembly complex will be set up
• Speciality: here.
o At an altitude of 14,300 feet, the Indian Army o Tezpur will be declared as the ‹cultural
installed the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji. capital’ and a Raj Bhavan will come up
o Unveiled by officers of the Maratha Light there.
Infantry. o A mini secretariat and the office of the
o The location is located close to the Line of Chief Secretary will be set up in Silchar.
Actual Control (LAC) with China. o The construction of the permanent
assembly building in Dibrugarh will
• Pangong Lake:
begin on 25 January 2026.
o Elevation: 4,350 meters (the highest o The assembly session will be held in
saltwater lake in the world). Dibrugarh every year from 2027.
o Length: 160 km, of which 1/3 in India, 2/3
in China.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [65]
Archaeology Experiential Museum India’s first glass bridge over the sea
• Location: Vadnagar, Gujarat • Location: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
• Inauguration: 16 January 2025, by Union Home • It connects the Thiruvalluvar statue and the
Minister Amit Shah Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
• Highlights: • Length: 77 meters, width: 10 meters.
o Spread over an area of 12,500 square metres, • Construction cost: ₹37 crore
the construction cost was ₹298 crore. • Visitors facilitate safe movement between the
o Shows the rich cultural history of Vadnagar. two sites with a view of the sea.
o The first of its kind museum in India, where • Arched arch structure, designed to endure
visitors can experience the archaeological the saline air coming from the sea and high
site. humidity.
o More than 5,000 artifacts on display.
Asia’s Largest Shallow Wave Basin Research Facility
• Vadnagar is one of the ancient living heritage
cities of India. • Venue: IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu
• Developed to meet India’s coastal and marine
Oil & Gas Exploration Approved in Hollongapar engineering needs.
Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary • Established under the National Centre for
• Approval: By the Standing Committee of the Ports, Waterways and Coasts Technology
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). (NTCPWC).
• Location: Holongapar Gibbon Wildlife • It will address challenges related to Indian
Sanctuary of Assam. ports, waterways and coastal structures.
• Highlights: • The impacts of 3D waves will be tested for
o Approval for oil and gas exploration drilling port, offshore, coastal and inland waterway
in Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). projects.
o It is named after the country’s only ape South India’s first infectious disease research and
species, the Hoolock Gibbon.
diagnostic laboratory
First state to link forest ecosystem to green GDP • Venue: Bangalore Medical College and
• State: Chhattisgarh Research Institute (BMCRI), Bengaluru
Aim: • Highlights:
• The twenty-ninth consonant of the Devanagari o South India’s first Infectious Diseases
syllabary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
• Green GDP will be implemented to improve (IRDL) will be set up.
planning. o Infectious disease research will get a
boost in Bengaluru.
World Monuments Watch 2025
o Focus on diseases caused by bacteria,
• Selected Destinations of India: fungi and parasites.
o Musi River Historical Buildings of Hyderabad. o It will be helpful in quick diagnosis and
o Bhuj Historical Water Systems of Gujarat. better management.
• The list highlights 25 sites affected by water cri- o Part of government’s initiative to set
sis and climate change . up special laboratories in medical
• Launched in 1996 by the New York-based colleges.
World Monuments Fund (WMF ).
• The World Monument Watch is announced 1,200-year-old Buddhist monastery
every two years. • Location: Ratnagiri Buddhist Site, Jajpur
• This list includes sites nominated by individuals District, Odisha
and community-based organizations around • The Buddhist monastery complex was found in
the world. excavations by the ASI (Archaeological Survey
of India).
‘Yala Glacier’ added to Global Glacier Casualty List
• Stone statues of Lord Buddha, votive stupas,
• Location: Nepal engraved stones, pottery, beads, stone pillars
• One of the most studied glaciers of Nepal. and ancient brick walls were discovered.
• Between 1974 and 2021, 680 meters have shrunk. • A five-foot monolithic elephant statue was
• It is expected to disappear completely by 2040. found.
• The only glacier in the entire Himalayas to be • Fragments of a huge head statue of Buddha and
included in the Global Glacier Casualty List. statues of Buddhist deities were also found.
• There are a total of 15 glaciers in this list . • Note: The fall of Ratnagiri was due to the in-
• The Yala Glacier was placed in the «Critically vasion of Muslim rulers in the 13th century AD.
Endangered» category.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [66]
27th International Glass Congress (ICG) 2025 recommendations on AI Policy 2025.
• Location: Kolkata, West Bengal • Maharashtra will be the first state in India to
• Event: 20-24 January 2025 develop a dedicated AI policy.
• Inauguration: By Union Minister of State for • The committee will be chaired by: Director,
Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh. Directorate of Information Technology,
• Conducted By: CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Mumbai.
Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI). • The AI policy will be based on the framework
• This was the second time this event took place of the AI Mission Policy of the Government of
in India, the first time was in 1986. India.
• Theme : ”Glass: A Smart and Indispensable • The policy will suggest measures to complement
Material for Sustainable Society” the central government’s AI mission.
Nadi Tarangini: India’s First Ayurvedic Medical Miscellaneous
Device
• Producer: Atreya Innovations, Hinjewadi, Pune Defence Ministry declares 2025 as ‘Year of De-
• It is the first Ayurvedic medical device ap- fence Reforms’
proved by CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Con- • Announcement: 1 January 2025
trol Organization). • Aim:
• Ayurvedic pulse diagnostic tool, developed for o Improve military capabilities and
pulse examination. operational readiness.
• Developed by Dr. Aniruddha Joshi after six o To promote efficiency, coordination and
years of research at IIT Bombay. technological advancement in the defence
• The accuracy of the pulse waveform is about 85%. forces.
• CDSCO o Launching new reform initiatives.
o The national regulatory body for drugs,
“When-Listed” Platform
medical devices and cosmetics in India.
• Launch: Securities and Exchange Board of India
India’s First Battery Energy Storage System (SEBI)
• Location: Kilokri, South Delhi • Key Points:
• Start: March 2025 o Trading platform of stocks that have
• India’s first commercial utility-scale battery completed the IPO but are yet to get listed.
energy storage system (BESS). o Aim to reduce ‹grey market activities’.
• 20 megawatts (MW)/ A group of batteries with
SEBI’s “Sachetization” Scheme for Investing in
a capacity of 40 megawatt-hour (MWh).
• Cost of the project: Approximately ₹120 crore Mutual Funds
($14 million). • Objective: To promote financial inclusion.
• BSES is the largest power distribution company • Key Points:
in the capital city of Delhi (a joint venture of o Making mutual fund investment easier for
Reliance Group and Delhi Government). small investors.
• Main financier: Global Energy Alliance for o It is possible to start investing with as little
People and Planet (GEAPP), a non-profit alliance as ₹ 250.
dedicated to renewable energy investments. o Strategy of presenting financial products
in small, accessible packages.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
• Location: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Entity Locker
• Begins: 13 January 2025 (Paush Purnima, • Developer: National e-Governance Division
starting with Amrit Snan) (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics and Information
• Ends: 26 February 2025 (till Mahashivratri) Technology (MeitY)
• The world’s largest spiritual and cultural gathering. • Key Points:
• Devotees bathe at Triveni Sangam (confluence o Digital platform for managing and
of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers). verifying documents of businesses and
• A month-long «Kalpvas» till Magha Purnima. organizations.
• Special because of the rare astronomical o Secure cloud-based solution.
alignment that occurs only once in 144 years. o Useful for MSMEs, startups, corporations,
trusts, and societies.
First state to develop dedicated AI policy o Part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure
• State: Maharashtra Initiative.
• The Maharashtra government constituted
a 16-member committee to give
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [67]
‘BHARATPOL’ Portal • Ensuring a minimum download speed of 100
• Launch: 7 January 2025, by Home Minister Mbps.
Amit Shah • Broadband users to increase from 66 crore to
• Developer: Central Bureau of Investigation 94 crore.
(CBI) Conferences/Festivals
• Aim:
o Helps law enforcement agencies to get 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference
faster assistance from Interpol. • Location: Patna
o Investigations and exchange of information • Inauguration: By Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
with 195 member states possible. • Topic: Contribution of Parliament and
Bharat Battlefield Darshan App State Legislative Bodies in Strengthening
Constitutional Values
• Launch: 15 January 2025, by Defence Minister
• Lok Sabha Speaker unveils 8th edition of book
Rajnath Singh on Army Day
«Parliamentary Studies and Procedure».
• Developer: Ministry of Defence, Ministry of
Tourism and Indian Army 3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference
• Aim: • Location: Konark, Odisha
o The battlefields associated with the wars • Organizers: Ministry of Mines and Government
of 1962, 1971 and 1999 will be developed of Odisha
as tourist destinations. • Key Initiatives:
o Ladakh (Rezang-La, Galwan),Arunachal o Mining Tenement System (MTS) launched
Pradesh (Kibithu, Bum-La),Siachen Base o Digital Platform to Increase Transparency
Camp to be opened for tourists. and Efficiency in Mineral Resource
‘Impact Factbook’ Management
• Launch: By Commerce and Industry Minister First Olympic Research Conference
Piyush Goyal • Venue: National Defence University (RRU),
• Developer: Department for Promotion of Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) • Date: 27-30 January 2025
• Aim: • Aim:
o To showcase the evolution of India’s o Discussing strategies and financing on
startup ecosystem from 2016-2024. building «sustainable» sports infrastructure
o To provide financial and mentorship o Making India a strong contender to host
support to startups through the Bhaskar the 2036 Olympics
platform (BHASKAR).
Rural India Festival 2025
iSPOT Portal • Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• Launch: By Securities and Exchange Board of • Date: 4-9 January 2025
India (SEBI) • Inauguration: By Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Aim: • Theme: ‹Building a Resilient Rural India for
o Improve the reporting and resolution of Developed India’
technical problems of stock exchanges and • Objective: To promote rural entrepreneurship
market institutions (MIIs). and cultural heritage
o Streamlining the process of early and final
root cause analysis (RCA) reports. Aero India 2025
• Version: 15th
Communication Companion Mobile App • Location: Bengaluru
• Aim: • Date: 10-14 February 2025
o Strengthen Telecom Security and Empower • Theme : ‘Runway to a Billion Opportunities’
Citizens. • Aim:
o Available on both Android and iOS platforms. o Promoting Indigenisation
o Useful measures to provide protection o Demonstration platform showcasing
against telecom frauds. state-of-the-art technologies for Indian
National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 and foreign defence companies
• Connecting India’s 1.7 million remaining ‘Sun, Space Weather and Solar-Stellar Connec-
villages with broadband connectivity. tion’ Conference
• Broadband service to reach at least 60% of • Location: Bengaluru
households in rural areas . • Date: 20-24 January 2025
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [68]
• Conducted By: Indian Institute of Astrophysics ‘Boda Festival’ Celebration of Hati Tribes
(IIA) • Location: Himachal Pradesh (Trans-Giri Region)
• Exclusive: Held to commemorate the 125th • Start: 10 January 2025
anniversary of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory • Local name: Festival of Magho
(KSO) • Importance:
International Saraswati Mahotsav o The largest annual festival of the Hati tribes.
o A culturally important festival.
• Location: Adi Badri, Yamunanagar, Haryana
o The name of the Hati tribe originated from
• Inaugurate: By Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini
the ‹haat’ (local market)where they sold
• Duration: 29 January – 2 February 2025
vegetables, crops, meat and wool.
• Importance:
o Adi Badri is considered to be the origin of India Mobility Global Expo 2025
the Saraswati River. • Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
o A three-day International Conference • Duration: 17-22 January 2025
on «Holy Saraswati River» was held at • Theme: «Beyond Borders: Co-Creating the
Kurukshetra University. Automotive Value Chain of the Future»
• Objective: To increase the global recognition • Aim:
of India’s great civilization. o Promote collaboration and innovation in
6th International Millet Festival the automotive and mobility sectors.
o Accelerating sustainable and cutting-edge
• Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
technological advancements.
• Theme: «Transformation of Agri-Food Systems
through Agro-Ecology: A Global Perspective» Generation Beta’s first baby born in India
• Special: • Location: Mizoram
o Experts from 10+ countries, including Ger- • Date of Birth: 1 January 2025, 12:03 AM
many, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, Kenya, • Name: Frankie
Tanzania, Italy, Peru, England, attended.
o Karnataka is the leading producer of Generation Beta
millets in India. • Time period: Generation born between 2025
o It also hosted the first International Millet and 2039.
Festival in 2017. • Attributes:
o A generation that grew up between the
Kerala’s Kappad and Chawl beaches get ‘Blue Flag internet and digital facilities.
Certification’ o A generation born in technological
• Provider: Denmark-based Foundation for advancements and the immense influence
Environmental Education (FEE) of smart devices.
• Land: • Person who gave the definition: Mark
o Kappad Beach (Kozhikode, Kerala) McCrindall (sociologist)
o Chawl Beach (Kannur, Kerala)
• Blue Flag Certification Criteria: India has the world’s third largest metro network
o 3.3 Awarded on meeting stringent • Announcement: By Prime Minister Narendra
environmental, safety, water quality and Modi (5 January 2025)
sustainable development standards. • Project Cost: Over ₹12,200 crore
• Important Projects:
Indian beaches with Blue Flag certification o 13 km long section of Lli-Ghaziabad-Meerut
• India’s first Blue Flag beach: Chandrabhaga Namo Bharat Corridor inaugurated.
Beach, Odisha • Global Situation:
• Total certified beaches (now 13): • India ranked third in the length of operational
o Odisha: Golden Beach metro network, surpassing Japan.
o Gujarat: Shivrajpur Beach
o Kerala: Kappad Beach, Chawl Beach February
o Diu: Ghoghla Beach Blue-cheeked bee-eater's first breeding ground in
o Andaman & Nicobar: Radhanagar Beach India
o Karnataka: Kasarkod Beach, Padubidri Beach
o Andhra Pradesh: Rushikonda Beach • Location: The mill is in the plains of Andivilai
o Tamil Nadu: Kovalam beach near the Manakudi mangroves in Tamil Nadu.
o Puducherry: Eden Beach Blue-cheeked bee-eater
o Lakshadweep: Minicoy Thundi Beach, • Scientific Name: Merops persicus
Kadmat Beach • Lineage: Merops
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [69]
• IUCN Status: Least Concern • Objective: To unite global talent, industry
• Historically, this bird was known as a winter leaders, and researchers, promote
migratory bird in India. collaboration, innovation and real-world
implementation of Hyperloop technology.
India's first vertical bidirectional solar plant
• Hyperloop is the fifth mode of transport. It is a
inaugurated train that travels in a near-vacuum tube.
• Location: On the metro viaduct of Okhla Vihar • This low air resistance allows the capsule
Metro Station. inside the tube to reach speeds of more than
• By Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. 1000 km/h.
• Vertical bidirectional solar panels can capture
sunlight from both sides. India's first assembly to have translator facility
• It will use the tall structure of the metro for • Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
solar power generation without any additional • It will have translation facilities in Awadhi,
land. Braj, Bhojpuri, Bundelkhand and English.
International Conference on 'Green Metro 'Waste recycling and climate change 2025'
Systems - Future of Urban Mobility'
• The conference was inaugurated by Union
• Event: In Delhi.
Minister Bhupender Yadav on February 18.
• Organized: DMRC, Confederation of Indian
• The conference was organized by the Recycling
Industry and Indian Green Building Council.
and Environment Industry Association of India
First Biobank in Zoo (REIAI).
• Padmaja Naidu is India's first wildlife biobank • It aims to streamline waste management and
located in the Himalayan Zoological Park promote eco-friendly production in industries.
(Darjeeling Zoo). • India generates about 62 million tonnes of
• In the biobank (frozen zoo), the genetic material waste annually, with the amount of plastic,
of animals is preserved for conservation and electronic and hazardous waste increasing
research. rapidly.
• It is part of the National Conservation Plan in "Shatavari – For Better Health" Campaign
collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and
• Launch: 06 February 2025.
Molecular Biology (CCMB) under the Ministry
• In order to raise awareness about the health
of Science and Technology.
benefits of medicinal plants, a species-centric
• Bio-banks will be set up at Delhi National Zoo
campaign named "Shatavari-For Better Health"
and Nandankanan Zoo (Odisha).
was launched today by Shri Prataprao Jadhav,
Darjeeling Zoo:
Minister of State (Independent Charge),
• It is the largest high-altitude zoo in India.
Ministry of AYUSH.
India's first "open-air art wall museum" inaugu- • Campaigns have been conducted byNMPB
rated for Amla, Moringa, Giloy and Ashwagandha in
• India's first "Open Air Art Wall Museum" the past. These initiatives have contributed to
was launched at the India Meteorological spreading awareness about the health benefits
Department (IMD), New Delhi. of medicinal plants across the country.
• It contains 38 unique murals depicting India's Inauguration of NSDC International Academy
meteorological history, development of mete- • Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State
orological forecasting andits impact on agricul- (Independent Charge) inaugurated the NSDC
ture, disaster management and everyday life. International Academy in Greater Noida, Uttar
• The initiative has been developed in Pradesh.
collaboration with Delhi Street Art. • The academy is a flagship initiative of the
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
Miscellaneous under the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of
Asia's First Global Hyperloop Competition (GHC) 2025 India.
• Event: 21-25 February by IIT Madras. • This academy is designed to provide world-
• The event was attended by 150 industry class skill development and training programs.
representatives from across the globe. • The academy will act as a centre of excellence
• Organizer: IIT Madras, IITM Promoter Tech- thatwill offer specific training programmes
nologies Foundation and SAE India with tailored to the skill demands of countries like
additional support from Ministry of Railways Germany, Japan and Israel.
and Government of India.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [70]
'Innovate with GoIStats' Hackathon • According to Sebi, a mutual fund folio will be
• It is a hackathon, launched by the Ministry of considered inactive if there has been no trans-
Statistics and Programme Implementation. action in the last 10 years, but the unit balance
• The hackathon will take place between Febru- still exists in it.
ary 25 and March 31 on the MyGov platform. • The Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA) will
• The theme of this hackathon will be "Data- jointly manage the 'Mitra' platform.
driven insights for Developed India". Memory League World Championship 2025
• Objective: To motivate students and • Event: From January 5 to February 2, 2025.
researchers to use the data released by the • India 's student Vishwa Rajkumar won the
National Statistical Office (NSO) to create Memory League World Championship 2025.
innovative data-driven approaches. • In this , Rajkumar won by memorizing a
'Nayanamritam 2.0' sequence of 80 random numbers in 13.50
• It is the world's first AI-powered chronic eye seconds and 30 images in 8.40 seconds.
disease screening programme launched by • Vishwa Rajkumar is in first place with 5,000
Kerala. points.
• The initiative uses Artificial Intelligence to India becomes 2nd country in the world to intro-
enhance early detection and streamline eye duce digital pilot license
disease screening.
• This will make quality eye care more accessible • Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan
and efficient throughout the state. Naidu launched the Electronic Personnel
• It has also included screening for two other License of India on 20 February 2025.
major long-term eye diseases such as glaucoma • Electronic Personnel License has been
and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). introduced after getting approval from the
International Civil Aviation Organization.
Chalukya era Kannada Inscription • The objective of this initiative is to increase
• Recently, three rare Kalyana Chalukya era safety, transparency and efficiency in the pro-
Kannada inscriptions have been identified for cess of pilot licensing.
the first time at the village of Pudur Mandal Ka • The Electronic Personnel License can be
Skeleton in Vikarabad district of Telangana. accessed through the EGCA mobile application.
• These inscriptions date back to 1129 AD.It dates Dinesh Khara Committee
back to 1130 AD and 1132 AD when Emperor
Someshwara-III of the Chalukya dynasty of • The Insurance Regulatory and Development
Kalyaniwas ruled by Bhulokamalladeva. Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted
a 7-member committee under the chair-
Inscription
manship of Dinesh Khara to review the
• The first inscription mentions the construction Insurance Act, 1938.
of the Bijeshwar temple, the consecration of • This is in line with the proposed Insurance
a Shivalinga and the donation of 100 martars Amendment Bill, which aims to increase the
(then land measurement) by Bijjarasa, a local FDI limit from 74% to 100%.
headman of Kankal village. • IRDAI is a statutory body established underthe
• The second inscription mentions the donation IRDA Act, 1999 and is responsible for regulating
of some land and cash to the Bijeshwar temple and promoting the insurance industry in India
by Somideva Preggada, local Chaudhry (chief)
and Karanam Bijjarasa. Fort William renamed as 'Victory Fort'
• The third inscription mentions the donations • Fort William, the headquarters of the Indian
made to the temple by Somaparamnadi, Army's Eastern Command in Kolkata, has been
Chaudhry Gundarasa, Bemminayaka, renamed as 'Vijay Durg'.
Nabhanayaka and Bilnayak. • This change was aimed at freeing the colonial
symbol.
'Mitra' Platform
• The new name is inspired by Maharashtra's
• The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Sindhudurg Fort, which was the Maratha naval
launched the new platform called 'MITRA'. base under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• MITRA Full Form: Mutual Fund Investment
Tracing and Retrieval Assistant. Jharkhand bans gutka and tobacco-based pan masala
• This platform will assist investors in tracking  The Jharkhand government has imposed a
and retrieving their unclaimed or dormant complete ban on the manufacture, distribution,
mutual fund folios. sale and storage of gutka and pan masala
containing nicotine and tobacco.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [71]
 According to a notification issued by the • Aim: Logistics collaboration, knowledge
Jharkhand Health Department, the ban will exchange and infrastructure development
remain in force for one year from the date of under PM Gati Shakti scheme.
notification.
 After this, the situation will be reviewed
Conferences/Festivals
and the extension of the ban period will be 27th Meeting of Western Zonal Council
considered. • Event: 22 February 2025 in Pune, Maharashtra.
Aadhaar Good Governance Portal • Chairperson: Union Minister of Home Affairs
and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah.
• It was launchedby the Ministry of Electronics
• Includes: Chief Ministers of Goa, Gujarat,
and Information Technology (MeitY).
Maharashtra and Dadra & Nagar Haveli &
• Objective: To streamline the approval process
Daman & Diu.
for Aadhaar authentication requests.
• Organizer: The Inter-State Council Secretariat
• The Aadhaar Good Governance portal allows
under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs
both government and private entities to obtain
in collaboration with the Government of
Aadhaar authentication for public interest
Maharashtra.
services.
• This will help citizensto easily access services World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit
in sectors such as healthcare, education, (WAVES)
e-commerce, and hospitality. • The summit will be held from May 1 to 4, 2025,
DPIIT signs MoU with Paytm to promote startups at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai.
• The Department for Promotion of Industry • The Waves Comics Creators Championshipis a
and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has entered into joint initiative of the Indian Comics Association
an agreement with fintech company Paytm on (ICA) and the Ministry of Information and
February 26, 2025, to promote startups. Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India.
• Under this agreement, Paytm will provide • It aims to foster innovation, creativity and
mentoring, infrastructural support, and collaboration in the media, entertainment and
market access opportunities to startups. technology sectors.
• The agreement will help startups develop state- • The summit will bring together creators,
of-the-art payment and financial technology industry leaders, and investors to explore new
solutions. opportunities in animation, gaming, visual
• DPIIT is a government body under the Union effects, and XR (Extended Reality).
Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India Calling Conference 2025
'RBIDATA'App • Inauguration: By Union Minister of Commerce
• Launch: By the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). and Industry Piyush Goyal in Mumbai on 27
• It will provide access to over 11,000 different February 2025.
series of economic data related to the Indian • Event: IMC Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
economy. • Theme: 'Developing India The Path to 2047:
• Users will be able to view the time series data Leading to Prosperity for All'
in graphs/charts and download the data for • It discussed investment in India and India's
analysis. opportunities in global economic growth.

Magazine 'Sashakt Bharat' Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the • The third edition will be held from 15-24
Ministry of Defence's biennial Hindi magazine February 2025 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
'Sashakt Bharat' on February 27, 2025. • The event is being organised by the Ministry of
• The magazine highlights the valour, patriotism Education in collaboration with various ministries
and sacrifice of the armed forces personnel. and the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
• Its main theme is "Focus on Sage Agastya's
DPIIT signs MoU with Korea Transport Institute contribution to health, philosophy, science,
• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) classical Tamil literature and cultural unity".
for logistics and infrastructure development
India Energy Week 2025
was signed on February 10.
• Location: Sejong National Research Complex • Event: In New Delhi.
of Korea. • Organizer: Under the aegis of the Ministry of
• Signatories: KOTI President Yangchun Kim and Petroleum and Natural Gas and jointly by the
Ambassador of India Amit Kumar. Federation of Indian Petroleum Industries
(FIPI).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [72]
• The event emphasized energy access, security, 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
sustainability and decarbonization efforts. • Event: 21 to 23 February in New Delhi.
• FIPI is an apex society of entities in the • Inauguration: By Shri Narendra Modi on 21st
hydrocarbon sector and acts as the industry February.
interface with the government. • Aim: To celebrate India's rich literary tradition
Key MoUs: and the timeless relevance of the Marathi
language.
• India signed a number of strategic agreements
• The conference was held in Delhi after 71
and MoUs aimed at enhancing energy security
years.
and diversifying supply sources.
• Panel discussions, book exhibitions, cultural
o BPCL and Eco Wave Power (Israel)
programmes and interactive sessions of
signed an agreement to set up India's
litterateurs were organized during the
first wave energy pilot in Mumbai.
conference.
o BPCL entered into a partnership with
• Note: Recently Marathi has been given the
Petrobras (Brazil) for import of 6
status of classical language.
million barrels of crude oil, which will
diversify India's oil imports. 32nd Conference of Indian Art History Congress
Bharat Tex 2025 • The 32nd Conference of the Indian Art History
Congress (IAHC) was held from 8th to 10th
• On February 16, 2025, Prime Minister
February 2025 at the Indian Institute of
Narendra Modi addressed Bharat Tex 2025, a
Heritage, Noida.
mega global textiles event held in New Delhi.
• Topic: "Rendering of Indian Epics in Art and
• The eventshowcases cultural diversity through
Culture".
India's rich textile traditions including various
• Objective: To highlight diverse forms of artistic
regional styles such as Chikankari, Bandhani
expressions based on epics.
and Kanjeevaram silk.
• Event: Organized by the Indian Institute of
• India's textile and apparel exports grewby
Heritage, Noida under the Ministry of Culture.
7%, and the country is now the world's sixth-
largest exporter. 38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela
'Elecrama-2025' • Union Minister for Culture and Tourism inaugu-
rates 38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela
• 'ELECRAMA-2025' was held from February 23-
in Faridabad district of Haryana.
26, 2025 at India Expo Mart, Noida.
• Event period: 7 February to 23 February 2025.
• ELECRAMA 2025 is the world's largest electrical
• The fair will showcase the art, craftsmanship
show.
and talent of artisans from India and across the
• It was the 16th edition of Elecrama.
world.
• It showcased electrical and energy technologies
• Describing it as more than just a marketplace,
from across the world, including India.
the Union Minister underlined its role in
Pusa Agricultural Science Fair 2025 preserving and promoting ancient crafts.
• Inaugurate: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj 'Ali e Ligang' festival
Singh Chouhan in New Delhi.
• Recently, the Mising tribe, the largest tribal
• Theme: 'Advanced Agri-Developed India'.
community of Assam, celebrated the Ali-e
• There will be a live demonstration of state-of-
Ligang festival at Shankarpur in Jorhat.
the-art varieties and technologies developed
• Meaning of Ali Ai Ligang: The first sowing of
by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
roots and fruits.
Nyokum Yulo Festival • It is made up of three words, 'ali', legumes,
• The first joint Mega Nyokum Yulo festival was 'ai', seeds and 'ligang' sow.
held in Arunachal Pradesh on February 26, • It is celebrated between February-March or
2025. on the first Wednesday of the month of 'Gin-
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was the mur Polo'.
chief guest of the festival. • During this time, the Gumrag dance is
• The festival was held at Bosimla in Kamle performed by the tribe.
district of Arunachal Pradesh. Aadi Mahotsav 2025
• The festival was organized to highlight the
 Recently, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu
importance of tribal culture and tribal heritage
inaugurated the Aadi Mahotsava-2025.
in Northeast India.
 The inaugural ceremony was held at Major
Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [73]

 The festival will run from February 16 to 24, • It is celebrated on the Trayodashi Tithi of
2025. Krishna Paksha of the month of Phalguna,
 Aadi Mahotsav is a celebration of India's rich which usually falls between February and
tribal heritage, culture, arts, crafts, food and March.
commerce. • On the occasion of Herath festival, Shiva-
5th Saras Aajeevika Mela- 2025 Parvati and other gods and goddesses are
worshiped in Kashmiri Pandit families.
• The Saras Aajeevika Mela-2025 is being
organized from February 21 to March 10 at Jhumoire Dance
Shilp Haat, Noida. • At the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit on 24
• Organizer: Ministry of Rural Development in February 2025 in Guwahati, 8,888 artists
collaboration with National Institute of Rural from the 'tea tribes' of Assam performed the
Development and Panchayati Raj. 'Jhumur Dance '.
• Objective: To help rural artisans and craftsmen • On the completion of 200 years of Assam tea
to promote their livelihood and inclusive industry, Jhumoir Binandini (Mega Jhumoire)
growth. 2025 program was organized.
• Theme for the year 2025: "Developing the • Jhumoir Binandini dance is the main dance of
Export Potential of Lakhpati Didi". tea garden workers.
Herath Poshte • In this dance, women are the lead dancers
and singers, while men play traditional
• It is a sacred festival of Kashmiri Pandits.
instrumentssuch as madal, dhol, or dhak
• Herath , also known as 'Har Ratri' or 'Shiv Ratri',
(drum),cymbals, flutes, and shehnais.
is the most important religious and cultural
festival of Kashmiri Pandits.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [74]

10- Index & Reports

January o Annual groundwater withdrawal: 245.64
BCM
Henley Passport Index 2025 o Average Ground Water Withdrawal Level:
• Issuer: Henley & Partners 60.47%
• Top Location: Singapore (strongest passport) • Classification of 6746 Assessment Units:
• Last place: Somalia (102nd, visa-free score: 35) o Safe (73.4%) – 4951 units
• India’s rank: 85th (visa-free score: 57) o Semi-Critical (10.5%) – 711 units
• India was ranked 80th in 2024. o Serious (3.05%) – 206 units
• Pakistan: 103rd (101st in 2024) o Over-exploitation (11.1%) – 751 units
• Bangladesh: 100th place (97th in 2024)
• In this index, the passport of that country is India’s first ‘Coastal-Aquatic Bird Census’
considered the strongest, whose citizens can • Event Date: 3-5 January 2025
travel visa-free to the most countries. • Location: Jamnagar, Marine National Park and
Sanctuary
The 5 most powerful passports in the index • Organizers: Gujarat Forest Department and
Rank Country Gujarat Bird Conservation Society (BCSG)
• Marine National Park: India’s First Designated
1 Singapore Marine National Park
2 Japan • Bird Diversity:
3 Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South o 300+ Local & Migratory Bird Species
Korea, Spain o 50+ Aquatic Bird Species
• Protected Areas: Established for Gulf of Kutch,
4 Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Marine Biodiversity and Mangrove Conservation
Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
5 Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, India becomes world’s 7th largest coffee producer
Switzerland, United Kingdom • Export value (FY 2023-24): $1.29 billion
• Comparison to 2020-21: Almost double from
Next Generation Geothermal Energy Potential in $719 million
India • Exports in the first half of January 2025: 9,300
• Source: International Energy Agency (IEA) tonnes
• India’s position: 3rd largest market by 2050 • Main Importing Countries: Italy, Belgium, Russia
• Geothermal Energy: Renewable energy • Main Export Products: Unroasted Coffee Beans
sources generated from the Earth’s core, Uses QS World Future Skills Index 2025
- Heating and Power Generation • Released by: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
• Top countries: China, USA, and India (75% of • India’s Digital Skills Ranking: 2nd Rank
global production ) • India leads: Canada and Germany
• Conventional geothermal potential in India: • AI & Green Skills Preparation: Second Ranked
~14 terawatt (TW) at a depth of 5 km After USA
• Key Areas: • India’s overall rank: 25th position
o Gujarat • Category: «Future Skills Contender»
o East Coast of Andhra Pradesh • Top 10 countries (e.g. USA, UK, Germany)
o Central Sone-Narmada Fault Zone Category: «Future Skills Pioneers»
Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Re- • Top Place: USA (Score 97.6)
port 2024 • 4 Key Indicators of Evaluation:
• Issuer: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil (31 o Skill Fit
December 2024) o Academic Readiness
• By Assessment: Joint Efforts of Central Ground o Future of Work
Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs o Economic Transformation
• Groundwater Statistics: Global Firepower Military Power Ranking 2025
o Total annual recharge: 446.90 billion cubic • Basis: Assessing the military power of 145
meters (BCM) countries on 60+ factors
o Extractable Resources: 406.19 BCM
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [75]
Top 5 countries: Subject-wise Top Institutes
1. USA – 0.0744 (at the top since 2005)
2. Russia – 0.0788 Subject Top Institutions Country
3. China- 0.0788 Arts & Massachusetts America
4. India – 0.1184 Humanities Institute of
5. South Korea Technology
• India’s defence spending (2023): Increased by Business & Massachusetts America
4.2% compared to 2022 due to increase in Economics Institute of
defence and strategic investment. Technology
• Japan (7th), Turkey (8th), Iran (14th) – defense
capabilities are increasing Computer University of Oxford Britain
Science
Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025
Education Stanford University America
• Issuer: By NITI Aayog. Studies
• The first issue of this report was released by
Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance engineering Harvard University America
Commission. law Stanford University America
• The financial situation of 18 major states has been Life Sciences Harvard University America
evaluated from the financial data of 2022-23.
Medical & University of Oxford Britain
• Objective: To understand the financial health
of the states, help in policy-making for their Health
development. Physical California Institute of America
• The report covers five key points: quality of Sciences Technology
expenditure, revenue mobilisation, fiscal Psychology Stanford University America
prudence, debt index and debt sustainability.
Social Massachusetts America
Class State/UTs Sciences Institute of
Technology
'Achievers Category' Goa, Jharkhand and
(Best Performing States) Gujarat including Odisha • Universities in the United States ranked first in
and Chhattisgarh 9 out of 11 disciplines.
• Asian universities did not secure the top
'Aspirational' Catego- Kerala, West Bengal, position in any subject.
ry (Worst Performing Andhra Pradesh and
States) Punjab India’s Position
• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru
'Front Runner' Category Maharashtra, Uttar is the only Indian institute to feature in the top
Pradesh, Telangana, 100 global rankings for computer science .
Madhya Pradesh and • For the first time, the Indian Institute of Science
Karnataka (IISc) Bengaluru has made it to the top 100 in
'Performer' Category Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, the university rankings by subject, and secured
Bihar and Haryana the 99th position.
o The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
• Odisha has secured the top position in the (IISc) secured the 96th position in the
report with the highest overall score of 67.8. Computer Science rankings and 99th in the
• Odisha has topped the Debt Index (99.0) and Engineering category.
Debt Stability Index (640). February
Times Higher Education World University Rank-
ings 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024
• It has been published annually since 1995 by
• The subject-wise ranking of universities world-
the non-governmental organization Transpar-
wide for 2025 was released by Times Higher
ency International.
Education (THE) on January 22, 2025.
• It measures public sector corruption levels in
• The ranking includes eleven categories.
180 countries on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to
These are Arts and Humanities, Business and
100 (least corrupt).
Economics, Computer Science, Education
Studies, Engineering, Law, Life Sciences, • Global Ranking:
Medicine and Health, Physical Sciences, o Denmark ranked at the top as the least
Psychology and Social Sciences. corrupt nation.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [76]
o Finland and Singapore finished second Report on Internet Shutdown
and third respectively. • Issuer: "Access Now" (Digital Rights
o Status of India and Neighbouring Organization)
Countries: • According to this, the highest internet
o India – 96th position (was ranked 93rd shutdown in the world was in Myanmar.
in 2023.) )
• India stood second in this regard. India
o China – 76th position
recorded 84 internet shutdowns in 2024.
o Pakistan – 135th place
(Highest among democracies) (ranked first last
o Sri Lanka – 121st position
year.) )
o Bangladesh – 149th position
• Of the 84 shutdowns in India, 41 were related
Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2024 to protests, while 23 were caused by communal
• Issuer: World Bank. violence.
• India ranks 38th out of 139 countries. • Manipur had the highest number of internet
• Turnaround Time of Indian Ports: 0.9 days shutdowns (21) in the country.
(USA – 1.5 days, Australia – 1.7 days). • It was followed by Haryana (12) and Jammu
• India ranks 22nd in the International Shipments and Kashmir (12) at the second and third
category. positions respectively.
• Top countries: Singapore (1), Finland (2), • In 2024, the social media platform "X" was the
Germany (3), Netherlands (4). most blocked platform in the world. (Blocks 24
• Estimate: By 2030, India can be in the top 25 times in 14 countries)
countries.
• The logistics market is expected to grow from Climate Risk Index 2025
$317.26 billion in 2024 to $484.43 billion by • Issuer: By Germanwatch.
2029. • India has been ranked sixth in this index 2025.
• India's logistics spending is 13-14% of GDP. • This report assesses the countries affected
by extreme climate events between 1993 and
Devolution Index Report 2024 on Panchayat
2022.
Devolution in States
• Top 5 most affected countries: Dominica,
• Union Minister S.P. Singh Baghel released a China, Honduras, Myanmar and Italy.
report titled 'Status of Devolution to Panchayats • Other countries in the top 10: Greece, Spain,
in States – An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking, Vanuatu, Philippines.
2024' in New Delhi.
Impact on India (1993-2022)
• The report evaluated six key aspects of
• India was among the 10 most affected
panchayats: framework, function, finance,
countries in the world.
function, capacity building and accountability.
• In this period, India recorded 10% of the total
• The report shows the progress of decentralization
across the states and union territories of the deaths and 4.3% of the total economic damage
country. caused by global climate disasters.
• Between 2013-14 and 2021-22, the devolution • India faced more than 400 extreme climate
of rural local bodies has increased from 39.9% events, which caused a loss of $180 billion and
to 43.9%. the deaths of at least 80,000 people.
Top 10 States in the Devolution Index 2024 (DI List of Asia's Richest Families 2025
Score > 55): • Issuer: Bloomberg Institution.
• In this, 4 business families of India are included
rank State/UT Index Points in the top 10.
1 Karnataka 72.23 • 1st place: Mukesh Ambani's family ($90.5
2 Kerala 70.59 billion)
3 Tamil Nadu 68.38 • 4th place: Mistry family ($37.5 billion)
• 7th place: Jindal family ($28.1 billion)
4 Maharashtra 61.44
• 9th place: Birla family ($23 billion)
5 Uttar Pradesh 60.07 • Apart from this, India's Bajaj family is also in-
6 Gujarat 58.26 cluded in the top 20.
7 Tripura 57.58, • The Chiravanant family ($42.6 billion)
8 Rajasthan 56.67 (Thailand) and the Hartono family ($42.2 bil-
lion) ($42.2 billion) ($ Indonesia) are in second
9 West Bengal 56.52
and third place respectively.
10 Chhattisgarh 56.26
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [77]
Madhya Pradesh becomes the state with the World Reputation Ranking 2025
highest number of vultures in the country • Issuer: By Times Higher Education (THE).
• The number of vultures in Madhya Pradesh • Four Indian universities were included in it.
has increased to 12,981. • According to the World Reputation Rankings
• A total of 7 species of vultures are found in the 2025, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in
state. Out of these, 4 species are local and 3 Bengaluru is the best university in India.
species are migratory. • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT
• Vultures are large predatory birds that mainly Madras and Education 'O' Research are the
eat rotten meat (dead animals). other universities that have found a place in
this ranking.
Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) • The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has been
• It is one of the largest bird counting ranked in the 201-300 range in this ranking.
programmes in the world. • Along with this, IIT Delhi and IIT Madras are also
• GBBC 2025 took place from 14 to 17 February. included in the same ranking between 201-
• A total of 1,068 species were recorded in India. 300. The aggregate score of these institutions
• West Bengal topped the list with a count of is between 26.9 and 34.2.
543 bird species. (For the third time in a row) • Apart from this, Education 'O' Research
Top 3 states (by number of bird species): Deemed University is also ranked fourth in
India in terms of prestige.
1. West Bengal – 543 species
• Education 'O' Research, which entered the
2. Uttarakhand – 446 species
rankings for the first time, is also placed in the
3. Assam – 414 species
201-300 range.
• Darjeeling counted the highest number of
• Harvard University has secured the first place
species in Bengal at 252, though it was lower
in The World Reputation Rankings for the 14th
than the 308 species in 2024.
consecutive year.
• GBBC was started in 1998, and India started
• Six US institutions are in the top 10 in the
participating in it from 2013.
ranking.
• Observers with the highest number of species
sightings: Baharuddin S.K. (310 species) India ranks 5th in the global economy ranking.
• Participants who uploaded the most checklists: • According to NITI Aayog, India is ranked 5th
Shantanu Manna (112 checklists) among the world's top economies.
• Its real gross domestic product (GDP) will be
$4.3 trillion by 2025.
• India's real GDP will grow from $2.4 trillion in
2015 to $4.3 trillion in 2025.
• India also recorded the highest inflation-adjust-
ed growth of 77% among the top 20 countries.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [78]

11. Important Days and Weeks

January Statehood Day of Manipur, Tripura and Megha-
laya
Savitribai Phule Jayanti 2025
• Date: 21 January 2025
• Date: 3rd January 2025 (194th Birth Anniver-
• Significance: These states got full statehood in
sary)
1972
• Significance: India’s first female teacher,
who empowered women and untouchables Parakram Diwas
through education • Date: 23 January 2025
World Braille Day 2025 • Significance: Being celebrated since 2021
in honour of the birth anniversary of Netaji
• Date: 4 January 2025
Subhas Chandra Bose
• Significance: Celebrated in memory of Louis
Braille’s birthday (1809, France) National Girl Child Day
• Contribution: Inventor of Braille • Date: 24 January 2025
World Hindi Day 2025 • Significance: To raise awareness about girls’
rights and gender equality
• Date: 10 January 2025
• Significance: Celebrated in commemoration of 15th National Voters’ Day 2025
the first World Hindi Conference (10 January • Date: 25 January 2025
1975, Nagpur) • Significance: On the foundation day of the
• Other Hindi Days: 14 September (Hindi Day in Election Commission of India
India) • Theme: «Nothing like voting, we will definitely
National Youth Day 2025 vote»
• Date: 12 January 2025 International Customs Day
• Significance: Birth Anniversary of Swami • Date: 26 January 2025
Vivekananda • Establishment: In 1953 by the Customs Coop-
• Inception: Since 1985 is being celebrated as eration Council (CCC)
National Youth Day
National Geographic Day 2025
Indian Army Day 2025 • Date: 27 January 2025
• Date: 15 January 2025 • Significance: To commemorate the
• Significance: To remember the sacrifices of the establishment of the National Geographic
Indian Army Society
• Historical Event: 15 January 1949 - Lieutenant
General KM Cariappa took over as the first Mahatma Gandhi’s 77th Death Anniversary and
Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Martyrs’ Day
Francis Butcher • Date: 30 January 2025
• Significance: Mahatma Gandhi’s Memory and
First Foundation Day of Lokpal Sacrifice Day
• Date: 16 January 2025 (1st Anniversary)
• Establishment: 16 January 2014, under the International Year of Glacier Conservation and
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 World Glacier Day
• Current Lokpal Chairperson: Justice A.M. • Declaration: 2025 declared as «International
Khanwilkar Year of Glacier Conservation» by the United
National Startup Day Nations
• World Glacier Day: 21 March 2025
• Date: 16 January 2025 • Objective: To raise awareness of the
• Announced: Made in 2022 contribution of glaciers to the climate and
• Significance: India has 1.6 lakh government- water cycle
recognized startups, making it the third-largest
startup ecosystem in the world.
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [79]
February  1986: The historic Mizo Peace Accord was
signed between the Government of India and
International Zero Tolerance Day for Female the Mizo National Front (MNF ).
Genital Mutilation 2025  February 20 ,1987: Mizoram becomes the
• This day is celebrated on February 6 every 23rd state of India.
year. Arunachal Pradesh
• This year, the theme of this day is ‘Step Up the  Earlier the area was known as the North-East
Pace’. Frontier Agency (NEFA).
World Radio Day - 13 February.  In 1972 it was made a Union Territory and
named «Arunachal Pradesh».
• It is celebrated to recognize the importance
 On 20 February 1987, it was declared the 24th
of radio and its role in information
state of India.
dissemination.
• The theme of 2025: «Radio and Climate 22nd Foundation Day of National Commission for
Change». Scheduled Tribes
• Designated by UNESCO in 2011, international  The 22nd Foundation Day of the National Com-
recognition by the United Nations in 2013. mission for Scheduled Tribes was celebrated
National Women’s Day 2025 on 19th February.
• National Women’s Day is celebrated every National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
year on 13 February in India.  Founded: 19 February 2004
• This day is celebrated to commemorate the  Under the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act
birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. 2003
• International Women’s Day is celebrated on  Constitutional provisions: Article 338-A
March 8 every year. (Constitutional body)
 Headquarters: New Delhi
Global Tourism Resilience Day 2025  Current Chairman: Shri Antar Singh Arya
• Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed  It consists of a chairman, a vice-president and
every year on 17 February. three other members.
• The United Nations General Assembly estab-
International Mother Language Day
lished the United Nations Global Tourism Resil-
ience Day on 17 February 2023. • International Mother Language Day is
celebrated every year on 21 February
Birth Anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj • The day aims to preserve languages, promote
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is multilingual education and spread awareness
celebrated every year on 19 February of linguistic diversity.
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary • The theme for the year 2025 is - «Silver
is celebrated on two dates- Jubilee Celebration of International Mother
o According to the Gregorian calendar- Language Day».
February 19
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
o According to the Hindu calendar-
Phalguna Krishna Paksha Tritiya • Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti was
celebrated on February 23 this year.
World Day of Social Justice • According to the Hindu calendar, Maharishi
 World Day of Social Justice is observed every Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is celebrated on
year on 20 February the tenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month
 Its main objectiveis to ensure peace, security, of Phalguna.
and equality among nations.
Central Excise Day
 Itcalls for global action to address poverty,
exclusion and unemployment. • Central Excise Day is celebrated in India on 24
 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) February every year.
established the day on November 26, 2007, • The objective is to recognise the contribution
and has been celebrated annually since 2009. of the Central Excise Department and make
taxpayers aware of the tax system.
Statehood Day of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh • Central excise duty has been a major
 The foundation day of Mizoram and Arunachal instrument of indirect tax collection for the
Pradesh was celebrated on 20 February. Government of India.
Mizoram • It is also called excise duty. It has now been
 1972: Mizoram got the status of Union subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST
Territory. ).
 Current Affairs : January - February : 2025 [80]
• Note: Some products like petrol, diesel and National Science Day
alcohol still come under the purview of central • National Science Day is celebrated in India on
excise duty. 28 February every year.
Veer Savarkar’s death anniversary • It was on this day in 1928 that CV Raman
discovered the ‘Raman Effect’.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s death anniversary
• The theme of National Science Day for the
is celebrated on February 26.
year 2025 is ‹Empowering Indian youth for
• Born: 28 May 1883, in Bhagur village, Nashik
global leadership in science and innovation for
• Died: 26 February 1966
a development India’.
• In his book ‘The Indian War of Independence
• CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in the
1857’, he declared the revolt of 1857 as the
year 1930 for the discovery of ‹Raman Effect’.
first war of independence.
World Protein Day Financial Literacy Week 2025
• Event: Will run from 24 to 28 February.
• It is celebrated annually on 27 February.
• Conducted by: Reserve Bank of India.
• Aim: To raise awareness among people about
• Theme: «Financial Literacy – Women’s
the importance of protein in nutrition.
Prosperity».
• Gerardus Johannes Mulder discovered protein
• This theme emphasizes on empowering
in 1938.
women economically and socially.
• The scientist discovered the atomic structure
• The campaign will create awareness about the
of proteins in 1956.
risks and precautions to be taken while using
Chandrashekhar Azad’s Martyrdom Day these platforms.
• Tributes were paid to freedom fighter Chan-
drashekhar Azad on his 94th martyrdom day
on 27 February 2025 in India.
• He was a revolutionary freedom fighter.
• In 1922, he became a leading member of the
Hindustan Republican Association (HRA).
• He was martyred on 27 February 1931 at Al-
fred Park, Allahabad (now Prayagraj).