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1. Amidst the AI conflict between USA and China, PM Modi co-hosted the ‘AI Action Summit’ with the President of which country?
a. America
b. France
c. Russia
d. China
Answer: b. France
– Amid direct clashes over AI technology between Chinese and American companies, the AI Action Summit was held in Paris.
Grand Welcome for the Prime Minister in France
– Before co-chairing the AI Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron with a hug at the welcome dinner.
– This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sixth visit to France.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
– AI stands for Artificial Intelligence.
– It refers to a machine that can think intelligently, analyze data by itself, converse, speak and understand languages, and find answers to difficult questions. It can perform tasks that are assigned to it.
– Examples of AI include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and China’s DeepSeek.
These are just examples; AI is now being used in more impactful and varied forms.
Basic Information about the AI Action Summit
– When was it held: February 10-11
– Where was it held: Paris, France
– Who chaired the summit: India and France jointly
– What edition: The third edition (Previously, two editions were held in the UK, and a smaller
meeting was held in Seoul, South Korea)
– How many countries participated: Heads of state, senior government officials, CEOs, and scientists from 100 countries participated.
Three Main Objectives of the AI Action Summit
– To provide users with access to independent, safe, and reliable AI.
– To develop AI that is more environmentally friendly.
– To ensure global administration of AI that is both effective and inclusive.
Note: According to The Hindu newspaper, the summit has another hidden agenda – preventing AI from becoming a U.S.-China war.
The Summit Focused on Five Themes
1. Public Service AI
2. The Future of Work
3. Innovation and Culture
4. Trust in AI
5. Global Governance of AI
Why This Summit is Special
– A significant difference between this year’s summit and the summit held in the UK in 2023 is: China and DeepSeek, a low-cost model from the country, have challenged the U.S.’s dominance in the AI field.
– Until now, it was mainly American companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google that were setting the AI agenda – they had access to the most advanced hardware created by another U.S. company, Nvidia, as well as access to the best AI talent in the world.
– However, in early 2025, when a Chinese AI lab released DeepSeek as an open-source model, the world took notice.
– There were several key reasons for this. DeepSeek is not only competing with OpenAI’s latest models on several parameters but has also been trained with limited access to cutting-edge hardware due to restrictions, at a much lower cost (around $6 million).
– This is a fraction of what OpenAI spent to train its models.
– Additionally, DeepSeek is open-source, unlike OpenAI’s models, which allows developers to easily build on top of previous models, raising concerns that OpenAI’s competitive advantage might be at risk.
Who is Attending the Summit?
– U.S. Vice President JD Vance is also present at the summit, marking his first official foreign visit since taking office.
– Along with him, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai are also attending.
– The U.S. wants to present a strong position at this summit.
– Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent his special envoy, Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, signaling interest in the meeting.
What is India’s AI Plan?
– Nearly 70% of companies are integrating AI with their technical needs.
– By 2027, a total of ₹44,000 crore will be spent on AI.
– In the next two years, 120,000 new jobs will be created in the fields of AI, generative AI, and analytics.
– The budget has allocated ₹500 crore for the AI mission.
– Work has begun on establishing 3 AI Excellence Centers in the country.
What is the Importance of the AI Summit for India?
– India is playing a significant role in the field of AI in Paris.
– French President Macron has recognized India as an important country that can play a key role in the development of AI and in preventing its misuse. PM Modi’s presence at the summit will provide an opportunity to showcase India’s technological strength on the international stage.
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2. The then Chief Minister of which violence-hit state, N. Biren Singh resigned from his post in February 2025?
a. Meghalaya
b. Assam
c. Manipur
d. Sikkim
Answer: c. Manipur
– He resigned from his position on February 9, 2025, after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
– He had assumed office as the 12th Chief Minister of Manipur in March 2017.
– Biren Singh’s resignation came at a time when nearly two years had passed since the violence between the Kuki-Zo (“Zo” meaning “hill people”) and Meitei communities in the state. Over 250 people have died so far. This violence started on May 3, 2023, and led to the displacement of more than 60,000 people.
Resignation Following Supreme Court’s Order
– According to The Hindu newspaper, this resignation came after the Supreme Court’s order on February 4, 2025, which asked for the truth behind an audio recording in which Biren Singh was heard admitting to violence against the Kuki-Zo community.
Note:- A viral video from July 2023, showing a mob parading two women naked amid ethnic violence in Manipur, shocked the entire nation.
Violence in Manipur
– Violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities has been ongoing for nearly two years.
– The violence has not yet fully subsided.
– On March 27, 2023, the Manipur High Court issued an order directing the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes promptly.
– Shortly after this order, on May 3, 2023, ethnic violence broke out between the Kuki and Meitei communities in the state.
– Indian Express journalist Deeptiman Tiwari says this is a unique conflict. This kind of complete division between two communities has never been seen before.
– The two communities are so divided now that they believe they can no longer live together.
– There is a genocide happening here. Many people have been killed. Thousands of homes have been burned.
– The Kuki community has started demanding a separate administration.
– On the other hand, the Meitei community claims that there is narco-terrorism in the Kuki areas.
There are two groups in Manipur:
– One is the Meitei community (which is the majority).
– The other consists of the Kuki and Naga Scheduled Tribes (ST) of the state.
Meitei Community’s Demand
– The Meitei community wants to be given the status of a Scheduled Tribe.
– However, the Kuki community, which is already part of the Scheduled Tribes, is against this demand.
– The entire conflict is centered around this issue.
Meitei’s Demand
– The Meitei demand is to be granted Scheduled Tribe status.
– It is said that the Meitei were originally a tribe, who later adopted Hinduism. Some of them are Muslims and Christians, but most are Hindus. They live in the Imphal Valley and occupy only 10% of Manipur’s area.
– Other tribes include the Kuki and Naga. Both of these communities are mostly Christian.
– However, the minority (Kuki and Naga) argue that although they have large mountainous areas, they do not have proper facilities.
– In the valley, one can engage in farming, and there are medical colleges, hospitals, educational institutions, and other facilities.
– The Meitei community claims that they are not allowed to purchase land in tribal areas.
Manipur
– Governor: Ajay Kumar Bhalla
– Capital: Imphal
– Neighboring States: Nagaland, Assam, and Mizoram
– Bordering Country: Myanmar
Historical Background
– The British took control of Manipur in 1891.
– After India’s independence, it was a sovereign princely state.
– In 1949, Manipur merged into the Indian Union.
– From 1956 to 1972, Manipur was a Union Territory.
– In 1972, Manipur was granted the status of a full-fledged state.
Disputes After Becoming a State
– After becoming a state, the tribal areas in the hill districts of Manipur were protected under Article 371C of the Constitution.
– Under Article 371C, non-tribals are prohibited from buying land in the hill districts (similar to how Article 370 was abolished in Jammu and Kashmir).
– The hill areas constitute 90% of Manipur’s land. Indigenous tribes live here, with 34 recognized tribes, broadly categorized as “Any Kuki Tribes” and “Any Naga Tribes.” Their population is significantly less than 36% of the state’s total population.
– The valley area makes up 10% of Manipur and is primarily inhabited by the Meitei community, some of whom are categorized as OBC (Other Backward Classes) and others as Scheduled Castes. Their population constitutes 64.6% of the state’s population.
– Ethnically, the valley is mostly Hindu, while the hill areas are influenced by Christianity.
– Development in the state has not been uniform. The valley has seen better development, while the hill areas (in terms of health, education, and other factors) have seen very little development.
– This division is referred to as the “Hill-Valley Divide.”
– The tribal areas, which constitute 90% of the state’s land, only send 20 legislators to the 60-seat Legislative Assembly because of their smaller population.
– Meanwhile, the valley, which only constitutes 10% of the land, sends 40 members to the Assembly due to its larger population.
– This creates ongoing tension between the two regions.
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3. The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and restructuring of the ‘Skill India Program (SIP) till the year 2026 with an outlay of how many crore rupees?
a. 5,500
b. 6,700
c. 7,900
d. 8,800
Answer: d. 8,800
– The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and restructuring of the ‘Skill India Program (SIP)’ with an expenditure of ₹8,800 crore until 2026 on February 7, 2025.
– The Prime Minister’s Skill Development Scheme 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), Prime Minister’s National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme are the three major components now merged under the “Skill India Program” (SIP). This is a central government scheme.
Main Objective of the Schemes
– The main objective of these initiatives is to provide skill development, on-the-job training, and community-based education so that all populations, especially marginalized groups in urban and rural areas, can receive high-quality vocational education.
– This scheme is running under three major programs of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
– So far, more than 22.7 million people have benefited from these schemes.
Note: – The Skill India Program (SIP) will directly contribute to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, ensuring that workforce development policies remain aligned with economic and industrial trends.
Prime Minister’s Skill Development Scheme 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0)
– PMKVY 4.0 offers short-term training, which includes special projects (SP) and recognition of prior learning (RPL) through re-skilling and upskilling.
– This scheme is aimed at individuals aged 15 to 59 years. Over 400 new courses have been introduced so far, focusing on new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, Cybersecurity, Green Hydrogen, and Drone Technology.
– To enhance the quality of training, a group of 100,000 trainers and assessors is being prepared. This will ensure standards and expertise at training centers.
Prime Minister’s National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS)
– This scheme supports both apprentices and institutions in India. The central government provides a stipend of up to ₹1,500 per month, covering 25% of the stipend, which is directly credited to the apprentice’s account. The scheme is for individuals aged 14 to 35 years.
Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
– This is a community-centered skill development scheme. It makes vocational training accessible and easy for women, rural youth, and the poor. The scheme is for individuals aged 15 to 45 years.
The objective is to prepare people for self-employment or employment.
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4. RBI reduced the repo rate by how many basis points to 6.25% in the bi-monthly monetary policy review (February 2025)?
a. 100
b. 75
c. 25
d. 5
Answer: c. 25
– The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the repo rate from 6.50% to 6.25% in February 2025.
– To promote growth, the interest rate was reduced by 25 basis points to 6.25%.
– The RBI had kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.50% for the 11th time until December 2024.
– The MPC expects the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow at a rate of 6.7% in the financial year 2025-26, driven by consumption and investment.
– The MPC meeting was held from February 5 to 7, 2025.
What is Repo Rate?
– Simply put, when banks lend money to us, we have to pay interest on the loan.
– Similarly, banks also require large amounts of money for their daily operations and borrow from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
– The rate at which the RBI charges interest on these loans is called the repo rate.
Impact of Repo Rate on the Common Man
– The RBI has a powerful tool in the form of the repo rate to fight inflation.
– When inflation is very high, the RBI tries to reduce the flow of money in the economy by increasing the repo rate.
– When banks can avail loans at lower interest rates, i.e., when the repo rate is low, they can offer cheaper loans to their customers.
– Conversely, if the RBI raises the repo rate, borrowing for banks becomes expensive, and they will increase the cost of loans for their customers.
Reverse Repo Rate
– It is the opposite of the repo rate.
– When banks have surplus money after their daily operations, they deposit this amount in the Reserve Bank.
– The RBI gives them interest on this amount.
– The rate at which the RBI pays interest on this amount is called the reverse repo rate.
Monetary Policy Committee Ex-Officio Chairman – Sanjay Malhotra, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
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5. India will get the fourth squadron of air defense system S-400 manufactured in which country by the end of the year 2025?
a. France
b. Russia
c. America
d. China
Answer: b. Russia
India’s S-400 Air Defense System
– According to India Today News, India will receive the fourth squadron of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system by the end of 2025.
I- ndia has purchased five units of the S-400 from Russia.
– The fifth and final squadron of the S-400 is expected to be delivered by 2026.
– Three systems of the S-400 have already been delivered, and two more are still awaited.
– In October 2018, India and Russia signed a deal worth ₹35,000 crore for the supply of the S-400 system.
– The first batch of S-400 arrived in India in December 2021.
Where was it deployed first?
– The S-400 system was first deployed in Punjab, India.
– Due to the actions of neighboring countries Pakistan and China, India urgently needed this air defense system.
– From Punjab, it can address threats from both Pakistan and China.
– Three of its squadrons are deployed along the China and Pakistan borders.
World’s Most Modern Defense System: S-400
– This is an air defense system, meaning it prevents attacks through the air.
– The system can strike enemy missiles, drones, and aircraft in mid-air, within a range of 400 kilometers.
– It is effective in preventing attacks from enemy missiles, drones, rocket launchers, and fighter jets.
Features of the S-400:
– The entire system is mobile, meaning it can – be transported anywhere via roads.
– The radar in this system can detect multiple – targets from a distance of 600 kilometers.
– One unit of the S-400 can track 160 objects simultaneously.
– Its radar creates a protective perimeter around its operational area. If a missile or other weapon enters this zone, the radar detects it and alerts the command vehicle.
– The missile system can target 36 different objects simultaneously.
– It can launch two missiles at a single target.
– It can strike targets at an altitude of up to 30 kilometers.
Why is it needed?
– China signed a deal with Russia for the S-400 back in 2014.
– In August 2018, China received its first S-400 system.
– It has now become a part of the Chinese military.
– In 2019, China conducted a military exercise named “Shaheen” with Pakistan, during which the S-400 was used.
– The S-400 reduces the threat of a two-front war with Pakistan and China.
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6. In which state will India’s first AI University be established?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Rajasthan
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. Maharashtra
Answer: d. Maharashtra
– AI means Artificial Intelligence
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
– AI stands for Artificial Intelligence.
– It refers to a machine that is capable of being intelligent, analyzing data independently, communicating, speaking and understanding languages, finding answers to difficult questions, and performing tasks as given.
– Examples of AI include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and DeepSeek by a Chinese company.
– These are just examples; AI is now being used much more effectively in various forms.
– Maharashtra’s Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar announced on February 8, 2025, that the state is going to establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) University. A task force has been created for planning and implementing the project.
Members of the Task Force:
– The task force will be chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Information Technology Department.
– It will include directors from IIT Mumbai and IIM Mumbai, representatives from companies like Google India, Mahindra Group, and L&T, and officials from the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of the Government of India.
– Additionally, experts from the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission and the Data Protection Council of India will also be part of this task force.
Objectives of the AI University:
– The goal is to make Maharashtra the center for Artificial Intelligence (AI) education and innovation.
– This university will promote research and development in AI and related fields. It will also focus on skill development, technological innovation, and policy making.
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7. Who inaugurated the first BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gujarat in February 2025?
a. Kiren Rijiju
b. Hardeep Singh Puri
c. Mansukh Mandaviya
d. Jagat Prakash Nadda
Answer: c. Mansukh Mandaviya
– Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour and Employment, and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
– On February 8, 2025, he inaugurated the First BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
– The aim of the summit was to strengthen youth cooperation across the region and facilitate the exchange of youth-led initiatives among the BIMSTEC member countries.
– The session was held at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre, and it was chaired by Mansukh Mandaviya.
– The event was held from February 7 to 11, 2025.
About BIMSTEC:
– Full Name: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
– The headquarters is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
– Seven member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
– BIMSTEC includes countries around the Bay of Bengal. Almost 22% of the world’s population lives in these seven countries.
– Its goal is to act as an organization between South and Southeast Asia.
– The organization was formed in 1997 as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation). Later, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan joined, and the organization was renamed BIMSTEC.
Objective: To promote technical and economic cooperation between South Asian and Southeast Asian countries along the Bay of Bengal coast.
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8. Fierce freedom fighter Sam Nujoma passed away on 8 February 2025, he was the founder of which country?
a. Zambia
b. Namibia
c. South Africa
d. Botswana
Answer: b. Namibia
– The current president, Hage Geingob, confirmed the death of Sam Nujoma due to illness.
– Sam Nujoma, aged 95, led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
– He is known as the Father of the Nation of Namibia.
– Sam Nujoma served as Namibia’s first president for 15 years, and he was regarded as the nation’s founding father.
– He was the last of the African leaders from the generation who liberated their countries from white minority rule, including figures like Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, and Samora Machel of Mozambique.
Namibia:
– Capital: Windhoek
– Population: 2.6 million (2023)
– Language: English
– Neighboring Countries: Angola, to the north; Botswana, to the east; South Africa, to the south; and Zambia, to the northeast.
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9. When is the International Day of the Arabian Leopard observed?
a. 8 February
b. 9 February
c. 10 February
d. 11 February
Answer: c. 10 February
2025 Theme: “Leaps of Hope” Theme
– To raise awareness about the Arab Leopard, the United Nations General Assembly, under Resolution 77/295, declared February 10 as International Arab Leopard Day.
– This day was first celebrated in 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
– The purpose of this day is to take concrete steps for the conservation of this rare wildlife species and address its plight.
Arab Leopard:
– The Arab Leopard is an endangered subspecies of leopard found in the Arabian Peninsula.
– It is one of the smallest leopard subspecies, with an average weight of 30-40 kg for males and 25-35 kg for females.
– Its coat is yellow-brown, with smaller rosettes that are closely spaced.
– It is found in areas of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates.
– It is estimated that there are fewer than 200 Arab leopards left in the wild.
Reasons for Endangerment:
– The rapid urban development in the Arabian Peninsula is destroying its natural habitat.
– Agricultural activities and the grazing of more livestock are causing land degradation, which reduces the number of prey available for the leopards.
– Illegal hunting for their beautiful skins and bones continues.
– The growing demand for rare animals in the global market is putting immense pressure on this species.
– Increasing urbanization is leading the leopards to venture into human settlements, causing an increase in conflict incidents.
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10. Which film won the NETPAC (Network for Promoting Asian Cinema) Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025?
a. Asuran
b. Kaakha Kaakha
c. Thalapathy
d. Bad Girl
Answer: d. Bad Girl (Tamil film)
NETPAC Award
– Every year, a feature film from the Asia-Pacific region is awarded the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award.
– The film selected for this award must be from one of the 71 eligible countries in Asia or Pacific Islands.
– At the festival held on February 7, 2025, the Tamil movie “Bad Girl” won the NETPAC Award.
– The film is directed by Varsha Bharath, marking her debut.
– The movie is presented by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vetrimaran.
– The film features actors Anjali Shivraman, Shanthi Priya, Hrithu Haroon, TJ Arunachalam, and Sarnya Ravichandran.
– The movie’s music is composed by Amit Trivedi, the national award-winning music director, who made his Tamil debut with this film and wrote six songs for it.
– The cinematography is done by Preetha Jayaraman, Jagdish Ravi, and Prince Anderson, while the editing is by Radha Sridhar.
Controversial Teaser
– The teaser of this movie, released in January 2025, was controversial due to its portrayal of female sexual desires and caste-related issues.
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11. The US President signed the ‘First US Gulf Day’ proclamation on 9 February 2025, in which which region is being renamed?
a. Gulf of Mexico
b. Gulf of Suez
c. Gulf of Tunis
d. Gulf of Tonkin
Answer: a. Gulf of Mexico
– Donald Trump declared “First America Gulf Day” on February 9, which will celebrate the renaming of the area previously known as the Gulf of Mexico.
– Trump was en route to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59 when the Air Force One plane flew over the region that he was renaming, and he signed the proclamation during that time.
– When Trump took the oath of office on January 20, 2025, he had already signaled his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
– The Secretary of the Interior was instructed to take action to rename the region, which is surrounded by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, and to extend the boundary to the sea towards Mexico and Cuba.
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