• A holy month for Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset.
• Purpose: Encourages self-discipline, spiritual reflection, and empathy for those in need.
• Lunar Calendar: The start date varies based on moon sightings, and in 2025, it begins on February 28.
• Spiritual Significance: Mosques become centers of activity, and families and communities gather for evening prayers (Taraweeh) and to break the fast together at Iftar.

• Observed globally on February 28 (or 29 in leap years) to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact.
• Initiation: Started in 2008, coordinated by European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and over 65 national alliance patient organization partners.
• Purpose: Advocates for equity in social opportunities, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for individuals living with rare diseases.
• Global Participation: By 2024, events were held in over 100 countries to mark the day.

• Celebrated annually on February 28 to honor the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928.
• Recognition: Sir C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for this discovery.
• Objective: Aims to promote scientific temper and encourage innovation among students and the general public.
• 2025 Theme: “Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science and Innovation for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

• The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has issued a stern warning to Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medical colleges across India.
• About NCISM:
  • Statutory body established under the NCISM Act, 2020.
  • Operates under the Ministry of Ayush.
  • Oversees the Board of Ayurveda, Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowarigpa.
• Objectives:
  • Ensure the availability of adequate, high-quality medical professionals in Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM).
  • Promote the adoption of the latest medical research among ISM professionals.
  • Conduct periodic assessments of ISM medical institutions.

• India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani clinched the men’s title at the 2025 Asian Snooker Championship in Doha, Qatar, held from February 15 to 21, 2025.
• Men’s Champion: India’s Pankaj Advani clinched his 14th Asian title by defeating Iran’s Amir Sarkosh 4-1 in the final.
• Women’s Champion: Narantuya Bayarsaikhan from Mongolia won the women’s title by defeating Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee in the final.
• Event Categories: The championship featured men’s, women’s, and under-21 events.
• Organizer – ACBS: Organized by the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (established 1984), which governs non-professional English billiards and snooker in Asia.
• ACBS Details: Comprises 25 member federations, is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, and is led by President Mohamed Salem Al-Nuaimi.

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) reconvened in Rome, Italy, from February 25-27, 2025.

• This crucial meeting aims to reignite momentum after a disrupted session in Cali, Colombia.
• Objectives :
• Launch the Cali Fund to ensure equitable sharing of benefits from Digital Sequence Information (DSI), prioritizing support for Indigenous communities and biodiversity projects.
• Finalizing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Advance decisions related to this framework, which targets halting biodiversity decline and ecosystem restoration by 2030.
• Funding Goal: $200 billion annually by 2030; At least $20 billion per year by 2025, $30 billion annually by 2030.
• COP17 in 2026: Outcomes from the Rome session will significantly influence discussions and decisions at COP17, scheduled for Yerevan, Armenia, in 2026.

About Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

It is an international legally binding treaty with three primary objectives:

1. Conservation of biological diversity.
2. Sustainable use of its components.
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

• Adoption and Ratification: Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on June 5, 1992, and entered into force on December 29, 1993. As of now, 196 countries are parties to the CBD, with the United States notably absent.
• Conference of the Parties (COP): The governing body of the CBD, with meetings to review progress and set priorities.

Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela (PKVM) 2025, organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), took place from February 22nd to 24th, 2025 at New Delhi.

• Theme: “Unnat Krishi – Viksit Bharat”.

Key Highlights:

• Live demonstrationsof IARI technologies.
• Technical sessionson climate-resilient agriculture, digital farming, startups.
• Sale of Pusa Seedsand agro-advisories for farmers.

About ICAR-IARI:

• Establishment:Founded in 1905 as the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa, Bihar; relocated to New Delhi in 1936 following an earthquake.
• Significance:Known as the “Mother of Agricultural Research and Education” in India, instrumental in the Green Revolution through the development of high-yielding crop varieties.

In the 119th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode on February 23, 2025, Prime Minister Modi recognized the Soliga tribe’s for their effective tiger conservation in the Biligirirangana Hills (BRT) Tiger Reserve

About Biligirirangana Hills (BRT) Tiger Reserve

• Location:Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka
• Biodiversity:Home to tigers, elephants, leopards & endemic species
• Cultural Significance:Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple
• Soliga Tribe’s Role in Conservation:
• Helped increase tiger population from 8-10 to ~50
• Granted forest rights in 2011, enabling sustainable conservation

Farmers observed “Pagri Sambhal Diwas” (Feb 23, 2025) during Punjab-Haryana protests, honoring Ajit Singh.

• Meaning:“Take care of your turban, O farmer” – symbol of self-respect
• Launched:1907 by Ajit Singh to protest British laws
• British Laws Opposed:
  • Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900 – Restricted farmers’ rights to sell or mortgage land.
  • Punjab Land Colonisation Act, 1906 – Gave British control over land in the Chenab Colony.
  • Doab Bari Act, 1907 – Reduced farmers to contract workers.
• Inspired the Ghadar Movement & Bhagat Singh’s activism

Invest Madhya Pradesh – Global Investors Summit, a leading biennial event, held its 8th edition in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, on February 24-25, 2025.

• Objective: Attracting investments to boost economic growth in Madhya Pradesh
• Outcomes:
• ₹77 Lakh Crore MoUs signed for investment.
• Aligned with PM Modi’s vision to make India the 3rd largest economy.