World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February, since the General Assembly designation in 2010. World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote a culture peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010.
This was quickly adopted by the UN General Assembly (resolution A/RES/65/5), declaring the first week of February each year as World Interfaith Harmony week, calling on governments, institutions and civil society to observe it with various programs and initiatives that would promote the aim of the WIHW objectives.
Every year, February 4 is observed as the International Day of Human Fraternity to celebrate and take steps towards unifying people across the globe as a human community irrespective of religion and culture. It emphasises the importance of unity amidst rapidly changing political, economic, and ethno-nationalistic conditions across the world.
Following the devastation of the Second World War, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. One of its purposes is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction.
In a major development, the Framework Agreement on establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has officially come into force. From 23rd January, 2025, the IBCA and its Secretariat have become a full-fledged treaty based inter-governmental international organization and international legal entity.
To this effect, the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI (the Depository of the Framework Agreement) has confirmed that five countries - Republic of Nicaragua, Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of India, Federal Republic of Somalia and Republic of Liberia - have deposited the instruments of ratification/acceptance/approval, under the Article VIII (1) of the Framework Agreement.
As of now, 27 countries including India have consented to join IBCA and several international/national organisations working in the field of wildlife conservation have also partnered with IBCA. The five countries mentioned above have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA.
About the IBCA
The IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th April,2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’. The Union Cabinet, in its meeting held on 29th February 2024, approved the establishment of IBCA with headquarters in India.
The IBCA was established by Government of India, through the nodal organisation viz., National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), vide order dated 12th March, 2024. It was launched with the aim of conservation of seven big cats - Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.
In Belgium, Bart De Wever has been sworn in as the country’s new prime minister. The oath-taking ceremony took place before King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace. De Wever’s coalition, consisting of five parties, includes seven francophone ministers and seven Flemish ministers in the new government.
The new government’s agenda focuses on budget reform, stricter migration policies, and economic restructuring. However, concerns have been raised about gender equality, as only three women are represented in his 15-member cabinet. Additionally, the government faces the challenge of bridging Belgium’s linguistic and political divides.
Every year on February 4, World Cancer Day is observed to spread awareness and educate people about the prevention, detection, and treatment of this life-threatening disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer remains the leading cause of death globally, claiming approximately 10 million lives in 2022.
The theme for World Cancer Day 2025, “United by Unique," underscores the significance of personalised, patient-centred care in the battle against cancer. This theme is part of a three-year campaign running from 2025 to 2027, focusing on the personal journeys of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. World Cancer Day was first introduced on February 4, 1999.
The ongoing Mahakumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh is proving to be a vibrant platform for artisans to showcase their handicrafts and cottage products. Akashvani correspondent reports that the One District One Product exhibition is celebrating the state’s rich cultural heritage, featuring 75 unique geographical indication (GI) products.
The country's retail inflation is expected to decline to 4.5 per cent in the last quarter (January-March) of the financial year 2024-25 (FY25), while the overall average inflation for the year is likely to be at 4.8 per cent, according to a recent report by the State Bank of India (SBI).
The report also projected that inflation will further ease in FY26, with an expected average range of 4.2 per cent to 4.5 per cent. In the October-December quarter of 2026, the report added that the inflation could even fall below 4 per cent. Meanwhile, core inflation-- which excludes volatile food and fuel prices, might surpass headline inflation by September 2025.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board has amended regulations on liquidation process to streamline the auction procedure, improving reporting requirements, and ensuring better fund management. The amendments, notified on January 28, 2025, with immediate effect, modify the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) regulations, 2016.
These measures will strengthen transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the insolvency framework. Under the revised framework, the prospective bidders in the liquidation auction will now have more time -- 30 days to participate in the auction process than 14 days earlier, facilitating wider participation, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board (IBBI) said in the release
The amendments also introduce a late fee of Rs 500 per form per month for delayed filings on the IBBI portal, ensuring timely compliance by insolvency professionals. Voluntary liquidation processes can now be completed even if uncalled capital exists, as existing safeguards are deemed sufficient to protect creditors.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved for Tata Communications to sell its entire stake in Tata Communications Payment Solutions Limited (TCPSL) to Transaction Solutions International (TSI), the Indian subsidiary of Australian fintech company Findi.
Originally announced in November 2024, the deal is valued at ₹330 crore, with an additional ₹75 crore contingent on meeting certain conditions, as per the share purchase agreement signed by Tata Communications. TSI has ambitions to become a full-fledged payments bank and currently manages over 7,500 ATMs, including ‘brown label’ ATMs operated in partnership with 12 banks.
Additionally, the acquisition includes over 4,600 operational Indicash ATMs, further strengthening Findi’s service capabilities across multiple segments. Findi, which pioneered India’s white-label ATM network under the Indicash brand in 2008, continues to expand its footprint in the country’s digital payment and financial services sector.
The ratings of Spandana Sphoorty Financial Ltd’s (SSFL) Bank facilities and debt instruments aggregating ₹2,300 crore have been downgraded by CARE Ratings to A (Negative) from A+. The agency also noted that the NBFC-MFI has breached certain financial covenants in respect of borrowings.
The downgrade of ratings of the commercial paper (CP; amounting to Rs.100 crore), non-convertible debentures (NCD;aggregating Rs. 700 crore) and bank term loans (Rs.1,500 crore) of SSFL factors in significant weakening of its earnings profile, with the Company reporting net losses of Rs 601 crore in 9MFY25 amidst the ongoing microfinance stress, per the the rating agency’s.
The Union Budget 2025-26 was presented by the Union Finance Minister on February 1, 2025. The Budget announced an outlay of Rs. 5272 crores (Budget Estimates) for the Ministry of Textiles for 2025-26. This is an increase of 19 percent over budget estimates of 2024-25 (Rs. 4417.03 crore).
Basic Custom Duty rate on knitted fabrics covered by nine tariff lines increased from “10% or 20%” to “20% or Rs.115 per kg, whichever is higher” This will improve competitiveness of Indian knitted fabric manufacturers and curb cheap imports.
Sri Madhav Kaushik, President, Sahitya Akademi, has approved Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in Dogri for Ik Hor Ashwthama (Short Stories) by Late Chaman Arora. The book was selected on the basis of recommendation made by the Jury comprising three members in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down for the purpose. The book was selected unanimously.
The Award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque and a payment of Rs.1,00,000/- will be presented to the family member/nominee of the awardee at a special function will be held on 8 March 2025 at New Delhi. The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954.
Akademi gives 24 awards annually to literary works in the languages it has recognized and an equal number of awards to literary translations from and into the languages of India. Besides the 22 languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, the Sahitya Akademi has recognised English and Rajasthani as languages in which its programme may be implemented.
