04th March 2025

1. RBI Fines HSBC, IIFL Samasta for Compliance Lapses
2. National Defense Day, Date, Significance, Objective
3. Trump Declared English as the Official Language of the United States
4. Himmat Shah, Renowned Indian Artist, Passes Away at Age of 92
5. Virat Kohli Becomes Seventh Indian Cricketer to Play 300 ODIs
6. ICC Youngest Chairman, Jay Shah Honored with Icon of Excellence Award at FILA 2025
7. Varun Chakravarthy Biography, Know About His Life, Career and Achievements
8. City Union Bank Partners with Chennai Super Kings to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card
9. ‘Sugamya Yatra’ Launched on International Wheelchair Day 2025
10. Union Labour Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chaired 237th Meeting of CBT of EPF; Recommended 8.25% Interest Rate on EPF for FY25
11. 8th edition of Invest Madhya Pradesh – Global Investors Summit 2025 Held in Bhopal
12. GoI Elevated Railways CPSE’s IRCTC and IRFC to Navratna Status
13. GoI Approves Rs 42,000 Crore Arunachal Frontier Highway along the LAC
14. PM Narendra Modi Participates in the NXT Conclave
15. 16th Conference of Parties (CoP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Resumed in Rome, Italy
16. Yes Bank Tops S&P Global CSA 2024, CDP, & Featured in Sustainability Yearbook 2025
17. CUB Partnered with CSK to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card
18. HDFC Bank Executes 1st gold trade through IIBX
19. Padma Shri Awardee Koneru Humpy, India’s Youngest-ever Woman Grand Master Appointed Brand Master of SOG Grandmaster Series
20. Mayank Sharma Officially Took Charge as CGDA
21. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander Landed on the Moon
22. Two New Species of Jumping Spiders Discovered in Western Ghats
23. 2024-25 Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha defeated Kerala to Clinch 3rd Title
24. World Hearing Day 2025 – March 3
25. Assam Designated Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve as 8th National Park & Renamed as ‘Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park’
26. GIFT City to host Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum meeting

National News

1. PM Modi Addresses NXT Conclave in New Delhi

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the NXT Conclave in New Delhi, congratulating NewsX World on its global expansion and new initiatives.
• Tell me more:
  • Modi highlighted India’s growing global influence in manufacturing, infrastructure, and governance.
  • He credited systematic policy decisions and a “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” approach for India’s success.
  • Modi noted India’s leadership in global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
  • He highlighted India’s contributions in digital payments with UPI and the India Stack.
  • The government is committed to providing world-class research facilities and has allocated ₹6,000 crore for the “One Nation, One Subscription” initiative.

Source: PIB

2. Australia-India Sports Forum to be held in GIFT City

• What:
  • The Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum will be held on March 5 and 6 in GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
• Why:
  • The forum aims to foster elite sports talent, paralympic sports development, sports science and technology, and discuss hosting major events.
• Tell me more:
  • The forum is a joint initiative between the Australian and the Gujarat governments.
  • Discussions will include key elements for successful Olympic and Paralympic bids.
  • Australia will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, and India has ambitions to host the 2036 games.
  • Former Olympian and CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, Kieren Perkins, leads the Australian delegation.

Source: IE

State News

1. Madhya Pradesh Global Investor Summit Secures ₹26.61 Lakh Crore

• What:
  • Madhya Pradesh received ₹26.61 lakh crore in investment commitments during its Global Investor Summit, with proposals expected to generate 17.3 lakh jobs.
• Why:
  • The summit aimed to attract investment to contribute to India becoming a developed nation by 2047 and the third-largest economy by 2027.
• Tell me more:
  • Total investment offers, including those from regional conclaves and visits, reached ₹30.77 lakh crore, potentially creating 21.36 lakh jobs.
  • The government has set a timeframe to evaluate proposals within a month and has reduced required permissions to set up industries from 38 to 10.
  • Key sectors attracting investment include new and renewable energy, mining, urban development, and power.
  • An airport will be built in Ujjain, and Air India Express will start international flights from Indore.

Source: TH

2. GoI Approves Rs 42,000 Crore Arunachal Frontier Highway along the LAC

• What:
  • The Arunachal Frontier Highway (NH-913) is being built to improve security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and boost development in the Northeast.
• Why:
  • It is a strategic response to Chinese aggression and expansionism along the border.
• Tell me more:
  • The highway will span 1,637–2,000 km, running close to the border, and enhance army mobility.
  • The estimated cost is ₹42,000 crore, and completion is targeted by March 2027.

Source: IT

3. “Art for Awareness” at Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in Assam

• What:
  • Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) conducted a two-day “Art for Awareness” programme in Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, Assam.
• Why:
  • The programme aimed to raise awareness about the conservation of golden langurs and other species at the newly declared national park.
• Tell me more:
  • Local students and artists created paintings on two walls with conservation messages.
  • The programme also included a briefing session on the importance of the national park and its economic benefits for the local community.
  • Sikhna Jwhwlao was declared Assam’s eighth national park.

Source: TOI

International News

1. English Declared Official Language of the United States

• What:
  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States, allowing government agencies to decide whether to continue multilingual services.
• Why:
  • The order reverses a Clinton-era mandate and aligns with efforts to prioritize English proficiency and national unity.
• Tell me more:
  • The order eliminates the federal obligation for multilingual services, potentially impacting 42 million Spanish speakers and three million Chinese speakers.
  • Over 30 states already recognize English as their official language, and this move may affect bilingual education programs.

Source: TOI

2. US Firm Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander Successfully Lands on Moon

• What:
  • Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, carrying NASA scientific instruments, successfully landed on the moon.
• Why:
  • The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which promotes private-sector lunar exploration.
• Tell me more:
  • Firefly is the first private company to achieve a soft landing on the moon.
  • Blue Ghost landed on the slopes of an ancient volcanic dome in Mare Crisium.
  • NASA paid $101 million for the delivery of ten scientific experiments.
  • Blue Ghost carries equipment for soil collection, temperature measurement, and lunar dust mitigation.

Source: BBC IE ET

3. Resumed Session of the CBD COP16

• What:
  • The 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will resume from February 25 to 27, 2025, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, focusing on resource mobilization and financial mechanisms.
• Why:
  • The conference aims to finalize strategies for securing significant financial resources and reducing harmful incentives to support biodiversity conservation.
• Tell me more:
  • Discussions will cover finalizing the Strategy for Resource Mobilization, aiming for $200 billion annually by 2030, including at least $20 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) by 2025.
  • The conference will also explore a dedicated global financing instrument for biodiversity and finalize the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) monitoring framework.
  • Current funding sources include the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF).

Source: UN1 UN2

Banking and Economy

1. RBI Imposes Penalties on HSBC and IIFL Samasta Finance

• What:
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties of Rs 66.60 lakh on The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) and Rs 33.10 lakh on IIFL Samasta Finance for violating banking norms.
• Why:
  • The penalties were imposed due to non-compliance with banking regulations, including improper handling of anti-money laundering alerts and incorrect loan account classifications.
• Tell me more:
  • HSBC was penalized for outsourcing AML alert disposal, failing to report foreign currency exposures, and opening accounts for ineligible entities.
  • IIFL Samasta Finance was penalized for charging interest before loan disbursement, misclassifying loan accounts, and issuing multiple customer IDs.

Source: BS

2. City Union Bank Partners with Chennai Super Kings

• What:
  • City Union Bank (CUB) has partnered with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to launch a co-branded credit card.
• Why:
  • The collaboration aims to provide CSK fans with a way to enhance their financial journey while enjoying exclusive perks related to their love for cricket.
• Tell me more:
  • The credit card will feature CSK’s iconic yellow color and lion logo.
  • Cardholders will earn rewards on purchases, including bonus points for CSK-related merchandise and match tickets.

Source: TH

3. IRFC Granted Navratna Status

• What:
  • Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) was granted Navratna status by the Government of India, leading to a surge in its shares.
• Why:
  • The Navratna status enhances IRFC’s financial and operational autonomy, enabling higher-value investments and strategic expansions.
• Tell me more:
  • The Department of Public Enterprises announced that IRFC and IRCTC have been accorded Navratna status, expanding the list of such CPSEs to 26.
  • IRFC reported an annual turnover of Rs 26,644 crore and a profit after tax of Rs 6,412 crore for FY 2023-24.

Source: ET

4. HDFC Bank Executes First Gold Trade on IIBX

• What:
  • HDFC Bank executed the first-ever gold trade by a bank on the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) under the Special Category Client – Nominated Bank Category.
• Why:
  • This trade marks a significant step for India to play a larger role in the global bullion market.
• Tell me more:
  • The trade was conducted on February 28 and involved importing gold through the IIBX ecosystem.
  • Malabar Gold and Diamonds Limited participated in the deal as HDFC Bank’s valued customer.
  • The IIBX is located in GIFT City.
  • This trade paves the way for other nominated banks to start importing bullion through IIBX.

Source: HBL

Awards

1. Jay Shah Honored with Icon of Excellence Award

• What:
  • Jay Shah, chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has received the Icon of Excellence award at the Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA) 2025 for his contributions to cricket.
• Why:
  • This award recognizes his leadership in driving innovation, inclusivity, and transformation in cricket administration.
• Tell me more:
  • Jay Shah is the youngest-ever chairman of the ICC.
  • He previously served as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), where he introduced reforms and launched the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
  • The award was presented at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai by Harsh Mariwala and KVS Manian.

Source: BS

Important Dates

1. National Safety Day Observed in India on March 4

• What:
  • National Safety Day is observed on March 4 across India, marking the beginning of Safety Week, which aims to raise awareness about safety precautions and promote a culture of safety.
• Why:
  • The day is observed to strengthen India’s commitment to safety in all areas of life and to promote the Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) movement.
• Tell me more:
  • National Safety Day was initiated by the National Safety Council of India (NSC) in 1972 to promote safety awareness across various sectors.
  • The theme for National Safety Day 2025 is “Safety & Well-being Crucial for Viksit Bharat,” emphasizing safety’s role in national development.

Source: ET

2. International Wheelchair Day – March 1

• What:
  • The Sugamya Yatra Campaign has been launched to address accessibility challenges for persons with disabilities through a collaborative approach.
• Why:
  • The campaign, led by the DEPwD, aims to identify gaps in accessibility and secure commitments from stakeholders to implement changes.
• Tell me more:
  • Various national institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRC) celebrated International Wheelchair Day 2025 with programs promoting accessibility, independence, and inclusion for Divyangjan.
  • NILD Kolkata hosted a seminar and sports events, while NIEPID Secunderabad discussed assistive technologies.
  • SVNIRTAR Odisha conducted an awareness program, and CRC Gorakhpur distributed wheelchairs.
  • CRC Davangere provided wheelchair training and distributed assistive devices.
  • CRC Nellore held a wheelchair race competition and distributed wheelchairs.

Source: PIB TP

3. World Hearing Day – March 3

• Theme: Changing mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!

Source: WHO

Sports

1. Virat Kohli Joins 300 ODI Matches Milestone

• What:
  • Virat Kohli will play his 300th One Day International (ODI) match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, becoming the seventh Indian player to reach this milestone.
• Tell me more:
  • Mohammad Azharuddin was the first Indian player to play 300 ODIs in 1998.
  • The Indian cricket team has won two World Cups and two Champions Trophy titles in the 50-over format.

Source: TOI

2. Koneru Humpy is SOG Grandmaster Series Brand Ambassador

• What:
  • Padma Shri awardee Koneru Humpy, India’s youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster, has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the SOG Grandmaster Series.
• Why:
  • This partnership aims to bridge the gap between traditional mind sports and the emerging digital competitive ecosystem while elevating the prestige of the tournament.
• Tell me more:
  • The SOG Grandmaster Series is curated by the Skill Online Games Federation and aims to establish a regulated platform for skill-based gaming.
  • Koneru Humpy’s involvement is expected to foster greater engagement and recognition for skill-based gaming in India.

Source: ANI

3. Vidarbha Wins Ranji Trophy

• Vidarbha’s cricket team won the Ranji Trophy.
• This marks their third Ranji triumph in seven years.
• Key players included Yash Rathod, Danish Malewar, and Harsh Dubey.

Source: IE

Appointments

1. Dr. Mayank Sharma Appointed Controller General of Defence Accounts

• Dr. Mayank Sharma assumed the office of Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
• He has represented India at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other international organizations.
• He also served as the Head of the Consular Division at the Indian Embassy in Vienna.

Source: PIB

Miscellaneous

1. Pioneering Artist Himmat Shah Passes Away at 91

• What:
  • Himmat Shah, a renowned artist known for his experimental approach and diverse use of materials, passed away on March 2 at the age of 91.
• Tell me more:
  • Shah was influenced by his childhood in Lothal, Gujarat, and his studies at various art institutions.
  • He was a key member of Group 1890 and trained in Paris before returning to India to develop his unique artistic style.
  • His iconic bronze heads and ‘silver paintings’ gained widespread recognition.

Source: IE

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