Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 11th February 2025

 National News

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Asia’s biggest Aero India show in Bangalore

• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated Asia’s biggest 15th Aero India show in Bengaluru.
• The five-day event with the theme of Runway to a billion Opportunities will showcase India’s defence capabilities and indigenous innovations. 
• Indian MSMEs and Startups have an opportunity to forge Joint ventures or collaborations with the global manufacturers and provide a resilient supply chain. 
• Indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, Advanced Light Helicopter and C 295 transport aircraft produced in India are on display. ADA has exhibited a newly designed prototype of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft with fifth generation technology. 

2. MP govt partners with AIIMS Delhi for maternal, infant mortality rate reduction 

• Madhya Pradesh government has formed a strategic partnership with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi to seek its regular assistance. 
• A delegation of senior ocials associated with National Health Mission of the Madhya Pradesh government attended a meeting in AIIMS Delhi and signed an agreement with the country’s premier government health institution. 
• The discussion was focused on exploring evidence-based interventions and policy frameworks to improve healthcare services in the state. 

About Madhya Pradesh 

• Capital – Bhopal 
• Chief Minister – Dr Mohan Yadav (replace Shivraj Singh Chauhan) 
• Deputy CM – Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla 
• Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Assembly – Narendra Singh Tomar 
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel 

3. Assam to host World’s Largest Jhumur Festival 

• Assam will host the world’s largest Jhumur dance, also called Jhumoir, on February 24, 2025, ahead of the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment Summit. 
• With over 7,500 dancers, the event aims for a Guinness World Record and will be attended by PM Narendra Modi. 
• This summit is a platform to showcase Assam’s rich traditions to a global audience and attract investors. 
• The two-day event is expected to draw investors from all around India and the world, solidifying Assam’s standing as a new investment destination in the country. 

About Assam 

• Formation – 26 January 1950 
• Capital – Dispur 
• Chief Minister –Himanta Biswa Sarma 
• Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria 

International News 

4. Trump Declares February 9 ‘Gulf of America Day’ After Renaming ‘Gulf of Mexico’ 

• US President Donald Trump has ocially renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and designated February 9 as “Gulf of America Day” through an executive order. 
• The order, titled “Restoring Names That Honour American Greatness” (Executive Order 14172), instructs the US Secretary of the Interior to formalise the name change within 30 days.
• The executive order defines the newly named Gulf as including the “US Continental Shelf area bounded to the northeast, north, and northwest by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, extending to the maritime boundary with Mexico and Cuba”.

5. Taris on aluminum and steel imports have been raised to 25% by Trump 

1. On 10 February, taris on steel and aluminum imports were substantially raised to a flat 25% “without exceptions or exemptions” by President Donald Trump, in a move intended to aid struggling industries but increasing the risk of a multi-front trade war. 
2. Proclamations signed by Trump, raising the U.S. tari rate on aluminum to 25% from his previous 10% rate and eliminating country exceptions, quota deals, and hundreds of thousands of product-specific tari exclusions for both metals.
3. A White House ocial confirmed that these measures would take eect from March 4.
4.  These taris will apply to millions of tonnes of steel and aluminium imported from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and other countries that had been entering the US duty-free under waivers. 
5. The announcements were an expansion of Trump’s 2018 Section 232 taris to protect domestic steel and aluminum manufacturers on national security grounds. 
6. In addition, Trump will impose a new North American standard requiring steel to be “melted and poured” and aluminum to be “smelted and cast” within the region. 
7. This measure aims to curb U.S. imports of minimally processed Chinese and Russian metals that circumvent other taris.

6. The fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi on 10 February 2025 

• Power Minister Manohar Lal and the UK’s Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband co-chaired the dialogue. 
• The focus of the dialogue was on reviewing progress in energy sectors of both nations. 
• The launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power and Renewable Energy in India, ASPIRE programme was also announced. 
• The aim of phase will be to oer technical support to ensure round-the-clock power supply.
•  The phase will also aim to accelerate industrial energy eciency and expand renewable energy initiatives. 

7. Lebanon formed its first full-fledged government

 

• Lebanon’s new prime minister Nawaf Salam formed the first full-fledged government since 2022. 
• President Joseph Aoun accepted the resignation of the former caretaker government. 
• The new government has promised to implement reforms needed to bring the country out of an extended economic crisis.
• Salam’s cabinet of 24 ministers is split evenly between Christian and Muslim sects. 
• Nawaf Salam was a diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice. 
• Lebanon’s new authorities also mark a shift away from leaders that are close to Hezbollah. 

Appointment News 

8. Nokia picks Intel’s AI and data center leader Justin Hotard as new CEO 

• Pekka Lundmark, CEO of Nokia, will step down, with Justin Hotard appointed as his successor, eective April 1. 
• Justin Hotard is currently the executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center & AI Group at Intel. 
• Lundmark, who was appointed as Nokia’s CEO in 2020, will stay on as an advisor to Hotard until the end of the year. 

Recent Appointments 

• Chairman of Groupe Spécial Mobile Association Board – Gopal Vittal (replace Jose Maria Alvares-Pallete) 
• DG of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) – Rajesh Nirwan 
• CEO of Vedanta Resources Ltd. – Deshnee Naidoo 
• CEO of Reliance Power – Neeraj Parakh 
• President of Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for 2025 – Dhananjay Shukla 
• Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society – Nripendra Mishra Awards 

9. Tamil film ‘Bad Girl’ wins NETPAC Award at International Film Festival of Rotterdam 

• Bad Girl, the debut feature film by director Varsha Bharath, has won the NETPAC Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025. 
• The Tamil coming-of-age drama is presented by ace filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vetri Maaran. 
• The NETPAC Award (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) is given annually to a standout feature film from the Asia and Pacific regions. It specifically recognises emerging talents, considering only the first and second features of directors. 
• This project marks the Tamil debut of National Award-winning music director Amit Trivedi, who has composed six songs for the movie. The film has cinematography by Preetha Jayaraman, Jagadeesh Ravi, and Prince Anderson, and editing by Radha Sridhar. 

Recent Awards 

• Honorary doctorate by University of Sussex – Noel Tata 
• Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 – Late Chaman Arora (for Ik Hor Ashwthama in Dogri). 
• BCCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 – Sachin Tendulkar (31st) 
• Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2025 – Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) (In the Institutional Category for its excellent work in Disaster Management) 
• Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 – Prof Urbasi Sinha 
• Singapore’ Honorary Citizen Award – Tarun Das (Former DG of Confederation of Indian Industry) 

Defence News 

10. Indian Army and Indian Air Force conducts joint military exercise ‘Winged Raider’ 

• The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force jointly conducted a comprehensive training exercise named EX Winged Raiders in the Eastern Theater. 
• The exercise which was focused on special airborne operations was aimed to enhance inter-service synergy. 
• The joint military exercise is part of the government of India’s eort to push for interoperability leading to the setting up of an integrated theatre command in the country. 
• he exercise focused on special airborne operations and was conducted in the Eastern Theater of the Indian Army. 

11.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited renamed the HJT-36 jet trainer as ‘Yashas’ 

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has renamed its flagship HJT-36 jet training aircraft as ‘Yashas’. 
• Yashas’ has been designed for stage II pilot training. It is capable of performing counter-insurgency and counter-surface force operations and armament training, and aerobatics. 
• It is powered by a FADEC-controlled AL-55I jet engine. It provides a best-in-class thrust-to-weight ratio. 
• Yashas' has been unveiled at the ongoing Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. 
• For induction into service, the aircraft has been upgraded with state-of-the-art avionics and an ultra-modern cockpit.

Business News 

12. The India-EFTA Desk launched to boost trade, with an expected investment of $100 billion 

• On 10 February, a dedicated India-EFTA desk launched in New Delhi by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, along with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) ocials, to deepen economic ties. 
• This platform will act as a bridge between businesses from India and EFTA. 
• It will provide trade facilitation and regulatory guidance and strengthen trade and investment relations under the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). 
• The agreement promises significant investments worth $100 billion in India, as well as reductions in various taris. 
• This will boost trade and investment between India and EFTA for European products. 
• The India-EFTA Desk will provide structured support to EFTA businesses wishing to invest, expand or set up operations in India. 
• In March 2024, India and EFTA signed the TEPA agreement to strengthen trade and investment ties. 
• India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organisation and free trade area comprising four countries: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. 
• It was established on 3 May 1960.

13. India Energy Week 2025 commenced on February 11, 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi 

• It is a four-day event. More than 700 exhibitors and 70 thousand global energy professionals will attend the event. 
• The aim of India Energy Week 2025 is to unveil innovation, form partnerships, and shape the future of energy. 
• India Energy Week 2025 was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
• India Energy Week 2025 is second-largest energy event globally.
• Ten countries, including Canada, Germany, Japan, the US, and the UK, set up their pavilions at India Energy Week 2025. 

14. Golden Peacock Award has been conferred to Coal India 

• At the 19th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) received the Golden Peacock CSR Award 2024. 
• P.M. Prasad, Chairman, CIL received the award at a ceremony organized by the Institute of Directors. 
• This recognition shows CIL’s unwavering commitment to driving meaningful social impact. The company’s CSR initiatives have positively impacted over 35 million lives. 
• In the past five years, CIL has been the highest CSR spender among Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSEs). 
• The CIL spends more than 70% of its CSR funds on Healthcare, Nutrition & Sanitation, and Education & Livelihood. 
• CIL has constructed over 50,000 toilets under the Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan. 

Banking News 

15.RBI to introduce 'bank.in' and 'fin.in' domains for increasing payment security 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched exclusive internet domains—‘bank.in’ and ‘fin.in’—for Indian financial institutions. 
• This initiative aims to tackle the rising instances of fraud and cyber security threats.
• It will help in stopping phishing and other malicious activities that have become a threat to the safety of online transactions. 
• The 'bank.in' domain will be available exclusively to Indian banks. It will ensure secure access to financial services and enhance customer confidence in digital banking. 
• Domain, ‘fin.in’, will be used for other non-bank entities in the financial sector. 
• The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) has been designated as the exclusive registrar for these domains. 
• These domains will make it easier for consumers to identify legitimate financial services and reduce the risks of cyber fraud. 

Sports News 

16. Varun Chakravarthy becomes 2nd oldest cricketer to make ODI debut for India 

• The Indian team handed mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy his maiden ODI cap in the 2nd game of the three-match series. 
• Varun received his cap from Ravindra Jadeja, after having a sensational T20I series against England, where he picked up 14 wickets from 5 matches. 
• Varun, 33 years and 164 days old, became India’s second-oldest debutant in ODIs behind legendary wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer, who had made his debut in 1974 at the age of 36 years and 138 days. 
• Varun has steadily risen in the 50-over format and was the best spinner in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier 50-over competition. 

17.Former Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne Retires from International Cricket 

• Former Sri Lankan captain and opener Dimuth Karunaratne bid farewell to international cricket after playing his 100th Test against Australia in Galle. 
• The 36-year-old scored 36 and 14 in his final match, which Australia won by nine wickets to secure a 2-0 sweep of the series. 
• He became only the seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to achieve the milestone of 100 Tests. 
• During his career, Karunaratne amassed 7,222 Test runs at an impressive average of nearly 40, with a career-best score of 244. In addition to his Test achievements, he played 50 ODIs, scoring 1,316 runs. 
• As captain, Karunaratne led Sri Lanka in 30 Tests between 2019 and 2023, achieving 12 wins and 12 losses during his tenure. 

Recently Retired Players 

• Marcelo (Brazil) – International Football 
• Varun Aaron (India) – All forms of cricket 
• Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) – International cricket 
• Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – International cricket 
• Rishi Dhawan (India) – limited-overs cricket. 
• Siddharth Kaul (India) – All forms of cricket 

18. Jil Teichmann wins the Mumbai Open 2025 Tennis tournament 

• Jil Teichmann of Switzerland defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand to win the singles title of the 2025 Mumbai Open tennis tournament. 
• The final of the 2025 Mumbai Open tennis tournament was played in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 
• In the semi-final, Jil Teichman defeated Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, of India while Mananchaya Sawangkaew defeated Rebecca Marino of Canada to reach the final. 
• In the doubles, the Russian pair of Elena Pridankina and Amina Anshba defeated India’s Prarthana Thombare and her Dutch partner Arianne Hartono 6(4)-7(7), 6-2, 10-7 in the final. 
• The Mumbai Open is the biggest professional women’s tennis tournament in India and it returned after a gap of six years in 2024. Mumbai Open 2025 is the fourth edition of the tournament. 

19. India dominated the 2025 Para Archery Asia Cup with 6 gold medals 

• India finished on top in the 2025 Para Archery Asia Cup in Thailand with six gold medals. 
• India won a total of 12 medals, including six gold, three silver, and three bronze. 
• On the final day of the competition, India won six medals, including two golds. 
• Sarita won the gold in the women’s compound open, while Shyam Sundar Swami also won gold in the men’s compound open. 
• The 2025 Para Archery Asia Cup was organized in Thailand from 2 to 11 February.

 Important Day 

20. 10 February – World Pulses Day 

• World Pulses Day is celebrated annually on 10 February to raise awareness about the importance of pulses in sustainable agriculture and global food security. 
• Pulses, commonly known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants grown for consumption. Among the various types, dry beans, lentils and peas are the most popular. It is a common element in various cuisines, ranging from Mediterranean hummus to Indian dal. 
• In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/68/231), recognising 2016 as the International Year of Pulses. Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it was started with the aim of raising public knowledge about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses. 

21. 10 February – International Day of the Arabian Leopard 

•  International Day of the Arabian Leopard is observed every year on 10 February. 
• To raise awareness about the Arabian leopard, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed February 10 as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard in resolution 77/295. 
• Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the rapid disappearance of the Arabian leopard represents a major setback for biodiversity conservation in its native region, underscoring the urgency of addressing the nature crisis that threatens ecosystems worldwide. 

22. 11 February – World Unani Day 

• World Unani Day is observed annually on 11 February to commemorate the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a prominent Unani physician and social reformer. 
• The day aims to promote Unani medicine, an ancient system of healing with roots in Greece and the Middle East, and raise awareness about its benefits. 
• Theme 2025 – Innovations in Unani Medicine for Integrative Health Solutions – A Way Forward 
• Unani medicine focuses on balancing the body’s four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—for maintaining health. 

23. Bangladesh launched the operation 'devil hunt' to tackle violence 

• Bangladesh's interim government launched 'Operation Devil Hunt’ to curb escalating violence targeting Awami League leaders and properties. 
• Security forces arrested over 1,300 individuals under the 'Operation Devil Hunt’. 
• The interim government has vowed to uproot “all devils” attempting to create instability in Bangladesh. 
• After the violent protest, Sheikh Hasina was ousted as Prime Minister in August 2024. 
• A command center has been established to monitor Operation Devil Hunt and oversee its execution. 
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to launch a series of nationwide rallies starting February 11. 

Science and Technology News 

24. India's first indigenous Automated Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Plant has been launched 

• On 10 February, India's first indigenous Automated Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Plant was launched by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at AIIMS New Delhi. 
• The Minister ocially dedicated the Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig, named “Sṛjanam,” to the nation at a ceremony held in the AIIMS auditorium. 
• CSIR-NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology) has developed this innovative, eco-friendly technology, oering a significant advancement in the sustainable management of biomedical waste. 
• The "Sṛjanam" rig can disinfect pathogenic bio-medical waste such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables without the use of expensive and energy-intensive incinerators. 
• Additionally, this rig imparts a pleasant fragrance to the otherwise foul-smelling toxic waste. 
• With a daily capacity of 400 kg, the equipment is capable of handling 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in the initial stage. 

Infrastructure and Energy News 

25. The creation of a new South Coast Railway Zone under Railways has been approved by the Cabinet 

• On 7 February, the creation of a new railway zone under Indian Railways—South Coast Railway—was approved by the Union Cabinet. 
• 4It will consist of a part of the Waltair division, which will be renamed as the Visakhapatnam division. 
• The Union Cabinet stated that the new railway zone has been created in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and is expected to improve eciency in railway operations. 
•  The Cabinet partially modified its earlier decision from February 2019 to retain the Waltair division in a truncated form and rename it as the Visakhapatnam division. 
• Giving the reason behind the name change, the Cabinet said that 'Voltaire' is a colonial legacy that needed to be changed. 
• The Cabinet stated that one part of the Waltair division, covering approximately 410 kilometers, will be retained as the Waltair division under the new South Coast Railway. 
• This section includes routes such as Palasa-Visakhapatnam-Duvvada, Kuneru-Vizianagaram, Naupada Junction-Paralakhemundi, Bobbili Junction-Salur, Simhachalam North-Duvvada bypass, Vadalapudi-Duvvada, and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant-Jaggayapalem. 
• The remaining part of the Waltair division, covering approximately 680 kilometres, will be converted into a new division under East Coast Railway. 
• This section includes routes such as Kottavalasa-Bacheli, Kuneru-Theruvali Junction, Singapur Road-Koraput Junction, and Paralakhemundi-Gunpur, with its headquarters at Rayagada.

Polity News  

26. BJP scouts for new CM in Manipur after Biren's exit 

• A day after Nong-thombam Biren Singh resigned as the Chief Minister of restive Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday began scouting for his successor.  Sambit Patra, incharge of the BJP in Manipur, held separate closed door meetings with each of the party's MLAs barring seven belonging to the Kuki-Zo community in the State's capital Imphal on Monday. He also met the MLAs of the Naga People's Front, an ally of the BJP, Mani pur's security advisor Kul-diep Singh, and the Hill Areas Committee chairper-son Dinganglung Gangmei. 
• Neither Mr. Patra and the MLAs shared details of the one-on-one meeting. 
• "Our discussion was fo-cused on reconciliation and bringing back peace in Manipur," Minister for Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development Yumnam Khemchand told journalists, insisting that selecting the new Chief Minister was the prerogative of the party's central leadership.
•  "We accepted the decision (on Mr. Singh's resignation) taken by our high command. We will abide by any decision that follows," he said, when asked about the likely candidates for the top post.
•  Mr. Khemchand is said to be one of the contenders for the Chief Minister's job. 
• The others are Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata, Public Works Department Minister Konthoujam Govindas, Education Minister Thounaojam Basantakumar, and MLA Thokchom Radheshyam the last two being former Indian Police Service (IPS) ocers. 
• Meanwhile, the State Congress said it would oppose any move to impose President's Rule in Manipur or to place the Assembly under suspended animation. "We want a democratically elected popular government in the larger interest of safeguarding democracy in the State," party president Keisham Meghachandra said.