📊 Index & Rankings
The Henley Passport Index 2025, published by Henley & Partners, ranks 199 passports based on visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to global destinations.
Key Rankings:
- Singapore – Ranked 1st (most powerful passport)
- India – Ranked 80th
- Data Source – International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Passport strength indicates the level of global mobility and diplomatic relations a country enjoys. A higher rank means more visa-free travel options for citizens.
NITI Aayog released a comprehensive report titled “Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities”, examining the performance of State Public Universities (SPUs) over the past decade.
Report Highlights:
- Released by – Vice Chairman Suman Bery
- Focus Areas – Education quality, governance and funding, graduate employability
- Significance – SPUs form a major share of India’s higher education system
State Public Universities play a crucial role in democratizing higher education in India, serving millions of students across the country, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
🇮🇳 National News
The Government of India added 10 new agricultural commodities to the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform, strengthening the digital agricultural trading ecosystem.
Key Details:
- Total Commodities – Now 231 commodities available on e-NAM
- Platform Function – Online trading platform integrating Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across India
- Impact – Improves market access and price discovery for farmers and traders
e-NAM creates a unified national market for agricultural commodities, reducing information asymmetry and helping farmers get better prices through transparent online bidding.
THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) commenced commercial operations of a 660-MW unit at the Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, marking its first venture into domestic thermal power generation.
Project Details:
- Total Capacity – 1,320 MW (2×660 MW units)
- Investment – ₹13,000 crore
- Technology – Equipped with Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) for cleaner emissions
- Status – First unit operational; second unit expected to be commissioned soon
FGD technology reduces sulfur dioxide emissions from thermal plants, making power generation more environmentally sustainable while meeting growing energy demands.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in collaboration with MyGov, launched the ‘Culinary, Crafts & Clicks – Moods & Magic’ festival celebrating India’s traditional cuisine, arts, and photography.
Event Details:
- Venues – Kartavya Path and Amrit Udyan, New Delhi
- Focus – Platform for artisans, photographers, and culinary enthusiasts
- Objective – Promote India’s cultural heritage and creative economy
Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) is a key ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi. The festival provides national visibility to traditional artists and craftspeople.
The third edition of the India–Egypt joint military exercise ‘CYCLONE-III’ is being conducted at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
Exercise Details:
- Duration – February 10–23, 2025
- Previous Edition – Held in Egypt in January 2024
- Focus – Interoperability, joint planning, and military coordination between special forces
- Significance – Enhances combat readiness and strengthens India-Egypt defence ties
Special forces exercises improve tactical coordination and allow sharing of best practices in counter-terrorism and specialized operations.
💼 Business & Economy
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on two private sector banks for regulatory non-compliance discovered during inspections.
Penalties Imposed:
- Federal Bank Ltd – ₹27.30 lakh
- Karur Vysya Bank Ltd – ₹8.30 lakh
Violations Related To:
- Account management irregularities
- Credit delivery system non-compliance
RBI has supervisory and regulatory authority over all scheduled commercial banks in India. Regular inspections ensure banks comply with prudential norms and protect depositor interests.
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) launched ‘Spinner’, a sports hydration drink co-created with cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan.
Product Details:
- Manufacturer – RCPL (FMCG arm of Reliance Industries)
- Market Positioning – Affordable alternative to established brands like Gatorade and Powerade
- Target Segment – Sports hydration and energy drink market
With celebrity endorsement and competitive pricing, Reliance aims to capture market share in India’s growing sports and fitness beverage segment.
🌐 International News
The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14th AFAF) is being held at the ICAR Convention Centre, Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
Event Details:
- Dates – February 12–14, 2025
- Theme – “Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific”
- Organizers – Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), ICAR, Department of Fisheries (GoI), AFS Indian Branch (AFSIB)
- Focus – Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development
Blue Growth refers to the sustainable use of ocean and aquatic resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving marine ecosystem health.
The 4th edition of World of Coffee Dubai 2025 is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), featuring the largest exhibition space in the event’s history.
Event Highlights:
- Dates – February 10–12, 2025
- Exhibition Space – 20,000 square meters
- Growth – 33% increase in exhibition space compared to previous edition
- Significance – Promotes global coffee industry networking, trade, and innovation
International trade expos like World of Coffee facilitate business-to-business connections, showcase new products, and create export opportunities for participating countries.
🔬 Science & Technology
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) renamed its intermediate jet trainer HJT-36 as ‘Yashas’ following performance upgrades.
Announcement Details:
- Announced by – Sanjeev Kumar (Defence Production Secretary)
- Presence of – Dr. DK Sunil (CMD, HAL)
- Venue – Aero India 2025
- Manufacturer – HAL, India’s premier aerospace and defence manufacturer
HAL plays a crucial role in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. The renaming of HJT-36 as ‘Yashas’ marks a new chapter in India’s indigenous trainer aircraft development program.
Researchers at the University of Haifa, Israel published a groundbreaking study identifying the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in emotional recognition and social cognition.
Study Details:
- Published in – Current Biology (peer-reviewed journal)
- Focus – Brain region involved in recognizing and processing emotions
- Implications – May aid in developing treatments for autism spectrum disorder and other social cognition disorders
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is linked with emotional processing, decision-making, and social behavior. Understanding its role in autism could lead to targeted interventions.
📅 Important Days
National Productivity Day is observed annually on February 12 to promote productivity awareness and efficiency in Indian industries and organizations.
2025 Theme: “From Ideas to Impact: Protecting Intellectual Property for Competitive Startups”
Historical Background:
- Commemorates – Registration of National Productivity Council (NPC) on February 12, 1958
- Registered under – Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860
- Objective – Enhance productivity and efficiency across all sectors of the economy
The National Productivity Council (NPC) promotes productivity consciousness in India through training, consultancy, and awareness programs. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of intellectual property protection for fostering innovation in the startup ecosystem.
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