Daily Current Affairs- 21st February 2025

Daily Current Affairs 21st February 2025

INTERNATIONAL

India and Nepal Strengthen Scientific Ties with New Agreement

• India and Nepal have taken a major step toward advancing their scientific collaboration with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). The agreement was signed on February 18, 2025, at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. 

NATIONAL

PM Modi inaugurated the first edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the first edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave on 21st February, at around 11 AM, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. He also addresses the gathering on the occasion. Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay will deliver the Keynote Address as the Guest of Honor. 

Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates the PMSSY Building at SCTIMST

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’ (PMSSY) driven upgraded Super speciality Neurosurgery and Cardiovascular Surgery state-of-the-art Building Block at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) here and emphasized that the Modi Govt's new initiatives are aimed at making quality healthcare affordable, accessible across sections of society. 

Defence Ministry Signs ₹1,220 Cr Deal with BEL for Advanced Radios

• The Defence Ministry today (February 20) signed a contract worth over one thousand 220 crore rupees with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in New Delhi for the procurement of 149 Software Defined Radios for the Indian Coast Guard. 

Tata Power partners with Amazon Web Services for smart energy transition

• Tata Power on Thursday announced its partnership with Amazon Web Services to drive smart and consumer-centric energy transition in India through modernization of its digital infrastructure and energy management.
• Tata Power has embarked on a data-driven transformation with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate the country's transition to a greener, smarter, and more consumer-centric energy ecosystem, the company said in a statement. 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

NITI Aayog CEO Subrahmanyam gets one-year extension

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has extended the tenure of BVR Subrahmanyam (Retd IAS: 1987: CG) as Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog for one year beyond 24.02.2025. Former Union Commerce Secretary Subrahmanyam was appointed as the new CEO of NITI Aayog replacing Parameswaran Iyer in February 2023. 

Sabyasachi Kar appointed director of the Institute of Economic Growth

• Professor Sabyasachi Kar has been appointed as the new Director of the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), New Delhi, effective February 6. He succeeds Professor Chetan Ghate.
• An economist, Kar currently serves as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Chair Professor at IEG and is a member of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (Mospi) Committee on Regional Accounts. 

Kash Patel, Confirmed as FBI Director

• The Republican-controlled US Senate confirmed Kash Patel, a staunch loyalist of President Donald Trump, to be director of the FBI, the country's top law enforcement agency.
• Patel, 44, whose nomination sparked fierce but ultimately futile opposition from Democrats, was approved by a 51-49 vote. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Mother Language Day

• International Mother Language Day is observed annually on February 21st to promote awareness and appreciation of linguistic and cultural diversity around the world. It was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. 

SUMMITS & MOUs

TRIFED signs MoUs with Meesho, IFCA, and MGIRI

• TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd) has entered into strategic partnerships with Meesho, the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI). These collaborations are designed to facilitate tribal businesses by integrating them into the B2B sector and ensuring the growth and promotion of tribal products.