1 Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme completes nine years
On 18 February 2025 , Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana completes nine years , celebrating nearly a decade of efforts to empower India’s farmers. Launched in 2016 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the scheme provides insurance cover against unforeseen natural calamities. by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the scheme provides a comprehensive shield against crop losses due to . This protection not only stabilizes farmers’ incomes but also encourages them to adopt new practices. Crop insurance is an important risk mitigation measure to protect farmers from natural calamities. It aims to provide financial assistance to farmers suffering from crop loss/damage caused by natural calamities such as hailstorm, drought, flood, cyclone, heavy and unseasonal rains, disease and pest attacks, etc. Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) is a weather index based scheme, which was introduced along with PMFBY. The basic difference between PMFBY and RWBCIS is in the way the admissible claims are calculated for farmers.
2 Celebrating a decade of Soil Health Card
Soil Health Card Scheme was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on February 19, 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan . This scheme was launched to assist state governments in issuing soil health cards to all the farmers of the country. Soil Health Card provides information to farmers about the nutrient status of their soil, as well as recommends appropriate doses of nutrients to improve soil health and its fertility. . Soil Health Card Portal (www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in) facilitates generation of Soil Health Cards for the benefit of farmers in a uniform and standardized format in all major languages and 5 dialects across the country. Soil Health Card covers the status of soil with respect to 12 parameters , namely Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur (macro-nutrients); Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Boron (micro-nutrients); and pH (acidity or alkalinity), EC (electrical conductivity) and OC (organic carbon).
3 Central government extended PM-Asha scheme till 2025-26
The central government has decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme till 2025-26 to ensure fair price to farmers for their crops and increase self-sufficiency of pulses in the country . Under this scheme, the government has announced to ensure 100% procurement of tur (arhar), urad and lentils, which will boost the production of pulses in the country and reduce dependence on imports. The government has allowed procurement equal to the total production of pulses in the states in the procurement year 2024-25.
4 Complete ban on gutkha and pan masala in Jharkhand
In Jharkhand , there is a ban on gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine and tobacco.There is a complete ban on the production, distribution, sale and storage . The Health Department has issued a notification related to this. This ban will be effective for the next one year from the date of issue of the notification. It has been told that after reviewing the situation, the period of ban will be extended further. Earlier in Jharkhand, in the year 2020 also, 11 brands of gutkha and pan masala were banned, which was effective till June 2023.
5 Madhya Pradesh unveils India’s first dedicated GCC Policy 2025
Madhya Pradesh (MP) has become the first state in India to introduce a dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) Policy 2025 , positioning itself as a global , positioning itself as a leading hub for global innovation, technology and business collaboration . Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC) will act as the nodal agency responsible for implementing the policy. A dedicated Policy Implementation Unit (PIU) will manage project approval, incentive allocation and compliance monitoring.
6 Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia releases commemorative postage stamps on Maha Kumbh 2025
The Department of Posts is proud to release a commemorative souvenir sheet with three stamps on Maha Kumbh 2025. The stamps were unveiled by Hon’ble Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia at Arail Ghat Post Office, Prayagraj. Honouring the rich traditions of Maha Kumbh 2025, other philatelic material was also released, including special covers and cancellations on holy bathing days, a portrait postcard celebrating ‘ Divine, Grand and Digital Maha Kumbh ‘ and ‘Eminent Prayagraj ‘. These stamps highlight the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of Maha Kumbh. The commemorative stamps designed by Shri Shankha Samant beautifully depict the three major aspects of Triveni Teerth – Maharshi Bharadwaj Ashram, Bathing and Akshayavat .
7 BCCI unveils Indian men’s team jersey for Champions Trophy 2025
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the Indian men’s team jersey for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. In a social media post, the BCCI shared pictures of the Indian players’ jerseys. The Rohit Sharma -led side will be seen in their signature blue jersey with the tricolour on both shoulders and the Champions Trophy logo on the right side. The Indian team-Men in Blue will begin their campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday .
8 23rd National Para Athletics Championship started in Chennai
The 23rd National Para Athletics Championship started at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai . The competition will continue till February 20. 1476 para-athletes from across the country are participating in the Para Athletics Championship. Their 30 teams are participating in 155 events. With this, it has become the largest para-athletics competition in the country . Many prominent para athletes of the country are participating in it, including Sumit Antil and Navdeep Singh in javelin throw, Manoj Sabapathy in wheelchair race, Manoj Singraj, Muthu Raja and Hokato Sema in shot put, Mariyappan Thangavelu in high jump and Yogesh Kathuniya in discus throw . It is being organized smoothly with the efforts of the Indian Paralympic Committee led by Devendra Jhajharia and the Tamil Nadu Paralympic Sports Association led by Chandrashekhar Rajan. The Tamil Nadu government is also actively supporting it.
9 Khelo India Winter Games 2025 second and final stage postponed due to insufficient snowfall
The second and final phase of Khelo India Winter Games 2025 has been postponed due to insufficient snowfall . This sports competition was earlier scheduled to start from Saturday 22 February in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir . Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skiing mountaineering and snow boarding competitions were to be held at Kangdoori Phase-1 and Golf Course Club in Gulmarg. Their revised schedule will be released after the weather becomes favorable. The first phase of the Winter Games was held in Ladakh from 23 to 27 of last month . At present, Ladakh is at the top of the medal tally with four gold medals, two silver and one bronze medal.
