1 Finance Secretary Tuhin Kant Pandey appointed as new Chairman of SEBI
Finance Secretary Tuhin Kant Pandey has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) . He will hold this post for the next three years . He will replace Madhabi Puri Buch . The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet has approved the appointment of Tuhin Kant Pandey as the new Chairman of SEBI.
2 Union Ministers of State S.P. Singh Baghel and Shri George Kurien presented “Prani Mitra” and “Jeev Daya” awards for animal welfare and conservation
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying organized “ Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Awards Ceremony ” on 27th February 2025 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. AWBI has been established under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 to ensure that animals are not subjected to unnecessary pain or suffering. This year’s “ Prani Mitra Awards ” were given in five categories to the following individuals/organizations:
- Advocate – Mr. Akhil Jain, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
- Innovative Idea – Mr. Rameshbhai Veljibhai Ruparelia, Gondal, Gujarat.
- Lifelong service to animals – Mr. Harnarayan Soni, Osian, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
- Animal Welfare Organization – Sri Sri 1008 Sriram Ratandasji Vaishnav Gau Seva Samiti, Karahdham, Murana, Madhya Pradesh.
Corporate/Public Sector Undertakings/Government Bodies/Cooperative Institutions Radhe Krishna Mandir Elephant Welfare Trust, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
In addition, AWBI’s “ Jeev Daya Puraskar ” was presented to the following individuals/organizations under three categories:
- Person: Ms. Nisha Subramaniam Kunju, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Animal Welfare Organization: Bhagwan Mahaveer Pashu Raksha Kendra, Kutch, Gujarat
- Schools/Institutions/Teachers/Children (below 18 years of age): Master Chaitanya M Saxena, Jaipur, Rajasthan and Master Aadi Shah, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
3 Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh released the first edition of the Defence Ministry’s biannual Hindi magazine ‘Sashakt Bharat’
Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh released the first edition of the biannual Hindi magazine of the Ministry of Defence ‘Sashakt Bharat’ at South Block in New Delhi on February 27, 2025. The magazine includes poems on the valour, patriotism and sacrifice of the armed forces personnel and articles written by the Ministry personnel on government policies. The magazine covers all levels of officials and reflects the spirit of inclusiveness and unity in diversity.
4 ACC approves extension of Rajiv Singh Raghuvanshi’s tenure as DCGI for 1 year
In February 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the tenure of Rajiv Singh Raghuvanshi as the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) chief of India’s apex health regulatory body i.e. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on contract basis for 1 year . The extension will be effective from March 1, 2025 or until a regular incumbent is appointed to the post , whichever is earlier. The approval came after the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) proposed his name to the ACC as DCGI until a suitable candidate is found.
5 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the India Calling Summit 2025 in Mumbai
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated the India Calling Summit 2025 in Mumbai . Addressing the summit, Piyush Goyal said that the strategic initiatives of the Government including Make in India, Digital India, Startup India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat are promoting innovation and infrastructure development. He said that earlier the quality of products was a big concern but today the country is at an important stage of quality revolution. He said that we need to adopt modern manufacturing techniques. Shri Goyal said that sustainability in trade and commerce is an important aspect and inclusive growth is equally important for any economy. He said that skill building strengthens the economy and leads to employment growth.
6 The 16th session of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) concluded
On February 27, 2025, the 16th session (COP16) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ended in Rome, the capital of Italy . This conference was the sequel to the initial COP16 meeting held in Cali (Colombia) in the year 2024. The main objective of this conference is to resolve pending issues related to the financial mechanism for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The ‘Cali Fund’ was launched in this conference. The ‘Cali Fund’ will seek financial support from private companies that use genetic data in their industries. The Cali Fund is expected to accelerate biodiversity conservation efforts globally.
7 First detailed geological map of Moon’s South Pole from Chandrayaan data
In February 2025, astronomers prepared the first detailed geological map of the Moon ‘s south pole , where India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander, Vikram , landed on August 23, 2023. The map was developed by researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat , Panjab University in Chandigarh , and the Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) Laboratory of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bengaluru , Karnataka . The data was collected from the rover Pragyaan launched by Vikram on a nine-day mission aimed at analysing the chemical composition of the regolith, loose rock fragments and dust covering the lunar surface. The new map of Vikram’s landing site was published in the journal Advances in Space Research.
8 Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky dies in Moscow
Boris Spassky , Russian chess grandmaster and tenth world champion, has died in Moscow. He was 88.
9 Oscar winner, Hollywood actor Gene Hackman found dead with his wife in his home
Oscar -winning Hollywood actor Gene Hackman found dead in his home with his wife. He was 95. Hackman is best known for his roles in The French Connection , Unforgiven and Superman . Throughout his career, starting in the 1960s, Hackman earned great praise for his versatile portrayals of both heroic and villainous roles. His major career achievements include two Oscars and starring in Bonnie and Clyde and The Royal Tenenbaums.
10 Famous Gujarati poet and theater artist Anil Joshi passed away
Famous Gujarati poet and theatre personality Anil Joshi passed away on 26 February 2025. He was born in Gondal (in Rajkot district) in 1940. In 1990 , he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Gujarati language for his essay collection ‘ Statue ‘.
