Exercise Dharma Guardian

• The commencement of the fifth edition of the bilateral military exercise, 'Dharma Guardian', between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces took place on 25th February 2024.
• The event took place at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
• The exercise is scheduled to conclude on 9th March 2024.
• This initiative is strategically designed to enhance interoperability and cultivate strengthened military collaboration between the two nations.

PM Modi Inaugurates 'Sudarshan Setu'

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Gujarat's Dwarka's longest cable-stayed bridge, named 'Sudarshan Setu'.
• This bridge, connecting Okha and Beyt Dwarka island, has been completed at a cost of ₹ 979 crore.
• The foundation stone for this 2.3 km-long bridge was laid by PM Modi in October 2017, who envisioned it as a vital link between old and new Dwarka.
• According to an official release, the four-lane bridge, spanning 27.20 meters wide, features 2.50 meters wide footpaths on either side.
• Sudarshan Setu showcases a distinctive design, with footpaths embellished with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and depictions of Lord Krishna on both sides.

HDFC Bank receives RBI approval to sell stake in HDFC Credila

• HDFC Bank has received authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to divest 90% of its ownership in HDFC Credila, its subsidiary focused on education loans.
• This move aligns with the RBI's instruction to HDFC to decrease its stake in Credila to less than 10% within two years after the merger of HDFC Bank in April 2023.

President to inaugurate ‘Purple Fest’

• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, is arranging a fun-filled day-long 'Purple Fest' at Amrit Udyaan in the Rashtrapati Bhawan on February 26th, 2024.
• The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will inaugurate the Purple Fest event, with the presence of the Ministers of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Secretary of DEPwD.
• Over 10 thousand Divyangjan, accompanied by their escorts, will gather at this magnificent venue.
• The Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities is the nodal agency for this Fest.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Dedicates 5 AIIMS

• In a significant step towards enhancing India’s tertiary healthcare infrastructure and services, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ceremonially opened five new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
• The campuses are located in Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh).
• He also inaugurated, laid the foundation stone for, and dedicated to the nation a total of 202 healthcare infrastructure projects valued at over Rs. 11,700 crores across 23 states and union territories.