Current Affairs One - LIner : 1st March 2025

National:

• The government launched 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to empower small and marginal farmers. This initiative, started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2020, aims to improve farmers' market access and bargaining power. With a budget of ₹6,865 crore, the program runs up to 2027-28. The 10,000th FPO, based in Bihar, focuses on maize, banana, and paddy cultivation.

• On February 28, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year. This FTA aims to boost economic ties and cooperation across various sectors, making the EU India's largest trading partner
• The Government of India approved the Arunachal Frontier Highway project on February 26, 2025, with an estimated cost of ₹42,000 crore. The highway will span 1,637 km, passing through 12 districts in Arunachal Pradesh near the LAC. It aims to enhance border infrastructure, enable rapid troop movement, and boost regional connectivity.
• On February 17, 2025, Assam designated the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve as its 8th National Park and renamed it Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park. Spanning 321.90 sq. km, it is located in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
  

International:

• On February 28, 2025, India granted approximately USD 1 million for a food fortification project in Lao PDR. Implemented by the World Food Programme and funded under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, the project aims to promote food fortification, enhance nutrition-specific strategies, and strengthen food systems to combat micro-nutrient deficiencies in the region.
• On February 28, 2025, Japan and India renewed their Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) for up to USD 75 billion. This arrangement allows both countries to exchange their local currencies for US dollars, providing a financial safety net during economic uncertainties. The renewal aims to strengthen financial cooperation and contribute to regional and global financial stability.

Banking:

• On February 27, 2025, Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched a pilot Merchant Loyalty/Cashback Programme to promote Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Merchants can use the bob Merchant App to design loyalty/cashback schemes.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the "All-India House Price Index (HPI) for Q3: 2024-25" on February 27, 2025. It reported a 3.1% year-on-year increase in the HPI, based on transaction data from 10 major cities. Kolkata recorded the highest annual growth at 8.1%, while Kanpur showed minimal change. Sequentially, HPI grew by 0.4%, indicating a slowdown from the previous quarter.
  

Economy:

• The combined Index of Eight Core Industries grew by 4.6% in January 2025 compared to the same month last year, driven by increased production in cement, refinery products, coal, steel, fertilizers, and electricity. Cement production saw the highest growth at 14.5%.

Reports:

• The Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024 report was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on February 25, 2025. It highlights that women spent 71 minutes per day on employment-related activities in 2024, an increase of 10 minutes compared to 2019. Additionally, their participation in employment-related activities rose to 25%, and time spent on unpaid domestic services decreased by 7 minutes.
• The report titled "Cancer Mortality-to-Incidence Ratio in India: A Comprehensive Analysis" was released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on February 28, 2025. Published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, it reveals India’s highest cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio (64.47%) among the top 10 cancer-affected countries in 2022.
• The 12th edition of the State of India’s Environment Report 2025 covers climate change, air and water pollution, waste management, and biodiversity. Released on February 26, 2025, by CSE and Down To Earth magazine, it includes updates on plastics, antimicrobial resistance, and the impact of climate change on the Thar desert.
• The "State of States" report was launched on February 27, 2025, at the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025. It reveals that India lags in nine out of 16 SDGs, with significant gaps in key indicators and data collection. Four SDGs have reached at least halfway completion across all states and UTs.
• The Bihar Economic Survey report for 2024-25 was released on February 25, 2025, by the Finance Department of Bihar. Bihar's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew from Rs 2.47 lakh crore in 2011-12 to Rs 8.54 lakh crore in 2023-24. The growth is attributed to improvements in socio-economic indicators and key sectors like transport, communication, and agriculture.
• The 15th India Philanthropy Report (IPR) 2025, released by Dasra and Bain & Company on February 26, 2025, predicts a 10-12% annual growth in India’s private philanthropy spending, rising from ₹1.31 lakh crore ($16 billion) in FY 2024 to ₹2.1–2.3 lakh crore ($25–28 billion) by FY 2029.

Sports:

• Shaurya Bhattacharya won the South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) Chhattisgarh Open 2025 on February 28, 2025, at Fairway Golf & Lake Resort in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. He finished at 27-under 249, scoring a final round of 63 in the INR 1 crore tournament.

Govt.Schemes:

• Rajasthan launched the Shiksha Sanjeevani Bima Yojana (SSBY) on February 26, 2025, in Udaipur, led by Minister Madan Dilawar. The scheme provides ₹1 lakh accident insurance for 1.35 lakh students and ₹1.35 lakh for their parents in Udaipur division, with plans to expand statewide. Backed by Wonder Cement, Zurich Kotak, and SBI, it ensures education continuity and scholarships if a parent dies accidentally.

Important Days:

• Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on March 1st. The 2025 theme is "We Stand Together," emphasizing the importance of community-led initiatives in global health, particularly in the fight against HIV. The day promotes equality, inclusivity, and the fundamental human right to live free from discrimination.
• World Seagrass Day 2025 is celebrated on March 1. The theme is "Grooming Youth – Blooming Seagrass", focusing on empowering youth to lead seagrass conservation. Seagrasses are vital marine plants that support biodiversity, improve water quality, and protect coastlines. The event aims to inspire sustainable solutions for seagrass ecosystems.

Books:

• Kailash Satyarthi’s autobiography Diyaslai was first launched on January 30, 2025, at the Jaipur Literature Festival. A significant event related to its literary exploration occurred on February 28, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi.

Obituaries:

• Boris Spassky, the iconic Russian chess grandmaster, passed away on February 27, 2025, at the age of 88. Spassky was best known for his 1972 "Match of the Century" against Bobby Fischer.

Questions:

Q.1 What is the title of Kailash Satyarthi’s autobiography, launched at the Jaipur Literature Festival in January 2025?
a) Unfinished Dreams
b) My Struggle
c) Flame of Justice
d) Diyaslai

Answer: d) "Diyaslai" is the autobiography of Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, launched at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Q.2 Which sector recorded the highest growth in the Index of Eight Core Industries in January 2025?
a) Electricity
b) Fertilizers
c) Cement
d) Coal

Answer: c) Cement production saw the highest growth at 14.5%, contributing significantly to the 4.6% overall increase in the core industries index.