IMPORTANT DAYS

World pulses Day 2025 observed on February 10.

• World Pulses Day is observed annually on February 10 to highlight the nutritional and environmental advantages of pulses.

• The 2025 theme is "Pulses: Bringing diversity to agri-food systems."

• The UN General Assembly declared February 10 as World Pulses Day in 2019, with Burkina Faso initiating the proposal.

• The year 2016 was designated the International Year of Pulses by the UN.

• Pulses, or legumes, are grown globally and considered essential foods.

• They are rich in protein, low in fat, and packed with soluble fiber.

• Pulses aid in reducing cholesterol and regulating blood sugar levels.

• They support weight management and help in the prevention of non-communicable diseases like diabetes.

• Pulses also enhance soil fertility through their nitrogen-fixing ability.

NATIONAL NEWS

"Union Cabinet Approves New Income Tax Bill for Reform and Simplification"

• The Union Cabinet has approved the new Income Tax Bill, set to replace the 60-year-old Income Tax Act.

• The new bill will reduce the number of sections by nearly a third and is expected to be introduced in Parliament soon.

• Aimed at reforming the tax system, the bill seeks to simplify the existing tax structure.

• The new bill will cut down the text by 50%, making it easier for taxpayers to understand.

• It also addresses issues related to ambiguous language and aims to resolve interpretation challenges.

• The tax department plans to open the bill for public consultation to ensure transparency and gather input from taxpayers, businesses, and experts.

• Finance Minister Sitharaman had announced the review of the Income-Tax Act in the July 2024 Budget.

"BJP's Resounding Victory in Delhi Assembly Election 2025"

• The BJP won the Delhi Assembly Election on 8 February 2025, marking its return to power after 27 years, defeating AAP.

• Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's national convenor and former Chief Minister, lost to BJP’s Parvesh Verma in the New Delhi constituency by 4,089 votes after 14 rounds of counting.

• BJP secured 48 seats in the 70-member assembly, while AAP won 22 seats.

• Congress failed to secure any seats, completely losing out in this election.

• A party needs at least 35 seats to form the government in Delhi.

• Key BJP winners included Parvesh Sahib Singh (New Delhi), Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Kapil Mishra (Karawal Nagar), and Manjinder Singh Sirsa (Rajouri Garden).

• AAP's prominent winners included Atishi (Kalkaji), Gopal Rai (Babarpur), Imran Hussain (Ballimaran), and Sahi Ram (Tughlakabad).

DEFENCE

Aero India Show 2025

• Aero India 2025 is a major air show and aviation exhibition, scheduled in Bengaluru from February 10 to 14.

• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially opened the event.

• The exhibition focuses on India’s defence strengths, aerospace advancements, and international collaborations.

• The theme "Runway to a Billion Opportunities" highlights Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Viksit Bharat 2047.

• With 900 exhibitors, the event spans an impressive 42,000 square meters.

• Defence ministers from 30 countries, along with air chiefs and defence secretaries from 43 nations, are participating.

Cyclone 2025: Joint Military Exercise

• The 3rd edition of "Cyclone 2025," began on February 10, 2025, at Rajasthan's Mahajan Field Firing Range.

• It is a joint military exercise between India and Egypt.

• This 14-day exercise aims to bolster defence cooperation and enhance special forces' skills and interoperability in desert conditions.

• Key focus areas include counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, raids, sniping, combat free fall, surveillance, and target designation.

• The Indian team includes personnel from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).

• Egypt's contingent comprises the Egyptian Commando Squadron and Airborne Platoon.

• The exercise highlights strengthened military ties and emphasizes enhanced security collaboration between India and Egypt.

SPORTS

Mumbai Open 2025 Tennis tournament

• Jil Teichmann of Switzerland won the singles title at the 2025 Mumbai Open, defeating Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand in the final on February 9, 2025.

• The 2025 Mumbai Open, a WTA 125 event, took place at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai, from February 3 to 9.

• The Mumbai Open is the only WTA tournament held in India.

• In doubles, Russian duo Elena Pridankina and Amina Anshba triumphed over India’s Prarthana Thombare and Dutch partner Arianne Hartono, winning 6(4)-7(7), 6-2, 10-7.

• The tournament, first held in 2017, was won by Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No.1.

• The second edition was in 2018, and the third in 2024.

• The 2025 event marked the 4th edition of the Mumbai Open, played on outdoor hard courts.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025 begins in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• The BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025 will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from February 7th to 11th, gathering young leaders from BIMSTEC countries to promote regional growth, innovation, and collaboration.

• The summit will provide a platform for youth from BIMSTEC nations to share experiences and insights.

• The theme, "Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange," highlight the importance of youth in advancing the SDGs by 2030.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the hosting of the summit during the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in 2018.

• A special session, "Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue X BIMSTEC," will be held during the event.

• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organization formed on June 6, 1997, under the Bangkok Declaration, with members India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the Paris AI summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the Paris AI Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.

• PM Modi arrived in Paris on February 10, marking the official start of the summit with Business Leaders Day.

• On February 11, he will lead discussions alongside President Macron at the AI Summit.

• The key themes for the summit this year are safety, governance, and innovation.

• Discussions will address the dominance of major tech companies like Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta.

• Topics include open-source AI systems, clean energy for data centers, AI’s impact on labor, and AI’s role in supporting developing countries.

• The Paris AI Summit is a part of the Paris Peace Forum, with over 100 countries participating.

• The summit's origins can be traced back to the 2023 Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit in the UK.

• Five working groups will focus on: international governance, the future of work, security and safety, AI for the public good, and innovation and culture.