Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 March 2025

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. The launch of the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 announced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

• The 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 aims to accelerate the development of innovative 5G-powered solutions to address societal and industrial challenges.
• It is a six-month initiative and is organised for students, startups, and professionals.
• The program provides mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G use case labs to help participants turn visionary ideas into technology.
• The hackathon invites proposals focused on key 5G applications such as AI-driven network maintenance, IoT-enabled solutions, 5G broadcasting, smart health, agriculture, industrial automation, non-terrestrial networks, D2M, V2X, and quantum communications.
• This hackathon will take place in several phases.
• The top 25-50 teams will advance to the Pragati Phase where they will be provided an initial funding of INR 1,00,000 each to develop their prototypes over a period of three months (June 15-September 15, 2025).
• The winners will be announced in October 2025, with the top teams showcasing their innovations at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, one of the most prestigious tech events in the country.
• The winners will get significant prizes, including ₹5,00,000 for first place, ₹3,00,000 for second place, and ₹1,50,000 for third place.
• The 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 is designed to harness the transformational potential of 5G technology by fostering collaboration and innovation.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Personality in News

2. Renowned Odia poet Padma Bhushan Ramakanta Rath passed away.

• On March 16, Padma Bhushan Ramakanta Rath, one of the most renowned modernist poets of Odia literature, passed away in Bhubaneswar at the age of 91.
• Ramakant Rath, a 1957 batch IAS officer, also served as Chief Secretary of Odisha and held several key positions in the Union government.
• His poems are famous for their depth and insight, including 'Shri Radha' among many other poems.
• His works have been translated into English and several Indian languages.
• The Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Ramakanta Rath in 2006, recognizing his outstanding contribution to literature.
• He also served as the President of the Sahitya Akademi from 1998 to 2003.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements 

3. India and New Zealand signed agreements on Defence, Education, horticulture and sports.

• India and New Zealand signed five agreements in the fields of Defence, Education, Sports, Horticulture, and Forestry.
• Both sides also exchanged authorized economic mutual recognition agreements.
• Both sides support a Free, Open, Secure, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific and believe in the policy of development.
• New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reached Delhi on a five-day visit to India.
• His visit aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepen ties across all sectors.
• India and New Zealand agreed to cooperate against terrorist, separatist and radical elements. 

Topic: Sports

4. Harmanpreet Singh, Savita Punia won the Hockey India Player of the Year Awards.

• Harmanpreet Singh and Savita Punia received the Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Player of the Year award in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.
• Harmanpreet led India to its second consecutive bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• Savita was a member of the Indian team that came close to winning a bronze in the Tokyo Olympics.
• Savita Punia also won the Hockey India Baljit Singh Goalkeeper of the Year award for 2024.
• The 1975 Men’s World Cup-winning team has been conferred with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Abhishek won the Forward of the Year award while Hardik Singh was named Midfielder of the Year.
• Amit Rohidas won the Best Defender of the Year award.
• Araijeet Singh Hundal won the Jugraj Singh Player of the Year (Men’s Under-21).
• Deepika bagged the Player of the Year award in the women’s Under-21 category.

(Source: News on AIR)