Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 27th February 2025

 National News 

1. Second ‘India in Bahrain Festival’ draws record crowd

•  The second edition of the “India in Bahrain Festival” drew more than 2,000 visitors to Dana Mall in Sanabis, showcasing India’s cultural diversity through performances, art, and cuisine. 
• The event, organized by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with Lulu Hypermarket Bahrain and Dana Mall. 
• Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, Vinod K. Jacob, inaugurated the festival, which featured performances by 17 Indian community associations presenting classical and folk traditions from various regions of India. 
• The event, part of the Ministry of External Affairs’ Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) initiative, also included an art exhibition titled ‘India Through My Eyes,’ featuring 42 paintings by 20 artists. 

2. India to host first-ever conference on women peacekeepers 

• India is hosting its first-ever conference on women peacekeepers, titled “Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective,” in New Delhi. 
• The two-day event is organized by the MEA, Ministry of Defence, and Centre for UN Peacekeeping, with participation from 35 Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) from the Global South. 
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will deliver the keynote address, while UN representatives Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Christian Saunders will also participate. 
• The conference will focus on peacekeeping technology, training, and regional collaboration, and the attending women peacekeepers will meet with President Droupadi Murmu.

 3. SECI Inks MoU with MP Government for 200 MW Solar Project and 1,000 MWh BESS Project 

• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Navratna CPSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has signed an MoU with the Government of Madhya Pradesh for setting up a 200 MW solar project in Dhar under the CPSU Scheme and a 1,000 MWh battery storage project in the state. 
• The 200 MW solar project is part of a 500 MW agreement which was executed in 2023 with MP Power Management Company (MPPMCL) for a period of 25 years under which SECI will supply the electricity to the state.

 4. 1st International Conference on Carbon Market Prakriti inaugurated 

• The first International Conference on Carbon Markets-Prakriti was held in New Delhi. 
• The Conference was organised with the aim of understanding the workings of the Indian carbon market and how to deepen and develop it. It also discussed the latest trends in the global carbon credit market and their dynamic. 
• The first International Conference on Carbon Markets-Prakriti was organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). 
• The International Conference on Carbon Markets-Prakriti was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar.

 5. 51st Khajuraho Dance Festival 2025 

• The Khajuraho Dance Festival is a famous cultural event held every year. In 2025, it will take place from February 20 to 26. 
• Organized by the Department of Culture, Madhya Pradesh, with support from Madhya Pradesh Tourism, this festival has been showcasing India’s classical dances since 1975. 
• Set against the beautiful Khajuraho Temples, the festival celebrates India’s rich heritage while also encouraging new ideas in traditional dance. 
• The 51st edition promises an exciting experience with amazing dance performances, heritage tours, craft exhibitions, delicious food, adventure activities, and much more. 

6. India’s First Wildlife Biobank Inaugurated at Darjeeling Zoo 

• India has achieved a milestone in wildlife conservation with its first zoo-based biobank at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal. 
• The biobank has been operational since July 2024. Often called a ‘frozen zoo,’ it focuses on preserving genetic materials from endangered species. 
• The initiative aims to enhance conservation and research efforts. 

7. Paytm, DPIIT partner to support fintech startups with mentorship & funding 

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has partnered with Paytm to promote innovation and support manufacturing and fintech startups in India. 
• Paytm will provide mentorship, infrastructure, market access, and funding opportunities to help startups scale and innovate. 
•  This initiative aims to equip entrepreneurs with essential resources, enhancing their ability to develop cutting-edge payment and financial technology solutions. 

8. Operative Kisan Credit Card (KCC) amount crosses ₹10 Lakh Crore benefiting 7.72 Crore Farmers 

• The amount under operative Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts has more than doubled from ₹4.26 lakh crore in March 2014 to ₹10.05 lakh crore in December 2024. 
• This indicates significant increase in quantum of affordable working capital loans provided to the farmers for agriculture and allied activities. 
• In 2019, the KCC scheme was extended to cover the working capital requirements of allied activities, viz. Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries. GoI, under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), provides interest subvention of 1.5% to banks for providing short-term agri loans through KCC up to Rs 3 lakh at a concessional interest rate of 7% per annum. 
• Anadditional Prompt Repayment Incentive of 3% is provided to farmers on timely repayment of loans, which effectively reduces the rate of interest to 4% for farmers. Loans up to ₹2 lakh are extended on a collateral-free basis, ensuring hassle-free access to credit for small and marginal farmers. 

Banking and Financial News 

9. RBI allows withdrawal of up to ₹25,000 per depositor of New India Co-operative Bank 

•  Days after imposing several restrictions on New India Co-operative Bank, the RBI relaxed the conditions and permitted customers to withdraw up to ₹25,000 from their deposit accounts with effect from February 27.
•   On February 13, the Reserve Bank had imposed All Inclusive Directions (AID) on the Mumbai-based cooperative bank, which included a ban on deposit withdrawals, amid supervisory concerns. 
•  Later, the RBI superseded the Board of Directors of New India Cooperative Bank for a period of 12 months. It also appointed Shreekant, former Chief General Manager of State Bank of India (SBI), as Administrator to manage the affairs of the bank during this period. It also appointed a ‘Committee of Advisors’ to assist the Administrator. 

10. South Indian Bank launches ‘SIB QUICKPL’, a fully digital personal loan platform 

•  Kochi-based Private lender, South Indian Bank has launched the ‘SIB QUICKPL’, a fully digital personal loan platform for new customers. 
•  This in-house solution enables salaried and self-employed individuals with strong credit profiles to secure unsecured personal loans in 10 minutes. 
•  ‘SIB QUICKPL’ has been integrated with the Account Aggregator framework and Income Tax portal for instant verification. No document uploads are required, and the approved loan amount is credited directly to the applicant’s savings account. 11.Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector 
•  IRDAI launched a new payment mechanism called Bima-ASBA (Applications Supported by Blocked Amount). 
•  Indian Overseas Bank launches Aadhaar-based account opening, API banking service s 
• IDFC FIRST Bank, Ikonz launch Amitabh Bachchan’s AI avatar 
• IDFC FIRST Bank Launches Exclusive Banking Package for Senior Citizens 
•  L &T Finance introduced Knowledgeable AI (KAI), an AI-powered virtual home loan advisor 

Appointment News 

12. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran to lead Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation 

•  N Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons chairman, has been appointed as the chairman of the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation, a Section 8 company set up by the late Ratan Tata for philanthropic purposes. 
• This foundation, which will focus on new and impactful social initiatives, remains independent of Tata Trusts. 
• The executors of Ratan Tata’s will appointed Chandrasekaran after seeking an external legal view. 

Recent Appointments 

• Head of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) – Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi (extension one year) 
•  CEO of NITI Aayog – B V R Subrahmanyam (extension one year) 
•  Managing Partner and Global Head of Wipro Consulting – Amit Kumar
•  Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) – Gyanesh Kumar;26th (replace Rajiv Kumar). 
•  Election Commissioner – Dr. Vivek Joshi (replace Gyanesh Kumar) 
• Brand Ambassador of ICC Championship Trophy 2025 –Shikhar Dhawan (India), Shane Watson (Australia), Tim Southee (New Zealand), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Pakistan). 

Awards News 

13. Mopa Airport Wins Prestigious ‘Sarvashrestha Suraksha Puraskar’

•   Manohar International Airport (GOX), which is developed and operated by GMR God International Airport Ltd. (GGIAL), has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first airport in India to be honoured with the prestigious “Sarvashrestha Suraksha Puraskar (Golden Trophy)” at the National Safety Council of India (NSCI) Safety Awards 2024 in the ‘Service Sector’ category.
• This award was presented during a ceremony at The Lalit in Mumbai. 
• This recognition underscores Manohar International Airport’s outstanding performance in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), its dedication to minimizing workplace injuries, and its implementation of top safety practices. 

Recent Awards 

•  Time Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025 – Purnima Devi Barman 
•  Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)- Sunil Bharti Mittal
•   Memory League World Championship – Vishvaa Rajakumar 
•  Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) – Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Chairman of Tata Group) 
• Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category – NTPC Ltd 
• NETPAC Award 2025 – Bad Girl (Tamil film) 

Science and Technology News 

14. Microsoft unveils Magma: A new AI model for controlling software and robots 

• Microsoft Research has introduced a new AI model called Magma, which could mark a big advancement in artificial intelligence for controlling both software interfaces and robotic systems. 
• Magma combines visual and language processing, allowing it to operate in both the digital and physical world, making it a potentially versatile AI model. 
• Microsoft claims this makes Magma unique, as it can process data like text, images, and video and act upon it natively, whether navigating software or controlling robots. 

Defence News 

15.Defence Ministry forms high-level panel to speed up Tejas jet deliveries 

• In a move to address prolonged delays in the delivery of Tejas Mk-1A, India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Ministry of Defence has formed a high-level committee to examine the cause of delay and suggest measures for faster induction of the fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF). 
• The committee will have five members and will be led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the report states, adding that the focus will be on resolving issues that have slowed down the production and delivery of these aircraft. 
• The development comes days after Air Marshal AP Singh, the Chief of the Indian Air Force, expressed his frustration over the delays and publicly criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). 

16. World Protein Day is celebrated every year on 27 February 

• World Protein Day is observed annual to raise public awareness about importance of protein in nutrition. 
• World Protein Day was started by US Soybean Export Council. 
• India observes National Protein Day on 27 February. 
• It is observed to raise awareness about the importance of the macronutrient and the consequences of its deficiency. 
• India commemorated this day for the first time in 2020 with the National level public health initiative “Right to Protein”. 
• Gerardus Johannes Mulder discovered the protein in 1938. 
• Scientist discovered the atomic structure of proteins in 1956. 

17.On February 25, 2025, the Cali Fund has been launched resumed session of COP16 conference in Rome to help finance biodiversity protection 

1. The fund will gather contributions from businesses that utilize Digital Sequence Information. 
2.  These business include such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and biotechnology. 
3. The fund will support conservation efforts and assist developing nations with biodiversity action plans.
4.  The fund will also advance scientific research on genetic data management.
5.  At least half of the funds will be allocated to indigenous and local communities. 
6.  This is the first time a UN global biodiversity fund will directly receive financial contributions from private sector companies. 
7. 7The UNDP and UNEP will oversee the fund, with administrative duties managed by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office
8. The Cali Fund is crucial for achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. 

18. A successful trial of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile carried out by DRDO & Navy 

• On February 25, successful flight trials of the first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR) carried out by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. 
• The trials demonstrated the missile's capability against ship targets launched from the Indian Navy's Seaking helicopters. 
• The tests have proved the missile's man-in-the-loop feature and have achieved a direct hit on a small ship target in sea-skimming mode at its maximum range.
• The missile uses an indigenous imaging infrared seeker for terminal guidance. 
• The mission also demonstrated the high bandwidth two-way datalink system, used to send live pictures of the seeker to the pilot for retargeting during flight. 
• The missile uses an indigenous fiber optic gyroscope-based INS and radio altimeter for its mid-course guidance, an integrated avionics module, electro-mechanical actuators for aerodynamic and jet vane control, a thermal battery, and a PCB warhead. 
• It uses solid propulsion with in-line ejectable boosters and a long-burn sustainer. The tests have met all the mission objectives. 
• Different labs of DRDO, including Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), developed the missile. 

19. Champions of Animal Protection honored by the Animal Welfare Board of India in New Delhi 

• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) held the Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award Ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 27th February 2025. 
• The awards ceremony honors outstanding individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to animal welfare and conservation. 
• The AWBI presented the awards under two major categories: Prani Mitra Award and Jeev Daya Award. 
• The Prani Mitra Award conferred under five sub-categories, namely Advocacy (Individual), Innovative Idea (Individual), Lifetime Animal Service (Individual), along with two awards each for Animal Welfare Organizations and for Corporate, PSUs, Government Bodies, or Co-operatives.
• The Jeev Daya Award presented in three sub-categories: Individual, Animal Welfare Organization, and for either Schools, Institutions, Teachers, or Children. 
• The aim of the initiative is to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations for their remarkable contribution towards animal welfare and conservation. 
• The primary objective of this celebration is to honour and encourage kindness and compassion towards living beings in the society as well as to raise awareness amongst the citizens to treat living beings humanely. 

20. A new gold card investor visa programme has been announced by US for wealthy immigrants 

• The new programme will replace the existing EB-5 visa. 
• The immigration Gold Cards can be bought by the companies on payment of 5 million dollars for highly talented employees. 
• US President Donald Trump called the initiative as green card privileges plus an upgrade from the green card system. 
• EB-5 provides immigration privileges to people investing between 800,000 dollars and 1.05 million dollars. 
• It is expected that the new programme will be launched in two weeks. 

21. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Paytm signed MoU 

• The MoU has been signed to boost innovation, support Fintech & manufacturing Startups. 
• The MoU has been signed to foster innovation and accelerate the growth of manufacturing and fintech startups in India. 
• The aim of partnership is to support fintech hardware startups through mentorship and innovation guidance. 
• It will help them develop and scale payment and financial technology solutions. 
• The focus of MoU is also on regulatory and compliance assistance by providing guidance in association with industry and government bodies. 

22. Denmark announced the Green Transition Alliance India (GTAI) initiative

•  The Green Transition Alliance India (GTAI) initiative has been launched by Denmark to strengthen collaboration with India on sustainable energy solutions. 
• It will help in the commitment to achieve global carbon neutrality. 
• This new alliance will play a key role in fostering sustainable energy growth in India by creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration between businesses, government bodies, research institutions, and financial stakeholders of both countries. 
• Many Danish companies including Grundfos, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Baettr, Novonesis, and MASH Makes are joining GTAI as members. 
• Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Indo-Danish Chamber of Commerce (IDCC), Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Energy Consortium are partners of this alliance. 
• The GTAI exemplified the initiatives under the Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) signed in 2020. 
• Denmark, ranked fourth in the global Climate Change Performance Index 2025, aims for net zero by 2045.

 23. Indian Army signed a contract for the procurement of ACADA systems with L&T 

• Indian Army is planning to procure 223 Automatic Chemical Agent Detection and Alarm (ACADA) systems at a cost of Rs 80.43 Cr under the Buy Indian (IDDM) category.
• It will boost India’s self-reliance drive as more than 80% of the components and sub-systems of the equipment will be sourced locally. 
• ACADA has been designed and developed by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior. 
• The ACADA system is used to detect chemical warfare agents (CWA) and programmed toxic industrial chemicals (TICs). 
• It works on the principle of Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and has two highly sensitive IMS cells for continuous detection and simultaneous monitoring of harmful/ toxic substances. 
• ACADA will enhance the Indian Army’s defensive CBRN capability for operations. 

24. UN Security Council adopted neutral stance on war in Ukraine 

• On 24 February, the United Nations Security Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that takes a neutral position on the conflict. 
• U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to broker peace. 
• The brief proposal reflects Trump’s shift in U.S. policy on Ukraine since taking office last month and his more conciliatory stance toward Russia. 
• The 15-member United Nations Security Council was deadlocked throughout the war and unable to take action because of Russia's veto. 
• But the 193-member General Assembly has repeatedly supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in accordance with the UN Charter. 
• Earlier on February 24, the US had failed to persuade the General Assembly to pass the three-paragraph resolution adopted by the Security Council. 
• The resolution mourns the loss of life in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and emphasizes the United Nations' role in maintaining international peace and security. 
• It also calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes, urging a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace. 
• The Security Council passed the US resolution by 10 votes to none, with France, Britain, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia abstaining . 

25. India led global IPO activity in 2024 and raised over $19 billion 

• A new report on February 23 said India has emerged as the global leader in initial public offering (IPO) activity in 2024, accounting for 23% of all public issues worldwide. 
• According to the Indus Valley Annual Report 2025, India raised the highest amount of funds through IPOs, amounting to $19.5 billion. 
• This was followed by IPOs listed on the US Nasdaq, which raised $16.5 billion, and IPOs listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which raised $15.9 billion. 
• There were 268 IPOs listed in India, including 90 mainboard listings and 178 SME listings. 
• One of the biggest offerings of the year was Hyundai Motors' Rs 27,870 crore IPO, becoming India's largest IPO and the world's second-largest IPO in 2024. 
• Venture capitalists have shown increasing interest in the Indian IPO market, as several prominent companies have gone public with venture funding this year. 
• Since 2012, the average market capitalisation of SME IPOs has increased 4.5 times, reaching around Rs 100 crore in 2024. 
• Further, the average revenue of SMEs at the time of the IPO has increased three-fold to Rs 70 crore. 
• India’s instant commerce sector has witnessed tremendous growth, growing from $300 million in FY22 to an estimated $7.1 billion in FY25. 

26. NITI Aayog formed a committee to transform AIIMS, New Delhi 

• NITI Aayog has constituted a committee that will prepare a roadmap for transforming AIIMS, New Delhi into a premier institution for medical research and practice. 
• The committee will be led by NITI Aayog member V K Paul. 
• It will examine the existing systems and processes at AIIMS and propose significant reforms for their implementation. 
• The committee will identify ways to streamline patient inflow and develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure optimal clinical, academic, and research outcomes. 
• NITI Aayog in association with the CSEP Research Foundation has examined the experiences of various countries that have adopted strategies for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 
• UHC will help in providing quality health services to the population without causing financial strain. 
• The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in 2018 and played a pivotal role in reducing financial burdens for families. 

27. Government is working to set up a National Green Financing Institution 

• National Green Financing Institution will support India in achieving a net-zero target by 2070. 
• A dedicated National Green Financing Institution will help bridge the gap between target and achievement. 
• NITI Aayog is examining structuring mechanisms for operationalizing a potential National Green Financing Institution. 
• India aims to reduce its GDP emission intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
•  India also aimed to achieve 50 per cent of its installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. 
• India has also made a commitment to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 

28. 'Cancer-related mortalities increased faster among women in the past decade’ 

• Approximately three out of every five individuals in India die following a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, cancer-related mortalities have increased faster among women (1.2%-4.4% annual percentage change) than men (1.2%-2.4%) over the past decade, and are expected to rise, found an analysis by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) based on figures presented by the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), estimates. 2022 
•  GLOBOCAN is an online database providing global cancer statistics and estimates of incidence and mortality in 185 countries for 36 types of cancer, and for all cancer sites combined. The analysis notes that in India, childhood and reproductive age group individuals bear the lowest risk of developing and dying (0.08%-1.3%) from cancer, compared with their middle-aged and geriatric counterparts. 
•  "As the population of India transitions from the reproductive age group to the middle age and geriatric age group, India is anticipated to witness the highest cancer burden of all-time in near future, po-tentially exacerbated by the looming [cancer] epidemic," notes the paper. 
•  It adds that the five most prevalent cancers affecting both genders collectively account for 44% of the can-cer burden in India. 
• The country is currently indicating that females exhibit higher 'crude incidence' and 'crude mortality' rates, compared with males, based on the population of 0.676 billion females and 0.731 billion males in 2022. Crude rates are calculated by dividing the number of new cancers or cancer deaths observed during a given time period by the corresponding number of individuals in the population at risk.