General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2025

Mar 2025

Mar 05, 2025

Ministry of Panchayati Raj Launches 'Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan'

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the 'Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan' Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi during a National Workshop. The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan employs an initiative to strengthen Women Elected Representatives (WERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through leadership development and decision-making improvements and active governance participation. Territorial administrators Smt. Annpurna Devi together with Union Ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh led more than 1,200 women representatives during the workshop at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event featured panel presentations alongside training module launch activities and the introduction of material explaining violence laws targeting females.
Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan represents a significant milestone in.getLocal government empowerment through improved women leader development. The initiative demonstrates India's dedication to rural development and gender equality because it brings together 1,200 women leaders through discussions and policy launches. Through its inclusive governance approach the initiative seeks to develop women's decision-making power to create socially neutral and gender-aware Panchayats.

Ajay Seth Takes Additional Charge as Revenue Secretary

Ajay Seth, the Economic Affairs Secretary, was assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Revenue. This decision was announced by the Personnel Ministry. The appointment was necessitated following the transition of Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the former Revenue Secretary, to his new role as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Ajay Seth is a senior bureaucrat known for his expertise in economic and financial policy-making. As the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, he has played a crucial role in shaping India's macroeconomic policies, fiscal strategies, and financial sector regulations. His appointment as the interim Revenue Secretary further highlights the government's confidence in his capabilities to handle crucial economic portfolios simultaneously.

India's First World Peace Centre in Gurugram

India took a significant step towards global peace and harmony with the inauguration of the country's first World Peace Centre in Gurugram, Haryana. The centre, established by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti under the guidance of Jain Acharya Lokesh, aims to promote non-violence, spiritual awareness, human values, and universal brotherhood.
The grand inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of former President Ram Nath Kovind, Governor of Punjab Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Bihar Arif Mohammad Khan, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and several eminent spiritual leaders, including Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, Morari Bapu, and Govinddev Giri.

PM Chairs the 7th Meeting of National Board for Wildlife

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Gir National Park in Gujarat. The discussions focused on expanding protected areas, strengthening species-specific programs, and addressing human-wildlife conflict.
The meeting assessed the progress of flagship conservation projects, including Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and Project Snow Leopard. Conservation efforts for dolphins and Asiatic lions, along with the establishment of the International Big Cats Alliance, were also discussed.

Mar 04, 2025

President of India Inaugurates Visitor's Conference 2024-25

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the two-day Visitor's Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President of India is the Visitor of 184 Central Institutes of Higher Education.
During the session, the President presented the eighth Visitor's Awards in the categories of Innovation, Research, and Technology Development.
The Visitor's Award for Innovation was given to Prof. Saripella Srikrishna, Banaras Hindu University, for developing Novel Indigenous Innovation in Quantum Technology to boost the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The Visitor's Award for Research in the field of Physical Sciences was conferred upon Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia, University of Hyderabad, for his seminal research in the discovery and development of high bioavailability drugs and pharmaceuticals with enhanced efficacy at affordable cost.
The Visitor's Award for Research in Biological Sciences was jointly presented to Prof. Rina Chakrabarti, University of Delhi and Prof. Raj Kumar, Central University of Punjab. Prof. Chakrabarti has been conferred the Award for her research contributions to Sustainable Freshwater Aquaculture while Prof. Raj Kumar has been presented the Award for his research contributions to exploring various cancer hallmarks and the development of synthetic anticancer lead molecules.
The Visitor's Award for Technology Development was presented to Dr. Venkateswarlu Chintala, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, for his research contributions to the petrol and diesel production at commercial scale from landfill municipal mixed plastic waste.

Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils 'One Nation-One Port' Initiative

In a step towards enhancing India's maritime infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) introduced a series of transformative initiatives aimed at modernising the sector, strengthening global trade, and promoting sustainability. Among the key announcements is the launch of 'One Nation: One Port Process' (ONOP), a pioneering effort designed to standardise and streamline port operations across the country.
The ONOP initiative was launched with the objective of eliminating inconsistencies in documentation and processes across India's major ports. Standardising port operations is crucial for reducing inefficiencies, cutting costs, and eliminating operational delays. By implementing a uniform port process, India aims to enhance the ease of doing business and facilitate seamless trade activities.
Alongside ONOP, Sarbananda Sonowal also launched Sagar Ankalan, which includes the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for 2023-24. This index serves as a benchmarking tool to assess and improve port efficiency, competitiveness, and logistics performance in India's maritime sector.
The government also announced the launch of the Bharat Global Ports Consortium. This initiative aims at fostering international collaborations and enhancing bilateral trade relations.

NITI Aayog Launches Report On "From Borrowers to Builders: Women's Role in India's Financial Grow...

NITI Aayog launched the report titled 'From Borrowers to Builders: Women's Role in India's Financial Growth Story.' The report launched by CEO NITI Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam reveals that more women in India are seeking credit and actively monitoring their credit scores. As of December 2024, 27 million women were monitoring their credit, marking a 42% increase from the previous year, signaling growing financial awareness. The report was published by TransUnion CIBIL, Women Entrepreneurship Platform's (WEP) of NITI Aayog and MicroSave Consulting (MSC).
According to the report, women, from working in rural Self Help Groups (SHGs) to high-tech start-ups in bustling urban centres, are making significant strides as creators, innovators, and leaders. This means the female workforce, present in a broad spectrum of socio-economic levels, have empowered themselves in various ways despite historical barriers and systemic challenges. Their financial participation is becoming an integral part of India's economic story.

Mar 03, 2025

Amit Shah Inaugurates Workshop on Sustainability and Circularity in Dairy Sector

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the 'Workshop on Sustainability and Circularity in Dairy Sector' at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Workshop focused on policies and initiatives of Ministry of Cooperation and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying aimed at promoting sustainable dairy farming while ensuring economic growth with environmental responsibility.
The workshop witnessed signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for the establishment of biogas plants across multiple states, release of comprehensive guidelines aimed at promoting environmentally responsible practices in dairy farming and new financing initiatives under NDDB's and NABARD's Large Scale Biogas/CBG projects and the Sustain Plus Project.
The workshop is being organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India in coordination with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Welcomes Princess Astrid of Belgium in Delhi

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal received Princess Astrid of Belgium upon her arrival to India.
The sister of Belgium's King Philippe, Princess Astrid, is on a visit to India from March 2 to 8, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM Jaishankar and visiting various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi, according to a statement from the External Affairs Ministry (MEA).
She is travelling with a delegation of 335 members and 180 companies. Belgium's Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot, is part of the economic mission with the Princess.

12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in the Asia & the Pacific

The 12th Regional 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific was inaugurated in Jaipur. The inaugural session was attended by Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Bhajanlal Sharma, Chief Minister, Rajasthan. Mr. Trevor Hedley Manemahaga, Minister of Solomon Islands, Mr. Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister of Tuvalu, Mr. Ahmed Nizam, Deputy Minister of Climate Change of Maldives joined the session.
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated the event and welcomed dignitaries, industry leaders, and international representatives.
The 12th Regional 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific concludes on March 5.

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Hosts National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) ...

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, hosted the inaugural National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) Meet 2025 in Goa. This landmark event, attended by over 100 participants, served as a confluence of eminent ESG professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders, all brought together to exchange insights, deliberate on emerging sustainability trends, and chart the course for a resilient and responsible corporate future. The event was held under the esteemed guidance of Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey, DG & CEO, IICA and Chairman, National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).

Mar 02, 2025

PM Modi Meets Ursula von der Leyen: India, EU to Collaborate on Trade, Tech and Security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the College of Commissioners' visit to India as "unprecedented" and said that India and the European Union (EU) have readied a blueprint to collaborate in areas such as trade, technology, security, and mobility, and are also looking to conclude the bilateral Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year.
This two-decade long strategic partnership between India and EU is natural and organic. Its core is built on trust, a shared belief in democratic values, and a mutual commitment to prosperity and shared progress.

Mar 01, 2025

BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht Elected Deputy Speaker of Delhi Assembly

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mohan Singh Bisht was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. He is an MLA from Mustafabad. The proposal to appoint Bisht as the Deputy Speaker was put forward by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and it received strong backing from Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
Bisht won the seat defeating AAP's Adeel Ahmad Khan by over 17,000 votes.

Yogi Adityanath Announces Five Newly Developed Spiritual Corridors

Maha Kumbh 2025 opened the doors to new possibilities of spiritual tourism in Uttar Pradesh. During this mega event, the Uttar Pradesh government developed five major spiritual corridors.
The five major spiritual corridors include the Prayag- Vindhyachal-Kashi Corrido, the Prayagraj-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur Corridor, the Prayagraj-Lucknow-Naimisharanya Corridor, the Prayagraj-Rajapur (Banda)-Chitrakoot Corridor and Prayagraj-Mathura-Vrindavan-Shuktirtha.

European Commission President in Delhi

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in the national capital for a two-day official visit, reaffirming India's role as a trusted friend and strategic ally for Europe.
Accompanied by the European Union College of Commissioners, von der Leyen's visit included the second ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, along with several bilateral ministerial meetings.
This marked von der Leyen's third visit to India. She previously visited in April 2022 for a bilateral official visit and in September 2023 to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. She has also met PM Modi regularly on the sidelines of various multilateral meetings.

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