1 Heartfulness Lord Buddha Tri-Service Motorcycle Expedition to cover major Buddhist sites in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka
The Heartfulness Lord Buddha Trination Tri-Services Motorcycle Expedition is a historic and unique initiative uniting Nepal, India and Sri Lanka in a journey through their shared Buddhist heritage. The journey will commence on 16 February 2025 from Lumbini, Nepal , the birthplace of Lord Buddha , which symbolizes the historical spread of Buddhism and strengthens the deep cultural and spiritual ties between these countries. The expedition will cover important Buddhist heritage sites in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. The Indian chapter of the expedition is being organised in collaboration with the Indian Land Ports Authority (under Ministry of Home Affairs) and Nalanda University, Rajgir (under Ministry of External Affairs). It has BIMSTEC as the strategic partner and IBC as the guiding institution. The route will cover major Buddhist sites such as:
- Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh – Site of Buddha’s first sermon
- Bodh Gaya, Bihar – Place of Buddha’s Enlightenment
- Nalanda, Bihar – Famous ancient Buddhist University
- Nagarjuna Sagar, Andhra Pradesh – An important Buddhist learning center
- Udayagiri, Odisha – An important Buddhist monastic site
- Karnataka – Various Buddhist sites showcasing the rich Buddhist heritage of India
The official flag hoisting ceremony led by former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind will take place at this revered Buddhist pilgrimage site in Bodh Gaya on 19 February 2025. The expedition will then head to Sri Lanka , where it will be accorded a ceremonial welcome in Jaffna .
2 Karnataka tops the report on ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States’
Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Professor S.P. Singh Baghel unveiled the 2024 “ Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An Indicative Evidence Based Ranking ” report at a function in New Delhi on 13 February 2024. The report assesses the status of devolution of powers and resources by the State/UT Governments to their Panchayati Raj Institutions as per the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992. The 11th Schedule was inserted in the Constitution by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992 and it mentions the powers and functions of the Panchayati Raj Institution . The State/UT Governments were required to devolve powers to their Panchayati Raj Institutions as per the provisions of the 11th Schedule. The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Promotion Scheme (PEAIS) in 2005-06. The ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking’ 2024 report has been prepared by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) , New Delhi , for the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj . The first report was released in 2006-07 and was prepared by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) . The report covers all states and union territories except the following:
- Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland where 73rd Amendment is not applicable:
- In the National Capital Territory of Delhi, where panchayats were suspended in 1990:
- Union Territory Chandigarh, where there is no Panchayat.
Karnataka topped the decentralisation ranking with Kerala and Tamil Nadu at second and third positions respectively , while Uttar Pradesh improved its ranking by jumping 10 places from 15th to fifth.
3 CIL subsidiaries sign MoU with Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust for life saving surgeries under ‘Nanha Sa Dil’
On Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day , Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Northern Coalfields Limited ( NCL) , subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL) under the aegis of Ministry of Coal signed separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust (SSSHET) to provide life saving surgeries for children suffering from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). This MoU was signed under the ‘ Nanha Sa Dil ’ initiative. Since its launch on March 7, 2024, the Nanha Sa Dil project has saved more than 250 precious lives through CHD surgeries. The initiative is now expanding to cover beneficiaries in more states through CCL, NCL and SECL.
4 Hon’ble Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurates Indi Haat – a celebration of India’s rich handloom and handicraft heritage
Hon’ble Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurated the Indi Haat at the National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy, New Delhi . The Indi Haat event, which will run from February 12 to 18, 2025 , is designed to showcase the traditional art of India to an international audience. The handicraft artisans participating in the Indi Haat represent the diverse craft traditions of different regions of India. The Indi Haat has a live display of 80 different types of handmade and handwoven products , prepared by 85 artisans and weavers from across the country. Their crafts include Gulabi Meenakari, Tarakashi Crafts, Mithila Paintings, Black Pottery, Chamba Rumal, Punjabi Jutti, Kalamkari Paintings, Bidri Crafts, Bastar Dhokra, Gujarat Sufi Embroidery, Kutch Ajrakh Hand Block Printing, Aranmula Metal Mirrors and many more. The textiles showcased by them include Paithani Sarees, Tussar Silk Sarees, Jamdani Sarees, Pashmina Shawls, Muga Silk Sarees, Uppara Jamdani, Maheshwari Sarees and Handloom Yoga Mats, highlighting the rich weaving heritage of India.
5 Third edition of Kashi Tamil Sangam: Organised from February 16 to February 24
Kashi Tamil Sangamam will witness the cultures of North and South India in Prayagraj Mahakumbh . Guests from South India will also visit Prayagraj Mahakumbh between 16 February and 24 February . This third edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam will prove useful in furthering the objective of “ Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat ”. Kashi Tamil Sangamam is being organized in order to revive the vibrant relationship between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu, two important centers of education and culture in ancient India. The objective of Kashi Tamil Sangamam is to strengthen unity in diversity, especially to strengthen the relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. This year Kashi Tamil Sangamam is happening with two important events which are going to make it more special.
6 RBI imposes several restrictions on New India Cooperative Bank, Mumbai
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed several restrictions on New India Cooperative Bank, Mumbai . These restrictions issued amid concerns about the bank’s operations also include a ban on depositors from withdrawing money. These restrictions have come into effect from the time of closure of the bank’s operations and will remain in force for the next six months. During this period, the restrictions can also be reconsidered. RBI has said that in view of the current cash flow situation of the bank, the bank has been instructed not to allow any depositor to withdraw money from savings or current account. But the bank will be allowed to adjust loans as per RBI’s conditions.
7 India-Champions Trophy: The winning team will get Rs 19.45 crore
The winner of the Champions Trophy , being held for the first time since 2017 , will be given a prize money of Rs 19.45 crore . The ICC announced this on Friday. The runner-up will be given an amount of Rs 9.72 crore. Both the teams losing in the semi-finals will be given an amount of Rs 4.86 crore. This time the prize money has increased by 53 percent compared to the 2017 edition. Every match in the Champions Trophy will be important in terms of prize money, where the team winning each match at the group level will be given a prize of Rs 29.54 lakh. The team finishing fifth or sixth will be given a prize of Rs 3.03 crore. The teams finishing seventh and eighth will get Rs 1.21 crore. Apart from this, all the eight teams will get an additional Rs 1.08 crore each for participating in the event. Pakistan is hosting an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996 .
8 38th National Games concluded in Haldwani, Uttarakhand
The closing ceremony of the 38th National Games has been completed in Haldwani , Uttarakhand . Home Minister Amit Shah was present as the chief guest in the program. The games were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dehradun on 28 January . The combined team of the three armies topped the medal tally by winning a total of 121 medals including 68 gold and won the Raja Bhalindar Singh Trophy . Maharashtra stood second with 201 medals including 54 gold and Haryana stood third by winning 153 medals including 48 gold. Madhya Pradesh stood fourth, Karnataka fifth and Tamil Nadu sixth. The mascot of the 38th Summer National Games was Mauli. Mauli, a monal bird, is also the state bird of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
