- Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the first-ever temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on March 17, 2025, in Bhiwandi. Spanning four acres, it features a 6.5-foot idol sculpted by Arun Yogiraj and architectural designs inspired by Maratha forts.
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- The Indian Government approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission on March 15, 2025. It will feature a 350 kg rover, developed jointly with Japan, aimed at advancing lunar landing technologies. This mission is part of India's larger goal to achieve a human landing on the Moon by 2040.
- The 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 was announced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on March 17, 2025. This six-month program encourages students, startups, and professionals to develop 5G-based solutions in areas like AI, IoT, and smart health. Participants receive mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs, with winners announced in October 2025 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC).
- On March 13, 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan finalized a peace treaty, ending nearly four decades of conflict. The agreement resolves disputes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and includes steps to normalize diplomatic and economic ties.
- India’s WPI inflation rose to 2.4% in February 2025 from 2.3% in January, per data released on March 17, 2025. The increase was driven by higher prices in manufactured food, textiles, and non-food articles. Food inflation within WPI eased slightly, though potato and onion prices stayed high. This contrasts with retail inflation (CPI), which dropped to 3.6%, below the RBI’s 4% target.
- Flipkart’s super.money app became India’s fifth largest UPI platform, handling 139.10 million transactions in February 2025, per NPCI data. Launched in June 2024, it surpassed Cred within a year, offering 5% cashback. It trails only PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and Navi, as reported on March 13, 2025.
- Tamil Nadu FM Thangam Thennarasu presented the FY26 budget on March 14, 2025, with a total expenditure of Rs 4,39,293 crore, a 99.5% increase from FY25's Revised Estimate. Key allocations include Rs 55,261 crore for education, Rs 34,396 crore for urban development, and Rs 29,465 crore for rural development.
- Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini presented a ₹2.05 lakh crore budget for 2025-26 on March 17, 2025. Key initiatives include a "Department of Future", AI hubs in Gurugram and Panchkula, and a ₹2,000 crore Fund of Funds to support startups. The budget emphasizes combating drug abuse, enhancing education, and achieving a $1 trillion GSDP by 2047.
- REC Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth ₹18,360 crore with Kerala's Energy Management Centre (EMC) on March 13, 2025, during the Global Green Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Summit held in Kochi. This partnership focuses on financing pumped storage projects in Kerala over the next five years.
- ISRO successfully tested the CE20 cryogenic engine for the LVM3-M6 mission on March 14, 2025, at Mahendragiri. The 100-second hot test, using a new Nozzle Protection System, met all performance goals. The engine will power the LVM3’s Cryogenic Upper Stage for a launch in late 2025.
- ISRO and SCL developed Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, two 32-bit microprocessors for space use, announced on March 16, 2025. Vikram 3201, India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit chip, enhances launch vehicle systems, while Kalpana 3201, a SPARC V8 RISC processor, supports open-source software. Both were fabricated at SCL’s 180nm facility and tested in the PSLV-C60 mission.
- A new eel species, Ariosoma tamilicum, was discovered off the Thoothukudi coast, Tamil Nadu, and announced on March 13, 2025. Named after the Tamil language, it honors its cultural significance.
- Lando Norris won the Australian Grand Prix 2025 on March 16, 2025, at the Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne. The event, part of the Formula 1 World Championship, marked the season opener in the motorsport category.
- The India Masters won the Inaugural International Masters League (IML) 2025 Title by defeating the West Indies Masters by 6 wickets on March 16, 2025, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. The event showcased cricket legends in a nostalgic Twenty20 format.
- Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy launched the Rs 6,000 crore Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme on March 17, 2025, in Hyderabad. It aims to provide self-employment to 5 lakh SC, ST, BC, and minority youth with aid from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh each. Beneficiaries will be announced on June 2, 2025, targeting 4,000-5,000 per constituency.
- The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was held from March 17 to March 19, 2025, in New Delhi, India. Organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, the event is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. The theme for this year was "Kālachakra – People, Peace, Planet", focusing on global challenges like climate change, digital transformation, and international trade.
- Ordnance Factories Day 2025 was celebrated on March 18, marking 223 years since the first factory opened at Cossipore in 1802. It honors India’s ordnance factories for equipping the armed forces, despite their 2021 split into seven DPSUs.
- Mark Joseph Carney was sworn in as the 24th Prime Minister of Canada on March 14, 2025, succeeding Justin Trudeau. A renowned economist, Carney transitioned from central banking to politics, marking a historic shift.
- Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman took over as CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) on March 17, 2025. An IIT Madras alumnus and ex-Microsoft CTO, he succeeds Professor Abhay Karandikar. With extensive tech and research experience, he aims to boost innovation and R&D in India.
- Lip-Bu Tan was appointed as the CEO of Intel Corporation, effective March 18, 2025. A veteran in the semiconductor industry, he previously led Cadence Design Systems. Tan's focus will be on advancing AI technology and expanding Intel's chip manufacturing capabilities.
- Dr. Lakshmi Venu was appointed as the Vice Chairman of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE) on March 17, 2025. She is also the Managing Director of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd., with significant contributions in the farm mechanization and auto component sectors.
- Deena Mehta has been re-appointed as an Independent Director of Fino Payments Bank, effective March 19, 2025, for a term ending on March 18, 2028. A Chartered Accountant and veteran in finance.
- Dr. Senkalong (Senka) Yaden, a pioneering Naga scientist and educator, passed away on March 16, 2025, in Texas, USA. His remarkable journey from Mokokchung, Nagaland, to becoming a distinguished academic in the United States is a testament to his resilience and excellence.
Questions:
Q.1 Who was appointed as the CEO of Intel Corporation on March 18, 2025?a) Pat Gelsinger
b) Sundar Pichai
c) Lip-Bu Tan
d) Lisa Su
Answer: c) Lip-Bu Tan, a semiconductor industry veteran, previously led Cadence Design Systems and aims to advance AI and chip manufacturing at Intel.
Q.2 Flipkart’s super.money app became India’s ______ largest UPI platform in February 2025.
a) Second
b) Third
c) Fourth
d) Fifth
a) Second
b) Third
c) Fourth
d) Fifth
Answer: d) Flipkart’s super.money app processed 139.10 million transactions in February 2025, surpassing Cred within a year and ranking fifth behind PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and Navi.
