Daily Current Affairs 18th Feb 2025: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains daily current affairs 18th Feb 2025. It includes all National, International, Business & Sports related current affairs 18th Feb 2025. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 18th Feb, 2025 Current affairs test.
Banking & Finance News
India Post Payments Bank Enhances Digital Banking for Mahakumbh 2025 Devotees
- IPPB is delivering convenient and secure banking solutions for millions of pilgrims attending Mahakumbh 2025.
- A range of service counters, mobile banking units, and customer assistance kiosks have been established at five major Mahakumbh venues.
- IPPB’s Daak Sevaks offer doorstep banking, allowing devotees to withdraw money from Aadhaar-linked accounts using Aadhaar ATMs.
- Devotees can also access an array of banking services by placing a call.
CheQ Introduces Wisor: India’s First AI-Driven Credit Card Expert
- CheQ has unveiled “Wisor,” an AI-based credit card consultant designed to simplify credit card management for users in India.
- Wisor uses a Q&A chat interface, delivering prompt, human-like answers to credit card queries, eliminating the need to visit multiple bank websites or forums.
HDFC Life & CARS24 Financial Services Announce Corporate Agency Partnership
- HDFC Life has formed a corporate agency tie-up with CARS24 Financial Services Private Limited.
- CARS24 Financial Services, an NBFC registered with the RBI and IRDAI as an Insurance Corporate Agent, aims to offer HDFC Life’s insurance products to its customers.
Award News
Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran Receives UK’s Honorary Knighthood
- Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons Private Limited, was honored with the UK’s “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)” under King Charles III’s reign, recognizing his contributions to UK–India business ties.
- The KBE/DBE stands among the top civilian accolades granted by the British Monarch to foreign nationals for outstanding work in various domains.
- Within the Order of the British Empire, the GBE (Knight or Dame Grand Cross) is the highest rank.
National News
PM Narendra Modi Announces Deregulation Commission to Boost Economic Reforms
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a Deregulation Commission, tasked with minimizing government involvement in governance and enhancing the ease of doing business.
- He emphasized the government’s resolve to remove bureaucratic barriers and foster a business-centric environment.
- Key focus areas include reducing government interference in economic matters, modernizing governance by discarding outdated rules, promoting private sector investment in core industries, and implementing Jan Vishwas 2.0 to update business regulations.
Madhya Pradesh Rolls Out India’s First Global Capability Centre Policy 2025
- Madhya Pradesh becomes India’s inaugural state to introduce the GCC Policy 2025.
- The strategy aspires to position the state as a hub for global innovation and collaborative efforts.
- It encourages companies to extend their operations beyond large metro areas to tier-2 cities, supporting decentralization.
Karnataka Unveils Clean Mobility Policy to Lead in Green Transport
- Karnataka’s Energy Department introduced the Clean Mobility Policy 2025–2030, aiming to transform the state into a green transportation center.
- Launched by Energy Minister K.J. George at the Global Investors’ Meet, the policy has already facilitated investments of around ₹25,000 crore in the EV supply chain, including battery pack production, cell manufacturing, OEMs, charging infrastructure, and R&D.
- Industries Minister MB Patil anticipates an additional ₹15,000 crore in investments by August 31, 2025.
West Bengal Initiates “Nodi Bandhan” Scheme for Disaster Management & Livelihood Enhancement
- The government of West Bengal introduced the “Nodi Bandhan” project in its 2025–26 budget to address natural disasters and foster job creation.
- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally chose the name “Nodi Bandhan” (River Bond).
- The scheme concentrates on linking rivers and wetlands to advance sustainable development and mitigate environmental risks.
Appointment News
Standard Chartered Gets RBI’s Nod to Appoint Prabdev Singh as India CEO
- The Reserve Bank of India has approved Prabdev (PD) Singh’s appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered (StanC) in India and South Asia.
Defence News
India & Japan to Hold 6th Edition of Dharma Guardian Military Exercise
- The 6th edition of the joint military drill “Dharma Guardian” is slated to take place at Mount Fuji, Japan, from February 25 to March 9, 2025.
- The 5th edition of this exercise, involving the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Force, commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
- The training is planned to run from February 25 to March 9, 2024 (note: the text provides a date range for the 5th edition as well).
Science & Technology News
DRDO’s ADA & MIDHANI Collaborate to Develop MDN100 Steel for Aviation
- Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), operating under DRDO, signed an MoU with Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) for the indigenous creation of “MDN100,” a specialized high-strength, high-toughness steel for aerospace use.
- This initiative seeks to bolster aeronautical applications, notably in the 5th-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.
- The signing took place at the Aero India 2025 airshow (February 10–14, 2025) in Bengaluru.
IIT Kanpur’s Solar Dehydration Method Targets Reduced Post-Harvest Losses
- The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has engineered a solar dehydration system designed to aid farmers in preserving their produce and cutting post-harvest losses.
- By harnessing solar energy for drying fruits and vegetables, the technique extends shelf life.
- The Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra at IIT Kanpur introduced this method to help farmers avoid urgent or low-margin sales, allowing them to sell their goods when market demand and prices are more favorable.
Next-Generation BrahMos Missile Set for First Flight by 2026
- The BrahMos NG (Next Generation) missile system is witnessing notable progress, with production expected around 2027–2028.
- BrahMos NG aims to be more compact, lighter, and smaller than its predecessor, enabling deployment on smaller aircraft such as the Sukhoi-30MKI and Tejas.
Sports News
9th Asian Winter Games 2025:
- Conducted in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China, from February 7 to February 14, 2025.
- Hosted by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) with backing from the International Skating Union (ISU).
- A total of 34 nations participated across 11 winter sports categories.
- Theme & Mascots:
- Mascots: “Binbin” & “Nini” (tigers)
- Motto: “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia”
- Medal Table:
- China led the tally with 85 medals (32 Gold, 27 Silver, 26 Bronze).
- India’s Performance:
- India’s largest-ever delegation of 59 athletes competed.
- No medals, but marked progress in winter sports.
- Figure skater Tara Prasad finished 8th, recording a personal best.
- Future Host: NEOM, Saudi Arabia in 2029—Saudi Arabia will become the first West Asian country to host the Asian Winter Games.
Campa Cola Clinches IPL 2025 Co-Presenting Sponsorship
- Reliance Consumer Products’ Campa Cola has signed a deal worth around ₹200 crore, superseding Coca-Cola’s Thums Up in securing the co-presenting rights for IPL 2025.
- Held at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, celebrating India’s top athletes.
- Hockey star P.R. Sreejesh and shooter Manu Bhaker claimed major honors, along with recognition for various other sportspersons.
Follow wordpandit to learn English.
