NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. BPCL signs major deals with Petrobras and Shipping Corporation of India: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has signed an MoU with the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). As per the deal, the two companies will collaborate to create a dedicated, efficient, and future-ready maritime infrastructure.The deal aims to improve operational efficiency, expand capabilities, and drive innovation in the maritime sector. It will ensure a secure and resilient energy supply chain, supporting India’s growing energy needs.State-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is India’s largest shipping company. Its fleet features bulk carriers, crude oil tankers, product tankers, container vessels, passenger-cum-cargo vessels, LPG and offshore supply vessels.The MoU encompasses a long-term commitment by BPCL and SCI to explore opportunities that focus on enhancing India’s maritime strength while ensuring a reliable energy transportation network.
2. 13 February – National Women’s Day: National Women’s Day is observed annually in India on February 13th to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, a renowned political leader, poet, and champion of women’s rights.Known as the “Nightingale of India,” Sarojini Naidu was born on this day in 1879.The day recognizes the diverse struggles and dreams of women, promoting gender equality and leadership.In 1930, Naidu became the fourth president of the All India Women’s Conference (AIWC). She was a strong proponent of women’s voting rights, which were later incorporated into India’s constitution.She also urged British authorities to grant women the right to vote, reinforcing her commitment to gender equality.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Asia’s 20 richest families: Mukesh Ambani leads: Reliance Industries’ Chairman, Mukesh Ambani, has secured the top spot on Bloomberg’s Asia’s 20 Richest Families list.Ambani, who took the reins of Reliance Industries in 2002 following the death of his father Dhirubhai Ambani, has expanded the Mumbai-based conglomerate into a global powerhouse with interests in oil refining, tech, retail, financial services, and green energy.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India-US Underwater Domain Awareness Cooperation: India and the United States have recently intensified their collaboration in underwater domain awareness (UDA). This focus emerged during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, where they announced the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA). This initiative aims to enhance industry partnerships and production within the Indo-Pacific region. India and the US are drafting a comprehensive framework for defence cooperation covering the period from 2025 to 2035. This includes accelerating technology cooperation across various domains such as space and air defence. The US is also reviewing its policy on releasing advanced military technologies, including fifth-generation fighters, to India.
SPORTS
1. ICC bans Bangladesh’s Shohely Akhter for five years on corruption charges: Bangladesh offspinner Shohely Akhter has become the first female cricketer to be banned for corruption.Akhter, who has played two ODIs and 13 T20Is, was found guilty of attempting to fix, offering a bribe and failing to disclose full details of an approach to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code (ACU), as well as obstructing the investigation.She has been banned for five years from all cricket after she admitted breaching five provisions of the anti-corruption code.The charges against her centre around an approach she made to a Bangladesh cricketer during the 2023 Women’s T20 World held in South Africa. Akhter, 36, was not part of the Bangladesh playing squad for that World Cup, having last played in October 2022.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. IIT Madras, ISRO develop semiconductor for space research, other sectors: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and ISRO have developed an indigenous microprocessor for space applications which can be used in command-and-control systems and other critical functions in outer space.The SHAKTI microprocessor project is led by IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti at Prathap Subrahmanyam Centre for Digital Intelligence and Secure Hardware Architecture (PSCDISHA) in Department of Computer Science and Engineering.The SHAKTI class of systems are based on RISC-V, an open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), for designing custom processors.“SHAKTI” is backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under its ‘Digital India RISC-V’ initiative (DIRV). It aims to promote indigenous development of microprocessor-based products that offer best-in-class security and visibility for users adopting RISC-V technology.The ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) in Thiruvananthapuram proposed the idea of a 64bit RISC-V-based Controller and collaborated with IIT Madras in defining the specifications and designing of the semiconductor chip.
2. Successful Test of Matsya-6000: India’s Deep Ocean Mission is making strides with the development of the Matsya-6000 submersible. This project, led by the National Institute of Ocean Technology, aims to enhance India’s capabilities in ocean exploration. The submersible, designed to operate at depths of up to 6,000 metres, will play important role in studying marine biodiversity and exploring ocean resources. Matsya-6000 has undergone extensive dry tests to evaluate its performance over a 500-metre range. Following these tests, it was moved to the L&T Shipbuilding facility for wet tests. These tests focused on assessing the submersible’s stability, manoeuvrability, and communication capabilities. Eight dives were conducted, including both unmanned and manned trials.
3. ISRO Develops World’s Largest Vertical Propellant Mixer: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has made advancement in its quest for self-reliance within the space sector. On February 13, 2025, ISRO announced the successful development of a 10-tonne Vertical Planetary Mixer, the largest of its kind for solid propellants globally. This innovative equipment was designed and manufactured in collaboration with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) in Bengaluru. This development is poised to enhance the production of solid rocket motors.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Exim Bank to provide $300 mn credit to Vietnam for boats, patrol vessels : The Export Import Bank of India will provide lines of credit totalling $300 million to Vietnam for procuring high-speed guard boats and offshore patrol vessels.The Exim Bank had entered into an agreement on July 31, 2024 with the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (GO-VNM), for making available to the latter, GoI supported Line of Credit (LoC) of $180 million for procurement of four Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV).The bank had also entered into an agreement with GO-VNM for making available to the latter, India supported LoC of $120 million for procurement of high-speed guard boats, it said in another circular.
2. Decentro Unveils India’s First Self-Hosted CKYC Solution to Align with CERSAI’s New Compliance Mandate: Decentro, a leading fintech infrastructure platform, has launched India’s first fully compliant, self-hosted CKYC (Central KYC) solution, enabling financial institutions to seamlessly transition to the new CERSAI compliance framework.This innovation eliminates third-party dependencies, allowing banks, NBFCs, and insurers to onboard customers faster while ensuring regulatory adherence.Additionally, the Union Budget 2025 has emphasized AI-driven KYC reforms, reinforcing the need for a secure, transparent, and centralized CKYC system. The evolving CKYC landscape presents challenges such as compliance risks, operational disruptions, and significant time and cost implications for institutions lacking the necessary infrastructure.
Co-Founder & CEO of Decentro – Rohit Taneja
3. Union Mutual Fund launches two new schemes for structured gold investments: Union Mutual Fund has launched two new funds that will invest in gold “at a time when investors are looking for diversified solutions”.Union Gold ETF and Union Gold ETF Fund of Fund opened for subscriptions and will continue till February 24, with a minimum investment requirement of Rs 1,000.Gold plays a key role in portfolio diversification due to its low correlation with other asset classes and potential as a hedge against inflation. Central banks globally are major buyers of gold, further supporting its demand and price.The schemes offer key benefits, including cost-effective exposure to gold without concerns related to making charges or storage.
4. RBI lifts restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank on onboarding new customers: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted the restrictions imposed on Kotak Mahindra Bank regarding onboarding new customers using online and mobile banking channels and issuing new credit cards.In April last year (2024), the RBI placed restrictions on the bank as it failed to plug gaps in its information technology (IT) systems, which resulted in frequent outages in the bank’s core banking system and online channels in the preceding two years, inconveniencing customers.Ten months after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank on onboarding new customers via its online and mobile banking channels, as well as the issuance of fresh credit cards, the central bank said that it has lifted all such restrictions, as it was satisfied with submissions and the remedial measures undertaken by the bank.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Airtel awards contracts to Nokia to expand 5G Wireless Broadband Access: Bharti Airtel has entered into a contract with Nokia to expand 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Wi-Fi solutions for regions with low or nil fiber connectivity.The deployment of fixed wireless broadband access via 5G networks stands out as a significant application of 5G technology, especially in India, which faces low fiber penetration and a high demand for digital services.Airtel will leverage Nokia’s FastMile 5G outdoor receivers that can serve two households concurrently and thus reduce connection expenses. Further, Airtel will implement Nokia’s Wi-Fi 6 access point for better in-home experience. Both these products, using Qualcomm Modem-RF and Wi-Fi 6 chipsets, will be produced in India and packaged in fully recyclable materials.
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