Daily Current Affairs 5th Feb, 2025

Daily Current Affairs 5th Feb, 2025: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation

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This post contains daily current affairs 5th Feb 2025. It includes all National, International, Business & Sports related current affairs 5th 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 5th Feb, 2025 Current affairs test.

International News

UK Becomes First Country to Criminalize AI-Generated Child Abuse Content

• The United Kingdom has introduced groundbreaking legal measures to combat AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
• With this move, the UK has become the first nation to criminalize the creation and distribution of AI-generated CSAM.
• The British government aims to curb the exploitation of generative AI tools used to produce such illegal content.
• Offenders involved in generating or sharing AI-generated CSAM will face strict legal consequences.
• This legislative step highlights the UK’s commitment to ensuring AI technologies are not misused for criminal activities.

Banking News

Reserve Bank of India Issues Latest Update on ₹2000 Denomination Banknote Withdrawal

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 banknotes on May 19, 2023, and released the latest data update on January 1, 2025.
• Banks provided a deposit and exchange facility for ₹2000 banknotes until October 7, 2023.
• RBI’s 19 Issue Offices have continued exchanging these banknotes since May 19, 2023, while accepting deposits from October 9, 2023.
• Citizens can also send ₹2000 banknotes to RBI Issue Offices through India Post for deposit.
• The circulation of ₹2000 banknotes has reduced significantly, declining from ₹3.56 lakh crore (as of May 19, 2023) to ₹6,577 crore (as of January 31, 2025), indicating a 98.15% return.
• Despite being withdrawn from circulation, the ₹2000 banknotes remain legal tender.

UK Business & Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to Visit India in February 2025 to Resume Trade Talks

• Jonathan Reynolds, the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, is scheduled to visit India in February 2025 to reinvigorate negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• The visit was officially announced at the India Global Forum’s (IGF) 7th Annual UK-India Parliamentary Lunch, held at the House of Lords.
• The decision follows UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to reinitiating FTA discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in November 2024.
• The renewed trade talks are expected to strengthen economic cooperation and trade relations between the two nations.

National News

India’s First White Tiger Breeding Centre Approved in Madhya Pradesh

• The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has sanctioned the establishment of India’s first white tiger breeding centre in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
• This initiative is significant for wildlife conservation, particularly because Rewa is historically known as the site where the last wild white tiger was found.
• Initially granted in-principle approval in 2011, the project will be developed in Govindgarh, located near the Mukundpur white tiger safari.
• The centre is expected to play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, contribute to wildlife tourism, and generate employment opportunities for the local community.

Maharashtra to Establish India’s First Artificial Intelligence (AI) University

• Maharashtra is set to become home to India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) university, aiming to strengthen AI education, research, and innovation.
• The announcement was made by Maharashtra’s IT Minister, Ashish Shelar, as part of a strategic plan to position the state as a leading AI hub.
• A dedicated task force, comprising experts from academia, industry, and government sectors, has been formed to oversee the project’s planning and execution.
• The university will serve as a centre of excellence for AI-based research, skill development, and policy formulation.

Barmer District Launches ‘MY NREGA App’ to Enhance Employment Efficiency

• The ‘MY NREGA App’ was introduced in Barmer District, Rajasthan, to streamline the employment process under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
• This initiative was led by District Collector IAS Tina Dabi and Chief Executive Officer IAS Siddharth Palanichamy.
• The app is designed to simplify the process for MNREGA workers to apply for jobs, reducing their need to visit Gram Panchayats physically.
• By offering a mobile-based platform, the initiative aims to improve accessibility and efficiency in rural employment schemes.
• If successful, the app could serve as a model for other districts across India in digitizing rural welfare programs.

Business News

Nestlé Plans to Introduce Starbucks Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Coffee in India

• Nestlé S.A., the world’s leading coffee producer, is exploring the possibility of launching Starbucks-branded ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee products in India.
• This move is part of Nestlé’s broader global collaboration with Starbucks Corporation.
• The partnership permits Nestlé to market and distribute Starbucks’ packaged coffee and beverages outside of its café outlets.
• The RTD coffee segment has seen substantial growth globally, and introducing it in India could significantly impact the country’s coffee market.

Defence News

DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight Trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System 

• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out three consecutive flight tests of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at Chandipur, Odisha.
• These trials were designed to assess the system’s capability to neutralize fast-moving, low-altitude aerial threats.
• The tested targets simulated low-flying drones with reduced thermal signatures to evaluate VSHORADS’ precision and effectiveness.
• The successful trials reinforce India’s defence preparedness against evolving aerial threats.

Science & Technology News

BHU Researchers Discover New Phytopathogenic Fungus, Epicoccum indicum

• Scientists from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, have identified a new species of phytopathogenic fungus, Epicoccum indicum.
• This fungus is responsible for causing leaf spot disease in Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver), a plant widely used for medicinal and environmental applications.
• The discovery holds significant importance for agricultural research, as it could lead to better disease management strategies for vetiver crops.

Obituaries News

Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Navin Chawla, Passes Away at 79

• Navin Chawla, who served as India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), passed away at the age of 79.
• His tenure included serving as an Election Commissioner (EC) from 2005 to 2009 and as CEC from April 2009 to July 2010.
• His leadership in the Election Commission was marked by controversy, with allegations of partisan conduct raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• Despite criticisms, his role in conducting elections was a crucial chapter in India’s democratic process.

Former German President and IMF Chief Horst Koehler Passes Away at 81

• Horst Koehler, the former President of Germany (2004–2010) and former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), passed away at the age of 81 following a brief illness.
• Born in 1943 in German-occupied Poland, Koehler grew up in refugee camps before settling in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg.
• Overcoming early hardships, he rose to key leadership positions in German and global finance and politics.
• He served as a deputy finance minister under Chancellor Helmut Kohl before leading the IMF and later assuming the German presidency.
• Renowned for his independent views and strong public support, Koehler significantly influenced both national and global economic policies.

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