National News
1. TCS partners with UPM to modernise its IT landscape with AI and automation
- Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) signed an agreement to drive end-to-end IT transformation of UPM, a global company that provides renewable and responsible solutions, to boost adoption of an AI-first operating model.
- The partnership further solidifies TCS’ leadership in Finland, where it has been operational for over 25 years.
- The digital transformation aims to accelerate UPM’s growth, enhance user experience, and support the adoption of an AI-first operating model.
2. JICA, Uttarakhand sign agreement for integrated horticulture development promotion project
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing (DHFP), Government of Uttarakhand, have signed the ‘Records of Discussions’, an official agreement document, for a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) titled ‘Uttarakhand Integrated Horticulture Development Promotion Project’.
- The project aims to promote stable production of horticulture crops and strengthen marketing system through the dissemination of integrated model of market-oriented production and proper management of distribution facilities in Tehri Garhwal and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand.
Recent MoU
- Global defence firm Saab signs MoU with HAL for laser warning system
- Airtel awards contracts to Nokia to expand 5G Wireless Broadband Access
- BPCL signs major deals with Petrobras and Shipping Corporation of India
- ONGC signed a pact with global oil major BP to explore collaboration in exploration and production, trading and other energy vectors, in India and internationally.
- DPIIT signed an agreement with the Korea Transport Institute to enhance cooperation in logistics and infrastructure development.
- JSW Group signs MoU with Odisha govt to set up 5-MTPA steel plant in Keonjhar
3. Jitendra Singh chairs 12th All India Pension Adalat
- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired the 12th All India Pension Adalat in New Delhi.
- During the event, the Minister interacted with pensioners from different states and provided on-the-spot redressal of their pension-related grievances. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister dedicated the Pension Adalat to all the pensioners.
- The Pension Adalat sought to resolve long-standing pension cases pending for more than 120 days in 16 departments, as well as ministries, which were also attending the Adalat. Nearly 180 cases pertaining to ministries were discussed during the Adalat.
4. Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 begins in Uttar Pradesh
- The third edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, an initiative fostering cultural and intellectual ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, commence at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
- Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan; Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have inaugurated the prestigious cultural event.
- The initiative, organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with various ministries and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, aims to celebrate and strengthen the ancient civilizational bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
- This year, the government has decided to bring around thousand delegates from Tamil Nadu under five different categories.
- The main theme of this year’s event is highlighting the significant contributions of Sage Agasthya to the world of Health, Philosophy, Science, Classical Tamil Literature, and cultural unity of the Nation.
- This 10-day-long event will conclude on 24th February 2025.
5. ICMR seeks partners for commercial production of vaccine against typhoid
- The Indian Council of Med-ical Research ((ICMR) is looking at joint development and commercial production of a typhoid and paratyphoid vaccine and has invited expressions of interest from manufacturers. from
- Typhoid is a bacterial infection that affects the intestines and sometimes the bloodstream, caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria.
- The infection is spread by consumption of contaminated food or water, contact with the faeces or urine of an infected person or sexual contact. It can be life-threatening, if untreat-ed.
- Treatment includes use of antibiotics such as chlo-ramphenicol, ampicillin, and ciprofloxacin.
- The ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI) in Kolkata has developed an "enteric fever vaccine based on outer membrane vesicles from two different strains of typhoidal Salmonella species".
- Formal process
- The objective of the ICMR is to validate the "broad specificity typhoid and paratyphoid vaccine against Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi" developed at the institute. This will be followed by proper regulatory compliances, commercialisation and marketing, the council says.
- In the first phase, interested companies will be granted rights to undertake technical validation of the vaccine after signing a non-disclosure agreement. Under the agreement, the institute will provide expert guidance and technical support for the production of the vaccine in all phases.
- "Such technical oversight by ICMR-NIRBI Insti-tute would accelerate the development of the product and its commercialisation. The support will be provided through its team of experienced scientists in study planning, product development, development of study protocol, results/data analysis, outcome assessment, safety and efficacy assessment, product improvement, etc., if deemed fit upon the mutual understanding bet-ween ICMR and collaborative company," the council says.
- Typhoid vaccines available in India include Typbar-TCV, Ty2la, Typhim Vi, and Typherix. Typhoid conjugate vaccines can be given to children over six months of age. Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccines can be given to children over two years of age. In India, TCVs are currently available only in the private sector.
- Recent studies show that typhoid is considered a significant public health issue in India, with estimates suggesting that the country bears a large burden of typhoid cases globally, with millions of cases reported annually, particularly concentrated in urban areas, making it a major menace in the region. A study found a national incidence of 360 cases per 100,000 people, translating to approximately 4.5 million annually.
International News
6. Amir of Qatar to pay state visit to India on Feb. 17-18
- The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, will pay a state visit to India on February 17 and 18, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, covering various aspects of bilateral relations. His visit will provide "further momentum to our growing multifaceted partnership", it said.
- He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, senior officials and a business delegation, the Ministry said in a statement.
- This would be the second state visit of the Amir to India. He earlier visited India in March 2015, the statement said.
- In recent years, the ties between the two countries, including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people ties, have continued to strengthen, the Ministry said.
Sports News
7. Rajat Patidar named RCB captain ahead of IPL 2025
- Rajat Patidar, the 31-year-old middle order batter, has been appointed as the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
- After having released Faf du Plessis, who had captained the side in the previous seasons, the Bengaluru-franchise were without a captaincy candidate ahead of the 2025 season.
- Patidar, who had led Madhya Pradesh to the final of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this season, will become the eighth player to lead RCB.
- Patidar made his IPL debut in 2021 and has been a part of the franchise since then. With the ability to dominate pace and spin with equal ease, he has featured in 27 games for RCB, scoring 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85. He was one of the three retentions for RCB ahead of the mega auction, apart from Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal. He was retained for INR 11 Crore.
8. Third season of Women’s Premier League 2025 begins
- The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 kicked off, featuring five teams competing across four Indian cities: Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai.
- In the opening match, defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore, RCB will face Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara
- India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana will captain RCB, while Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner will lead the Gujarat Giants.
- The tournament, featuring five teams, RCB, Gujarat Giants, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Mumbai Indians, will run until March 15, with the final scheduled at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
- Since its establishment in 2023, the WPL has offered players a golden chance to showcase their talent and act as a springboard to fulfill their ambitions of playing for the Indian team through matches in Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.
- Now this time, for its third season, apart from Mumbai and Bengaluru, the WPL will extend its wings to two new cities – Vadodara and Lucknow – with Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz set to experience home comforts for the first time.
9. 38th National Games 2025 Concludes with Grand Ceremony in Uttarakhand
● The closing ceremony of the 38th National Games was held at the International Sports Stadium, Golapar, Haldwani, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
● Over 16,000 athletes participated in 35 sports disciplines, winning a total of 448 gold, 448 silver, and 594 bronze medals.
● For the first time, traditional sports like yoga and Mallakhamb were included in the National Games. Additionally, a world record was set by organising a nighttime river rafting competition.
● The competitions were held across both urban and remote areas, including Dehradun, Haridwar, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Rishikesh, Almora, Pithoragarh, and Tehri. Even a small town like Chakarpur hosted a major event. Water sports were conducted in high-altitude lakes and rivers of Uttarakhand.
● The 38th edition of the National Games 2025 was held in Uttarakhand with 28 states, eight union territories and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) participating.
Obituary News
10. Bengali singer Pratul Mukhopadhyay passes away at 83
- Veteran Bengali singer-songwriter Pratul Mukhopadhyay, 83, died from age related ailments in a hospital here on Saturday. He is survived by his wife.
- Mr. Mukhopadhyay was known for his songs on social issues and protests, which he mostly sang without any instrumental accompaniment. His close associates who have known him through his long journey in Bengali modern music remembered him as an "artist with a cause".
- The singer had pancreatic ailments and was being treated at the SSKM Medical College and Hospital, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met him recently. Videos of his singing one of his famous compositions, Ami Banglay Pratul Mukhopadhyay
- Gaan Gai (I sing in Bengali), for Ms. Banerjee inside the hospital, was widely circulated on social media.
- After his condition deteriorated, he was put in critical care, but he did not recover.
- State honours
- He was given a farewell with state honours and gun salutes.
- Hundreds showed up for the funeral, including the Chief Minister.
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