March 2025 Current Affairs - Comprehensive Report
Key highlights include Women’s Reservation Bill passage, India-EU trade pact, ISRO’s Venus mission prep, and PV Sindhu’s Swiss Open win.
🌍 Top National News - March 2025
- Women’s Reservation Bill: Historic Passage
Details: Historic passage with 33% reservation in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies.
Key Points:
- Implementation Timeline: Effective post-2026 delimitation (2029 elections).
- Grassroots Impact: 50,000 women leaders trained via Nari Shakti Kendras.
Additional Info: Political Debate: Opposition Demand: Sub-quota for OBC women. Ruling Party’s Stand: "Uniform quota ensures equality." Panchayati Raj data shows 45% female sarpanches improved education/health metrics. - Smart Railways Initiative
Details: AI integration for Vande Bharat trains.
Key Points:
- AI Integration: Predictive maintenance for 500+ Vande Bharat trains.
- Real-time fault detection (sensors track 200+ parameters).
Additional Info: Outcome: 30% reduction in delays. ₹1,200cr saved in fuel costs (Q1 2025). - Clean Ganga Mission: Phase III
Details: Tech-driven river cleanup.
Key Points:
- Tech Interventions: 300 surveillance drones monitor industrial discharge.
- AI-based "Ganga Watch App" for public complaints.
Additional Info: Eco-Measures: 10,000 biodegradable waste traps installed. 45 sewage treatment plants upgraded. - UP Cabinet Expansion
Details: 8 new ministers inducted.
Key Points:
- New Ministers: 8 inducted (5 OBC, 2 minority reps).
- Key Policies: ₹2,000cr for weaver cooperatives. Free AI-based crop advisory for 5 million farmers.
Additional Info: Focus on inclusive policies. - India’s First Solar Expressway
Details: Rajkot to Surat (320 km).
Key Points:
- Capacity: 600 MW solar power/year.
- Features: EV charging lanes every 20 km. Solar noise barriers reducing pollution by 40%.
Additional Info: First-of-its-kind green transport corridor.
🌐 Top International News - March 2025
- India-EU Trade Pact Finalized
Details: Finalized with $100B trade target by 2030.
Key Points:
- Highlights: $100B bilateral trade target by 2030.
- Pharma & IT tariffs slashed by 25%.
Additional Info: Controversy: EU’s carbon tax deferred till 2030 after Indian pushback. - Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
Details: Geneva ceasefire effective 1 April 2025.
Key Points:
- Geneva Roadmap: Ceasefire effective 1 April 2025.
- Joint control over Donbas.
Additional Info: India’s Role: Mediated grain export corridor to Africa. - Global Climate Agreement
Details: 160 nations commit to 2050 carbon neutrality.
Key Points:
- UN Ratification: 160 nations commit to 2050 carbon neutrality.
- India’s Pledge: 500 GW renewable energy by 2030. Green hydrogen production subsidy doubled.
Additional Info: Global push for sustainability. - Pakistan Political Crisis
Details: Feb 2025 elections annulled.
Key Points:
- Supreme Court Verdict: Feb 2025 elections annulled.
- Caretaker Setup: Ex-diplomat appointed PM for 6 months.
Additional Info: Political instability impacts region. - China’s Moon Mission
Details: Chang’e-7 probe on lunar far side.
Key Points:
- Chang’e-7 Probe: Landed on lunar far side.
- Objectives: Helium-3 extraction trials. Permanent base feasibility study.
Additional Info: Advances lunar exploration.
🔬 Science & Technology - Innovations
- ISRO’s Venus Mission (Shukrayaan-1)
Details: Launch planned for December 2025.
Key Points:
- Launch: December 2025.
- Goals: 4K mapping of volcanic zones. Analysis of sulfuric acid clouds.
Additional Info: Budget: ₹850cr ($102M). - National AI Grid
Details: Centralized platform for startups & students.
Key Points:
- Framework: Centralized AI platform for startups & students. Supports 22 Indian languages.
- Impact: 50,000 farmers using AI pest alerts. 200 govt schools adopt AI tutors.
Additional Info: Democratizes AI access. - Hydrogen Car Prototype (IIT Madras)
Details: 450 km range, 3-min refuel.
Key Points:
- Specs: Range: 450 km/fill. Refuel time: 3 minutes.
- Commercial Launch: 2027 (target price: ₹10 lakh).
Additional Info: Green mobility innovation. - e-Agri Portal
Details: Farmer-focused digital platform.
Key Points:
- Features: Soil health cards in 12 languages. Real-time mandi price updates.
- Users: 2 million farmers registered in March.
Additional Info: Enhances agricultural productivity.
⚽ Sports News - March 2025
- India vs England T20 Series (4-1)
Details: India wins 4-1.
Key Points:
- Star Performer: Suryakumar Yadav (210 runs at 52.5 avg).
- Decisive Match: Mumbai T20 (India won by 8 wickets).
Additional Info: Dominant home series performance. - Indian Grand Prix 2025
Details: Hyderabad Street Circuit.
Key Points:
- Venue: Hyderabad Street Circuit.
- Winner: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Attendance: 95,000 spectators.
Additional Info: Boosts India’s motorsport profile. - PV Sindhu’s Swiss Open Victory
Details: First title post-injury comeback.
Key Points:
- Final Score: 21-17, 19-21, 22-20 vs An Se-young.
- Significance: Her first title post-injury comeback.
Additional Info: Intense final match. - WPL 2025
Details: Mumbai Indians crowned champions.
Key Points:
- Champions: Mumbai Indians.
- Player of Tournament: Harmanpreet Kaur (380 runs + 15 wickets).
Additional Info: Elevates women’s cricket.
👑 Appointments & Resignations
- Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi
Details: New CDS (focus: cyber warfare).
Key Points:
- Appointed Chief of Defence Staff.
- Focus on cyber warfare.
Additional Info: Strengthens national security framework. - Paytm CEO Change
Details: Vijay Shekhar Sharma → Bhavik Koladiya.
Key Points:
- Leadership shift in fintech giant.
- Aims to boost innovation.
Additional Info: Key corporate transition. - UN Envoy Shift
Details: Ruchira Kamboj → Syed Akbaruddin.
Key Points:
- New diplomatic representation at UN.
- Focus on global advocacy.
Additional Info: India’s active UN role continues. - World Bank President
Details: Ajay Banga reappointed.
Key Points:
- Continued leadership in global finance.
- Focus on sustainable development.
Additional Info: Indian-origin leader’s global impact.
🏆 Awards & Honours
- Global Teacher Prize
Details: Meera Menon (Kerala) for AI-based rural education.
Key Points:
- Recognized for innovative teaching.
- Impacts rural education systems.
Additional Info: Global acclaim for Indian educator. - Jnanpith Award
Details: Late Assamese poet Nilamani Phookan.
Key Points:
- Honored for literary contributions.
- Celebrates Assamese culture.
Additional Info: Prestigious literary recognition. - National Startup Award
Details: GreenGro for AI crop solution.
Key Points:
- Recognized for agricultural innovation.
- Boosts startup ecosystem.
Additional Info: Supports green tech. - Oscars 2025
Details: Best Film – The Sand Diaries (Director: Chloé Zhao).
Key Points:
- Global cinematic achievement.
- Cultural storytelling highlighted.
Additional Info: International recognition.
📚 Books & Authors
- India’s Women in Power
Details: Smriti Irani: India’s Women in Power (political leadership case studies).
Key Points:
- Explores women’s roles in governance.
- Case studies from India.
Additional Info: Timely post-reservation bill release. - Cosmic Tales
Details: Neil deGrasse Tyson: Cosmic Tales (science-mythology fusion).
Key Points:
- Blends science with storytelling.
- Appeals to global readers.
Additional Info: Popular science narrative. - Code of the Future
Details: Nandan Nilekani: Code of the Future (AI governance risks).
Key Points:
- Discusses AI ethics and policies.
- Relevant to National AI Grid.
Additional Info: Tech policy insights. - The Daughters of the Desert
Details: Anita Nair: The Daughters of the Desert (Bedouin women’s stories).
Key Points:
- Highlights cultural narratives.
- Focus on women’s resilience.
Additional Info: Literary contribution.
🔎 Deep Dive: Women’s Reservation Bill
- Women’s Reservation Bill
Key Aspect: Implementation Challenges.
Details: Implementation Challenges: Delimitation exercise to add 181 new seats. Training camps for women candidates in 600 districts. OBC Angle: Demand for caste census before seat allocation. Global Parallels: "Rwanda (61% women MPs) saw 30% GDP growth post-reservation. India can replicate this." – UN Women Report.
