The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 started, setting the stage for an electrifying 2-day event that promises to redefine innovation and collaboration across the region.
Across 10 specially curated Zones and 5 Stages the festival features more than 300 speakers from 45 countries, 150 start-up pods, and 320 investor meetings.
Connecting the global ecosystem under the theme of "Where We Belong," SEF 2025 champions the impact of community and the spirit of innovation.
SEF 2025 is organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (Sheraa) as the largest event of its kind in the region, and hosted at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP).
The Gujarat Biodiversity Board announced the designation of the 'Inland Mangrove Guneri' in Kutch as the state's first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS). This initiative aims to protect a unique mangrove ecosystem that thrives in a non-tidal environment. The site spans 32.78 hectares and is for its ecological diversity. The declaration represents a milestone in Gujarat's commitment to biodiversity conservation.
SEBI Introduces iSPOT Portal to Streamline Reporting of Technical Glitches
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) unveiled a new initiative aimed at simplifying the process of reporting technical glitches within India's financial markets. Known as the Integrated SEBI Portal for Technical Glitches (iSPOT), this portal will replace the outdated email-based system, bringing a more structured, efficient, and transparent way for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to report issues. The iSPOT portal is set to go live on February 3, 2025, offering significant improvements in how glitches are reported and managed.
This move is a part of SEBI's ongoing commitment to modernize the financial market infrastructure and ensure smoother operations. MIIs, which include stock exchanges, clearing corporations, and depositories, will now be able to submit detailed reports of technical issues, including the root cause analysis (RCA). SEBI's new system will centralize these reports, making it easier to track and resolve technical issues in real time, benefiting the entire securities market ecosystem.
India's MobiKwik and Cred Launch e-Rupee wallets
Fintech platforms MobiKwik and CRED became the first non-banking entities to offer the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) – e-Rupee (e₹) wallet – for users.
The product was developed in alliance with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Yes Bank, which will act as the sponsor bank for CBDC issuance.
CBDCs are digital currencies issued by central banks.
The e₹ wallet functions like physical cash and users can store e₹ in their wallets to send, receive, and make payments.
HDFC Life and SATYA MicroCapital Ltd. Collaborate to Strengthen Financial Inclusion with Life Insurance
HDFC Life became the preferred life insurance partner of SATYA MicroCapital Ltd. which will help in improving access to life insurance in underserved areas. This collaboration underscores the importance of partnerships in addressing the financial security needs of diverse population and expanding access to life insurance in regions where it is most needed.
SATYA MicroCapital Limited operates across 26 states and nearly 350 districts with a network of over 830 branches. The organisation has been working towards bridging the financial inclusion gap by supporting a significant number of rural women entrepreneurs and fostering local economies. The partnership seeks to build on SATYA's existing efforts by introducing life insurance as an additional layer of financial security.
Sunita Williams Breaks Spacewalking Record during 92nd US Spacewalk
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who is stuck in space since months, broke the record for total spacewalking time held by former astronaut Peggy Whitson, according to the International Space Station (ISS).
The NASA astronaut surpassed former astronaut Peggy Whitson's total spacewalking time of 60 hours and 21 minutes.
This was Williams' ninth spacewalk and the 92nd spacewalk by a US astronaut.
Dream Sports Foundation Announces Second Edition of U-17 Football Championship
Dream Sports Foundation announced the second edition of their under-17 club football tournament, following the success of the first edition of the Dream Sports Championship.
Set to begin in February 2025, the championship will be hosted across six cities, featuring Regional Rounds and a National Final, providing a platform for young footballers to showcase their skills.
The 2025 tournament will introduce a girls' U-17 Championship at the National Finals, highlighting DSF's commitment to promoting diversity in grassroots sports. The tournament will also assist the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) in identifying potential youth talent for the national team.
The first phase, scheduled from February 2-8, 2025, will see matches taking place in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. This phase will set the stage for intense competition as teams vie for a spot in the next round. The second phase, from February 10-14, 2025, will shift the action to Guwahati and Goa, where the remaining teams will battle it out for a place in the National Finals.
Fourth Mumbai Open to Kickstart from February 1
The fourth edition of the Mumbai Open was launched at the iconic Cricket Club of India.
The tournament is being organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and will be held at the hard courts of the Cricket Club of India (CCI).
The WTA 125 tournament will commence on February 1 with the qualifying round, while the main draw of the event will begin on February 3 with the finals scheduled on February 9, at the Cricket Club of India.
Best Marching Contingents and Tableaux of Republic Day Parade 2025 Announced
The results for the best Marching Contingents and Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2025 were announced. Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Sanjay Seth presented these awards to the best Marching Contingents and Tableaux at the Rashtriya Rangshala Camp in the capital.
He also conferred special prizes to CPWD Tableau and artists of cultural performance.
Uttar Pradesh tableaux showcasing the Mahakumbh 2025 – Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas won the first prize in the states' category while in a separate online poll, Gujarat walked away with the first prize under 'popular choice category'.
Below is the list of winners of Marching contingents and Tableaux:
Best Marching Contingent among Services – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Contingent
Best Marching Contingent among CAPFs/other auxiliary forces – Delhi Police Marching Contingent
Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments — Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh)
Centre Launches TEAM Initiative
The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), in partnership with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), announced the launch of an initiative to enable small and micro enterprises to join ONDC.
The initiative with a budget of Rs. 277.35 crore over three years will focus on onboarding 5 lakh micro and small enterprises, with 50 per cent of these being women-led businesses.
The MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative is aimed to enable MSMEs to embrace digital commerce and expand their market presence.
The TEAM Initiative will connect MSMEs with the ONDC Network. By providing access to digital storefronts, integrated payment systems, and logistics support, the initiative aims to reduce operational barriers and helps businesses tap into wider customer bases.
Civic Services Go On WhatsApp in Andhra Pradesh - A First in the Country
The Andhra Pradesh government launched WhatsApp governance, a first in the country, to increase transparency, speed, and accountability in civic services. In the first phase, 161 services will be available, helping citizens cut down on multiple trips to the civic offices. As Andhra Pradesh advances in digital technology adoption, this initiative aims to accelerate governance and make public services more accessible to citizens.
As part of the first phase, departments such as Endowments, Energy, APSRTC, Revenue, Anna Canteens, CM Relief Fund, and Municipal Administration will offer various services through WhatsApp. Additional services will be introduced in the second phase and the number of services offered will go up to 520.
Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan Assumes Charge as the Controller Warship Production and Acquisition
Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, AVSM, NM assumed charge as the Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition from Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan was commissioned in Indian Navy in 1987. He is a post-graduate from IIT, Kharagpur. In a career spanning more than 37 years, he has worked onboard the Aircraft Carrier, INS Viraat, for more than nine years in various capacities.
He has held many important assignments including Fleet Engineer Officer (Western Fleet), General Manager (Refit) at Naval Dockyard (Mumbai), Director of Personnel and Principal Director Ship Production at New Delhi.
Rajesh Nirwan Appointed as Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rajesh Nirwan as the Director General (DG) of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
A 1992-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Rajesh Nirwan brings a wealth of experience in law enforcement and security management. His career began with his posting as Superintendent of Police (SP), CID (CB), Jaipur. Over the years, he has served as the police chief in several districts, including Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, and Kota, where he gained extensive experience in handling complex law and order situations.
International Zebra Day, observed annually on January 31, is a significant event dedicated to raising awareness about the conservation of zebras.
International Zebra Day was established to draw attention to the declining population of zebras in the wild, particularly the Grevy's zebra, which is listed as critically endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species.
Infosys and Oxford University's Saïd Business School Introduce New Course for Entrepreneurs
Infosys and Oxford University's Saïd Business School launched the 'Springboard StartSmart: Foundations for Entrepreneurs' course. A free digital learning and reskilling platform, aimed at new entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Through this collaboration, Oxford Saïd's accredited courses will be tailored to the specific needs of young entrepreneurs empowering them at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from early-stage founders to those considering starting their businesses.
The course aims to democratise the overall learning process and equip learners with the knowledge and tools required to embrace digital transformation, apply fundamental business concepts, and leverage the potential of emerging technologies, including AI tools.
Goa Advances New School Session from June to April
The Goa Government announced that the academic year for students of Classes 6 to 10 and Class 12, for government, government-aided and unaided recognised schools in the state, will begin from April this year (2025) as against the prevailing practice of beginning in the month of June.
The classes will be conducted for the above grades in the month of April up to 11.30 am. The students will have summer vacation from May 1, 2025 to June 3, 2025. The schools will follow regular timings from June 4 onwards.
National Archives of India Hosts Special Exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi
On the occasion of Martyrs' Day, the National Archives of India (NAI), in collaboration with the National Gandhi Museum, the National Film Archives of India- NFDC and Prasar Bharati Archives, successfully hosted a special exhibition titled "Journey of the Mahatma: Through His Own Documents."
The exhibition was inaugurated by Arun Singhal, Director General, National Archives of India.
Amit Shah Releases "Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade" Book in New Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah released "Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade" book in New Delhi. On this occasion, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma, the book's editor Dr. Aishwarya Pandit, and several other distinguished personalities were present.
Supreme Court Allows Appointment of Retired Judges to High Courts On Ad-hoc Basis
The Supreme Court ordered that the High Courts can recommend appointment of retired judges on ad-hoc basis to tackle pendency and clear the backlog of pending criminal appeals.
These ad-hoc judges would sit with regular judges in Division Benches.
A Special Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justices B. R. Gavai and Surya Kant added that each High Court can appoint two to five judges and in any case, the number should not exceed 10 percent of sanctioned strength.
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