Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 February 2025

Topic: Sports

1. India dominated the 2025 Para Archery Asia Cup with 6 gold medals.

• India finished on top in the 2025 Para Archery Asia Cup in Thailand with six gold medals.
• India won a total of 12 medals, including six gold, three silver, and three bronze.
• On the final day of the competition, India won six medals, including two golds.
• Sarita won the gold in the women’s compound open, while Shyam Sundar Swami also won gold in the men’s compound open.
• The 2025 Para Archery Asia Cup was organized in Thailand from 2 to 11 February.

Topic: India and its Neighbourhood

2. Bangladesh launched the operation 'devil hunt' to tackle violence.

• Bangladesh's interim government launched 'Operation Devil Hunt’ to curb escalating violence targeting Awami League leaders and properties.
• Security forces arrested over 1,300 individuals under the 'Operation Devil Hunt’.
• The interim government has vowed to uproot “all devils” attempting to create instability in Bangladesh.
• After the violent protest, Sheikh Hasina was ousted as Prime Minister in August 2024.
• A command center has been established to monitor Operation Devil Hunt and oversee its execution.
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to launch a series of nationwide rallies starting February 11.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

3. India's first indigenous Automated Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Plant has been launched.

• On 10 February, India's first indigenous Automated Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Plant was launched by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at AIIMS New Delhi.
• The Minister officially dedicated the Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig, named “Sṛjanam,” to the nation at a ceremony held in the AIIMS auditorium.
• CSIR-NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology) has developed this innovative, eco-friendly technology, offering a significant advancement in the sustainable management of biomedical waste.
• The "Sṛjanam" rig can disinfect pathogenic bio-medical waste such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables without the use of expensive and energy-intensive incinerators.
• Additionally, this rig imparts a pleasant fragrance to the otherwise foul-smelling toxic waste.
• With a daily capacity of 400 kg, the equipment is capable of handling 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in the initial stage.

Topic: International News

4. The India-EFTA Desk launched to boost trade, with an expected investment of $100 billion.

• On 10 February, a dedicated India-EFTA desk launched in New Delhi by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, along with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) officials, to deepen economic ties.
• This platform will act as a bridge between businesses from India and EFTA.
• It will provide trade facilitation and regulatory guidance and strengthen trade and investment relations under the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
• The agreement promises significant investments worth $100 billion in India, as well as reductions in various tariffs.
• This will boost trade and investment between India and EFTA for European products.
• The India-EFTA Desk will provide structured support to EFTA businesses wishing to invest, expand or set up operations in India.
• In March 2024, India and EFTA signed the TEPA agreement to strengthen trade and investment ties.
• India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organisation and free trade area comprising four countries: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• It was established on 3 May 1960.

Topic: Miscellaneous

5. Tariffs on aluminum and steel imports have been raised to 25% by Trump.

• On 10 February, tariffs on steel and aluminum imports were substantially raised to a flat 25% “without exceptions or exemptions” by President Donald Trump, in a move intended to aid struggling industries but increasing the risk of a multi-front trade war.
• Proclamations signed by Trump, raising the U.S. tariff rate on aluminum to 25% from his previous 10% rate and eliminating country exceptions, quota deals, and hundreds of thousands of product-specific tariff exclusions for both metals.
• A White House official confirmed that these measures would take effect from March 4.
• These tariffs will apply to millions of tonnes of steel and aluminium imported from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and other countries that had been entering the US duty-free under waivers.
• The announcements were an expansion of Trump’s 2018 Section 232 tariffs to protect domestic steel and aluminum manufacturers on national security grounds.
• In addition, Trump will impose a new North American standard requiring steel to be “melted and poured” and aluminum to be “smelted and cast” within the region.
• This measure aims to curb U.S. imports of minimally processed Chinese and Russian metals that circumvent other tariffs.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

6. The fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi on 10 February 2025.

• Power Minister Manohar Lal and the UK’s Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband co-chaired the dialogue.
• The focus of the dialogue was on reviewing progress in energy sectors of both nations.
• The launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power and Renewable Energy in India, ASPIRE programme was also announced.
• The aim of phase will be to offer technical support to ensure round-the-clock power supply.
• The phase will also aim to accelerate industrial energy efficiency and expand renewable energy initiatives.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. India Energy Week 2025 commenced on February 11, 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.

• It is a four-day event. More than 700 exhibitors and 70 thousand global energy professionals will attend the event.
• The aim of India Energy Week 2025 is to unveil innovation, form partnerships, and shape the future of energy.
• India Energy Week 2025 was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• India Energy Week 2025 is second-largest energy event globally.
• Ten countries, including Canada, Germany, Japan, the US, and the UK, set up their pavilions at India Energy Week 2025.

Topic: Defense

8. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited renamed the HJT-36 jet trainer as ‘Yashas’.

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has renamed its flagship HJT-36 jet training aircraft as ‘Yashas’.
• Yashas’ has been designed for stage II pilot training. It is capable of performing counter-insurgency and counter-surface force operations and armament training, and aerobatics.
• It is powered by a FADEC-controlled AL-55I jet engine. It provides a best-in-class thrust-to-weight ratio.
• 'Yashas' has been unveiled at the ongoing Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru.
• For induction into service, the aircraft has been upgraded with state-of-the-art avionics and an ultra-modern cockpit.

Topic: International News

9. Lebanon formed its first full-fledged government.

• Lebanon’s new prime minister Nawaf Salam formed the first full-fledged government since 2022.
• President Joseph Aoun accepted the resignation of the former caretaker government.
• The new government has promised to implement reforms needed to bring the country out of an extended economic crisis.
• Salam’s cabinet of 24 ministers is split evenly between Christian and Muslim sects.
• Nawaf Salam was a diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice.
• Lebanon’s new authorities also mark a shift away from leaders that are close to Hezbollah.

Topic: National News

10. The creation of a new South Coast Railway Zone under Railways has been approved by the Cabinet.

• On 7 February, the creation of a new railway zone under Indian Railways—South Coast Railway—was approved by the Union Cabinet.
• It will consist of a part of the Waltair division, which will be renamed as the Visakhapatnam division.
• The Union Cabinet stated that the new railway zone has been created in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and is expected to improve efficiency in railway operations.
• The Cabinet partially modified its earlier decision from February 2019 to retain the Waltair division in a truncated form and rename it as the Visakhapatnam division.
• Giving the reason behind the name change, the Cabinet said that 'Voltaire' is a colonial legacy that needed to be changed.
• The Cabinet stated that one part of the Waltair division, covering approximately 410 kilometers, will be retained as the Waltair division under the new South Coast Railway.
• This section includes routes such as Palasa-Visakhapatnam-Duvvada, Kuneru-Vizianagaram, Naupada Junction-Paralakhemundi, Bobbili Junction-Salur, Simhachalam North-Duvvada bypass, Vadalapudi-Duvvada, and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant-Jaggayapalem.
• The remaining part of the Waltair division, covering approximately 680 kilometres, will be converted into a new division under East Coast Railway.
• This section includes routes such as Kottavalasa-Bacheli, Kuneru-Theruvali Junction, Singapur Road-Koraput Junction, and Paralakhemundi-Gunpur, with its headquarters at Rayagada.

Topic: Important Days

11. World Pulses Day 2025: 10 February

• World Pulses Day is celebrated every year on 10 February to increase awareness about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses.
• The theme for World Pulses Day 2025 is “Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems.”
• 10 February was proclaimed as World Pulses Day by UN General Assembly in 2019.
• Burkina Faso had proposed this day in the General Assembly. It is a landlocked country in West Africa.
• UN General Assembly announced 2016 as the International Year of Pulses.
• Pulses are also called legumes. They are considered global foods. They are grown in almost every country.
• Pulses are a rich source of protein. They are low in fat. They are rich in soluble fiber.
• They can lower cholesterol and help in controlling blood sugar. They help combat obesity.
• They help in the management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes. Their nitrogen-fixing properties improve soil fertility.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. Golden Peacock Award has been conferred to Coal India.

• At the 19th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) received the Golden Peacock CSR Award 2024.
• P.M. Prasad, Chairman, CIL received the award at a ceremony organized by the Institute of Directors.
• This recognition shows CIL’s unwavering commitment to driving meaningful social impact. The company’s CSR initiatives have positively impacted over 35 million lives.
• In the past five years, CIL has been the highest CSR spender among Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSEs).
• The CIL spends more than 70% of its CSR funds on Healthcare, Nutrition & Sanitation, and Education & Livelihood.
• CIL has constructed over 50,000 toilets under the Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan.

Topic: Banking/Finance

13. RBI to introduce 'bank.in' and 'fin.in' domains for increasing payment security.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched exclusive internet domains—‘bank.in’ and ‘fin.in’—for Indian financial institutions.
• This initiative aims to tackle the rising instances of fraud and cyber security threats.
• It will help in stopping phishing and other malicious activities that have become a threat to the safety of online transactions.
• The 'bank.in' domain will be available exclusively to Indian banks. It will ensure secure access to financial services and enhance customer confidence in digital banking.
• Domain, ‘fin.in’, will be used for other non-bank entities in the financial sector.
• The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) has been designated as the exclusive registrar for these domains.
• These domains will make it easier for consumers to identify legitimate financial services and reduce the risks of cyber fraud.