Current Affairs One - Liner : 7th March 2025

National:

• On March 5, 2025, NITI Aayog launched the NITI Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH) to advance emerging technologies. It also released a paper, “Quantum Computing: National Security Implications & Strategic Preparedness”, highlighting quantum computing's impact on defense and cybersecurity. These initiatives aim to bolster India's tech leadership and national security.

• The Central Government approved Project Lion on March 4, 2025, with a budget of ₹2,927.71 crore. It aims to conserve and expand the Asiatic lion population through habitat management, health monitoring, and conflict reduction, while promoting eco-tourism.
• The Uttarakhand Cabinet, led by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) on March 4, 2025. Aligned with the National Pension System (NPS), it ensures assured post-retirement payouts for government employees. The scheme will be operational from April 1, 2025, enhancing financial security for state officers.

Banking:

• On March 4, 2025, Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) announced the acquisition of State Bank of India's (SBI) entire 17.8% stake in Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL) for ₹104.5 crore. This transaction involves the purchase of 7.9 crore equity shares, making JPBL a wholly-owned subsidiary of JFSL.

Science & Technology:

• ZSI scientists discovered a new soil nematode species, Crassolabium dhritiae, in Odisha's Keonjhar district on March 5, 2025. It is named after Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, ZSI's Director, in recognition of her contributions to zoology.

Sports:

• Indian table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal announced his retirement on March 5, 2025. His final professional tournament will be the WTT Star Contender Chennai, scheduled from March 25 to 30, 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
• Australian cricketer Steve Smith retired from ODI cricket on March 5, 2025, after Australia's ICC Champions Trophy semi-final loss. A two-time World Cup winner, he played 170 ODIs, scoring 5,800 runs. He will continue playing Test cricket and T20Is.

Defence:

• On March 4, 2025, Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd, a subsidiary of Solar Industries India, signed a contract worth ₹239 crore with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The agreement involves the supply of multi-mode hand grenades, which will be delivered within a year.

Apps & Portals:

• Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the IndiaAI Compute Portal on March 6, 2025, providing access to over 18,000 GPUs, cloud storage, and AI services at subsidized rates. It supports startups, researchers, and students with tools to develop India-specific AI models.

Summits & Conferences:

• The 5th BRICS CCI WE Annual Women’s Summit & Felicitations was held on March 4, 2025, in New Delhi, organized by the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI), Women Empowerment Vertical (WE). Chaired by Ruby Sinha, the event focused on the theme “Women Changemakers: Transforming the World, Shaping the Future.” It aimed to promote women-led development and foster gender equality across BRICS nations.

Appointments:

• On March 4, 2025, Shubman Gill, the Vice Captain of Team India in the ICC Champions Cup, was announced as the brand ambassador for MRF Tyers. This partnership aligns him with cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who have also represented MRF.
• On March 5, 2025, Anju Rathi Rana, an officer of the Indian Legal Service, was appointed as the first woman Union Law Secretary. She has had an illustrious career, serving as a Joint Secretary in the Law Ministry since 2017 and previously working as a public prosecutor for 18 years in the Delhi government.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Dr. Ajit Ratnakar Joshi as its Executive Director, effective March 3, 2025, with the announcement made on March 5, 2025. Prior to this elevation, Dr. Joshi served as the Principal Adviser in the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM), bringing over 30 years of expertise in statistics, IT, and cyber risk management to his new role.

Awards & Honours:

• Dr. Uma Sharma, Chairperson of Kailash Group of Hospitals, was honored with the BRICS CCI WE Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th BRICS CCI WE Annual Women’s Summit on March 4, 2025, in New Delhi. This award recognized her exceptional contributions to healthcare and women’s empowerment.
• On March 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados in Bridgetown. This honor recognized his strategic leadership and India's support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Pabitra Margherita accepted the award on his behalf, with PM Modi dedicating it to 1.4 billion Indians and India-Barbados ties.

Books:

• The book She for Her was unveiled at the 5th BRICS CCI WE Annual Women’s Summit on March 4, 2025, in New Delhi. Authored by Rashmi Trivedi, it highlights the achievements of trailblazing women changemakers across diverse fields and nationalities.

Obituaries:

• Fred Stolle, an Australian tennis legend, passed away at 86 on March 5, 2025. Renowned for winning the 1965 French Championships and 1966 U.S. Championships in singles, plus 17 Grand Slam doubles titles, he achieved world No. 1 status and helped Australia secure three straight Davis Cups (1964-1966).

Questions:

Q.1 Who was appointed as the first woman Union Law Secretary of India on March 5, 2025?
a) Indira Jaising
b) Rekha Sharma
c) Meenakshi Lekhi
d) Anju Rathi Rana

Answer: d) Anju Rathi Rana, an officer of the Indian Legal Service, was appointed as the first woman Union Law Secretary.

Q.2 The book “She for Her,” unveiled at the 5th BRICS CCI WE Summit, was authored by:
a) Rashmi Trivedi
b) Kiran Bedi
c) Sudha Murty
d) Arundhati Roy

Answer: a) The book She for Her was unveiled at the 5th BRICS CCI WE Annual Women’s Summit on March 4, 2025, in New Delhi. Authored by Rashmi Trived.