Indian Defence Modernization

National Affairs

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed defence contracts worth Rs 10,147 crore to modernize the Indian Army's firepower.
• Economic Explosive Limited (EEL), Munitions India Limited (MIL), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) were awarded contracts.
• The Indian Army’s (IA) Eastern Headquarters, Fort William in Kolkata, West Bengal was renamed as ‘Vijay Durg’ to eliminate colonial influences.
• ‘Kitchener House’ was renamed Manekshaw House, and St. George’s Gate was renamed Shivaji Gate.
• Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin inaugurated Tata Power Solar Systems Limited's 4.3 GW solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Tirunelveli, India’s largest single-location solar plant.
• Stalin laid the foundation for Vikram Solar Ltd’s 3 GW solar cell and 6 GW module plant, a Rs 2,574 crore investment expected to generate 2,500 jobs.
• The Union Cabinet approved a new Income Tax (IT) Bill 2025 to simplify tax laws, which will replace the Income Tax Act of 1961.
• The Union Cabinet approved extending the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) tenure for 3 years, involving approximately Rs 50.91 crore in financial implications.
• The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and restructuring of the Skill India Programme (SIP) until 2026, with an outlay of Rs 8,800 crore.
• The Union Cabinet granted ex-post facto approval to the revision of divisional jurisdiction under the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• The Union Budget 2025-26 focused on nuclear energy development, encouraging private sector participation, and investments in nuclear infrastructure.
• India aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047.
• The Indian Army (IA) participated in Ex Winged Raider, a training exercise focusing on airborne operations.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled augmented Research Verticals & Thrust Areas across DRDO Industry Academia – Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs).
• Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary launched ‘Swavalambini’, a women entrepreneurship program in 9 colleges and universities of 3 North East (NE) states.
• CDAC signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with The LEGO Group to bolster the Indian electronic toy industry.
• India and Egypt commenced the 3rd joint military exercise ‘Cyclone 2025’ in Rajasthan.
• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announced India achieved 100 GW installed solar energy capacity.
• India introduced new Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) codes for Geographical Indication (GI) recognized rice varieties, including 1006-3011 for Parboiled rice and 1006-30-91 for White rice.
• The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) revised guidelines for the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), increasing procurement limit of crops to 25%.
• The MoD inked a Rs 642 crore contract with BEL for 28 EON-51 Electro-Optical Fire Control Systems (EOFCS) for the Indian Navy(IN).
• The Indian Navy (IN) Chiefs’ Conclave 2025 took place at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi.
• Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved extending groundnut procurement in Gujarat and Karnataka.
• Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the first-ever BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gujarat, with India proposing BIMSTEC to function as a “Youth Bridge.”
• Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar co-chaired the 4th India-UK Energy Dialogue in New Delhi and announced the launch of Phase-2 of the ASPIRE programme and a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce.
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first Indigenous Automated Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Plant (BMWTP) named “Srjanam” at AIIMS, New Delhi.
• India & Oman signed an Executive Programme of Cooperation (EPC) to enhance archival cooperation from 2025-2028.
• The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) partnered with FoundIt to enhance job opportunities for youth through the National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
• India’s DPIIT and South Korean Transport Institute signed an MoU for Collaboration in Logistics & Infrastructure Under PM GatiShakti
• NITI Aayog released a policy report on ‘Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities’.
• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana marked its 1st anniversary.
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) mandated Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for Stainless Steel Seamless Pipes & Tubes from August 2025.
• Union Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 15th edition of Aero India in Bengaluru, with the theme “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities.”
• Thales UK and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) agreed to supply Laser Beam Riding Man Portable Air Defence Systems (LBRM).
• Hindustan Jet Trainer ‘HJT-36’ was renamed ‘Yashas’ at Aero India 2025.
• General Electric (GE) Aerospace signed a Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for T700-GE-701D engines.
• Tata Elxsi Limited partnered with Garuda Aerospace Private Limited to establish a center for drone design, engineering, and certification.
• BEML Limited (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited) introduced its new brand identity, ‘Infinix’, at Aero India 2025.

International Affairs

• India held 3rd position globally for LEED Green Building Certification in 2024; China topped the list.
• India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Panama to implement Quick Impact Projects (QIP) in Panama.
• The Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 ranked India 96th out of 180 countries with a score of 38; Denmark topped the index.
• The 12th World Government Summit (WGS) was held in Dubai.
• India & Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance traditional medicine quality assurance
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) represented India at the WGS 2025.
• 3 Indian computer science students from the Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology (MAIT), New Delhi, secured the Bronze Award at the Global Best M-Gov Award 2025.

Banking & Finance

• SEBI allowed Retail Investors to join Algo trading from August 1 2025.
• Kerala secured Rs 2,424 Crore Loan from WB to Strengthen Healthcare System.
• IDFC FIRST Bank Launched Exclusive Banking Package for Senior Citizens.
• PNB MetLife Partners with Policybazaar to Launch Smart Invest Pension Plan.
• TPREL and BoB Sign MOU for Rooftop Solar Financing Under PMSGMBY.
• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Launched ‘HERizon Care’, India’s 1st Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan for Women.
• RBI Approved Voluntary Merger of Two Urban Co-operative Banks.
• SBI Reports 84.32 % Rise in NP to Rs 16,891 crore for Q3FY25.
• Highlights of RBI 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy for FY 25: The policy rate remained unchanged.
• Angel One AMC Launched India’s 1st Nifty Total Market ETF & Index Fund.
• Infibeam Avenues’ RediffPay Secures TPAP License from NPCI to Enter India’s UPI Ecosystem.
• RBI Imposes Rs.35.60 Lakh Penalty on Federal Bank & Karur Vysya Bank for Regulatory Non-Compliance.
• SEBI Launched MITRA platform to Help Investors Trace Inactive Mutual Fund Folios.
• Small Finance Banks (SFBs) Received RBI Approval to Offer Credit Lines on UPI.
• Axis Bank Launches New Mobile App Feature for Easy FD Booking.
• RBI approves Easebuzz to Operate as Online PA.
• REC & CVPPL Ink Rs 2,147.51 crore Term Loan Agreement for Pakal Dul HEP.
• SEBI has mandated SEBI-registered brokers to setup a separate business unit (SBU) to trade in Government Securities (G-secs).
• SIDBI & AFD Signed USD 100 million Agreement to Boost Green Finance for Indian MSMEs.

Economy & Business

• German Institute Fraunhofer Signed MoUs with IIT Ropar and BITS Pilani on Sustainability and Circular Economy.
• Zomato Rebrands as ‘Eternal’ to Reflect Expanded Vision, Unveils New Logo
• NTPC & IA Sign PPA for Solar-Hydrogen Microgrid in Ladakh.
• Board of GIC Re Approved Setting-up Wholly-owned Subsidiary in UK.
• AMSL Inks MoU with MIL & TCL for Advanced Defence Solutions.
• IEA Report: India’s Natural Gas Consumption to Increase 60%, Imports double by 2030.
• India’s Retail Inflation Drops to 4.31% in January 2025.
• KSSL and L3Harris Sign MoU to Strengthen Tactical Communication Networks for Indian Armed Forces.
• Maaza Joins the Billion-Dollar club,Becomes Third Indian Brand to Achieve this Milestone.

Awards & Recognitions

• Deepak Kumar Kedia Bestowed with “CA in Public Service” Award by ICAI.
• MoC Honors Chaman Arora with Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in Dogri.
• Asia’s 20 Richest Families 2025: Mukesh Ambani Tops, 6 Indians in the Ranks
• Forbes India ‘30 Under 30’ Class of 2025 Lists: Featured 42 Individuals, including Actress Aparna Balamurali.
• Sportico’s 100 Top Highest-Paid Athletes 2024: Ronaldo Leads the List with USD 260 Million; No Female in the Top 100.

Appointments & Resignations

• CitiBank Appointed Ashu Khullar as its Global Co-head of GAM; K. Balasubramanian Named CEO of Citi India
• Ilie Bolojan Takes Over as Romania’s Interim President.
• Konstantinos Tasoulas Elected as Greece’s New President.
• Jotham Napat became New Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
• Charanjot Singh Nanda Elected as 73rd President of ICAI for term 2025-26

Acquisitions & Mergers

• CCI Approved the Proposed Acquisition of Two Entities of POSCO Holdings Inc.
• SBI MF expanded its stake in Axis Bank to 5.0238%.

Science & Technology

• Saab Completes AT4 Weapons Supply to Indian Armed Forces.
• Iran Unveils Its 1st Drone Carrier Warship ‘Shahid Bagheri’.
• China’s Shenzhou-19 Crew Produces Oxygen & Rocket Fuel in Space Through Artificial Photosynthesis.
• Blue Origin Completed NS-29 Mission, Successfully Simulated Lunar Gravity.
• ISRO Successfully Carried out Ignition Trial of Indigenous CE20 Cryogenic Engine.
• Pakistan Partners with China for Chang’e-8 Lunar Mission in 2028.
• ISRO in Partnership with IIT Madras Developed Indigenous Semiconductor Chip ‘IRIS’.
• SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites into Orbit aboard.
• Indo-Russia JV IRRPL Delivers 40,000 AK-203 Assault Rifles to IA.

Sports

• Real Madrid & Brazil Legend Marcelo Announces Retirement from Football.
• Para Archery Asia Cup 2025: India Tops with Six Gold Medals.
• Mumbai Open 2025: Jil Teichmann Won Singles Title, Pridankina & Anshba Claim Doubles Title.
• Sri Lanka’s Former Captain Dimuth Karunaratne Announces Retirement from International Cricket
• Chennai Open 2025: Kyrian Jacquet Crowned Singles Champion; Mochizuki-Uesugi Clinch Doubles Title.

Obituary

• Samuel Nujoma, Namibia’s 1st President & Fiery Freedom Fighter Passed Away.
• Aga Khan IV, Padma Vibhushan Awardee & Spiritual Leader of Ismaili Muslims Passes Away.
• Folk artist and Padma Shri Awardee Sukri Bommagowda Passed away.

Books & Authors

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, launches book “I Am?”.
• General Upendra Dwivedi Launched Memoir titled “I Am a Soldier’s Wife:The Life and Love of Toni Lidder “.

Important Days

• World Pulses Day 2025 – February 10.
• International Epilepsy Day 2025 – February 10.
• National Deworming Day 2025 – February 10.
• International Day of the Arabian Leopard 2025 – February 10.
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science – February 11 2025.
• World Unani Day 2025- February 11.
• Safer Internet Day 2025 – February 11.
• International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism 2025 – February 12.
• National Productivity Day 2025 – February 12.
• International Darwin Day 2025 – February 12.
• World Radio Day 2025 – February 13.
• National Women’s day 2025 – February 13.

State News

• Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot Launches Braille-Enabled Version of Indian Constitution.
• Odisha Cabinet Approves ‘Antyodaya Gruha Yojana’ to Provide Pucca Houses for Weaker Sections.
• Maharashtra government launches Maitri 2.0.
• Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal presents State Budget for 2025-26.
• WB Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya Presents Rs 3.89 Lakh Crore Budget for FY26.
• Karnataka Launches Revamped Single Window System to Accelerate Investments and Ease of Doing Business.