21st March 2025

1. Vijay Sankar Honoured with Denmark’s Knight’s Cross
2. Statue of Unity Sculptor Ram Sutar Conferred with Maharashtra Bhushan Award
3. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 21st March
4. Chiranjeevi Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award by UK Government
5. Kirsty Coventry Becomes First Female and African President of the International Olympic Committee
6. SEBI Partners with DigiLocker to Reduce Unclaimed Assets and Strengthen Investor Protection
7. BCCI Honors Team India with ₹58 Crore After ICC Champions Trophy Win
8. India-Australia Deepen Defence Interoperability Across Every Position
9. CCI Approves Tata Sons’ Plan to Acquire Additional 10% Stake in Tata Play
10. Deena Mehta Re-appointed as Independent Director of Fino Payments Bank
11. Fitch Affirms Union Bank of India, PNB Rating at BBB- with Stable Outlook
12. ‘Watan Ko Jano’ Programme: Promoting National Integration Among Kashmiri Youth
13. UN French Language Day: Celebrating Multilingualism and Cultural Diversity
14. Union MoS Jitendra Singh Announces North India’s First Nuclear Power Plant in Gorakhpur, Haryana
15. Jaitapur and Gorakhpur: Fueling India’s Energy Future
16. NIPL Partners with Singapore’s Hipay to Enable UPI Payments
17. President Droupadi Murmu Presents the 19th Ramnath Goenka Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2025
18. Samara Group Chairman Vijay Sankar Conferred with Denmark’s Knight’s Cross for Consular Services
19. IHL Completes Acquisition of RACP for ₹3,650 Crore
20. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Releases Statement, Mascot, and Logo for Khelo India Para Games 2025
21. Book Titled ‘March of Glory’ Released to Commemorate Golden Jubilee of India’s 1975 Hockey World Cup Triumph
22. International Day of Happiness 2025 – March 20
23. World Oral Health Day 2025 – March 20
24. World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People 2025 – March 20
25. Gujarat & Nayara Energy Sign MoUs to Restore Khijadia Bird Sanctuary

State News

1. Government of Jammu and Kashmir Launches ‘Watan Ko Jano’ Programme

• What:
  • The Government of Jammu and Kashmir launched the ‘Watan Ko Jano’ programme to expose children under 18 from government-run homes to cultural, historical, and technological advancements across India.
• Why:
  • The programme aims to foster national integration, unity among youth, and create an inclusive and harmonious society.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative is funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
  • Vocational training and skill development programmes like Mission Youth and Mission Yuva are also being implemented to empower the region’s youth.
  • Under the Kashmiri Youth Exchange Programme (KYEP), activities such as interactions, seminars, skill development, cultural programs, food festivals, and career guidance are organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS).

Source: PIB

2. North India’s First Nuclear Project Coming Up in Haryana

• What:
  • North India’s first nuclear project is being established in Gorakhpur, Haryana, as revealed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
• Why:
  • The project aims to contribute to India’s clean energy goals and support the country’s net-zero emissions target by 2070.
• Tell me more:
  • The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, critical for India’s clean energy future, will house six reactors with a total capacity of 10,380 MW.
  • India has set up a ₹1,500 crore insurance pool under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage framework to ensure financial security in case of incidents.

Source: PIB

Banking and Economy

1. CCI Approves Tata Sons’ Acquisition of Additional Stake in Tata Play

• What:
  • The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Tata Sons’ acquisition of an additional 10% stake in Tata Play from Baytree Investments (Mauritius) Pte Ltd.
• Why:
  • The acquisition aims to strengthen Tata Sons’ shareholding in Tata Play and support its operations.
• Tell me more:
  • Tata Sons is registered as a “Systemically Important Non-Deposit Taking Core Investment Company” with the Reserve Bank of India.
  • Tata Play, formerly known as Tata Sky, is a leading content distribution platform in India offering Pay TV and OTT services.
  • Tata Play provides Direct-to-Home (DTH) television and an OTT platform called Tata Play Binge, which integrates various OTT apps into a single interface.
  • A detailed order from the CCI regarding the acquisition will follow.

Source: PIB

2. UPI Expands Reach in Singapore with HitPay Partnership

• What:
  • Nearly 12,000 merchants in Singapore will accept UPI payments following a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and HitPay.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to enhance payment convenience for Indian tourists visiting Singapore and strengthen UPI’s global presence.
• Tell me more:
  • Over 1.2 million Indians visited Singapore in 2024, prompting the phased rollout of UPI acceptance for seamless online and offline payments.
  • Indian tourists can use QR codes to make payments at various locations like tourist spots, restaurants, and retail stores.
  • NIPL previously partnered with Magnati in the UAE and Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Digital Transformation to expand UPI globally.

Source: TOI

3. IndusInd International Completes Acquisition of Reliance Capital

• What:
  • IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) acquired Reliance Capital for ₹9,650 crore, completing a three-year resolution process.
• Why:
  • The acquisition aims to resolve Reliance Capital’s debt issues and create value through business restructuring and fund infusion.
• Tell me more:
  • IIHL transferred the bid amount to the escrow account, with management takeover scheduled for March 19, 2025.
  • IIHL plans to list Reliance Capital’s insurance units within two to three years and target a valuation of $50 billion by 2030.
  • The company paid an additional ₹200 crore to strengthen Reliance Capital’s solvency.
  • Reliance Capital has around 39-40 entities, and IIHL intends to divest smaller shell entities while retaining broking and asset reconstruction businesses.
  • Reliance Capital was placed under RBI-appointed administration in November 2021 due to governance lapses and payment defaults.

Source: LM

GDP Forecasts

1. Fitch Affirms Ratings of Union Bank and PNB at ‘BBB-‘

• What:
  • Fitch Ratings affirmed the ratings of Union Bank of India and Punjab National Bank (PNB) at ‘BBB-‘ with a stable outlook.
• Why:
  • The ratings reflect government support, improved risk profiles, better asset quality, and robust funding and liquidity.
• Tell me more:
  • Fitch upgraded the Viability Rating (VR) of both banks to ‘bb-‘ from ‘b+’ due to ongoing improvements in their risk profiles.
  • The Government Support Rating (GSR) was affirmed at ‘BBB-‘ for both banks, driven by the Indian government’s 75% stake in Union Bank and 70% stake in PNB.
  • Union Bank’s asset-quality score outlook was revised to positive, with improvements in loan diversification and reduced corporate loan risks.
  • PNB’s asset-quality score outlook was also revised to positive, with its impaired-loan ratio falling to 4.1% in 9MFY25 from 5.7% in FY24.
  • PNB’s earnings and profitability score was upgraded to ‘bb-‘ due to better-than-expected profitability improvements.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. India and Australia Deepen Defence Cooperation in 9th Policy Talks

• What:
  • India and Australia agreed to enhance cooperation across maritime, land, and air domains during the 9th Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, while the Australian side was headed by Bernard Philip.
  • Key focus areas included maritime domain awareness, reciprocal information sharing, and defence industry collaboration.
  • Both sides reviewed outcomes of past meetings, including the Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue in November 2023 and consultations in October 2024.
  • Preparations for the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Australia were discussed.
  • The Australian delegation will visit Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. in Mumbai and meet Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Source: TH

Awards

1. Vijay Sankar Honored with Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog

• What:
  • Vijay Sankar, Honorary Consul General of Denmark for Southern India, received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog.
  • The award was presented by Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of Denmark to India, in Chennai.
• Why:
  • The award recognizes Vijay Sankar’s contributions to strengthening Indo-Danish relations through his consular services.
• Tell me more:
  • The award was conferred by the King of Denmark and included a formal citation.
  • Vijay Sankar is also the Chairman of The Sanmar Group.
  • During the event, the Ambassador highlighted the legacy of Sankar’s family, including his father N Sankar and grandfather K S Narayanan, who also served as Honorary Consul Generals with distinction.

Source: HBL

2. Ram Sutar Chosen for Maharashtra Bhushan Award

• What:
  • Noted sculptor Ram Sutar has been selected for Maharashtra Bhushan, the highest civilian award of Maharashtra.
• Why:
  • The award recognizes Ram Sutar’s contributions to art and his work on iconic statues, including the Statue of Unity.
• Tell me more:
  • Ram Sutar turned 100 last month and is a Padma Bhushan awardee.
  • He designed the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 meters.
  • Sutar is currently working on the Ambedkar statue at the Indu Mill memorial project in Mumbai.
  • The award includes ₹25 lakh and a memento.
  • He has worked on major projects like:
    • A 251-meter tall statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
    • A 153-feet high statue of Lord Shiva in Bengaluru.
    • A 100-feet tall statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Pune.
    • A new 60-feet statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot fort in Malvan.

Source: ET

3. Chiranjeevi Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by UK Government

• What:
  • Superstar Chiranjeevi received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Government for his contributions to Indian cinema. The award was presented at the House of Commons, UK Parliament, London.
• Why:
  • The award recognizes Chiranjeevi’s impactful career in Indian cinema and his humanitarian efforts.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was hosted by British-Indian MP Navendu Mishra, with Sojan Joseph and Bob Blackman also present.
  • Chiranjeevi expressed gratitude to UK officials, including Stephen Timms and Seema Malhotra, for their support.
  • He has acted in over 150 films and shared his plans for upcoming projects like Vishwambhara and collaborations with Srikanth Odela and Anil Ravipudi.

Source: LM

4. President Droupadi Murmu Presents Ramnath Goenka Journalism Awards

• What:
  • President Droupadi Murmu presented the 19th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in New Delhi on March 19, 2025.
• Why:
  • The awards recognize the importance of free and fair journalism in strengthening democracy and keeping citizens informed.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ramnath Goenka Awards honor excellence in journalism across India.
  • AI is increasingly being used in journalism for compiling and editing reports but lacks human empathy.
  • Deep fakes and malicious content pose significant challenges to the credibility of news.

Source: PIB

Important Dates

1. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – March 21

• Theme: 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Racial of Discrimination (ICERD)

Source: UN

2. French Language Day is celebrated on 20 March every year.

Source: UN

3. World Oral Health Day – March 20

• Theme: A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind

Source: WHO

4. World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People – March 20

Sports

1. BCCI Announces ₹58 Crore Reward for Team India

• What:
  • The BCCI announced a ₹58 crore cash reward for Team India after their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory.
• Tell me more:
  • Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
  • They won the final against New Zealand by 4 wickets on March 9 in Dubai.
  • BCCI President Roger Binny highlighted the significance of consecutive ICC title wins.
  • BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla praised the team’s skill, mental toughness, and winning mindset.

Source: NOA

2. 2nd Khelo India Para Games 2025 Inaugurated in New Delhi

• What:
  • Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 2nd Khelo India Para Games 2025 at KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi.
• Why:
  • The event aims to provide a platform for para-athletes to showcase their talent and inspire others through their achievements.
• Tell me more:
  • Over 1,300 para-athletes are participating in six sports disciplines during the eight-day championship from March 20-27, 2025.
  • Six Paralympians, including Simran Sharma and Praveen Kumar, participated in a torch rally to flag off the event.
  • The games include para-athletics, para-archery, para-powerlifting, para-badminton, para-table tennis, and para-shooting.
  • The first edition of Khelo India Para Games was held in December 2023 in New Delhi across seven sports disciplines.

Source: PIB

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Nayara Energy Signs MoUs for Conservation and Education in Gujarat

• What:
  • Nayara Energy signed MoUs with the Gujarat government’s forest department for conserving the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary and with the education department to promote reading activities.
• Why:
  • The initiatives aim to improve the environmental condition of the sanctuary and biodiversity, involve local stakeholders, promote eco-tourism, and enhance reading activities in government schools and Anganwadis.
• Tell me more:
  • Nayara Energy will provide ₹12 crore financial aid for the Khijadiya project over three years.
  • The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar site, is home to 321 bird species, nine fish and shrimp species, 185 plant species, 23 butterfly species, and 21 dragonfly species.
  • The sanctuary is surrounded by five eco-sensitive villages located within one to three kilometers.
  • The reading initiative will cover 1,300 government schools and Anganwadis in Jamnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka districts.

Source: IE

Appointments

1. Kirsty Coventry Elected as IOC President

• Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman, first African, and youngest person at 41 to hold the position.

Source: BBC

2. Fino Payments Bank Reappoints Deena Mehta as Independent Director

• What:
  • Fino Payments Bank’s Board approved the reappointment of Deena Mehta as an Independent Director for a second term from March 19, 2025, to March 18, 2028.
• Tell me more:
  • Deena Mehta is a qualified Chartered Accountant with a postgraduate diploma in Securities Law and a Master in Management Studies specializing in finance.
  • She has contributed to several capital market reforms, including setting up the BOLT system at BSE and Central Depository Service.
  • Mehta served on the BSE Board for nine years and held positions as Vice President and President of the Exchange.
  • The BOLT system was introduced at BSE to facilitate faster trading processes.

Source: HBL

Miscellaneous

1. Ashok Kumar’s Journey to Winning the 1975 Hockey World Cup

• What:
  • Ashok Kumar, son of hockey legend Dhyan Chand, scored the winning goal in the 1975 Hockey World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, helping India secure the title.
• Tell me more:
  • The book March of Glory captures India’s journey to winning the 1975 World Cup, focusing on the team’s spirit and achievements under Ajit Pal Singh’s leadership.
  • March of Glory is authored by Errol D’Cruz and K Arumugam, who are known for their work in hockey journalism and history.
  • He played in four World Cups and contributed significantly to India’s victory in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.

Source: TH

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