Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 March 2025

Topic: National News

1. MeitY and Drone Federation India launched National Innovation Challenge for Drone Research (NIDAR).

• Under the SwaYaan initiative, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Drone Federation India launched the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Research (NIDAR).
• The challenge was formally inaugurated by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY.
• NIDAR under the Swa Yaan aims to inspire and engage India’s student and research communities to develop collaborative autonomous drones.
• The challenge offers a total prize pool of INR 40 Lakhs along with opportunities for startup incubation, cloud credits, software support, and internships.
• This initiative is part of the Government effort to enhance entrepreneurship in academia and encourage applied research in drone technology.
• The competition will be conducted in multiple phases, including technology presentation, business case presentation, and final operations.
• The SwaYaan initiative was approved in 2022 to focus on the capacity building for human resource development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. President Murmu presented Ramnath Goenka journalism awards.

• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the 19th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award at New Delhi.

• The awards has been presented to 27 people across 13 categories, including investigative journalism, politics, sports, and regional languages, honouring journalists from print, digital, and broadcast media.
• This award recognised outstanding stories, including a ground report from Israel and the West Bank amid bombings.
• President Murmu highlighted the contributions of Ramnath Goenka.
• She addressed the growing challenges of misinformation, deep fakes, and the misuse of artificial intelligence in media.
• She also appreciated the inclusion of regional language journalism in the awards.

Broadcast:

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. An incentive scheme for the promotion of low-value BHIM-UPI transactions approved by the Cabinet on 19 March.

• The government will implement the scheme at an estimated outlay of ₹1,500 crore.
• This scheme will enable small merchants to avail UPI services without any additional cost.
• Small traders will be provided incentives at the rate of 0.15% per transaction value on transactions up to Rs 2,000.
• Additionally, a new Brownfield Ammonia-Urea Complex Fertilizer Plant has been decided to be set up by the government within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited at Namrup in Assam.
• The estimated total project cost is Rs.10,601 crore with a debt-equity ratio of 70:30 through joint venture.
• Also, the construction of a six-lane access-controlled Greenfield Highway from JNPA Port to Chowk in Maharashtra has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
• At a total capital cost of ₹4,500 crore, the project will be developed on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mode.
• Also, the government approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission to boost livestock sector growth.
• This scheme will significantly increase milk production and productivity, thereby increasing the income of farmers.
• The Cabinet also approved the Revised National Program for Dairy Development to modernize and expand dairy infrastructure.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. NDTL 2025: pioneering innovations and tackling challenges in anti-doping science inaugurated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

• On 19 March, the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) Annual Conference 2025 inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
• The conference focused on the theme “Anti-Doping Science: Innovations and Challenges.”
• During the conference, he emphasized India's unwavering commitment to promoting clean and fair competition in sports.
• He advocated early education on doping awareness, including it in school curriculum, and suggested awareness campaigns in rural areas.
• Key topics discussed at the conference included innovations in doping detection methods, the evolving nature of banned substances, and strategies to address emerging threats such as the rise of untraceable substances.
• The event included interactive sessions, panel discussions, and knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at strengthening anti-doping measures in India.
• The NDTL Annual Conference 2025 reaffirmed India's commitment to upholding global anti-doping standards and represented an important step towards creating a doping-free sports culture.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. India's goods trade deficit fell to a 42-month low due to a decline in imports of gold, silver, and crude oil.

• According to Commerce and Industry Ministry data, India's merchandise trade deficit fell to a 42-month low of $14.05 billion in February 2025 due to a decline in imports of gold, silver, and crude oil.
• In January 2025, the difference between imports and exports of goods was $22.9 billion. The merchandise trade deficit was $19.5 billion in February 2024.
• India's gold and silver imports stood at $2.7 billion, the lowest since June 2024, when it was valued at $2.5 billion.
• As far as crude oil and petroleum are concerned, imports stood at $11.89 billion, the lowest since July 2023, when it was valued at $11.81 billion.
• India exported goods worth $36.9 billion in February 2025. However, imports fell to a 22-month low of $50.9 billion.
• The trade deficit was also much lower than the average of over $23 billion during the first 10 months of FY25.
• In February 2025, India exported services worth $35.03 billion and imported services worth $16.55 billion.
• In February 2024, these numbers were $28.33 billion and $15.23 billion, respectively.

Topic: Reports and Indices

6. India has secured 24th rank among 33 countries in free speech index.

• With regard to support for free speech, India is ranked at 24th out of 33 nations in a survey by The Future of Free Speech. 
• The global survey by The Future of Free Speech was carried out in October 2024.
• The Future of Free Speech is an independent U.S.-based think tank.
• The report is titled ‘Who in the World Supports Free Speech?’. 
• As per the survey, there is a global decline in support for free speech since 2021. 
• Democratic nations like U.S., Israel, and Japan have seen significant drops in this support. 
• Norway and Denmark are at top in the Future of the Free Speech Index with scores of 87.9 and 87.0. 
• The largest improvements in free speech support have been seen in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan (57.0). 
• Despite the largest improvements, these countries stood at lower end of list. 
• India’s score is 62.6 and it is ranked at 24th, between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8). 
• In the report, certain authoritarian regimes, like Hungary and Venezuela, have got high scores. 
• 37% of Indians respondents supported censorship of government criticism. 
• Such censorship is supported by only 5% of U.K. respondents and 3% of Danish respondents. 
• Actual protection of free speech in India, Hungary, and Venezuela is very low compared to the popular support of free speech.

Topic: State News/Assam

7. Construction of a urea plant in Assam has been approved by the government. 

• The plant is having total cost of Rs 10,601.40 crore. It will produce 12.7 lakh tonnes of urea annually. 
• The plant will be constructed on the grounds of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd (BVFCL) in Namrup. 
• Namrup-IV Fertilizer Plant is estimated to be completed within 48 months.
• National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL)’s 18% equity participation has also been approved by the Cabinet. 
• This approval is more than usual limit of Department of Public Enterprises. 
• In proposed JV for plant, Assam government will hold 40%, BVFCL 11%, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) 13%, NFL 18%, and Oil India Limited 18%. 

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives 

8. Cabinet approved the implementation of the Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

• To boost growth in the livestock sector, the Union Cabinet approved the Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) with an additional outlay of ₹1,000 crore for 2024-25 and 2025-26.
• Under the Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission, two new activities have been introduced.
• It will help in creating 30 housing facilities with a total of 15,000 heifers.
• The scheme will continue its core activities, including strengthening semen stations and artificial insemination networks, implementing bull production and accelerated breed improvement programs.
• After the implementation of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the milk production has increased by 63.55 percent over the last decade.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission has also helped in introducing advanced breeding technologies to farmers.
• Gau Chip and Mahish Chip genomic chips have been created by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. SEBI partnered with Digilocker to resolve the issue of unclaimed financial assets.

• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) joined hands with DigiLocker to address the issue of unclaimed financial assets.
• This initiative will enable investors to store and access information on their demat and mutual fund holdings through DigiLocker.
• Under this initiative, SEBI and DigiLocker are committed to enhance investor protection.
• It will help in providing seamless access to financial records.
• This mechanism will help in minimizing unclaimed assets and ensures the identification of assets that might get unnoticed.
• Access to securities holdings, a nomination facility for seamless access, automated notification to nominees and the role of KYC registration agencies (KRAs) will be the main features of this initiative.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

10. India and Maldives will settle bilateral trade in local currencies.

• Bilateral trade transactions between India and Maldives will be settled in the local currencies of Indian Rupee and Maldives Rufiyaa in addition to the existing Asian Clearing Union mechanism.
• On March 17, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a circular in this regard.
• The Asian Clearing Union (ACU) is a payment arrangement whereby participants settle payments for intra-regional transactions between participating central banks on a pure multilateral basis.
• This initiative is expected to provide great help to Maldives, as India is the largest trading partner of Maldives, and the bilateral trade between the two countries is over US$548 million.
• The decision follows the signing of the MoU between the RBI and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) in November 2024.
• This agreement establishes a framework to facilitate trade settlement in local currencies.
• This initiative is an important step towards enhancing trade and financial relations between Maldives and India.

Topic: State News/New Delhi

11. 'Shishtachar' squads for women's safety will be launched by Delhi Police, following the UP model.

• ‘Shishtachar’ squads, also known as ‘anti-eve teasing’ squads, are set to be launched by Delhi Police to improve women’s safety in the national capital, inspired by the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh model.
• The initiative will “focus on enforcing the law rather than imposing personal or cultural morality on individuals.”
• This decision has been taken in line with the promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its election manifesto before the Delhi Assembly elections.
• In this, it had promised to form an 'Anti-Romeo Squad' and install CCTV cameras at public places.
• These squads will comprise trained personnel who will focus on preventing and responding to such crimes on a real-time basis.
• Each district will have two anti-Romeo squads headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
• These squads will also conduct surprise checks on public transport and interact with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers, conductors, and passengers and encourage them to report incidents.
• According to Delhi Police data, 4,273 cases of rape, molestation, and eve-teasing were registered in the city till December 15 last year.
• Of these, 1,971 cases were registered in various police stations in Delhi.

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/taskforces

12. A high-level committee has been formed to resolve regulatory challenges in the fintech sector in India.

• It will be chaired by chaired by the secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
• The high-level committee has senior officials from key ministries, regulators, and startup founders.
• The panel will assess the current framework and suggest policy changes to support industry growth while ensuring financial stability.
• Regulators such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are also part of this panel.
• The government has also included fintech leaders from companies like Billdesk, Acko General Insurance, Groww, and Jupiter in this panel.
• The panel is expected to submit its report within three months of its first meeting. The panel will shape the next phase of fintech regulation.

Topic: Important Days

13. World Sparrow Day 2025: 20 March

• World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20th.
• “Nature Forever", a bird conservation organization, has initiated World Sparrow Day in 2010.
• The main aim of the day is to raise awareness about the declining sparrow population.
• Sparrows are small but significant birds that play an essential role in maintaining ecological balance.
• Sparrows play an important role in maintaining ecological balance.
• They control insect populations by feeding on various bugs and pests.
• Sparrows are key players in pollination and seed dispersal. Their presence enhances biodiversity.