- On March 4, 2025, the Assam Cabinet renamed Jagiroad Electronic City as ‘Ratan Tata Electronic City’ to honor Ratan Tata’s contributions. This aligns with the establishment of a ₹27,000 crore Tata semiconductor assembly plant in Jagiroad. The initiative aims to boost Assam's semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sector.
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- On March 7, 2025, India and Ireland agreed to set up a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) during a meeting in Dublin. The JEC will strengthen ties in trade, investment, and technology, focusing on areas like AI, cybersecurity, and fin-tech. A formal agreement for the JEC is expected later this year.
- On March 6, 2025, the Maharashtra government announced the Media Monitoring Centre (MMC) with a ₹10 crore budget. It will track news trends, combat misinformation, and ensure accurate reporting through real-time clarifications and analysis.
- On March 5, 2025, Himachal Pradesh signed an MoC with Spray Engineering Devices Ltd. to set up India's first API, Green Hydrogen, and 2G Ethanol facility in Solan district. With an investment of ₹1,400 crore, the project will generate 1,000 jobs and initially need 30 MW of green hydrogen.
- ICAI President Charanjot Singh Nanda introduced VISHWASNIYA as the guiding theme for his presidency on March 6, 2025. The term "VISHWASNIYA," meaning 'Reliable', emphasizes trust, excellence, and a nation-first approach.
- FIFA has banned Russia and Congo from the 2026 World Cup. Russia's ban is due to geopolitical sanctions following the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Congo faces exclusion because of third-party interference in its football federation. This decision emphasizes FIFA's commitment to its governance rules and regulations.
- On March 7, 2025, the RBI imposed a cumulative penalty of ₹76.6 lakh on four NBFC-P2P lending platforms for non-compliance. The penalties were imposed on Faircent (₹40 lakh), Visionary Financepeer (₹16.6 lakh), and Finzy & Rang De (₹10 lakh each). Violations included failure to disclose credit assessments and disbursing loans without proper approvals. This move emphasizes the RBI's commitment to enforcing NBFC-P2P Directions, 2017.
- On March 7, 2025, SBI launched SBI Asmita, a collateral-free digital loan scheme for women entrepreneurs. It offers low-interest loans with a paperless digital process and entrepreneurial training for top borrowers. SBI also introduced the eco-friendly ‘Nari Shakti’ RuPay Debit Card with exclusive benefits.
- On March 7, 2025, Star Health and Allied Insurance Ltd launched ‘SheTARA’, a women’s health initiative, for International Women’s Day. It offers free medical screenings in 40+ locations in Tamil Nadu, including BMI and thyroid tests.
- SBI Life Insurance introduced two plans, ‘Smart Future Star’ and ‘Smart Platina Young Achiever’, on March 7, 2025. ‘Smart Future Star’ is a savings plan offering bonuses and an in-built Waiver of Premium for life milestones. ‘Smart Platina Young Achiever’ provides guaranteed maturity benefits with flexible payout options. Both plans aim to secure children’s financial futures through tailored benefits.
- On March 6, 2025, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific and CDIL Semiconductors signed an MoU in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The aim is to boost India's power semiconductor manufacturing by combining Infineon’s advanced wafer technology with CDIL’s packaging expertise.
- On March 6, 2025, Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched the CSO-3 French spy satellite from Kourou, French Guiana. This satellite, part of the MUSIS program, enhances military reconnaissance with high-resolution imaging.
- The Coursera report "Closing the Gender Gap in GenAI Skills", released on March 6, 2025, highlights India's top position in Generative AI adoption with 1.3 million enrollments in 2024. Despite this, only 29.6% of GenAI learners in India are women, compared to 40% of all learners. It identifies barriers like confidence gaps and time constraints for women while suggesting solutions like mentorship and flexible learning. The report aims to ensure equitable AI opportunities.
- Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram won the Prague Masters 2025 Chess title on March 7, 2025, with an impressive 6 points in 9 rounds. He strategically drew the final round against Turkey’s Ediz Gurel using the Caro-Kann Defense.
- Bangladeshi cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim retired from ODIs on March 5, 2025, after a stellar 19-year career. He scored 7,795 runs in 274 matches, with 9 centuries and 49 half-centuries, alongside exceptional wicketkeeping contributions.
- The DRDO unveiled the BM-04 Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) on March 2, 2025, at the Vigyan Vaibhav Defence Exhibition in Hyderabad. It has a range of 400–1,500 km, a 500 kg warhead, and uses satellite-aided inertial navigation with GPS and IRNSS.
- India signed a $248 million contract with Russia's Rosoboronexport on March 7, 2025, to supply 1,000 HP engines for T-72 tanks. The deal includes technology transfer to AVNL in Avadi, Chennai, for local assembly and production. Upgraded engines will enhance the tanks' mobility and offensive capability.
- The “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat” conference took place on March 8, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, and was organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). Chaired by President Droupadi Murmu, the conference celebrated the theme "Empowered Women for a Developed India," focusing on women-led development and gender equality.
- The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 was released on March 4, 2025, by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). Burkina Faso ranks first, reflecting its high terrorism impact in the Sahel region. India holds the 14th position, unchanged from the previous year.
- March 8, 2025, marks International Women’s Day, celebrated globally to honor women’s achievements and promote gender equality. The theme for 2025 is "Accelerate Action", focusing on advancing women’s rights and addressing systemic barriers. Celebrations include rallies, panel discussions, and cultural programs emphasizing inclusivity and empowerment.
- The RBI approved Sumant Kathpalia’s reappointment as MD and CEO of IndusInd Bank on March 6, 2025. His new term extends for one year, from March 24, 2025, to March 23, 2026.
- Federal Bank Limited appointed Padma Shri awardee Vidya Balan as its first-ever brand ambassador on March 5, 2025. The announcement, made in Mumbai, marks a key step in the bank’s brand evolution. Balan will feature in multi-year campaigns, leveraging her pan-India appeal to enhance the bank’s outreach.
- The book "The Life and Contribution of the Women Members of the Constituent Assembly" was released on March 8, 2025, during the "Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat" conference. It was published by the Legislative Department.
- On March 6, 2025, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled Daggubati Venkateswara Rao's book ‘Prapancha Charitra’ in Visakhapatnam. The book, written in Telugu, explores world history, covering traditions, wars, governance, and technological advancements.
Questions:
Q.1 According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, which country ranked first in terrorism impact?a) Afghanistan
b) Syria
c) Burkina Faso
d) Pakistan
Answer: c) The Sahel region’s instability placed Burkina Faso at the top of the index, while India remained in the 14th position.
Q.2 Which Padma Shri awardee was appointed as Federal Bank’s first brand ambassador?
a) Kangana Ranaut
b) Vidya Balan
c) Ratan Tata
d) Deepika Padukone
a) Kangana Ranaut
b) Vidya Balan
c) Ratan Tata
d) Deepika Padukone
Answer: b) Federal Bank Limited appointed Padma Shri awardee Vidya Balan as its first-ever brand ambassador on March 5, 2025.
