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National News
India’s First Open-Air Art Wall Museum Inaugurated at Mausam Bhawan
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and other key departments, inaugurated India’s first “Open Air Art Wall Museum” at Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi. The initiative, developed in collaboration with Delhi Street Art, celebrates 150 years of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) through a vibrant series of murals, depicting its history, technological advancements, and contributions to society. The unique project merges science and art, offering a visually engaging representation of India’s meteorological journey.
India-Qatar to Double Trade to $28B by 2030
India and Qatar have decided to upgrade their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, focusing on trade, investment, and energy. This decision was made during Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to India. Both nations aim to double bilateral trade from $14.08 billion to $28 billion within five years. Qatar has expressed interest in expanding investments in India’s key sectors. Discussions covered economic collaboration beyond LNG and LPG, where Qatar is India’s largest supplier. This partnership aligns Qatar with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait, which have similar ties with India.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Launch NAKSHA for Urban Land Survey
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) pilot program on February 18 in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh. Led by the Department of Land Resources, this ₹194 crore central government-funded initiative aims to modernize urban land surveys across 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 26 states and 3 Union Territories (UTs). The program focuses on improving land record accuracy, enhancing urban planning, reducing land disputes, and ensuring transparency in land management.
Thiruvalluvar Statue Inaugurated in the Philippines
Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, Harsh Kumar Jain, unveiled a statue of renowned Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar at Gullas College of Medicine (GCM) in Cebu on February 17, 2025. The unveiling ceremony was part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines. The event witnessed the participation of key dignitaries, including former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, senior officials, diplomats, and members of the Indian diaspora.
RSS Inaugurates New Headquarters ‘Keshav Kunj’ in New Delhi
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has officially inaugurated its state-of-the-art headquarters, ‘Keshav Kunj,’ in Jhandewalan, New Delhi. The newly built complex, covering a massive five lakh square feet across four acres, is designed to support the organization’s growing activities. The facility includes three high-rise towers, auditoriums, a library, a hospital, a canteen, and a Hanuman temple. Built with a focus on sustainability and modern infrastructure, the headquarters surpasses even the BJP headquarters in size. The project, which cost ₹150 crore, was entirely funded by public donations, reflecting the widespread support for the RSS.
MoLE & APNA Join Hands to Expand Job Opportunities
The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APNA, a leading job recruitment platform, to enhance employment opportunities for job seekers in India. This partnership is set to bring over 10 lakh job opportunities annually to the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, aiming to strengthen employment accessibility across the country. The initiative aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to connect job seekers with employers through digital platforms and structured hiring systems.
India’s First Open-Air Art Wall Museum Marks IMD’s 150-Year Journey
New Delhi, February 18, 2025 – India has taken a unique step in blending science and art with the inauguration of the country’s first Open-Air Art Wall Museum at Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, inaugurated this innovative initiative to mark the 150-year journey of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
State News
Kerala Leads in Scientific Disposal of Expired Medicines
In a significant step toward environmental sustainability and public health, Kerala is set to become the first state in India to scientifically collect and dispose of expired and unused medicines from households. The Kerala Drugs Control Department will officially launch the ‘nPROUD’ (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs) initiative on February 22, 2025. This government-led project aims to tackle the growing issue of pharmaceutical waste, which poses environmental hazards and health risks.
Uttarakhand Officer Leverages Technology to Prevent Forest Fires
To address the growing threat of forest fires, Uttarakhand IFoS officer Vaibhav Singh has developed an advanced Forest Fire App, inspired by technologies from Canada, Australia, and South Africa. The app enhances fire detection, response efficiency, and real-time tracking of firefighting teams. After years of development and 31 updates, it was successfully tested in Rudraprayag (2020-2022) before being adopted by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. The app significantly reduces response time to five hours, provides GPS-based fire location tracking, and enables real-time monitoring of firefighters and 40 firefighting vehicles. Currently, 7,000 forest personnel are integrated into the system, with plans for further expansion.
Defence News
India-Japan Joint Military Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2025’ to be Held at Mount Fuji
The sixth edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian is scheduled to take place from February 25 to March 9, 2025, at Mount Fuji, Japan. This annual Indo-Japanese military exercise is a significant step in strengthening the strategic and defence cooperation between the two nations. The upcoming edition will primarily focus on urban warfare tactics and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations (UN) mandate.
Awards News
BAFTA Awards 2025: Full Winners List Unveiled!
The 78th BAFTA Awards 2025 honored cinematic excellence, with Conclave and The Brutalist emerging as top winners, each securing four awards. Conclave won Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Outstanding British Film, while The Brutalist earned Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. Emilia Pérez triumphed in Best Film Not in the English Language, defeating All We Imagine As Light, and Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress. Dune: Part Two dominated technical categories, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl secured Best Animated Film. Other key winners included Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Mikey Madison (Anora), and David Jonsson (EE Rising Star Award). (Click to read complete article)
Summits and Conferences News
Ajmer Hosts First-Ever All India Transgender Conference
Ajmer is hosting the first-ever All India Kinnar Mahasammelan, a historic 10-day transgender conference at a private school in Vaishali Nagar. The event, which started on February 17, 2025, with the Khichdi Tulai ritual, aims to address issues faced by the transgender community across India. Organized in memory of Anita Bai, mentor of Gaddipati Saloni Nayak, the event has gathered over 2,000 transgender members from various states. Rooted in religious and cultural traditions, it includes Kalash Puja and Chak Pujan, emphasizing spiritual beliefs. Stalls on medical services, banking, perfumes, and travel are featured, and the event is held under strict supervision, allowing entry only to invited members.
Economy News
Urban Unemployment Rate Steady at 6.4% in Q3 FY25
The urban unemployment rate in India stood unchanged at 6.4% in the October-December quarter of FY25, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on February 18, 2025. This follows a slight decline from 6.6% in Q1 FY25 to 6.4% in Q2 FY25, indicating a stable employment scenario in urban areas.
India’s Smartphone Exports Reach ₹1.5 Trillion, Boosted by PLI Scheme
India’s smartphone exports have reached an all-time high of Rs 1.55 trillion in the April 2024 to January 2025 period, reflecting a 56% surge from Rs 991.2 billion in the same period last year. This growth has been primarily fueled by the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has strengthened India’s smartphone manufacturing ecosystem and boosted exports. The rise in shipments is being driven by global giants like Apple and Samsung, with Apple leading the way by contributing nearly 70% of the total exports. The government’s push for local production has played a crucial role in transforming India into a major hub for smartphone manufacturing and exports.
Banking News
Karnataka Bank Marks 100 Years with New Product Launches
Karnataka Bank marked its 100th anniversary on February 18, 2024, by unveiling two new financial products aimed at expanding its customer base and strengthening its market presence. The bank introduced a specialized savings account for children and a high-interest term deposit scheme for a limited period. These initiatives reflect Karnataka Bank’s focus on customer-centric banking while celebrating its century-long journey in India’s financial sector.
Ranks and Reports News
Union Minister Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel Releases Report on “Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States”
In a significant step towards strengthening local governance, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, unveiled the report titled “Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking” in New Delhi. The report assesses the extent of power, functions, and financial devolution to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across various Indian states.
Reliance Beats Apple, Ranks 2nd in FutureBrand 2024
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has achieved a significant milestone by securing the second spot in the FutureBrand Index 2024, surpassing global giants like Apple and Nike. This marks the first time an Indian company has entered the top three of this prestigious global ranking. The index, which assesses companies based on brand perception rather than financial performance, highlights Reliance’s strong brand positioning and influence on the world stage. Samsung claimed the top position, while Reliance outperformed Apple, Nike, Disney, Netflix, Microsoft, Intel, and Toyota.
Schemes News
Bhupender Yadav Opens ‘Waste Recycling and Climate Change 2025’ Conclave
On February 18, 2025, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the ‘Waste Recycling and Climate Change 2025’ conclave, organized by the Recycling and Environment Industry Association of India (REIAI). The event focused on how waste recycling can contribute to environmental sustainability and economic growth in India. The minister highlighted the importance of transitioning to a circular economy, which can reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and generate employment.
Sports News
WPL 2025: G Kamalini Becomes Youngest Debutant for MI
India U19 star G Kamalini made history as the youngest debutant in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at 16 years old. The left-handed batter received her maiden Mumbai Indians (MI) cap on February 18, 2025, during MI’s match against Gujarat Giants (GG) at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. She surpassed her U19 teammate Shabnam Shakil, who previously held the record.
Obituaries News
Milind Rege: Mumbai Cricket’s Encyclopedia Passes Away at 76
Milind Rege, former Mumbai cricket captain and a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket, passed away on February 19, 2025, at 76 due to cardiac arrest. A key figure in Mumbai’s cricketing legacy, he played a crucial role in five consecutive Ranji Trophy wins and later served as a selector and mentor, identifying talents like Sachin Tendulkar and Yashasvi Jaiswal. His passing is a great loss to Mumbai cricket, with tributes pouring in from former players and colleagues.
Science and Technology News
TrailGuard AI: Revolutionizing Anti-Poaching Efforts in Wildlife Conservation
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in wildlife conservation has significantly transformed anti-poaching strategies, leading to a substantial reduction in poaching incidents. One of the most notable advancements in this field is TrailGuard AI, a cutting-edge surveillance system designed to detect and prevent poaching activities. A prime example of its successful implementation is the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, where officials have observed a remarkable impact on wildlife protection and conservation. This article delves into the significance of Similipal Tiger Reserve, the role of TrailGuard AI in combating poaching, its operational mechanisms, community impact, and future applications.
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