Current Affairs Summary - February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025 - Current Affairs Summary

Election Commission Atlas 2024 - NOTA Votes

The Election Commission released Atlas 2024, highlighting NOTA (None Of The Above) votes in the 2024 General Elections.
The 18th Lok Sabha elections of 2024 saw the lowest percentage of NOTA votes since its introduction in 2014.
In the 2024 General Elections, NOTA option in EVMs recorded the lowest ever voting percentage.
NOTA was introduced in EVMs for the first time in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In the three Lok Sabha elections after 2014, NOTA voting percentages gradually decreased.
In the 2014 elections, NOTA votes were highest at 1.08%, while in 2024 elections, it reduced to 0.99%.
Bihar recorded the highest NOTA votes at 2.07%, followed by Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu at 2.06% and Gujarat at 1.58%.
Nagaland recorded the lowest NOTA votes at 0.21%.

World's oldest bird fossil discovered in Fujian province, China.
The fossil dates back approximately 160 million years.
The bird species is scientifically named Fujianornithus zhengi.
The discovery suggests birds existed in the Late Jurassic period.
Indicates a potentially simultaneous evolution of birds and dinosaurs, rather than a linear evolutionary path from dinosaurs to birds.

Haryana government permitted shooting of Nilgai (Blue Bulls).
The decision is due to the increasing population of Nilgai, which are causing damage to agriculture.
Local Bishnoi tribes and environmentalists are protesting against this decision.

The Supreme Court of India rejected reservations based on caste in Bar Association elections.
The court stated insufficient data to justify caste-based reservations.
The bench clarified that reserving seats for women is different from caste-based divisions and politicization within Bar Associations, which will not be permitted.

US President Donald Trump offered F-35 fighter jets to India.
The offer for the advanced stealth fighter jets was made during a recent press conference.
The cost of each F-35 aircraft is approximately ₹695 crore.
F-35B variant has advanced capabilities, including vertical takeoff and landing.
This offer marks a significant step in strengthening defense cooperation between USA and India.
India already imports Rafale fighter jets from France.

The 38th National Games concluded in Uttarakhand.
National Games were first held in 1924 in Lahore, undivided India.
First National Games in independent India were held in 1948 in Lucknow.
The mascot for the 38th National Games was Mouly.
The games were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Services Sports Control Board topped the medal tally with 121 medals (68 Gold, 26 Silver, 27 Bronze).
Maharashtra secured second position, Haryana third, Karnataka fourth, and Madhya Pradesh fifth in the medal tally.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, was awarded the honorary Knighthood by the British government.
The honor recognizes his services to business relations between India and Britain.
Chandrasekaran will receive the Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) from King Charles.