Current Affairs One - Liner : 4th March 2025

National:

• On March 1, 2025, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) launched the ‘Sugamya Yatra’ at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, New Delhi, marking International Wheelchair Day. The initiative aimed to promote accessibility and inclusivity for wheelchair users.

• India's first World Peace Centre was inaugurated on March 2, 2025, in Gurugram, led by Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni and Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti. The event was attended by dignitaries like former President Ram Nath Kovind and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The centre aims to promote peace education, non-violence, and global harmony.

International:

• On March 1, 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the U.S. for the first time in history. This allows government agencies to limit multilingual services, reversing earlier mandates for language assistance.

Banking:

• City Union Bank (CUB) launched a co-branded credit card with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 1, 2025, in Chennai. The card offers perks like rewards on CSK merchandise, match tickets, and exclusive fan experiences. It comes in three variants with global acceptance, security, and contactless payment features.

Economy:

• On March 3, 2025, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary presented a ₹3.17 lakh crore budget in the assembly. This budget, ₹38,169 crore higher than the previous fiscal, focuses on education (₹60,964 crore), health (₹20,335 crore), and law and order (₹17,831 crore).
• On March 3, 2025, the Jharkhand Government presented a ₹1.45 lakh crore Budget for FY 2025-26 in the State Assembly. ₹62,844 crore is allocated to the social sector, with ₹13,363 crore for the Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana to support women. The budget estimates 7.5% economic growth for the state. It focuses on farmers, tribals, women, and overall social development.

Science & Technology:

• Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully landed on the Moon's Mare Crisium on March 2, 2025, as part of NASA's CLPS initiative. It carried 10 scientific instruments to study the lunar environment, contributing to NASA's Artemis program. The mission is a significant step in commercial lunar exploration.
• On March 2, 2025, researchers announced the discovery of two new jumping spider species, Epidelaxia falciformis and Epidelaxia palustris, in the Western Ghats. This is the first recording of the genus Epidelaxia in India, previously thought to be exclusive to Sri Lanka. The discovery highlights the region's incredible biodiversity.

Reports:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report on March 3, 2025, at Gir National Park, Gujarat. The report revealed 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in 8 states, with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest number. This initiative is part of Project Dolphin, promoting conservation efforts for these endangered species.

Sports:

• On March 2, 2025, Krishna Jayasankar became the first Indian woman to surpass 16 meters in indoor shot put, with a throw of 16.03 meters at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, USA. She earned a bronze medal and set a new Indian indoor national record, breaking the previous mark of 15.54 meters.

Important Days:

• International Wheelchair Day 2025 was observed on March 1 to celebrate wheelchair users and advocate for accessibility and inclusivity. It highlighted the contributions of caregivers and policymakers, promoting mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities.
• Padma Shri awardee Koneru Humpy, India's youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster, has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the SOG Grandmaster Series on March 2, 2025. Organized by the Skill Online Games Federation (SOGF), this series bridges traditional mind sports like chess with emerging digital competitive platforms.

Appointments:

• Dr. Mayank Sharma took charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on March 1, 2025. A 1989-batch IDAS officer, he has over three decades of experience in defence finance and governance.

Obituaries:

• Padmakar Shivalkar, a legendary left-arm spinner and one of Indian cricket's finest domestic players, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 84 in Mumbai.
• Ron Draper, the oldest Test cricketer, passed away at 98 years on February 27, 2025, in South Africa. Draper played two Test matches for South Africa against Australia in 1950 and had a distinguished first-class cricket career.

Questions:

Q.1 Who has been appointed as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) in March 2025?
a) Ravi Agrawal
b) Dr. Mayank Sharma
c) Arun Bansal
d) Arnab Kumar Chowdhury

Answer: b) Dr. Mayank Sharma, a 1989-batch IDAS officer, took charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on March 1, 2025.

Q.2 Where was India's first World Peace Centre inaugurated in March 2025?
a) Delhi
b) Gurugram
c) Mumbai
d) Bengaluru

Answer: b) India's first World Peace Centre was inaugurated on March 2, 2025, in Gurugram by Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni and Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti.