Current Affairs - February 17, 2025 Current Affairs

The 17th BRICS Summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6-7, 2025. The summit will bring together leaders from BRICS countries and selected invited nations to discuss critical global governance reforms and cooperation. The event is particularly significant as it occurs amid U.S. threats of imposing 100% tariffs on BRICS nations, adding an extra layer of complexity to discussions. The summit is also expected to address the growing influence of BRICS and its efforts to reshape global trade and diplomacy.

World Pangolin Day, held annually on the third Saturday of February, will be observed on February 15, 2025. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about pangolins, which are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these creatures from illegal trade, habitat destruction, and other threats. The day also highlights the importance of pangolins in maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling insect populations.

India is finalizing a $200 million deal with the Philippines for the acquisition of its Akash surface-to-air missile system. This deal is part of India’s growing defence exports, showcasing the advanced technology of the Akash missile system. The system’s capabilities, including targeting various threats and its mobility, make it an attractive defence option for countries like the Philippines, which is enhancing its military strength amid tensions in the South China Sea. This acquisition underscores the growing defence collaboration between India and the Philippines.

Axis Bank has pledged ₹104 crore to Ashoka University over the next four years to strengthen its PhD and Post-Doctoral research programs. The funding will support the development of research labs in Neurosciences, Behavioral Studies, and Physics, as well as provide fellowships and grants for scholars. This initiative aims to improve interdisciplinary research in India, addressing global challenges like climate change, public health, and economic sustainability. Axis Bank’s contribution emphasizes its commitment to fostering world-class research infrastructure in India.

The Digital Inner Line Permit System has been launched in Chamoli for tourists visiting the India-Tibet border areas. This system replaces the previous offline process and allows tourists to obtain their permits online via pass.chamoli.org. The new digital platform simplifies the application process, with approvals from the local police and health department. It also offers real-time weather and road updates, aimed at improving tourism and administrative efficiency in the region.

Jannik Sinner, the World No.1 tennis player, has been suspended for three months due to two positive doping tests. The suspension will last from February 9 to May 4th. Although initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, Sinner reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to accept the suspension. This suspension highlights the serious consequences athletes face in doping cases, even if they are initially cleared by other bodies.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid mission has made a remarkable discovery of an Einstein ring near galaxy NGC 6505, approximately 590 million light-years away. This rare phenomenon is a result of gravitational lensing, where light from a distant galaxy 4.42 billion light-years away is bent around a massive object. The discovery highlights Euclid's capabilities in studying dark matter and energy.

India was showcased as the theme country for the first time at the 27th Annual New Year Celebration of the Asia Pacific Cultural Centre, which took place at the Tacoma Dome in Washington. The event highlighted India’s rich cultural heritage, including traditional prayers and vibrant art forms. The Indian Consul General in Seattle honoured officials with tri-colour stoles, and messages from U.S. leaders were read during the ceremony.

The emergency summit on the Ukraine crisis is being organized by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France. As Macron is from France, it follows that the summit will take place in this country. The summit involves leaders from several European nations discussing the implications of the Ukraine situation on European security, making France the host country for this key event.

The sixth edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian 2025 will be held at Mount Fuji, Japan, from February 25 to March 9. The exercise will focus on urban warfare and counter-terrorism. This military exercise strengthened the defence cooperation between India and Japan, building on the momentum from the Indian Army Chief’s visit to Japan in October 2024. The location of Mount Fuji in Japan has been specifically chosen for the exercise.

The National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) has been launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in India. This pilot project aims to modernize urban land records in 152 Urban Local Bodies across 26 States and 3 UTs. It focuses on ensuring accurate land ownership documentation, reducing disputes, and improving urban planning. NAKSHA is a significant initiative with a budget of ₹194 crore, backed by key partners such as the Survey of India, MPSEDC, and NICSI.

Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda set a new half-marathon world record by completing the race in 56 minutes and 42 seconds in Barcelona. His achievement made him the first person to run the half-marathon in under 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 57:30 set by Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha. Kiplimo's record-breaking performance improved the previous time by 48 seconds, marking the largest improvement in the history of the event.

Assam has approved a major industrial park project spanning 569 bighas of land in Morigaon district. Additionally, the state has cleared the Assam Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2025, focusing on promoting renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and hydrogen energy. These initiatives are part of the state's strategy to enhance industrial growth while transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.

The new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which was tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha on February 13, 2025, is set to replace the current Income Tax Act of 1961. The bill is scheduled to take effect starting from April 1, 2026, as confirmed by the bill after a review of the existing law that was announced in July 2024.