Current Affairs - February 24, 2025 Current Affairs

The first Conference for Women Peacekeepers, themed "Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective," took place in New Delhi. This significant event was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping. It gathered women peacekeepers from 35 troop-contributing countries from the Global South, highlighting the importance of female involvement in peacekeeping efforts globally.

Axis Securities was fined ₹10 lakh by SEBI for multiple regulatory violations, including discrepancies in reporting, mishandling client funds, improper penalty allocation, and inadequate grievance redressal. The penalty came after SEBI’s inspection covering the period from April 2021 to November 2022. The violations highlighted by SEBI reflect lapses in compliance, such as inaccurate reporting, failure to handle client funds properly, and transferring penalties to clients rather than absorbing them. This regulatory action is part of SEBI's ongoing efforts to ensure compliance and safeguard investor interests in the securities market.

Haryana launched a witness protection scheme aimed at ensuring the safety of witnesses involved in cases with severe punishments such as death, life imprisonment, or sentences of seven years and above. The scheme categorizes witnesses into three threat levels and provides various protection measures, including identity change, relocation, and in-camera trials. To oversee the implementation, a district-level Witness Protection Cell, led by police officials, has been established. This initiative underscores Haryana's commitment to protecting witnesses and ensuring fair justice.

Shaktikanta Das, who served as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for six years, was appointed as the ‘Principal Secretary-2’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had demitted office as RBI governor in December of the previous year. This role is a new significant responsibility for him after his tenure at RBI, succeeding his involvement in economic affairs and revenue matters.

Bangladesh has officially declared February 25 as Military Martyrdom Day to commemorate the tragic events of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny in 2009. This mutiny also referred to as the Pilkhana tragedy or Pilkhana massacre, occurred on February 25-26, 2009, in Dhaka, where many lives were lost. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during the mutiny, and it has been designated as a Category C day, meaning it will be observed with official ceremonies and remembrance. The declaration reflects the country's commitment to honouring the memory of those who were martyred.

Services won the 71st Senior National Men’s Kabaddi Championship by defeating Railways in the final, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. In the semifinals, Services triumphed with an impressive 43-35 victory over Punjab, while Railways secured their spot in the final by defeating Uttar Pradesh 42-34. This victory marked another milestone in the successful history of the Services team in Indian Kabaddi.

Virat Kohli made history by becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket. He achieved this milestone during the ICC Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan in Dubai. Kohli is only the third player in ODI history to score 14,000 runs, joining the ranks of legendary players Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. Kohli is also known for holding the record for the most ODI centuries (50), further solidifying his place as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the format.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance became the first insurer in India to introduce the Bima-ASBA facility on February 22, 2025. This new payment method allows policyholders to block up to ₹2 lakh in their bank accounts using UPI's One-Time Mandate (OTM), offering more control and transparency in premium payments. The initiative was supported by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and aims to simplify the premium payment process, ensure financial security, prevent refund delays, and allow policyholders to earn interest on blocked amounts.

Bisleri International has partnered with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Programme’ to restore and protect historic water bodies at heritage sites across India. This collaboration is part of Bisleri’s CSR initiative, ‘Nayi Umeed,’ which focuses on water conservation and environmental sustainability. The project will start by revitalizing four significant water bodies in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, contributing to ecological restoration and improving tourism experiences while preserving India’s heritage.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has partnered with the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance research, skill development, and technological innovation in the aerospace sector. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between industry and academia, offering opportunities for higher education, research, and training in emerging aerospace technologies. HAL’s involvement will strengthen India’s aerospace and defence capabilities, contributing to self-reliance and global competitiveness in the sector.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the ‘Sagar Kavach’ coastal security exercise along West Bengal's coastline on February 21-22, 2025. The exercise was aimed at enhancing coastal security by simulating real-life security threats, such as hijackings, smuggling, and IED threats. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Navy, BSF, CISF, and local police, working in coordination to refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and improve inter-agency collaboration. This comprehensive drill focused on strengthening India's preparedness against potential maritime threats.

Tropical storm SARA caused significant damage, prompting India to dispatch 26 tons of humanitarian assistance to Honduras. This aid is part of India's efforts to provide support to countries in need, particularly in the Global South. India has a history of providing timely assistance to countries affected by natural disasters, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and solidarity.