1 Desert Hunt-2025 Exercise
The Indian Air Force conducted an integrated tri-service Special Forces Exercise called Desert Hunt-2025 at Air Force Station , Jodhpur from 24 to 28 February 2025. The exercise saw elite Para (Special Forces) of the Indian Army, Marine Commandos of the Indian Navy and Garud (Special Forces) of the Indian Air Force engaging together in a simulated combat environment. The high-intensity exercise was aimed at enhancing interoperability, coordination and synergy between the three Special Forces units to ensure quick and effective response to emerging security challenges.
2 Shri Jayant Chaudhary launched women entrepreneurship programme Swavalambini
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with NITI Aayog launched Swavalambini, a women entrepreneurship program at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut , as a significant step towards strengthening women entrepreneurship in India. The initiative empowers female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by providing them with the entrepreneurial mindset, resources and guidance required to successfully build and scale their enterprises . Under the aegis of MSDE and implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) in joint partnership with NITI Aayog, Swavalambini aims to establish a structured and phased entrepreneurial journey for young women. The program will take participants through various stages including awareness creation, skill development, mentoring and funding support. The initiative aims to set a benchmark for the future of women entrepreneurship in India by promoting and recognizing promising women-led enterprises.
3 C-DAC’s Iceshield 2024 Grand Challenge concluded in Thiruvananthapuram on National Science Day
Himshield 2024 Grand Challenge , organised by C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), a research initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, concluded successfully on the occasion of National Science Day at Thiruvananthapuram . Aimed at promoting innovation in glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) control , the competition provided a platform to young researchers and innovators to develop indigenous and sustainable solutions to address this environmental challenge. The nationwide competition was launched on 24th August 2024 by Shri S Krishnan IAS, Secretary, MeitY. 151 teams participated in the preliminary round of Himshield. Thirty teams advanced to the next round. A total of seven teams participated in the final round.
4 Central Government amended passport rules, birth certificate will be considered as the only proof of date of birth for applicants born after October 1, 2023
The central government has amended the passport rules . According to the new rules, the birth certificate issued by the appropriate authorities will be the only proof of date of birth for passport applicants born on or after October 1, 2023. An official notification has been issued to issue amendments to the Passport Rules-1980 . According to the new rules, birth certificates issued by the Birth and Death Registration Officer, Municipal Corporation or any other authority under the Birth and Death Registration Act, 1969 will be accepted as proof of date of birth for persons born on or after October 1, 2023. Other applicants can submit other alternative documents like driving license, PAN card, voter ID card or school leaving certificate as date of birth certificate.
On February 26, 2025, Australian Government has launched ‘ Australia-India Trade and Investment Accelerator Fund (TIAF)’ with an investment of US$16 million. . The initiative aims to boost trade, increase bilateral investment, and strengthen collaboration between businesses in the two countries. The strategy highlights four key “superhighways of growth” where Australia has a competitive advantage: clean energy, education and skills, agribusiness, and tourism.
6 C-CAMP, India and Parissante Campus, France partner to establish Indo-French Life Sciences Sister Innovation Hub
In February 2025, Bengaluru ( Karnataka )-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) , Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), Government of India (GOI) and Parisente Campus , a leading digital health innovation cluster in France signed an agreement to launch a bilateral innovation collaboration in the healthcare sector called Indo-French Life Sciences Sister Innovation Hub . The Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed by Dr. Taslimarif Syed, Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of C-CAMP and Professor Antoine Tesnière, Director, Parisente Campus. Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi and President of France Emmanuel Macron formally announced this partnership during the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit 2025, which was held on February 10-11, 2025, at the Grand Palais in Paris, France.
In February 2025, Luton (United Kingdom, UK) based air consultancy firm Official Airline Guide (OAG) released its latest report about the ‘ World’s Busiest Airports in 2025 ‘. According to the report, Delhi Airport (DEL), namely Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi (Delhi), is ranked 8th among the top 10 busiest airports globally as of February 2025. DEL has recorded the highest capacity growth in February 2025 as compared to the same month of 2024, with the number of seats increasing by 3.4% to 3.6 million. Dubai International Airport (airport code: DXB) located in Dubai (United Arab Emirates, UAE) remains the world’s busiest airport with 4.8 million seats , indicating a 1% increase in capacity compared to February 2024. Furthermore, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) located in the United States of America (USA) remains the second busiest airport in the world with 4.6 million seats in 2025, registering a growth of 2% in terms of capacity compared to the previous year.
8 SIDBI signs MoU with TCL to strengthen financing avenues for MSMEs
In February 2025, Lucknow ( Uttar Pradesh , UP)-based Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) -based Tata Capital Limited (TCL) have partnered to finance micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs ) The MoU was signed by Vivek Kumar Malhotra, Chief General Manager (CGM) of SIDBI and Vivek Chopra, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Retail Finance of TCL in the presence of senior officials of SIDBI and TCL. The partnership aims to strengthen the MSME ecosystem by providing funds for machinery and equipment financing, working capital, cash credit (CC), overdraft (OD), business loans and loan against property, etc. Additionally, risk sharing, co-lending and joint financing will be examined while providing credit facilities to MSMEs.
9 INOX India becomes first company to receive IATF 16949 certification for cryogenic fuel tanks
In February 2025, Vadodara (Gujarat) -based INOX India Limited (Inox India and Cryogenic Vessel Alternatives, INOXCVA) became the first Indian manufacturer of cryogenic equipment to receive the ‘ International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 certification ‘ for cryogenic fuel tank production . This certification, awarded by Bureau Veritas Certification (BVC), covers both the design and manufacturing processes of vacuum-insulated cryogenic fuel tanks at INOX India’s Kalol facility in Gujarat. This achievement positions INOX India Limited as a leader in integrating cryogenic technology with automotive applications in the growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tank sector in India.
10 SpaceX successfully launches third Moon landing mission with Athena lander
In February 2025, Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) successfully launched the third Moon landing mission of 2025 named ‘ Intuitive Machines (IM-2) ’ aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, carrying the Nova-C class robotic lunar lander Athena lander of Houston, Texas (United States, USA). The 15 feet tall (4.7 metres (m)) Athena lander is expected to land on Mons Mouton , a flat-topped mountain about 160 kilometres (km) from the Moon’s south pole on March 6, 2025.
11 Punjab Police launched a state-wide search operation called “War Against Nasha” -CASO
In Punjab , the police launched a state-wide search operation called “ Yuddh Nasha Viruddh ” (CASO). More than nine hundred teams of more than eight thousand policemen raided about eight hundred places in the state. Under this, 290 drug smugglers were arrested and more than 230 FIRs were also registered.
12 India’s Yuki Bhambri and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin pair won the men’s doubles title at the Dubai Open Tennis Championship
India’s Yuki Bhambri and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin have won the men’s doubles title in the Dubai Open Tennis Championship . The pair defeated Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Britain’s Henry Patton 3-6, 7-6, 10-8 in the final. This is the fourth ATP doubles title of Yuki’s career . Earlier, Yuki and Alexei had made it to the final by defeating Britain’s Jamie Murray and Australia’s John Peers in the semi-finals.
