Current Affairs Summary - February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025 - Current Affairs Summary

Upcoming BRICS Summit 2025

Brazil to assume BRICS presidency from January 1, 2025.
17th BRICS Summit to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 6-7, 2025.
16th BRICS Summit (2024) was held in Kazan, Russia under Russian presidency.
Theme of 16th BRICS Summit (2024): Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.
BRICS expansion: Indonesia recently joined BRICS.
Focus of 17th Summit: Global governance reforms and cooperation among Global South countries.
BRICS formed in 2009 as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2010 to make it BRICS.
Later expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, and Indonesia.

Ministry of Civil Aviation announced in Parliament that there are 29,501 registered drones in India.
State-wise highest registered drones:
- Delhi: 4,882
- Tamil Nadu: 4,588
- Maharashtra: 4,132

United Nations released projections on world population trends.
India's population is projected to reach 170 crore by 2061.
China's population is expected to decrease to 120 crore by 2061 and further to 63 crore by 2100.
China's population decline started from 2021.

Allahabad High Court stated that changing name is a fundamental right.
Based on Fundamental Rights in Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35), particularly Article 19(1)(a), Article 21, and Article 14.
Choosing or changing name is a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution.

Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that an employee on maternity leave cannot be removed from service.
Maternity leave is protected under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
Relates to Article 42 of Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV, Articles 36-51) concerning special provisions for women at workplace.
Court ordered payment of salary arrears to the affected employee.

Indian education system shows significant progress, with a 318% growth in QS World Rankings.
Increase in educational institutions: Universities grew from 30 in 1950-51 to 1,168 in 2021-22.
Gross Enrolment Ratio increased by 71 times from 0.4% at independence to 28.4% in 2021-22.
Union Ministry of Education reported these figures, highlighting progress, especially in the last decade.
India recorded highest growth in GER among G20 countries.

India and France signed key agreements during PM Narendra Modi's two-day visit to France.
Discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron focused on strengthening bilateral relations in trade and investments.
Agreements include:
- Declaration on Indo-French cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for human, social, economic, and environmental benefit.
- Unveiling of logo for Indo-French Year of Innovation 2026.
- Strategic agreement on civil nuclear energy.

Global Justice, Love, Peace Summit 2025 to be held on April 12-13, 2025 in Dubai Exhibition Centre.
Organized by: I am Peacekeeper Movement.
Theme: One Planet, One Voice, and Global Justice, Love, and Peace.

Government of India released a ₹100 commemorative coin in memory of singer Mohammed Rafi.

Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, arrested in a money laundering case.

Kankal village, Vikarabad district: Kalyana Chalukya inscriptions discovered.
Book launch by CM Revanth Reddy: "Life of a Karma Yogi: Memoir of A Civil Servant" - biography of Gopalakrishna Naidu.
Shield 25: Cyber Security Summit hosted by Cyber Security Bureau at HICC, Hyderabad.