04th February 2025

1. IIT Indore in Collaboration with MeitY Launched ‘AgriHub’ as a CoE for Agritech
2. Indian Armed Forces conducts TROPEX 25 to test its combat readiness
3. Finvasia Partners with YES Bank Launched AI-Driven Super App ‘Jump’
4. RBI Injects USD 5.1 billion Liquidity via FX Swap Auction
5. Avaada Group Partners with Casale to Develop India’s Largest Green Ammonia Plant in Odisha
6. Noel Naval Tata Honored with Doctorate by University of Sussex
7. Hero MotoCorp Appoints Vikram Kasbekar as Acting CEO
8. DRDO Successfully Conducted 3 Flight-trials of Indigenous VSHORADS from off the Coast of Odisha
9. IN Launches LSAM 23, the 9th ACTCM Barge to Boost Logistics Capabilities
10. JAXA Launches ‘Michibiki 6’ Navigation Satellite into Orbit
11. Sunita Williams Sets New Record for Longest Spacewalk by a Female Astronaut During 92nd USA Spacewalk
12. India won ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 by defeating South Africa for 2nd consecutive time
13. R Praggnanandhaa won ‘Tata Steel Chess Masters 2025’, Defeats World Champion D Gukesh in Tiebreaker
14. World Wetlands Day 2025 – February 2
15. Russian Lawmaker Vyacheslav Volodin’s Official Visit to India
16. Mount Taranaki Granted Legal Personhood
17. India’s Defence Ministry Pilot Study on LAWS
18. Former CEC Navin Chawla Passes Away
19. World Cancer Day, Date, Theme, History, Significance, Symptoms, Treatment
20. Grammy Awards 2025: Complete List of Winners, Key Highlights, and Record-Breaking Moments
21. Chandrika Tandon’s ‘Triveni’ Wins Grammy for Best New Age Album
22. Kavach: India’s Pledge to Safer Railways
23. FDI Limit for Insurance Raised from 74% to 100%
24. DRDO Conducts Three Back-to-Back VSHORADS Trials

National News

1. IIT Indore Launches AgriHub for Sustainable Agriculture

• What:
  • IIT Indore inaugurated AgriHub, a Center of Excellence for sustainable agriculture using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL).
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to foster innovation and transform Indian agriculture by empowering researchers, breeders, and farmers.
• Tell me more:
  • AgriHub is a multi-institutional collaborative platform designed to develop solutions for agricultural challenges like drought and low productivity.
  • The project emphasizes the role of startups in driving agricultural innovation and the importance of adapting to technological changes.

Source: PIB

2. Russian Parliament Chairman Visits India for Talks

• What:
  • Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian parliament’s lower house, arrived in India for an official visit to discuss cooperation.
• Why:
  • The discussions aim to enhance collaboration between India and Russia in economic, cultural, educational, and technological fields, as well as strengthen inter-parliamentary dialogue.
• Tell me more:
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India for an annual summit, with dates to be finalized through diplomatic channels.
  • This will be Putin’s first visit to India since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

Source: BS

3. India to Implement Kavach Train Protection System

• What:
  • India plans to implement the Kavach automatic train protection (ATP) system across its entire railway network within six years.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to enhance railway safety and efficiency, ensuring a quicker rollout compared to other developed nations.
• Tell me more:
  • Kavach is currently being installed on 10,000 locomotives and 15,000 km of tracks, with 12,000 technicians trained for the process.
  • The railway capital expenditure for 2025-26 is set at ₹2.65 lakh crore, with revenue projected to exceed ₹3 lakh crore.
  • The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will utilize Japan’s Shinkansen technology, with co-development planned for Indian conditions.

Source: ET

State News

1. Avaada Group to Develop India’s Largest Green Ammonia Plant in Odisha

• What:
  • Avaada Group announced a partnership with Casale to develop India’s largest green ammonia plant in Gopalpur, Odisha, with a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes per day.
• Why:
  • This project aims to advance Avaada’s mission of decarbonisation and sustainable industrial growth, contributing to India’s clean energy revolution.
• Tell me more:
  • The Gopalpur plant will operate entirely on renewable energy and utilize Casale’s advanced ammonia production technology for a carbon-free process.
  • The facility aims to set a benchmark for green ammonia production in alignment with India’s net zero commitments.
  • Avaada Group Chairman Vineet Mittal emphasized the project’s vision for a carbon-free future, while Casale CEO Federico Zardi noted the expansion of their licensed green ammonia capacity in India to 5,700 tonnes per day.

Source: ET

International News

1. Japan Launches Navigation Satellite with H3 Rocket

• What:
  • Japan successfully launched the Michibiki 6 navigation satellite using its new H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center on January 31, 2025.
• Why:
  • The launch aims to enhance Japan’s location positioning system, allowing for more precise navigation without reliance on foreign services.
• Tell me more:
  • The satellite is part of the quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS), which currently includes four satellites operational since 2018.
  • Michibiki 6 will improve positioning data for smartphones, car navigation, and drones, and is expected to reach its geospatial orbit in about two weeks.

Source: IE

2. Sunita Williams Sets Record for Spacewalking

• What:
  • Sunita Williams set a record for total spacewalking time by a woman, logging 62 hours and 6 minutes during her mission on the International Space Station (ISS).
• Why:
  • This achievement highlights the contributions of women in space exploration and aims to inspire future generations of astronauts and scientists.
• Tell me more:
  • Williams conducted a spacewalk with her colleague Butch Wilmore to remove degraded radio communications hardware and collect samples for microbial research.
  • Their spacewalk lasted 5 hours and 26 minutes, beginning at 7:43 am ET and concluding at 1:09 pm ET.
  • Williams surpassed the previous record held by Peggy Whitson, who had a total of 60 hours and 21 minutes of spacewalking time.

Source: TOI

3. New Zealand Grants Legal Personhood to Taranaki Maunga

• What:
  • New Zealand has granted legal personhood to Mount Taranaki, now officially recognized by its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga.
• Why:
  • This decision aims to align with the Māori worldview, recognizing natural features as sacred and part of a larger ecological system.
• Tell me more:
  • Taranaki Maunga is the third natural feature in New Zealand to receive individual legal status, following Te Urewera National Park and the Whanganui River.
  • The Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passed by parliament ensures co-management of the mountain by local Māori tribes and the government.
  • This recognition is part of efforts to address historical injustices against the Māori people, particularly regarding land confiscation during colonization.

Source: MoC

Banking and Economy

1. Finvasia Launches Jumpp: An AI Financial Super App

• What:
  • Fintech firm Finvasia has launched Jumpp, an AI-driven financial super app, in collaboration with YES Bank.
• Why:
  • The app aims to simplify personal finance by integrating banking, saving, payments, investing, and borrowing into one platform.
• Tell me more:
  • Jumpp targets 1 million users by January 2026, focusing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where 50% of online shoppers reside.
  • It features multilingual AI tools for voice-based interactions in English and Hindi.
  • Users can open savings accounts with YES Bank quickly and view all financial accounts through the Account Aggregator ecosystem.
  • The app enhances financial inclusion by offering personalized recommendations and security measures.

Source: ET

2. RBI’s $5 Billion Dollar-Rupee Swap Auction

• What:
  • The Reserve Bank of India conducted a $5 billion dollar/rupee buy-sell swap auction, which was oversubscribed five-fold, receiving bids totaling $25.59 billion from 253 participants.
• Why:
  • The purpose of this auction is to infuse rupee liquidity into the banking system as part of the RBI’s broader strategy to inject approximately 1.5 trillion rupees of liquidity.
• Tell me more:
  • The RBI accepted 28 bids totaling $5.1 billion, setting the premium cut-off at 96.81 paisa, slightly below the market level before the auction results were announced.
  • Following the auction, dollar-rupee forward premiums dipped slightly, with the one-year implied yield adjusting to 2.24 percent.
  • This FX swap involves buying spot dollars, which helps inject rupee liquidity while also draining excess dollars from the system, with a reversal of the transaction scheduled in six months.

Source: BS

3. FDI Limit for Insurance Sector Increased to 100%

• What:
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limits for the insurance sector from 74% to 100%, with specific conditions.
• Why:
  • The aim is to attract more foreign capital while ensuring that domestic investments are maintained in the insurance sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The enhanced FDI limit will only apply to insurance companies that invest all collected premiums in India.
  • Existing regulations on foreign investment will be reviewed and simplified.
  • This announcement follows the government’s proposals to amend key insurance laws, including raising the FDI cap and allowing insurers to operate multiple businesses under one entity.

Source: TOI

Defence News

1. TROPEX-25: Key Indian Military Exercise

• What:
  • TROPEX-25, the Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise 2025, is a major military exercise led by the Indian Navy focusing on joint warfare in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Why:
  • The exercise aims to enhance power projection and demonstrate India’s evolving defense strategy through fleet integration and rapid response.
• Tell me more:
  • Conducted in January 2025 aboard INS Vikrant, TROPEX-25 included joint operations, complex drills, and live weapon firings.
  • It tested India’s military capabilities across the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indo-Pacific. TROPEX-25 also serves as a strategic signal to counterbalance China’s naval activities in the region.

Source: WION

2. Launch of 9th ACTCM Barge by DRDO

• What:
  • The launching ceremony of the 9th ACTCM Barge, LSAM 23 (Yard 133), was held on January 31, 2025, at Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane.
• Why:
  • This event marks the continuation of the contract for constructing eleven ammunition cum torpedo cum missile barges to enhance naval operations.
• Tell me more:
  • The barges are indigenously designed and built in collaboration with an Indian ship designing firm and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
  • Eight of these barges have already been delivered and are currently used by the Indian Navy for transporting ammunition and other articles.
  • Model testing for seaworthiness was conducted at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam.

Source: PIB

3. India Explores Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

• What:
  • A pilot study on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) has been commissioned by the Defence Ministry in collaboration with the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (MPIDSA).
• Why:
  • The study aims to examine the potential, control challenges, and ethical concerns of AI-powered autonomous weapons in the context of India’s defense capabilities.
• Tell me more:
  • Tanmaya Lal from the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized India’s vigilance in AI development due to security threats from nuclear-armed neighbors, particularly China.
  • Samir Kumar Sinha from the Defence Ministry stressed the importance of developing AI capabilities for strategic autonomy and military preparedness.
  • The study highlights that Indian defense manufacturers are in early stages of AI integration, facing challenges related to autonomous systems and international export controls.

Source: TH

Science and Technology

1. DRDO Conducts Successful VSHORADS Flight Trials

• What:
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted three flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) off the coast of Odisha.
• Why:
  • The purpose of these trials is to test the missile system’s capability against high-speed, low-altitude aerial targets, enhancing India’s air defense capabilities.
• Tell me more:
  • The VSHORADS is a fourth-generation, miniaturized Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO labs and Indian industry partners.
  • During the tests, the missiles intercepted and destroyed targets designed to mimic low-flying drones, demonstrating pin-point accuracy.
  • The flight data confirmed the system’s effectiveness in neutralizing various aerial threats and showcased its readiness for deployment.
  • The missile system is intended for use by all three branches of the Indian armed forces: Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Source: IE

Awards

1. University of Sussex Awards Honorary Doctorate to Noel Tata

• What:
  • The University of Sussex awarded an honorary doctorate to Noel Tata, a prominent business leader in the Tata Group and alumnus of the university.
• Why:
  • This honor recognizes Mr. Tata’s exceptional contributions to global business leadership and ethical practices.
• Tell me more:
  • The honorary degree was presented by Professor Sasha Roseneil during a ceremony in Mumbai on January 30, 2024.
  • Noel Tata graduated from the University of Sussex in 1978 with a degree in Economics and expressed gratitude for the recognition.
  • He has over 40 years of leadership experience within the Tata Group and currently holds key positions, including Chairman of Trent and Tata Trusts.

Source: BS

2. Grammy Awards 2025

• The 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 2, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, honoring top music from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024.
• Trevor Noah hosted it for the fifth time.

Source: TOI

Important Dates

1. World Wetlands Day – February 2

Source: WWD1 WWD2

2. World Cancer Day – February 4

• Theme: United by Unique
• World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• World Cancer Day was first observed on February 4, 2000, during the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris.
• The Paris Charter aims to encourage research, prevent cancer, enhance patient care, raise awareness, and activate the global community to combat cancer, and it includes the establishment of World Cancer Day.

Source: IE

Sports

1. India Wins ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025

• What:
  • India won the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 by defeating South Africa by nine wickets at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Tell me more:
  • Gongadi Trisha became the first player to score 300 runs in a single edition of the tournament.
  • South Africa was bowled out for 82 runs, struggling against India’s disciplined bowling attack.

Source: BCCI

2. Tata Steel 2025 Masters

• What:
  • Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 by defeating reigning world champion D Gukesh in the final.
• Why:
  • This victory marks Praggnanandhaa’s first title at the Masters level and showcases his resilience and skill in competitive chess.
• Tell me more:
  • The final match was a tiebreaker after both players ended with 8.5/13 points.

Source: TOI

Appointments

1. Hero MotoCorp Appoints New Acting CEO

• What:
  • Hero MotoCorp appointed Vikram Kasbekar as the acting Chief Executive Officer after Niranjan Gupta decided to leave the company.
• Tell me more:
  • Ram Kuppuswamy will become Chief Operations Officer (COO) – Manufacturing from April 1, 2025, while Ashutosh Varma will take over as Chief Business Officer (CBO) – India Business Unit on May 1, 2025.
  • The EV & Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU) will become an independent unit effective February 1, 2025.

Source: ET

Miscellaneous

1. Former CEC Navin Chawla Passes Away at 79

• What:
  • Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla passed away in Delhi at the age of 79 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
• Tell me more:
  • He served as an election commissioner from May 16, 2005, to April 20, 2009, and as CEC from April 20, 2009, until July 29, 2010.
  • During his tenure, he implemented reforms such as allowing third gender voters to register under a new category.
  • Chawla was a retired IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre and had written an authorized biography of Mother Teresa.

Source: IE

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