We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 7 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.
Our Current Affairs March 2025 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2025 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.
| Important Notice:CareersCloud Content Sharing and Legal Compliance |
|---|
| We kindly request our aspirants not to share or distribute our content, PDFs, videos, or any other materials under our ownership to individuals or through any social media platforms. Please note that we have implemented a tracking system to monitor such activities. Any violation of this policy may result in the immediate termination of access to our services, and we will not be held responsible for any loss or inconvenience caused due to such actions. Furthermore, we also reserve the right to take strict legal action, including filing complaints under applicable laws, against individuals or entities found violating this policy. |
Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP
We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert – English | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)
Click here for Current Affairs 6 March 2025
Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Cabinet approvals on March 5 2025
On March 5 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals:
i.Revision of Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) with a total outlay of Rs. 3,880 crore.
ii.The construction of a 12.4 kilometer (km) ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji in Uttarakhand under the National Ropeways Development Programme (NRDP)– Parvatmala Pariyojana at a total cost of Rs. 2,730.13 crore.
iii.The construction of a 12.9 km ropeway connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand under NRDP – Parvatmala Pariyojana, at a total cost of Rs. 4,081.28 crore.
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister (CM)– Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor- Gurmit Singh
Capital- Dehradun
Dams- Tehri Dam, Tumaria Dam, Maneri Dam
>> Read Full News
Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s 3-day Visit to Gujarat from March 1 to 3, 2025 
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi paid a 3-day visit to Gujarat from March 1 to March 03, 2025 focusing on wildlife conservation.
- During his visit, he inaugurated Vantara, a 3,000-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar, Gujarat and chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir National Park, Gujarat.
- He also visited Somnath Temple, Gujarat offered prayers and chaired a meeting of the Shree Somnath Trust.
i.The center ‘Vantara’ was established by Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Reliance Industries Limited(RIL) and the Reliance Foundation.
- It has the world’s largest hospital for elephants features hydrotherapy pools and jacuzzis designed to treat elephants suffering from arthritis and foot ailments.
ii.PM Narendra Modi announced the 16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation to be conducted in May 2025.
- He laid the foundation for the National Referral Centre for Wildlife in Junagadh, aiming to manage wildlife health and diseases
About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):
It is constituted by the Government of India(GoI) under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
- It is a 47-member committee, headed by the PM and the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change as vice chairperson.
Chairperson – PM Narendra Modi
Headquarters – New Delhi(Delhi)
Established – 2003
>> Read Full News
GSI Celebrates 175th Foundation Day & Launches Two Significant Digital Initiatives
On 4 March 2025, Geological Survey of India (GSI) celebrated its 175th Foundation Day with a grand ceremony at its headquarters in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).
- The event was graced by Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Coal (MoC) and Ministry of Mines (MoM).
- He unveiled a commemorative plaque and a special postal cover to honour the 175-year journey of GSI.
i.During the event, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, launched two significant digital initiatives: the Field Data Acquisition Application (App) and the Geo-heritage App ‘Bhuvirasat’.
- These initiatives aim to improve efficiency of data collection and promote awareness of India’s rich geo-heritage.
Note: On March 2, 2025, the GSI organized a nationwide walkathon across 27 locations to kick off its 175th Foundation year celebrations, promoting fitness and raising awareness about geoscience, with the theme “Geoscience for a Safe World”.
About Geological Survey of India (GSI):
The GSI is one of the oldest geological surveys in the world and the second oldest survey in India after the Survey of India (founded in 1767).
Director General (DG) – Asit Saha
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal(WB)
Established – 1851
>> Read Full News
MoPR Launches ‘MWFGP Initiative’ for Women’s Empowerment
On March 5, 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India (GoI), launched a ‘Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats (MWFGP)’ initiative at the National Convention at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi (Delhi). It was launched as a key part of the International Women’s Day celebration on March 8, 2025.
- MWFGP is a program aimed at increasing women’s participation, safety, and leadership in local governance.
- The objective of the initiative is to establish at least one Model Gram Panchayat in each district in India, serving as a beacon for gender-sensitive and girl-friendly governance practices.
Key People: The event was graced by Union Minister of State (MoS) Anupriya Patel, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Union MoS S. P. Singh Baghel, MoPR, Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of MoPR, Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary of MoPR and along with representatives from various Ministries/Departments, State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs), and international organizations, including United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Highlights:
i.The model panchayats will reflect India’s Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of creating safer, more inclusive, and socially just Gram Panchayats, helping achieve a Viksit Bharat through Viksit Panchayats.
ii.Initiatives Launched,
- Virtual Training Programs: For the development of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats.
- Real-Time Monitoring Dashboard: To assess the progress of women-friendly gram panchayats in India.
iii.This digital platform uses technology to track, analyze, and enhance women’s participation and welfare at the grassroots level.
- It provides real-time insights and data-driven support to empower women leaders across the country.
iv.MoPR will also organize a nationwide Mahila Gram Sabha on 8th March 2025 in all Gram Panchayats to promote the goals of the Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat initiative at the grassroots level.
About Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR):
Union Minister– Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh (Constituency- Munger, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS) – S.P. Singh Baghel (Constituency- Agra, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in the Asia & the Pacific Held in Jaipur, Rajasthan
The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in the Asia & the Pacific was held from March 3 to March 5, 2025 at Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The theme of 2025 forum is ‘Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific’.
- The 3-day conference was organised Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the Government of India(GoI) in collaboration with United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), and Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES).
i.During the event, Union Minister Manohar Lal along with Bhajanlal Sharma, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan jointly inaugurated the 3R India Pavilion.
- He also announced the launch of Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a multi-nation alliance for city-to-city collaboration, knowledge sharing, and private sector partnerships.
ii.The forum concluded successfully, with the adoption of the ‘Jaipur Declaration (2025-2034)’ by the member countries. It is a non-political, non-binding commitment that will guide the next 10 years of efforts towards resource efficiency and sustainable urban growth.
About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
Union Minister- Manohar Lal Khattar (Constituency- Karnal, Haryana)
Minister of State (MoS)- Tokhan Sahu (Constituency- Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh)
>> Read Full News
ISM, TEPL, & TSMPL Sign Fiscal Support Agreement for Semiconductor Fab
On 5 March 2025, the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL), and Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited (TSMPL) have signed a Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) to establish India’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication unit in Dholera, Gujarat.
- The agreement was signed in the presence of Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, and marks a significant step in India’s drive towards technological self-reliance.
Key Points:
i.TEPL’s semiconductor fab in Dholera (SIR) has a total investment of over Rs 91,000 crore with a capacity of 50,000 wafer starts per month (WSPM).
ii.The Government of India (GoI), through ISM, has pledged 50% fiscal support on a pari-passu basis for qualified project expenses, demonstrating a consistent national commitment to developing a world-class semiconductor ecosystem within India.
iii.The project is estimated to generate over 20,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs. TEPL will provide worldwide knowledge to India’s semiconductor business through a collaboration with Taiwan-based Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC).
iv.The facility will serve the expanding needs of international markets in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), communications, computing, and automobiles.
v.This initiative demonstrates India’s commitment to building a strong semiconductor ecosystem and reducing reliance on foreign chip manufacture.
About India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):
i.The ISM was launched in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs 76,000 crore by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
ii.The programme aims to provide financial assistance to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing, and the design ecosystem.
iii.ISM has been serving as the nodal agency for efficient, coherent and smooth implementation of the schemes approved under the Semicon India Programme.
iv.The following four schemes have been introduced under ISM:
- Scheme for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India.
- Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India.
- Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors/Silicon Photonics/ Sensors Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP)/Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities in India.
- Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.
NITI Aayog Launches NITI-FTH & Releases a Paper on “Quantum Computing: National Security Implications & Strategic Preparedness”
In March 2025, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog launched the ‘Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH)’, a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming India into a technology-driven economy and released a strategic paper on quantum computing titled “Quantum Computing: National Security Implications & Strategic Preparedness” in partnership with Noida (Uttar Pradesh) based Data Security Council of India (DSCI).
i.NITI-FTH will function as a frontier technology action tank, promoting advanced technical ideas to help India’s economic and social development.
- The project also aims to encourage developing technologies that advance both human progress and environmental sustainability.
ii.The strategic paper focuses on quantum computing’s rapid progress and transformational possibilities in a variety of domains, including defence, intelligence, and cybersecurity.
- It highlights the importance of a proactive, multi-pronged strategy to ensure national security in the quantum computing era.
Note: The Government of India(GoI) had launched the National Quantum Mission(NQM) in 2023 with a budget outlay of Rs.6,003 crore to develop an indigenous quantum technology ecosystem.
Solar Defence and Aerospace Signs a Contract Worth Rs 239 Crore with MoD
In March 2025, Nagpur (Maharashtra) based Solar Industries India Limited (SIIL) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, has signed a contract worth Rs 239 crore with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI), for the supply of multi-mode hand grenade.
- The project involves the supply of multi-mode hand grenades for the MoD, to be completed within 1 year.
i.The agreement will boost India’s defence manufacturing capabilities and aligns with the government’s vision of self-reliance in defence.
ii.SIIL is the flagship company of the Solar Group. Bulk explosives, packaged explosives, and initiating systems are produced by SIIL and its subsidiaries and are used in the mining, infrastructure, and building sectors.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
The Wealth Report 2025: India Ranked 4th Globally with 85,698 HNWIs; behind US, China and Japan
In March 2025, London (the United Kingdom, UK)-based global property consultant firm Knight Frank released the 19th edition of ‘The Wealth Report 2025’. As per the report, India ranked at 4th position globally with estimated 85,698 High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in 2024, marking an increase of 6% compared to 80,686 HNWIs in 2024.
- With this, India is home to 3.7% of the wealthy individuals globally.
- The United States of America (USA) with 905,413 HNWIs, again emerged as the world’s primary wealth creator in 2024, with approximately 40% of global HNWIs residing in the country. It is followed by China (471,634 HNWIs), and Japan (122,119 HNWIs).
i.The report has projected that the population of India’s HNWIs will increase by 9.4% i.e. to 93,753 HNWIs by 2028.
ii.India ranked at 3rd position globally with 191 Indian billionaires in 2024, of which 26 joined the list of billionaires last year (up from just 7 in 2019).
- The report highlighted that the country’s billionaire population witnessed 12% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth in 2024 compared to previous year.
- Also, the cumulative wealth of these Indian billionaires is estimated at USD 950 billion, ranked third globally, behind the USA (USD5.7 trillion) and Mainland China (USD1.34 trillion).
About Knight Frank:
Senior Partner & Group Chair– William Beardmore Gray
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), India- Shishir Baijal
Headquarters- London, the United Kingdom (UK)
Established- 1896
>> Read Full News
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Dr. Uma Sharma Honored at the 5th BRICS CCI WE Annual Women’s Summit & Felicitations
In March 2025, Dr. Uma Sharma, Chairperson of Kailash Group of Hospitals, received a National Award at the ‘5th Annual Summit of BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Women’s Entrepreneurship & Empowerment(WE) and Felicitations 2025’ in New Delhi, Delhi. The theme of the Summit was ‘Women Changemakers: Transforming the World, Shaping the Future’.
- The event, held ahead of International Women’s Day(March 8), aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment across BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
- The event was graced by former Union Minister Smriti Irani, Ministry of Women and Child Development(MoWCD), Rekha Gupta Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi, former Union Minister of State (MoS) Meenakshi Lekhi, former Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and Ministry of Culture(MoC), Ruby Sinha, President of BRICS CCI, and Dr. BBL Madhukar, Co-Chairman and Director General (DG) of BRICS CCI.
i.Uma Sharma is a renowned Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and serves as a Director on the Board of Kailash Group. With nearly four decades of expertise, she has played a vital role in improving access to healthcare services and empowering women through self-reliance.
ii.The award recognizes her significant contributions at both national and international levels, particularly in healthcare and women’s empowerment.
iii.During the event, a new initiative was launched to support women traders and entrepreneurs, helping them expand businesses, build networks, and promote collaboration.
Nithin Kamath of Zerodha Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024
In March 2025, Nithin Kamath, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Zerodha, was named the Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2024.
- Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) felicitated awards to EOY 2024 winners at an event held in New Delhi, Delhi.
i.Nithin Kamath is a self-made entrepreneur, who turned Zerodha into a billion-dollar company. He was recognized for his innovative low-margin, high-volume brokerage model that reshaped the industry.
ii.He will now represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year(WEOY) Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2025.
iii.Other Awards: K.V. Kamath, Chairman of Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to India’s financial sector and S. Somanath, former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was honored with the Special Jury Award for his instrumental role in advancing India’s space missions.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
RBI Appoints Dr Ajit Ratnakar Joshi as its Executive Director
In March 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Dr. Ajit Ratnakar Joshi as its new Executive Director (ED) effective from 3rd March 2025, where he will oversee the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM) and the Financial Stability Department.
- Previously, he held the position of Principal Adviser in the DSIM.
About Dr. Ajit Ratnakar Joshi:
i.With more than thirty years of experience, Joshi has worked a lot in the fields of statistics, information technology, and cyber risk management.
ii.He has served as a faculty member at the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) in Hyderabad.
iii.He holds a certification as an associate from the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (CAIIB).
Shubman Gill Becomes Brand Ambassador of MRF
In March 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based MRF(Madras Rubber Factory) Limited, India’s largest tyre manufacturer, announced the appointment of Shubman Gill, the Indian cricketer and vice-captain of Team India for the 2025 International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy, as its new brand ambassador.
- This new deal marks the end of Shubman Gill’s long-standing association with CEAT Limited, a tyre manufacturing company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
i.Shubman Gill, who was recently ranked as the No. 1 One Day International (ODI) batter in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings 2025.
ii.This partnership will span all of his future cricket tournaments. This comes alongside their ongoing relationship with India’s star batsman, Virat Kohli.
iii.With this, Shubman Gill joins an exclusive group of cricket legends, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Brian Lara, who have all graced the iconic MRF bat.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
CCI approvals on March 4th 2025
On March 4, 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals:
i.Singapore based TPG Scion Singapore Private Limited acquired a stake in Pune (Maharashtra) based Schott Poonawalla Private Limited (SPPL) by a secondary purchase from Pune (Maharashtra) based Serum Institute of India (SII) Private Limited.
ii.Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Adani Infra (India) Limited (AIIL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, acquired a 30.07% equity stake in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based PSP Projects Limited (PSP Projects) for Rs. 685.36 crore.
iii.Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Ambuja Cements Limited (ACL), acquired up to 72.8% stake in New Delhi (Delhi) based Orient Cement Limited (OCL).
iv.Shell Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of the global energy company Shell Plc, based in the Netherlands and Shell Overseas Investments B.V. acquired 100% of Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Raj Petro Specialities Private Limited.
v.France based Roquette Frères S.A acquired the Pharma Solutions and specific product lines from the Nourish segment of the United States of America (USA) based International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF)
vi.Florida(the USA) based Alpha Wave Ventures II, LP acquired a 12.44% stake in Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Advanta Enterprises Limited.
vii.Mumbai (Maharashtra) based JSW (Jindal South West) Energy Limited (JSWEL)acquired a 100% shareholding in Hyderabad (Telangana) based KSK Mahanadi Power Company Limited for nearly Rs. 16,000 crore.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
It is a statutory body constituted under Competition Act, 2002.
Chairperson- Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2003
>> Read Full News
JFSL buys out SBI’s stake in JPBL for Rs 104.5 Crore
In March 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), the fintech arm of Reliance Group, announced the acquisition of remaining 17.8% stake in Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL) from the State Bank of India (SBI) for Rs 104.5 crore.
- The acquisition is subject to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval and is expected to be completed within 45 days post receipt of RBI approval.
i.After the acquisition, JPBL will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. JPBL was established as a Joint Venture (JV) between JFSL and SBI.
ii.JFSL will acquire about 79 million equity shares of Jio Payments Bank for Rs 13.22 each from SBI.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Lockheed Martin Concludes Flight Tests of F-35B with Advanced LRASM
United States of America (USA) based defence and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation has completed an initial flight test integrating the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) onto the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet.
- The test was conducted in partnership with USA-based F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF), marking a significant step in enhancing the fighter jet’s capabilities.
i.The upgrade will allow the F-35 to carry both the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the LRASM, providing advanced strike capabilities.
ii.The initial test flights demonstrated the F-35B carrying two LRASMs externally on the innermost hard points, along with two inert AIM-9X missiles (Air Intercept Missile)on the wingtips as part of the integration process.
iii.These trials are known as ‘captive carriage’ tests, evaluating the weapon’s effect on the airframe and its structural integrity in various flight conditions.
ENVIRONMENT
ZSI Scientists Discover Soil Nematode ‘Crassolabium dhritiae’ in Odisha
In March 2025, Scientists from Kolkata (West Bengal) based Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered the species of soil-dwelling nematode ‘Crassolabium dhritiae’ in the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone in Keonjhar, Odisha.
- The findings, published online in Acta ZoologicaBulgarica, highlights the rich biodiversity of this understudied region and underscores the crucial role of nematodes in soil ecosystems.
i.The newly discovered species, “Crassolabium dhritiae,” is named in honour of Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the ZSI in appreciation of her outstanding contributions to taxonomy and zoological research.
ii.Crassolabiumdhritiae has a medium-sized, slender body, rounded lip area, large odontostyle, long pharynx, particular traits in its female reproductive system, and a unique tail shape.
iii.The Crassolabium genus is known to exhibit both omnivorous and predatory behaviors, while research on their feeding patterns is still being studied.
iv.With this discovery, the total number of Crassolabium species worldwide reaches 39, including 9 species recorded in India.
SPORTS
Indian Table Tennis Champion Achanta Sharath Kamal Announces Retirement 
On March 4, 2025, Indian Table Tennis (TT) Champion and Padma Shri Awardee, Achanta Sharath Kamal announced his retirement from Professional TT at the age of 42, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned over 2 decades. His final competition will be the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender in Chennai, (Tamil Nadu, TN) starting on March 25, 2025.
- Sharath Kamal holds the record for winning the ‘Senior National Champion’ title 10 times.
- He won 13 Commonwealth Games medals, including 7 golds, 3 silver and 3 bronze , along with 2 bronze medals at the Asian Games 2018.
- He is the first Indian to win an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Pro Tour title at the Egypt Open in 2010 and has represented India in 4 Olympic Games.
Career Highlights:
i.National Championships: He secured the Senior National Champion title 10 times, with his final victory at the 2022 National Table Tennis Championships (NTTC).
ii.International Accolades: On the international stage, he clinched the gold medal in men’s singles at the 2004 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships (CTTC) in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia.
- He also achieved gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia defeating Australia’s William Henzell in the final.
- In the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he added 3 medals to his tally: a gold in the men’s team event, a silver in men’s doubles, and a bronze in men’s singles.
iii.2020 ITTF: He secured his 2nd Pro Tour title 2020 by winning the men’s singles title at the Oman Open, where he triumphed over Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in the final.
iv.Olympic Participation: He represented India in Five Olympic Games Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), Rio (2016), Tokyo (2020), and Paris (2024), with his most recent appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as India’s flag-bearer.
Awards and Honors:
i.Arjuna Award (2004): Received the award for his outstanding contribution to sports.
ii.Padma Shri (2019): Received India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his exceptional achievements in TT..
iii.Khel Ratna Award (2022): Received this award, ‘now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’, India’s highest sporting honor, further cementing his legacy in Indian sports for TT.
Australian Cricketer & Former Captain Steve Smith Announces Retirement from ODI Cricket 
On March 5, 2025, Steven Peter Devereux Smith, the stand-in captain of Australia, announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket following the team’s semi-final loss to India in the ‘International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- His retirement marks the end of a 15-year career in the 50-over format that included 170 ODI matches, 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28, 12 centuries, and 35 half-centuries and taking 28 wickets.
- However he will continue to play Test and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket.
Note: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosted by Pakistan across three venues in Pakistan and one in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai).
Career Highlights and Achievements:
i.Steve Smith made his ODI debut in 2010 against the West Indies as a spin-bowling all-rounder, and over time, he evolved into one of Australia’s most prolific ODI batsmen, ranking 12th among Australia’s all-time run-scorers in the format.
ii.He served as Australia’s full-time ODI captain from 2015 to 2018 and led the team in 64 matches, securing 32 wins and a 50% win rate.
iii.He played pivotal roles in Australia’s 2015 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup victories and was the first player to record 5 consecutive 50-plus scores in a World Cup.
- 2015 World Cup: Scored 402 runs, including a century (105) in the semi-final against India and an unbeaten 56 in the final against New Zealand.
- 2023 World Cup: Played a key role in Australia’s record-extending 6th title, contributing crucial knocks in the knockout stages.
Awards and Honors:
i.ICC Cricket World Cup Player of the Tournament (2015) : Named for his contributions to Australia’s World Cup victory, including scoring 402 runs, with a memorable century in the semi-final..
ii.Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year (2015): A recognition of his overall excellence across all formats during 2015. And also ICC Test Player of the Year (2015)
iii.Recipient of the Allan Border Medal (2015, 2018, 2021): Given to Australia’s best player in all formats across the year.
vi.Australian Men’s ODI Player of the Year (2015, 2021)- Awarded for his outstanding performances in ODIs.
PCI launches logo of World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025
In March 2025, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) revealed the logo for the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025, which will take place from March 11 to 13, 2025, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi (Delhi).
i.The official logo of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix New Delhi 2025 is a vibrant symbol of India’s rich cultural heritage and sporting excellence.
- The logo includes Indian instruments like the sitar, drum, and flute, symbolizing India’s culture while also showcasing para-athletic events like wheelchair racing, javelin throw, and running.
ii.The event will showcase more than 90 competitions over three days, with elite para-athletes from 20 countries participating.
iii.Top countries such as Germany, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and many others will have athletes participating in the event.
Note: The 12th Para Athletics World Championships 2025 will take place from September 26 to October 5, 2025, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi (Delhi).
*******
Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)