Current Affairs 29 March 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 29 March 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

MoD Signs Rs 2,500 Crore Contracts for Anti-Tank Missiles and Light Vehicles
In March 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed two major contracts worth Rs 2,500 crore under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured, IDDM) category to bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. The agreements, finalized in the presence of Rajesh Kumar Singh,Secretary of MoD.

• The MoD signed contract with Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) for the Nag Missile System (NAMIS) Tracked Version and with Pune (Maharashtra)-based Force Motors Limited & Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Mahindra and Mahindra Limited for the supply of light vehicles.
• Both projects align with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, aiming  to Strengthen domestic defence manufacturing.

Key Contracts and Financial Details:
1.Nag Missile System (NAMIS) Tracked Version:

• Cost: Rs 1,801.34 crore.
• Developer: Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).\
• Range: 500 meters to 4 kilometers (KM), Speed: 230 metres per second
• Purpose: To modernize the anti-tank capabilities of the Mechanised Infantry. The system features fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles and advanced sighting technology, ensuring precision strikes against enemy armor.

2.Light Vehicles Procurement:

• Cost:  Rs 698.66 crore
• Quantity: 5,000 units.
• Manufacturers: Pune (Maharashtra)-based Force Motors Limited and Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Mahindra & Mahindra Limited.
• Payload Capacity: 800 kilogram(kg).
• Design: Equipped with enhanced engine power for mobility across diverse terrains and operational conditions.

About NAMIS:

• The NAMIS (Tracked) is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile system designed to provide the Indian Army(IA) with a decisive edge in mechanized warfare.
• Its fire-and-forget capability reduces dependency on manual guidance, enhancing battlefield survivability and lethality.
• The platform is based on a tank-track system and carries an anti-tank NAG missile.

About Light Vehicles: 

• The new light vehicles are engineered with contemporary automotive technology to support troop movement, logistics, and rapid deployment.
• Their ability to operate in challenging terrains (e.g., deserts, mountains) ensures uninterrupted mobility for the Armed Forces during critical missions.

About Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Sanjay Dwivedi
Headquarters – Avadi, Tamil Nadu(TN)
Established – 2021

Union Minister C.R. Patil Launches a book ‘Ripples of Change’ 
In March 2025, Union Minister Chandrakant Raghunath (C.R.) Patil, Minister of Jal Shakti (MoJS), launched the book “Ripples of Change: Gender-transformative rural WASH programmes in India” and an upgraded website for the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) in New Delhi (Delhi).

• The initiatives align with the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to promote inclusive development.

i.The book was published by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under MoJS and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India.

• It documents 10 powerful stories from rural India, highlighting gender empowerment, community leadership, and innovation under SBM-G and JJM.

ii.The upgraded website adheres to Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) 3.0.

• It includes multilingual support and an inclusive design for better accessibility, updated security protocols for enhanced protection, and a citizen-centric interface with unified branding for both domestic and global users.
• DBIM acts as a comprehensive style guide and outlines the visual, textual, and experiential elements necessary to harmonize India’s digital footprint.

CAG Signed Mou with BISAG-N for Geo-Spatial Audit Enhancement
In March 2025, New Delhi(Delhi) based The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gandhinagar (Gujarat) the Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to modernize audit processes using advanced technologies.

• The MoU was signed by Deputy CAG S Ramann and BISAG-N Director General(DG) TP Singh in the presence of CAG Sanjay Murthy.

i.The agreement aims to enhance audit capabilities by leveraging advanced technologies, particularly geo-spatial tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data analytics.

ii.The collaboration with a technically self-reliant organization like BISANG-N will not only strengthen audit capabilities but also highlight the technological expertise of public institutions. This product has been developed as part of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative.

iii.According to the agreement, both organizations have agreed to develop a customized platform for audit analysis by leveraging geo-spatial data and other relevant data from the Prime Minister(PM)-GatiShakti pipeline.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Hurun Global Rich List 2025: Elon Musk topped; Mukesh Ambani emerges as India’s Richest Person

In March 2025, China based Hurun Research Institute released the “2025 Hurun Global Rich List“, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited(RIL), emerged as the India’s Richest Person with a total net worth of USD 100 billion and ranked as the World’s 17th richest Person (10th in 2024).

• Mukesh Ambani is followed by Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani with a total net worth of USD 97 billion and Chairperson of HCL Technologies Limited Roshni Nadar Malhotra with a total net worth of USD 40 billion. She also became the 5th richest woman in the world. She is also the first Indian woman to enter the global top 10 wealthiest women.
• Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX reclaim the title of the world’s richest person for the fourth time with total net worth of USD 420 billion, followed by founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos (USD 266 billion, CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook) Mark Zuckerberg at (USD 242 billion), co-founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison (USD 203 billion).

About Hurun Global Rich List 2025:
i.This is the 14th edition of Hurun Global Rich List. The rankings are based on wealth calculations as of January 15, 2025.
ii.The Hurun Global Rich List 2025 featured 3,442 billionaires from 71 countries, an increase from 3,278 last year. The number of billionaires grew by 5%, while their total combined wealth rose by 13%.
Key Highlights: 
i.For the first time since 2016, the USA has topped the list with the most billionaires (870).China follows in second place with 823 billionaires and India with 284 billionaires.
ii.New York has reclaimed its position as the global billionaire capital, while London ranks second.
iii.Meanwhile, Shanghai(92 billionaires) has become the Asian billionaire capital for the first time , surpassed Mumbai as Asia’s billionaire capital.
>> Read Full News

19th SMW : Pioneering Maritime Innovation and CollaborationIn March 2025, the 19th edition of the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2025 was held from March 24 to 28, 2025 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore. Organized by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), this annual event celebrated Singapore’s maritime contributions as part of the SG60 festivities, commemorating 60 years of nation-building.

• The theme for SMW 2025 is ‘Actions Meet Ambition’, emphasizes decarbonization, digitalization, maritime services, and talent development.

Key Highlights:
i.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) of Government of India (GoI) led India’s delegation at SMW 2025, emphasizing collaboration for a secure, sustainable, and prosperous maritime future.

• During SMW 2025, India and Singapore signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to collaborate on a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC).

ii.During SMW 2025, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) in collaboration with the MPA introduced Singapore’s inaugural Maritime Digital Twin.
About Singapore:
President – Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Capital – Singapore
Currency – Singapore Dollar (SGD)
>> Read Full News

GFCI 37: GIFT City Leads in Reputational Advantage & Improves FinTech rankingIn March 2025, the China Development Institute (CDI) in Shenzhen (China) and Z/Yen Partners in London (the United Kingdom, UK) released the 37th edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 37).

• This semi-annual report evaluates the competitiveness of 119 financial centres worldwide, serving as a critical reference for policy and investment decision-makers.

i.According to the index, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (Gift City) in Gujarat, has achieved the top rank in the ‘reputational advantage’ category and improved its position from 45th to 40th in the fintech ranking.
ii.In GFCI 37, New York City (United States of America, USA) continues to hold the top position with a rating of 769, followed by London (United Kingdom, UK) in second place with 762 points. Hong Kong (China) secures the third spot with a rating of 760.
iii.The Asia-Pacific region showcases robust performance, with six centres ranking in the global top 20.
>> Read Full News

Indonesia Joins BRICS-Backed NDB as Its 11th MemberIn March 2025, Indonesia officially became the 11th member of the Shanghai (China) based New Development Bank (NDB), formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank. This strategic move aims to enhance Indonesia’s access to funding for infrastructure projects and national development programs.

• The decision was approved following a meeting between Dilma Vana Rousseff, President of NDB, and Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, President of Indonesia, at the State Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• The other 10 members of NDB are Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uruguay.

Note: In January 2025, Indonesia officially joined BRICS as the 10th member.
About New Development Bank (NDB):
i.The NDB, established in 2015 by BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
ii.It finances sustainable development and infrastructure projects in Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries (EMDCs)
iii.The NDB has an initial authorized capital of USD 100 billion, divided into one million shares valued at USD 100,000 each.
iv.The first president of NDB was K.V. Kamath from India, who served from 2015 to 2020.
President – Dilma Vana Rousseff (Brazil)
Headquarters – Shanghai (China)
About Indonesia:
President– Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo
Capital – Jakarta
Currency – Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

IUCN released 1st Green Status Assessment for Lion in Africa and IndiaIn March 2025, Gland (Switzerland)-based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its 1st Green Status Assessment for the Lion (Scientific name: Panthera leo). The report has termed the lion as ‘largely depleted’, while the species remains ‘Vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Red list.

• This latest assessment by IUCN revealed that human impacts are preventing the lion from being fully ecologically functional across large areas and is extinct from North Africa and South-west Asia.

i.The IUCN 1st introduced ‘green status’ in a paper in the journal titled ‘Conservation Biology’ in July 2021. It was developed to tell a ‘species’ full conservation story.
ii.The new assessment tool is divided into 9 different recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate.
About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
Director-General (DG)- Dr. Grethel Aguilar
Headquarters- Gland, Switzerland
Established– 1948
>> Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

IREDA Secured JPY 26 billion ECB Facility from SBI TokyoIn March 2025, New Delhi(Delhi) based State-owned Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), ‘Navratna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has signed Japanese Yen (JPY) 26 billion (Rs 1,476 crore) facility agreement for raising External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) from India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), State Bank of India (SBI)’s Tokyo branch in Japan.

• This facility agreement also includes a green shoe option of JPY 10 billion.

Key Points:
i.This unsecured loan facility is signed for a period of 5 years and will be repaid in a single payment at maturity.

• It is expected to improve IREDA’s presence in international financial markets.

ii.As per IREDA, the landed cost (following hedging) is projected to be less than 7%. Thus, making it more cost-effective compared to similar-tenure loans in the domestic market.
Note: Overallotment, also known as greenshoe option is an option exercised by the underwriter to buy back a certain number of company’s shares at a fixed price to shore up the share price.
About Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA):
IREDA is a Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFI), which is engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial support to set up sustainable projects.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)– Pradip Kumar Das
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established– 1987

JICA Signs 6 ODA Loan Agreements worth Rs.11,181 crore with GoIIn March 2025, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) of Japan has signed 6 Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan agreements with the Government of India (GoI), totaling Japanese Yen (JPY) 191,736 million (around Rs.11,181 crores).

• The 6 loan agreements include funding for a seawater desalination plant, biodiversity conservation, forest management, aquaculture development, and the expansion of the Delhi Metro network.
• The agreements underscore Japan’s commitment to supporting India’s sustainable development through infrastructure growth, environmental protection, and livelihood improvement.

Loan Distribution:
i.A substantial sum of Rs.4,649 crores will be allocated to the Delhi Metro Phase 4 project, led by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC), to enhance urban mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease air pollution in the National Capital Region.
ii.An additional investment of Rs.3,065 crores has been earmarked for building seawater desalination plant(II) in Chennai(Tamil Nadu, TN) led by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), aimed at securing a reliable and safe water supply through the development of new desalination and water transmission infrastructure.
iii.TN will receive Rs.2,106 crores under the TN Investment Promotion Program (Phase 3) to boost its investment climate through improved policy frameworks, infrastructure development, and industry-ready skill enhancement.
iv.Assam’s fisheries sector will receive Rs.209 crores for Assam State Aquaculture Promotion and Livelihood Improvement Project to enhance aquaculture production, strengthen supply chains, and improve livelihoods in line with India’s Act East Policy.
v.Punjab has been allocated Rs.669 crores for the Punjab Biodiversity and Natural Resources Conservation Project aimed at enhancing climate resilience through afforestation, wetland management, and biodiversity preservation.
vi.Rs.483 crores will be allocated to improve India’s forest governance and biodiversity conservation through capacity-building programs led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Note: With the latest agreements, JICA’s total ODA commitments for the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25) have risen to Rs.15,655 crores, including the Mumbai Metro Line 3 project in Maharashtra.
About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):
President– Dr. TANAKA Akihiko
Headquarters– Tokyo, Japan
Established – 1974.

RBI Imposes Penalties on HDFC Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, and KLM Axiva Finvest
In March 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based HDFC Bank Limited, New Delhi (Delhi) based Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) and Hyderabad (Telangana) based KLM Axiva Finvest Limited for failing to comply with RBI regulatory guidelines.
i.HDFC Bank was fined Rs.75 lakh for non-compliance with RBI’s Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. The penalty followed a statutory inspection of the bank’s financial position as of March 31, 2023, which revealed several lapses in adhering to RBI directives.
ii.PSB was fined Rs.68.20 lakh for not reporting of borrowers with non-fund exposures of Rs.5 crore or more to the RBI’s Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) and permitting Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) holders to open extra savings account.
iii.KLM Axiva Finvest was fined Rs.10 lakh for not complying with dividend declaration requirements.

Zuno General Insurance become India’s first insurer to Integrates ‘PHYD’ as Standard Feature in Motor Insurance
In March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Zuno General Insurance Limited (formerly Edelweiss General Insurance) has launched ‘Zuno SmartDrive’, making Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD) a standard feature in its motor insurance policies.

• This makes Zuno the first insurer in India to integrate mobile telematics into car insurance policies at no additional cost, shifting from traditional fixed pricing to behavior-based premiums.

Key Features of PHYD:
i.The PHYD system uses mobile telematics to evaluate driving patterns, including speed, braking habits, and distraction levels. Previously offered as an add-on, PHYD is now automatically included in all new and renewed policies. Policyholders can monitor their driving scores via the Zuno app, which provides real-time feedback and tips to improve driving behavior.
ii.Benefits for Policyholders:

• Personalized Premiums: Safe drivers can lower insurance costs through dynamic premium calculations based on actual driving performance.
• Rewards System: Policyholders earn weekly and monthly rewards and compete on a leaderboard within the app.
• Cost Control: Drivers gain direct influence over their premiums by improving driving habits, marking a shift from uniform pricing models.

iii. Significance: Zuno’s move introduces a data-driven approach to motor insurance in India, aligning with global trends of using technology for risk assessment.

Luminous Signed MoU with SBI to Expand Solar Financing in India
In March 2025, Gurugram (Haryana)-based Luminous Power Technologies Private Limited, India’s leading solar energy solutions company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), State Bank of India (SBI) to expand its access to solar financing across the country.

• As part of this strategic partnership, Luminous has been on-boarded by SBI as its recommended partner in its dedicated portal for solar loans.

i.This partnership covers various other financing sub-categories like: solar solution finance and supply chain finance, ensuring accessible and customized financial solutions for a wide range of energy requirements.
ii.As per MoU, eligible customers can avail maximum loan of Rs 10 crore, thereby eliminating financial hurdles to solar adoption.
iii.The loans disbursed will be repaid for a maximum period of 10 years, and interest rate will be charged based on the customer credit profile.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS        

Rana Dasgupta won Yale’s 2025 Windham Campbell Prize for Non-fictionIn March 2025, Rana Dagupta, renowned British author of Indian origin has been named the winner of 2025 Windham Campbell Prize in the ‘non-fiction category’ by (United States of America, USA)-based Yale University.

• He received this award in recognition of his insightful critique of global hypercapitalism, industrialization, politics, and class, as demonstrated in his book ‘Capital: A Portrait of Twenty-First Century Delhi’, which was shortlisted for both the Orwell Prize and the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize.

Other Winners:
i.This year total 8 authors (including Rana Dasgupta) have been selected as winners of 2025 Windham Campbell Prizes in recognition of their literary work.
ii.Each recipient will receive a citation, award and monetary prize of  USD 175,000 to support their literary work.
iii.Name of other recipients in different categories are: Fiction Category: Sigrid Nunez (United States of America,USA) and Anne Enright (Ireland)

• Non-Fiction category: Patricia J Williams (USA);
• Drama category: Roy Williams (United Kindgom, UK) and Matilda Feyisayo Ibini (United Kingdom, UK).
• Poetry: Anthony V Capildeo (Scotland/Trinidad and Tobago) and Tongo Eisen-Martin (USA) in ‘poetry’.

About Windham Campbell Prizes:
i.The awards were established in 2013 by writer Donald Windham in memory of Sandy Campbell.
ii.The awards are administered by the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, part of Yale University Library.
iii.These awards are presented annually to authors working in ‘English’ language from anywhere in the world across 4 main categories: fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry.
iv.The recipients  will receive these awards in person this fall during Yale’ annual international literary festival.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS           

Rajiv Guaba appointed as 5th full-time member of NITI Aayog
In March 2025, the Government of India(GoI) appointed Rajiv Gauba, the former Cabinet Secretary(CS) of India, as the 5th full-time member of the New Delhi(Delhi) based National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) with immediate effect.

• . His inclusion in NITI Aayog is expected to strengthen the institution’s strategic planning and policy formulation efforts, contributing to India’s long-term development goals.

i.Rajiv Gauba, a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service(IAS) officer, has played a crucial role in shaping key government policies and reforms.
ii.He served as Cabinet Secretary for a record five years (2019–2024), making him the longest-serving in the role, surpassing Pradeep Kumar Sinha’s tenure.
iii.He played a key role in major governance reforms, including the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, during his tenure as Union Home Secretary.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX Launched HEX20’s ‘Nila‘ Satellite into Space

In March 2025, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) based HEX20 India, a small satellite manufacturing startup, achieved a significant milestone by launching its maiden satellite, ‘Nila,’ aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission, a service offered by SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, to provide dedicated rideshare opportunities for small satellites.

• The ‘Nila’ mission is designed to test and validate HEX20’s indigenously developed subsystems.
• The satellite is named after Kerala’s Nila River, highlighting its cultural importance.

About the Mission ‘Nila’:
i.The mission was supported by the Bopal (Ahmedabad) based Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which helped with testing and approved setting up a tracking station at Marian Engineering College (Kerala).
ii.‘Nila’ was developed in just four months and launched with the support of Berlin (Germany) based satellite deployer Exolaunch GmbH.
iii.The payload, weighing under 5 kilograms (kg), will include an in-orbit demonstration payload from the German company Dcubed GmbH.
iv.HEX20 India established a ground station for satellite command and control at Marian College of Engineering in Menamkulam, Thiruvananthapuram.

• It trains faculty members and students to operate this facility, which will receive data from ‘Nila’ and future missions.

Initiatives of HEX20:
i.HEX20 has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with academic institutions in Kerala, including Government Engineering College Barton Hill, Marian College of Engineering, Mar Baselios College of Engineering, and Trinity Engineering College.
ii.HEX20 is preparing to launch a 50 kg satellite using the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) by the end of 2026.
About HEX20 India:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Lloyd Jacob Lopez
Headquarters – Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala​
Founded – 2020​

ENVIRONMENT

BU Researchers & ZSI Discovered New Marine Parasitic Isopod Species ‘Lobothorax Bharat’In March 2025, Researchers of department of zoology, Berhampur University (BU) based in Odisha, in collaboration with Ganjam (Odisha)-based Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of marine parasitic isopod. The species has been named ‘Lobothorax Bharat’ in honor of India, the homeland of the scientists behind the discovery

• This tiny parasite, less than 3 centimeters(cm) long, was found along the coast at Gopalpur and Bahabalpur in Ganjam and Balasore districts, respectively of Odisha.

i.The Researchers from Baripada (Odisha)-based Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCB University) have found a new species of wild ginger from Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
ii.The newly identified species has been named ‘Zingiber Jagannathii Sahu & Priyadarshini’ in the honour of ‘Lord Jagannath’.
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
Director- Dr. Dhriti Banerjee
Headquarters- Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Established- 1916
>> Read Full News

SPORTS

Khelo India Para Games 2025: Haryana Topped the Medal Tally with 34 Golds.Haryana topped the medal tally with 104 medals (34 Gold, 39 Silver, 31 Bronze) in the 2nd edition of the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) 2025, a multi-sport para event under the Government of India’s (GoI) Khelo India initiative held in New Delhi, Delhi from 20 to 27 March 2025.

• Tamil Nadu (TN) claimed the 2nd position with 74 medals (28 Gold, 19 Silver, 27 Bronze), and Uttar Pradesh (UP) claimed the 3rd position with 64 medals (23 Gold, 21 Silver, 20 Bronze) in the overall standings
• This is the 2nd time Haryana has finished on top of the team standings, claiming the winners’ trophy.
• Ujjwala is the Official Mascot of the 2nd KIPG 2025. The design of Ujjwala is inspired by the house sparrow of Delhi symbolising the pride and fighting spirit of the city.

Key Points:
i.Jaspreet Kaur became the 1st athlete in KIPG 2025 to break a national record.

• She claimed the gold medal in the 45-kilogram (kg) category, lifting 101 kg, surpassing her previous best of 100kg.

About the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister– Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Constituency: Porbandar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- Raksha Khadse (Constituency: Raver, Maharashtra)
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Sikkim CM PS Tamang Presents Rs 16,196 Crore Budget for FY26 
In March 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Sikkim, also the Minister-in-Charge of the Finance Department, Prem Singh Tamang, presented the Annual General Budget for the Financial Year 2025-26(FY26), amounting to Rs 16,196 crore, focusing on eradicating poverty and achieving total literacy.

• A key feature of the budget is the allocation of Rs. 2,896 crore under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), aimed at maximizing central funding for crucial developmental projects in Sikkim.

Key Highlights:
i.For FY26, the state government has planned Rs 11,028 crore for Revenue Expenditure(RE) and Rs 5,168 crore for capital investment.
ii.The state will generate revenue from multiple sources. The Centre’s devolution of taxes is estimated at Rs 5,519 crore, while grants and aids will add Rs 2,600 crore.
Key Allocations:
i.The government has allocated Rs 17,303 crore for education, sports, and arts to enhance learning, promote sports, and support cultural programs.
ii.A total of Rs 7,195 crore (6% of Budget) has been set aside for healthcare, ensuring better medical facilities and services. The funds will be used for purchasing new hospital equipment, upgrading specialty wards, and enhancing medical infrastructure.
iii.A total of Rs 10,741 crore has allocated (8%) to improve water supply and sanitation facilities across the state. This includes dedicated projects such as the water supply to Mangalbaria block from Sapley Source at Upper Resikhola, Sribadam in Soreng district of Sikkim.
>> Read Full News

7th Act East Business show held in Meghalaya
In March 2025, the 7th Act East Business Show was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister(CM) Conrad Sangma in Shillong, Meghalaya.The three-day event was attended by ambassadors and representatives of different countries. The event, held from March 25th–27th,2025, organized by Kolkata (West Bengal)-based Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in partnership with the Government of Meghalaya.

• The aim of the 7th Act East Business show is to position Meghalaya as a prime trade and investment hub while strengthening economic ties between India’s Northeast and the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) regions under India’s Act East Policy.

Note: The Act East Business Show began in 2014. Subsequent editions were held annually until 2018, with a gap before the 2021 edition.
i.Aligned with Meghalaya’s vision to achieve a USD 10 billion economy, the event highlighted policy reforms, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, and grassroots economic networks as growth catalysts.
ii.The state aims to leverage its strategic location and the Act East Policy framework to attract cross-border investments and enhance regional connectivity.
iii.Act East Policy: Launched in 2014 at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit in Myanmar, the Act East Policy succeeded the Look East Policy (1992) to strengthen trade and investment ties with the Southeast Asian Nation.

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