Daily Current Affairs and GK | 22 March 2025

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. India and EU to hold 4th Maritime Security Dialogue.

• The 4th India-EU Maritime Security Dialogue was held in New Delhi.
• The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Muanpuii Saiawi and the EU delegation by Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service, Maciej Stadejek.
• Both sides agreed on the ways to sustain a secure maritime environment conducive for inclusive growth and global well-being.
• They reviewed ongoing cooperation initiatives in the maritime sector and avenues of reinforcing international and regional mechanisms for comprehensive maritime security.
• They agreed to strengthen their shared efforts in areas such as countering Illicit Maritime Activities, protection of critical maritime infrastructure, regional capability development and capacity-building activities.

Topic: Sports

2. India to host the 11th Asian Swimming Championship at the Naranpura Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.

• The event will take place from October 1 to 15.
• The championship will feature swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo.
• Swimmers from Japan and South Korea are expected to compete at the continental meet.
• The Swimming Federation of India announced that it has received in-principle approval from both the Gujarat government and Asia Aquatics to organize the championship.
• India hosted the 10th Asian Age Group Championships in 2019.

Topic: Reports and Indices

3. India's bio-economy reached $165B in 2024.

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India's bio-economy has witnessed a 16-fold rise over the past decade, growing from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024. 
• He made this announcement while releasing the "India Bioeconomy Report 2025" (IBER 2025) at the BIRAC Foundation Day ceremony at the National Media Centre on 21 March.
• The report highlights the progress made by the bioeconomy sector and, the sector is contributing 4.25% to the overall GDP.
• The sector has shown a CAGR of 17.9% in the last four years, indicating India's potential as a global biotechnology superpower.
• BioSaarthi, a pioneering global mentorship initiative aimed at nurturing biotech startups, has been unveiled by the Minister.
• Designed as a six-month cohort, Biosaarathi will facilitate structured mentor-mentee engagement, providing personalised guidance to budding entrepreneurs in the biotech sector.
• The India Bioeconomy Report is an annual publication by the Department of Biotechnology and BIRAC.
• It tracks the growth and performance of India's bioeconomy, maps its size, structure, and key trends, and provides insights for policy and investment decisions.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. 2025 Stockholm Water Prize won by Hydrologist Günter Blöschl.

• According to a statement by the Prize Committee on March 20, 2025, hydrologist Günter Blöschl, a pioneer of water engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize.
• Blöschl's comprehensive database and analysis have revolutionized and deepened the global understanding of flood risk reduction and water resources management.
• According to the statement, all this has helped in increasing awareness about flood risks under climate change at the global level.
• Blöschl is a Professor at the Vienna University of Technology, currently Head of the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management at the Vienna University of Technology.
• He is also Director of the Doctoral Program in Water Resources Systems at the Vienna University of Technology, which he founded more than 15 years ago, and is also a part-time Professor at the University of Bologna.
• The Stockholm Water Foundation, in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, awards the Stockholm Water Prize.
• In August, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the official patron of the prize, will present the prize to Blöschl during World Water Week in Stockholm.

Topic: Sports

5. A bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Gujarat has been submitted by India.

• Taking a major step towards hosting global sporting events, India has officially submitted an expression of interest to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 2030.
• Commonwealth Games Association of India President PT Usha leads the bid, underscoring Ahmedabad’s readiness to serve as an exceptional host city.
• The move is in line with India's broader ambition to secure major international events, including hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
• Hosting the Commonwealth Games will not only enhance India's stature in sports governance but will also bring significant economic benefits.
• PT Usha confirmed that the Commonwealth Games Federation has approved India's proposal.

Topic: Sports

6. Anahat Singh won the women's title at the PSA Challenger Squash tournament in Chennai.

• Veer Chotrani secured the men's title at the PSA Challenger Squash tournament in Chennai. 
• Anahat, the third seed, won over top-seed Akanksha Salunkhe.   
• This was Anahat’s third win against Akanksha in four matches. 
• Veer Chotrani, the second seed, made a strong comeback in the final. 
• He defeated Melvil Scianimanico of France. This victory earned him his sixth PSA title. 

Topic: State News/Delhi

7. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh launched six mobile dental clinics.

• These clinics will provide free dental care to residents. 
• The Delhi government and Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences are jointly operating these clinics. 
• Each clinic is having advanced dental chairs, portable X-ray machines, and sterilization units. 
• Clinics are also equipped with ultrasonic scalers for dental cleaning. 
• Patients will receive free fluoride treatments. 
• The initiative ensures dental care reaches all areas of the city. 
• It will also serve underprivileged communities, including slums.

Topic: International News

8. Trump revoked the legal status of 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

• U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration announced to removal of the temporary legal status of 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
• Immigrants from these four countries, who have arrived in the United States since October 2022 with financial sponsors were granted two-year permits to live and work in the US.
• They will now lose the legal status on April 24 or 30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
• This move will effectively remove the two-year "parole" granted to these migrants under former President Joe Biden.
• The humanitarian parole system is a long-standing legal tool that give power to the president to allow people from countries where there’s war or political instability to enter and temporarily live in the US.
• In 2022, then-President Joe Biden introduced a parole entry program for Venezuelans, later it was expanded to Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans in 2023.
• Diplomatic and political relations between the United States and these four countries have remained strained.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. DPIIT inked a pact with Yes Bank to strengthen India's startup ecosystem.

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YES BANK.
• Its main aim is to foster innovation and provide crucial support to product startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs across the country.
• The partnership will leverage DPIITs Startup India initiative and YES BANKs financial expertise.
• It will facilitate market linkages, funding access, mentorship, and infrastructure support for early-stage ventures.
• Startups will benefit from YES BANK's Head Startup program.
• It will offer tailored banking and financial solutions, including working capital, credit access, and cash flow management.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. ‘Samarth,’ a cutting-edge incubation program launched by the Centre for Development of Telematics.

• On 19 March, the first cohort of the Incubation Program named “Samarth” has been launched by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), an autonomous Telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), Govt. of India.
• The program aims to foster innovation and promote technological advancements in India’s telecommunications and IT sectors.
• The “Samarth” Incubation Program is designed to support startups and innovators developing next-generation technologies.
• It focuses on Telecom Software Applications, Cyber Security, 5G/6G Technologies, AI, IoT Applications, and Quantum Technologies.
• The program aims to encourage the development of sustainable and scalable business models, provide access to cutting-edge resources, and help startups bridge the gap from ideation to commercialization.
• C-DOT has selected Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as the implementation partner to drive the vision of fostering high-impact, innovative solutions and startups in the tech ecosystem.
• 'SAMARTHA' represents a dynamic and supportive environment for startups looking to make their mark in the rapidly evolving landscape of telecom and IT.
• The program will have a maximum cohort of 18 startups per program, taking in a total of 36 startups across two six-month cohorts.

Topic: Important Days

11. World Poetry Day 2025: 21 March

• Every year on 21 March, World Poetry Day is observed.
• Its main aim is to encourage young poets and appreciate the role of poetry in the development and enlightenment of the world.
• The theme of World Poetry Day 2025 is "Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion."
• Poetry is an art form that can transform even the most basic of lines into a powerful catalyst.
• It is observed to honour poets and aware the new generation about the tradition of Poetry.
• UNESCO announced 21 March as World Poetry Day at its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999.
• Poetry is the oldest form of readable and understandable human language.

Topic: Reports and Indices

12. India ranked 118 out of 147 countries in the World Happiness Report, 2025.

• The Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network released the World Happiness Report 2025.
• Finland emerged as the ‘happiest’ country in the World Happiness Report 2025.
• Denmark and Iceland secured second and third spots respectively.
• The report considers 6 factors for happiness: social support, GDP per capita, health life expectancy, freedom, generosity and perception of corruption.
• Western countries dominated the top 20, especially European countries.
• Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking 6th and 10th respectively.
• India's neighbouring countries, Sri Lanka was ranked at 133, Bangladesh at 134, Pakistan at 109, Nepal at 92 and China at 68.
• The United Kingdom also ranked at 23, which is the lowest score since 2017.
• The report focused on the impact of “caring and sharing” on people's levels of contentment and satisfaction.

Topic: Sports

13. Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• Japan has officially booked its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Bahrain by 2-0.
• Japan is the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament, joining co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
• Japan has secured one of the two automatic qualification spots from Group C.
• The qualification process will continue until June when the third round concludes.
• In Group B, South Korea tops the table, with Iraq and Jordan trailing closely behind.