Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 9th March 2025

1. Karnataka to rename Bengaluru City University after Manmohan Singh in his honour 

• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced during his budget speech in the Legislative Assembly that Bangalore City University will be renamed Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University, in honor of the former Prime Minister of India, who passed away on February 26. 
• The move is aimed at transforming the institution into a model university in the country. 
• Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th Prime Minister, was known for his role in economic liberalization and financial reforms, which played a crucial part in shaping modern India’s economy. 
• His contributions to education, economy, and governance were widely recognized, and Karnataka’s decision to rename the university after him is seen as a tribute to his legacy. 

2. CIL joins hands with IIT, Hyderabad for R&D in clean coal tech 

• Coal India Limited (CIL) has inked an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) for establishing a Centre of Clean Coal Energy and Net Zero (CLEANZ) at Hyderabad. 
• The joint initiative between CIL and IITH aims to develop clean coal technologies and diversification in coal utilization. 
• Both the entities will synergize their efforts in developing cutting edge technology readiness level (TRL) for sustainable utilization of Indian coal. This is in line with the country’s Net Zero commitments. 

3. Govt notifies scheme to make cooperative sugar mills loan eligible 

• The Government of India has introduced a modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme to help Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs) convert their existing ethanol plants into multi-feedstock plants, allowing them to use grains like maize and damaged food grains (DFG) for ethanol production. 
• The government will provide interest subvention on loans taken for the conversion. It will cover 6% interest per year or 50% of the rate charged by banks, whichever is lower, for a period of five years, including one year of moratorium. 
• By converting to multi-feedstock plants, sugar mills can operate year-round instead of only during the 4-5 month sugarcane crushing season. This will help improve their efficiency and productivity. 
• The scheme aims to enhance the financial viability of sugar mills by allowing them to function throughout the year, using alternative feedstocks, thus reducing their dependence on seasonal sugarcane availability. 

4. LIC Ranked World’s 3rd Strongest Insurance Brand 

• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has been ranked third among the world’s strongest insurance brands, achieving a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 88 out of 100, as per the Brand Finance Insurance 100 2025 report. 
• Poland-based PZU secured the top spot with a BSI score of 94.4, followed by China Life Insurance, which ranked second with a BSI score of 93.5. 
• In terms of overall brand value, LIC holds the 12th position among the most valuable insurance brands globally, while SBI Life ranks 76th, making them the only two Indian insurers in the top 100. 
• As per the Brand Finance report, the top 100 insurance brands have grown 9 per cent in brand value in 2025, driven by improved underwriting results, higher investment income, rising interest rates, and increased profitability. 

5. HDFC Bank launches Project HAKK to support IAF veterans 

• HDFC Bank has launched Project HAKK (Hawai Anubhavi Kalyan Kendra) to provide support and services to Indian Air Force (IAF) pensioners, veterans and their families.
• The bank, in association with CSC Academy (promoted by Common Service Centre E-Governance Limited), will provide skill development and training across financial products and services, empowering defence service veterans and next of kin to be financially independent. 

About HDFC Bank 

• Founded – August 1994 
• Founder – Hasmukhbhai Parekh 
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra 
• MD & CEO – Sashidhar Jagdishan 
• Chairman – Atanu Chakraborty 
• Tagline – We understand your world 

6. BCCI appoints Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar to Asian Cricket Council Board 

• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla will represent India as an Executive Board Member on the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Board. 
• Shukla will take over a vacant spot that emerged after Jay Shah stepped down as president of the governing body of continental cricket. 
• Meanwhile, former BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar has been appointed as the BCCI representative on the ACC Board as an Ex-Officio Board Member. 
• Jay Shah vacated the ACC presidency in December 2024 after serving three consecutive terms. The Indian cricket administrator, who was also the BCCI secretary, was elected unopposed as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman. 
• Shah officially assumed the ICC chairman role on December 1, 2024. 
• Following Jay Shah’s departure, Sri Lanka Cricket Board chief Shammi Silva took over as the president of the Asian Cricket Council. 
• The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format, is scheduled to take place in the UAE in September 2025. 

Recent Appointments 

• CEO of Government e Marketplace (GeM) – Ajay Bhadoo 
• Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) – Dr Mayank Sharma 
• Chairman of Bar Council of India (BCI) – Manan Kumar Mishra (7th time) 
• Chairman of Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation – N Chandrasekaran 
• Head of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) – Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi (extension one year) 

7. Sunil Chhetri returns to Indian team for FIFA Window matches 

• The All India Football Federation has announced that former Indian captain Sunil Chhetri is all set to return to the national team for the FIFA International Window matches against Maldives and Bangladesh this month. 
• Earlier, Chhetri had announced retirement from international Football, having played his last game against Kuwait in June last year. 
• However, Chhetri’s return comes at a pivotal moment ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Third Round. India will play a friendly match against the Maldives on the 19th of March in Shillong, before hosting Bangladesh at the same venue in their opening qualifier. 

8. Legislative Department Releases Book on Women Members of the Constituent Assembly on International Women’s Day 

• On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, formally released a significant publication titled “The Life and Contributions of the Women Members of the Constituent Assembly”. 
• This scholarly work pays homage to fifteen distinguished women who played an instrumental role in drafting the Constitution of India — their invaluable contributions having remained largely unrecognized in mainstream historical and legal narratives. 
• The book meticulously documents the achievements of these pioneering women, including prominent lawyers, social reformers, and freedom fighters who overcame entrenched structural barriers within a predominantly male-dominated political framework. 
• Despite adversities, these women emerged as key voices in the Constituent Assembly, profoundly shaping deliberations on fundamental rights, social justice, gender equality, and democratic governance. 

Recent Books 

• Diyaslai – Kailash Satyarthi 
• FEARLESS: A Memoir – Mohinder Amarnath and Rajender Amarnath 
• The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts – Arun Shourie 
• Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade – Released By Amit Shah 
• Mastering Disruption: A practical Guide to understanding – Ganesh Krishnan 

9. Rubber Board to kick off geo-mapping of plantations; growers may get better price 

• The Rubber Board is set to begin geo-mapping of rubber plantations in Kerala next week. The move is expected to enhance market access and help growers secure better prices for their produce. 
• The geo-mapping initiative is a key step in certifying natural rubber under the Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber (ISNR) framework, aligning Indian rubber production with the European Union Defores-tation Regulation (EUDR). As part of this digital mapping process, essential details such as land owner-ship, area, and plantation boundaries will be recorded. Initially, the project will focus on 10 key rubber-growing districts in Kerala before expanding to other regions. The Rubber Board has partnered with Trayambu Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad, for this purpose. 
• According to board officials, the initiative is critical in establishing a deforestation-free supply chain for rubber products, thereby enhancing their global marketability. The EUDR mandates that all commodities entering the EU market must be free from deforestation after December 31, 2020, and comply with local regulations. 
• To meet these requirements, supply chain mapping, traceability system development, and geo-mapping of plantations are mandatory for the ISNR certification. This certification guarantees the origin of rubber, ensuring compliance with the EUDR regulations. In addition, a due diligence certificate will be issued based on risk assessment and legality analysis, certifying that the products fully comply with deforestation-free regulations. 
• Rubber exporters can register on the iSNR platform via the Rubber Board to access essential documents, traceability certificates, due diligence declarations, and geolocation datasets. 

10. Gagan Gill, Easterine Kire among 23 who received Sahitya Akademi Award 

• Hindi poet Gagan Gill and Naga author Easterine Kire, who writes in English, are among 23 recipients of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for 2024, honoured at a ceremony on Saturday during the ongoing "Sahithyolsav: Festival of Letters". 
• The annual awards, recognising works in various categories such as novels, short stories, poetry, essays, and plays, were announced in December. Mr. Gill received the award for his poetry collection Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar, and Ms. Kire for her novel Spirit Nights. 
• The diverse awardees include Sohan Koul for his Kashmiri novel Psychiatric 
• Easterine Kire Ward, and Paul Kaur for her Punjabi poetry book Sun Gunvanta Sun Budhi vanta: Itihaas Nama Punjab. The recipients include K. Jayakumar (Malayalam), Haobam Satyabati Devi (Manipuri), Dileep Jhaveri (Gujarati), Sameer Tanti (Assamese), Mukut Maniraj (Rajasthani), and Dipak Kumar Sharma (Sanskrit). 
• Aron Raja Basomatary received the award for his Bodo novel Swrni Thakhai. 
• In the short stories section, Yuva Baral received the award for Chhichimira (Nepali) and Hundraj Balwani for Purzo (Sindhi). 
• Each awardee received a plaque, a shawl, and ₹1 lakh. 
• Celebrating diversity Speaking at the event, noted playwright Mahesh Dattani said that Indians, especially writers, acknowledged and celebrated their diversity, as a singular identity was not enough to define them. 
• Mr. Dattani called for support and promotion of Indian languages and literature lest they get "homogenised or marginalised in an increasingly capitalised world". 

11. Tejashwi Yadav promises 'BETI Yojana' for the girl child if RJD comes to power 

• Upping the ante on the occasion of International Women's Day, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday promised to launch a 'BETI (Benefit Education Training Income) Yojana' for the girl child if his party comes to power in the Assembly election due later this year. He said the scheme is different from his earlier promise of a 'Mai-Bahin Samman Yojana entailing ₹2,500 monthly financial assistance to women if an RJD government is formed. 
• Mr. Yadav made the an-nouncement during a 'Mai-Bahin Mahasammelan' or-ganised by the RJD at Bapu 
• Sabhagar in Patna. He said an RJD-led government will make arrangements for girl child education, training along with employment. with Other poll promises 
• The RJD leader has made several promises to the people of Bihar in the past month in the run-up to the election. Among others, he has promised to increase the amount of old age, dis-ability and widow pension from ₹400 to 1,500, pro-vide gas cylinders at ₹500 and give 200 units of free electricity. 
• Earlier this week, Mr. Yadav promised to implement 100% domicile policy in Bihar and followed it up with a promise to make changes to the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 by keeping today out of its ambit to help the Pasi (Dalit) community. 
• At the Bapu Sabhagar event, the RJD leader also attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his remark on his mother and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi in Bihar Legislative Council on Friday, calling it "indecent and highly objectionable". 

12. IPCC begins work on new series of climate reports, to build on earlier assessments 

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global scientific authority on the state of knowledge and challenges from global warming, has begun work on its seventh cycle of assessment reports, Jim Skea, its Chair-person, said at the World Sustainable Development Summit organised by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) earlier this week. 
• During the sixth assess-ment cycle (October 2015 July 2023), the IPCC produced the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) with contributions by its three Working Groups and a Synthesis Report, three Special Reports, and a refinement to its latest Methodology Report. 
• Jim Skea ture that countries draw on during negotiations at the annual climate conferences. They are also the signposts that guide government and business action on weaning their economies and business activities away from fossil fuel and towards clean fuels. 
• Outline agreed upon assessment cycle, Mr. Skea said that an "outline" of a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities had been agreed and the lead authors selected. These authors were expected to convene in Osaka, Japan, next week. An outline of another report on "Short lived climate forcers or volatile organic compounds that influence warming" had been agreed upon. This report will be ready late 2027. 
• As in the sixth cycle, the new cycle will also have three working groups each detailing, as before, the latest evidence regarding the physical science basis of climate change; the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability and, the mitigation of climate change respectively. 
• A final "synthesis report" will be ready by Laying out the progress made so far in the 7th As 2029. 

13. No recruitment in MEA’s interpreter cadre for 10 years 

• The Ministry of External Affairs has not hired any fresh recruits into the interpreter cadre for nearly a decade and the cadre is being phased out, sources in the Ministry said. The decision to end the cadre that was started during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has been taken as the Ministry was not satisfied with the quality of interpretation and, therefore, more rigorous language training options are being provided to Indian Foreign Service (IFSA) recruits, the sources said. 
• The MEA's interpreter cadre gained prominence by working alongside a succession of Presidents and Prime Ministers, including Narendra Modi, who frequently uses interpreters when meeting foreign leaders. Most recently, interpreters were involved in discussions between Mr. Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, MEA sources noted that over time, it had become evident that "most interpreters were merely translating, rather than engaging in true interpretation, which is a highly specialised skill". 
• Language specialisation Sources further explained that young IFS officers are now being encouraged to specialise in foreign languages, as they are expected to acquire additional interpretation skills. 
• The Indian Foreign Service, which began during the interim government in October 1946, did not initially include an interpreter cadre. Early recruits, of ten from the Indian Civil Service and other backgrounds, typically brought foreign language skills from their previous training. Over time, an informal interpreter section developed within the Ministry, eventually evolving into the formal interpreter cadre that was officially launched. 
• Over the decades, several interpreters gained prominence, including R.A.K. Sherwani (Persian), Abdul Khalique (Arabic), Jaya Mukherji (Russian), Anne Kurian (German), Kana-kendu Ghosh (French), Zikrur Rahman (Arabic) and T. Steven (French). More recently, Shipra Ghose (Russian) and Nilakshi Saha Sinha have also gained recognition. Ms. Ghose, who interpreted for Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, has been a part of the delegation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits. Ms. Sinha, who served as Mr. Modi's interpreter during numerous tours, is currently serving as India's Ambassador to Armenia. 
• In addition to providing interpretation services for the Prime Minister and other Ministers, interpreters are essential in Indian embassies in countries where local decision makers are not fluent in En-glish. Indian interpreters have also played a crucial role during situations. Veteran diplomat Talmiz Ahmad recounted an incident in 2004, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran asked for his assistance when three In-dian truckers were kidnapped near Fallujah in Iraq, where U.S. forces were facing strong resistance. 
• The truckers were part of a group of seven captured while transporting non-lethal military equipment for the Americans. "We managed to free them, but without the exceptional interpretation skills of Zikrur Rahman, we would not have succeeded in our mission. He had to interpret tactfully to handle a very tense situation," Mr. Ahmad recalled. 
• Mr. Ahmad emphasised the increasing importance of professional interpretation in supporting Indian diplomacy and called for the strengthening of the interpretation service. 
• He argued that while English is widely spoken in many foreign locations, In-dian political leaders today rely more on Hindi than previous generations did. This shift makes high-quality interpretation from fo-reign languages into Hindi and other Indian languages even more crucial. 
• "The MEA must abandon its dilettante approach and establish a school of interpretation under its command. The quality of interpreters in recent years has been unsatisfactory for various reasons, but the task of interpretation is now more critical than ever," he said.