Current Affairs 1 April 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 1 April 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Cabinet Approvals on March 28, 2025On March 28 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals/schemes:
i.Approved Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) with total outlay of Rs 22,919 crore to make India Atmanirbhar in electronics supply chain.
ii.Approved the release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with immediate effect (w.e.f.) January 1, 2025.
iii.Approved Rs 37, 216 crore subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers during Kharif season, 2025.
iv.Approved the construction of 4-lane access controlled greenfield and brownfield Patna-Arrah–Sasaram corridor (National Highway (NH)-119A), starting from Patna to Sasaram in Bihar on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
v.Approved the inclusion of Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project of Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) with total outlay of Rs 6,282.32 crore.
>> Read Full News

Overview of PM Modi’s Visit to Maharashtra and ChhattisgarhOn March 30, 2025, Prime Minister (PM)of India, Narendra Modi was on a one-day official visit to Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. During his visit, he inaugurated various development projects in Nagpur, Maharashtra and paid homage to prominent leaders. In Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, PM Modi laid the foundation stone, initiated construction work, and dedicated projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore to the nation.
Highlights of Visit to Maharashtra: 
i.PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, an extension of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The upcoming facility will feature a 250-bed hospital, 14 outpatient departments (OPDs), and 14 modular operation theatres to provide world-class yet affordable eye care.
ii.PM Modi visited Smruti Mandir in Nagpur where he paid tribute to Dr. Keshav Hedgewar and Madhavrao Golwalkar, key figures in the foundation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
iii.PM Modi inaugurated a state-of-the-art Loitering Munition Testing Range and an exclusive runway for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur.
iv.PM Modi visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur to pay homage to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji (B.R.) Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
Highlights of visit to Chhattisgarh
i.PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Chhattisgarh at an event in Mohbhattha village, Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
ii.During the program, PM Modi flagged off the MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train service on the Abhanpur-Raipur route via Mandir Hasaud.
iii.He also laid the foundation stone laying for NTPC’s (National Thermal Power Corporation) Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (1×800 Megawatt MW) in Bilaspur.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM)- Devendra Fadnavis
Governor- C. P. Radhakrishnan
Capital- Mumbai
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister (CM)- Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor- Ramen Deka
Capital- Raipur
>> Read Full News

MoU Signed between CAG and NIUA for Capacity Building in Urban Development 
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New Delhi (Delhi) based National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) to enhance audit planning, processes, and capacity building in the field of urban development.

• The signing ceremony took place in the presence of K. Sanjay Murthy, CAG of India, accompanied by senior officials from both institutions.

i.The MoU aims to jointly develop content and course materials focused on urban sectors from an audit perspective.
ii.The partnership seeks to enhance capacity-building initiatives and equip professionals with specialized skills in urban development, focusing on improving the audit capabilities of Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) officers and staff.
iii.The partnership focuses on developing urban auditing tools, case studies, and methodologies, shared with CAG officials for enhancement.
Note: Another MoU was signed with the Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI) in the presence of CAG K. Sanjay Murthy, aiming to enhance non-cognitive skills that influence auditing effectiveness.

NIXI Hosted UA Day 2025, promoting a multilingual internet for Viksit Bharat
The 3rd Universal Acceptance Day (UA Day) 2025 celebration was held in New Delhi on 28th March 2025.The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), hosted a hybrid Universal Acceptance (UA) Day 2025 event on March 28 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.

• Theme of an event – “Connecting the Unconnected – Building a Multilingual Internet for Viksit Bharat,” aimed to promote UA and foster a more inclusive digital ecosystem in India.
• The event featured discussions on UA’s socio-economic impact, benefits for businesses, and its role in effective public policy, emphasizing the need for multilingual internet and highlighting UA’s importance in providing seamless access to digital services for all.

‘Bhashini Portal’
i.During Universal Acceptance Day 2025, the ‘Bhashini Portal’,an initiative by the Government of India,was highlighted for advancing linguistic inclusivity and digital accessibility.

• It designed to break language barriers, the portal enables real-time translation across Indian languages, making digital content more accessible to non-English speakers.
• Bhashini was launched at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in August 2022. The name “Bhashini” is an abbreviation for “Bhasha Interface for India.” It is developed under the National Language Translation Mission by MeitY.

Key People: The event was graced by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, and Chairman of NIXI as the Chief Guest. Notable speakers included Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia; Samiran Gupta, VP, Stakeholder Engagement & MD, Asia Pacific, ICANN; and Jaco Du Toit, Chief of Section, Universal Access to Information and Digital Inclusion, UNESCO HQ.
Note: NIXI is a non-profit company established under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956 (now Section 8 under the Companies Act, 2013), aimed at enhancing internet services in India.
About Universal Acceptance Day (UA Day)
The first UA Day was established by Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) with the support of Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) on 28 March 2023.

• Universal Acceptance (UA) Day is an opportunity to mobilize local, national, regional, and global communities and organizations to champion UA on a global scale.
• UA is a technical best practice that ensures all valid domain names and email addresses, regardless of script, language or character length, can be equally used by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems.

India Launches ‘Operation Brahma’ to Aid Earthquake-Hit Myanmar
In response to the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, India swiftly initiated Operation Brahma, aimed at providing urgent humanitarian aid. Within just 24 hours, the Indian Air Force (IAF) dispatched its first relief flight C-130J aircraft to Yangon ,Myanmar.

• Its carrying 15 metric tons of essential supplies including medical equipment, shelter materials, and ready-to-eat food, to provide immediate relief to those affected by the disaster.
• India has dispatched two naval ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Yangon.
• Additionally, INS Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command  departed on March 30, 2025, with 52 tonnes of relief material, including food, water, clothing, medicines, and emergency supplies.
• The Indian Navy continues to uphold India’s role as the region’s First Responder in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) led the mission, emphasizing India’s “neighbourhood first” policy and its commitment to swiftly assisting neighbouring countries.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Data: Net Claims of Non-Residents on India Increases by USD 11 billion in Q3FY25In March 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released India’s latest International Investment Position (IIP) data. As per IIP data, net claims of non-residents on India increased by USD 11 billion, to USD 364.5 billion during the 3rd Quarter (Q3: October to December) of Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).

• The data showed decrease in foreign assets of Indian residents by USD 40.1 billion and also, the claims of non-residents’ in India decreased by USD 29.1 billion. This results in an increase in India’s total foreign liabilities.

i.RBI cited that the decrease in Indian residents’ foreign assets during Q3FY25 was mainly due to the decline of USD 70.1 billion in reserve assets. However, reserve assets witness an increase of USD 13.2 billion compared to December 2023.
ii.As per RBI’s latest data, India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) has increased slightly to USD 11.5 billion, which accounts 1.1% of country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), during Q3FY25 from USD 10.4 billion (1.1% of India’s GDP) during Q3FY24, amid increase in service exports.
iii.The data further revealed that overall India’s foreign exchange reserves (FER) declined by USD 37.7 billion, on Balance of Payment (BoP) basis in Q3FY25 compared to an increase of USD 6.0 billion in Q3FY24.
>> Read Full News

RBI Increases Liquidity Facility Limit for Standalone Primary Dealers to Rs 15,000 CroreIn March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced to increase the aggregate limit available to Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs) under the Standing Liquidity Facility at the existing repo rate, from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore, with effect from (w.e.f) April 02, 2025.

• This decision was taken based on an assessment of the prevailing and evolving liquidity conditions.
• RBI has clarified that the limit for individual SPDs is being conveyed to them separately and also all other terms and conditions of the facility will remain unchanged.

Key Points:
i.Earlier in March 2025, RBI allowed SPDs to participate in all repo operations, irrespective of the tenor conducted by the central bank.
ii.Previously, SPDs were permitted to participate in all overnight liquidity management operations, except the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF).
iii.Further, SPDs were permitted to participate in other operations such as long-term Variable Rate Repo (VRR) operations and daily VRRs on a case-to-basis.
Important Terms:
i.Primary Dealer (PD): It refers to a RBI-registered Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) that is authorised to buy and sell Government Securities (G-Secs), in terms of the ‘Guidelines for Primary Dealer in Government Securities Market’ dated March 29, 1995.

• PDs in India have been classified into two different categories: SPDs and Bank PDs.

ii.SPDs: These entities are either subsidiaries of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) or incorporated abroad or incorporated under the companies act and registered as NBFCs.
iii.Standing Liquidity Facility: It is a window through which SPDs borrow money from RBI at the repo rate.
iii.VRR: It acts as a means to infuse short-term liquidity into the banking system. It is a process through which RBI allows banks to borrow at a rate determined by the market generally lower than Repo rate for a maximum period of 14 days.

Axis Bank and J.P. Morgan Launched Blockchain-based 24/7 Cross-Border PaymentsIn March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Axis Bank Limited, one of India’s largest private sector banks, partnered with New York (United States of America, USA)-based J.P. Morgan Chase &Co., a leading global financial services firm, to introduce real-time, 24/7 programmable USD clearing capabilities for its commercial clients.

• The initiative is powered by Kinexys Digital Payments (KDP), the blockchain and digital assets unit of J.P. Morgan, providing seamless cross-border payment solutions from Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat, India.

Key Highlights of the Partnership:
i.First-of-its-Kind Service in India: Axis Bank becomes the first Indian financial institution to offer near-real-time USD clearing for cross-border payments, enabling businesses to make or receive dollar payments at any time.
ii.Blockchain-Powered Efficiency: The platform uses blockchain technology to provide multi-currency, 24/7 payment movements with programmable payments, reducing liquidity costs and enabling efficient cash management.
iii.Operational Hub in GIFT City: The round-the-clock USD clearing facility will be operated from GIFT City, enhancing India’s position as a global financial hub.
iv.Industry-Wide Impact: The integration of KDP allows Axis Bank’s clients to streamline payments, unlock liquidity, and execute cross-border transactions efficiently.
v.Transformative Benefits: The adoption of automated cash management and no-deduction payment rails enhances liquidity, optimizes payments, and ensures seamless cross-border transactions.
About Axis Bank Limited:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 1993
About J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.:
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Jamie Dimon
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1871

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara awarded the Abel Prize 2025In March 2025, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters announced that renowned Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara (78 year old) has been awarded the 2025 Abel Prize in Oslo, Norway. He won this award for his fundamental contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory, specifically for the development of the theory of D-modules and discovery of crystal bases.

• With this, Masaki Kashiwara becomes the 1st Japanese person to be awarded the Abel Prize, which is also known as ‘Nobel Prize for Mathematics’ and 28th recipient of this prestigious prize in the field of mathematics.

i.Norway’s King Harald V will officially present the Abel Prize to Masaki Kashiwara during an award ceremony which is scheduled to be held on May 20, 2025 in Oslo, Norway.
ii.The recipient of the award receives a cash prize of 7.5 million Norwegian Krone (NoK) which is equivalent to USD 710,000, and a glass plaque designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Haugan.
iii.The Prize is awarded annually by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on behalf of the Ministry of Education (Norway).
>> Read Full News

Dalai Lama Received Gold Mercury Award for Peace, SustainabilityIn March 2025, Famous Tibetan spiritual leader his Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama was conferred with Gold Mercury Award for Peace and Visionary Governance 2025, by London (the United Kingdom, UK)-based Gold Mercury International, the global governance think tank and historic award organisation, at his residence at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh (HP).

• He received this honour in recognition of his lifelong commitment to peace, compassion, education and human rights.

i.The Gold Mercury Awards are presented by Nicolas De Santis, President and Secretary General Gold Mercury International, which is established in 1961, which is dedicated to promoting visionary governance, sustainable decision-making, peace, and international cooperation.
Dalai Lama – Awards & Honours:
Nobel Peace Prize: 1989
Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership: 1959
PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award: 2024
About Gold Mercury International:
ii.The Gold Mercury International recognizes world leaders, individuals, companies, and organisations worldwide across 8 different award categories such as: Global Health, Global Science & Technology, Global Culture, Global Resources, Global Economic & Social Policy, Global Peace & Security, Global Environment,  and International Law & Humanitarian Affairs.
iii.Some of famous recipients who had received the award: Former Presidents of United States of America (USA) Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford for their diplomatic efforts on nuclear disarmament;

• American biomedical researcher, Prof. Robert Gallo for discovering Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as the cause of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS);
• organisations like: New York (USA)-based United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and Red Cross.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Chandrasekaran Joined the IMF’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and GrowthIn March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Sons Limited’s Chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, was appointed to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
About Natarajan Chandrasekaran:
i.Natarajan Chandrasekaran, an Indian businessman, was born in 1963 in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu (TN).
ii.He served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Executive Director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2009.
iii.In 2017, He became the Chairman of Tata Motors and Tata Global Beverages (TGB) after being appointed as the Chairman of Tata Sons.
iv.Natarajan Chandrasekaran assumed the chair of G20 India in 2022 and began leading the business agenda during India’s G20 (Group of Twenty) presidency. He also served on the Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2016.
About of Advisory Council:
i.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) established the Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth in March 2025 to address global economic challenges, particularly declining productivity and sluggish growth.
ii.The council, led by IMF Managing Director (MD) Kristalina Georgieva, aims to shape macroeconomic and financial policies that drive productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic growth globally.
iii.The advisory council includes experts from business, finance, academics, and policymaking to share ideas and suggest ways to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity.
Key Members:

• Professor Ufuk Akcigit, Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago.
• HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America.
• Marc Benioff, Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce.
• Ana Botín, Executive Chair, Banco Santander.
• Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Group.
• Margherita Della Valle, Chief Executive, Vodafone Group.
• Tony O. Elumelu, Founder and Chairman, Heirs Holdings.
• Robert Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners.
• Mr. Federico Sturzenegger, Argentine Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation.

About the International Monetary Fund (IMF):
Managing Director (MD) – Kristalina Georgieva
Headquarters – Washington, D.C., United States of America (USA)
Established – 1944
Member Nations – 191

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Federal Bank Acquired Additional 4% Stake in Ageas Federal Life Insurance
In March 2025, Aluva (Kerala)-based Federal Bank Limited signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Belgium-based Ageas Insurance International NV and Ageas Federal Life Insurance Company Limited (AFLIC) to acquire an additional 4% stake in AFLIC from Ageas Insurance International NV.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Federal Bank’s plan to increase its stake in AFLIC from 26% to 30% for up to Rs. 105 crore.
• The acquisition depends on signing a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA), meeting certain conditions in the SPA, and getting regulatory approvals.

Note: AFLIC is a joint venture between Ageas Insurance International NV and the Federal Bank Limited, providing life insurance products and services across India.
About The Federal Bank Limited:
Headquarters- Aluva, Kerala ​ Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO)- KVS Manian Established- 1931

SPORTS

2025 Asian Wrestling Championships: India Secured 10 Medals with 1 Gold by Manisha BhanwalaThe Indian freestyle wrestling team concluded the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship held in Amman, Jordan, from 25 to 30 March 2025, with a tally of 10 Medals, including 1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 6 Bronze. This was the 21st edition of the championship, and the events were organized by Switzerland, based United World Wrestling (UWW).

• India’s Manisha Bhanwala in the Women’s Wrestling (WW) (62 Kilograms (Kg)) category clinched India’s first and only Gold Medal in the championship by defeating North Korea’s Ok J. Kim by 8-7 points.

This event marked the 1st time Amman hosted the championships, bringing together over 370 wrestlers from across Asia. Iran dominated the championships, with multiple wrestlers making it to the finals.
Key Points:
i.Udit (Freestyle (FS), 61 kg) secured his 2nd consecutive silver medal at the championship. He won his 1st Silver in the 57 kg category in 2024.
ii.Olympian Deepak Punia (FS, 92 kg) clinched a silver medal at the championship. He lost to Iran’s Amir Hossein Firouzpour (10-0) via technical superiority in the final.

• This was Deepak Punia’s 5th medal at the continental championships and his 3rd silver.

iii.Sunil Kumar (Greco-Roman (GR), 87kg) won a bronze medal in the championship.

• This achievement marks Sunil’s 5th senior medal and 3rd bronze at the Asian Wrestling Championships. He secured successive bronze medals in 2022 and 2023.

>> Read Full News

Gurindervir Singh Breaks Men’s 100m National Record at Indian Grand Prix 1
In March 2025, Gurindervir Singh, a 24-year-old sprinter from Patial village, Jalandhar, Punjab, set a new national record in the men’s 100m event at the Indian Grand Prix 1 held at the SAI South Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Representing the Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre.

• Gurindervir Singh set a new national record in the men’s 100 meters, clocking 10.20 seconds and surpassing the previous record of 10.23 seconds set by Manikanta Hoblidhar in October 2023.

Race winners:

• Gold: Gurindervir Singh – 10.20 seconds
• Silver: Manikanta Hoblidhar – 10.22 seconds (personal best)​
• Bronze: Amlan Borgohain – 10.43 seconds

About Gurindervir Singh:
i.Gurindervir Singh’s previous personal best was 10.27 seconds, set in 2021. However, he made a strong comeback, winning gold at the 2024 Federation Cup with a wind-assisted 10.33 seconds and later clocking 10.32 seconds at the National Inter-State Championships in June 2024.
ii.Gurindervir Singh’s record-breaking performance not only establishes him as India’s fastest man but also meets the entry standard of 10.25 seconds for the 26th Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled for May 2025 in Gumi, South Korea. ​

Anahat Singh Clinches Indian Open Squash Women’s Title
In March 2025 Anahat Singh, India’s top-ranked women’s squash player, secured the JSW Indian Open women’s singles title, at the Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The 17-year-old defeated Helen Tang from Hong Kong China with a straight-game victory of 11-9, 11-5, 11-8.

• This victory marks Anahat’s sixth consecutive title and her 11th Professional Squash Association (PSA) title overall, underscoring her consistent excellence in the sport.​
• The win awarded Anahat 300 ranking points, further solidifying her position at the top of Indian women’s squash.

i.Anahat Singh has made remarkable strides in squash, first gaining attention as the youngest Indian athlete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She went on to win the senior national championship in November 2023 and clinched her third British Junior Open title in January 2025.
ii.The Indian Open 2025, a PSA Copper event with a prize pool of USD 53,500, took place at the historic Bombay Gymkhana from March 24 to 28, 2025. The tournament featured both men’s and women’s categories, with matches held on a full-glass outdoor court for the quarterfinals onwards.
Note: In the men’s singles final, Kareem El Torkey of Egypt defeated India’s Abhay Singh with a score of 12-10, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10, claiming his sixth PSA title and earning 500 ranking points.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Transgender Day of Visibility 2025 – March 31 International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is annually observed across the globe on 31 March to celebrate the courage and resilience of transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming persons and honours the contributions, achievements, and bravery of those people in every country and culture worldwide.

• The Day aims to increase awareness about the poverty, discrimination, and violence faced by the transgender communities and advocate for their rights and protection.

Transgender Flag:
i.Monica Helms, an American trans activist, created the design for the first transgender pride flag in 1999 as a symbol of trans diversity and rights.
ii.The flag represents the transgender community and consists of 5 horizontal stripes:

• The 2 pink and 2 blue stripes represent colours that have traditionally been associated with girls and boys
• The 1 white stripe represents people who are intersex, transitioning, or who don’t have a defined gender.

Background:
i.The International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded and organised in 2009 by Rachel Crandall Crocker, an American transgender activist.

• She is a licensed psychotherapist specialising in transgender issues and the Executive Director and Co-founder of TransGender Michigan based in Michigan, the United States of America (USA).
• She also runs Transgender Michigan helpline, the 1st transgender helpline in the USA.

ii.The 1st International Transgender Day of Visibility was observed on 31 March 2009.
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Telangana Signed MoU with Himachal Pradesh for 520 MW Hydropower ProjectIn March 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana) based Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Himachal Pradesh (HP) for the development of two hydropower projects, Seli (400 Megawatt, MW) and Miar(Meyar) (120 MW), to enhance Telangana’s renewable energy capacity at an estimated cost of Rs. 6,200 crore in the Lahaul-Spiti district, HP.
Dignitaries:
The MoU was signed by Secretary of Power Rakesh Kanwar, HP on behalf of the HP Government and Principal Secretary of Power Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Telangana on behalf of the Telangana Government in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) of HP Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, Energy Minister of Telangana.
Objectives:
i.The projects will be established on the Chenab River and are expected to generate 5,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities in Himachal Pradesh.
ii.Telangana has paid an upfront premium of Rs. 26 crore. Upon commissioning, Himachal Pradesh will receive free power at 12%, 18%, and 30% for the first 12 years, next 18 years, and final 10 years, respectively.

• After 40 years, both projects will be transferred to Himachal Pradesh.

iii.Telangana will contribute 1.5% of project costs to the Local Area Development Fund (LADF) and provide an additional 1% free power for LADF after commissioning.

• Affected families will receive benefits equivalent to 100 units per month for 10 years.

iv.Himachal Pradesh’s perennial Himalayan rivers provide hydropower generation for 9-10 months annually, compared to limited generation on South Indian rivers.

• The collaboration aligns with “Telangana’s Clean & Green Energy Policy 2025″ and emphasizes sustainable energy.

About Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO): 
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Sandeep Kumar Sultania
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana
Established – 2014

Odisha CM Majhi Launched ‘Antyodaya Gruha Yojana’ in KalahandiIn March 2025, Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Majhi launched the “Antyodaya Gruha Yojana”, a major housing initiative aimed at improving the living conditions of underprivileged citizens in the state towards the mission of “Housing for All”.

• The scheme is set to spend Rs 7,550 crore over the next three years, to construct over 5 lakh houses for eligible households.

Key Highlights of the Scheme:
i.The launch event took place in Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi (Odisha), where CM Majhi distributed work orders to around 50,000 beneficiaries.
ii.Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh will be provided to each beneficiary for constructing pucca (permanent) houses.
iii.Beneficiaries will also receive essential services such as toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission(SBM), Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana(PMUY), clean drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM), and electricity under the Saubhagya Yojana.
iv.The scheme prioritizes households from disadvantaged groups, including persons with disabilities, widows, and those affected by natural disasters or development projects.

Budget Allocation:
i.A budget of Rs 2,600 crore has been allocated for the current financial year, while the remaining Rs 7,550 crore will be spent over the next three years.
ii.The government aims to provide homes to over 26 lakh people based on the recent survey, further supporting the national Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) mission.

Inauguration of Developmental Projects:
i.In a significant development for the Kalahandi district, the CM of Odisha also laid foundation stones and inaugurated various projects worth Rs 617.51 crore. These include the Juluko in-stream storage structures, valued at Rs 68.35 crore, which are set to provide drinking water to around 9,000 people in Kesinga block, while also aiding irrigation for rabi crops.
ii.Additionally, a grid sub-station worth over Rs 52 crore was inaugurated at Brundabahal, enhancing the region’s power infrastructure.

About Odisha:
Chief Minister – Mohan Charan Majhi
Governor – Hari Babu Kambhampati
Capital – Bhubaneshwar
Wildlife Sanctuary – Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary

Uttarakhand Launches ‘Bhagirath Mobile App’ Under Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2025 to Conserve Water Sources 
On March 28, 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the “Bhagirath Mobile Application” (app) during a one-day workshop under the Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2025 at Mukhya Sevak Sadan in Dehradun (Uttarakhand), enabling users to report water sources in their localities that are at risk or in critical condition.
Theme and Objectives

• The event was held with the theme “Dhara Mera, Naula Mera, Gaon Mera, Prayas Mera” meaning “My Stream, My Water Source, My Village, My Effort.”
• Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2025 conserves water with Dhara Naula Committees and workshops, promoting sustainable management and revitalizing water sources.

Role of SARA
The Uttarakhand government established the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARA) in 2023.The SARA, the implementing body, conserved over 6,500 water sources and harvested 3.12 million cubic meters (MCM) of rainwater in 2024–25.

• To safeguard Uttarakhand’s natural water sources like Naulas (traditional water springs), Dharaas (streams), and rain-fed rivers.
• SARA is working with the Central Ground Water Board to recharge groundwater levels in the plains.

Scientific Collaboration
Additionally, in the initial phase of river rejuvenation, detailed project reports are being prepared with assistance from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) Roorkee.

• These reports focus on the technical and scientific treatment of rivers in Uttarakhand such as Nayar, Song, Uttarvahini Shipra, and Gauri.

Chhattisgarh Signs MoU with NASSCOM to Boost Skill Development and IT Ecosystem
In March 2025, the Government of Chhattisgarh signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Noida (Uttar Pradesh)-based National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) to boost skill development, generate employment, and strengthen the state’s IT ecosystem.

• The MoU was formalized between the Chhattisgarh Government and NASSCOM, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai engaging with NASSCOM Vice-President Srikant Srinivasan during the Investors Connect meet in Bengaluru. ​

i.The MoU aims to enhance job opportunities and drive technological advancements across the state through the institutes like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Raipur, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur.
ii.Under the new industrial policy, Rs.4.4 lakh crore worth of proposals have been received, with Naya Raipur being developed as an IT hub.

• key sectors like engineering, textiles, electronics, Information Technology / Information Technology Enabled Services (IT/ITES), food processing, and green fuel receiving proposals worth Rs. 3,700 crore.

About National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM):
Chairperson – Sindhu Gangadharan
President – Rajesh Nambiar
Headquarters – Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Established – 1988

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