Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 30th March 2025

 

National News

 1. Govt. to launch campaign to brand Delhi as 'Viksit' Capital 

•  In the recently presented Delhi budget, the Rekha Guptaled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has set aside ₹25 crore for a campaign to brand Delhi as Viksit (developed) Capital. 
•  A party source said the name of the campaign has not been finalised yet.
•  Under the campaign, the government also plans to host an international film festival, an investment summit, and develop a new tourism circuit. 
•  Investment summit 
•  Like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled States, the Delhi government plans to host an investment summit this year. 
•  "An investment summit has been planned this year, which will be held every two years thereafter," Ms. Gupta said in her 138-minute-long budget speech. 
•  Officials in the Delhi government said that the investment summit will be aligned with a new industrial policy designed to facilitate business. 
•  Minister for Art, Culture and Language Kapil Mishra said that while cities like Noida and Gurugram have thrived with industrial growth, Delhi "struggled due to the misuse of the policies" by the previous governments. 
• Tourism and heritage 
•  Mr. Mishra said the govern-ment plans to promote Delhi's heritage through a tourism campaign similar to those in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. 
• A key project under this initiative is a boat ride on the Yamuna river from Sonia Vihar to Jagatpur Shani temple. The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Delhi Development Authority for this project. 
• Among other attractions the government has proposed are a new tourist circuit covering the War Memorial, Kartavya Path, Prime Ministers' Museum and the new Parliament building. 
• To promote Delhi as a film destination, an international film festival with India International Convention and Expo Centre and Bharat Mandapam as possible venues has been proposed. 

2. India, U.S. agree on next steps for trade pact: govt

•   Top trade officials from India and the U.S. have broadly come to an under-standing on the next steps toward a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) setting the pitch for sectoral expert level engagements that will start virtually in the coming weeks, as per the Commerce Department. 
•  However, after four days of intense negotiations in Delhi between the two sides, no clarity emerged on whether the U.S. would impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian products on April 2, as announced by President Donald Trump, or grant it a reprieve. 
•  "In order to realise the shared objective of promoting growth that ensures fairness, national security and job creation, both sides have through four-days of discussions in New Delhi broadly come to an understanding on the next steps towards a mutually beneficial, multisector BTA, with the goal to finalise its first tranche by fall 2025," a Commerce Department statement noted. 
•  The top officials' meeting in New Delhi followed the visit of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to Washington, DC from March 4-6, where he met U.S. Trade Representa-tive Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
•  In a media interview, 
• India shipped $77.51 billion goods to the U.S. in FY24 and imported $42.19 billion goods. 
•  Mr. Lutnick said all items, including agricultural products, must be on the negotiating table for opening up of markets and to form flexible strategies. This must include setting quotas to address sensitivities. 
•  As Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed last month to work on a BTA, India had hoped that it could avoid facing reciprocal tariffs. The Commerce Ministry statement does not make any mention of them. 
•  "It seems that the US team did not brief the Indian team on the reciprocal tariffs. The announcement of reciprocal tariffs on India is likely to depend on whether Mr. Trump would be satisfied by the offers and indications given by India on tariff cuts. Things may get more clear in the days to come," a source tracking the matter said. 

International News 

3. Dr Jay Bhattacharya confirmed as Director of NIS of the United States 

•  Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the country’s top health research and funding institutions.
• Bhattacharya, a professor of Health Policy at Stanford University, was confirmed by a 53-47 vote. 
• Dr Jay Bhattacharya was nominated by Donald Trump as the 18th NIH Director after being elected as the 47th President of the US in November 2024. Recent Appointment in Foreign 
•  President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry (first female President in IOC history). 
•  CEO of Unilever -Fernando Fernandez (replace Hein Schumacher)
•  Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Kash Patel (9th) 
•  Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence by Trump – Sriram Krishnan 
• Chairperson of United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC) – Madan B Lokur (for 4 year) 

State News 

4. Punjab to develop Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary for Leopard safari 

• The Punjab government will develop the Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary as a leopard safari destination to promote eco-tourism in the state. 
•  The Punjab Government will develop the wildlife sanctuary in the Sri Anandpur Sahib as the state’s first wildlife sanctuary of the state where the tourist will view the wildlife in its natural habitat. 
• The state government has allocated Rs 10 crore for the Nangal project in its 2025-26 budget to develop the tourist infrastructure in the region. 
• The Jhajjar- Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a protected sanctuary by the Punjab government in 1998 under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. 

About Punjab 

•  Capital – Chandigarh
•   Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann 
•  Governor – Banwarilal Purohit 

5. Maharashtra to build 13 cr. memorial for 26/11 hero 

•  The Maharashtra govern-ment has sanctioned 13.46 crore for constructing a memorial in honour of Ashoka Chakra awardee and 26/11 hero Tukaram Omble in his native village, according to a government resolution. The memorial will be built in the village of Kedambe in Satara district. The project is being funded under the State's "Establishment of Memorials for Great Personalities in Rural Areas" scheme. One-fifth of the cost will be initially released to begin work on the structure, the Rural Development Department said.
•  Mr. Omble was a Mumbai Police sub-inspector who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, for the bravery he demonstrated during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. 

Defence News 

6. Ex Indra:14th edition of India, Russia bilateral naval exercise set to take place o Chennai 

•  The 14th edition of the India-Russia naval exercise Indra will take place off Chennai from March 28 to April 2, 2025, reinforcing the strategic naval cooperation between the two nations.
•  The exercise will be conducted in two phases—the Harbour Phase (March 28-30) in Chennai, featuring subject matter expert exchanges and pre-sail briefings, and the Sea Phase (March 31-April 2) in the Bay of Bengal, including tactical maneuvers and live drills.
•  The exercise will see participation from Russian Naval Ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, along with Indian Naval Ships Rana, Kuthar, and maritime patrol aircraft P8I. Recent Exercise 
•  23rd edition of bilateral naval exercise, Varuna 2025 between India and Franc – Arabian Sea 
• INS Ranvir participates in Exercise Bongosagar 2025 between India and Bangladesh 
• 12th edition of Exercise KHANJAR-XII between India and Kyrgyzstan – Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan 
•  7th edition of Security Belt-2025 between Russia, China and Iran – Iranian port of Chabahar near Indian Ocean 
• Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 between Indian Navy, Indian Army and India Air Force – Indian Air Force at Air Force Station Jodhpur. 

Economy News 

7. Final Budget allocation for the Department of Fertilizers has increased to Rs. 1,91,836.29 crore 

•  The final budget for the Department of Fertilizers in 2024-25 was raised from ₹1,68,130.81 crore to ₹1,91,836.29 crore, with the NBS scheme allocation increasing from ₹45,000 crore to ₹54,310 crore through Supplementary Demands for Grants. 
• The government assesses state-wise and month-wise demand before each cropping season and allocates adequate supplies. The Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS) tracks movement, with weekly video conferences ensuring smooth distribution.
•   In Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, extended till 2025-26, the overall outlay of Rs. 93,068.56 crores have been approved by the Government for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
• Urea is provided at a fixed MRP of ₹242 per 45 kg bag, unchanged since 2018. Under the NBS scheme, P&K fertilizers receive subsidies, with companies setting MRPs under government monitoring. 
•  Due to geopolitical challenges, the government approved a ₹3,500 per MT one-time special package on DAP subsidy (April 2024–March 2025) to maintain affordability for farmers. 
• The government is securing long-term agreements with resource-rich countries to ensure consistent and affordable fertilizer imports, supporting Indian agriculture. 

Schemes and Committees News 

8. Cabinet Approves Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates For Kharif Season 2025 

• The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilisers for fixing the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Kharif Season, 2025 from April 1 to September 30 on Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers. 
•  The budgetary requirement for Kharif season 2025 would be Rs 37,216.15 crore, which is Rs 13000 crore more than the budgetary requirement for Rabi season 2024-25. 
•  Benefits 

•  Availability of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized, affordable and reasonable prices will be ensured. 
•  Rationalization of subsidy on P&K fertilizers in view of recent trends in the international prices of fertilizers and inputs. 
•  Besides this, Cabinet has also given its nod to inclusion of Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project of Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme. 
•  Estimated cost of the project is Rs 6,282.32 crore, including Rs 3,652.56 crore central assistance to Bihar, is to be completed by March 2029. And remodeling of existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal up to 41.30 km and extension of EKMC up to river Mechi at 117.50 km. 

Science and Technology News 

9. AIIMS doctors perform rare surgery on 11-year-old 

• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has successfully performed its first total laparoscopic Whipple operation on an 11-year-old girl, mak-ing her the youngest patient in the world to undergo this complex procedure. 
•  The patient from Garhwa, Jharkhand, came in with a rare pancreatic tumour known as a Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasm (SPEN), necessitating the Whipple procedure, which involves the surgical removal and reconstruction of a significant part of the pancreas and the digestive system. The child was operated on February 27 and was dis-charged 10 days later. 
• Anjan Kumar Dhua, professor of paediatric sur-gery, said the patient expe-rienced persistent abdominal pain, and an in-vestigation revealed SPEN. 
•  "Typically, this surgery is done through a very long cut on the tummy, which can be painful afterwards and leaves a big scar. Considering several important factors, the operating team decided to perform the surgery using only four tiny incisions, two measuring 5 mm and two measuring 10 mm. The team operated for eight-and-a-half hours with only 80 ml of blood loss," he said. 

10. ISRO sees breakthrough in semi cryogenic engine development for LVM3 

•  ISRO has announced significant progress in the design and development of a semi cryogenic engine, or liquid oxygen/kerosene en-gine, with a high thrust of 2,000 kN (kilonewton) that will power the semi cryogenic booster stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3). 
•  The first major break-through in the semi cryogenic engine development programme was achieved on Friday, when the first successful hot test of Engine Power Head Test Article, was carried out at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, said the organisation. 
•  Highlighting that the test demonstrated the smooth ignition and boost strap mode operation of the engine for a test duration of 2.5 seconds, the space agency said the objective of the test was to validate the integrated performance of the critical subsystems by carrying out a hot-firing for a short-duration of 2.5 seconds. 
• "The test proceeded as predicted and all the engine parameters were as expected. With this break-through, ISRO is further planning a series of tests on the PHTA to further validate and finetune the performance before the realisation of the fully integrated engine," reads the statement
• . Noting that the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is developing the semi cryogenic propulsion engine and stage, the ISRO said the stage (SC120) powered by the 2,000 kN semi cryogenic engine (SE2000) will replace the present core liquid stage (L110) of LVM3. 
•  Induction of the semi cryogenic propulsion system along with an uprated cryogenic stage in the LVM3 vehicle enhances its payload capability from 4 tonne to 5 tonne in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), the Space Agency said.

 Important Day News 

11.28 March – Universal Acceptance Day

•   Universal Acceptance Day is observed on March 28 every year to promote the idea that all domain names and email addresses should be treated equally and accepted by all internet-enabled applications and systems.
•   Theme 2025 – Connecting the Unconnected – Building a Multilingual Internet for Viksit Bharat.
•   Universal Acceptance is a concept that aims to ensure that all domain names, including those with non-ASCII characters, and email addresses are accepted and validated equally by all internet applications and systems. 
•  The first Universal Acceptance Day was observed on 28 March 2023, and since then, it has been celebrated every year.