National News

AQI-Based Parametric Insurance Policy

• India's first Air Quality Index (AQI)-based parametric insurance policy has been launched for migrant workers engaged in construction activities in the Delhi-NCR region.

Related Facts:

Top State in PM-FME Implementation

• Maharashtra is the top state in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme.
• The state has a total of 22,010 micro food processing enterprises, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar having the highest number of 1,895 approved projects.

Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PM-FME):

Review Meeting on BBSSL’s Traditional/Sweet Seeds

• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting in New Delhi on the traditional/sweet seeds of Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL).

Indian Seed Cooperative Societies Limited (BBSSL) :

Amount in KCC Accounts

• The amount in active Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts has more than doubled from ₹4.26 lakh crore in March 2014 to ₹10.05 lakh crore in December 2024.
• The Kisan Credit Card Scheme was launched in 1998 based on recommendations from NABARD.

Related Facts:

Organization of PMIS Mela

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organized the Pradhan Mantri Internship Scheme (PMIS) Mela in Kolkata.

Pradhan Mantri Internship Yojana:

Conference on ‘Sustainable Cooling and Doubling the Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvement’

• The National Conference on ‘Sustainable Cooling and Doubling the Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvement’ was held in New Delhi on February 21-22, 2025.
• The objective of the conference was to promote sustainable cooling systems in India and double the rate of energy efficiency improvement.

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30th Monthly Report of CPGRAMS

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 30th monthly report of the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for January 2025 for States/Union Territories.
• The report provides a detailed analysis of the types and categories of public grievances and the nature of grievance resolution by various States and Union Territories.

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TRIFED's Agreement with NIFT and HPMC Limited

• The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIFT and HPMC Limited to facilitate tribal entrepreneurship.

TRIFED :

Saras Aajeevika Mela 2025

• Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the Saras Aajeevika Mela at Noida Haat, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Saras Aajeevika Mela 2025 is being organized from February 21 to March 10, 2025, with the primary objective of showcasing the crafts and arts of rural India.

Related Facts:

CBSE Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved draft guidelines to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting from 2026.
• As per the draft norms, the first session will be held from February 17 to March 6, while the second session will be conducted from May 5 to May 20.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE):

Agreement Between CAG and IIT Madras

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has signed an agreement with IIT Madras for advanced auditing.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG):

Economy and Banking

Top 10 Companies

• The highest tax-paying companies contributed around 19% of the government's provisional gross corporate tax collection, which will total ₹2.2 lakh crore in 2024.
• Reliance Industries paid the highest amount of ₹25,707 crore, followed by TCS with ₹15,898 crore.

Top 05 Highest Direct Tax Paying Companies in India (FY 2024):

422-Meter-Long Hyperloop Test Track Developed

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways, has developed a 422-meter-long Hyperloop test track on its campus.
• The project's objective is to promote high-speed transportation, enabling travel of 350 kilometers in just 30 minutes.

State Special

CAG Report on Excise Policy

• According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report presented in the Delhi Assembly, the Delhi government incurred a loss of over ₹2,000 crore due to the 2021-2022 excise policy.

Key Findings of the CAG Report:

MP Global Investors Summit 2025

• The MP Global Investors Summit attracted an investment of ₹26.6 trillion, generating 1.73 trillion employment opportunities.
• Including commitments from Regional Industry Conferences (RICs), the total investment commitments reached ₹31 trillion.

Related Facts:

Honours and Awards

32 Gallantry, Distinguished Service Medals

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented 32 Gallantry, Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Medals to Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel.
• These awards include 6 President's Tatrakshak Medals (for Distinguished Service), 11 Tatrakshak Medals (for Gallantry) and 15 Tatrakshak Medals (for Meritorious Service).

Indian Coast Guard (ICG):

National Dhanvantari Ayurveda Award 2025

• The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, conferred the prestigious National Dhanvantari Ayurveda Award 2025 to three distinguished physicians.

Awardees:

Science and Technology

Space Economy

• According to Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, "The space economy is expected to grow fivefold from $8 billion to $44 billion in a few years, contributing significantly to India's economic value addition."

Reasons for the increase:

Arts and Culture

Herath Poshtay Festival

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to Kashmiri Pandits on the occasion of Herath Poshtay.
• Herath Poshtay is a traditional Kashmiri festival celebrated on the 13th day of the Krishna Paksha in the Phalguna month, usually falling between February and March.

Related Facts:

Conclusion of Mahakumbh Mela

• The Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj concluded on February 26 on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
• The next Kumbh Mela will be held in 2027 at Nashik-Trimbakeshwar.
• Nashik, known for its deep spiritual and mythological significance, will host the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, primarily in the Trimbakeshwar region, situated on the banks of the Godavari River.

Related Facts:

Sajjan Kumar

• Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court sentenced Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Dan Bongino

• US President Donald Trump appointed conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI.