24th February, 2025 Current Affairs

National

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates Global Investors Summit 2025 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Investors Summit 2025 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, highlighting the state’s potential in industry, innovation, and infrastructure. The summit aims to attract global investments, fueling economic growth and job creation. PM Modi emphasized India’s role as a global growth hub and praised Madhya Pradesh’s emergence as a business powerhouse. Key focus areas include water security, infrastructure development, and reforms at state and local levels, with textiles, tourism, and technology driving India’s future growth.

Nagaland Launches ‘Adolescent Girls Club’ to Empower Young Girls

• Nagaland has launched Adolescent Girls Clubs in schools under Mission Shakti, starting with Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Wokha, on October 5, 2024. Targeting girls aged 10-19, these clubs focus on education, health awareness, and life skills development. Key objectives include fostering leadership, improving health awareness, and encouraging community participation. Monthly activities, mentorship programs, and workshops aim to boost confidence and personal growth. A special toolkit covering mental health, teenage pregnancy, and child safety is also in development for girls, parents, and teachers.

Bilateral

India-UK Trade Negotiations Resume: Joint Statement Highlights

• India and the UK have officially resumed trade negotiations, following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The announcement was made by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and the UK’s Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Delhi.
• Both nations aim for a balanced, mutually beneficial trade deal focused on boosting economic growth, sustainable development, and strengthening ties across sectors like defense, technology, climate action, health, and education.

Sunil Bharti Mittal Awarded Honorary Knighthood for Strengthening India-UK Ties

• Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE). The honor, conferred by King Charles III, recognizes Mittal’s contributions to enhancing India-UK business relations. His leadership roles with Airtel Africa, Eutelsat OneWeb, and the India-UK CEO Forum have significantly boosted trade and investment between the two nations. This makes Mittal the first Indian citizen to receive the KBE under the current monarch’s reign.

Join our WhatsApp Channel: Click Here  Join our Telegram Channel: Click Here

Follow our YouTube Channel: Click Here Follow our Instagram Page: Click Here

Economy 

RBI to infuse $10 billion foreign exchange (forex) 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a $10 billion foreign exchange (forex) swap to boost liquidity in the banking sector and tackle the ongoing cash shortage. Scheduled for February 28, 2025, this three-year swap auction follows a similar $5 billion forex swap conducted last month. This move highlights the RBI's continued focus on stabilizing liquidity, especially as the banking sector grapples with its most severe liquidity crunch in over a decade. The shortfall stems partly from the RBI’s aggressive dollar sales aimed at curbing rupee volatility.

India to Host 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Jaipur

• India is set to host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Jaipur, focusing on advancing a resource-efficient, circular economy across Asia-Pacific countries. The event will conclude with the adoption of the ‘Jaipur Declaration’.
• Over 500 global and domestic participants are expected to attend the three-day forum. A special India Pavilion will showcase India's achievements in the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) sector, alongside the launch of a compendium of 100+ best practices by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

Environment

Prakriti 2025: India’s Commitment to Carbon Markets and Climate Action

• India hosted Prakriti 2025, an international conference on carbon markets, in New Delhi to promote sustainable climate initiatives. The event gathered global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss carbon market trends and solutions for a low-carbon future.
• Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal emphasized India's shift toward renewable energy and ecological consciousness. Key discussions included compliance mechanisms, carbon credits, and market infrastructure. Organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the conference positions India as a global leader in sustainable climate policies.

Harnessing Biotechnology for a Greener Tomorrow: India’s Push for Sustainability

• India is leveraging biotechnology to tackle environmental challenges and promote green growth. Key initiatives include the BioE3 Policy, aiming to position India as a global biomanufacturing hub, and Bio-RIDE, a Rs 1,500 crore scheme fostering research and entrepreneurship. The BRIC-NABI institute focuses on agri-biotech innovations, while programs like i3c BRIC RCB PhD and EFB nurture cutting-edge research. These efforts collectively drive India’s transition to a sustainable, bio-based economy and ensure energy security for the future.
• Benefits of BioE3
• Positioning India as a Global Biomanufacturing Hub.
• Steer India on the path of accelerated Green Growth.
• To fast-track innovation to technology sustainably.
• Drive employment and intensify entrepreneurial momentum.
• Achieve bioeconomy targets and national economic goals for 2047.
• Create a Bio-Vision for Bharat.

Sports

Indian Squash Star Saurav Ghosal Clinches Octane Sydney Classic Title

• Indian squash icon Saurav Ghosal made a stunning comeback from retirement by winning the Octane Sydney Classic. After retiring from the PSA Tour in April 2023, Ghosal rejoined on January 1, 2025, with a renewed goal to represent India. The 38-year-old, seeded second, showcased his dominance by defeating Egypt’s Abdelrahman Nasser in straight sets in the final. This victory highlights Ghosal’s enduring talent and determination to excel on the global stage.

Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest Batter to Reach 14,000 ODI Runs

• Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has set another record by becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 287 innings. He surpassed the previous records held by Sachin Tendulkar (350 innings) and Kumar Sangakkara (378 innings).
• Kohli reached this landmark with a match-winning century—his 51st ODI ton—against Pakistan during the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Known for his consistency and exceptional chasing ability, Kohli continues to dominate the ODI format, setting new benchmarks for future generations.

ICC Champions Trophy Winners List (1998-2025)

The ICC Champions Trophy is a premier cricket tournament featuring top international teams. Here's a summary of the winners and runners-up from 1998 to 2025:

Year	Winner(s)	Runner-Up	Hosted By
1998	South Africa	West Indies	Bangladesh
2000	New Zealand	India	Kenya
2002	Sri Lanka and India	-	Sri Lanka
2004	West Indies	England	England
2006	Australia	West Indies	India
2009	Australia	New Zealand	South Africa
2013	India	England	England and Wales
2017	Pakistan	India	England and Wales
2025	To be decided	To be decided	Pakistan

India, Australia, and Pakistan have been the most consistent performers, with memorable finals over the years.

Mirra Andreeva Creates History with WTA 1000 Series Win

• Russian teen tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva became the youngest player to win a WTA 1000 series singles title. The 17-year-old claimed the Dubai Tennis Championships 2025 by defeating Denmark’s Clara Tauson 7–6 (7/1), 6–1 in the final.
• Andreeva secured $597,000 (approx. ₹5.17 crore) in prize money and earned 1,000 ranking points. Runner-up Tauson received $351,801 (approx. ₹3.04 crore) along with 650 ranking points. This remarkable victory marks a significant milestone in Andreeva’s rapidly rising career.

Science & Technology 

Indian Coast Guard Successfully Conducts ‘Sagar Kavach’ Security Exercise in West Bengal

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the ‘Sagar Kavach’ security exercise along the 158 km West Bengal coastline on February 21-22, 2025. This two-day operation aimed to strengthen coastal security by simulating potential maritime threats. The exercise enhanced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and improved inter-agency coordination among security forces to safeguard India’s eastern maritime border. Multiple agencies collaborated to assess readiness and boost the region’s overall maritime defense capabilities.

Persons in News

Shaktikanta Das Appointed as Principal Secretary-2 to PM Narendra Modi

• The Indian government has appointed Shaktikanta Das, retired IAS officer and former RBI Governor, as Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Das becomes the first person in this role with extensive expertise in both fiscal and monetary policy. His appointment is considered vital as India faces economic challenges, including trade wars, rupee volatility, and a potential economic slowdown. His tenure will continue until the end of the Prime Minister’s term or until further notice.

Published date : 25 Feb 2025 11:40AM