In February 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, I/C) Jayant Chaudhary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Education (MoE), virtually launched ‘Swavalambini,’ a women entrepreneurship programme in nine colleges and universities across three North Eastern (NE) states: Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
- The programme aims to empower female students in select Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the NE region by equipping them with an entrepreneurial mindset, resources, and mentorship.
Main Point :-
(i) For the first time, MSDE, through the Guwahati (Assam)-based Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), in coordination with the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), has introduced a structured, stage-wise entrepreneurial process covering awareness, development, mentorship, and funding support.
(ii) The initiative will facilitate structured training through the Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP), introducing entrepreneurship as a viable career option for 600 female students via a two-day session covering fundamental entrepreneurial concepts and opportunities.
About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
Minister : Jayant Chaudhary
Headquarters : New Delhi
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Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla Passes Away.
On February 1, 2025, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Navin Chawla, passed away at the age of 79 in New Delhi. Born on July 30, 1945, in New Delhi, Chawla was a retired 1969-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
- Chawla served as Election Commissioner from May 16, 2005, to April 20, 2009, and as CEC from April 2009 to July 2010. He oversaw the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and implemented key reforms, including the introduction of a third-gender voting category.
- He received the Mazzini Award from the Government of Italy in 2005 for strengthening relations between India and Italy. In 2014, he was honored with the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai Award for his exemplary work in election processes in India.
Main Point :-
(i) In 1992, he authored the "Authorized Biography of Mother Teresa," which was later translated into 14 languages both in India and internationally.
(ii) Chawla’s contributions in both administrative and electoral processes have left a lasting impact on the nation.
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President Droupadi Murmu Appoints New Governors for Kerala, Odisha, Bihar, Mizoram, and Manipur.
On December 25, 2024, President of India, Droupadi Murmu, appointed new Governors for five states: Kerala, Odisha, Bihar, Mizoram, and Manipur, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
- All appointments will be effective from the dates the Governors assume charge of their respective offices.
- President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Raghubar Das as Governor of Odisha and appointed Hari Babu Kambhampati as the new Governor of Odisha.
Main Point :-
(i) Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was appointed as the new Governor of Kerala, replacing Arif Mohammed Khan.
(ii) In Odisha, Hari Babu Kambhampati took over from Raghubar Das. Arif Mohammed Khan was moved to Bihar, replacing Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. General (Dr.) V.K. Singh (Retired) was appointed as the new Governor of Mizoram, succeeding Hari Babu Kambhampati.
(iii) Additionally, Ajay Kumar Bhalla was appointed as the new Governor of Manipur, taking over from Lakshman Prasad Acharya. All the new appointments will be effective once the respective Governors assume charge of their offices.
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