Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 28th March 2025

 

National News 

1. Lok Sabha passed the Immigration & Foreigners Bill, 2025 

• The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 will regulate all matters relating to foreigners and immigration. 
•  On March 11, the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union Home Minister of State Nityanand Rai. 
•  After the passing of bill, anyone found using a forged passport or visa for entering, staying or exiting India will be punished. 
•  The bill has a provision for up to seven years in jail and a fine up to ₹10 lakh. 
• The bill proposed overstaying, visa violations, or trespassing in restricted areas can get up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine up to ₹3 lakh. 
• The Bill empowers the central government to exert control over places that are "frequented by any foreigner" and requires the owner to close the premises.
•  The Bill also proposed mandatory reporting of information about foreigners by hotels, universities, and other educational institutions. 
• According to Union Home Ministry data, 98.40 lakh foreigners visited India between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. 
• The bill was passed by a voice vote after various amendments moved by Opposition members were negated. 

2. National guidelines on medical oxygen management released by the Centre 

• On 27 March, the National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management were released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 
• The aim of the guidelines is to enhance medical oxygen infrastructure and establish standardized best practices across healthcare facilities. 
•  Protocols for the procurement, storage, and administration of medical oxygen are covered in the guidelines, with a strong emphasis on patient safety, capacity building, and emergency preparedness. 
•  The Ministry has launched the guidelines at a workshop held at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
•   The National Capacity Building Program on Oxygen Management was also launched at the event and will be led by the Department of Hospital Administration at AIIMS, Delhi. 
•  The National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management is an initiative of Disaster Management Cell, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched in collaboration with AIIMS Delhi. 
•  It aims to train 200 master trainers across the country.

 

3. Centre releases over Rs 436 crore to Karnataka and Tripura for rural development

•  The Union Government has released over Rs. 436 crores as the second installment of the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Grants for rural local bodies in Karnataka and Tripura for the financial year 2024–25. 
•  In Tripura, Rs. 31.13 crores have been allocated as Untied Grants to benefit 589 eligible Gram Panchayats, along with all Block Panchayats, District Panchayats, and Traditional Local Bodies. Meanwhile, Karnataka has received Rs. 404.97 crores in Untied Grants for 5375 eligible Gram Panchayats, supporting rural local bodies across the state. 
•  These grants empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to address location-specific needs under the 29 subjects outlined in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. The funds are dedicated to development initiatives, excluding salaries and establishment costs. 
•  The XV Finance Commission Grants are divided into two categories: Untied Grants, which support diverse local development projects and the infrastructure, and Tied Grants, which focus on critical areas like sanitation and drinking water. This release is part of the government’s broader efforts to decentralize resources and empower local governments to meet the unique needs of rural communities. 

4. Union government to help States procure pulses at MSP: Agriculture Minister 

•  Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here on Thursday that the purchase of tur dal (pigeon pea) in the major producing States had gained momentum. 
•  "In order to increase domestic production of pulses, encourage farmers and reduce dependence on imports, the government has approved procurement of tur, urad (black gram), and lentil under Price Support Scheme at 100% of State production for the procurement year 2024-25," Mr. Chouhan said in a statement. 
•  Citing the Budget announcement, he said 100% of the production of tur (arhar), urad, and masoor (red lentil) will be procured till 2028-29 to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses in the country. 
•  "The procurement of tur (arhar) has been approved in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme during the Kharif 2024-25 season. 
•  Along with this, Karnataka has also approved extending the procurement period from 90 days by 30 days to May 1," the Minister said.
•  Mr. Chouhan added that procurement is continuing at a minimum support price through NAFED and NCCF in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana. 
•  Till 25 March, a total of 2.46 lakh metric tonnes of tur (arhar) has been procured in these States, benefiting 1,71,569 farmers of these States. He said the price of tur in Uttar Pradesh is currently running above MSP. 
•  "PM-Asha Yojana has been extended till 2025-26. Under this, purchase of pulses and oilseeds from farmers at MSP will conti-nue," he added. 

International News 

5. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Sworn in as Namibia’s First Woman President

•  Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, was sworn in as Namibia’s first woman president, succeeding outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba in a formal ceremony. 
•  Representing the SWAPO party, which has governed Namibia for over three decades, she won 58% of the vote in the November presidential elections. 
• Her inauguration followed the election of Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as Namibia’s first female parliamentary speaker, adding to the growing list of women leaders in Africa. 

About Namibia

•   Capital – Windhoek
•  Currency – Namibian dollar, South African rand 
• President – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah 
•  Official language – English 

State News

 6. Haryana CM launches AI chatbot ‘Sarathi’ for enhanced citizen engagement 

•  Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has launched the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence-powered chatbot ‘Sarathi’ for the Chief Secretary’s office website. 
•  This chatbot is aimed at bringing revolutionary changes in citizen engagement by providing easy access to important government directives, notifications, and circulars published over the years. 
•  The Chatbot was developed by HARTRON (Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation Limited), This chatbot is exclusively based on the information contained in the official documents of the website. 
•  It can process and retrieve information from a vast database of over 17,820 official documents, covering 73,622 scanned PDF pages. Key documents in its knowledge base include directives, agendas, circulars, acts, policies, notifications, and government orderss 

About Haryana 

•  Capital – Chandigarh 
•  Chief Minister – Nayab Singh Saini(11th) 
• Governor – Bandaru Dattatreya 
• Legislative Assembly Seats- 90 

Defence News 

7. MoD inks Rs 2,500 crore contracts for NAMIS Tracked version of anti-tank weapon platform 

• Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited for the procurement of Nag Missile System (NAMIS) Tracked version of anti-tank weapon platform and Force Motors Ltd & Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd for around 5,000 Light Vehicles for the Armed Forces at a total cost of around Rs 2,500 crore. 
• The total cost of contract for the procurement of NAMIS(Tr) weapon system, developed by Defence Research & Development Laboratory of DRDO, is Rs 1,801.34 crore. 
• These modern vehicles are designed as per contemporary vehicle technology with enhanced engine power to cater to a payload of 800 kgs. It will provide mobility to the Armed Forces in all types of terrain and operational conditions. 

8. Integrated tri-service exercise held in Arunachal 

• The Army conducted a tri service integrated warfare exercise, 'Prachand Prahaar', in the high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh from March 25 to 27, according to an official statement on Thursday. The exercise, aimed at "validating a fully integrated approach to surveillance, command and control, and precision fire-power across the three services", brought together the operational teams in a synergised combat drill designed to simulate future warfare. 
• "Cutting-edge platforms such as long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, armed helicopters, UAVs, loitering munitions, and space-based assets were employed to achieve total situational awareness and rapid target engagement," the Defence Spokesperson for Manipur, Nagaland and Southern Arunachal Pradesh said in a statement. 

Business News

 9. India became world’s second-largest exporter of tea in 2024 In 2024, India became the world's second largest tea exporter, surpassing Sri Lanka. 

•  Kenya remained on the top spot in the export of tea.
•   India exported 255 million kilograms of tea last year, marking a substantial growth in its export figures. 
• India registered a 10 percent growth in tea exports compared to 231.69 million kilograms recorded in 2023. 
• India exports tea to more than 25 countries inlcuding UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, USA and the UK. 
•  India’s Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri tea are considered one of the finest in the world. 
• Black tea accounted for 96 percent of the country’s tea exports, while other varieties such as green tea, herbal tea, masala tea, and lemon tea also contributed in export. 
• Tea Board has undertaken several initiatives to boost production of Tea in India. 

Economy News 

10. Jet fuel costs account for 45% of air ticket prices, says Minister 

•  The cost of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, makes up 45% of the airfare, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu told the Lok Sabha on Thursday, noting that some States such as Tamil Nadu charge a high 29% value added tax (VAT) on it. 
•  "There are some States which are charging up to 29% VAT on ATF, and Tamil Nadu is one such State which has the highest ATF in the country," the Minister said. 
•  While 15 States have reduced VAT on ATF to be low 5%, others continue to impose higher rates, im-pacting airline operations and passenger fares, he added. 
•  Mr. Naidu said the Direc-torate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) monitored air fares and required airlines to submit a tariff sheet periodically. Earlier, airlines were required to submit a tariff sheet at the start of the summer and winter season, and had the liberty to change their tariffs, but they were now required to submit the tariff sheet ev-ery month and could not make tweaks to it. 
•  His remarks in Parliament come at a time when the DGCA is examining aggregate data on airfares for the past two years submitted by airlines, following complaints of a sharp spike in ticket prices for flights to Prayagraj during the Kumbh Mela. 
•  In response to a question from DMK MP A. On why the government was not making efforts to inject more competition into the sector, an oblique reference to the duopoly with IndiGo and Air India accounting for 91% of domestic air travellers, the Minister said that more competition and more aircraft would certainly help bring down airfares. 
•  In 2014, there were 340 aircraft, which has grown to 840 now, Mr. Naidu said. Airlines also have orders for 1,700 more aircraft because of a massive demand for travel, he said, pointing out that the 10% rate of yearly growth in passengers in India was the highest in the world. 

Schemes and Committees News 

11. 'Sahkar' taxi is set to be launched by the government to benefit cab drivers 

•  On March 26, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced that the government is planning to launch 'Sahakar' taxis, a cooperatively run ride-hailing service on the lines of Uber and Ola. 
•  This initiative is in line with the Prime Minister's slogan, “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (prosperity through cooperation). 
• The profit generated from this cooperative society will not go to the businessmen but directly to the drivers. 
•  This ride-hailing platform will cover two-wheeler taxis, autorickshaws, and four-wheelers. 
• In June 2022, the National Tourism and Transport Cooperative Federation, an apex cooperative organization under the central government, had also announced a similar cab-hailing service. 
•  The announcement comes at a time when the ride-hailing giant is facing criticism not just from drivers but also from consumers who are alleging differential pricing. 
•  Recently, cab drivers in Hyderabad launched a 'No AC' campaign to protest against the low fares offered by ride-hailing platforms like Ola, Uber and Rapido. 

12. MoRD & UNICEF YuWaah Partner to Empower Rural Women and Youth 

•  The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and UNICEF YuWaah have signed a three-year partnership to boost rural employment, entrepreneurship, and skill development for women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs). 
•  Pilot projects like “Computer Didi Centers” and “Didi ki Dukan” will be launched in five states—Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan—to strengthen digital infrastructure and economic opportunities. 
•  If successful, the initiative could expand to benefit 35 lakh women across 7,000+ blocks in India, supporting rural prosperity and resilience as outlined in the 2025-26 Union Budget. 
•  The partnership will introduce a “Youth Hub” for jobs, skilling, and volunteering, while promoting “Lakhpati Didis”, a model aimed at creating successful women entrepreneurs in rural India. 

Banking and Financial News 

1. ATM withdrawals to get costlier from May 1 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised interchange fees. 
•  Withdrawing cash from ATMs in India will become costlier from May 1.
•  Customers will have to pay an additional Rs 2 for each financial transaction beyond the free limit. Withdrawing cash from an ATM will cost Rs 19 per transaction 
•  For non-financial transactions, the fee will increase by Rs 1. Checking account balances will now cost Rs 7 per transaction 
•  An ATM interchange fee is a charge that one bank pays another for providing ATM services. 
•  RBI has taken this decision after requests from white-label ATM operators. 

Important Day News 

2. World Theatre Day 2025: 27 March 

•  Every year on March 27, World Theatre Day is celebrated. 
•  It is celebrated with an aim to recognize and celebrate the value and importance of the art form "theater." 
•  The theme of the World Theatre Day 2025 is "Theatre and a Culture of Peace." 
•  In 1961, the International Theatre Institute (ITI) established World Theatre Day. 
•  The proposal for World Theater Day was made by ITI founder Arvi Kivima at the organization's ninth global congress in Helsinki, Finland. 
•  The proposal was unanimously approved, and the first World Theater Day was celebrated on March 27, 1962. 
•  Since 1962, ITI Centres and the international theatrical community have been commemorating World Theatre Day. 
•  On World Theatre Day, French playwright Jean Cocteau wrote the first message in 1962. 
• The first ITI conference was held in Helsinki, Finland, and the second in Vienna, Austria. 

3. 29 March 2025 – World Piano Day 

•  World Piano Day is observed annually on the 88th day of the year, symbolizing the 88 keys on a standard piano. It celebrates the beauty, history, and significance of the instrument in music. 
•  German pianist and composer Nils Frahm founded World Piano Day in 2015 to appreciate and promote the instrument’s artistic and cultural value. 
•  The day serves as a platform to inspire young artists, support piano education, and encourage music. 

Science and TechnologyNews 

4. India is now the second largest 5G market globally, as per Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

•  Addressing an event in New Delhi, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that nearly 11 lakh crore rupees investments are being made in different industries. 
• He said that Indian Railways is expected to become the second largest carrier, handling 1.6 billion tons this year. 
•  He asserted that ports in India are also growing rapidly. 
•  Electronic manufacturing in India, which was minimal a decade ago, has now become a major export sector. 
• The number of medical colleges and IITs in India has doubled over the last ten years. 
•  He announced that India plans to launch its first domestically produced chip this year. 

5. ISRO successfully completed Rolling Experiment as part of the SpaDeX mission 

•  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed the Rolling experiment as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. 
•  The “Rolling” or “Rotating” experiment involves circumnavigation of one of the satellites to verify control over satellite manoeuvring. 
•  The experiment will help ISRO understand what it takes to bring an object to a desired spot from different orientations for docking. 
• This experiment, crucial for future missions like Chandrayaan-4. It will provide valuable data and help ISRO in validating multiple software and ground station controls. 
•  On March 13, ISRO completed the undocking of two satellites as a part of the SpaDEx mission. 
•  ISRO will conduct more docking as part of SpaDeX. 

6. UIDAI & IIIT-H launch biometric challenge to test age invariance in fingerprint algorithms

•   The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), in collaboration with IIIT-Hyderabad has launched a large-scale competition to test age invariance in biometric algorithms. 
•  The first phase of the Biometric SDK Benchmarking challenge focuses on fingerprint authentication, testing 1:1 matching algorithms for children aged 5-10 years, with updates after 5-10 years. 
•  UIDAI ensures that participant submissions are evaluated securely, with anonymized datasets and no sharing of data with participants. 
•  The challenge offers prizes worth Rs. 7.7 lakhs (USD 9,000) and the opportunity to collaborate with UIDAI in advancing biometric technologies. 
•  Following the fingerprint challenge, UIDAI will also launch SDK benchmarking competitions for iris and face authentication. 
•  Aadhaar is serving as a key pillar of good governance and digital inclusion in India and Aadhaar number holders are carrying out nearly 90 million authentication transactions daily for availing various services and benefits. 

Infrastructure and Energy News 

7. 12th tranche of commercial coal mine auctions launched by the Coal Ministry 

• On March 27, the Ministry of Coal launched the 12th round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions, building on the first-ever Commercial Coal Mine Auctions initiated by PM Narendra Modi on June 18, 2020. 
• This initiative is another important step towards increasing domestic coal production, reducing imports and ensuring long-term energy security for the nation. 
• A total of 25 coal mines will be offered under this auction, out of which 7 mines fall under Coal CMSP [Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015] and 18 mines fall under the Minerals and Mines (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR). 
• These include 2 lignite mines, which will help meet various energy requirements. 
•  Further, 13 coal mines have been fully explored while 12 are partially explored, providing opportunities for both immediate and future growth. 
•  The aim of the 12th tranche of commercial coal mine auctions is to attract significant interest from domestic and international investors, reinforcing India’s commitment to self-reliance in energy and industrial growth. 

Ranks and Reports News

 8. Roshni Nadar has become the first Indian woman to enter the world's top 10 richest women list 

•  She ranks 5th among the wealthiest women globally, according to the Hurun Global Rich List 2025. 
•  She is chairperson of HCL Technologies. She has a net worth of Rs 3.5 lakh crore (US$40 billion). 
•  She is now the third-richest person in India in 2025. 
•  In 2023, she was awarded the Schaffner Award for her contributions to society. 
•  In 2024, Roshni received France’s Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. 
•  She has been featured on Forbes' list of the world’s 100 most powerful women since 2017. 
•  The Hurun Global Rich List 2025 includes 561 women. 
•  Of these, 224 women are self-made, reflecting the rising influence of women in business. 
•  Other women in the top 10 are given below. 
•  Alice Walton (USA) is the wealthiest woman, with US$102 billion. Alice Walton is daughter of Walmart’s founder. 
• Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (France), heiress to L'Oréal, holds US$67 billion and ranked at 2nd. 
•  Julia Koch & Family (USA), heirs of Koch Industries, have US$60 billion and ranked at third. 
•  Jacqueline Mars, heiress to Mars Inc., has wealth of US$53 billion and ranked at fourth. 
•  Roshni Nadar holds 5th place with a net worth of US$40 billion. 
• India is now ranked 3rd in world for number of billionaires. India added 13 new billionaires this year. 
• 284 Indians are on the Hurun Global Rich List 2025. Mukesh Ambani remains the richest person in Asia. 
•  Mumbai (90 billionaires) remains India’s billionaire hub. Shanghai now has 92 billionaires. 

Top 5 wealthiest people in India 2025
Rank	Name	Wealth (INR Lakh Cr)	Company
1	Mukesh Ambani & family	8.6	Reliance
2	Gautam Adani & family	8.4	Adani
3	Roshni Nadar & family	3.5	HCL
4	Dilip Shanghvi & family	2.5	Sun Pharma
5	Azim Premji & family	2.2	Wipro
Source: Hurun Global Rich List 2025