Current Affairs Quiz 15th and 16th February 2025 Quiz

Exp. Global defence firm Saab signs MoU with HAL for laser warning system

Swedish defence and security company Saab has signed an agreement with Indian defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to collaborate on the Electronic Warfare Laser Warning System-310 (LWS-310).

The agreement strengthens the long-standing partnership between Saab South Africa and HAL, which began in 2005 during the development of the Advanced Light Helicopter Programme.

The MoU includes a Maintenance Transfer of Technology (ToT), aligning with India’s defence procurement procedure. Under this agreement, HAL will acquire the capability to manufacture LWS-310 domestically, with Saab providing infrastructure support, training programs, and technical expertise. This initiative aims to ensure long-term support for the Indian armed forces while promoting local defence production.

Exp. TCS partners with UPM to modernise its IT landscape with AI and automation

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) signed an agreement to drive end-to-end IT transformation of UPM, a global company that provides renewable and responsible solutions, to boost adoption of an AI-first operating model.

The partnership further solidifies TCS’ leadership in Finland, where it has been operational for over 25 years.

The digital transformation aims to accelerate UPM’s growth, enhance user experience, and support the adoption of an AI-first operating model.

Exp. JICA, Uttarakhand sign agreement for integrated horticulture development promotion project

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing (DHFP), Government of Uttarakhand, have signed the ‘Records of Discussions’, an official agreement document, for a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) titled ‘Uttarakhand Integrated Horticulture Development Promotion Project’.

The project aims to promote stable production of horticulture crops and strengthen marketing system through the dissemination of integrated model of market-oriented production and proper management of distribution facilities in Tehri Garhwal and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand.

Recent MoU

• Global defence firm Saab signs MoU with HAL for laser warning system
• Airtel awards contracts to Nokia to expand 5G Wireless Broadband Access
• BPCL signs major deals with Petrobras and Shipping Corporation of India
• ONGC signed a pact with global oil major BP to explore collaboration in exploration and production, trading and other energy vectors, in India and internationally.
• DPIIT signed an agreement with the Korea Transport Institute to enhance cooperation in logistics and infrastructure development.
• JSW Group signs MoU with Odisha govt to set up 5-MTPA steel plant in Keonjhar

Exp. A Book Titled “The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts” by Arun Shourie

Arun Shourie, a highly respected Indian intellectual, has written a powerful new book titled The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts.

The book critically examines the life and legacy of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

One major revelation in the book discusses Savarkar’s alleged role in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, which led to the release being postponed by a day to avoid controversy.

Recent Books

• Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade – Released By Amit Shah
• Mastering Disruption: A practical Guide to understanding – Ganesh Krishnan
• View Finder A memoir – Amol Palekar
• How India Scaled MT G20 – Amitabh Kant
• Middle Class India: Driving Change in the 21st Century – Journalist Manisha Pande
• Will India Get Rich Before It Turns 100 – Prosenjit Datta
• Indian The Meteroic Rise of Indian in America – Meenakshi Ahamed

Exp. Rajat Patidar named RCB captain ahead of IPL 2025

Rajat Patidar, the 31-year-old middle order batter, has been appointed as the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After having released Faf du Plessis, who had captained the side in the previous seasons, the Bengaluru-franchise were without a captaincy candidate ahead of the 2025 season.

 Patidar, who had led Madhya Pradesh to the final of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this season, will become the eighth player to lead RCB.

Patidar made his IPL debut in 2021 and has been a part of the franchise since then. With the ability to dominate pace and spin with equal ease, he has featured in 27 games for RCB, scoring 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85. He was one of the three retentions for RCB ahead of the mega auction, apart from Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal. He was retained for INR 11 Crore.

Exp. Jitendra Singh chairs 12th All India Pension Adalat

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired the 12th All India Pension Adalat in New Delhi.

During the event, the Minister interacted with pensioners from different states and provided on-the-spot redressal of their pension-related grievances. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister dedicated the Pension Adalat to all the pensioners.

The Pension Adalat sought to resolve long-standing pension cases pending for more than 120 days in 16 departments, as well as ministries, which were also attending the Adalat. Nearly 180 cases pertaining to ministries were discussed during the Adalat.  

Exp. ICC announces prize money for 2025 Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced prize money for the 2025 Champions Trophy, starting on February 19 in Pakistan.

The total prize pool of this edition has been increased by an impressive 53 per cent from the 2017 edition to a total prize money of US 4.5 million Dollar.

The winners will earn US 2.24 million dollar, while the runners-up will get US 1.12 million dollar. Losing semi-finalists will receive 560,000 dollar each.

Every group match win is worth over US 34,000 dollars, while teams finishing fifth or sixth will earn 350,000 dollars. The seventh and eighth-placed teams will take home 140,000 US dollars. All eight teams are guaranteed 125,000 US dollar for participating.

This is the first ICC event in Pakistan since 1996. The tournament will run for 19 days, with 15 matches being played in Pakistan and the UAE.

The eight teams are divided into two groups where Group A contains Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and New Zealand while Group B features Afghanistan, England, Australia and South Africa.

The top eight-team competition will see 15 matches to be played over 19 days in Pakistan and the UAE. India will play all their matches in Dubai including the semi-final and the final.

Exp. Bank of Baroda gets board approval to raise up to Rs 8,500 crore equity

The board of public sector lender Bank of Baroda has approved the bank’s plan to raise up to Rs 8,500 crore through common equity shares to support business growth and meet regulatory norms.

The Mumbai-based lender would use various modes, including Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), in suitable tranches up to March 2028 and beyond, as required.

The bank’s capital adequacy stood at 15.96 per cent, with Common Equity Tier-I (CET-I) at 12.38 per cent at the end of December 2024. BoB had raised capital via QIP of Rs 4,500 crore during FY21.

Exp. NTPC Wins Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 for Water Resilience

NTPC Ltd., India’s largest integrated power utility, has been honoured with Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category.

The award was presented at a ceremony organised by the UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) in Chennai.

The Forward Faster Sustainability Awards celebrate organisations in India that have made significant strides in advancing sustainability and corporate responsibility, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This recognition reaffirms NTPC’s commitment to integrating sustainable practices in its operations and contributing towards global sustainability goals.

Recent Award

• NETPAC Award 2025 – Bad Girl (Tamil film)
• Honorary doctorate by University of Sussex – Noel Tata
• Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 – Late Chaman Arora (for Ik Hor Ashwthama in Dogri).
• BCCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 – Sachin Tendulkar (31st)
• Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2025 – Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) (In the Institutional Category for its excellent work in Disaster Management)
• Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 – Prof Urbasi Sinha

Exp. Third season of Women’s Premier League 2025 begins

The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 kicked off, featuring five teams competing across four Indian cities: Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai.

In the opening match, defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore, RCB will face Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara

India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana will captain RCB, while Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner will lead the Gujarat Giants.

The tournament, featuring five teams, RCB, Gujarat Giants, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Mumbai Indians, will run until March 15, with the final scheduled at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

Since its establishment in 2023, the WPL has offered players a golden chance to showcase their talent and act as a springboard to fulfill their ambitions of playing for the Indian team through matches in Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

Now this time, for its third season, apart from Mumbai and Bengaluru, the WPL will extend its wings to two new cities – Vadodara and Lucknow – with Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz set to experience home comforts for the first time.

Exp. Lok Sabha Speaker forms 31-member Select Committee to examine new Income Tax Bill

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted a 31-member Select Committee to examine the new Income Tax Bill. The panel will be headed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda and it will submit its report by the first day of the next session.

The Income-Tax Bill 2025 which aims at consolidating and amending the law relating to income tax was introduced in the Lok Sabha. While introducing the Bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to refer the draft law to a Select Committee of the House.

Speaking on the Bill, Ms Sitharaman said that the new legislation has fewer sections and chapters in comparison to the existing Income Tax Act, and it has been simplified for easy comprehension by the common people.

Recent Committee in News

• RBI forms Working Group to review trading and settlement timings of financial markets; chaired by Radha Shyam Ratho
• ID verification firm Equal’s advisory board; chaired by Retired Justice B.N. Srikrishna
• RBI sets up panel to develop a framework on ethical use of AI in financial sector; chaired by Pushpak Bhattacharyya
• Govt forms committee to look into IAF’s overall capability development; Chaired by the Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh,
• The GST Council constituted a 13-member GoM to suggest GST rates on premiums of various health and life insurance products; Chaired by Samrat Choudhary

Exp. Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 begins in Uttar Pradesh

The third edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, an initiative fostering cultural and intellectual ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, commence at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan; Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have inaugurated the prestigious cultural event.

The initiative, organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with various ministries and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, aims to celebrate and strengthen the ancient civilizational bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.

This year, the government has decided to bring around thousand delegates from Tamil Nadu under five different categories.

The main theme of this year’s event is highlighting the significant contributions of Sage Agasthya to the world of Health, Philosophy, Science, Classical Tamil Literature, and cultural unity of the Nation.

 This 10-day-long event will conclude on 24th February 2025.

Exp. 38th National Games 2025 Concludes with Grand Ceremony in Uttarakhand

The closing ceremony of the 38th National Games was held at the International Sports Stadium, Golapar, Haldwani, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Over 16,000 athletes participated in 35 sports disciplines, winning a total of 448 gold, 448 silver, and 594 bronze medals.

For the first time, traditional sports like yoga and Mallakhamb were included in the National Games. Additionally, a world record was set by organising a nighttime river rafting competition.

The competitions were held across both urban and remote areas, including Dehradun, Haridwar, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Rishikesh, Almora, Pithoragarh, and Tehri. Even a small town like Chakarpur hosted a major event. Water sports were conducted in high-altitude lakes and rivers of Uttarakhand.

The 38th edition of the National Games 2025 was held in Uttarakhand with 28 states, eight union territories and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) participating.