- Union Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary launched a DBIM-Compliant Website on March 20, 2025, developed under the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) Version 3.0. This initiative aims to strengthen India's digital governance ecosystem by ensuring uniformity, accessibility, and efficiency in government websites.
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- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has issued the Hinges (Quality Control) Order, 2025, mandating BIS certification for hinges, effective from July 1, 2025. This regulation aims to curb substandard imports, boost domestic manufacturing, and ensure consumer safety.
- On March 25, 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP) released a ₹5 commemorative postage stamp honoring Mata Karma on her 1009th birth anniversary. The stamp, unveiled in Raipur, depicts her offering khichdi to Lord Krishna, reflecting her devotion and contributions to social harmony and women's empowerment.
- Poonawalla Fincorp launched an AI-powered underwriting solution with IIT Bombay on March 24, 2025. This system combines Machine Learning (ML) and Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance credit evaluation and risk management. It aims to improve productivity by 40% in retail lending and will evolve into a self-learning AI model.
- JSW Steel has become the world's most valuable steelmaker with a market capitalization of $30.3 billion as of March 25, 2025, surpassing competitors like ArcelorMittal. This success is driven by its aggressive expansion plans, including increasing capacity to 51.5 MT by FY31, and a stock surge of 18% in 2025, making it a top Nifty 50 performer.
- The Digital Crop Survey (DCS) system, launched on March 25, 2025, ensures accurate crop data collection using a mobile interface for real-time field updates. It is part of the Agri Stack initiative, adhering to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, to safeguard farmers' data privacy.
- Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, inaugurated the New North Jetty at the Naval Base in Kochi, Kerala, on March 26, 2025. The jetty, measuring 300 meters in length, can berth multiple naval ships and auxiliary vessels.
- On March 25, 2025, Indonesia announced plans to join the BRICS' New Development Bank (NDB). President Prabowo Subianto made the announcement during a meeting with NDB President Dilma Rousseff in Jakarta. This move aims to boost Indonesia's economic transformation and strengthen ties with BRICS nations.
- The NPCI launched BHIM 3.0 on March 26, 2025, enhancing the app with features like Split Expenses, Family Mode, and a Spend Analytics Dashboard. It also supports over 15 Indian languages and works offline. The nationwide rollout will finish by April 2025. These updates aim to make digital payments more inclusive and user-friendly.
- From May 1, 2025, withdrawing cash from ATMs in India will become more expensive. The fee for financial transactions, such as cash withdrawals, will rise to ₹19 from ₹17, while non-financial transactions, such as balance inquiries, will now cost ₹7 instead of ₹6. These charges apply after exceeding the free monthly limit, which is five transactions in metro cities and three in non-metro areas.
- The Government of India has discontinued the Medium-Term Government Deposit (MTGD) and Long-Term Government Deposit (LTGD) components of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), effective March 26, 2025. This decision was made after evaluating the scheme's performance and evolving market conditions.
- Parliament passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 on March 26, 2025, introducing key changes to banking governance. It allows up to four nominees for accounts, raises the substantial interest threshold for directorships from ₹5 lakh to ₹2 crore, and empowers banks in auditor remuneration.
- The Embassy Fixed Deposit Scheme by HDFC Bank, launched on March 26, 2025, caters to the financial needs of diplomatic missions, diplomats, and staff. It offers Foreign Currency Term Deposits in USD with a minimum deposit of $5,000, interest rates updated monthly, and no auto-renewal feature, ensuring flexibility and competitive returns.
- On March 26, 2025, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang proposed a ₹16,196 crore budget for 2025–26. It prioritizes youth empowerment, farmer welfare, and infrastructure development, with ₹11,028 crore for revenue expenditure and ₹5,168 crore for capital outlay. The budget emphasizes inclusive growth, economic stability, and sustainable development for Sikkim.
- On March 26, 2025, the Himachal Pradesh Government and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) signed an MoU in Shimla to enhance education quality. The collaboration focuses on modernizing teaching methods, integrating environmental awareness, and promoting value-based education through sports.
- A consortium of six leading Japanese companies, including IHI Corporation, Hokkaido Electric Power Co., and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, signed an MoU with India's ACME Group on March 25, 2025, to establish a Green Ammonia Production Facility in Odisha, India. The project, aims to produce 400,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2030.
- The National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes, and Narcotics (NACIN) and the Indian Maritime University (IMU) signed an MoU on March 27, 2025, in Chennai. This partnership aims to enhance the marine enforcement and operational capabilities of CBIC officers by leveraging IMU's academic expertise and NACIN's enforcement experience.
- On March 25, 2025, researchers from Mar Athanasius College, Kerala, discovered a new freshwater algae species, Sheathia Rosemalayensis, in the Western Ghats' Rosemala region. This rare find, the second from the genus Sheathia in India, emphasizes the ecological importance of pristine habitats in biodiversity conservation.
- B. Sumeeth Reddy, 2022 CWG silver medalist in mixed team badminton, announced his retirement on March 24, 2025. The 33-year-old doubles specialist, Olympian, and former world rank 17 plans to focus on coaching through the Sikki Sumeeth Badminton Academy and national badminton development.
- On March 26, 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed ₹6,900 crore contracts with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems for 155mm/52 Calibre ATAGS and 6x6 Gun Towing Vehicles. The indigenous ATAGS, developed by DRDO, will enhance long-range precision strikes, replacing older systems.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the indigenously developed Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) on March 26, 2025. The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
- World Theatre Day, celebrated on March 27, 2025, focuses on the theme "Theatre and a Culture of Peace", highlighting theatre's role in promoting harmony and understanding. Established by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), it emphasizes storytelling's transformative power.
- On March 26, 2025, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, former chief of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was appointed as a full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). This independent body provides expert advice on economic and policy-related matters to the government.
- Yusuf Pachmariwala was announced as the new Managing Director & CEO of Hitachi Cash Management Services on March 27, 2025, effective from April 1, 2025. He succeeds Anup Neogi, who is retiring from the role. With extensive BFSI experience, Pachmariwala aims to drive growth and customer-centric innovations.
- The book 'Ripples of Change: Gender-transformative rural WASH programmes in India' was launched by the Jal Shakti Minister, C.R. Paatil, on March 26, 2025, in New Delhi. This publication, a collaboration between the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and UNICEF India, highlights ten inspiring stories of women-led initiatives in rural India under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and Jal Jeevan Mission.
Questions:
Q.1 Which components of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) were discontinued by the Government of India effective March 26, 2025?a) Short-Term Bank Deposit (STBD)
b) Gold Metal Loan (GML)
c) Medium-Term Government Deposit (MTGD) and Long-Term Government Deposit (LTGD)
d) Gold Sovereign Bonds (GSB)
Answer: c) The Government of India has discontinued the Medium-Term Government Deposit (MTGD) and Long-Term Government Deposit (LTGD) components of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), effective March 26, 2025.
Q.2 According to the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, what is the revised substantial interest threshold for directorships in banks?
a) ₹5 lakh
b) ₹10 lakh
c) ₹1 crore
d) ₹2 crore
a) ₹5 lakh
b) ₹10 lakh
c) ₹1 crore
d) ₹2 crore
Answer: d) The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 raises the substantial interest threshold for directorships in banks from ₹5 lakh to ₹2 crore.
