CURRENT TOPICS in HIGHLIGHTS 1 TO 10 February 2025

 CURRENT TOPICS in HIGHLIGHTS  1 TO 10 February 2025

1. Indian Coast Guard Day

Observed on: 01 February 2025

Aim: The ICG is an armed force of India protects maritime interests and enforces maritime law.

The ICG was raised on February 1 1977, with the enactment of Coast Guard Act 1978, as a full-fledged independent Armed Force of the Union under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

2. World Wetlands Day.

Observed on: 02 February 2025

➤ Marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971.

Celebrated for the first time in 1997

Aim: To raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet

Theme: "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future".

3. India Wins Second Consecutive U-19 Women's T20 World Cup with Dominant Victory

India clinched its second successive U-19 Women's T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by nine wickets in a dominant display.

• India won the tournament undefeated, becoming the first team to do so in the competition's history.

• The final match was played on Sunday, with India securing victory with 52 balls to spare.

4. Exercise Ekuverin.

❖ A bilateral annual military exercise, conducted alternatively in India and Maldives since 2009.

❖ Ekuverin means 'Friends' in Dhivehi language.

Primary objective of Exercise Ekuverin is to enhance interoperability between the Indian and Maldivian armed forces in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism (CI/CT) operations under the United Nations mandate.

The exercise also focuses on conducting joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

Aims to promote the sharing of best practices, enhance coordination, and improve cooperation between the two forces at the tactical level.

Other exercise between India and Maldives:

Exercise Ekatha is an annual exercise conducted between the navies of India and Maldives

5.Mount Taranaki

❖A snow-capped dormant volcano.

❖ Second highest mountain (8,261 feet) located in North Island of New Zealand.

It is a stratovolcano (also called a composite cone) - and is made up of alternating layers of ash and lava flow.

6. PRASHAD Scheme

Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme.

Launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014.

It is an initiative that aimed at transforming the cultural preservation and spiritual travelling across identified pilgrimage destinations.

7. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog launched Swavalambini

A Women Entrepreneurship Programme for Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

Aimed at empowering female students in select Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the northeast by equipping them with the essential entrepreneurial mindset, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey.

❖ It also provides six months of mentorship and hand holding support to help participants translate their ideas into sustainable prospects.

8.  Union Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee approved the R&D proposal for Dibru Saikhowa National Park.

Dibru Saikhowa National Park:

Location: Situated in Assam, it is both a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve.

❖ Rivers: Bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers to the north, and the Dibru River to the south.

Vegetation: Moist mixed semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, with the largest salix swamp forest in northeastern India. 

9. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

❖ It is a Multi-country,

 Multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation, conservation partners and scientific organizations working in the field of big cat conservation besides

❖ Business groups and corporates, to establish networks and develop synergies in a focused manner.

Its idea was 1st floated by India's Prime Minister in 2019.

It was launched in April 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.

It aims at conservation of seven big cats namely

1. Tiger,

2. Lion,

3. Leopard,

4. Snow Leopard,

5. Cheetah,

6. Jaguar, and

7. Puma

❖

Objectives:

To stop the illegal wildlife trade of the seven big cats.

 To work towards the conservation of natural habitats of the 7 big cats.

Mobilisation of financial and technical resources for implementing the conservation and protection agenda.

10. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) for deficiencies in regulatory compliance.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB):

Genesis: Established in 2018 with 100% equity owned by Government of India.

❖ Aim: IPPB aims to provide every household in India an access to efficient banking services.

Ministry: Works under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication.

11. Iran's New Missiles

Etemad Missile:

It is a new ballistic missile built by the Iranian Defence Ministry.

❖ Dubbed Etemad, or "trust" in Persian, it has a maximum range of 1,700 kilometres.

With a length of 16 meters and a diameter of 1.25 meters, the missile is equipped with a precision-guided warhead.

Ghadr-380:

❖ It is an anti-warship cruise missile developed by Iran.

❖ It has a range of over 1,000 kilometers.

❖ It has anti-jamming capability.

12. Samudrayaan project (under Deep Ocean Mission) has received Rs 600cr in Union Budget 2025-26.

Samudrayaan Project:

❖ Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences

Aim: To develop a self-propelled manned submersible to carry 3 human beings to a water depth of 6000 meters for deep ocean exploration.

To have an endurance of 12 hours of operational period and 96 hours in case of emergency.

Period: 2020-2021 to 2025-2026

13. DRDO has successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of VSHORADS from Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

Very Short-Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS):

It is a man-portable air defense system and developed endogenously  by Research Center Imarat, Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.

It is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor and meant for neutralizing low altitude aerial threats short ranges.

Its portability and rapid deployment capabilities make it a crucial asset for strengthening India's air defense.

14. World Pulses Day

• Aim: To recognize the importance of pulses (chickpeas, dry beans, lentils, dry peas and lupins among others) as a global food.

To further achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular relevance to Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13 and 15.

Theme: Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems.