• On February 13, 2025, the Income-Tax Bill, 2025 was introduced to the Lok Sabha.
• The bill is intended to replace the 1961 Income-Tax Act by simplifying the language, and removing unneeded sections, while keeping the majority of the original act.

Formation:

• A 31-member Select Committee has been established by the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Chairmanship & Composition:

• Chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, with 17 members from the ruling National Democratic Alliance.

Mandate:

• To examine the new Income Tax Bill and submit its report by the first day of the Monsoon session.

New Income Tax Bill Overview:

• Aims to modernize the tax structure by simplifying compliance procedures, revising tax slabs, and enhancing digital administration.
• Expected to streamline tax processes, widen the tax base, and improve revenue generation.

Event & Occasion:

• Prime Minister to witness the event at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Assam’s tea industry.

Cultural Significance:

• Showcases the traditional jhumur dance of Assam’s tea tribes, brought by 19th-century migrants from Central India.

Tea Tribes Background:

• Comprise multi-ethnic tea garden workers, classified as OBC in Assam, yet striving for Scheduled Tribe status.

Festival Elements:

• Central to tea garden celebrations like Tushu Puja and Karam Puja.
• Features coordinated dance, traditional music, and songs that narrate the community’s migration and cultural heritage.

• The fourth Samvad, a Hindu-Buddhist global forum for conflict avoidance, was conducted from February 14–17, 2025, in Bangkok and Ayutthaya, Thailand.”
• Organizer: Conducted by the New Delhi-based Vivekananda International Foundation.
• Theme: “Asian Century of Dharma—Dhamma.”
• Focus:
  • Explored cultural and philosophical exchanges across Asia.
  • Promoted dialogue on shared spiritual traditions and cultural heritage.
• Significance:
• Served as a platform for cross-cultural engagement and the celebration of Asian philosophical thought.

• The 9th Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) 2025 is scheduled from February 20 to 22, 2025, in Pune, Maharashtra.
• Organizers: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Pune International Centre (PIC).
• Theme: “Economic Resilience and Resurgence in an Era of Fragmentation.”
• Key Discussion Areas:
  • Impact of AI and automation.
  • Cybersecurity challenges.
  • Prospects in the Blue Economy.
  • Development of MSMEs.
  • Climate change effects on the global economy.
• Notable Inauguration: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal officially opened the dialogue.

• Published by: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
• Coverage: Assesses SDG progress in 58 countriesacross Asia-Pacific.
• Overall SDG Progress:
• 16 out of 117 targets are on track for 2030.
• 18 targets show negative trends, needing urgent action.
• At the current pace, SDGs will be achieved by 2062, missing the 2030 deadline by 32 years.
• Best Performing SDGs:
  • SDG 1 (No Poverty)– Decline in extreme poverty.
  • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure)– Improved digital connectivity.
  • SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being)– Gains in life expectancy and disease control.
• Lagging SDGs:
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action)– Rising CO₂ emissions, worsening extreme weather.
  • SDG 4 (Quality Education)– Widening learning gaps, low investment.
  • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production)– Resource wastage, unsustainable practices.
  • SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth)– High youth unemployment, informal labor issues.

• Data Challenges:
• Only 54% of SDG indicatorshave sufficient data.
• Major gaps in data for women, rural, and indigenous populations.
• ESCAP recommends modernizing statistical systems with technology.
• Community Innovations:
• India: AI mapping for nomadic households.
• Indonesia: Health-monitoring apps for maternal care.
• Nepal: Renewable energy projects expanding electricity access.

• Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari has imposed a ban on the sale, purchase, and distribution of gutka, pan masala, and other tobacco products.
• Duration: One-year prohibition.
• Prohibited Items: Gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine or tobacco.
• Legal Basis: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related 2011 regulations.
• Primary Goal: To decrease oral cancer incidence and safeguard public health.
• Enforcement Agency: Health and Family Welfare Department, Jharkhand.

• Indonesia’s Mount Dukono recently triggered aviation alerts and public safety measures by releasing a 2,000-meter ash plume.
• Location: Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia.
• Volcano Type: Active stratovolcano, 1,087 m in elevation.

Recent Activity:

• Persistent eruptions with frequent ash clouds.
• Latest eruption produced a 2,000-meter ash column, prompting an orange-level aviation warning (VONA).

Safety Measures:

• Flight restrictions within a 5 km radius.
• Residents advised to stay 4 km away from the Malupang Warirang crater.

Recently, the government appointed former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das as Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Appointment:

• Former RBI Governor and retired IAS (1980, TN) appointed as Principal Secretary-2 to the PM; tenure co-terminus with the PM’s term.
• Serves alongside Dr. P.K. Mishra (Principal Secretary-1).

Background:

• Concluded his term as the 25th RBI Governor on December 10, 2024.
• Previously held key roles in the Ministry of Finance, including Finance Secretary Designate.

Expertise:

• Renowned for his proficiency in monetary policy, fiscal strategy, and financial governance, expected to strengthen PMO decision-making.

• Veer Savarkar’s death anniversary on February 26th commemorates his 1966 passing, which followed a self-imposed fast, reflecting his belief in ending life when it no longer served society.

Historical Role:

• Celebrates his contributions to the Indian independence movement and development of Hindutva philosophy.

Imprisonment & Writings:

• His time in Cellular Jail inspired writings like “The Indian War of Independence” and fueled his advocacy for social reform.

• Launch: Elon Musk’s XAI unveiled Grok-3, its latest AI chatbot.
• Capabilities: Described by Musk as the “smartest AI on Earth.”
• Etymology: “Grok” derived from Robert Heinlein’s novel, “Stranger in a Strange Land.”
• Performance: Grok-3 reportedly outperformed leading AI models, including Google’s Gemini 2 Pro, DeepSeek V3, and OpenAI’s GPT-4o.