AWARDS
Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025.
• NTPC Ltd. has received the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category.
• The award was presented by UN Global Compact Network India to Shri Harekrushna Dash and Shri K Karthikeyan.
• This recognition highlights NTPC’s commitment to water conservation and sustainable water management.
• Forward Faster Sustainability Awards honor organizations advancing sustainability and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• NTPC has achieved complete sweet water self-sufficiency at its RGPPL plant.
• As India’s largest integrated power utility, NTPC fulfills 25% of the nation’s power demand.
STATE NEWS
Global Capability Centre (GCC) Policy 2025
• Madhya Pradesh has launched India’s first Global Capability Centre (GCC) Policy 2025.
• The policy aims to position the state as a global hub for innovation and collaboration.
• It focuses on shifting business operations from metro cities to tier-2 cities, boosting growth and employment.
• The initiative aligns with India’s goal of building a $110 billion GCC market by 2030.
• With strong infrastructure, talent, and cost-effective business solutions, Madhya Pradesh is set to drive India's GCC revolution.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 began on February 15, 2025, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and will run till February 24.
• This is the third edition of the event, celebrating cultural ties between Kashi and Tamil Nadu.
• It was inaugurated by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Dr. L. Murugan, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
• Organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with multiple ministries and the UP government.
• Around 1,000 delegates from Tamil Nadu will participate in five different categories.
• The event highlights Sage Agasthya’s contributions to health, philosophy, science, Tamil literature, and cultural unity.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
First Regional Social Justice Dialogue in 2025
• India to host the first Regional Dialogue on the Global Coalition for Social Justice on February 24-25, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Ministry of Labour and Employment, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Employers’ Federation of India (EFI) organizing the event.
• The event will bring global stakeholders together to discuss inclusive and sustainable social policies.
• It reinforces India’s commitment to social justice, focusing on fair jobs, social security, and economic inclusion.
• Delegates from the Asia-Pacific and beyond will explore responsible business practices and stronger social justice frameworks.
RANKING AND INDEX
Asia’s 20 richest families with a net worth of $90.5 billion.
• Mukesh Ambani’s family tops Bloomberg’s list of Asia’s 20 richest families with a net worth of $90.5 billion.
• Thailand’s Chearavanont family ranks second with $42.6 billion.
• Indonesia’s Hartono family is third with $42.2 billion, having started in the tobacco industry.
• India’s Mistry family secures fourth place with $37.5 billion, leading the Shapoorji Pallonji Group across multiple sectors.
• Hong Kong’s Kwok family, among the city’s biggest real estate developers, ranks fifth with $35.6 billion.
• India’s Jindal family, owners of OP Jindal Group, stands at seventh place with $28.1 billion.
BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE
India’s Forex Reserves Rise for Third Straight Week, Hit $638.26 Billion
• India’s forex reserves rose for the third straight week, reaching $638.26 billion as of February 14, 2025.
• According to RBI data, reserves increased by $7.65 billion in the week ending February 7.
• This rise follows a months-long decline, with reserves falling 15 out of 16 weeks to an 11-month low.
• India’s reserves dropped nearly 10% from their all-time high of $704.89 billion in September.
• The decline was largely due to RBI’s intervention to stabilize the rupee, which hit a record low against the US dollar.
• Foreign currency assets (FCA) stood at $544.106 billion, while gold reserves were valued at $72.208 billion.
• In 2023, India added $58 billion to its reserves, reversing the $71 billion drop in 2022.
• So far in 2024, forex reserves have increased by over $20 billion.
• RBI holds reserves in multiple currencies like the US dollar, euro, yen, and pound sterling, ensuring economic stability and liquidity management.
