Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 February 2025

Topic: Indian Economy

1. India will become a high-income country with GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047.

• According to a report by Bain & Company and Nasscom, India is projected to become high-income country with a projected GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047.
• Growth will be driven by India's demographic dividend, technological innovation and regional transformation.
• Nearly 200 million individuals expected to enter the workforce in the coming decades.
• Electronics, energy, chemicals, automotive, and services are the key sectors which will be drivers of growth.
• Advances in AI-driven chip design, touchless manufacturing, and backward integration into component manufacturing and design could enhance cost competitiveness and innovation.
• India’s share of renewables in overall energy generation has the potential to rise from 24 percent in 2023 to 70 percent in 2047.
• Auto-components exports sector is likely to reach $200–$250 billion by 2047. It will be driven by longer-term shift to EVs.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

2. Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented a Rs 3.70 trillion budget for the financial year 2025-26.

• Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented the budget on the second day of the budget session.
• The budget outlay of Rs 3,70,250 crore for 2025-26 indicates an increase of Rs 37,785 crore, or 11.3 per cent.
• The state government proposed a tax relief of Rs 148 crore in the form of a reduction in stamp duty on mortgage deeds and on motor vehicle tax on electric vehicles.
• Viksit Gujarat Fund with a corpus of Rs 50,000 crore has been proposed.
• To convert Gujarat into a developed and prosperous state, six growth hubs, including Surat Economic Region will be developed.
• 12 new high-speed corridors of 1,367 kilometres will be developed under the 'Garvi Gujarat High Speed Corridor' project.
• Two greenfield expressways will be developed in Gujarat - the 'Namo Shakti Expressway' connecting Banaskantha to Saurashtra's coastal areas, and the 'Somnath-Dwarka Expressway' from Ahmedabad to Rajkot.
• The state government also announced that it will establish the Gujarat Reforms Commission to bring necessary reforms in the administrative procedures and integrate new technologies.

Topic: National Appointment

3. The tenure of CEA Anantha Nageswaran extended by the government till March 2027.

• On February 20, 2025, the tenure of Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran was extended by the government for two years till March 2027.
• The tenure of Mr. Nageswaran on a contract basis up to March 31, 2027, was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by PM Narendra Modi.
• On January 28, 2022, Mr. Nageswaran assumed charge as CEA for a three-year term, succeeding Krishnamurthy Subramanian, who had served in the role for three years.
• The Office of the Chief Economic Adviser is responsible for advising the government on various economic policies and preparing the draft Economic Survey, which is tabled in Parliament a day before the Union Budget.

Topic: Defence

4. A ₹1,220 crore deal for advanced radios for the Indian Coast Guard signed by the Defence Ministry with BEL.

• On 20 February, a contract worth over ₹1,220 crore signed by the Defence Ministry with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in New Delhi for the procurement of 149 Software Defined Radios for the Indian Coast Guard.
• These state-of-the-art radios will enable secure and reliable information sharing, collaboration, and contextual awareness through high-speed data and secure voice communications.
• This will strengthen the Indian Coast Guard's ability to perform its core responsibilities, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, fisheries protection, and marine environmental protection.
• Additionally, these radios will enhance interoperability for joint operations with the Indian Navy.
• This project is a strategic step towards supporting the Blue Economy objectives of the Government of India by enhancing the operational capabilities of the Coast Guard and strengthening maritime security.
• This contract will enhance the country's manufacturing capabilities for advanced military-grade communication systems, create employment opportunities, and promote expertise development in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Topic: International News

5. India and Saudi Arabia formed new media partnership as Waves 2025 summit approaches.

• A landmark series of strategic meetings in Saudi Arabia has been concluded by a high-level Indian delegation.
• This has resulted in strengthening bilateral media partnerships and creating momentum for India’s upcoming World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025).
• Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi led the delegation, which met with key Saudi media leaders during the “Future of Media” Exhibition (FOMEX) in Riyadh.
• The delegation also engaged in discussions with Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), and Assistant Minister of Media Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Maghlouth, focusing on expanding bilateral media cooperation.
• Scheduled for May 1-4 at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, WAVES 2025 is being positioned as a transformative event in India’s digital entertainment landscape.
• The summit will showcase cutting-edge advancements in animation, gaming, visual effects, augmented reality, and virtual production.

Topic: National News

6. India is world’s second country to introduce digital pilot licenses.

• Electronic Personnel License for pilots has been introduced by India. 
• Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu launched India’s Electronic Personnel License.
• Electronic Personnel License has been launched after approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization. 
• The traditional physical licenses will be replaced by the Electronic Personnel License`. 
• Electronic Personnel License can be accessed through the eGCA Mobile Application. 
• This aim of the initiative is to increase security, transparency, and efficiency in process of pilot licensing.   
• Due to the Electronic Personnel License initiative, global employability for pilots will improve.
• Other digital aviation initiatives launched by the government are eGCA for licensing, the Digital Sky Platform for drones, and the Electronic Flight Folder for airline operations. 

Topic: International Appointments

7. Kash Patel is the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 9th Director.

• He is the FBI's first Indian-origin Director. He is a loyalist of Donald Trump.
• On February 20, 2025, Senate (upper chamber of the United States Congress) approved his appointment with a vote of 51-49.
• Along with Democrats, two Republican senators opposed the appointment.
• Two Republican senators are Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
• In New York, Kash Patel was born to Gujarati parents.
• With a 10-year term, the FBI director is not a position that usually changes with a new presidential administration.
• After winning the election in November, Trump selected Patel.
• In this way, Trump forced the resignation of Christopher Wray.
• Christopher Wray was appointed as Director by Trump in 2017.

Topic: Space and IT

8. Microsoft unveiled a new quantum chip ‘Majorana 1’.

• Microsoft has claimed to have engineered a new quantum chip named Majorana. It is an eight-qubit chip.
• A new quantum chip that produces more reliable and scalable qubits than its predecessors. Qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers.
• ‘Majorana 1’ will be beneficial for the future of quantum computing.
• Microsoft is planning to build a quantum computer somewhere between 2027-29.
• These Majorana particles have been fabricated using topological conductors and they exist in a topological state. It is different from traditional states of matter such as solid, liquid, and gas.
• In the last 20 years, Microsoft researchers have focused on developing topological qubits, which are said to be more stable than traditional qubits and require less error correction from the start.
• Topoconductors are made by combining indium arsenide (a semiconductor) and aluminium (a superconductor).

Topic: Environment and Ecology

9. West Bengal topped the bird count list in India.

• Bengal recorded the highest number of species during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).
• Bengal topped the list with 543 species. 1068 bird species have been recorded in India.
• The Great Backyard Bird Count is an exercise, which was conducted between February 14 and 17.
• The overall number of species in India has increased to 1,068 from 1036 species.
• Darjeeling topped in the Bengal with the highest number of species.
• In terms of checklists, South 24 Parganas emerged as the top district in the State with 513 checklists.
• The top observer on the species list is Baharuddin Sk with 310 species observed.

Topic: National Appointments

10. Salila Pande has been appointed as the MD & CEO of SBI Card from April 1.

• The board of SBI Cards and Payment Services has appointed Salila Pandey as Managing Director and CEO with effect from April 1, 2025.

• Pandey's appointment will be for a term of two years. He has been nominated by the State Bank of India.
• The board has approved the appointment of Pandey following the retirement of Abhijit Chakraborty from the services of State Bank of India with effect from March 31, 2025.       
• Pandey is the Chief General Manager at State Bank of India.
• She joined SBI as a Probationary Officer in 1995 and has been associated with the country's largest banking group since then.
• SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited is a leading credit card company and payment service provider in India.
• In May 1998, it was established as a joint venture between the State Bank of India and GE Capital.
• It is headquartered in Gurgaon.

Topic: Sports

11. BBC has named Bhaker as the Indian Sportswoman of the Year.

• Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker has been named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) for 2024 after a global public vote.
• The 22-year-old was honoured for her historic feat of becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals at the same Olympic Games.
• Previously, Bhaker has won the BBC's ISWOTY Emerging Athlete of the Year award.
• Her fellow shooter Avani Lekhara was honoured with the BBC ISWOTY Para-Sportswoman of the Year award.
• The fifth edition of BBC ISWOTY was produced and managed by Collective Newsroom.
• BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) award winners:

Topic: State News/Uttar Pradesh

12. Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the budget of ₹8.09 lakh crore for FY 2025-26.

• This is the biggest budget of the Uttar Pradesh government till date.
• The budget is focused on research & development and Information Technology.
• This is the ninth consecutive budget of the government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
• 22% of the Budget has been allocated for development purposes, 13% for education, 11% for agriculture and related services, and 6% for health.
• The total Budget outlay for the financial year 2025-26 is 9.8% higher than the Budget outlay for FY25.
• The State Government will develop an Artificial Intelligence City and set up a park for technological research in Cyber Security.
• 49.86 lakh smartphones/tablets have been given under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana.
• Meritorious female students will receive scooters under the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Yojana.
• Under the Mukhya Mantri Gramodyog Rojgar Yojna, bank loans will be provided to 800 beneficiaries, and new enterprises will be established to provide employment to 16,000 people.
• Rs 509 crore for solar pump installations under PM Kusum Yojana while Rs 124 crore has been allocated for promoting natural farming across all districts.
• About 20.5 per cent of the budget will be spent on capital expenditure.
• Rs 461 crore has been allocated for the Defense Industrial Corridor project along the Bundelkhand Expressway.

Topic: Personality in News

13. Nita Ambani received a Governor’s Citation in Massachusetts for philanthropic contributions.

• Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, received the distinguished governor's citation from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.
• She has received the honour for her visionary leadership and exceptional contributions to society.
• The citation honours Ambani's lifelong dedication to transformative impact across education, healthcare, sports, arts, culture, and women's empowerment.