Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 10th February 2025

 National News 

Maharashtra government launches Maitri 2.0 portal to make investment process hassle-free 

• To make the investment process hassle-free and without administrative and procedural delays, the Maharashtra government has launched the MAITRI (Maharashtra Industry, Trade and Investment Facilitation Cell) 2.0 Portal. 
• The portal has integrated 119 services from 16 departments to create a seamless online ecosystem for government-to-business (G2B) services. The transparent processing of applications and the proactive escalation in case of delays from real-time tracking (RTS) Timelines ensure that services are rendered in a timely and efficient manner. 

About Maharashtra 

• Capital – Mumbai 
• Chief Minister – Devendra Fadnavis (3rd time) 
• Deputy Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe & Ajit Pawar 
• Governor – C P Radhakrishnan 
• Legislative Assembly Speaker – Rahul Narwekar 
• Legislative Assembly Seats – 288 

FICCI and Expo City Dubai Forge Partnership Ahead of 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit 

• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has signed an MoU with Expo City Dubai during the Cities in Action Forum 2025 to boost international urban cooperation. 
• The partnership will facilitate India’s participation in the Asia Pacific Cities Summit (APCS) & Mayor’s Forum in October 2025 at Expo City Dubai. 
• The summit will bring together mayors, business leaders, and policymakers to address urban challenges, focusing on sustainability, infrastructure development, and climate resilience. 
• The collaboration aligns with India’s Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT, offering opportunities for Indian urban leaders to engage with global experts and explore investment prospects. 

32nd session of Indian Art History Congress begins

•  The 32nd session of the Indian Art History Congress begins in Noida, UP. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the three-day event. 
• The conference aims to be a platform that brings together conversations on the various forms of artistic and performative representations of the epics. 
• The theme for this year event is “Rendering of Indian Epics in Art and Culture,” which aims to highlight the diverse forms of artistic expressions based on the epics. 

About Uttar Pradesh 

• Capital – Lucknow 
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath 
• Governor – Anandiben Patel 

The IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025 started in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam. 

• The conference was inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
•  The conference will continue until this month's 14th. 240 delegates from 55 countries have registered so far for this conference. 
• Next Generation Administrative Reforms- Reaching the Last Mile is the conference's theme. 
• Innovations in governance, policymaking, and public administration will be discussed and explored during the conference. 
• India is hosting the IIAS Conference on Public Administration for the first time. India is the first nation in South Asia to do so. 
• This conference is being held in New Delhi by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). 

Biren quits as Manipur CM after meeting Shah 

• Manipur Chief Minister Ν. Biren Singh stepped down from the post following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday. 
• Mr. Singh, who was summoned to the national capital by Mr. Shah, tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla soon after reaching Imphal. 
• The Governor accepted the resignation and asked him to continue in office till "alternative arrangements are made", the Raj Bhavan said in a statement. 
• A senior government of-ficial said that President's Rule is a likely option in the State only if no other party or BJP member stakes claim to form the government. The BJP State leadership was said to be in a huddle to decide the next course of action. 
• The Assembly session that was to be convened on Monday was declared null and void by the Governor on Sunday evening. 
• A top government source told The Hindu that around 11am on Sunday, ahead of Mr. Singh's resignation, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a virtual meeting to review the internal security situation in Manipur. The meeting was attended by the Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur 
• Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh. Security forces were asked to maintain high alert amid likelihood of violence by vested interests and were asked to be ready for deployment at "short notice".

 International News 

Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports 

• President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports. 
• This move, framed as a restoration of fairness in sports, has ignited a fierce debate across political and social landscapes. Critics argue that the order discriminates against transgender individuals, while supporters hail it as a necessary step to uphold the integrity of women’s sports. 
• Trump signed the executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a symbolic nod to its intent. 

Singapore Is World’s Most Powerful Passport of 2025, India at 80th spot 

• The Singaporean passport has emerged as the strongest passport in the world with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 out of 227 countries across the globe, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. 
• India found the 80th spot on the list, with easy access to 56 nations. Compiled by Henley & Partners, the index assessed 199 passports based on the data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 
• Per the list, South Korea and Japan followed Singapore in the second position with easy access to 190 countries. Seven countries, including Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Finland and Denmark shared the third rank with access to 187 destinations without prior visa requirements. 
• India shared the 80th spot with Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Tajikistan. Its neighbour Myanmar secured the 88th sport with access to 45 destinations. Sri Lanka shared the 91st position with Iran and Sudan with access to 42 countries. 
• Bangladesh shared the 93rd with Libya and the Palestinian Territories, Nepal is at 94th rank and Pakistan is at 96th spot with Yemen. 
• At the bottom of the list in the 99th position, Taliban-run Afghanistan suffered the widest mobility gap in the index’s 19-year history by losing visa-free access to two additional destinations. The passport offers easy access to just 25 nations. Meanwhile, unstable Iraq got the 97th spot with access to 30 countries and war-torn Syria received the 98th position with access to 27 destinations. 

Recent index 

• Henley Passport Index 2025 – India at 80th spot with 56 destinations; Topped by Singapore
• Global Firepower Index 2025 – India ranked at 4th; topped by USA 
• Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024 – India at 49th 
• Global Network Readiness Index 2024 – Topped by US; India at 49th 
• World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2024 – India at 79th; topped by Denmark 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the Paris AI summit with France’s President Emmanuel Macron. 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris on February 10. 
• On February 10, the summit officially opened with Business Leaders Day. 
• On February 11, the Prime Minister will co-chair the AI Summit alongside President Macron.
• Safety, governance, and innovation are the main themes for this year’s AI summit. 
• The leaders of the summit will also discuss the concentration of power in the hands of a select few companies such as Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta. 
•  Key areas including open-source AI systems, clean energy for power data centres, the impact of AI on labour, AI helping developing nations, etc. will be also discussed.  The Paris AI Summit is part of the Paris Peace Forum. Representatives from over 100 countries will participate in the Summit. 
• This summit origin can be traced from the UK’s Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit – which took place in 2023. 

There will be five separate working groups at this year’s AI summit: 

• International governance 
• Future of work
•  Security and safety 
• AI for general interest
•  Innovation and culture. 

BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025 begins in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

• The BIMSTEC Youth Summit will take place from 7th to 11th February 2025. 
• Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya formally inaugurated the event on 8th February. 
• BIMSTEC Youth Summit aimed to bring together youths of BRICS countries on a unified platform to exchange their experiences and insights. 
• This summit is centred around the theme “Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange”. 
• The hosting of the BIMSTEC Youth Summit was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in 2018. 
• A session on "Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue X BIMSTEC" will be also organized during this summit. 
• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan. 

Aero India, biggest air show in Asia, to begin today in Bengaluru 

• Starting Monday, the sound and sight of roaring military jets will rock the Bengaluru skies as the Ae-ro India air show will kick off at the Yelahanka Air Force Station here.
•  The 15th edition of Asia's biggest air show will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The first three days are dedicated to business visitors, while the last two days are open to the general public. 
• Among the aircraft which will be on display are the fifth-generation fighter jet, the Su-57, from Russia, the F-35, the KC-135 Stratotanker, and B-1B Lan-cer from the U.S., and the multi-mission transport aircraft KC-390 Millennium from Brazil. While the Su-57 will be making its debut at the Aero India, this will be the second outing for the F-35 at the show. 
• "For the first time in history, Aero India 2025 will witness the participation of two of the world's most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 Lightning II. It marks a milestone in global defence collaboration and technological advance-ment, offering aviation enthusiasts and defence experts an unparalleled prospect to witness these state-of-the-art warplanes," the Defence Ministry said. 
•  Among the Indian air-craft and helicopters taking part in the show are the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, HJT 36, Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40), and the light utility helicopter. A functional full-scale engineering demonstrator of Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior developed by Hin-dustan Aeronautics Ltd. will also be showcased for the first time along with a full-scale model of the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), India's fifth-generation fighter jet.

 U.S. aircraft to be a major draw at Aero India 

• The fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet, the aerial refuelling tanker aircraft KC-135 Stratotanker, the B-1 supersonic heavy bomber, and F-16 fighter jets are among the aircraft from the U.S. that will be on display at the Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. 
• This is the 15th time that the U.S. is participating in Asia's biggest air show, which will be held from February 10 to 14. 
• Over 20 exhibitors 
• At Aero India, more than two dozen U.S. exhibitors will engage with Indian counterparts, explore new business opportunities, and demonstrate innova-tive solutions in aviation and defence. These companies will display advancements in unmanned aerial systems, fighter aircraft, advanced avionics, and defence electronics. 
• Jorgan Andrews, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Em-bassy in New Delhi, will lead the high-level delegation of representatives from the U.S. Departments of State, Defence, and Commerce. 
• "The United States is excited to once again participate in Aero India and to spotlight our strong defence ties with India. Our cooperation in defence, trade, and training is integral to our growing strategic partnership," Mr. An-drews said. 
• General Kevin Schneid-er, Commander, U.S. Pacif-ic Air Forces; Brigadier-General Patrick Teague, se-nior defence official, U.S.'s Mission in India; and Con-sul-General Chris Hodges, U.S. Consulate General Chennai, will also be part of the U.S. delegation. 
• Deepened defence ties 
• Since Aero India 2023, the U.S. and India have deepened defence ties, including through technology innovation, expanded trade, and increased cooperation in maritime security, cy-bersecurity, logistics, and counter-terrorism operations. 
• General Schneider said: "Aero India 2025 is an ideal forum to showcase U.S. defence aircraft and equipment and ultimately contribute toward our compatibility and interop-erability with other na-tions." 
• "The growth in Indian and U.S. bilateral defence trade has corresponded with growing interoperability through information sharing, liaison officers, training exercises, and defence enabling agreements. The importance of our partnership continues to grow, particularly as we face an increasingly complex and dynamic security environment in the Indo-Pacific," he added. 
• Final Approach, the 10-member ensemble of the the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, will perform for the public at Aero India on February 13 and 14 and at 5pm on February 11 at the Christ University auditorium. 

Defence news 

Exercise “Cyclone 2025” started at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan from 10 February. 

• This is a joint military exercise between India and Egypt. It will continue for 14 days. 
• It aims to enhance defence cooperation between India and Egypt. 
• As part of exercise, India and Egypt will share professional skills and improve interoperability of Special Forces in desert environments. 
• Exercise “Cyclone 2025” is the third edition of Cyclone exercise.
•  The exercise will include counter-terrorism operations, reconnaissance, raids, and other specialized missions. 
• The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) is representing the Indian Army contingent. 

A contract worth ₹642 crore signed by the Defence Ministry with BEL for 28 EON-51 Systems for the Indian Navy. 

• On 8 February, a contract was signed by the Ministry of Defence with Bharat Electronics Limited for the procurement of 28 EON-51 systems for 11 New Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and three Cadet Training Ships for the Indian Navy. 
• T'he total cost of the contract is Rs 642.17 crore under the Procurement (Indian-IDDM) category. 
• EON-51 is an electro-optical fire control system that provides detection, tracking, and classification of targets using electro-optical and thermal imagers devices. 
• This scheme will create many employment opportunities over a period of three years. 
• This will encourage active participation of various Indian industries, including micro, small, and medium enterprises. 
• This initiative will also provide a significant boost to the government's efforts to achieve the goal of 'Aatmanirbharta' in the defense sector. 

The Navy's biennial TROPEX exercise is underway in the Indian Ocean region. 

• The Indian Navy’s biennial capstone Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX) is currently being conducted in the Indian Ocean Region from January to March. The exercise involves a combined fleet of approximately 65 Indian Navy ships, nine submarines, and over 80 aircraft of various types.
• These assets are engaged in complex maritime operational scenarios to validate and refine the Navy’s Concept of Operations, including forward deployed sustenance and interoperability with other services. 
• This operational-level exercise is conducted biennially with substantial participation of all operational units of the Navy as well as the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard. 
• TROPEX-25 aims to validate the Indian Navy’s core warfighting skills and enhance its operational readiness. 
• The exercise ensures a synchronized, integrated response to safeguard national maritime security interests against conventional, asymmetric, and hybrid threats in a contested maritime environment. 

In a first, chiefs of Air Force and Army fly together in light combat aircraft Tejas 

• Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi created history on Sunday as they flew together on the light combat air-craft Tejas on the eve of Aero India 2025.
•  The two service chiefs, who were course mates at the National Defence Academy in Pune, took off on a Tejas trainer aircraft from the Air Force Station, Yela-hanka, Bengaluru, and landed a few minutes later upon completion of a suc-cessful sortie. This is the first time that two service chiefs were aboard a military jet. 
• General Dwivedi termed the flight the best moment of his life. Former Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat had also flown in the trainer version of the Tejas during Aero India 2019. 

Banking and Financial 

RBI approves two voluntary urban co-operative bank amalgamations 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved two voluntary amalgamations in the urban co-operative bank (UCB) space — The Citizen Co-operative Bank (Vasco-De-Gama, Goa) with TJSB Sahakari Bank (Thane, Maharashtra) and Pune Commercial Co-operative Bank (Satara, Maharashtra) with Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank (Pune, Maharashtra). 
• The Scheme of Amalgamation of The Citizen Cooperative Bank with TJSB Sahakari Bank has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. 
• The Scheme will come into force with effect from February 10, 2025, whereby the branches of Goa-based UCB will function as branches of TJSB Sahakari Bank. 
• The Scheme of Amalgamation of Pune Commercial Co-operative Bank with Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. 
• The Scheme will come into force with effect from February 10, 2025, whereby the branches of the Satara-based UCB will function as branches of Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank. 

RBI introduced an additional authentication layer for online international digital payments. 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced plans to introduce an Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) for cross-border "Card Not Present" (CNP) transactions. 
• It will bring international digital transactions through Indian-issued cards on the same security standards that are applied to domestic transactions. 
• An additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) requires a One-Time Password (OTP) or biometric authentication. It has effectively reduced the number of frauds in domestic online payments. 
• Until now, this layer of additional security doesn’t apply to international standards. 
• The introduction of AFA for international transactions will ensure that Indian consumers are fully protected. 
• The rise in e-commerce has also brought a spike in fraud cases. 

Science and Technology news 

The first-ever kangaroo embryo successfully created using IVF by Australian scientists. 

• The first-ever kangaroo embryos have been successfully created using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) by Australian researchers in a historic scientific breakthrough. 
• For the first time, a kangaroo embryo has been produced using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique widely used in human fertility treatments. 
•  ICSI was employed by scientists from the University of Queensland to create eastern grey kangaroo embryos by injecting a single sperm cell into a mature egg, setting the stage for potential conservation applications for endangered marsupial species. 
• Lead researcher Dr. Andres Gambini, from the University of Queensland, described the development as an important step in preserving Australia's unique wildlife. 
• So far, the research team has successfully created more than 20 kangaroo embryos using ICSI.
• Sperm and egg cells were collected from kangaroos that had recently died in wildlife hospitals, providing a sustainable way to use genetic material for conservation efforts.

 Sports 

9th Asian Winter Games kick off in Harbin 

• The 9th edition of the Asian Winter Games (AWG) 2025 has commenced in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China. 
• Chinese President Xi Jinping officially declared the games open in the presence of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and other distinguished guests. The games will continue until the 14th February. 
• A record 34 countries and regions are participating in these games. The 88-member Indian contingent, including 59 athletes and 29 team officials, will take part in the event. 

Obituary news

 7. Namibia's first democratically elected president, Sam Nujoma, passed away at age of 95. 

• He was the Founding Father of Namibia. Nujoma led Namibia from 1990 till 2005. 
• Nujoma amended constitution for getting presidential term for the third time. 
• He is known for his key role in liberation struggle of Namibia against South African colonialism. 
• He was formally declared “Founding Father of the Namibian Nation” through a 2005 act of parliament. 
• Namibia is a country in Southern Africa. Windhoek is its capital. Namibian Dollar is its currency. 
• Nangolo Mbumba is current president of Namibia. Saara Kuugongelwa is its current Prime Minister.