Artificial Intelligence Action Summit 2025

Context: 

India will co-chair the 3rd edition of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit along with France (Chair) in Paris, France

About Artificial Intelligence Action Summit

This is the latest in a series of global dialogues around AI governance.

The Paris Summit aims to achieve three major objectives:

• To Provide access to independent, safe, and reliable AI to a wide range of users
• To develop AI that is more environmentally friendly 
• To ensure global governance of artificial intelligence that is both effective and inclusive.

The summit will focus on five major themes

• Public service AI
• Future of work
• Innovation and Culture
• Trust in AI
• Global governance of AI.

The summit will provide a platform for international collaboration, to nearly 100 participating countries.

The earlier two editions were held in the UK and South Korea in 2023 and 2024 respectively. 

TROPEX-25

Context:

The Indian Navy is hosting its biennial maritime Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX) exercise in the Indian Ocean Region.

About Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX) 

• All operational Indian Naval units participated in this exercise, along with substantial participation of Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard assets. 
• This exercise is being conducted for three months, from January to March 2025. 
• TROPEX-25 is aimed at validating Indian Navy’s core warfighting skills and ensuring a synchronised, integrated response to preserve and protect national maritime security interests in a contested maritime environment against conventional, asymmetric as well as hybrid threats.
• The exercise is being conducted in various phases - both in the Harbour and at Sea, integrating various facets of combat operations, cyber and electronic warfare operations, live weapon firings during Joint Work Up Phase, and Amphibious Exercise.
• To enhance synergy, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard are integrated into the exercise, with Sukhoi-30, C-130, AWACS, an Infantry Brigade of 600+ troops, and 10+ICG ships and aircraft.

Shatavari –For Better Health

Context:

The Union Ministry of Ayush launched a campaign titled “Shatavari –For Better Health” for the Shatavari medicinal plant.

Shatavari

• It also known as Asparagus racemosus is an herb that belongs to the asparagus family of plants.
• It originated on the subcontinent of India and parts of China. 
• In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, Shatavari is known as a woman’s herb.
• According to a study, a new antioxidant called racemofuran was identified within the shatavari root. Two known antioxidants — asparagamine A and racemosol — were also found
• It plays a relevant role in achieving the Panch Pran Goal outlined by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2022.

Key health benefits of Shatavari

• It is to treat female health conditions, specifically reproductive disorders.
• Shatavari root powder has various compounds like saponins, flavonoids and ascorbic acid which increases the excretion of cholesterol. 
• It has antioxidant properties.
• It has anti-inflammatory properties. 

Exercise Cyclone 2025

Context: 

The 3rd edition of Exercise Cyclone 2025, a joint military exercise between the Special Forces of India and Egypt, is scheduled to be held at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, from 10 - 23 February 2025. 

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• The 14-day exercise aims to enhance defence cooperation between India and Egypt by sharing professional skills and improving the interoperability of special forces in desert environments.
• It reflects the growing military cooperation and shared security interests between the two nations.

Key Objectives:

• Enhance defence cooperation between India and Egypt.
• Share professional military skills.
• Improve interoperability of special forces.
• Conduct specialized military missions in desert terrains.

Participating Forces:

• Indian Contingent: The Parachute Regiment (special forces)
• Egyptian Contingent: Egyptian commando squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon

Exercise Focus:

• Counter-terrorism operations.
• Reconnaissance and raids.
• Specialized missions such as Sniping, combat free fall, reconnaissance, surveillance, and target designation.

Bali Jatra 2025

Context: 

The Department of Culture and Tourism organized the Bali Jatra (‘Voyage to Bali’) in Cuttack, Odisha.

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• The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata, an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, participated in this event by way of providing cultural troupes during the Jatra.
• Apart from Bali Jatra, a three-day National Dhara event ‘Samudramanthan’ was organized (Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) at the Odisha Maritime Museum at Cuttack.
• The event focused on the State’s glorious seafaring history.

About Bali Jatra

• It is celebrated annually to commemorate the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. 
• This week-long festival starts on the day of Kartika Purnima (full moon day in the month of Kartik i.e. October-November) when the seafaring traders departed for the Indonesian islands.
• The celebration of the festival features grand fairs, elaborate rides, food and dance.
• Indian Women perform ‘Boita Bandana’(worshipping the boat') also known as Dangā Bhasā, they make boats of paper or banana leaf (sholapith) with lighted lamps inside and float them down the Mahanadi as a part of the celebrations. 
• The Bali Jatra celebrates the ingenuity and skill of those expert sailors who made Kalinga, one of the most prosperous empires of its time.
• This festival has parallels with the ‘Masakapan Ke Tukad’ festival of Bali, where similar floating of toy boats is observed in memory of maritime ancestors.