Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 10th March 2025

1. Madhav National Park became the 58 th Tiger Reserve of India. 

• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that Madhav National Park of Madhya Pradesh has become India’s 58th Tiger Reserve. 
• It is also the 9th Tiger Reserve in the Madhya Pradesh. 
• Tiger reserves in India are spread over an area of more than 82,836 sq km. 
• India with 3,682 tigers is home to more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population. 
• These tiger reserves have been constituted by using a core/buffer method to promote tiger conservation through multiple efforts on the ground. 
• Madhav National Park is located in the Shivpuri district of the Chambal region. At present, this reserve has five tigers, and two more could be released soon in this reserve. 
• In 2023, three tigers, including two females, were introduced to Madhav National Park as part of the state's tiger reintroduction project. 

2. Mark Carney will become the next PM of Canada. 

• Former central banker Mark Carney will become the 24th Prime Minister of Canada. He belongs to the Liberal Party. 
• He will replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January 2025. 
• Mark Carney will be the first Canadian prime minister with no political experience. 
• He served as the 8th governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013. 
• He also served as the chair of the Financial Stability Board from 2011 to 2018. 
• Mark Carney won the leadership race with 131,674 votes which is about 85.9 per cent of the ballots. 
• He also pledged to maintain retaliatory tariffs on US goods until Americans show respect. 

3. India defeated New Zealand to win 2025 Champions Trophy. 

• On 9 March, Team India registered its name in history by winning the ICC Champions Trophy for a record third time. 
• They achieved an impressive four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 
• India won in 49 overs while chasing the target of 252 against the Blackcaps at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 
• Previously, India had won the Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013. 
• Captain Rohit Sharma was declared the Player of the Match for the final match. 
• While New Zealand player Rachin Ravindra was declared the Player of the Series for the tournament. 
• Overall, India won their seventh ICC title, behind Australia (10). 
• With the title win, India surpassed Australia as the most successful team in the Champions Trophy. 

4. The Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII commenced between India and Kyrgyzstan on March 10. 

• Kyrgyzstan is hosting the 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII from 10 March to 23 March 2025. 
• The Indian contingent is represented by soldiers of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), and the Kyrgyzstan contingent is represented by the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade. 
• The 14-day joint exercise aims to exchange experiences and best practices in counter-terrorism and special forces operations in urban and hilly areas. 
• The exercise will also focus on developing advanced special forces skills of sniping, difficult building intervention and mountain craft. 
• Since its launch in 2011, Khanjar XII is an annual training event. 
• The last exercise was conducted in India in January 2024. 

5. DPIIT and Mercedes-Benz India signed an MoU. 

• To boost manufacturing, road safety and sustainability, DPIIT and Mercedes-Benz India inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 
• The partnership will focus on creating structured programs and initiatives. 
• It will help in providing startups with infrastructure, mentorship, funding opportunities, and market linkages. 
• It will also facilitate international collaborations and ensure knowledge exchange to drive long-term impact. 
• The MoU was officially signed by Dr. Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Director, DPIIT, and Shri Santosh Iyer, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz India. 
• It will be a significant milestone in India's efforts to promote technological excellence, sustainability, and road safety. 

6. The Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII commenced between India and Kyrgyzstan on March 10. 

• Kyrgyzstan is hosting the 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII from 10 March to 23 March 2025. 
• The Indian contingent is represented by soldiers of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), and the Kyrgyzstan contingent is represented by the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade. 
• The 14-day joint exercise aims to exchange experiences and best practices in counter-terrorism and special forces operations in urban and hilly areas. 
• The exercise will also focus on developing advanced special forces skills of sniping, difficult building intervention and mountain craft. 
• Since its launch in 2011, Khanjar XII is an annual training event. 
• The last exercise was conducted in India in January 2024. 

7. 'Project Hifazat' launched by Punjab to help women facing violence. 

• On 6 March, ‘Project Hifazat’ was unveiled by Punjab Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development Baljit Kaur to empower women and children facing violence. 
• The aim of this initiative is to improve the response mechanism and create a safe environment for reporting domestic violence and harassment while keeping the 181 helpline readily available. 
• Under Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya, the 24x7 women and child helpline will be the backbone of Project Hifazat, providing emergency and non-emergency assistance to women and children in distress. 
• Calls will be classified as emergency, non-emergency, or informational, and emergency cases will be immediately transferred to the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112). 
• The project will promote collaboration between key departments—Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab Police, and Health and Family Welfare—ensuring seamless assistance to victims. 
• Non-emergency cases will be directed to One Stop Centres (OSCs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), and District Centres for Women Empowerment, where victims can access psychological counselling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services. 

8. IndiGo Airlines ranked the world's second fastest-growing airline in terms of seat capacity. 

• IndiGo Airlines has emerged as the world's second-fastest-growing airline in terms of seat capacity, increasing by 10.1% year-on-year to over 134.9 million seats in 2024. 
• According to the latest data from the Official Airline Guide (OAG), India's largest airline has been placed second behind Qatar Airways, registering a 10.4% growth in seat capacity compared to the previous year. 
• IndiGo has been ranked the fastest-growing airline in the world in terms of flight frequency growth at an annual rate of 9.7% in 2024. 
• According to the data, the airline recorded a frequency of 749,156 flights during the year. 
• OAG has recorded that IndiGo holds one of the world's largest aircraft orders, with over 900 aircraft on order, and is the largest recipient of 58 new Airbus aircraft in 2024. 
• IndiGo reported a net profit of Rs 2,449 crore in the October-December quarter of the current financial year ended March 31, 2025. 

9. India won the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship 2025 title. 

• The Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship 2025 title has been defended by India by beating Iran in the finals. 
• India defeated Iran by 32-25 in the final. 
• The sixth edition of the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship was held from March 6 to 8, 2025. 
• So far, India has now won the title in five of the six editions held. 
• Tehran was the first city to hold the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship twice. 
• The Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship 2025 has seven teams divided into two groups. 

10. Ajay Devgn launches ‘Prismix,’ an AI-driven media company to revolutionize content creation 

• Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn launches ‘Prismix,’ an AI-driven media company to revolutionize content creation 
• This venture reinforces his commitment to innovation, empowering filmmakers, brands, and creators to craft high-quality, scalable, and visually compelling narratives with cutting-edge AI technology. 
• Prismix is dedicated to bridging creativity and generative AI to transform the media landscape. From short films and series to animated graphic novels, music videos, corporate content, and social media campaigns. 

11. Ola Electric becomes first 2W EV manufacturer to bag PLI incentives 

• Ola Electric, India’s largest electric vehicle company, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first two-wheeler automotive electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in India to receive incentives under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automotive and Auto Component (PLI-Auto Scheme). 
• The company has been granted a total incentive of ₹74 crore for the Determined Sales Value of FY 2023-24 under the scheme. 
• The company has been granted a total incentive of ₹74 crore for the Determined Sales Value of FY 2023-24 under the scheme, according to a stock exchange filing by the company. 
• The PLI-Auto Scheme, launched by the Government of India, aims to boost domestic manufacturing in the automotive sector and promote the adoption of advanced, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions. 
• Launched in September 2021, the PLI-Auto Scheme aims to boost domestic manufacturing in the automotive sector and promote the adoption of advanced, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions. With a budget outlay of ₹25,938 crore over five years, the scheme is targeted towards reducing dependency on imports and positioning the country as a key player in the global EV supply chain. 

12. Jayant Chaudhary launches Swavalambini, a Women Entrepreneurship Programme 

• The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with NITI Aayog has launched the Swavalambini initiative to promote women entrepreneurship in the country.
• The Swavalambini initiative at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, was launched by Union Minister (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary. 
• This initiative empowers female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by providing them with the necessary entrepreneurial mindset, resources, and mentorship to successfully build and scale their ventures. 
• The Swavalambini initiative is being implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and in joint partnership with NITI Aayog. NIESBUD comes under the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 
• The Swavalambini initiative was initially launched in the Higher Educational Institutions of the Eastern region of the country. It was successfully launched at IIT Bhubaneswar and Utkal University in Odisha; North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong; Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai; and Ri Bhoi College in Meghalaya, etc. It is being gradually expanded to other parts of the country. 

13. NDDB ties up with NGO for setting up 10,000 biogas plants across 15 states 

• The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Bangalore-based NGO, Sustain Plus have joined forces to roll out a large-scale circular dairy programme that will install 10,000 biogas plants across 15 states in India including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. 
• The circular dairy programme, unveiled at the ‘Workshop on Sustainability and Circularity in Dairy Sector’ at New Delhi — hosted by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) — aims to create climate-smart dairy villages and build scalable and sustainable farming practices across the country. 
• In the next four years, 10,000 biogas digesters installed across multiple states are expected to generate 3 lakh tonnes of organic slurry annually, improving soil health and reducing the need for chemical fertilisers. They will also produce more than 7 million cubic meters of biogas every year, providing clean cooking fuel to 10,000 rural households. 
• In addition, the program will enable the production of nearly 60,000 tonnes of Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) each year, replacing an equivalent quantity of chemical phosphate fertilisers, further supporting affordable and sustainable farming practices. 

14. Vikas Kaushal appointed as CMD of HPCL 

• The government has appointed Vikas Kaushal as the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) for five years. 
• He has also served as the Managing Director & Country Head for five years. 

About Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) 

• Founded – 1974 
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra 
• Chairman and Managing Director – Vikas Kaushal 

15. RBI approves one-year extension for IndusInd Bank CEO Sumant Kathpalia 

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Sumant Kathpalia as the Managing Director and CEO of the Private sector lender IndusInd Bank Ltd for one year. 
• Kathpalia is a career banker with over 37 years of rich experience in large multi-national banks such as Citibank, Bank of America and ABN AMRO prior to joining Induslnd Bank. At IndusInd Bank, Kathpalia has been part of the core leadership team and joined the Bank 17 years ago and has been pivotal in turning the Bank around. 

IndusInd Bank 

• Founded – 1994 
• Founder – S.P. Hinduja 
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra, 
• MD & CEO – Sumant Kathpalia 
• Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer 

16. Federal Bank appoints Vidya Balan as brand ambassador 

• Federal Bank has appointed actor Vidya Balan its first-ever brand ambassador. This move sets progressive growth narratives for Banking in India. 
• Vidya, who is known for breaking stereotypes and choosing substance over glamour, brings authenticity that resonates with modern Indian consumers. 

About Federal Bank 

• Founded- 23 April 1931 
• Founder- K.P Hormis 
• Headquarters – Kochi, Kerala. 
• MD & CEO- – KVS Manian (replace Shyam Srinivasan) 

17. Nithin Kamath Wins EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 

• Nithin Kamath, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Zerodha, has been awarded the esteemed EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2024. 
• A self-made entrepreneur, Nithin has not only bootstrapped Zerodha to a billion-dollar valuation but also actively supports start-ups in fintech and climate space, and advocates for social initiatives. 
• Nithin Kamath will represent India at the global stage at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award (WEOY) in Monte Carlo to be held in June 2025. 
• The Chief Guest, Shri Bhupender Yadav, the Honourable Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Changefelicitated Nithin Kamath, KV Kamath and Dr. S Somanath along with the EOY 2024 category winners. 

Recent Award 

• Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados – PM Narendra Modi. 
• Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality and Education Through Technology Award – Suborno Bose (Chairman of International Institute of Hotel Management) 
• Pritzker Architecture Prize 2025 – Chinese architect and educator Liu Jiakun 
• Laureus World Sports Award 2025 (in comeback of the year category) – Rishabh Pant 
• Icon of Excellence award at Forbes India Leadership Awards 2025 -ICC Chairman Jay Shah 

18. Mushfiqur Rahim Announces Retirement from ODIs 

• Former Bangladesh captain and wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim announced his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs) following the team’s early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. 
• The 37-year-old made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in August 2006. He retires as Bangladesh’s most-capped player in the format, having played 274 matches. 
• Over his illustrious career, he scored 7,795 runs at an average of 36.42, including nine centuries, with a career-best score of 144. As a wicketkeeper, he took 243 catches and effected 56 stumpings. 
• Widely regarded as a giant in Bangladesh’s ODI history, Mushfiqur Rahim first made his mark in the 2007 World Cup when he was picked ahead of veteran wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud. 

Recently Retired Players 

• Steve Smith (Australia) – One Day Internationals Cricket 
• Sharath Kamal – Table Tennis 
• Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – International cricket 
• Rishi Dhawan (India) – Cricket 
• Moeen Ali (England) – International Cricket 

19. Siddhant Banthia and Alexander Donski clinch ATP Kigali Challenger title 

• In tennis, India’s Siddhant Banthia and his partner Alexander Donski of Bulgaria have clinched the ATP Kigali Challenger title in Kigali, Rwanda. 
• The Indian-Bulgarian duo defeated the third-seeded pair, Geoffrey Blancaneaux of France and Kolar Zdenek of Czechia, in the summit clash. 
• This marks Banthia’s first ATP Challenger title. With the win, he has achieved a career-high ranking of 196 and also became the 11th Indian to break into the top 200 in the ATP doubles rankings. 

20. Pranav Venkatesh becomes World Junior Chess Champion 2025 

• In chess, 18-year-old Indian Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh dominated the FIDE World Junior Championship 2025 to claim the title in Montenegro. 
• Pranav becomes the fourth Indian to win the World Junior title, following Viswanathan Anand, Pentala Harikrishna, and Abhijeet Gupta. 

21. Indian Grandmaster A Chithambaram clinches Prague Masters 2025 Chess title 

• Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram has clinched the Prague Masters 2025 Chess title. 
• He finished the tournament with six points after settling for a draw against Turkey’s Ediz Gurel in the final round. 

22. India triumph over New Zealand to win record third ICC Champions Trophy 

• In Cricket, Team India etched their name in history, lifting the ICC Champions Trophy for a record third time after a commanding victory over New Zealand by four wickets in the grand finale at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 
• India had previously won the tournament in 2002 and 2013. Chasing a target of 252 runs in the summit clash, India achieved it with an over to spare. 
• Skipper Rohit Sharma was declared Player of the Match and New Zealand player Rachin Ravindra was declared Player of the Series. 
• The triumph marked India’s second ICC trophy in as many years, following their T20 World Cup victory last year, further cementing their dominance on the global stage. 

2025 ICC Champions Trophy 

•  Dates- February 19 – March 9, 2025 
• Host Country- Pakistan and UAE 
• Winner- India (Won by 4 wickets in the final) 
• Runner-up- New Zealand 
• Player of the Series- Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) 
• Most Runs- Rachin Ravindra; New Zealand (263 runs) 
• Most Wickets- Matt Henry; New Zealand (10 wickets) 
• Winner’s Prize- $2.365 million USD 
• Match Venues- Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi 
• India’s Matches- Played in Dubai 
• Final Venue- Dubai International Cricket Stadium 
• Final – Player of the Match- Rohit Sharma (76 runs) 
• Interesting Fact – In the 2024 T20 World Cup final, Virat Kohli scored 76 runs and won Player of the Match, and in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final, Rohit Sharma also scored 76 runs to claim this honor! 

23. First rear fuselage for LCA MKIA manufactured by Indian private sector handed over to HAL 

• First, the rear fuselage for the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas MkLA, manufactured by Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Private Ltd., a private sector enterprise, was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) here Sunday. 
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was present, termed the handing over a milestone in the historic journey of India's defence manufacturing sector.
• "The ceremony is a testimony to India's progress towards atma nirbharta (self-reliance) in defence, and the government's commitment towards enhanced public private 
• Major milestones Rajnath Singh with Air Chief Marshal AP. Singh and HAL Chairman and MD D. K. Sunil in Bengaluru. Partnership, Mr. Singh said. 
• A fuselage is part of the main body of the aircraft, which holds the pilot, passengers and cargo, while the rear fuselage supports the tail section and its asso-ciated components. HAL had placed orders neering Ser with various Indian private companies, including Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Private Ltd., Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., VEM Technologies Private Ltd., and Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) Ltd. for supplying major modules for a contract involving 83 LCA MKIA. HAL has already manufactured 12 LCA MKIA rear fuselages, which are on the aircraft in the mami facturing line. 
• With this supply, a major structure module produced by an Indian private partner will be integrated into the ICA MIA aircraft, enabling HAL to meet additional delivery commitments for the Indian Air Force from 2025-26 wards. 
• Minister visits IAM Mr. Singh visited the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM). He was briefed about the IAMs unique role in pilot training, medi cal evaluation, and aero medical research.. He also inspected the dynamic flight simulator, high performance human centrifuge used for high-G training of fighter pilots, and the spatial disorientation simulator for training the pilots of the Armed Forces to avert the risk of spatial disorientation in flight. 
• He also launched the Indian Council of Medical Research Extramural Research Project: Centre for Advanced Research'. 
• "From the defence perspective, space has emerged as a major domain in warfare. As we are touching new heights in space, we need to explore more possibilities in aerospace medicine. There is a need for increased R&D as research in any high-end complex technology provides benefits to many fields," Mr. Singh said. 

24. Madhav National Park in M.P. becomes India's 58th Tiger Reserve, to get more big cats soon 

• The Centre declared the Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh as the country's 58th tiger reserve on Sunday, with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav making the announcement. 
• The newly added tiger reserve is also the ninth from the State to get the recognition. 
• Mr. Yadav posted on X "58th roar and counting! Thrilled to announce that the country has added the 58th Tiger Reserve to its tally with the latest entrant being Madhya Pradesh's Madhav Tiger Reserve. This is Madhya Pradesh's 9th Tiger Reserve. 
• Located in Shivpuri district in the Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, the reserve has a population of five tigers at present, including two cubs born to tigers at present. 
• Three tigers, including two females, were sent to the Madhav National Park in 2023 as part of the tiger reintroduction project in the State. 
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav could soon release two more tigers into the reserve. "With historic emphasis laid on restoring the ecological diversity on planet Earth by PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, India continues to make great strides in environmental protection and wildlife conservation. I congratulate all wildlife lovers and conservationists. The development is a testament to the relentless efforts of our forest officials who are selflessly working towards the cause," the Union Minister said in his post. 
• Applauding the move, Mr. Modi said India was blessed with wildlife diversity and a culture vulture that celebrated wildlife. 
• "Amazing news for wildlife lovers! India is blessed with wildlife diversity and a culture that celebrates wildlife. We will always be at the forefront of protecting animals and contributing to a sustainable planet," he said on X. 
• The Chief Minister also thanked the Prime Minister for the development. "Heartfelt thanks to the Hon'ble Prime Minister for your visionary leadership in designating Madhav National Park as India's 58th and MP's 9th Tiger Reserve! Madhya Pradesh is proud to lead wildlife conservation and protect our biodiversity," he wrote.