Daily Current Affairs in Telugu | 21 February 2025 | Hareesh Academy | APPSC | TGPSC | Group-2 | SI

February 18-20, 2025 - Current Affairs Summary

World Day of Social Justice - February 20

• Observed on: February 20
• Theme: Sustainable Future through Strengthening Social Justice (Key word: Sustainable Future)

New Election Commissioners Appointed

• Gyanesh Kumar appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
• Vivek Joshi appointed as Election Commissioner.
• Appointment based on the new Election Commissioners Act.
• Appointment Process:
  • Selection Committee: Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Cabinet Minister.
  • Search Committee (Ministry of Law) suggests 5 names to the Selection Committee.
  • Selection Committee recommends names to the President for appointment.
• CEC and ECs tenure is a combined 6 years of term (including time as EC and CEC).
• No re-appointment for ECs or CECs.

PM-AASHA Scheme Extended

• PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) scheme extended until 2025-26.
• Implemented by: Department of Agriculture through State Governments, NAFED, and NCCF.
• Four components of PM-AASHA:
  1. Price Support Scheme (PSS): MSP procurement for pulses, oilseeds, and copra by NAFED and NCCF.
  2. Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Interest-free loans to FCI and NAFED for buffer stock of pulses, onions, and potatoes to manage price volatility.
  3. Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Direct payment of the difference between MSP and market price to farmers.
  4. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): Procurement of Tomato, Onion, Potato (TOP) when prices fall significantly (at least 10% below previous season). Procurement quantity increased to 25% (from 20%). Implemented with state government participation (50:50 cost sharing, 75:25 for North-Eastern states).

Dinesh Khara Committee for Insurance Sector Review

• Dinesh Khara Committee appointed to review the insurance sector.

ISRO Space Achievements

• Vertical Planetary Mixer: ISRO developed world's first vertical planetary mixer for filling solid fuel in rockets (10-ton capacity) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, with help from CMTI, Bangalore.
• Technology Adoption Fund (TAF): ₹500 crore fund by IN-SPACe to support private space startups and MSMEs. Provides up to 60% funding for startups/MSMEs and 40% for large industries (max ₹25 crore per project) to commercialize indigenous space technology.
• John McFall: British para-athlete to become the first disabled astronaut in space (Para-Astronaut).

Ananta - Google's Largest Campus in India

• Ananta: Google's largest campus in India, located in Bangalore.

Saksham Campaign for Green Energy Awareness

• Saksham campaign for green energy awareness.
• Organized by: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

India's First Vertical Bi-facial Solar Plant

• India's first vertical bi-facial solar plant launched by OKLA in Delhi (Metro Station).
• Bi-facial solar panels capture sunlight from both sides, increasing efficiency.

Aravalli Safari Park - World's Largest

• World's largest safari park to be established in Haryana, Aravalli Safari Park.
• Spread across 3,858 hectares in 18 villages of Gurugram.
• Implemented by: Forest Department, Haryana.

Inland Waterway at Jogigopha, Assam

• Inland waterway being developed at Jogigopha, Assam on Brahmaputra River.
• Aims to improve logistics in East India and boost trilateral trade between India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Delhi Earthquake

• Earthquake of magnitude 4.0 Richter scale in Delhi.
• Epicenter: Daulakuan [Corrected from Daulakuan] area.
• Delhi falls under high-risk seismic zone Zone IV.

NDRF Funding to States

• National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) allocated funds to 5 states in 2024, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Managed by: Home Ministry.

Naksha Project for Urban Land Ownership Certification

• Naksha project for certifying land ownership in urban areas.
• Implemented by: Ministry of Rural Development in 26 states and 3 UTs, covering 152 Urban Local Bodies.
• 10 ULBs in Telangana are included.

India-Qatar Bilateral Agreements

• Visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim to India.
• Agreements:
  • Double bilateral trade in the next 5 years (current: $14 billion to $28 billion).
  • Elevate relationship to Strategic Partnership level, expanding cooperation to defense and technology sectors.

India Vice-President of IHO

• India elected as Vice-President of International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) for 2025.
• IHO is a France-based organization for cooperation in marine navigation.

India-Argentina Lithium Deal

• India and Argentina signed agreement for lithium cooperation.
• Aims to secure lithium supply for electric vehicles and net-zero carbon goals.
• Lithium Triangle: Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile - major lithium producers.

Brazil Joins OPEC+

• Brazil joined OPEC+ as a new member.
• OPEC+ now has 23 members (previously 22).
• Controversial as Brazil will host COP30 next year, and OPEC+ membership contrasts with environmental goals.

Ukraine Peace Summit Committee by Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia to form a high-level committee for peace in Ukraine.
• First step aims for agreement between Russia and America.

Miss World 2025 to be Hosted in Hyderabad

• Miss World 2025 (72nd edition) to be hosted in Hyderabad, India.
• 71st edition was hosted in Mumbai.

NAACP Award - Chairman's Award

• NAACP Chairman's Award received by [Kamala - correction needed, name is incorrect in source].
• First Asian-box">

  Book Release

  • "I Am A Soldier Wife: The Life and Love of Geetika Leader [Corrected from Tony Leader]" - Book by Geetika Leader, wife of late CDS Anil Chauhan's colleague, Lakshmindra.

Summits

• Asia Economic Dialogue 2025: 9th edition hosted by Pune. Theme: Economic Resilience in an Era of Fragmentation. Organized by Foreign Ministry.
• First Transgender Summit to be hosted in Ajmer. (More details awaited)

Telangana News

• Electricity Demand: Telangana's electricity demand crossed 16,000 MW for the first time on February 19.
• Largest Veterinary Vaccine Production Center to be established in Mamidipally area.
• T-Hub and Brazil's Goias Hub signed an agreement.
• Nalmela Bhaskar received City College Magdum Mohiuddin National Award.

Khelo India Winter Games Postponed

• 5th Khelo India Winter Games postponed due to insufficient snowfall (Climate Change Impact).