Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 March 2025

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Sculptor Ram Sutar will get the Maharashtra Bhushan award.

• Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar will be conferred with the Maharashtra Bhushan award.
• It is the highest civilian honour instituted by the Maharashtra government.
• Ram Sutar has designed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity and the 251m-tall statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
• He designed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a seated position, located at the Parliament of India.
• He is currently working on the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue to be installed at Indu Mills in Dadar.
• In 1999, Sutar received the Padma Shri and later in 2016, Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.

Topic: International Appointments

2. Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and the first African to be elected president of IOC.

• Coventry is also Zimbabwe's sports minister.
• Coventry is also a two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist. 
• She won the presidency in a decisive first-round victory.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president election had seven candidates. 
• Coventry won with 49 of the available 97 votes. Kirsty Coventry will replace Thomas Bach.
• She defeated Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. of Spain. Britain’s Sebastian Coe came at third place.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Chiranjeevi honoured at House of Commons in UK.

• He received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He received this award for contributing to public service through cultural leadership. 
• Bridge India, a UK-based organisation presented the award.
• Bridge India has for the first time given such an award to an individual.
• Chiranjeevi is the founder of the Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank in Hyderabad.
• House of Commons is the lower house of UK Parliament. It is the democratically elected house of UK Parliament.
• Konidela Chiranjeevi is known for his work in Telugu cinema. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2024.

Topic: Important Days

4. International Day of Happiness 2025: 20 March

• Every year on 20 March, International Day of Happiness is observed.
• The theme International Day of Happiness 2025 is “Caring and Sharing."
• It was started by the United Nations in 2012. It was started to recognize happiness as a fundamental human goal.
• The first International Day of Happiness was observed in 2013.
• The UN resolution proclaiming International Day of Happiness was initiated by Bhutan.
• Bhutan is a country which values Gross National Happiness over GDP.
• Finland tops the list of happiest countries in the world as per the World Happiness Report 2025. India is ranked at 118th place out of 147 countries in 2025.

Topic: Defense

5. Proposals of Rs 54,000 crore to strengthen defence capabilities have been cleared by the DAC.

• On 20 March, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for eight capital acquisition proposals amounting to over ₹54,000 crore.

• The approval aims to enhance the operational capabilities of Indian defence forces.
• As part of celebrating 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms,’ the DAC also approved guidelines to reduce timelines at various stages of the Capital Acquisition Process.
• This move aims to make the process faster, more effective, and efficient.
• Additionally, the government has also approved the procurement of 1350 HP engines for the army to upgrade the existing 1000 HP engines for T-90 tanks.
• To boost the Navy’s capabilities, AoN for the procurement of Varunastra Torpedoes (Combat) was also accorded by the DAC.
• The Varunastra Torpedo is an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory.
• Apart from this, a mega deal to procure the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) for the Army at a cost of ₹7,000 crore was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
• ATAGS is the first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured 155 mm gun system, and its procurement will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Army.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme has been introduced by Ministry of Ayush. 

• Programme is aimed at fostering a more responsible and citizen-focused workforce. 
• Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, the Secretary in Ministry launched the program. 
• Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme comes under Capacity Building Commission initiative and emphasizes "Seva Bhav" (service). 
• It motivates public servants to positively impact citizens' lives as well as focuses on enhancing employees' skills. 

Topic: State News/Punjab

7. Sign language will be introduced by Punjab in its Legislative Assembly.

• Punjab will introduce this language to facilitate persons who are unable to speak or hear.
• State Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur initiated this facility, which is to be included in assembly sessions’ proceedings.
• Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur urged the Assembly administration to implement this initiative at the earliest.
• With this initiative, the proceedings would become fully accessible to the concerned individuals.

Topic: National News

8. Average monthly data consumption per user surged to 27.5 gigabytes in 2024.

• India’s average monthly data consumption per user reached 27.5 gigabytes in 2024.
• It shows a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5% over the past five years.
• Nokia’s annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) revealed that traffic across India has tripled and is projected to cross 4G traffic by Q1 2026.
• This surge is led by Category B and C circles with 5G data usage growing by 3.4 and 3.2 times, respectively.
• In metro areas, 5G now accounts for 43% of mobile broadband data.
• The active 5G devices have doubled year-on-year to 271 million in 2024.
• Nearly 90% of smartphones will be replaced in 2025 with 5G-capable phones.
• The report also highlights the evolution toward 5G Advanced, which will enhance the business potential and pave the way for future technologies, including 6G.

Topic: State News/Karnataka

9. Karnataka government approved a 100% salary hike for CM, Ministers, and MLAs.

• Karnataka government has approved a 100% salary hike for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs.
• The Karnataka Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Karnataka Legislature Members’ Salaries, Pensions, and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 have been cleared by the government.
• Home Minister G Parameshwara justified the hike and gave reason that expenditures are rising and it will be necessary for lawmakers survival.
• The salary of MLAs and MLCs will increase from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000.
• Government has also proposed increasing the constituency travel allowance from Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000, which is a miscellaneous allowance.
• The government has also proposed to increase the pension of MLAs and MLCs from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 per month.

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

10. An MoU to boost mental health support for military personnel and their families signed by AFMS and NIMHANS.

• An MoU for collaborative research and training to improve the mental health of the country's defense personnel has been signed by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
• It aims to enhance mental health support and care for the armed forces.
• Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, and Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS, signed the MoU at a ceremony.
• The AFMS and NIMHANS collaboration will enhance mental health services, provide specialized training for medical personnel, and develop programs to address the mental health needs of military personnel and their families.
• The main objectives of the MoU include collaborative research, faculty exchange, and academic activities.
• With its expertise in neuropsychiatry, NIMHANS will help conduct research on advanced psychiatric care and support to military personnel to relieve common issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Miscellaneous

11. Parsi New Year celebrated on 20 March in 2025.

• Parsi New Year is generally observed in March around the world.
• However, in India, it is celebrated in July or August, depending on the Shahenshahi or Fasli calendar.
• The Parsi New Year is also known as Navroz or Nowruz.
• It is derived from the Persian words ‘nav’ and ‘roz,’ meaning a new day.
• This vibrant festival lasts for 13 days, starting on the first day of the Persian calendar.
• Iranians and Zoroastrians have been celebrating the tradition of the Persian New Year for the past 3,000 years.
• A symbol of renewal and rejuvenation, Navroz is a festival celebrated by the Parsi community, marking new beginnings and a time for spiritual renewal and contemplation.
• The celebration of Navroz is deeply rooted in Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded by Prophet Zoroaster in ancient Persia (now Iran).
• After the Islamic invasion in the 7th century, many Parsis migrated to Gujarat, India, preserving their traditions.
• Jamshedi Navroz, celebrated in several Indian states, is celebrated in honor of the Persian king Jamshed, who founded the Parsi calendar.

Topic: Indian Economy

12. SEBI lowered the minimum investment in social stock exchange instruments to ₹1,000.

• SEBI has reduced the minimum investment amount for Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments on the Social Stock Exchange from ₹10,000 to ₹1,000.
• Its main aim is to enhance retail participation in social impact investments.
• This step of SEBI will encourage more participation from smaller investors.
• The latest recommendation will come into effect immediately.
• The Social Stock Exchange is a separate segment that brings together social enterprises and donors and facilitates funding and growth of social enterprises.
• It enables mechanisms to ensure robust standards of impact and financial reporting.
• The Social Stock Exchange idea was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget 2019-20 speech.

Topic: Geography

13. World's largest White Hydrogen Deposit has been discovered in France.

• France has discovered a massive 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve in the Moselle region with a valued at $92 trillion.
• White hydrogen requires no industrial production and emits no CO₂.
• French scientists Jacques Pironon and Philippe De Donato found one of the largest white hydrogen deposits.
• White hydrogen deposit is found worldwide, including in the US, Russia, Australia, and Europe.
• White hydrogen could be a cost-effective alternative is estimated at just $1 per kilogram compared to green hydrogen’s $6 per kilogram.
• Hydrogen is considered the future of clean energy for industries like aviation, shipping, and steel production.