The Champions Trophy begins today with Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi. The tournament, last held in 2017, has the defending champions hosting the event. Matches will take place across three cities in Pakistan, while the Indian team is set up in Dubai after their refusal to travel to Pakistan.
Isro, in collaboration with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest globally for solid propellants. This indigenous mixer will enhance the production of solid rocket motors, playing a crucial role in India’s space transportation systems. The mixer improves efficiency and safety in production and marks a significant step towards self-reliance in the space sector.
National Investigation Agency arrested two individuals in Uttara Kannada for allegedly leaking information about Karwar naval base to Pakistan through honey-trapping. The accused were trapped by Pakistani intelligence and shared naval details in exchange for money. They were employed with a local company. More arrests are likely as authorities suspect a wider network.
Three officials and two security guards from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) were arrested for allegedly assaulting Nepalese students protesting the suicide of a fellow student. The Odisha government has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident, and KIIT has suspended three officials and dismissed the security guards involved.
The Sangam waters during Maha Kumbh have alarming levels of faecal and total coliform, exceeding CPCB standards by up to 1,400 times in the Ganga and 660 times in the Yamuna. This contamination endangers public health, prompting NGT to summon UP authorities for not complying with directives to maintain water quality, posing risks of waterborne diseases and environmental harm.
India and Qatar have upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership through bilateral talks between PM Narendra Modi and Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. Qatar committed a $10 billion investment in India, and both nations plan to double their $14 billion bilateral trade over the next five years.
Tesla has selected locations for its showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai as part of its plan to enter the Indian auto market. Leases have been secured in Aerocity and Bandra Kurla Complex for showrooms around 5,000 square feet each. Tesla has also posted job listings, indicating its expanding operations in India.
The UPSC has extended the application deadline for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 to February 21. Candidates can make corrections from February 22 to February 28. Initially set for February 11, the deadline has been postponed twice. Applicants must register online at upsconline.gov.in to complete the process.
