Assam’s largest tribal community, the Mising tribe, recently celebrated the Ali Ai Ligang festival.

• Agricultural Significance: Marks the beginning of the sowing season and the start of cultivation, with the name translating to “sowing of seeds and roots.”
• Timing: Celebrated on the first Wednesday of Fagun, aligning with the agricultural calendar.
• Cultural Heritage: Showcases the tribe’s rich traditions and strong connection to the land.
• Festive Rituals: Begins with the hoisting of the festival flag, known as Laitom Tomchar.
• Spiritual Beliefs: The Mising tribe follows the cult of Donyi Polo, worshipping the Sun and Moon.

Manu Bhaker won the 2024 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award.

• Award presented by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
• First Indian athlete post-independence to win two medals in a single Summer Olympics (Paris 2024).
• Won bronze medals in 10m air pistol and mixed 10m air pistol events.
• Previous BBC recognition: 2020 BBC Emerging Athlete of the Year.
• Winner selected through public voting after nomination by a panel of sports journalists.
• Other 2024 nominees: Smriti Mandhana, Aditi Ashok, Avani Lekhara, Vinesh Phogat.

The 2nd All India State Water Ministers Conference was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on 18thand 19th February 2025.

• Organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Water Resources).
• Theme: “India@2047 – Water Secure Nation.”
• Aims to enhance collaboration between states and ministries for water resource management.
• Focus areas include strengthening water governance, improving potable water distribution, and irrigation management.
• Emphasizes demand management, water use efficiency, and integrated river and coastal management.

Zomato has unveiled “Nugget,” an AI-powered customer support platform designed to automate business operations.

• Developed internally over three years and manages 15 million interactions monthly.
• Automates up to 80% of customer queries, reducing operational costs.
• Highly customizable and requires no development team for implementation.
• Offers real-time learning and adaptation capabilities.

The Supreme Court of India instructed the newly constituted supervisory committee overseeing the Mullaperiyar Dam’s safety to address repair and maintenance concerns raised by Tamil Nadu. The committee has been given four weeks to submit its report.

• Historical Context: Constructed in the late 19th century, the Mullaperiyar Dam is located in Kerala but is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu under a 999-year lease agreement established in 1886. This arrangement has been a source of disputes, especially concerning the dam’s safety and water management.
• Location: Situated in the Idukki district of Kerala, the dam stands at an elevation of 881 meters above sea level in the Cardamom Hills.
• River Systems: The dam is built at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar
• Surroundings: The reservoir created by the dam is encompassed by the Periyar National Park, a protected wildlife sanctuary.

• 24th February 2025 is designated as Central Excise Day 2025.
• The day honors the valuable service provided by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) to the country.
• The Central Excise Department, one of India’s oldest, was established in 1855 during the British Raj.
• The Central Excise Act, also known as the Central Excise and Salt Act, was regulated in 1944, marking the first celebration of Central Excise Day.

• World Peace and Understanding Day, observed annually on February 23rd, commemorates the founding of Rotary International, an organization dedicated to fostering global understanding and peace.
• Origin: The day commemorates the inaugural meeting of Rotary International in 1905. This organization has since become a global force for humanitarian service and peace.

The Himachal Pradesh government has approved a pilot project for cannabis cultivation, focusing on its agricultural, medicinal, and industrial applications.

• The pilot project for cannabis cultivation in Himachal Pradesh will commence on the campuses of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agriculture University in Palampur and Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture in Nauni, Solan.

About

• Scientific Name:Cannabis sativa
• Common Uses:Medicinal, Industrial (Hemp), and Recreational
• Main Chemical Compounds:
  • THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol):Psychoactive component
  • CBD (Cannabidiol):Non-psychoactive, medicinal benefits

Legal Status in India

• Regulated Under:Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985
• Allowed:Use of leaves and seeds for medicinal and industrial purposes (state-regulated)
• Prohibited:Production and sale of cannabis resin and flowers
• States Permitting Controlled Cultivation:
  • Uttarakhand (2018)– First Indian state to legalize industrial hemp
  • Madhya Pradesh (2019)– Approved for medicinal and industrial use
  • Himachal Pradesh (2025)– Approved pilot project for cannabis cultivation.

India’s first government-led initiative for the safe collection and disposal of expired medicines launches on February 22, 2025, under Kerala’s nPROUD program.

• Objective:Collect and scientifically dispose of expired and unused medicines to prevent environmental pollution and health hazards.

Implementation:

• Collection Methods:Scheduled pickups from households and designated blue drop-off boxes.
• Pilot Phase:Initiated in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat, with plans for statewide expansion.
• Collaboration:Led by the Drugs Control Department, supported by local self-government bodies and Haritha Karma Sena members.
• Background:Builds upon the 2021 PROUD pilot in Thiruvananthapuram, which disposed of 21 tonnes of unused medicines.

Recently, Brazil approved entry into OPEC+.

About Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

• Established:1960, Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela.
• Objective:Stabilize and coordinate petroleum policies among member nations.
• Headquarters:Vienna, Austria.
• Members (2024):12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, Nigeria, Libya.
• India’s Status:Not a member but a major oil importer.

OPEC+

• Formation:2016, OPEC + 10 non-OPEC nations (e.g., Russia, Kazakhstan, Mexico).
• Objective:Stabilize global oil markets amid U.S. shale oil surge.