India takes part in the 69th Session of UNCSW in New York
A delegation of the Government of India led by Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister, Women and Child Development (WCD), participated in the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which started on 10th March, 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government of India's unwavering commitment to the empowerment, protection, and holistic development of women and children across the nation. Addressing in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women the Minister outlined the progress of India on gender equality addressing the 12 critical areas of concern.
She highlighted the transformative impact of flagship schemes, which have significantly contributed to improving health, nutrition, education, and economic opportunities for women and children.
Emphasising the need for strengthened implementation and outreach, the Minister reiterated the government's resolve to ensure that every woman and girl has access to their rights and entitlements. She said that the welfare of women and children is at the core of our nation's progress. Through a multi-pronged approach, we are working towards a future where every woman is empowered and every child is nurtured in a safe and supportive environment.
The session witnessed large-scale participation from all UN member states, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, philanthropists, academia, civil society, women's collectives, and UN agencies.
CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forthcoming session of the Commission will be held from 10th to 21st March, 2025.
Takashi Nakajima Appointed as the New President & CEO of Honda Cars India
Japanese automobile giant Honda Motor Company has announced a leadership change for its Indian subsidiary, Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL). Takashi Nakajima has been appointed as the new President and CEO of HCIL, effective April 1, 2025. Nakajima will succeed Takuya Tsumura, who will return to Honda's headquarters in Japan after completing his three-year tenure in India.
This appointment is part of the annual management restructuring process at Honda Motor Company, aimed at strengthening its global leadership and operational strategies.
Takashi Nakajima is a Honda veteran with 30 years of experience in the automobile industry. He joined Honda in 1994 and has held key leadership roles in various international markets. He worked as President of Honda Motor Russia since 2021. In Japan, He worked in Honda's headquarters, handling business planning and product strategy. In China, he contributed to Honda's expansion in one of the world's largest automobile markets. In Spain & Czech Republic, he played a crucial role in marketing and sales promotions.
RBI Imposes Rs. 76.6 Lakh Penalty on Four NBFCs for Regulatory Violations
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties totaling Rs. 76.6 lakh on four Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) — Fairassets Technologies India (Rs. 40 lakh), Bridge Fintech Solutions (Rs. 10 lakh), Rang De P2P Financial Services (Rs. 10 lakh), Visionary Financepeer (Rs 16.6 lakh) — for non-compliance with regulatory norms.
These penalties were issued under Section 58G of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, and Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The violations included lapses in governance, reporting requirements, fair lending practices, capital adequacy, and fraud risk management. The RBI's action reinforces its commitment to financial discipline, consumer protection, and strengthening compliance in the NBFC sector.
Government Initiatives to Promote Gas-Based Power Generation
Gas-based power plants in India are currently operating at a low Plant Load Factor (PLF), impacting their efficiency and contribution to the energy sector. To address this, the Government of India has taken several measures to enhance the availability and affordability of natural gas for power generation. Key steps include placing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) under the Open General Licence (OGL) category, facilitating infrastructure expansion, and implementing policy reforms to encourage gas-based energy production. This article explores various initiatives aimed at increasing the share of natural gas in India's energy basket.
Assam Government to Launch Its Own Satellite 'ASSAMSAT'
In a landmark move, the Assam state government has announced plans to launch its own satellite, ASSAMSAT, to bolster data access for crucial socio-economic initiatives and enhance border security. This announcement was made by Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog while presenting the state budget for the financial year 2025-26. The satellite is envisioned to provide dedicated services for agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure development, and security operations. This initiative marks a historic milestone, as Assam becomes the first Indian state to launch its own satellite.
The ASSAMSAT satellite will be developed in collaboration with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). The initiative is part of the BJP-led coalition government's vision to strengthen technological capabilities and enhance governance through satellite-based surveillance and monitoring systems.
Harry Brook Withdraws from IPL 2025, Faces Possible Two-Year Ban
In a major development ahead of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, England batter Harry Brook has withdrawn from the tournament for the second consecutive year. This decision comes despite being signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) for Rs. 6.25 crores in the previous year's auction. His withdrawal could result in a two-year ban from future IPL editions, as per the new rules introduced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Commonwealth Games Federation Rebrands as 'Commonwealth Sport' on Commonwealth Day 2025
In a significant rebranding move, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has announced that it will now be known as Commonwealth Sport. This decision was officially unveiled in March, 2025, in celebration of Commonwealth Day. The shift in branding aims to reflect the organisation's transformation from a sports federation to a global sports movement, emphasizing its role in fostering unity, development, and inclusion through sports.
The legal entity will continue to be called the Commonwealth Games Federation, but the public identity and branding will now be under the banner of Commonwealth Sport.
The rebranding decision was announced in an official media release by the governing body of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. The statement emphasised that this move aligns with a broader vision of strengthening the organisation's identity beyond just governing sporting events.
India Takes Part in the 69th Session of UNCSW in New York
A delegation of the Government of India led by Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister, Women and Child Development (WCD), participated in the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which started on 10th March 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government of India's unwavering commitment to the empowerment, protection, and holistic development of women and children across the nation. Addressing in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Minister outlined the progress of India on gender equality addressing the 12 critical areas of concern.
She highlighted the transformative impact of flagship schemes, which have significantly contributed to improving health, nutrition, education, and economic opportunities for women and children.
Emphasising the need for strengthened implementation and outreach, the Minister reiterated the government's resolve to ensure that every woman and girl has access to their rights and entitlements. She said that the welfare of women and children is at the core of our nation's progress. Through a multi-pronged approach, we are working towards a future where every woman is empowered and every child is nurtured in a safe and supportive environment.
The session witnessed large-scale participation from all UN member states, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, philanthropists, academia, civil society, women's collectives, and UN agencies.
CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forthcoming session of the Commission will be held from 10th to 21st March, 2025.
Muslim Literacy Rate Sees 9.4% Increase in a Decade
The literacy rate among Muslims in India has shown a significant improvement over the years. As per the Census 2011 data, the literacy rate among Muslims aged 7 years and above rose to 68.5%, marking an increase of 9.4 percentage points from 59.1% in Census 2001. However, this figure remained lower than the all-India literacy rate of 73.0% in 2011. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 further highlights an improvement, showing the Muslim literacy rate at 79.5%, compared to 80.9% for all religious communities.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs plays a crucial role in improving the educational and socio-economic conditions of six notified minority communities, including Muslims. The government has implemented several schemes focused on educational empowerment, economic development, and infrastructure enhancement to uplift these communities.
National Youth Parliament Programme 2.0 Open to Citizens across the Country
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India has unveiled an upgraded version of the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) web portal, known as NYPS 2.0. Unlike the previous version, which was limited to students of recognised institutions, NYPS 2.0 is open to all citizens across the country regardless of economic status, gender, caste, creed, religion, race, region and place. Participation can be facilitated through the following ways: -
Institution Participation: All educational institutions can participate in this category by organising the Youth Parliament sittings as per the guidelines available on the portal. The students from classes VI to XII may be selected for the "Kishore Sabha" sub-category and Under Graduate and Post Graduate level students may be selected for the "Tarun Sabha" sub-category.
Group Participation: A group of citizens can participate in this category by organizing the Youth Parliament sittings as per the guidelines available on the portal.
Individual Participation: An individual citizen can participate in this category by attempting a quiz on the theme of 'Bharatiya Democracy in Action'.
Indian Naval Ship Imphal Participates in Mauritius National Day Celebrations 2025
Indian Naval Ship Imphal makes her maiden port call at Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius. The ship participated in the 57th Mauritius National Day celebrations on 12 Mar 25. The visit of INS Imphal is in keeping with the tradition of Indian warships and aircraft participating in Mauritius National Day celebrations. The ship will field a marching contingent, naval band and helicopter for the flypast at the National Day Parade at Champs de Mars. Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, will be the Chief Guest at the celebrations.
During her stay at Port Louis from 10 - 14 March, the ship is planned to participate in several training and cultural exchanges, including cross-training visits, friendly sports fixtures and community outreach activities. These activities aim to strengthen bilateral ties and maritime security cooperation between the two countries. A joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance and exercise with MCGS ships is also planned.
KHANJAR-XII: India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Military Exercise
In March 2025, the 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII began in Kyrgyzstan, running for 14 days until March 23, 2025, focusing on counterterrorism and special operations in high-altitude terrain.
The joint exercise aims to enhance cooperation by exchanging experiences and best practices in Counter-Terrorism and Special Forces Operations in urban and mountainous environments.
Both nations will train in advanced Special Forces skills, including sniping, complex building intervention, and mountain warfare techniques, to improve combat effectiveness.
Since its launch in 2011, KHANJAR has evolved into an annual military engagement, alternating between India and Kyrgyzstan to deepen strategic relations.
The last edition of the exercise was conducted in India in January 2024, continuing the long-standing military cooperation between the two nations.
Indian Navy's First Training Squadron Concludes Visit to Phuket, Thailand
The First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy, comprising INS Sujata, INS Shardul, and ICGS Veera, successfully concluded its visit to Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand. The visit featured coordinated tactical maneuvers, professional exchanges, and joint exercises with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), reinforcing the maritime partnership between India and Thailand.
Legendary Classical Singer Garimella Balakrishna Prasad Passes Away at 76
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, the renowned classical singer and former Asthana Vidwan (court musician) of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), passed away due to a heart attack at his residence in Tirupati. He was 76 years old. His demise marks the end of an era in Indian classical and devotional music, particularly in the popularisation of Annamacharya's compositions.
Balakrishna Prasad dedicated his life to the world of Carnatic, folk, and classical music. He served as an Asthana Vidwan at TTD from 1978 to 2006, a position that brought him national recognition. His extraordinary ability to compose and perform devotional music made him a revered figure among devotees of Lord Venkateswara.
Salman Khan Teams with GRM for Wheat Flour Campaign
GRM Overseas Limited has launched a new marketing campaign for its 10X Classic Chakki Fresh Atta, featuring Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the brand ambassador. The campaign, titled "Better Half Ki Better Choice", emphasises the product's quality, hygiene, and nutrition, positioning it as the preferred choice for households. With the tagline "10 Ka Dum", the campaign aims to promote branded packaged wheat flour over traditional unpackaged options.
In March 2025, Prime Minister was conferred with the prestigious Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award for his strategic leadership and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award was presented in Bridgetown, Barbados, with Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita receiving it on behalf of Prime Minister Modi.
The award recognises Prime Minister Modi's efforts in strengthening global cooperation and providing vital assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.
India played a crucial role in supplying vaccines and medical aid to several countries, including those in the Caribbean, under its Vaccine Maitri initiative.
The Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados is the country's highest civilian award, given to individuals who have made significant contributions to global peace, development, and humanitarian efforts.
The award highlights India's growing diplomatic influence and its commitment to international solidarity during challenging times.
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