NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi Virtually Inaugurates India Energy Week in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 3rd India Energy Week being held in New Delhi on 11 February 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on an official visit to France from 10-12th February 2025. He is in France to co-chair the AI Action Summit along with the French President Emmanuel Macron.

The India Energy Week is jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and the DMG Events, under the overall patronage of the Union Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Public Sector Company ONGC is the principal partner and the French multinational company Total Energies is the International Partner of the 3rd India Energy Week.

The India Energy Week provides a platform for regional and global energy companies with an opportunity to network with key buyers from over 120 countries across the full energy value chain.

The exhibitors have the opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge technologies to forge strategic partnerships, drive sustainable energy solutions, and explore opportunities to shape the future of energy.

Government of Odisha Rolls Out 'Antyodaya Gruha Yojana'

The Odisha government has decided to implement the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), ‘Antyodaya Gruha Yojana’ for economically weaker sections of society.

Employees can choose between UPS and National Pension System (NPS).

Pension benefits include 50% of average basic pay (last 12 months before retirement) for those with 25+ years of service.

Minimum pension amount set at ₹10,000 for retirees with at least 10 years of service.

Family pension benefits include 60% of the pension amount drawn by the deceased retiree.

Guaranteed family pension benefit after retirement, which was not available in NPS.

Odisha government launches 'Antyodaya Gruha Yojana' to provide affordable housing for economically weaker sections denied houses under PMAY.

Target: 25 lakh houses over the next three years with an investment of ₹7,550 crore.

Financial assistance: ₹1.20 lakh per house under the scheme.

Completion incentives: ₹20,000 bonus for finishing houses within 4 months and ₹10,000 bonus for finishing within 6 months.

Family definition simplified to include husband, wife, dependent parents, and children for scheme eligibility.

 

BANKING

Hyderabad-based Ikonz Studios Partnered with IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST Bank, in collaboration with Ikonz, has expanded its use of the latest artificial intelligence (AI) avatar of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan to 10 more branches across five new cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.

This initiative allows Bachchan to connect with an additional 70 million people.

Previously, Ikonz and IDFC FIRST Bank introduced Bachchan's AI avatar at the Juhu Branch in Mumbai, where it quickly gained acceptance and improved customer trust and banking efficiency.

Ikonz Studios, based in Hyderabad, is known for its expertise in hyper-realistic, multilingual intelligent avatars and holographic technologies.

Through this partnership, customers are greeted by Bachchan’s interactive digital avatar, providing information about banking products like Zero Fee Banking, Monthly Interest Credits, and Mobile Banking in his signature style.

Paytm Partners With Online Travel Agency, Agoda

One 97 Communications Limited (Paytm) has teamed up with Agoda, a prominent digital travel platform under Booking Holdings, to enhance its travel services.

This collaboration enables Paytm Travel to offer hotel bookings alongside its existing services, which include flights, buses, and trains.

Travelers can now access Agoda’s vast selection of accommodations across both Indian and international destinations directly through the Paytm app.

With Agoda’s integration, Paytm Travel ensures a seamless booking experience, offering a broad range of hotels, exclusive deals, and efficient stay planning.

This partnership provides convenience for frequent travelers and businesses with cost-effective solutions and simplified itinerary management.

As an IATA-accredited travel agent, Paytm Travel assures a trustworthy booking experience, with additional benefits like free cancellations, instant refunds, travel insurance, and access to an extensive inventory.

Exclusive discounts through Paytm’s collaborations with top banks further add value for users.

Policybazaar Partnered with HDFC Life

Policybazaar has partnered with HDFC Life, a leading player in India's life insurance sector, to launch the HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Ultimate.

This collaboration is poised to set new standards in the insurance domain, positioning both Policybazaar and HDFC Life at the forefront of innovation and customer satisfaction.

The HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Ultimate is designed to address critical consumer concerns, such as ease of acquiring insurance and a seamless claims process for beneficiaries.

The product offers a Return of Premium on Maturity, meaning policyholders receive all premiums paid at maturity.

It also includes a Terminal Illness Benefit, providing accelerated death benefits in case of specified illnesses, with a six-month waiting period.

Additionally, the Smart Exit Benefit allows policyholders to reclaim their entire premium (excluding taxes) if they exit the policy early.

These features ensure financial security and peace of mind for the insured.

HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Ultimate sets a new benchmark in term insurance by focusing on innovation, transparency, and consumer-first

The product is specifically tailored for salaried professionals with an annual income of ₹10 lakh

 

DEFENCE

India and Egypt Military Exercise Cyclone 2025

The 3rd edition of the India and Egypt military ‘Exercise Cyclone’ 2025 was commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan on 10th of February 2025. The annual Cyclone Exercise is held alternately in India and Egypt.

The first edition of the Exercise Cyclone was held in India from 14-27 January 2023.

The special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army participate in the annual Exercise Cyclone.

In the 3rd edition of the exercise, the Indian Army is represented by the elite Parachute Regiment (Special Force). At the same time, the Egyptian contingent includes the elite Egyptian Special Forces from the Rangers and paratroopers’ units

The exercise focuses on enhancing the skill of both the armed forces in operating side by side in conducting special operations against the terrorist and hostile forces in desert and semi-desert terrains.

It provides an opportunity for both the armed forces to exchange expertise and learn about the latest combat tactics used by the other sides.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Deepak Kumar Kedia Honored with ‘CA in Public Service’ Award

Deepak Kumar Kedia, Inspector General (IG) Headquarters, National Security Guard (NSG), has been awarded the ‘CA in Public Service’ Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

The award was presented at the World Forum of Accountants Meet in New Delhi, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to law enforcement and national security.

He was honored for his exceptional contributions to law enforcement and national security.

He also awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service on Republic Day 2025.

Indian Filmmaker Varsha Bharath’s Bad Girl Wins NETPAC Award

Indian filmmaker Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut, Bad Girl, has won the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025.

Bad Girl secures the NETPAC Award, placing it among acclaimed Indian films like Nasir (2019).

The film’s teaser received mixed reactions for addressing female sexuality and caste dynamics.

NETPAC is a worldwide organization of 29 member countries.

It was created as the result of a conference on Asian cinema organized by Cinemaya, the Asian Film Quarterly, in New Delhi in 1990 at the instance and with the support of UNESCO, Paris.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The 10th International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025 is observed on 11th February 2025

The Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report on March 14, 2011, with the goal of encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Moreover, promoting women's equal access to full employment and respectable jobs should be a priority.

The General Assembly recognized in a resolution on science, technology, and innovation for development adopted on December 20, 2013, that women and girls should have full and equal access to and participation in science, technology, and innovation

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

On 11 February 2025, we will celebrate its 10th anniversary together at UNESCO Headquarters.

 

OBITUTARY

Sam Nujoma, The First President Of Namibia

Sam Nujoma, the first president of independent Namibia, passed away at the age of 95 in Windhoek.

He Co-founded the South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) in the 1960s and played a crucial role in Namibia’s freedom from South African rule (1990).

He Led Namibia as its first president from 1990 to 2005.

Historic U.S. Visit: In 1993, became the first African leader hosted at the White House by Bill Clinton.

Global Recognition: Clinton referred to him as “the George Washington of his country” and “a true hero of the global movement toward democracy.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

India Targets To Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis By 2027

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda virtually launched the annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in identified 13 endemic states on 10 February 2025.

The Union Minister announced that the central government aims to eliminate the incidence of Lymphatic Filariasis disease in the country by 2027.

The MDA campaign aims to administer anti-filarial medicine to persons in the identified endemic area to prevent the further transmission of the disease.

The MDA has been launched in the identified 111 districts of 13 states where the Lymphatic Filariasis disease is endemic.

The government of India has adopted a two-pronged strategy for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in the country by 2027.

Two-pronged strategies are Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and Home-based management of lymphoedema cases and up-scaling of hydrocele operations in identified district hospitals/medical colleges.

The annual MDA campaign is administered by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.