LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court Petition for Lifetime Ban on Convicted Lawmakers: Central Government’s Opposition

• The Union government opposed a Supreme Court petition requesting a lifetime ban on convicted lawmakers from contesting elections.

• The government argued that disqualification is solely within Parliament's jurisdiction and not subject to judicial review based on effectiveness.

• It emphasized that penalties imposed on convicted lawmakers should be proportionate to the offense committed.

• Currently, lawmakers are disqualified from contesting elections for six years if convicted for at least two years.

• The petition challenges the constitutional validity of Sections 8 and 9 of the Representation of the People Act.

• Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution grant Parliament the power to define the grounds and duration of disqualification, including factors like office of profit, insolvency, and unsoundness of mind, which are not permanent.

Union Government Appoints Advisory Committee to Address Proxy Leadership in Panchayats

• The Union government has set up an advisory committee to address the issue of proxy leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), following a Supreme Court order.

• The committee’s goal is to ensure that women elected as pradhans are not overshadowed by their male relatives.

• The recommendations emphasize the need for structural reforms and policy measures to empower women in local governance.

• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 introduced a one-third reservation for women in PRIs.

• In several states, this reservation has been increased to nearly 50%.

• However, many women leaders still face the challenge of being figureheads, with male relatives often taking control.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Protein Day 2025 celebrated on February 27

• World Protein Day is celebrated annually on February 27 to raise awareness about the vital role of protein in nutrition.

• The observance was initiated by the US Soybean Export Council.

• In India, National Protein Day is also observed on the same date, emphasizing the importance of this macronutrient.

• The day aims to highlight the consequences of protein deficiency and encourage healthy dietary practices.

• In 2020, India celebrated its inaugural National Protein Day with the introduction of the "Right to Protein" public health campaign.

• Protein was discovered by Gerardus Johannes Mulder in 1838.

• The atomic structure of proteins was unveiled by scientists in 1956.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US Introduces New Gold Card Investor Visa Programme

• The US has announced a new Gold Card Investor Visa Programme for wealthy immigrants.

• This new programme will replace the existing EB-5 visa.

• Companies can purchase Gold Cards for highly skilled employees by investing $5 million.

• President Donald Trump referred to the Gold Card as an upgraded version of green card privileges.

• The EB-5 programme offers immigration benefits for investments between $800,000 and $1.05 million.

• The new visa programme is expected to launch in the next two weeks.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt. of India plans to established National Green Financing Institution

• India is establishing a National Green Financing Institution to support its 2070 net-zero target.

• The new institution will help bridge the gap between climate goals and actual progress.

• NITI Aayog is evaluating structural frameworks for the operationalization of this initiative.

• India aims to cut GDP emission intensity by 45% by 2030, based on 2005 levels.

• The country plans for 50% of its power capacity to come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

• A goal of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes through enhanced forest and tree cover by 2030.

Prime Minister Appreciates Soliga Tribe’s Contribution to Tiger Conservation

• In the 119th edition of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister of India acknowledged the Soliga tribal community of the BRT Tiger Reserve for their role in tiger conservation.

• The Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve is situated in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.

• The Soliga are an indigenous, forest-dwelling tribe found in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

• In 2011, the Soliga became the first tribal community living within a tiger reserve to have their forest rights formally recognized by a court.

NITI Aayog’s Plan to Transform AIIMS and Promote Universal Health Coverage

• NITI Aayog has set up a committee to transform AIIMS, New Delhi, into a top-tier institution for medical research and practice.

• The committee, led by NITI Aayog member V K Paul, will create a roadmap for AIIMS' transformation.

• It will assess current systems at AIIMS and propose reforms for improvements.

• The committee aims to streamline patient flow and develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to enhance clinical, academic, and research outcomes.

• In partnership with the CSEP Research Foundation, NITI Aayog has studied global strategies for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

• UHC aims to provide quality healthcare services without financial burden.

• The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched in 2018, has significantly reduced financial strain on families by improving access to healthcare.

India to Host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Jaipur

• India will host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

• The event will take place from March 3-5, 2025, at the Rajasthan International Centre.

• The forum’s theme is “Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.”

• Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the event at a Curtain Raiser in New Delhi.

STATE NEWS

Rajasthan Government Launches Shiksha Sanjeevani Bima Yojana for Schoolchildren

• Rajasthan has introduced the Shiksha Sanjeevani Bima Yojana, offering accidental insurance coverage for schoolchildren.

• The scheme provides personal accident insurance ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.3 lakh for children and their parents in state government schools.

• The scheme will begin by covering schools in the Udaipur Division.

• The scheme was launched by State Education and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar at the Shiksha Jeevan Personal Accident Insurance Ceremony held at the Residency School, Udaipur, on February 26, 2025.

• Minister Madan Dilawar stated that the scheme would eventually be expanded to all schools in the state, benefiting approximately 1 crore students.

APPOINTMENTS

Sabyasachi Kar Appointed as Director of Institute of Economic Growth (IEG)

• Sabyasachi Kar has taken over as the Director of IEG, succeeding Chetan Ghate.

• Kar is the RBI Chair Professor at IEG, Specializes in macroeconomics, economic growth, and policy advisory.

• He Has worked with NITI Aayog and the World Bank.

• Government Involvement: Serves on the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's Committee on Regional Accounts.

DEFENCE

India's First Underwater Museum: INS Guldar to be Transformed

• INS Guldar, a retired Indian Navy landing ship, will become India’s first underwater museum.

• The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is leading the transformation of the ship.

• INS Guldar served in the Eastern Naval Command and Andaman & Nicobar Command.

• The ship participated in major operations like Op Aman, Op Azad, Op Pawan, and Op Tasha.

• It was decommissioned on January 12, 2024, before its conversion into a museum.

AWARDS

Animal Welfare Board of India Honours Champions of Animal Protection

• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) hosted the Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award Ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on February 27, 2025.

• The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to animal welfare and conservation.

• Awards were presented under two main categories: Prani Mitra Award and Jeev Daya Award.

• The Prani Mitra Award included five sub-categories: Advocacy (Individual), Innovative Idea (Individual), Lifetime Animal Service (Individual), Animal Welfare Organizations, and Corporate/PSUs/Government Bodies/Co-operatives.

• The Jeev Daya Award was given in three sub-categories: Individual, Animal Welfare Organization, and for Schools, Institutions, Teachers, or Children.

• The event aimed to honour those who have shown outstanding compassion and service toward animal welfare.

• The celebration encourages kindness towards living beings and raises awareness on humane treatment in society.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Namita Gokhale Launches 25th Book at Belgian Embassy Event

• Namita Gokhale unveiled her 25th book, Life on Mars: Collected Stories, at the Belgian Embassy in India.

• The event was hosted by Belgian Ambassador Didier Vanderhasselt.

• Reflecting on her four-decade-long literary career, Gokhale revisited her debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion (1984).

• She expressed happiness seeing her works continue to resonate with readers across generations.

SPORTS

Indonesia Clinches First Badminton Asia Mixed Championship Title

• Indonesia won its first Badminton Asia Mixed Championship title by defeating China in the final of the 4th edition in February 2025.

• The tournament was organized by the Badminton Asia Confederation and hosted by the Chinese Badminton Association in Qingdao, China.

• A total of twelve teams participated, including China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong China, Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, India, South Korea, and Macau China.

• India, placed in Group D with South Korea and Macau China, advanced to the quarter-finals but was defeated by Japan 3-0, ending its run in the Championship.

• India has won one medal in the history of the Badminton Asia Mixed Championship – a bronze in the 3rd edition held in Dubai, UAE, in 2023.

Indian Women’s Football Team Concludes 2nd Pink Ladies Cup Campaign

• The Indian senior women’s football team, also known as the Blue Tigress, finished third in the 2nd Pink Ladies Cup after a 3-0 loss to South Korea.

• The tournament took place at the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium in Sharjah, UAE, from February 22 to 26, 2025.

• The Pink Ladies Cup is a friendly international tournament where results do not impact FIFA rankings or standings.

• This tournament is typically played before the competitive season to help teams prepare for upcoming challenges.

• The Indian team used the 2nd Pink Ladies Cup as a warm-up for the AFC Women’s Asia Cup Qualifiers scheduled for May-June 2025.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

India Leads Global IPO Market in 2024 with Record Fundraising

• India topped global IPO activity in 2024, raising over $19 billion, which accounted for 23% of all IPOs worldwide.

• According to the Indus Valley Annual Report 2025, India raised a total of $19.5 billion through IPOs.

• The US Nasdaq followed with $16.5 billion raised, while the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) garnered $15.9 billion in IPO funds.

• India saw 268 IPOs in 2024, including 90 mainboard listings and 178 SME listings.

• Hyundai Motors' Rs 27,870 crore IPO was the largest in India and the second-largest globally in 2024.

• Venture capitalists have increasingly shown interest in India’s IPO market, with many well-funded companies going public.

• Since 2012, the average market capitalisation of SME IPOs has grown 4.5 times, reaching approximately Rs 100 crore in 2024.

• The average revenue of SMEs at the time of their IPO has tripled, reaching Rs 70 crore.

• India’s instant commerce sector experienced impressive growth, expanding from $300 million in FY22 to an estimated $7.1 billion by FY25.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

Bharat Calling Conference 2025

• The Bharat Calling Conference 2025 was inaugurated on February 27 in Mumbai by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

• Minister Goyal emphasized that government initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, Startup India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat are driving India’s economic transformation, innovation, and infrastructure development.

• He noted that product quality used to be a major concern, with India losing its international reputation due to inferior materials.

• Today, India is on the verge of a quality revolution, and there’s a growing emphasis on following good manufacturing practices.

• Goyal stressed the need for increased efficiency and competitiveness, encouraging businesses to rely less on government support.

• The conference showcased India’s role in leading global economic growth and highlighted the diverse investment opportunities across sectors.

• With a resilient economy and a dynamic consumer market, the government remains committed to fostering business-friendly policies.