An avalanche hit a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp between Mana and Badrinath in Uttarakhand on Friday morning. The snowslide buried 57 workers. So far, 16 have been rescued, but 41 remain trapped. Bad weather is making rescue efforts difficult. Helicopters cannot be used due to heavy snowfall. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent four teams to help. More teams are on standby. The Uttarakhand government and army are working together to save the workers. Officials say they are using all possible resources to speed up the rescue. No casualties have been reported yet.

India's GDP grew by 6.2% in the October-December quarter, aligning with estimates. This marks an improvement from the previous quarter's 5.8% growth. The acceleration is attributed to increased government expenditure, which rose by 8.3%, and a 6.9% year-on-year surge in private consumer spending, driven by better rural demand and festival season purchases. The gross value added (GVA), a more stable measure of economic activity, also grew by 6.2%. The government has raised its full-year growth forecast to 6.5% from 6.4%. Additionally, India's central bank implemented its first rate cut in nearly five years to further support economic growth, as inflation dropped to 4.3% in January.

Manav Sharma, a 25-year-old TCS manager from Mumbai, died by suicide in Agra on February 24, 2025, after alleged marital harassment by his wife. Before his death, Manav recorded a 6-minute video expressing distress over the struggles men face in abusive relationships. He apologized to his family and requested greater awareness of men's emotional issues. Manav’s wife, Nikita, rejected the allegations, claiming his struggles were due to alcohol addiction and past suicide attempts. The family has filed a complaint, prompting an investigation. This case mirrors the suicide of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, raising concerns about domestic abuse and mental health.

Pune police have arrested Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, a 26-year-old man, in connection with the rape of a 26-year-old woman aboard a state-operated bus at the Swargate depot. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the woman, en route to Phaltan, was misled by Gade into a parked MSRTC Shivsahi bus, where he assaulted her. Authorities launched a 72-hour manhunt, deploying 13 teams, including eight from the Crime Branch, and offering a ₹1 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest. Gade, a history-sheeter with prior theft and robbery charges, was apprehended on Thursday.

  In Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, a five-year-old girl is battling for her life after being brutally raped and assaulted by a 17-year-old neighbor. On February 22, the accused allegedly lured the child from her home to an abandoned building, where he sexually assaulted her and attempted to kill her by repeatedly banging her head against the ground. The victim sustained severe injuries, including extensive damage to her private parts, necessitating major surgery with 28 stitches. The juvenile has been taken into custody, and the girl's family is demanding he be tried as an adult. This incident has ignited widespread outrage in the community.

Neelakanta Bhanu Prakash, a 14-year-old prodigy from India, has set a remarkable feat by breaking six Guinness World Records in mental calculations in a single day. Known as the "Human Calculator," Bhanu achieved this extraordinary milestone by solving complex arithmetic problems at lightning speed. His records surpass those set by previous champions in speed and accuracy. This achievement cements his position as one of the fastest human calculators in the world. Bhanu, who has won several international accolades, aims to revolutionize math education and inspire young minds to embrace mental calculation as a vital skill.  

On February 28, 2025, Andhra Pradesh's Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav presented a ₹2.94 lakh crore budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. The budget allocates ₹29,909 crore to school education, ₹18,421 crore to healthcare and family welfare, and ₹16,739 crore to Panchayat Raj and rural development. Revenue expenditure is projected at ₹2,35,916.99 crore, with capital expenditure at ₹32,712.84 crore. The estimated revenue deficit stands at ₹34,743.38 crore (2.12% of GSDP), and the fiscal deficit at ₹68,742.65 crore (4.19% of GSDP). The government emphasizes infrastructure development, including the revitalization of Amaravati as the state's capital.   

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has intensified its opposition to the central government's proposed three-language policy, asserting it imposes Hindi on Tamil Nadu's education system. DMK MP Kanimozhi questioned the necessity of learning Hindi, stating, "What do we gain by learning Hindi?" She also accused the Centre of withholding ₹5,000 crore in funds due to the state's refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), which mandates the three-language formula. BJP state president Annamalai criticized the DMK's stance, alleging hypocrisy, as children of DMK leaders reportedly study multiple languages, while underprivileged students are denied similar opportunities. 

Pune Police have detained Dattatray Gade, the primary suspect in the recent rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary state transport bus at Swargate bus station. Gade, a 37-year-old with a history of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching, was apprehended around midnight in Shirur tehsil, Pune district. The incident occurred early Tuesday when Gade allegedly misled the victim into an unoccupied 'Shiv Shahi' AC bus and assaulted her. In response, authorities deployed 13 police teams, utilizing drones and sniffer dogs in sugarcane fields, and announced a ₹1 lakh reward for information leading to his capture. 

   IAS officer Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been appointed as the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), replacing Madhabi Puri Buch, whose tenure ends on February 28. A 1987-batch Odisha cadre officer, Pandey previously served as Finance Secretary and Secretary of DIPAM. He holds a Master’s in Economics from Panjab University and an MBA from the University of Birmingham. His appointment follows a selection process initiated by the Finance Ministry. Buch’s predecessors, Ajay Tyagi and UK Sinha, had extended tenures. Pandey's leadership will shape SEBI’s regulatory landscape in the coming years.