Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 21st March 2025

 

National News 

1. Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme has been introduced by Ministry of Ayush 

•  Programme is aimed at fostering a more responsible and citizen-focused workforce. 
•  Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, the Secretary in Ministry launched the program. 
• Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme comes under Capacity Building Commission initiative and emphasizes "Seva Bhav" (service). 
•  It motivates public servants to positively impact citizens' lives as well as focuses on enhancing employees' skills. 

2. Sign language will be introduced by Punjab in its Legislative Assembly 

•  Punjab will introduce this language to facilitate persons who are unable to speak or hear. 
•  State Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur initiated this facility, which is to be included in assembly sessions’ proceedings. 
•  Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur urged the Assembly administration to implement this initiative at the earliest. 
•  With this initiative, the proceedings would become fully accessible to the concerned individuals. 

3. Karnataka government approved a 100% salary hike for CM, Ministers, and MLAs 

• Karnataka government has approved a 100% salary hike for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs. 
•  The Karnataka Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Karnataka Legislature Members’ Salaries, Pensions, and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 have been cleared by the government. 
•  Home Minister G Parameshwara justified the hike and gave reason that expenditures are rising and it will be necessary for lawmakers survival. 
•  The salary of MLAs and MLCs will increase from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000. 
•  Government has also proposed increasing the constituency travel allowance from Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000, which is a miscellaneous allowance. 
•  The government has also proposed to increase the pension of MLAs and MLCs from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 per month. 

International News 

4. Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and the first African to be elected president of IOC 

• Coventry is also Zimbabwe's sports minister. 
•  Coventry is also a two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist. 
•  She won the presidency in a decisive first-round victory. 
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president election had seven candidates.
•   Coventry won with 49 of the available 97 votes. Kirsty Coventry will replace Thomas Bach.
•  She defeated Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. of Spain. Britain’s Sebastian Coe came at third place.

5. Chiranjeevi honoured at House of Commons in UK 

•  He received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He received this award for contributing to public service through cultural leadership. 
•  Bridge India, a UK-based organisation presented the award. 
•  Bridge India has for the first time given such an award to an individual. 
•  Chiranjeevi is the founder of the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank in Hyderabad. 
• House of Commons is the lower house of UK Parliament. It is the democratically elected house of UK Parliament. 
•  Konidela Chiranjeevi is known for his work in Telugu cinema. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2024. 

6. World's largest White Hydrogen Deposit has been discovered in France 

•  France has discovered a massive 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve in the Moselle region with a valued at $92 trillion. 
•  White hydrogen requires no industrial production and emits no CO₂. 
•  French scientists Jacques Pironon and Philippe De Donato found one of the largest white hydrogen deposits. 
•  White hydrogen deposit is found worldwide, including in the US, Russia, Australia, and Europe. 
• White hydrogen could be a cost-effective alternative is estimated at just $1 per kilogram compared to green hydrogen’s $6 per kilogram. 
• Hydrogen is considered the future of clean energy for industries like aviation, shipping, and steel production. 

State News 

7. Miss World 2025 in Telangana to cost ₹54 crore, to be split between State and Miss World Limited 

•  Telangana is set to become the global stage for beauty and culture as the State prepares to host the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant between May 7 and 31.
•  The event will see contestants from 140 countries competing for the prestigious title, marking a significant moment for the State, which aims to showcase its rich cultural heritage and global ambitions. 
•  The total expenditure for the event is estimated at ₹54 crore, with costs being equally shared between the Telangana Tourism Department and Miss World Limited. Telangana’s ₹27 crore contribution will primarily come from sponsorships, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said at a press conference at Tourism Plaza Hotel in Hyderabad on Thursday. 
•  Mr. Jupally Krishna Rao hailed the occasion as a milestone for the State, underscoring the importance of hosting an event of such scale. 
•  He highlighted Telangana’s blend of tradition and modernity, describing it as a land of warm hospitality, rich history, and scenic beauty. 
• “This is not just an opportunity to present the beauty of our State but also to honour the values that Miss World represents. This year’s Miss World pageant is not just a celebration of external beauty, but of the strength of spirit, the elegance of the mind, and the kindness of the heart,” he added.
•  Tourism Secretary Smita Sabharwal elaborated on Telangana’s history, calling it the “Three Linga Desha” and tracing its evolution as a State that emerged after decades of struggle. 

Defence News 

8. An MoU to boost mental health support for military personnel and their families signed by AFMS and NIMHANS 

•  An MoU for collaborative research and training to improve the mental health of the country's defense personnel has been signed by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). 
•  It aims to enhance mental health support and care for the armed forces. 
•  Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, and Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS, signed the MoU at a ceremony. 
•  The AFMS and NIMHANS collaboration will enhance mental health services, provide specialized training for medical personnel, and develop programs to address the mental health needs of military personnel and their families. 
•  The main objectives of the MoU include collaborative research, faculty exchange, and academic activities. 
•  With its expertise in neuropsychiatry, NIMHANS will help conduct research on advanced psychiatric care and support to military personnel to relieve common issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. 

9. Proposals of Rs 54,000 crore to strengthen defence capabilities have been cleared by the DAC 

• On 20 March, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for eight capital acquisition proposals amounting to over ₹54,000 crore. 
•  The approval aims to enhance the operational capabilities of Indian defence forces. 
•  As part of celebrating 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms,’ the DAC also approved guidelines to reduce timelines at various stages of the Capital Acquisition Process. 
•  This move aims to make the process faster, more effective, and efficient.
•  Additionally, the government has also approved the procurement of 1350 HP engines for the army to upgrade the existing 1000 HP engines for T-90 tanks.
•  To boost the Navy’s capabilities, AoN for the procurement of Varunastra Torpedoes (Combat) was also accorded by the DAC. 
•  The Varunastra Torpedo is an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory. 
•  Apart from this, a mega deal to procure the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) for the Army at a cost of ₹7,000 crore was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by PM Narendra Modi. 
• ATAGS is the first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured 155 mm gun system, and its procurement will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Army. 

Business News 

10. Flipkart’s super.money Rises to Fifth Place in UPI Market, Overtaking CRED 

• Flipkart Group’s payment app, super.money, has risen to become the fifth-largest UPI player, surpassing Kunal Shah-led CRED in February 2025. This reshuffling in the rankings reflects the increasing competition in the digital payments ecosystem. 
• According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Flipkart‘s super.money recorded approximately 139 million UPI transactions in February, overtaking CRED, which saw its transaction volume remain stagnant at around 130 million for the past year. 
• Meanwhile, Navi, a fintech and credit platform founded by Sachin Bansal, secured the fourth position in November 2024 and further solidified its standing with 261 million UPI transactions in February. 
• This development underscores the growing influence of new-age fintech players in a sector long dominated by market leaders PhonePe and Google Pay. 
•  The influx of these platforms has begun to fragment the market, chipping away at the share of established giants. 

Economy News 

11. SEBI lowered the minimum investment in social stock exchange instruments to ₹1,000 

• SEBI has reduced the minimum investment amount for Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments on the Social Stock Exchange from ₹10,000 to ₹1,000. 
•  Its main aim is to enhance retail participation in social impact investments. 
•  This step of SEBI will encourage more participation from smaller investors. 
•  The latest recommendation will come into effect immediately. 
•  The Social Stock Exchange is a separate segment that brings together social enterprises and donors and facilitates funding and growth of social enterprises. 
•  It enables mechanisms to ensure robust standards of impact and financial reporting. 
• The Social Stock Exchange idea was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget 2019-20 speech. . 

Appointment News 

12. Mythili Balasubramanian Named Interim MD & CEO of Edelweiss ARC 

• Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company (EARC) has appointed Mythili Balasubramanian as its Interim Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
•   Balasubramanian, who has been with EARC for nearly five years, brings over four decades of experience in banking, non-performing asset (NPA) resolution, and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) processes to lead the company until September 30, 2025. 
•  The appointment follows the RBI’s rejection of reappointing the previous MD and CEO, Raj Kumar Bansal, in June 2024, prompting EARC to form a Search Committee, supported by Korn Ferry, to identify a permanent successor. 

13. Deena Mehta Re-Appointed as Independent Director of Fino Payments Bank

•  Fino Payments Bank’s Board of Directors has re-appointed Deena Mehta as an Additional Director in the capacity of Independent Director for a second term. 
•  Mehta has over four decades of experience in capital markets, contributing to key reforms such as the BOLT system at BSE, the Central Depository Service, and the streamlining of Clearing Corporation BOISL.
•   She served on the BSE Board for nine years, including as Vice President and President. She has been part of various SEBI committees for 21 years, contributing to multiple market reforms. She is a founding member of SAFE, the Association of Stock Exchanges of SAARC countries. 

Banking and Financial News 

14. RBI organises Annual Conference of the RBI Ombudsmen 

•  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has organized the Annual Conference of RBI Ombudsmen in Mumbai. 
• The theme of the Conference was “Transforming Grievance Redress: The AI Advantage”. 
• Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, inaugurated the Conference in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Shri Swaminathan J., Executive Directors of RBI and participants of the conference.

 About Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 

•  Founded – 1 April 1935 
•  RBI Nationalized – 1 January 1949 
•  Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra 
• RBI set up – Hilton Young Commission 
•  1st Governor – Sir Osborne Smith (Australia) 
•  1st Indian Governor – CD Deshmukh 
•  26th Governor – Sanjay Malhotra (replace Shaktikanta Das) 

Important Day News 

15.Parsi New Year celebrated on 20 March in 2025 

•  Parsi New Year is generally observed in March around the world. 
•  However, in India, it is celebrated in July or August, depending on the Shahenshahi or Fasli calendar. 
•  The Parsi New Year is also known as Navroz or Nowruz. 
•  It is derived from the Persian words ‘nav’ and ‘roz,’ meaning a new day. 
•  This vibrant festival lasts for 13 days, starting on the first day of the Persian calendar. 
• Iranians and Zoroastrians have been celebrating the tradition of the Persian New Year for the past 3,000 years. 
• A symbol of renewal and rejuvenation, Navroz is a festival celebrated by the Parsi community, marking new beginnings and a time for spiritual renewal and contemplation. 
• The celebration of Navroz is deeply rooted in Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded by Prophet Zoroaster in ancient Persia (now Iran). 
•  After the Islamic invasion in the 7th century, many Parsis migrated to Gujarat, India, preserving their traditions. 
•  Jamshedi Navroz, celebrated in several Indian states, is celebrated in honor of the Persian king Jamshed, who founded the Parsi calendar. 

Awards and Achievements News 

16. Sculptor Ram Sutar will get the Maharashtra Bhushan award 

•  Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar will be conferred with the Maharashtra Bhushan award. 
•  It is the highest civilian honour instituted by the Maharashtra government. 
•  Ram Sutar has designed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity and the 251m-tall statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. 
•  He designed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a seated position, located at the Parliament of India. 
•  He is currently working on the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue to be installed at Indu Mills in Dadar. 
•  In 1999, Sutar received the Padma Shri and later in 2016, Padma Bhushan from the Government of India. 

Ranks and Reports News 

17.. World Happiness Report 2025: Topped by Finland; India at 118th spot 

•  Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year in the World Happiness Report 2025. The Nordic countries continue to dominate the top positions, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Netherlands maintaining their respective rankings in the top five spots. 
•  For the eighth year in a row, Finland secured the top spot, with its citizens reporting an average life satisfaction score of 7.74 on a scale of 1 to 10, reported the Fortune. 
•  The rankings were determined through self-evaluation surveys where individuals rated their own lives. The research was conducted collaboratively by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, alongside Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 
•  The United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24th place, attributed to a rise in social isolation, with 25% of Americans reporting eating all meals alone in 2023, signaling a loneliness epidemic. 
•  India ranks 118th out of 147 countries, showing a slight improvement from its 126th position in the previous year, though it remains behind nations like Nepal, Pakistan, and Ukraine. 
• Afghanistan remains the unhappiest country, with conditions particularly dire for women, while the report emphasizes that wealth alone does not guarantee happiness, as seen in the U.S.’s decline despite its economic status.

 Miscellaneous News 

18. Average monthly data consumption per user surged to 27.5 gigabytes in 2024 

•  India’s average monthly data consumption per user reached 27.5 gigabytes in 2024. 
•  It shows a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5% over the past five years. 
•  Nokia’s annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) revealed that traffic across India has tripled and is projected to cross 4G traffic by Q1 2026. 
•  This surge is led by Category B and C circles with 5G data usage growing by 3.4 and 3.2 times, respectively. 
•  In metro areas, 5G now accounts for 43% of mobile broadband data. 
•  The active 5G devices have doubled year-on-year to 271 million in 2024. 
•  Nearly 90% of smartphones will be replaced in 2025 with 5G-capable phones. 
•  The report also highlights the evolution toward 5G Advanced, which will enhance the business potential and pave the way for future technologies, including 6G. 

Sports News 

19. Australian GP 2025: Mclaren’s Norris wins F1 season opener 

•  McLaren’s Lando Norris won the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, the season-opening race at Albert Park, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.811 seconds in a dramatic wet-dry race, marking his fifth career win and establishing an early lead in the drivers’ championship. 
•  Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished second, unable to challenge Norris’s pace despite a late surge, while Mercedes’ George Russell took third place, capitalizing on a clean race amidst chaotic conditions to secure a podium spot.