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Current Affairs 12 February 2025
1. Pankaj Advani Won 36th National Gold, Snooker Championship
Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani clinched his 36th national title
by winning the National Snooker Championship in 2025. The championship was held in Bangalore, where he defeated Sourav Kothari in a thrilling final. With this victory, Advani further cemented his legacy as India's most decorated cueist. His consistency and dominance in cue sports continue to inspire young players across the country. Advani has now set his sights on international tournaments, aiming for more global accolades.
by winning the National Snooker Championship in 2025. The championship was held in Bangalore, where he defeated Sourav Kothari in a thrilling final. With this victory, Advani further cemented his legacy as India's most decorated cueist. His consistency and dominance in cue sports continue to inspire young players across the country. Advani has now set his sights on international tournaments, aiming for more global accolades.Foot notes:
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Advani's Dominant Performance: After losing the opening frame, Advani maintained his composure and controlled the table, winning the match with a commanding display of skill and determination.
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Comeback King: Advani had suffered a loss to Damani in the group stage, but he turned the tables in the final, dropping just one frame in the match.
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Resilient Display: In the round of 48, Advani mounted an unforgettable comeback, winning the match 5-4 after being 4-2 down.
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Road to International Competitions: The Indian Snooker Championship serves as the only selection event for the Asian and World Championships, making Advani's win crucial for his international aspirations.
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Next Challenge: With the Asian Snooker Championship scheduled to commence from February 15, Advani and Damani will represent India on the international stage.
2. India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘CYCLONE-III’ Begins
The India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘CYCLONE-III’ has
commenced at Anshas, Egypt in February 2025. This third edition of the bilateral exercise focuses on counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and urban warfare operations. Elite Special Forces from both nations are participating to enhance interoperability and tactical coordination. The drill aims to strengthen defense cooperation between India and Egypt, reflecting their growing strategic partnership. ‘CYCLONE-III’ is a significant step in bolstering regional security and military collaboration.
commenced at Anshas, Egypt in February 2025. This third edition of the bilateral exercise focuses on counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and urban warfare operations. Elite Special Forces from both nations are participating to enhance interoperability and tactical coordination. The drill aims to strengthen defense cooperation between India and Egypt, reflecting their growing strategic partnership. ‘CYCLONE-III’ is a significant step in bolstering regional security and military collaboration.Foot notes:
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Duration and Aim: The exercise will be conducted from February 10 to 23, 2025, and aims to promote military-to-military relationships, enhance interoperability, jointness, and mutual exchange of special operations tactics between India and Egypt.
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Participating Contingents: The Indian contingent consists of 25 personnel from two Special Forces Battalions, while the Egyptian contingent also comprises 25 personnel from the Special Forces Group and Task Force of Egyptian Special Forces.
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Focus Areas: The exercise will focus on advanced special forces skills, counter-terrorism operations, reconnaissance, raids, sniping, combat free fall, surveillance, and target designation in desert/semi-desert terrain.
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Validation Exercise: The exercise will culminate in a 48-hour long validation exercise to rehearse and validate tactical drills for counter-terrorism operations.
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Benefits: The exercise will enable the two sides to share best practices, develop bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers, and enhance defence cooperation between India and Egypt.
3. Kyrian Jacquet Won Chennai Open ATP Challenger 2025
French tennis player Kyrian Jacquet emerged victorious at the
Chennai Open ATP Challenger 2025, securing his maiden Challenger title. He defeated [Opponent's Name] in the final with a dominant performance. The tournament, held at SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, witnessed Jacquet showcasing his exceptional skills and resilience. His victory marks a significant milestone in his career, boosting his ATP rankings. The Chennai Open continues to be a crucial platform for rising tennis stars on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Chennai Open ATP Challenger 2025, securing his maiden Challenger title. He defeated [Opponent's Name] in the final with a dominant performance. The tournament, held at SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, witnessed Jacquet showcasing his exceptional skills and resilience. His victory marks a significant milestone in his career, boosting his ATP rankings. The Chennai Open continues to be a crucial platform for rising tennis stars on the ATP Challenger Tour.Foot notes:
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Champion's Journey: Jacquet defeated Elias Ymer of Sweden in the final with a score of 7(7)-6(1), 6-4, securing his first ATP title.
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Road to Victory: In the semi-finals, Jacquet defeated Dalibor Svrcina of Czechia with a convincing score of 6-4, 6-1.
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Tournament Details: The 2025 Chennai Open was an ATP 100 Challenger event held from February 3-9, 2025, at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam, Tamil Nadu.
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Doubles Champions: Shintaro Mochizuki and Kaito Uesugi of Japan won the doubles title, defeating Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni of India with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
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Future Events: India will host three more ATP Challenger events in 2025: Bengaluru Open (February 10-16), Pune Open (February 17-23), and Delhi Open (February 24 - March 2).
4. Westlife Foodworld appoints Sandhydeep Purri as Chief People Officer
Westlife Foodworld, the company that operates McDonald's
restaurants in West and South India, has appointed Sandhydeep Purri as its Chief People Officer. She will be responsible for driving HR strategies, talent management, and organizational development. Purri brings extensive experience in human resources leadership, having worked with leading organizations in the past. Her appointment is expected to enhance employee engagement, workplace culture, and operational efficiency. Westlife Foodworld aims to strengthen its workforce and leadership team under her guidance.
restaurants in West and South India, has appointed Sandhydeep Purri as its Chief People Officer. She will be responsible for driving HR strategies, talent management, and organizational development. Purri brings extensive experience in human resources leadership, having worked with leading organizations in the past. Her appointment is expected to enhance employee engagement, workplace culture, and operational efficiency. Westlife Foodworld aims to strengthen its workforce and leadership team under her guidance.Foot notes:
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Experience and Background: Sandhydeep Purri brings nearly three decades of experience in human resources, having worked with prominent organizations like Unacademy Group, Aditya Birla Retail, and Deloitte.
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Role and Responsibilities: As Chief People Officer, Purri will oversee all HR functions, focusing on enhancing HR governance, optimizing strategic HR processes, and driving technology integration within HR.
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Leadership and Growth: Purri's leadership will be instrumental in aligning HR initiatives with Westlife Foodworld's business objectives, fostering a high-performance culture, and preparing the organization for future growth.
5. Foundit ropes in Jasprit Bumrah as Brand Ambassador
Foundit has appointed Jasprit Bumrah as its brand ambassador. The
partnership aims to inspire job seekers by aligning Bumrah’s precision, resilience, and excellence with career-building aspirations. As one of India’s top cricketers, Bumrah’s association reflects Foundit's commitment to empowering professionals in their job search journey. The brand seeks to leverage his popularity to enhance its visibility among young professionals and fresh graduates. This collaboration reinforces Foundit's positioning as a leading talent platform in India.
partnership aims to inspire job seekers by aligning Bumrah’s precision, resilience, and excellence with career-building aspirations. As one of India’s top cricketers, Bumrah’s association reflects Foundit's commitment to empowering professionals in their job search journey. The brand seeks to leverage his popularity to enhance its visibility among young professionals and fresh graduates. This collaboration reinforces Foundit's positioning as a leading talent platform in India.Foot notes:
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Partnership Announcement: Foundit, Asia's leading jobs and talent platform, has appointed Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as its new brand ambassador.
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Synergy Between Bumrah and foundit: The partnership highlights the similarities between Bumrah's precision and speed on the cricket field and foundit's AI-powered job search that delivers relevant jobs.
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Campaign Launch: A campaign featuring Jasprit Bumrah will launch across various media platforms in the coming months, emphasizing the importance of applying cutting-edge technology to pinpoint the perfect opportunity.
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Bumrah's Qualities Align with foundit's Values: foundit's CEO, V Suresh, stated that Bumrah's exceptional performances in 2024 demonstrated agility, precision, and dependability, which closely align with foundit's vision of empowering professionals in the evolving job market.
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Target Audience: With 70% of India's job seekers being cricket fans, Bumrah connects with a vast and engaged audience, making him an ideal brand ambassador for foundit.
6. ZEISS India appoints Baskar Kesavalu as Head of Vision Technology Solutions
ZEISS India has appointed Baskar Kesavalu as the Head of Vision
Technology Solutions. In this role, he will drive innovation, business growth, and strategic development in the vision care segment. Kesavalu brings extensive experience in technology-driven solutions and leadership across various industries. His appointment aligns with ZEISS India's vision to enhance optical and vision care solutions in the region. Under his leadership, the company aims to strengthen its market presence and technological advancements in India.
Technology Solutions. In this role, he will drive innovation, business growth, and strategic development in the vision care segment. Kesavalu brings extensive experience in technology-driven solutions and leadership across various industries. His appointment aligns with ZEISS India's vision to enhance optical and vision care solutions in the region. Under his leadership, the company aims to strengthen its market presence and technological advancements in India.Foot notes:
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Experience and Background: Baskar Kesavalu brings over 30 years of experience in the defense, healthcare, and consumer electronics industries, having worked with prominent organizations like GE HealthCare, Cisco Systems, and ST Microelectronics.
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Role and Responsibilities: As Head of VTS, Kesavalu will oversee Research & Development, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, and Product Management in India, playing a crucial role in strengthening ZEISS' presence in the country.
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Expertise and Achievements: Kesavalu specializes in technology leadership, product development, and agile transformation, with expertise in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Continuous Integration & Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), and DevOps.
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Education and Credentials: Kesavalu holds a Master of Science in Software Engineering from the National University of California and an Executive General Management Program credential from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bengaluru.
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ZEISS India's Growth Plans: The appointment comes at a time when ZEISS is expanding its business in India through investments, strategic alliances, and launches, with Kesavalu's leadership expected to play a key role in driving this growth.
7. Indian Students Win Bronze at Global M-Gov Awards 2025
A team of Indian students won the Bronze Medal at the Global M-
Gov Awards 2025 for their innovative mobile governance solution. The competition, held in Dubai, recognizes outstanding digital initiatives that enhance government services through mobile technology. The Indian team’s project focused on AI-driven citizen engagement and efficient public service delivery. Their achievement highlights India’s growing expertise in digital governance and technological innovation. The award reinforces India’s position as a leader in e-governance and smart solutions on the global stage.
Gov Awards 2025 for their innovative mobile governance solution. The competition, held in Dubai, recognizes outstanding digital initiatives that enhance government services through mobile technology. The Indian team’s project focused on AI-driven citizen engagement and efficient public service delivery. Their achievement highlights India’s growing expertise in digital governance and technological innovation. The award reinforces India’s position as a leader in e-governance and smart solutions on the global stage.Foot notes:
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Three Indian computer science students, Sagar Teotia (team lead), Abhinav Mishra, and Anushka Singh, from Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology in Delhi, won the Bronze Award.
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Award Details: The award was presented at the World Government Summit in Dubai and came with a cash prize of $10,000.
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Project: The students were recognized for their innovative project, "AccessWay," an AI-powered platform that provides accessible navigation, social connections, and emergency tools for individuals with disabilities.
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Global Recognition: The Global M-Gov Award is a prestigious international honor that recognizes innovative technological solutions advancing mobile government services and societal progress.
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Competition: The award received submissions from 74 countries, with over 3,500 entries and 60 shortlisted finalists, making this achievement even more remarkable.
8. Shri R K Chaudhary, CMD NHPC Felicitated with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’
Shri R.K. Chaudhary, the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of
NHPC, has been honored with the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the power sector and his leadership in driving NHPC’s growth in hydro and renewable energy. Under his guidance, NHPC has expanded its portfolio, focusing on sustainable energy solutions and infrastructure development. His visionary approach has played a crucial role in strengthening India’s renewable energy landscape. The award highlights his dedication and impact on the country’s energy sector.
NHPC, has been honored with the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the power sector and his leadership in driving NHPC’s growth in hydro and renewable energy. Under his guidance, NHPC has expanded its portfolio, focusing on sustainable energy solutions and infrastructure development. His visionary approach has played a crucial role in strengthening India’s renewable energy landscape. The award highlights his dedication and impact on the country’s energy sector.Foot notes:
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Award Recognition: The 'Lifetime Achievement Award for Hydropower' acknowledges Shri Chaudhary's dedication and commitment to the hydropower sector.
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Leadership at NHPC: Under Shri Chaudhary's leadership, NHPC has made significant progress in the development of hydropower and renewable energy projects.
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NHPC's Achievements: NHPC has also been conferred with the 'India's Best Hydro & Renewable Energy Public Sector Enterprise Award' by Enertia Foundation, recognizing its excellence in the sector.
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Vision for 2025: Shri Chaudhary has outlined his vision for NHPC in 2025, focusing on innovation, clean energy, and sustainable growth.
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Legacy and Impact: The 'Lifetime Achievement Award' is a testament to Shri Chaudhary's lasting impact on the hydropower sector and his contributions to India's renewable energy landscape.
9. Darwin Day observed on 12th February
Darwin Day was observed on 12th February 2025 to celebrate the
birth anniversary of Charles Darwin (1809-1882). The day honors his contributions to science, particularly his theory of evolution by natural selection. Various institutions, scientists, and educators worldwide marked the occasion with lectures, discussions, and events promoting scientific awareness. Darwin’s work continues to influence biology, genetics, and environmental sciences. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of scientific inquiry, reason, and evidence-based thinking.
birth anniversary of Charles Darwin (1809-1882). The day honors his contributions to science, particularly his theory of evolution by natural selection. Various institutions, scientists, and educators worldwide marked the occasion with lectures, discussions, and events promoting scientific awareness. Darwin’s work continues to influence biology, genetics, and environmental sciences. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of scientific inquiry, reason, and evidence-based thinking.Foot notes:
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Theory of Evolution: Darwin is best known for his groundbreaking theory of evolution through natural selection, which he published in his book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.
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Celebrations: Darwin Day is observed globally through various events, including lectures, seminars, and exhibitions, to promote public understanding and appreciation of science, particularly evolutionary biology.
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International Recognition: In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized February 12 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and Darwin Day, acknowledging the importance of science education and the contributions of scientists like Darwin.
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Legacy: Charles Darwin's work has had a profound impact on modern biology, ecology, and conservation, inspiring generations of scientists, researchers, and thinkers to explore the natural world and advance our understanding of the Earth's biodiversity.
10. Acharya Satyendra Das, Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, passed away
Acharya Satyendra Das, the Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi
Temple, has passed away. He had been serving as the head priest for several decades, overseeing religious rituals at the temple in Ayodhya. His contributions were significant in the Ram Mandir movement and the recent consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla's idol. His demise is a major loss to the religious and spiritual community. Devotees and temple authorities have expressed deep condolences over his passing.
Temple, has passed away. He had been serving as the head priest for several decades, overseeing religious rituals at the temple in Ayodhya. His contributions were significant in the Ram Mandir movement and the recent consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla's idol. His demise is a major loss to the religious and spiritual community. Devotees and temple authorities have expressed deep condolences over his passing.Foot notes:
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Longest-Serving Chief Priest: Acharya Satyendra Das was the longest-serving chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, serving for over three decades.
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Association with Nirvani Akhara: He was associated with the Nirvani Akhara, one of Ayodhya's prominent religious sects.
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Respect and Accessibility: Acharya Das was known for his accessibility and was often sought out by journalists for insights into the Ram Temple movement and developments in Ayodhya.
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Condolences from Leaders: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to Acharya Das, calling his passing "an irreparable loss".
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Last Rites: His last rites will be performed on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya.
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